Trainers, did you know that Starbucks are placed in game by the Niantic team and should not be nominated in-game?
Agents, have a Portal without a photo? Upload a new one for 500AP!
It was rated as one of the top AMA answers, but unfortunately the posted question was watered down and not really addressed at the time. Hopefully comments like these can be made now that there is an official Wayfarer Twitter account!
“Remember you’re not nominating just for the game you submit from, but adding to the game board across Niantic titles. Your nomination may not appear in the game you submit from, but might help out other titles!”
"Lack of Pokestops in your area does not make something eligible. Niantic promotes exploration as part of our game ethos, so don't complain that 'the nearest stop is 5 minutes walk away'. Explore".
All the infographics which were made by the Wayfarer Discussion Discord!
Especially the one about titles. Learn what a goddamn title is and then have an image about the best practices for wayspot titles (such as with books: not including them as sentence, and NOT adding full-stops at the end of each one).
Not to bother with the appeals system, its a black hole and not even being looked at or used by niantic. better luck just resubmitting and hopefully getting decent reviewers.
It's a good idea to tweet out wayspot nominations, reviews, and how to find good POIs at regular intervals so that various notes appear when you launch Pokémon GO, Ingles, or Pikmin.
I think it would be safe to do this three to four times a day, or one round in two weeks.
"Remember to vote on submissions based on Niantics rules and guidelines, rather than what you or people who live on the wayfarer forum think should or shouldn't be portals"
"Don't spoil a good Waypoint nomination by copying the Waypoint description directly from a web page, facebook page or straight off the nominated sign or plaque. Copied text used like this immediately makes the nomination invalid as "3rd party text" is being used. Write your own description".
"If you take your supporting photograph, make sure the nomination subject is in it! Otherwise, we just see a random picture of a random scenery and can't verify diddly-squat..."
Oh, how many trailmarkers I have rejected with a supporting photo that's taken 180 degrees in the opposite direction. No photosphere, no indications.. and we're to figure out where a small pole is located in the middle of a forest with only an aerial photo?
Edit: upon re-reading the above I have to correct myself: I have not rejected trailmarkers, I one-starred them on location alone, which increased the overall potential for rejection. Thanks @Kellerrys-ING for the insight.,
"In your supporting statement, stop mentioning how safe this place is, how many kids frequent the place, or how little 'stops' there are for your taste. Safety is what reviewers decide, how many kids there are is completely irrelevant, and we've noticed that everyone lies about the supposedly small number of Wayspots in their area."
Little free libraries make great wayspots, especially those located in parks, at public buildings, at businesses and even common areas in apartment complexes. However, those located at private residences are not eligible, no matter how cool they are.
Not really. We're supposed to figure out if the small pole can/could exist in the marked location in the middle of the forest. If answer is yes, 3* for location, not 1* rejection.
Even worse is the people that lie or otherwise use a disability or Covid to try to argue that reviewers should approve an ineligible wayspot (usually on PRP) because they can not get to nearby Pokéstops easily and they "need" more items. 😑 I have a brain tumor that is eventually going to be terminal and that effects my mobility but I would never even consider playing the tumor card to try to push through an ineligible wayspot or use the word "need" when it comes to objects in a game.
😂 Rant over. People using supporting "information" to try to manipulate people to pity approve their nomination is a pet peeves of mine and is more likely to result in me not voting to approve borderline nominations and lead to me using the abuse rejection reason for clearly ineligible nominations.
"Trainers, we know that you would love to have a Homespot- and Gym. Sadly we have to tell you that this isnt possible at everyones home. You should get out, move your feet, gain some muscles and make new contacts with other fellow players. And dont bring up that covid-thing as an excuse to not leave home permanently. Save Travels!"
Exactly right, thanks for the correction - I've edited my earlier post which was incorrect. I should have said 'one starred them on location', I never rejected them on the 'should this be a wayspot'-question. However, I always have the feeling it leads to a location rejection if no one can find its location.
LFLs at least aren't ineligible, just unacceptable.
Eligible and acceptable aren't the same thing. Eligible simply means something meets the eligibly criteria. It's just that that's only a third of the puzzle. Submissions must also meet all of the acceptance criteria and none of the rejection criteria.
A LFL will almost always meet the eligibility criteria, but one in front of someone's house will also meet one of the rejection criteria.
1* for location is also wrong in "in the middle of the forest" situations. As you pointed in your edit, it leads to needless rejections.
