Spring RTS Engine

Since there was no place where you can discuss about SpringFiles, ive created this topic.

Everything you like and don't like can be discussed here.
Feature requests can be placed here too.

I will try to answer all posts.

JJ

Springfiles is great but I dislike that spring itself is just 1 out of 300 games there.
Sorry, but if I would visit springfiles for the first time I would probably immediately close that browser tab cause I would I think I arrived on a adware/malware site.

Why do you think it would be a adware/malware site? because of the dark colors?

Yes spring is one of the 3000 games there. but you can bookmark springfiles.com/spring

Also spring is always at the top of the list at the homepage.
Since most people use the autodownloader for spring, i had to find some other ways to get site visitors. Adding other games was the best idea.

Since the other games give extra visitors it is likely that some will click on the spring link. So its likely that spring gets extra players because of the non-spring content.

Updates:

- Latest downloads block fetched with ajax callback for realtime viewing.
- Search query displays most recent files on top of the list.
- Removed the stupid CSS5 things.
- Fixed the maps browsing.

jj wrote:Why do you think it would be a adware/malware site? because of the dark colors?

If someone would tell me to visit springfiles and that it is a dedicated site to download spring related stuff, I would probably be confused to see a page that tries to make you download 3000 mega games.
Would seem to me like I am on the wrong site and accidently entered one of those sites that a domain-grabber registered that sounds similar to the original one and tries to trick you into downloading some pay-games or installs adware/browser-toolbars or whatever on your PC.
Hard to describe but pages you find when you google stuff like "free games" always look a bit fishy too me.

Apart from that: I like the current springfiles look, its nice!

I've checked your statement that it looks like an adware/malware site.
I think it's not true. The site has a bounce rate of 44% which is quite normal. Actually, the previous SF version that was hosting only spring content had a higher bounce rate of 48%. So the average person is more interested in the site with the 3000 games.

Maybe i should add a extra big colorfull button at the homepage that links directly to the spring content?
There are already 3 ways to get to the spring content from the homepage.
Via the menu, via the picture or via real time strategy games

Maybe adware/malware-site is exaggerated by me, sorry, but those 10000-games-to-download-for-free-sites look at least "fishy" to me.
And yes, such a big button for spring would help IMO.

Ok if the bounce-rate tells different, it was just my personal impression.

Adwords campain started as an experiment.

Stats of today:
22.078 Views
90 Clicks

very_bad_soldier wrote:Maybe adware/malware-site is exaggerated by me, sorry, but those 10000-games-to-download-for-free-sites look at least "fishy" to me.

Actually seems like that too.
Also because on the startpage you have stuff like

Tapass
I wouldnt mind if the site hosts some freeware games and likely even browse around. But there is so much obviously low quality content that I do not bother and just find it annoying.


All those +1 / "like it" / "Tweet" buttons on every download also add a bit to the fishy feeling.
(realistically nobody will tweet about some map download)

Then the picture for Spring is not the engine logo or something but instead that Imperial Winter with the spaceship that for some reason gets put on every half assed spring article :



Then the search should know what site I am on.
ie when on http://springfiles.com/spring/spring-maps and searching for "horus", I only want to find the map "Eye of Horus" and not "this japanese platform game is a very unique game with lovely graphics and sound"

The "about" and "features" texts are imo bad too:
Spring is [...] intended to bring the gameplay experience of Total Annihilation into three dimensions.
sounds alot like "TA in 3D"

Large battles, supporting up to 5000 units per player
Has there really ever been a game with 5000 units per player?
Even on speedmetal maps you hardly go over a few hundreds per player.

Some other things mix features of engine and (*A) games.
ie "3D air battles" - some games have no air battles or their aircraft are not using the 3D space

"Extensible with thousands of maps, mods and missions and opponents"
Thousands of *A maps, other games have maybe a dozen playable maps.

Could go on but basically needs a better text what Spring is.
(for this website too imo)

http://springfiles.com/spring
needs some better links like
-how to get started
-what is all that stuff i can download here
-what will the "game" look like? (http://springfiles.com/spring/media is not really helpfull)
sadly most this stuff would need to be written first.


Download button seems a bit misaligned?

Firefox 5

Then on http://springfiles.com/spring you have a windows & linux logo but the download link points only to
Download link: http://www.springfiles.com/spring/sprin ... [b]win32-6[/b]


http://springfiles.com/spring/lua-scripts
Is that the same list as the widget data base?
There is some strange stuff there like "horror" and there is no explaination what to do with the downloaded files.
(link to wiki article maybe)

http://springfiles.com/spring/games
is potentially a noob trap if somebody just first comes to Spring and randomly downloads something from that list.
Not sure how to change that though.
Maybe a "good" list like http://springrts.com/wiki/Games and then an option to "browse everything"

Actual file hosting seems to work good though.
No downtimes (that I could remember), good download speed. Basically that is all I want from a file hosting site.
Rest ist just minor stuff that "only" affects new players or first time visitors.

