I've been working on restructuring the site for the past few weeks. My plan is to use the new version if eFiction (3.0, when it's released) to allow users to upload mods, skins, articles, etc. Also the boards are going to be reorganized and grouped by release (and will hopefully have a matching skin by then...).
If there has ever been anything about the site you wished were different, or if you have any ideas for improvement, this is your invitation to speak up. I am open to any suggestions. (Except I will not switch back to phpBB.)
Carissa
I think we've discussed an update notification service of some sort, such as a newsletter, RSS feed, or in-script patch indicator.
I'd also like to see some sort of categorization of skins, mods, and panels.
For example: (Skins)
# columns
Graphical
Text-based
Div layout
Tables
Frames
etc.
Maybe colours too.
For mods, blocks, and panels, maybe sort them by what they do or by how easy they are to install. I've released a few mods that have technically been in-development and it would be nice to have a separate area for those or at least a better way to label them.
I'm sorry, but due to my schedule, I am not available for commissions.
Upgrade to 1.0.8 at least...security patch 🙂
Other than that I think the site is very well done. Once the skins are up like you mentioned it will be a great resource.
Would it be beneficial to have a mod development section where authors could work together, poss ably keeping to the same standards (ie, variable names, file locations) and get help from each other?
Lazuli, I'm going to add news to the RSS feed so that people can get notified that way. Also, I think it was you that mentioned that SMF has a notification type thing built in and I may look into something like that as well. I'm just worried about bandwidth with that one.
The skins will be divided up into sub-categoires eventually. I don't want to divide them up too much at first. I don't want a lot of empty categories.
The ratings will be used for difficulty--I've already set that up. And in-development mods will remain in the forums--we can work on making that board a little more robust.
Calash, I plan on upgrading to SMF 1.1whatever when the new site is launched. I've tested out the upgrade and it went fine, so I don't forsee any problems with that.
Mod standards are a good idea but I'd need some help developing them. And I think once the completed mods are moved on-site instead of in the forums, then we can have more types of discussion for in-development mods on the forums and it won't be too confusing.
Calic0cat...I like your idea for a paid developer/designers forum. I might add that to the site...maybe we could do something like the beta checkbox. Then perhaps have a page...I'll have to think about it a bit more...
Good ideas everyone! Keep 'em coming!
I think I like the site the way it is. I like that you can pick colors.
As for the notify thing, at the top of SMF categories, you can subscribe to an entire forum category. I did this with the main categories, it normally doesn't generate tons of mail.
The only other thing is it would be nice if the skins had back that view posts since last visit thing. I liked using that before and the only way you can get it back is to use a skin that doesn't work properly.
Dreamy
Current Version: 3.4.2
PHP 4
Mods: Challenges, Recommendations, Storyend, Display Word, Beta Reader, Bad Reviewer
Okay, sounds good. ^_^
Yeah, I started a topic about SMF (and others) having the built-in notification function. Bandwidth is going to be the biggie on this though, because they all seem to retrieve a text file from the developers site.
It was really just a reactionary topic and mod, so I deleted it. If anyone is interested, once we get the in-development mod section going, I'll post what I have.
I'm sorry, but due to my schedule, I am not available for commissions.
Dreamy, the layout of the site probably won't change much. Even though the default skin for the boards will change, you'll still be able to pick the old ones in your account area. I'll look at this skin again and see if I can figure out how to add the stats back in. Which skin isn't working though? I've used both of them and they seemed fine to me.
Lazuli, I think if we're going to add in a notification system into efiction, it needs to be done before the release. I think to conserve bandwidth, we could have it be a link instead of displaying in the admin panel every time it's opened. Could you send me what you have and maybe we can work it in to the release? I think it's a really great idea to keep people up to date.
Okay, sending you what I have. It's just the bare bones script to read the text file that contains the current version.
Yeah... I'm going to hide until I stop feeling so embarrassed. 😳
I'm sorry, but due to my schedule, I am not available for commissions.
Hi Carissa
just a suggestion for the forum.
maybe adding a tick option to the message icons that people (or admin) can change to when they mark smt as solved?
i know it wont be a foolproof thing, so just thought I would float the idea
jacci
why is nothing ever easy?
url: http://www.pretendercentre.com/missingpieces/
php: 5.2.5 msql: 5.0.45-community
efic version: 3.4.3 latest patches: yes
bridges: none mods: challenges, displayword, beta-search
