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LBPCentral Spotlight Search Engine!

Archive: 62 posts

We are pleased to announce the release of our official LBPCentral Spotlight Search Engine (http://spotlight.lbpcentral.com/)! This page represents a great deal of work between vortex and myself, and it has resulted in a search engine that is both powerful and easy to use. It supports all sorts of parameters, most of which are client-side to speed the search process. For a quick overview of how to use it, take a look at this helpful mockup (http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/LBPCSSE-Tutorial.png)- it describes each of the engine's features in brief detail. We will be keeping this up-to-date with current LBPCentral Spotlights, so you can always expect to see the latest Spotlighted levels in your searches.

Remember, to search Spotlighted levels, simply head to spotlight.lbpcentral.com (http://spotlight.lbpcentral.com/). We hope you enjoy using it as much as we do! 		2010-08-25 16:07:00

Author:
ConfusedCartman
Posts: 3729

Great work, very impressive and useful!
Thanks a lot!		2010-08-25 16:15:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

That is really awesome!

Thanks a lot!

725 levels in total?!? That's loads!!

How about making it so when you click on the level name the level showcase thread opens?		2010-08-25 16:18:00

Author:
Doopz
Posts: 5592

Really pretty nifty stuff... Thanks Vortex! You did us all more than proud.2010-08-25 16:19:00

Author:
Gravel
Posts: 1308

Yay! Glad to have this finally released to the public. This was a labor of love for me - I decided some time ago to take the effort of making the abbreviated Spotlight play lists and create a database from them. But getting that database into a useful interface required some teamwork. Thanks to Morgana and jwwphotos for your testing skills and feedback. And a big thanks to CC for all his work and suggestions to make my little project into a practical reality.

I hope it's as useful to the community as it was rewarding for me to co-create!		2010-08-25 16:19:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Wow, looks very good! This should definitely help new and existing members to find the previously spotlighted levels without needing to sift through an ever-expanding list.

Great stuff. 		2010-08-25 16:21:00

Author:
Gilgamesh
Posts: 2536

If I can say mine, CC you should add a clear very visible big tab with the link.2010-08-25 16:25:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

Hey all those involved in this amazing new feature,

Thank you very much for putting this together! It is so practical, I wonder how we lived without it before.


Searching my heart out,
jeffcu28		2010-08-25 16:26:00

Author:
jeffcu28
Posts: 648

I'm not sure if this is a bug or not, but when you do a search for levels, it always says 725 levels found, which is great and all knowing how much levels there are in total, but is it possible for it to show how much levels it found from your search?

That way we could, for example, find out how much PS3 levels there are in total, or how many PSP levels etc without having to actually count....		2010-08-25 16:45:00

Author:
Doopz
Posts: 5592

Great idea. I love it 2010-08-25 16:49:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity
Posts: 5208

Hmmm... It is supposed to show the record count for the current query (and always has in my testing). I shall have a look. What browser are you using (out of curiosity)?

EDIT: I've tested it in IE8, Firefox, and Chrome. It's working as designed for me in all of these browsers. Has anyone else noticed this?


I'm not sure if this is a bug or not, but when you do a search for levels, it always says 725 levels found, which is great and all knowing how much levels there are in total, but is it possible for it to show how much levels it found from your search?

That way we could, for example, find out how much PS3 levels there are in total, or how many PSP levels etc without having to actually count....		2010-08-25 16:58:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Hmmm... It is supposed to show the record count for the current query (and always has in my testing). I shall have a look. What browser are you using (out of curiosity)?

Google chrome, but it seems to be fixed now, weird..

Must have just been a one off glitch or something? 		2010-08-25 17:00:00

Author:
Doopz
Posts: 5592

wow that so cool even thought I never got in a community spotlight but I will

Also now the people that are say that there level was spotlighted we can find out if they are lieing lol 		2010-08-25 17:04:00

Author:
Arnald23
Posts: 1843

Looks awesome, great work guys! =D

http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/272671-Blackfalcon/671/5/animal0064hb2_display.gif		2010-08-25 17:06:00

Author:
Blackfalcon
Posts: 409

THANK YOU Vortex & CC!

First time you showed me this Vortex my jaw dropped. It's such a great idea! I'm sure the entire community will be grateful for the convenience of searching through all the past spotlights in once place.

There aren't enough thanks buttons I can click to thank you for all your hard work on the short lists and for this!

You rock!		2010-08-25 17:09:00

Author:
Morgana25
Posts: 5983

Looks good.

I hope this feature will be put to a lot of good use! 		2010-08-25 17:09:00

Author:
Fishrock123
Posts: 1578

There aren't enough thanks buttons I can click to thank you for all your hard work on the short lists and for this!

You rock!
Awww... <blushes>		2010-08-25 17:10:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

This rocks!! thanks guys, it will save us some clicking.

