Central unit database?

[Crayfish]

With a recent slew of modelling going on, I wonder if there is any centralised point for these to be stored on? It'd be useful if a website existed that allowed users to upload models and specify licensing terms for their use.

Alternate versions, prototypes and textures could also be stored, rather than being obliterated when a new design comes along. This would be an aid to game developers who would be able to use these shared resource models. It'd also be cool to browse in a year or two.

Similar idea to UnitUniverse, I guess.

[MR.D]

I think Argh had something started, but if I remember right, it wasn't setup to be user friendly and was difficult to find.

But I agree, we need our own "TA-U like" file server, and a few guys to manage it and keep things organised (not me of course )

Then the community could just jump into it and work on things instead of having to hunt through pages of these individual threads.

I think something along the lines of 4 criteria for stored works would easily be.

1. Concepts and freehand

2. 3d models - listed by completion (wip/needs uvwmap, Uvmapped, need textures)

3. Textured 3d models (which need scripts, or additional texture work)

4. Finished models (which are textured, partially or fully scripted and or ready for game use).

[Crayfish]

That would be excellent. I also envisage some sort of iteration system, so that a user can add version 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. and final. The page would show the final version but also contain links to previous versions if desired.

As with many things I think of, I have a pretty good vision of the appearance and functions I want to instil into the final product but lack the skills to get it started, never mind to that point.

I might one day learn but it is unlikely to be soon (I just entered the final year of my PhD). Until then this is present as an idea / request for the people who have the ability to bring it to fruition.

[marc_gfx]

I just always start thinking about easy solutions. But possibly it just would not be enough. I've been working on a CMS for quite some time (not open source, free to use with one google ad per page) and it provides basic upload/download functionality within a folder structure. the folder structure would provide the grouping of various versions textures etc. for one unit. currently downloads don't have a representing image, but that is already on my todo list.

The issue about work-in-progress, requires-texture etc. could be handled by labels, similar to what is used in gmail. every folder or file could be assigned tags (predefined by admin). So if your looking for models to texture, you search for that specific tag, e.g. you get all models requiring texturing. this idea could be extended to get a nice representation of data. could take a while to do though, but could also be generally quite useful within my CMS.

But maybe this is the wrong approach for spring. Don't worry about offending me, if no one likes the idea it means less work ...

[Crayfish]

It's great of you to put forward the suggestion, thanks.

I haven't really ever used a CMS and don't fully understand what it does...

Could you link to what you have already so I can get a feel for it or is it not in accessible format yet?

Is it a pure folder system, or would it be possible (for someone) to integrate a more standard web front with it at a later date, using the CMS as the root database from which more fully featured pages draw their information?

As it is, it sounds really useful - something is infinitely superior to nothing, and this sounds like more than just 'something'!

[marc_gfx]

well I have been thinking this through a bit. providing a complete interface to the CMS would be cool, but adds a whole lot of additional security issues and of course much more work. but if the demand is worth the effort, sure.

adding labels to download on the other hand would be something I could do within a pretty short time. making it look cool and handle easy is the other side ... adding a way to display the developments should not be too hard, but I might be missing some key issues.

link to my CMS: http://onlito.com
I've been developing for far too long already, original target where just teams (I developed it for my sports-club...), but I have recently noticed it can be used in various ways. Stability hasnt been an issue yet, but I am sure there will be some bugs hidden in rarely used areas.

you will have to register, make a new team. then you should see a download area in the navigation on the left.

[smoth]

units require scripts that are not stolen, animations etc.. just the model is not necessarily that useful. The units if they have scripts may have effects as well, which means the addition of /bitmaps/ and gamedata. There will be the weapon defs and possibly conflicting categories. We would need the source textures, model files in common formats(.obj/3ds) and possibly even the work files.

most of the stuff on unit universe has stolen bits here and there, borrowed parts and also most of them use the TA textures. They use .3do which works fine if you are doing 3do and changing the model is easy because it doesn't have a uv map.

On top of all of this is the fact that many people, argh, mr. d, gmn, warlord, spiked, etc all have very different styles. The OTA units and textures that the unit universe stuff was based on at least gives some unity to the files and makes throwing them all into one project easy as the art matches.

I am not sure this will work out the same as unit universe. I was once behind this sort of idea for the mappers as features are fairly generic but units are a more complicated subject and spring's units can be many times more complicated than the ta addon units.

Add to this that players have to create mods/mutators to use the units makes the process even more complicated.

