We updated Loudcrowd yesterday with a whole bunch of bugfixes and a major update to how we’d like to get feedback from our users.

Our new system is through Uservoice and will help us get a better feel on what you guys want and how badly you want it.  All you need is a Loudcrowd account (no seperate username required) and an idea to get started. If you see a feature that someone already requested, you can add your own votes and comments to make sure we know you want it. We love the simplicity and hope you will too.  Anyways, enough reading about it – go check it out by logging in at http://loudcrowd.com and clicking the Feedback link at the bottom of the page!

What do you do after successfully going into public beta? Well, you party a little, you sleep a little, and maybe take a peek or two at what the press says (Wired, Associated Press (via Washington Post), Xconomy, Gamasutra, etc). My favorite bits from the last week:

from Wired: “When we won our first track after performing well in a DJ game, we were thrilled even before we heard it. This is an intriguing way to get people excited about music, because it encourages active listening.”

from a personal blog: “The final takeaway that Loudcrowd leaves in your memory, is that there’s a party going on at the site, whether you are there or not, and if you want a little.. take a visit. That’s a powerful feeling to have after just using a site once.”

But before we get too caught up in all the positive hooplah, it’s time to remember that this is essentially the starting line. Sure, there’s another game coming in a month, and new playlists that will go up regularly, but there are also huge sections of the site we have yet to put online. How do we add group coordinated play? How do we take advantage of how much you guys seem to love stamps? How can we give users more control of the experience? How should we manage when there are multiple playlists at the same time? How can we expand the music selection but maintain our vibe? And how do we continue to add all the depth we have planned while making it at least 50% easier to understand for new users?

Just glad to have you all along for the journey.

Its been a crazy few weeks here at Loudcrowd …we’ve been building up our private beta for eight months, and we’re right about to release!  I for one have been zonked getting together our new playlists-can’t say who just yet, but trust that they’ll be featuring a slew of new tracks and rarities. It’s going to be a few more days of burning the midnight oil, but then off to South by Southwest to sweat it out and party down.

A bunch of Loudcrowders will be down in Austin to show off our new improved site, so naturally we are throwing a killer party We’ll be celebrating our release with the Rock You Shamrock party- headlined by Kid Sister, Datarock, and Hey Champ, 3/17 at the Speakeasy.

We’ve got some VIP passes to give out, so send an email to sxsw@loudcrowd.com that you’re coming to the event, and we’ll enter your name into the drawing.

Here’s our full schedule for those lucky enough to be joining the SXSW festivities:

3/13-3/21 Play Loudcrowd in the hallways of the Austin convention center, come see us near the ScreenBurn arcade
3/13-3/21 Hang out with us at the PureVolume house. every. night.
3/17 Our CEO, Nabeel Hyatt, speaks on the topic “Are Games the Next iTunes?” – 10am (seriously, you can do it then go back to bed)
3/17 Party with Loudcrowd at the Speakeasy

Come say hello if you’re there!

—Fucci