Hi @ Rostwold-ING and @ sogNinjaman-ING, that response from @ NianticAndres was for this particular question and should not be generalised. In a scenario wherein the object is obscured by trees and the correct location can not be verified, you should use your best judgment to decide whether the candidate could exist at the real-world location. And, if the object possibly can not exist at the location, you should rate it 1 star.
I think I proved a point about the toxic people on this forum with the down votes on that. People really do think their choice of what should be a POI supercedes Niantics.
For tweet:
"Just because something had School in its name does not mean it's K-12. Drama schools, Music schools, Performance Arts schools etc are eligible"
There's a bit more on the subject of locations in the help text:
"For these cases, use your best judgement to decide whether the nomination could exist at the real-world location. You can use the submission photo and look for clues in the background to help you decide." If I see a forest from above with no pedestrian path, why would there be a trailmarker? The submitter has a certain effort to put in as well.
Which brings me back to the original point of the 'tweet': Include the subject in the supporting photo! If possible, with recognizable features in the background.
I'm familiar with the quoted text. Quote from NianticAaron (and NianticAndres) was a clarification for that particular criteria text. Read the thread.
Why couldn't there be a trailmarker in the forest? Do you assume to see the trails under trees from the satellite view?
Naturally nominator needs to put in effort to convince reviewers that it's possible/likely that there is a trail/trailmarker/something else in the forest. But that happens with description and support texts. In the middle of the forest situations a support photo, no matter how good, is usually useless.
Naturally nominator needs to put in effort to convince reviewers that it's possible/likely that there is a trail/trailmarker/something else in the forest. But that happens with description and support texts.
Comments
Years ago, I presented this as an AMA question:
Trainers, did you know that Starbucks are placed in game by the Niantic team and should not be nominated in-game?
Agents, have a Portal without a photo? Upload a new one for 500AP!
It was rated as one of the top AMA answers, but unfortunately the posted question was watered down and not really addressed at the time. Hopefully comments like these can be made now that there is an official Wayfarer Twitter account!
Trainers, did you know that Starbucks are placed in game by the Niantic team and should not be nominated in-game?
@NianticCasey-ING may take umbrage with that. 😆
But they could tweet out some better things for sure.
Stop trying to nominate LFLs or anything else you stick in your single family home's yard to try to get a couch portal. They are ineligible.
"Remember to nominate LFL's as they are eligible as a great community resource, especially for those that are unable to travel far"
Neighborhood entrances and apartment complex signs are ineligible unless they have unique historic or artistic merit.
Right now this is the #1 source of coal that I come across while reviewing.
“Remember you’re not nominating just for the game you submit from, but adding to the game board across Niantic titles. Your nomination may not appear in the game you submit from, but might help out other titles!”
"Lack of Pokestops in your area does not make something eligible. Niantic promotes exploration as part of our game ethos, so don't complain that 'the nearest stop is 5 minutes walk away'. Explore".
clubhouses in apartment complexes are eligible because they are a place for social gatherings as well as other amenities for the apartment complex.
point of interests inside apartment complexes are not private residential property.
All the infographics which were made by the Wayfarer Discussion Discord!
Especially the one about titles. Learn what a goddamn title is and then have an image about the best practices for wayspot titles (such as with books: not including them as sentence, and NOT adding full-stops at the end of each one).
Not to bother with the appeals system, its a black hole and not even being looked at or used by niantic. better luck just resubmitting and hopefully getting decent reviewers.
It's a good idea to tweet out wayspot nominations, reviews, and how to find good POIs at regular intervals so that various notes appear when you launch Pokémon GO, Ingles, or Pikmin.
I think it would be safe to do this three to four times a day, or one round in two weeks.
"Remember to vote on submissions based on Niantics rules and guidelines, rather than what you or people who live on the wayfarer forum think should or shouldn't be portals"
They probably should tweet out new PoI of the day. Submission Gold.
Maybe weekly give us stats on how many PoI were approved, how many way points were improved (edited).
Since they have history I wonder if they can show maps of areas before (pre wayfarer) and after. Show what can happen with good nominations.
"Don't spoil a good Waypoint nomination by copying the Waypoint description directly from a web page, facebook page or straight off the nominated sign or plaque. Copied text used like this immediately makes the nomination invalid as "3rd party text" is being used. Write your own description".
"If you take your supporting photograph, make sure the nomination subject is in it! Otherwise, we just see a random picture of a random scenery and can't verify diddly-squat..."
Oh, how many trailmarkers I have rejected with a supporting photo that's taken 180 degrees in the opposite direction. No photosphere, no indications.. and we're to figure out where a small pole is located in the middle of a forest with only an aerial photo?