EDIT: I'd have 2 suggestions though...

1- Level names could lead to their showcase thread (when available)

2- Also, for improvement when we'll get LBP2 (so maybe some work should start before release), a "category" or "genre" field somehow would be great. A person looking for a type of experience could find levels under "racing, puzzle, highscore challenge, platformer, survival challenge, shooter, music, etc".

For this you'd probably need the same "genre field" for the futur F4F threads of LBP2 that the creator would need to fill. That "genre" tag could pop into the spotlight and before searchable in the database. We could even vote of a list of simple and clear genres that most levels would fall into + some "miscellaneous" category or something.

.		2010-08-25 17:16:00

Author:
RangerZero
Posts: 3901

Very cool new feature! I've just had great fun browsing through the earliest Spotlights seeing which levels were chosen - a real nostalgia trip!

I agree that a tab or something along those lines would be great addition for ease of access.		2010-08-25 17:21:00

Author:
shropshirelass
Posts: 1455

How about making it so when you click on the level name the level showcase thread opens?
I wanted to be able to do this. Unfortunately, my entire database was made (and is maintained) by copy-pasting the Spotlight thread OP text and then massaging it in Excel before uploading it into mySQL. The problem with level showcase links is that they are embedded in the HTML and not in the copied text. Plus, over the nearly two year course of Spotlights, they have been handled in different ways (over the last several months it has become much more standardized, but in the beginning it fluctuated often). It really just posed so much tedious work that I/we decided it wasn't worth all the effort. If anyone can suggest a method for expediting the process, I'm all ears - cuz I'd still love for that to be one of the features.




EDIT: I'd have 2 suggestions though...

1- Level names could lead to their showcase thread (when available)

(see above)

2- Also, for improvement when we'll get LBP2 (so maybe some work should start before release), a "category" or "genre" field somehow would be great. A person looking for a type of experience could find levels under "racing, puzzle, highscore challenge, platformer, survival challenge, shooter, music, etc".

For this you'd probably need the same "genre field" for the futur F4F threads of LBP2 that the creator would need to fill. That "genre" tag could pop into the spotlight and before searchable in the database. We could even vote of a list of simple and clear genres that most levels would fall into + some "miscellaneous" category or something.

Agreed - I would have loved to have this data for the current ones. The possibility of integrating lbp.me data into this has also been discussed, but that's a ways off.

.		2010-08-25 17:24:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

wow it says there over 725 levels thats incredible 2010-08-25 17:30:00

Author:
Arnald23
Posts: 1843

What I experienced using Firefox is that after you do a search, more than often it displays the result of the search for like 2 seconds, then revert to the previous page you searched, then you press again search and everything becomes stable.2010-08-25 17:35:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

What I experienced using Firefox is that after you do a search, more than often it displays the result of the search for like 2 seconds, then revert to the previous page you searched, then you press again search and everything becomes stable.
Very odd, that. I have never seen that behavior nor do I understand how/why that might happen.		2010-08-25 17:41:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Thanks for this guys! It's very helpful and I'm going to have a good couple of weeks on LBP 2010-08-25 17:43:00

Author:
piggabling
Posts: 2979

What I experienced using Firefox is that after you do a search, more than often it displays the result of the search for like 2 seconds, then revert to the previous page you searched, then you press again search and everything becomes stable.
I am not seeing that behavior either, and I have tested this page with multiple versions of Firefox. Could it be some sort of software on your computer getting in the way of page rendering?		2010-08-25 17:53:00

Author:
ConfusedCartman
Posts: 3729

I don't know, that happened at least 5 times, but not always, I'll keep trying anyway, but nothing biggie perhaps.2010-08-25 17:56:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

Wow! Great work guys. This is a very useful tool that you have implemented. Great to see the community progressing ever up and onward...2010-08-25 17:57:00

Author:
Lockstitch
Posts: 415

So, one shot one kill.
I typed start date 2009 - 10 - 20, search, tab outputted the right result, browsed until the 3rd page (of 15 shown), clicked on the PSN user CARLOSGRSS, it outputted his 3 PSP levels for some moments than got back to the reset search but with the user ID pasted in the engine.		2010-08-25 18:03:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

So, one shot one kill.
I typed start date 2009 - 10 - 20, search, tab outputted the right result, browsed until the 3rd page (of 15 shown), clicked on the PSN user CARLOSGRSS, it outputted his 3 PSP levels for some moments than got back to the reset search but with the user ID pasted in the engine.
Well I'm stumped. I am using Firefox, and I tried exactly what you described, but it got to his 3 PSP levels and stayed put. Hmmm...		2010-08-25 18:11:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Hey Vortex, it's better that way!LOL
If it's only my PC, I know the problem and who cares, I won't mind to press the search button 2 times instead of one.
Don't worry unless someone else experience the same thing. 		2010-08-25 18:13:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

Nice! Great idea.2010-08-25 18:17:00

Author:
alexbull_uk
Posts: 1287

This rocks!! thanks guys, it will save us some clicking.

