Metalunderground.com Relaunches Membership Feature

Site Update

Metalunderground.com Relaunches Membership Feature

posted Jun 18, 2008 at 8:49 AM by deathbringer. (47 Comments)

Like many things here, when I launched the member sign up, it was a quick and dirty job to allow for users to 1) reserve their username and 2) register for a couple of giveaways I had lined up.

Finally, I've completed some of the essential functions that go with a membership site, such as the ability to view and edit user profiles, as well as a "forgot password" and "forgot username" functions.

I have heard the comments about users too lazy to login to comment in the past. I would highly encourage all users with existing accounts to login and update their information. I have some things in store that will make your member accounts more valuable - as was always the intent - and those who have been around here for a very long time may even get some added bonuses. At some point I will also have to "clean up" (i.e. delete) unused accounts, so please go log in to your account today.

One very minor but important addition to profiles is the ability to mark them private. So as to not expose anyone's personal information without their knowledge or consent, all existing profiles have been set to private by default. You can uncheck this box when you edit your profile information. Profiles set to private will not show any personal information, but may show some sorts of site interaction, yet to be determined (such as favorite bands or rated albums, if any).

Currently, registered members get the following benefits when logged in:

Reserved user name (once registered)
A profile page
Slightly fewer ads and no intrusive ads such as popups/unders or interstitials.
Eligible for members-only contests and giveaways

Some other things planned for registered members (currently unavailable but in the works) include more interactivity such as posting on message boards, rating albums, designating your favorite bands and more.

Finally, to celebrate the occasion, we will be holding a drawing for two lucky winners to win a Metalunderground.com t-shirt. To be eligible, all you have to do is log in and updated your profile (after June 15) and made it public. We will draw the winning names on July 1 and contact them via email (so it's important that your email address is valid and up to date). As a note, it has always been part of our Terms of Service that you are not allowed to have more than one user account, so please do not register additional accounts in an attempt to increase your chances of winning. If discovered, you will be disqualified and all of your accounts will be deleted.

UPDATE: Just to clarify, the winners contacted will have 1 week to reply with their shirt size and full mailing address. If they do not reply within that time, a new winner will be randomly chosen and contacted.

Thanks for your patience on getting these features out after such a long delay.

If you're not already a registered member, you can sign up here - it's quick and free.

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47 Comments on "Metalunderground.com Relaunches Membership Feature"

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Senior News Correspondent

1. zMETALlica writes:

Hell yeah! Glad to have the profiles up.

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 9:19 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

2. StabbingTheDrama writes:

I like that we have profiles now but I don't like that I have to have my full name on here and can't hide my last name at least.

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 1:58 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

3. StabbingTheDrama writes:

Actually, never mind. If other users are going to put their names on here, I guess it's okay to have mine too. :p

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 1:59 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

4. Public_Execution writes:

I like the new features. Keep up the good work.

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 2:04 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

5. deathbringer writes:

Yeah, I was thinking about the display of the full name as well... Perhaps I should put just the first letter of the last names to avoid people's names coming up on Google from this profile? And avoid having to mark their entire profile private just to prevent that. I was also thinking about only letting logged in users view other users' profiles as a measure against this. Thoughts?

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 3:20 PM ET | IP Logged

Reviewer

6. Terminator writes:

^ i like that

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 3:42 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

7. deathbringer writes:

Which part? How about a combination. Non logged in users and search engines see "Firstname LastInitial" and logged in users see the whole thing (if not marked private, of course)?

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 4:13 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

8. godlike writes:

Personally, I would rather have only the first name and perhaps just an initial for the last name...
In the town I live in, there's a man with the same exact name that isnt even a relative..
Over the years there has been several very odd, embarrasing and hard to explain calls made to that mans home by mistake ;-)--~ ~
I would hate to have some disgruntled internet bully calling that guy to tell him that he is going to kick my a$$.. ;-)
Besides that, Ive always thought it was kinda cool to remain halfassed anonymous..!!

The rest of the options are great... two thumbs up.!!

Black Sabbath - Hot Line

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 4:14 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

9. StabbingTheDrama writes:

I would rather just have my first name and initial. I feel very odd having my last name posted when there are so many people that just randomly come on this site and other sites to mess with people. And I also like the idea that only logged in users can view each others profiles.

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 4:54 PM ET | IP Logged

Writer

10. goatlady writes:

Awesome stuff deathbringer - thanks a lot!

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 8:21 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

11. Kalis_wrath writes:

So, MU does have a tee shirt? I had been wondering about that. I also wondered about how one might obtain one. Might there be a pic of it?

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 8:34 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

12. deathbringer writes:

OK, so I'm going to err on the side of caution (as I did with marking everyone's profile private by default), and only show first name + last initial for everyone. There are too many privacy issues, and even though I can stop the search engines from spidering the info, it might be too much personal info to give one's full name, city, state, and country. You could pretty much find anything out about someone online from that info alone.

(Yes, we have a t-shirt that so far just contributors have, but we'll start selling them soon! It's pretty much a small left crest logo on the front and larger logo with some writing and Hammerslag Fest logo - which we sponsored - on the back)

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 9:17 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

13. Kalis_wrath writes:

Sounds like a nifty shirt! I might just get one when they go on sale, unless I end up winning it. Hahaha!

# Jun 18, 2008 @ 11:26 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

14. Tomo writes:

Finally, the profiles feature.. thankyou, keep up the good work!

# Jun 19, 2008 @ 12:26 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

15. Jackrum writes:

Updated.

# Jun 19, 2008 @ 1:30 AM ET | IP Logged

Senior News Correspondent

16. Diamond Oz writes:

Kalis, I have a MU shirt, if you like I'll take a picture of what they it looks like so you can see?

