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Suggestion

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Game: mr3 (Change)
Type: all (Change)

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The Suggestion...

By: steve on 30 Aug 2005
Rating: 3.75 in 8 votes
Status: rate
mr3 | general | [Suggestion_2979]

Close the Suggestions DB, Start a forum

I have been thinking lately that it could be a good idea to close the suggestions database and open a forum instead. Here's why:

- MR3 is now far enough along that the next phase is to make an overall design so that I can see what I'm aiming for, put a release date in place etc. That involves drawing a line under the suggestions so I can sit down calmy and work through what is there.

- Currently much of my time is spent approving and responding to comments and suggestions. While it is both valuable and enjoyable I do have to admit that the net result is that I spend more time talking about making MR3 than actually doing it. The site is getting busier with more and more people offering suggestions and comments all the time. While this is great and I am very happy that people are interested it does mean that the system that I currently have in place can't cope with the volume without seriously impacting programming time.

However, I don't want to say, "well thanks for all the ideas, goodbye!" I value all of your opinions too much and want to keep you involved in the project as it progresses. Not to mention not restricting access to the games in the database like penguin wars, demonic action and tiny jim.

So I have two choices:

1. Stop work on MR3 and build a new website which can cope with the demands that we wish to place on it. (Estimated time 2-3 months)

2. Close the suggestions DB and set up a forum, so we can still keep discussing things but I won't have to spend loads of time approving stuff and can appoint moderators etc to help out. (Estimated time 1-2 weeks), Then once I've finished MR3 (and possibly 4 and 5) I can build the new website. Whilst the forum wouldn't be a complete replacement for the suggestions DB and may not be suitable for the continuing design of the other games, it still should be possible to discuss them to some extent and it also offers the possibility of having fuller discussions about things which at the moment having only been touched upon, "Pie and Cheese" springs to mind.

I am looking into the forum sofware at the moment and will post here as I find things out. At the moment it looks like it would be possible to have ranks based on MR2 characters (start with as a Goblin, work up to Ulin) which I know someone suggested this, but I can't find the suggestion.

Other suggestions that at this point look like they would be implemented are:
[suggestion_1496] Private Messaging
[suggestion_1492] Moderators
[suggestion_1499] Profiles
[suggestion_1889] Change Member sign up
[suggestion_1725] Message Board
[suggestion_2540] E-motes
[suggestion_1780] password change
[suggestion_1981] Move member panel up

As always, what do you think?



Comments

30 Aug 2005 [comment_9534]
NEW! Nat_Knight
i knew this was getting closer and closer to a fourm someday :/

anyway, I'm all for the forum idea, if you want it to be temporary and free, I'd still reccommend s3.invisionfree.com

It's the only free message board software I know of though, but it only takes minutes to set up, and you can create a custom theme for it


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9535]
NEW! Jeppo
I strongly agree with the forum idea as it gives you lots of time to do MR3 and other stuff that you do.
If you're looking for forum software I can help you with some ideas.
-phpBB. but I'm not too keen on this as it can be unreliable
-MyBB. That's a pretty good forum
-Invision Powerboard. This is the best of the three but I think you have to pay for it.


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9536]
NEW! Jeppo
But at least get the database up to 3000 suggestions before closing it ;)


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9541]
NEW! dantheman
As one of the Oldest members, i say LETS TALK TOO MUCH! another choice, to make the new website, assign Moderators to teh Suggestions DB, and so we can have a Forum AND a Suggestion DB. I like Number two, so maybe you cna just "vote" not "use." however, users may STILL have ideas, but they have to slowing down. BRAIN DEAD! "I am looking into the forum sofware at the moment and will post here as I find things out. At the moment it looks like it would be possible to have ranks based on MR2 characters (start with as a Goblin, work up to Ulin) which I know someone suggested this, but I can't find the suggestion."
What could the Ranks do? i think there should be moderators for the Forum too, so maybe members like me can do BOTH Forum AND Suggestions DB. if you choose to do the website thing, it will take away time from MR3. PIE AND CHEESE!!!! enjoy morsh!

