Endorsements to unique downloads sort option

[PatrickTheDM]

Seeing as how unique downloads with an endorsment represent more accurately the community interest in a mod, could an option be added to sort mods by the ratio of endorsements to unique downloads?

 

Just using endorsements or total downloads does not properly represent the quality of a mod in my opinion.

 

Thoughts?

Edited May 23, 2018 by Asaforg

[JimmyRJump]

Since both can only be added once (one unique download and one endorsement) when sifting through mods sorted by endorsements, you are already more or less searching based on unique downloads. Things would get more accurate if the amount of endorsements was equal to the unique downloads, but that will never happen since endorsing isn't obligatory.

 

Adding a search option based on unique downloads alone would be better. And feasable too. But unique downloads don't represent satisfaction of a mod. Endorsements do.

 

You can upload an empty file and it will get X amount of unique downloads. But no-one will be happy with it as it's an empty file and thus no-one will endorse. So, on which basis would you like to download now?

[PatrickTheDM]

It's my understanding that when you sort by downloads it uses the total downloads and not the unique. A low number of unique downloads with a decent amount of endorsments (say 10% or more) shows that the downloaders do like the mod, whereas that same number of endorsements compared to total downloads could be a significantly lower percentage if the mod has several optional download options or has been updated a few times.

 

The ratio I'm suggesting would maintain more consistency as the mod ages.

 

Thanks for the input as well Jimmy. :smile:

 

EDIT: I reworded the original post a bit so that it better reflects my suggestion.

Edited May 23, 2018 by Asaforg

[JimmyRJump]

Unique downloads and even percentage of endorsements are a crooked representation for half the mods because 50% have multiple files, either for different versions of the game like with or without DLC or with some of the DLC or different colours of items or like F4SE that has a new release for each upgrade of the game.

 

Ten per cent is about the average of endorsements a mod gets. Take ten per cent from unique downloads or from overall downloads and you'll get a different outcome, sure, but in a graph the curve of interest will be the same.

 

A system that would let you endorse the file you downloaded instead of the mod in general would be nice. There's people like Eleanora who have a page that contains a dozen or more totally different mods. And after that has been worked out lets make endorsing or abstaining mandatory. I see far too many people seeking help for their load order that contains 255 plugins or because one of those 255 mods crashes their game and they have been around for five or ten years and have not given a single endorsement...

[PatrickTheDM]

I think "in a graph the curve of interest will be the same" is a huge assumption that would not pan out. The ratio of unique downloads to endorsements truly represents the number of downloaders that feel the mod deserves an endorsement. The system may be flawed, but I believe this is a better use of the available data to show a mod's potential quality.

 

Many people choose not to participate in the endorsement system because they think it's flawed, pointless or they simply don't realize how much it's used as a metric to keep good mods from disappearing into a sea of mediocrity.

 

The point your making with Eleanora still works with what I am saying because the ratio normalizes interest across the board and sorts the mods according to that interest.

[JimmyRJump]

 

 

...()...The point your making with Eleanora still works with what I am saying because the ratio normalizes interest across the board and sorts the mods according to that interest.

No it doesn't since the general stats don't say which of the files was downloaded most and as such isn't a representation of interest at all. For multi-file mods, the endorsement system also doesn't say for which of the files the endorsement was granted.

 

Have a look at individual downloads per file. Why don't they use those stats to set an individual popularity? My guess is that it would take some serious coding to implement it. Also not sure what can be done with the IPB board and if it's rented or bought.

 

I also feel that Unique downloads should go up when an updated file has been added and downloaded, since, technically, that new file can be considered a new mod. But again, the general stats only look at page level, not at individual files level. When endorsing you in fact endorse the mod page, not the mod itself.

 

Anyway, I'm not against your idea, mind you. Just some aloud musings about the way stats are read. I think, the more cross-referencing the merrier.

[PatrickTheDM]

I like the discussion because it may help if someone that can implement something reads this. :D The number of mod pages that have multiple mods on them are in the lowest percentile and were most likely done by the author for ease of maintenance. I myself have 9 mods on LE and 3 converted to SE so I can see why.

 

Something I just thought about. Although the stats on the main page don't show which file has the most downloads, the files page does list total number of downloads and unique for each file so one could easily see if one file has substantially more downloads. I can't understand how total downloads can be so much higher then unique anyway. Many times it's more then double even if the file has never been updated.