Now playing: Body Count- Hey Joe

# Jun 19, 2008 @ 6:28 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

17. DeathInEye writes:

What sizes Deathbringer? I'm curious because I have to wear youth large since my condition makes me look anorexic. I have no muscle mass. O,o lol But everything else sounds great!

# Jun 19, 2008 @ 9:19 AM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

18. deathbringer writes:

Adult S-XXL is what we've got.

# Jun 19, 2008 @ 1:23 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

19. Kalis_wrath writes:

That would be nifty Diamond! You could link the photobucket link in here so we all can see? I would need a small. Hahaha!

# Jun 19, 2008 @ 1:30 PM ET | IP Logged

Senior News Correspondent

20. Diamond Oz writes:

Front: http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k109/Diamond_Oz/Picture73.jpg

Back: http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k109/Diamond_Oz/Picture74.jpg

Sorry the front one isn't very good but you get the point. I wear mine alot, any other site I'd feel like a geek wearing a shirt of it lol.

Now playing: Megadeth- Crush 'Em

# Jun 19, 2008 @ 1:44 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

21. Fuck_A_Name writes:

YES!!! I can log in now! thanks db for fixing the "forgot your password" feature; although now that I got it back, I feel really stupid for not remembering it. I had tried every other password in the world that I use for things except that one, and it was the most obvious one too! Son of a b****.

Now that I'm logged in as a member, can I say "Bruce d***inson" without it being censored?

Now Playing: At the gates- "blinded by fear"

# Jun 20, 2008 @ 5:12 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

22. Fuck_A_Name writes:

damnit! lol Bruce d***inson!!!!

# Jun 20, 2008 @ 5:14 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

23. ZT writes:

I like the new feature, now everyone knows my name and location(but not my address).

# Jun 20, 2008 @ 9:16 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

24. deathbringer writes:

LMAO, F.A.N. Sorry, the language filter is still there.

# Jun 20, 2008 @ 10:22 PM ET | IP Logged

Reviewer

25. Terminator writes:

how do you view other members' profiles? just curious.

# Jun 20, 2008 @ 11:18 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

26. deathbringer writes:

Click on their name here in the comments for now... I need to put an icon or something next to it, so it's more obvious who is a member though.

# Jun 20, 2008 @ 11:22 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

27. StabbingTheDrama writes:

So can people that are not logged in still able to view profiles? Just curious.

# Jun 21, 2008 @ 12:09 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

28. EpicNeckbeard writes:

I've been on hiatus for like 2 weeks and i come back and we can have profiles now? i like the direction this site is going.

# Jun 21, 2008 @ 12:51 AM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

29. deathbringer writes:

Yes, profiles are currently viewable by anyone, but all info is private by default.

# Jun 21, 2008 @ 9:44 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

30. Lady-Reaper writes:

Is there anyway we can send invitations to others?

# Jun 22, 2008 @ 2:45 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

31. StabbingTheDrama writes:

Use email and send them a link to the site... LOL

# Jun 22, 2008 @ 6:19 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

32. Dee writes:

That's awesome! Really cool....even though I won't be picked to win a T-shirt LoL ;)

# Jun 25, 2008 @ 7:15 PM ET | IP Logged

Senior News Correspondent

33. darkstar writes:

OooOOoohh. Nifty.

# Jun 26, 2008 @ 1:50 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

34. Kalis_wrath writes:

Finnally updated. Had to pull a hat trick on my phone to do it, but where there is a will there is a way!

# Jun 27, 2008 @ 12:04 AM ET | IP Logged

35. LiquidMetal writes:

hey deathbringer, theres only one problem, im gonna be gone for the next four weeks starting tomorrow morning, i wont have access to email so if i win im not gonna be able to reply until july 27.

# Jun 27, 2008 @ 3:31 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

36. fearthedje writes:

Sweet, I can finally register on my favorite metal site.

# Jul 1, 2008 @ 12:19 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

37. StabbingTheDrama writes:

How do we upload an avatar deathbringer?

# Jul 2, 2008 @ 1:03 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

38. Kalis_wrath writes:

Hahaha! I am a "Member." :P

# Jul 2, 2008 @ 1:11 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

39. deathbringer writes:

Haha, I'll have an official announcement and more details coming soon, but the short of it is to sign up at gravatar.com with the email address you use on your Metalunderground.com account.

# Jul 2, 2008 @ 2:15 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

40. brandedcfh420 writes:

im up and going. thanx for the new features. adds more spice to the site.

# Jul 4, 2008 @ 2:22 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

41. Kalis_wrath writes:

So, who do I congratulate for winning the tee shirts?

# Jul 4, 2008 @ 3:32 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

42. Pursuit_Of_Vikings writes:

It's already been said, but I just wanted to thank Deathbringer and anyone else who is behind these recent improvements to an already great site. I'm really liking the avatars and profiles.

# Jul 4, 2008 @ 7:19 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

43. deathbringer writes:

I have not gotten any replies back from the winners so by the end of Monday I could be picking news ones.

# Jul 4, 2008 @ 11:18 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

44. Kalis_wrath writes:

Ah... wondered why no announcement had been made.

# Jul 5, 2008 @ 12:25 AM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

45. deathbringer writes:

Well I didn't really intent to announce the winners here anyway... Just inform them by email.

# Jul 5, 2008 @ 12:29 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

46. Jackrum writes:

well if you need to pick new winners, i will step up and volenteer to be a winner if you like..

# Jul 5, 2008 @ 5:06 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

47. Kalis_wrath writes:

*LOL* You are such selfless man Jackrum! :P

Deathbringer, I think that it would be cool to have an announcment. Just my opinion. :)

# Jul 5, 2008 @ 5:42 PM ET | IP Logged

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