We’ve got a lot done in a month and it’s hard to know where to start so let’s just dive right in. The site continues to post daily content from our contributors. Nice job! The articles are hitting the search engines as we are getting visitors who are reading them and sharing them. Solo competitions are largely done. We have a bug bounty system in place with a GWL Game Vault and we have a GWL economy (sort of).
GWL Beta
The first thing visitors may notice is that our logo on every page header menu bar is now sporting a “BETA” tag. This was done in an effort to give users the upfront knowledge that our entire project here is a work in progress. While we have restored all legacy leaderboards, player and team profiles along with the ability to search for these legacy players and legacy teams, there’s still a lot of work to be done to restore GWL as an esports hub.
The new beta logo is an indication that we know we have work to do and that visitors will realize that as well. At any one point during this process, there’s several features being worked on all at once. We acknowledge this and where features are being worked on, it should be marked “In Development”, “Still in Development”, or something where users will know that it’s being worked on.
Server Migration
The server migration that was mentioned in the last blog post update has been completed. We were operating at enough resources for a development phase of the project but we were starting to notice issues once the legacy leaderboards and legacy profiles came back online.
There needs to be a larger database buffer between the site, the server, and the database. We were noticing issues in that regard as we started testing new features while keeping the legacy system under load. This kind of pressure can only be resolved by upgrading our server resources. So we did.
As mentioned in the last blog post, the GWL Discord was costing a certain amount each month to keep up the boosts. The boosts were there to give us extra features for the Discord server but with a low visitor count, the cost became something we started to question. We basically transferred those cost savings to our server costs and that’s allowed us more and better resources to work from, for our project.
Users can still use the GWL Discord and it still has a number of features available but it will now run in conjunction with more community supported nitro boosts instead of our purchased ones. Anyone who boosts the server does get some perks as a GWL 1st level Tier subscriber.
Solo Competition Ladders
As mentioned above, “Solo Competition Ladders” are largely done. Any user can create their own solo competition (from their profile through the “Esports” tab and then the ‘Create’ sub-tab) and this in turn creates their own leaderboard for any game they choose. There are some pre-loaded games in the system but users can also type in their own game name if they choose. All created competitions will be listed in a player’s profile under the “Esports” tab through the ‘Join’ sub-tab or can also be found on the “enlist” page.
Competitions can be public or private. If they’re private they can be “Request to Join” or “Invite Only”. Going to a competition’s public facing page will show you the button to join the competition and you’ll be informed if it’s private. User’s creating these competitions can set all criteria for the competition within the “Settings” page. Everything from images for listing and promotion, to “Core Settings” for Elo, Rules of Engagement, Maps, etc.. This brings up our latest new section of GWL, “The GWL Operations Manual”.
GWL Operations Manual
“The GWL Operations Manual” is a section we created for users who are looking how GWL works and to navigate through it. It initially started as an FAQ but quickly grew as we started adding and restoring features to GWL. We can’t emphasize enough that this “Operations Manual” is a ‘Work in Progress’. Not only are features being developed constantly but they are also being refined constantly. The main GWL Operations Manual will deal with global sitewide features.
However, we’ve started to create other manuals to navigate other areas of Global Warfighter League. There’s currently a ‘GWL Warfighter’s Guide’, a ‘GWL Team (Squad) Guide’, and a ‘Competition Creation Guide’. These guides are also a ‘Work in Progress’. We’ve also developed an Elo explanation page that explains how Global Warfighter League now uses Elo for ranking, ladder inactivity, and within our new system for auto-matchmaking.
GWL Testing and Beta Testers
Simply put, we need beta testers. Up until now, most of the testing has been handled internally, either by myself or with the help of a small group of staff members. We have been able to test features at a limited scale, but what we really need now is real user load. The server migration was in preparation for that. We need more people actively using the site, pushing its limits, and, honestly, breaking things so we can identify where fixes and improvements are needed.
As we continue adding features, the strain on the system increases across the board with PHP processing, JavaScript execution, storage limits, and especially the database. At this stage, internal testing is no longer enough. It is time to open things up and see how the platform performs under real-world conditions.
GWL Bug Bounty System
To support that effort, we have introduced a GWL Bug Bounty system directly on the site. The concept is simple: if you find a bug, you get rewarded. All bug hunters have to adhere to (and agree to) our security policy and specifically the ‘GWL Vulnerability Disclosure Policy’ located there on the page.
When a user reports a bug and it is verified, they receive a GWL Token. These tokens can be exchanged for game keys through the GWL Game Vault. This system replaces how we previously handled giveaways through Discord and brings everything giveaway related directly into the Global Warfighter League platform moving forward.
Users can submit bug reports through the designated bug bounty hub. If the issue is confirmed and is not a duplicate report, the reporting user will receive a token as a reward. All tokens are stored in the user’s ‘GWL Wallet’, which is accessible through their profile as a new created tab.
Because rewards are tied to user accounts, you will need to be a registered member of the site (a Warfighter) to participate in this bounty system. However, if you simply want to report a bug without receiving a reward, you can still use the contact page as usual.
To help coordinate more focused testing, triphamm3r will be leading efforts around bug tracking and feature testing. He has created a dedicated team within GWL called “The Red Team.” Any GWL member who would like to join this team and participate in structured testing, can request to join from the main team page.
The Red Team members may receive specific testing assignments, including access to features that are not yet publicly available. These members may also be eligible for additional rewards depending on their level of involvement.
Joining the Red Team requires manually joining the team through the site through request. “Red Team” forums are available for coordination, discussion, and reporting. That said, participation in the Red Team is optional and any Warfighter can still report bugs through the standard bug bounty system without joining ‘The Red Team‘.
GWL Tokens, Wallet, and Game Vault
With the introduction of the bug bounty system, we have also launched the GWL Token system, along with the ‘GWL Wallet’ and Game Vault.
GWL Tokens are now an active part of the platform and can be distributed in several ways. While bug reporting is one of the primary methods, tokens may also be awarded for competition results, community contributions, GWL Game Nights, merchandise (future plans), and general activity across the site.
All tokens are stored within a user’s ‘GWL Wallet’, which also serves as a permanent record of activity. When a token is earned, it is logged in the wallet. When a token is redeemed for a game key in the ‘GWL Game Vault’, that transaction is also recorded in their own wallet audit log. Users can also see what they received (key), which game it applies to, and the reason the token was awarded in the first place.
Right now, the GWL Game Vault acts as the central hub for redeeming rewards, replacing the old Discord-based “Giveaways” system with something fully integrated into our platform here. We are actively filling this vault with game keys daily. There’s a certain amount of time involved in making sure all info is correct as well as making sure warfighters know what game the key is for with a link to the Steam game, so patience is appreciated here.
All game keys are coming from game key donations from game developers, gaming websites and benefactors of the Global Warfighter League over the years and it takes time to get them into our new system.
Looking ahead, we plan to expand the use of tokens beyond game keys. Future ideas include using tokens for Global Warfighter League merchandise and additional GWL-related rewards. Those systems are still in development, but the foundation of token distribution, storage, security, and redemption, is already live and functioning for all Warfighters.
In Conclusion
I’d like to again thank The GWL Project team for their work here. The features are coming along well and we’re making progress in the right direction AND at a nice pace! Great job. Fantastic work. Cheers!