So, ending the LONGEST COMMENT EVER, i say DO IT!!! but think about it. i'll just Bump this thing up..


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9542]
NEW! dantheman
Continuing the longest Comment EVER..

"- Currently much of my time is spent approving and responding to comments and suggestions. While it is both valuable and enjoyable I do have to admit that the net result is that I spend more time talking about making MR3 than actually doing it. The site is getting busier with more and more people offering suggestions and comments all the time. While this is great and I am very happy that people are interested it does mean that the system that I currently have in place can't cope with the volume without seriously impacting programming time."

And this:
"However, I don't want to say, "well thanks for all the ideas, goodbye!" I value all of your opinions too much and want to keep you involved in the project as it progresses. Not to mention not restricting access to the games in the database like penguin wars, demonic action and tiny jim."

So.. that means you need Mods for that too.
all the stuff on the bottom SHOULD be used, casue they make it better in the boards.
Invasionfree seems good through, and Invasion Powerboard. but you have to pay, like Jeppo says. PHPBB SUCKS! sorry for bad language. i tryed it, and wuit RIGHT AWAY. MyBB is the most Average of the forums, so maybe that one is good. you may need "Pins" or "stickies" or whatever else theyre called to make the rules or maybe a Main topic. you can also make different Topic areas like Different games, Mr3, General, Themetalbox, Etc. maybe Non-members can be signed in as "Guest" or "unknown."


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9544]
NEW! dantheman
"But at least get the database up to 3000 suggestions before closing it ;)" Yeah, we should still keep it open for now. and add a forum link at the Member panel. but what about ze Shekrons? and would we need a Suggestions board for the forum?


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9549]
NEW! dantheman
Ok... anything else to say?


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9550]
NEW! steve
Ok, thanks for the support chaps!

For the software, I'm look at something called xoops which is a complete website template and includes forum software with it.

Essentially, my aim for now is to start the new website, but just get it as far as is necessary to be able to close the existing suggestions db.

Along with a forum module, it also has a news module, and I was looking at this today. I think that it might be usuable as a suggestions database. You can rate new items and submit new items in different categories and subcategories, and offer comments about the items. So it pretty much does eveything we need with the advantage that it doesn't have to be me who approves the content.

The only things that would be missing would be the relationships, and the ability to type [suggestion_###] and have it turn into a link. But nobody besides me does the latter anyway!

There is also much more freedom with the text, you can have different sizes, fonts and colours, avatars, signatures etc.

I was also looking at some of the other modules available - there are ones for downloading files, and making links. Each of these allows users to submit files and links as well.

It all seems quite easy to set up. The majority of the time it's going take will be for design - I want to make look as much like this site as possible. I've already made a start on that, and it seems to going pretty well at the moment.

I must say I'm quite excited about this!

more later...


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9551]
NEW! dantheman
"For the software, I'm look at something called xoops which is a complete website template and includes forum software with it."
I've heard of that! good Choice, that is.

"Along with a forum module, it also has a news module, and I was looking at this today. I think that it might be usuable as a suggestions database. You can rate new items and submit new items in different categories and subcategories, and offer comments about the items. So it pretty much does eveything we need with the advantage that it doesn't have to be me who approves the content. "

But if there are TOO much ideas *like Adventure quest* your idea will go down in the PITS. litterly :D

"There is also much more freedom with the text, you can have different sizes, fonts and colours, avatars, signatures etc. " Make a Merlin Smiley. PLEASE??? and i made my own Avvie ALREADY. what size, i wonder.. can one of the Colours be RAINBOW?

"I was also looking at some of the other modules available - there are ones for downloading files, and making links. Each of these allows users to submit files and links as well. " AND PICTURES!


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9554]
NEW! Jeppo
I've never heard of 'xoops'. I'll make a search for it...


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9555]
NEW! Morsh
:( I don't like it, but if its what has to be done, then I'll try to keep my complaints to a minimum.


