Revamping the top-level pages [Spring Cleaning the Wiki]

[SeanHeron]

Just about every one of our top level site pages (the ones linked too from the nav-bar or the front page) that are wiki pages are pretty ugly. So I'm going to give them all a bit of an overhaul.

I've started with "Games", and will probably continue with "Download" next.
Constructive Feedback, and helping hands very welcome!
--
Check out the original Spring Cleaning the Wiki thread!

[AF]

Congratulations seanheron!

I have been goign on about the need for images on the games page for months and months and people have been ignoring me, and now I find the person to actually do it is someone who hasn't been ehre much and come upon the idea on his own.

Cookie for Seanheron

And shame on those content developers who registered and logge din to edit that page to add their game yet failed to add a picture, despite the fact that doing so would make your game the most visibile game on the entire site, and having images to upload already, and the will to spam the site with topheader banners and frontpage logos.

[SeanHeron]

Well, I guess I should consider the silence at least placid support for the changes made to Game so far ! Do I need to put in links - is it too much effort to click on the right Tab in the bar up top ;P? (Thanks for the praise AF).

For the Download page I'm thinking a stucture along following lines (Some guy dropping in randomly suggested similiar one's I think - couldn't find the post just now):

• - The whole page fits into one screen - no scrolling
  - Three main sections "Windows download" "Linux download" "Developer download". Each links to a page with any links and info we don't want to clutter up the main Download page with (ie Multithreading in the win one, the gazillion distos for Linux- as is now (I'm an Ubuntu user myself, so take it with salt!), and pretty much everything for Developer.
  - I'm unsure about how to deal with the "full installer" - "just engine download" bit within the Windows section - I really think it's a good idea to point out that the Engine is not a full game (especially as we link to "Downloads" from the frontpage with the caption "download and play"... - but from the navbar point of view, this should be where we offer specifically Spring downloads... Maybe prominently point to a page "GameInstallers / FullInstallers", (could look like the Games page, except exclusively for games with installers) ? (or that could be an own section...)

Any suggestions on Images I can use for each of the three section? We have Tux for Linux, that's covered. Someone disagreed with my fair use argument for using the windows logo - so I'm a bit stumpted there. Perhaps a wrench for Developers ?

[Wartender]

i say BSoD for Windoze :D
no but seriously... how bout a window with red, blue, green and yellow curtains (i didn't make this up i saw it somewhere, can't remember where)
BSoD would be hilarious though

[SinbadEV]

At least parts of these games are derived from data of the Total Annihilation game (copyright Atari). As such their distribution is not legal.

I think there are a number of people who would take issue with the wording used here, regardless of weather or not it is accurate.

I think I would prefer "As such, their distribution is potentially in breach of copyright laws and therefore not officially endorsed by the Spring RTS team."

[Wartender]

At least parts of these games are derived from data of the Total Annihilation game (copyright Atari). As such their distribution is not legal.

I think there are a number of people who would take issue with the wording used here, regardless of weather or not it is accurate.

I think I would prefer "As such, their distribution is potentially in breach of copyright laws and therefore not officially endorsed by the Spring RTS team."

unless you own a copy of TA

[Master-Athmos]

No - the distribution always is illegal. Only the usage of the files is ok when you own a TA copy...

[Wartender]

Then how are you supposed to legally play TA-based mods? D:
maybe that's why we didn't get accepted into GSoC =\

[Neddie]

You aren't.

[Master-Athmos]

Hmm - I guess that's not entirely true. Afaik the download wouldn't be illegal if you own TA. So one in fact can legally play in terms of one does break no law. Only the host (afaik just the server host and not e.g. the one who uploaded the files) would get into trouble...

This of course is an issue...

[AF]

Not quite true, for example if you own Office 2007, you cannot download a copy of Office 2007, your only allowed to download a backup of YOUR copy. So unless you made a backup and uploaded it and thats what your downloading, then your breaking the law.

Of course I have never heard of this being tested in court and I doubt it would stand up.

[SinbadEV]

In some countries the Onus for downloading copyrighted material is on the person doing the sharing not the downloading... people in those countries can legally download and play mods based on copyrighted material... Though I'm not sure which countries those are.

[Tobi]

The Netherlands is one.

Downloading is still legal here (although BREIN and others want us to believe it isn't), only uploading isn't, AFAIK.

[Wartender]

someone get the makers of TA to open it's source so we don't have to deal with this crap xD

[Wartender]

Sorry this thread got hijacked Seanheron!
we should return to the original topic guys