EDIT: I'd have 2 suggestions though...

1- Level names could lead to their showcase thread (when available)

2- Also, for improvement when we'll get LBP2 (so maybe some work should start before release), a "category" or "genre" field somehow would be great. A person looking for a type of experience could find levels under "racing, puzzle, highscore challenge, platformer, survival challenge, shooter, music, etc".

For this you'd probably need the same "genre field" for the futur F4F threads of LBP2 that the creator would need to fill. That "genre" tag could pop into the spotlight and before searchable in the database. We could even vote of a list of simple and clear genres that most levels would fall into + some "miscellaneous" category or something.

.

I think that a PSN profile, like the already existing Logic Pack could be used to link levels with LBP.me		2010-08-25 18:23:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer
Posts: 5112

Wow thanks Vortex and CC!!!!! This will certainly get a good amount of use 2010-08-25 18:27:00

Author:
Powershifter
Posts: 668

Awesome! I was going to suggest this someday, or even do it myself, but anyway, this is great!2010-08-25 18:41:00

Author:
Saku401
Posts: 83

I can see this being very useful, nice work!2010-08-25 18:46:00

Author:
Pattington_Bear
Posts: 777

Just thought I'd pop in and let you guys know that it's working perfectly on Safari (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad) also. Still loving it 2010-08-25 19:08:00

Author:
piggabling
Posts: 2979

AAAAAAAAAARGH yesterday I've been searching for maybe one of my levels for around 30 minutes cos' I'm new here and now this could have been done in 30 seconds
I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU ( I love you guys [ I hope you know it guys { really } ] )		2010-08-25 20:27:00

Author:
Unknown User

AAAAAAAAAARGH yesterday I've been searching for maybe one of my levels for around 30 minutes cos' I'm new here and now this could have been done in 30 seconds
I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU ( I love you guys [ I hope you know it guys { really } ] )

First, your level has to be spotlighted before it would be included in this search engine. And for it to be spotlighted, you have to post your level yourself.

/Back on topic		2010-08-25 20:37:00

Author:
piggabling
Posts: 2979

Looks Awesome! Almost like LBP.me, but this just features Pure awesome levels!2010-08-25 21:22:00

Author:
Snrm
Posts: 6419

Should come in handy.
Perhaps a randomize function?		2010-08-25 21:27:00

Author:
midnight_heist
Posts: 2513

Should come in handy.
Perhaps a randomize function?
Oooo... That's a really good idea.		2010-08-25 21:53:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

This is great and very useful.2010-08-25 21:55:00

Author:
Eronninja13
Posts: 637

Ah, this should be the real cool pages!2010-08-25 23:33:00

Author:
AgentBanana
Posts: 511

I wanted to be able to do this. Unfortunately, my entire database was made (and is maintained) by copy-pasting the Spotlight thread OP text and then massaging it in Excel before uploading it into mySQL. The problem with level showcase links is that they are embedded in the HTML and not in the copied text. Plus, over the nearly two year course of Spotlights, they have been handled in different ways (over the last several months it has become much more standardized, but in the beginning it fluctuated often). It really just posed so much tedious work that I/we decided it wasn't worth all the effort. If anyone can suggest a method for expediting the process, I'm all ears - cuz I'd still love for that to be one of the features.


But can you do it from now on? It's better to have the links starting next spotlight than having nothing I guess. I suppose you can copy the URLs from the browser adress bar one by one...

.		2010-08-25 23:59:00

Author:
RangerZero
Posts: 3901

this is great stuff, v0rtex... especially for an absence like mine, so i'm sure newer players who missed 2009 can enjoy this alot. one of the most functional and enjoyable features added to the site in a long time.2010-08-26 02:12:00

Author:
Unknown User

Niceee, some of these levels I didn't even know existed.
Thanks a lot for this mate.
(:		2010-08-26 02:25:00

Author:
Mastadom
Posts: 195

Brilliant idea, I'll be using this a lot. Thanks v0rtex!!

2010-08-26 12:40:00

Author:
X-FROGBOY-X
Posts: 1800

Very, very interesting. And also awesome!2010-08-26 15:35:00

Author:
UpintheDC
Posts: 20

As midnight_heist suggested, a random function would be brilliant!2010-08-27 00:41:00

Author:
alexbull_uk
Posts: 1287

http://mob221.photobucket.com/albums/dd149/jasonvenner/hooray.jpg?t=12420187032010-08-27 16:25:00

Author:
ViniciusBR11
Posts: 546

Wow, this is AWESOME! It's like waking up thinking it's Monday only to discover that it's really Saturday! And that it's the first day of your Hawaiian vacation you forgot about. And the hotel resort you're staying at is having free bacon cheeseburgers and beer all week long.