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9556]
NEW! Eric9000
Close the Suggestion DB and set up the new forum. After MR3 is finished, you can work on the website. That's No. 2. But don't pause work on MR3.


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9557]
NEW! El Zilchil
I am definitly in for the forum idea.


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9558]
NEW! ryan
CLOSE BORD CLOSE BORD CLOSE BORD!!!!!
WORK ON MR3!!!!!


30 Aug 2005 [comment_9560]
NEW! Jeppo
btw dantheman I don't think we are going to have Shekrons as Steve wasn't "keen on the idea", nor my 'Karma' idea.
And do you know why I hate phpBB so much? I have been a member on two different phpBB forums. They both collapsed within a month. Avoid at all costs.

Anyway, I'm not sure but I think that 'xoops' is a portal of some sort, but I'm not sure. I have asked the question on Programmer's World ( http://progworld.mihopa.com/index.php - That's an example of MyBB. (you guys should join since we're in desperate need of new members)) to see if any of them know anything about it.


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9561]
NEW! ironman2244
well, not to insult, but if you dont know the ins and outs of forums [which i know i dont],im a member of the best forum ive ever found and could ask the maker of it to contact ye!


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9562]
NEW! ironman2244
also, if you get a new site, you should have games on it! that would rule!. . .
oh, wait, this is a game site. . . well. . .

CAN I BE A MODERATOR PLEEEEEEEEEEASE?!?!?!

[he he he he, im so subtle, subtle like a mollusk, he he he, a peruvian mollusk, he he he]

p.s. this is doctor hitanawa, please disregard the previous comment, the writer was mentally incompetant and very high on sharpies at the time, thank you.

p.p.s. yes everyone, i still have WAY to much time on me hands! VIVA LA BOX!


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9570]
NEW! steve
dantheman: Merlin smiley - maybe someone can make one and send it in!

Rainbow colour - you could actually do that by putting each letter in a different colour, it would take a while though!

Submitting pictures - there is a module which allows for creating image galleries. I haven't looked at it yet, but it might allow for comics or maybe to submit designs for suggestions which could then be linked to from the suggestion, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

"TOO much ideas like *Adventure Quest*" Yes, I think that I would like to tighten up on which suggestions are going to be displayed. Hopefully, we can send a private message to someone to tell them why their suggestion wasn't displayed.

Jeppo: Yes you're right - Xoops is a portal system. I couldn't think of that word yesterday for some reason. It's based on phpNuke but is programmed with object oriented programming, which is the only style of programming that's ever really made sense to me.

I tried looking at the website you linked to but I just got a load of php errors - looks like lots of pages haven't been uploaded or have been moved.

morsh: well, right now, I don't feel like I have much choice if MR3 is going to get finished in a reasonable time. But please do say why you're not too happy about, maybe I'll be able to ally your fears.

ironman2244: Yes, it would be interesting to speak to the maker of the forum you mentioned. Also, perhaps you could put up a link to it, so we can see.

And I think you'd make a good moderator but I should give everyone a chance to put their names forward before deciding. What I'll do is start off doing all the moderation myself so that I can get a clear idea of what's involved then, after a few days or maybe a couple of weeks I'll start giving moderator / content management priveledges to a few people and see how it goes. At the moment I envisage having about ten moderators as i don't want to overburden people but at the same time, I don't want there to be nothing for people to do either.

I'll start a new suggestion for people to put there names forward to be considered as moderators.

Ok, here it is [suggestion_2990]


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9573]
NEW! Jeppo
Ah, yes. phpNuke. I have definately heard of that. I'm a member on one of the phpNuke forums.
And I don't know what going on on Programmer's world. Must be another one of those downtimes. It's owned by a friend of mine. It will come back. You just have to keep trying.
So will 'xoops' allow html languages like [b]This would be bold[/b] and [code]This would be in code form[/code] and what forum would xoops use?


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9575]
NEW! bingo_bob
Well, a program I'd recommend would be YaBB. It works very well in my opinion.