[marc_gfx]

I don't really have much insight into what spring needs. There are issues I need to tackle anyway for my CMS (although currently not really problematic) like scalability. Currently I couldn't provide a massively used download site, but I am looking into a few possibilities. No hurry on my part. If a lot of people believe it would make sense and be useful, I am willing to implement a solution.

[Crayfish]

@Smoth, I wasn't imagining a database where people can pick a selection of units and have an instant mod but rather a resource for developers to draw inspiration from and adapt material to their own needs.

If someone needs to change a texture or alter a model it's easier than starting from fresh, and those changes can then be fed back into the database. Right now I'm afraid that a lot of work is being lost in terms of prototype models that could be useful to someone in the future but are currently discarded and forgotten when they don't quite fit the spec of the project at hand. It's primarily a practical resource but would also serve as a historical record.

Also, I thought that building up a database of textures would be helpful to some people and that it'd be a useful practice resource for beginners. I could be wrong.

@marc_gfx, your site looks really nice and has a lot more features than I thought it would from your description. If, as you say, there is demand for this, I'm sure it could serve as a useful foundation for the unit database. Thanks for all your help so far.

Features I think would be useful or necessary:

• 1. Database searchable by model, texture, state of completion etc.
  2. Preview render screenshot(s) of model; thumbnail in search
  3. Information of:
  - 'to do' tasks on model
  - previous and alternate versions of model, textures, scripts etc.
  - active uses of model
  - licensing terms of model
  - author generated description
  - user comments and requests
  4. Easy for users to upload and maintain content
  5. Links to download each associated file, in each version
  6. Preferably guidelines on how to name successive iterations and alternate versions to facilitate searches

Please add to this if you can think of anything else.

So... what we need to know is: Would this be useful to anyone?

[daan 79]

I think you need to consider here that you cant just trough all ripped and unripped stuff in a database to comon use.

That said i suggest all new prodoction could donate in like say 6 sections on for instance jobjol or other site.

new models:
new textures:
new scripts:
new bitmaps:
new sounds:
new all:

I think all info isnt needed. You can make it very complicated. By just letting ppl set proper names to there uploads would give you aswell alot to work with. if i am correct you can allready sort by uploader what would give all new uploaded shit a section for the author.

[Saktoth]

This is a good idea, someone just needs to make it. We have a major problem in this community with usable content: Heaps of people willing to make mods but no models to make them with.

This is why we have so many OTA mods, its a good base of content. And no, we dont need a project with a coherent set of 400+ units, even small mod projects can benefit from this.

Its traffic probably wouldnt be very high so you wouldnt have to worry about bills like UF and jobjol.

[smoth]

Heaps of people willing to make something but not wanting to put forth the real effort.

just wanted to fix the post for my perspective.

crayfish, a historical record?!?! who is going to host that? It is going to cost out the nose. what it sounds like you want is a svn for content.

[Crayfish]

I said secondarily. As Saktoth mentioned I doubt there'd be much to worry about in the way of bills unless it really took off.

So it looks like we stand at

Useful: 3 (Me, Mr.D, Saktoth)
Not useful: 1 (Smoth)

Should add a poll really. Don't know how though.

[FLOZi]

It only really sounds useful for *A mods and frankly, we have enough of those.

[smoth]

Not useful: 1 (Smoth)

good to know that you do not want actual input past wow this is awesome. Sometimes it is important to have someone there to point out issues. Oh well, your loss but if you always surround yourself with yes-men you will be shocked when you find yourself unable to accomplish all of these pie in the sky things.

[AF]

We already have a tonne of infrastructure for this in place already, they're called the file download sites.

Just ask for sub categories at the respective file sites

[rattle]

It only really sounds useful for *A mods and frankly, we have enough of those.

I was about to say mod bashkit... besides there is unit universe.

[Pxtl]

I did something similar for Cube maps on Quadropolis - Drupal is a good framework for tagged data.

[Crayfish]

Not useful: 1 (Smoth)

good to know that you do not want actual input past wow this is awesome. Sometimes it is important to have someone there to point out issues. Oh well, your loss but if you always surround yourself with yes-men you will be shocked when you find yourself unable to accomplish all of these pie in the sky things.

I was looking for interest first, then input later. The interest doesn't appear to be present, so I won't spend any more thinking time on it.

Thanks again for the offers to implement this in any case marc_gfx.

[daan 79]

We already have a tonne of infrastructure for this in place already, they're called the file download sites.

Just ask for sub categories at the respective file sites

+1