@Knorke: Sended you a PM with the question to rewrite the spring mainpage.

knorke wrote:

very_bad_soldier wrote:Maybe adware/malware-site is exaggerated by me, sorry, but those 10000-games-to-download-for-free-sites look at least "fishy" to me.

Actually seems like that too.
Also because on the startpage you have stuff like

Tapass
I wouldnt mind if the site hosts some freeware games and likely even browse around. But there is so much obviously low quality content that I do not bother and just find it annoying.
The picture you mention is actually a popular game. It seems that (spring)visitors like games like that

All those +1 / "like it" / "Tweet" buttons on every download also add a bit to the fishy feeling.
(realistically nobody will tweet about some map download)
Actually some content is already tweeted in the past few days.

Then the picture for Spring is not the engine logo or something but instead that Imperial Winter with the spaceship that for some reason gets put on every half assed spring article :

Come with a better picture then


Then the search should know what site I am on.
ie when on http://springfiles.com/spring/spring-maps and searching for "horus", I only want to find the map "Eye of Horus" and not "this japanese platform game is a very unique game with lovely graphics and sound"
that would be complicated



Download button seems a bit misaligned?

Firefox 5
did that because i thought it looks nice

Then on http://springfiles.com/spring you have a windows & linux logo but the download link points only to
Download link: http://www.springfiles.com/spring/sprin ... [b]win32-6[/b]
Yes? what's wrong with that?


http://springfiles.com/spring/lua-scripts
Is that the same list as the widget data base?
There is some strange stuff there like "horror" and there is no explaination what to do with the downloaded files.
(link to wiki article maybe)
Good point, will add that :)

http://springfiles.com/spring/games
is potentially a noob trap if somebody just first comes to Spring and randomly downloads something from that list.
Not sure how to change that though.
Maybe a "good" list like http://springrts.com/wiki/Games and then an option to "browse everything"
Will needs a lot of work, but a good idea!

Actual file hosting seems to work good though.
No downtimes (that I could remember), good download speed. Basically that is all I want from a file hosting site.
Rest ist just minor stuff that "only" affects new players or first time visitors.

Thanks to all the server admins

[quote="jj"]The picture you mention is actually a popular game. It seems that (spring)visitors like games like that
I will have to try later

Actually some content is already tweeted in the past few days.
can that be read somewhere? like a "Spring Tweet group" or something? (no idea how that tweet things works)

Come with a better picture then
Spring logos:
http://darkstars.co.uk/projects/artwork/spring-logos/

Download link: http://www.springfiles.com/spring/sprin ... [b]win32-6[/b]
Yes? what's wrong with that?
No link for Linux despite there being a Linux logo. Like on http://springrts.com/wiki/Download there is a "Linux Setup guide"

Maybe a "good" list like http://springrts.com/wiki/Games and then an option to "browse everything"
Will needs a lot of work, but a good idea!
for start you could just put http://springrts.com/wiki/Games into a frame or something?
I think there should be only one place that lists all the spring games, and other site either read it or integrate it.
If every site makes its own game list you soon have the same problem as springinfo.info (old games (ie CA instead of zeroK), broken links)

I like that misalignment on the download button.

I thought the deal was that spring files used to be running out of diskspace all the time, now you just seem to be chucking all sorts on it and trying to attract as many visitors as possible... You trying to recreate the same problem?

Also, I think I actually preferred the old Spring Files design, this new one looks half finished :s Sorry :<

Jazcash wrote:I thought the deal was that spring files used to be running out of diskspace all the time, now you just seem to be chucking all sorts on it and trying to attract as many visitors as possible... You trying to recreate the same problem?

This^ why are non spring things even hosted here?

The main purpose to attract all those visitors is a self-sustaining website on a dedicated server. And extra attention to Spring is a bonus.

I am afraid that those people looking for those free-mega-games are quite the exact opposite of people potentially intersted in spring and capable to make it run, no?

jj wrote:The main purpose to attract all those visitors is a self-sustaining website on a dedicated server. And extra attention to Spring is a bonus.

But you're on licho's server and keep the money you make from ads?

If you're self sustaining, then move over so we can have a dedicated Spring file server for the community and ease the load.

But you're on licho's server and keep the money you make from ads?
If you're self sustaining, then move over so we can have a dedicated Spring file server for the community and ease the load.

You should read the other forum about the springfiles ads. I'm getting tired of this...
Should i ask Licho to put big SPRINGFILES next to the money im donating?

Truthfully I've no issue with him making a little money. I have a major issue with non spring files using springs struggling server.