Can the "More Mods" and "More Maps" links lead to Wiki pages on the subject rather than directly to FileUniverse? It would allow much more customization and accuracy, as well as taking a lot of burden off Gnome and Storm, who have to categorize thousands of files.
The main wiki mods page would be a suitable location for the "more mods" link, and mod-makers could have direct-download links available to FileUniverse or any number of other mirrors. They could also direct readers to their respective mods' homepage where much more information could be made available - such as a unit guide, mod news, etc, etc, etc.
As it stands now, people who are new, or even experienced "Springers" have to judge whether they want something solely on a dozen-word description and maybe an image if they're lucky. I mean, look at the site I've got set up for Absolute Annihilation: http://www.planetannihilation.com/aa - it has a wealth of information that nobody here knows about because there's just not a place for me to put it! The wiki is helpful, sure, but ultimately the best way to convey information is through a fully-customized, polished HTML document.
Easily done but big enhancement to TASClient
Moderator: Moderators
The "More Maps" page pulls the data from a special hidden page on FU. We could make it pull any data (descriptions, uploader, whatever) for the client we wanted, Betalord just has to request it. It'd only take a couple minutes to do on our end. I assume Betalord keeps it down to map title, URL, and one pic so it doesn't take ages to load on slower connections.
As for more mods, we could set up something similar to the map system if Betalord wanted just as easily. It's really his call.
Now for personal opinion: For mods, whatever. The list is still rather small, and it could easily be pointed somewhere else. The problem with that is that you need someone to actively maintain the list; whereas having an FU generated page will pull the data straight out of the database there dynamically, so the only effort involved is actually uploading the map and filling in the fields initially. It could be done for mods, though, since the mod list is always smaller than the map list.
For maps, I don't think the system should be broken off now. I don't say this because of my ties with FU, I say this because there's just too much now to really turn back. We can easily provide more info, like I said, Betalord just has to request it. There's also still the dynamic database issue -- creating the map list like we do now takes literally no effort from anyone once the map is in the right category on the site. If you had it point to the wiki for maps, someone would have to manually update it constantly, and it'd be bound to fall into disrepair quickly.
[edit] Just to be clear, I'm not against providing more information--I'm just saying it'd be far easier to maintain lists by expanding the current system a little rather than trying to keep a wiki page up to date manually.
And also, it doesn't take much effort to keep FU running smoothly at all; moving files and such only takes a couple clicks.
As for more mods, we could set up something similar to the map system if Betalord wanted just as easily. It's really his call.
Now for personal opinion: For mods, whatever. The list is still rather small, and it could easily be pointed somewhere else. The problem with that is that you need someone to actively maintain the list; whereas having an FU generated page will pull the data straight out of the database there dynamically, so the only effort involved is actually uploading the map and filling in the fields initially. It could be done for mods, though, since the mod list is always smaller than the map list.
For maps, I don't think the system should be broken off now. I don't say this because of my ties with FU, I say this because there's just too much now to really turn back. We can easily provide more info, like I said, Betalord just has to request it. There's also still the dynamic database issue -- creating the map list like we do now takes literally no effort from anyone once the map is in the right category on the site. If you had it point to the wiki for maps, someone would have to manually update it constantly, and it'd be bound to fall into disrepair quickly.
[edit] Just to be clear, I'm not against providing more information--I'm just saying it'd be far easier to maintain lists by expanding the current system a little rather than trying to keep a wiki page up to date manually.
And also, it doesn't take much effort to keep FU running smoothly at all; moving files and such only takes a couple clicks.
The current "more map" system is very good, I like how it looks like fully integrated in the client. You see a map, you click download, and you're ready to play. No browsing through pages, no manually selecting the right folder to download to, just one click to get a map. Apparently as soon as a file is moved into the Spring map category it gets listed in the Spring lobby, so it really doesn't take any effort to the FU staff to get map listed there.
No wiki page could be so efficient and so easy to maintain.
No wiki page could be so efficient and so easy to maintain.
Alright, well, the main focus here was for mods. And anyone who's interested enough to make a mod will be willing to set up at least a little page with a link to the latest version of their file at FU.
See here: http://taspring.clan-sy.com/wiki/Mods ?
Ideally everyone would have a page similar to AA's, in terms of information about the mod and 3 or so screenshots of it in action, plus a download link and a link to more information. It would just plain work a lot better, for a) the people at FU, b) people looking for information on mods before they download them, c) Newbies in general, d) mod-makers who want a description that *they* can write.
I daresay it's easier to click "edit this page" on the wiki than to email Gnome, ask him to change something's wording a little or add some extra information and have it a) lost in transit, b) overwhelm him with similar demands from the other 1000+ plus people who upload there, and c) ignored.
See here: http://taspring.clan-sy.com/wiki/Mods ?
Ideally everyone would have a page similar to AA's, in terms of information about the mod and 3 or so screenshots of it in action, plus a download link and a link to more information. It would just plain work a lot better, for a) the people at FU, b) people looking for information on mods before they download them, c) Newbies in general, d) mod-makers who want a description that *they* can write.
I daresay it's easier to click "edit this page" on the wiki than to email Gnome, ask him to change something's wording a little or add some extra information and have it a) lost in transit, b) overwhelm him with similar demands from the other 1000+ plus people who upload there, and c) ignored.
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Doomweaver
- Posts: 704
- Joined: 30 Oct 2004, 14:14
Yeah, but that's the thing. The pages will LINK to fileuniverse's download for that mod. Only on the same page will be actual useful information about the mod in question.IMSabbel wrote:it seems you are the only one who really has a problem with it.
Otoh, the convienient and fast (300k+) downloads from FU make the whole thing really usable to begin with.
Storm's laid down a framework user system on FU so far, but he hasn't finished implementing it yet. When he does, users will be able to edit their own files as necessary. As it is now, if you need something changed, just PM/email/otherwise message one of us admins and we'll gladly do it for you.Doomweaver wrote:Couldn't something be set up so that if you have the right username/password, you can edit the text/pictures whatever on pages with your name attached to them on FU?
Like I said, it'd take two minutes of updates on our side to display more information. Betalord just needs to give the word.Caydr wrote:Yeah, but that's the thing. The pages will LINK to fileuniverse's download for that mod. Only on the same page will be actual useful information about the mod in question.
Well, that may be sensible for mods, in a way, but why for maps?Caydr wrote:Yeah, but that's the thing. The pages will LINK to fileuniverse's download for that mod. Only on the same page will be actual useful information about the mod in question.IMSabbel wrote:it seems you are the only one who really has a problem with it.
Otoh, the convienient and fast (300k+) downloads from FU make the whole thing really usable to begin with.
Download links are something VASTLY different than a nice internal downloader that puts the file in the correct directory.
I never had problems even with total noob to get a map running since the map downloader was integrated.
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SwiftSpear
- Classic Community Lead
- Posts: 7287
- Joined: 12 Aug 2005, 09:29
I have to agree... even if there is a "more mods" browser it should either link to the mod's home page or wiki entry. Downloading a mod isn't like DLing a map, there is tonnes of information you would be best to pick up first. What's different, what's the point, what you need to do... Mod downloads aren't anything like map downloads, in which you can defer aproximately how the map will look and play from the overhead picture.