Edit: upon re-reading the above I have to correct myself: I have not rejected trailmarkers, I one-starred them on location alone, which increased the overall potential for rejection. Thanks @Kellerrys-ING for the insight.,
"In your supporting statement, stop mentioning how safe this place is, how many kids frequent the place, or how little 'stops' there are for your taste. Safety is what reviewers decide, how many kids there are is completely irrelevant, and we've noticed that everyone lies about the supposedly small number of Wayspots in their area."
Little free libraries make great wayspots, especially those located in parks, at public buildings, at businesses and even common areas in apartment complexes. However, those located at private residences are not eligible, no matter how cool they are.
Not really. We're supposed to figure out if the small pole can/could exist in the marked location in the middle of the forest. If answer is yes, 3* for location, not 1* rejection.
Slightly modified tweet of that clarification could prevent many needless rejections. :)
I would add "or mentioning Pokéstop, catching Pokémon, or other game related references in the description".
Even worse is the people that lie or otherwise use a disability or Covid to try to argue that reviewers should approve an ineligible wayspot (usually on PRP) because they can not get to nearby Pokéstops easily and they "need" more items. 😑 I have a brain tumor that is eventually going to be terminal and that effects my mobility but I would never even consider playing the tumor card to try to push through an ineligible wayspot or use the word "need" when it comes to objects in a game.
😂 Rant over. People using supporting "information" to try to manipulate people to pity approve their nomination is a pet peeves of mine and is more likely to result in me not voting to approve borderline nominations and lead to me using the abuse rejection reason for clearly ineligible nominations.
"Trainers, we know that you would love to have a Homespot- and Gym. Sadly we have to tell you that this isnt possible at everyones home. You should get out, move your feet, gain some muscles and make new contacts with other fellow players. And dont bring up that covid-thing as an excuse to not leave home permanently. Save Travels!"
Exactly right, thanks for the correction - I've edited my earlier post which was incorrect. I should have said 'one starred them on location', I never rejected them on the 'should this be a wayspot'-question. However, I always have the feeling it leads to a location rejection if no one can find its location.
LFLs at least aren't ineligible, just unacceptable.
Eligible and acceptable aren't the same thing. Eligible simply means something meets the eligibly criteria. It's just that that's only a third of the puzzle. Submissions must also meet all of the acceptance criteria and none of the rejection criteria.
A LFL will almost always meet the eligibility criteria, but one in front of someone's house will also meet one of the rejection criteria.
1* for location is also wrong in "in the middle of the forest" situations. As you pointed in your edit, it leads to needless rejections.
Hi @ Rostwold-ING and @ sogNinjaman-ING, that response from @ NianticAndres was for this particular question and should not be generalised. In a scenario wherein the object is obscured by trees and the correct location can not be verified, you should use your best judgment to decide whether the candidate could exist at the real-world location. And, if the object possibly can not exist at the location, you should rate it 1 star.
(Emphasis by me.) Link
https://community.wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/discussion/comment/56762#Comment_56762
There is a longer discussion in the same thread for the interested.
I think I proved a point about the toxic people on this forum with the down votes on that. People really do think their choice of what should be a POI supercedes Niantics.
For tweet:
"Just because something had School in its name does not mean it's K-12. Drama schools, Music schools, Performance Arts schools etc are eligible"
It's you guys wrongly 1*ing instead of 3*ing causing unnecessary rejections
There's a bit more on the subject of locations in the help text:
"For these cases, use your best judgement to decide whether the nomination could exist at the real-world location. You can use the submission photo and look for clues in the background to help you decide." If I see a forest from above with no pedestrian path, why would there be a trailmarker? The submitter has a certain effort to put in as well.
Which brings me back to the original point of the 'tweet': Include the subject in the supporting photo! If possible, with recognizable features in the background.
I'm familiar with the quoted text. Quote from NianticAaron (and NianticAndres) was a clarification for that particular criteria text. Read the thread.
Why couldn't there be a trailmarker in the forest? Do you assume to see the trails under trees from the satellite view?
Naturally nominator needs to put in effort to convince reviewers that it's possible/likely that there is a trail/trailmarker/something else in the forest. But that happens with description and support texts. In the middle of the forest situations a support photo, no matter how good, is usually useless.
--
Agreed on the original point.
@Kellerrys-ING One of the easiest things a submitter can do to help out is to provide a link to a trail map in the supporting info.
Yes.
Naturally nominator needs to put in effort to convince reviewers that it's possible/likely that there is a trail/trailmarker/something else in the forest. But that happens with description and support texts.