New SOASE File and Reference Site in Development

from Sins Forums

Hi Guys,

I've now started development on a new (non-profit, ad-free) site to support the community.  This site will have the following features:

MOD, Map, Textures Archives - These can be rated, updated by author, etc.  You can view most popular, most downloaded, etc.  What I'm not sure of is if it should also have replays and/or screenshot gallery.

Various interactive reference pages... like reference trees with tooltips for example.  It won't be a fullblown wiki, just more like reference / cheat sheets and maybe some strategy guides eventually.

Based on some good feedback from a few I've PM'd for initial feedback here, the site will not have it's own forums.  That is so this site remains the main/single place for community discussions.

I was also considering running tournaments through the site, but that becomes a logistical time-consumer.  It also doesn't align with the theme of a reference website.  For this, I started a group on challonge and you've probably seen the thread about the first test tournament for that.

I expect the site to be up within a couple weeks to start holding files in the archives, but the reference pages will come onboard as they are ready.  I'll post the URL when the site is live.

If anyone would like to be part of this project then please PM me.

A few questions for the community:

Do you think the site should have replays?

Should the site have a screenshot gallery as well?

Each of the archives can have custom fields, so it would be good to get some ideas around that.  For example, for Replays we could have the sub-factions involved specified.

Also, any ideas around how to categorize the various archives would be good as well.

Or any other ideas/comments are welcome as well.  I'm sure there's probably other useful things that a resource site like this could do for the community.

I was surprised a site like this didn't already exist and that people are using random third party sites to host independent files and reference material is embedded in posts that are hard to find.  As someone newish to the game it didn't help to not have a site like this with a game with a steep learning curve.  I hope you agree that it should be a good resource for the community.  Again, this is my gift to the community (and helps me work on my web development skills) and am paying any costs out of my own pocket.

Thanks.

-slowreflex

30,316 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

I made one for m0dding, that's about it though
soase.x90x.net

more or less I am learning html and a place for everything I learned, just because I dont really like answering the same thing over and over. I will get some updates soon as my m0d is released.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting myfist0, reply 1
I made one for m0dding, that's about it though
soase.x90x.net

more or less I am learning html and a place for everything I learned, just because I dont really like answering the same thing over and over. I will get some updates soon as my m0d is released.
End of myfist0's quote

Seems my reply didn't show up, so trying again!

Yeah, I was on that site this morning (sent you an email about it).  That's similar to what I want for the reference pages, but on a bigger more generic scale.  Of course having all mods/textures/etc. on the site to download in relation to modding is key as well.  Should be a good combination.

 

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Here's a sneak peek of the reference tree image maps I'm working on.  Basically mirroring how they are in game and tooltips come up when you move your mouse over any of the individual resources.  Should be done with all of them in a week or two.  It's quite painful to make them and involves a LOT of screenshots and image editing... I could have done it by a text database, but I thought this way would be quicker for now...

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

I would make the info card image separate and popup on mouse over of the button, just like in game. Although, I am not sure why you need a screen of every info card.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting myfist0, reply 4

I would make the info card image separate and popup on mouse over of the button, just like in game. Although, I am not sure why you need a screen of every info card.
End of myfist0's quote

I definitely prefer it like it is.  No point in having your eyes wander to other places on the screen.  It already pops-up though and disappears when you are not on the button.  Normal HTML tooltip.

I've often wanted to study the research trees more when not in the game, and might as well have all of the cards accessible.

Or did you think it was a separate screen on the website for every info card?  It's not.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting slowreflex, reply 5
  It already pops-up though and disappears when you are not on the button.  Normal HTML tooltip.
End of slowreflex's quote

that's what I meant  :P

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Us modders need a compilation of all types of error messages...not trying to derail the thread, just saying that it would be a very useful complement to any comprehensive website..

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

I will add whatever is useful to the community.  I'm working on a roadmap and feature list.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Seleuceia, reply 7
Us modders need a compilation of all types of error messages...not trying to derail the thread, just saying that it would be a very useful complement to any comprehensive website..
End of Seleuceia's quote

http://soase.x90x.net/?i=modding/Dev_Errors.html

sorta started, no links to it yet though other than this one

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

Is there a thread for that, myfist0?  There are a lot of errors that people already know how to solve, as they crop up we can add them with explanations on how to solve them....