Ok, so maybe not quite that cool, but still impressively fanatastic in a completely mind-blowing fashion. Thanks CC and v0rtex, you rock!		2010-08-27 16:55:00

Author:
Taffey
Posts: 3187

I <3 it! I'll be using this a lot! A great new feature to an already great site!

Good work!		2010-08-27 18:24:00

Author:
tanrockstan34
Posts: 1076

it dosent work 2 me
help!!
it says failed 2 connect to lbpcspotlights.dwbaker.net

2010-08-28 01:30:00

Author:
ViniciusBR11
Posts: 546

it dosent work 2 me
help!!
it says failed 2 connect to lbpcspotlights.dwbaker.net


I cannot explain this. I am able to access it from within LBPCentral and directly. I just checked my host, and they report no down time on the servers.

Is anyone else experiencing this glitch?		2010-08-28 02:39:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Works of me! Although, my psn is mentioned as "ccubbage" instead of "CuzFeeshe" in a couple of areas (which is ok fo Jacques the Acadian Warlord..... )

This is pretty awesome. Going through the list is like taking a trip down memory lane. Who would have thought LBP would last long enough to HAVE a memory lane? Great stuff!		2010-08-28 04:05:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Hi v0rtex, I also think it is a GREAT addition to LBPC! Thanks!

But unfortunately I'm not being able to access it... I'm getting the same msg as ViniciusBR11. (Hi V.!)
Since I'm from Brazil and it seems ViniciusBR11 is too, I'm thinking that maybe it has something to do with "from where we are trying to access it"... which for me is a bit weird! Although it is my only guess until now...

I've been trying to access it since the launch of the engine through different browsers and devices but with no luck. Next week I'm going to try from school and see if I'm luckier. (:		2010-08-29 14:21:00

Author:
Unknown User

Works of me! Although, my psn is mentioned as "ccubbage" instead of "CuzFeeshe" in a couple of areas (which is ok fo Jacques the Acadian Warlord..... )
I will have a look and clean up the database. I imagine they actually have them switched in the originial Spotlight text, because my load process is based on a simple copy-paste of that.



But unfortunately I'm not being able to access it... I'm getting the same msg as ViniciusBR11. (Hi V.!)
Since I'm from Brazil and it seems ViniciusBR11 is too, I'm thinking that maybe it has something to do with "from where we are trying to access it"... which for me is a bit weird! Although it is my only guess until now...

I've been trying to access it since the launch of the engine through different browsers and devices but with no luck. Next week I'm going to try from school and see if I'm luckier. (:
Thanks for letting us know. We are looking into this. Sorry for the inconvenience. Let me know if it works for you at school.


Perhaps a randomize function?
Such a very good idea, I just had to implement it. Thanks!! :hero: <3

Also added a Clear button that will clear/reset all the search criteria without resubmitting the search.

Thanks everyone for all the feedback and kind words!		2010-08-29 14:59:00

Author:
v0rtex
Posts: 1878

Hi v0rtex, thanks for your attention! I'm glad to hear that you guys may be looking at it.
I just tested earlier today from school and unfortunately the same message appeared, ,
the one about not been able to find lbpcspotlights.dwbaker.net.
Except that thing regarding the "region" we are trying to access it,
I really don't have a clue of what could possibly be causing this...

If it happens that you guys change something and would like me to test to see if it works,
or think of something that I could try to configure or test, just say it! (:
But anyways, now and then I'll try again and if suddenly works for me I'll post a msg here!

Thanks! 		2010-09-01 00:02:00

Author:
Unknown User

wow, CC you and v0rtex did an awsome job!2010-09-01 08:21:00

Author:
Unknown User

This is a really useful invention and it will benefit the community greatly!

Although it made me a little sad to search my name in the 'Search user' box, and it coming up with a message saying 'No results found' 		2010-09-01 09:15:00

Author:
Plasmavore
Posts: 1913

Hi v0rtex!
Aha! Today I had an idea to try out to solve this problem and it worked!
I just used a web-based proxy service (https://proxify.com/) and through it I finally was able to access the search engine.
Nontheless I still don't know what causes this problem...

But anyway, using the proxy service worked perfectly for me!
Thanks again for the engine! 		2010-10-08 00:52:00

Author:
Unknown User

Hi v0rtex!
Aha! Today I had an idea to try out to solve this problem and it worked!
I just used a web-based proxy service (https://proxify.com/) and through it I finally was able to access the search engine.
Nontheless I still don't know what causes this problem...

But anyway, using the proxy service worked perfectly for me!
Thanks again for the engine!

As a tech guy, that says to me that somewhere along the line someone is blocking your access to his server. Not sure who or why, but it's definitely strange.		2010-10-08 05:02:00

Author:
ConfusedCartman
Posts: 3729


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