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9583]
NEW! dantheman
Doing a Rainbow colour only takes a Min or two to Fully program, and maybe more.


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9585]
NEW! dantheman
YaBB... i've heard of that. not too shabby.
phpNuke: sounds scary.


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9586]
NEW! dantheman
Anyway, i think Jeppos right about the moderator thing- We should only have 3 and if mroe members just swamp on, add more!


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9588]
NEW! dantheman
Plus, it will Upgrade the other suggestion boards if the MR3 one is closed *Like WOTE, Penguin wars, RUPUNZELS ESCAPE*


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9590]
NEW! steve
Jeppo: I'm not sure exactly which forum system the one is xoops is based on, but it's proabably one of the ones you mentioned. It supprts that code you did, and looks pretty much like most other forums I've seen.

dantheman: Because I didn't program the portal it will be hard for me to add new features. We will have to see what we can achieve with what we've got. At least until MR3 is finished.

----

I was having a look at some of the other modules that are available today to see if any of them would be usuable as a stand-in suggestions database. I was toying with using the news module for this, but there is another which is a gallery module which is really supposed to be for submitting photos to the site, but you can make a submission without an image, and so I think it could be used for suggestions - with the added advantage that you would be able to submit a design along with your suggestion.

An alternative is to keep the images database seperate from the ideas, but link to them from the suggestion. I'm not sure how well that would work out in practise. It might take a few attempts to find a system we like!

One of the hardest things to simulate is the idea of making enhancements to suggestions. The way I did it on this database was to duplicate the suggestion as a child and have it link back to the parent (the original) so I could write software in the future that would be able to trace everyone who had been involved with an idea.

So far, no system I have come across allows for this. They do allow for the owner to edit it so that might be one way to implement changes, but as the idea improves people will not be able to change their votes - you can't do that under xoops. Still maybe just cutting and pasting will suffice...


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9593]
NEW! dantheman
Mmmm.. K then.. can you put teh Moderator link in the New features?


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9596]
NEW! Jeppo
Well, I have been doing some research on xoops and I've come back with some information for any of you who isn't sure what it is.
The forum that powers xoops is from a company called MySQL, which is the same company that does MyBB. That's good because I like MyBB and it does Programmer's World (The fact that it's down isn't because of MyBB, but because of Mihopa, the host). phpNuke has phpBB but we're not having that portal so don't worry about that.
If you want to know more about xoops click on this link:-
http://www.xoops.org/modules/wfchannel/

All I can say is that I'm really looking forward to this and Steve, I'll help you as much as possible to try and get this portal installed.


31 Aug 2005 [comment_9597]
NEW! Morsh
personally, and no offense steve, I wouldn't want to be a moderator, I wouldn't want to be responsible for screwing something up :S its better being able to blame steve ;)


1 Sep 2005 [comment_9603]
NEW! ironman2244
ok, here's the link, i like it the best because you can post about whatever you want, theres all the profile avatar junk, and its based on the lord of the rings, as its a LotR fan fansite forum, but has anything else you want to, so, yeah, im one of those guys into the lord of the rings, harry potter, narnia, the whole sha-bang! . . .but for the record, i do not have a single pimple, and am quite tanned! i just like to read!here 'tis
Entmoot - powered by vBulletin
if that doesn't link than:
http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/index.php?
copy that to the place, so check that out, all literature fans! VIVA LA CHEESE, ER, PIE, ER, BOX, YES, BOX!!!!


1 Sep 2005 [comment_9610]
NEW! evilishies
I think the mods should be people who spend much time on the site, and can afford to. For instance, I would not be a good candidate since school for me starts tomorrow, and will take up a lot of time. That, and the fact that there's still this matter of finishing some music... Dantheman, if being a forum mod is what you're after, you have my vote.

Anyway... becoming a forum is an excellent idea, especially since the suggestions board is sort of like a mini-forum in itself. Obviously the topics being listed in order of most recent hits will probably help.
You could always just list in the credits '--And a special thanks to the devoted members of the MR forum!', which would cause a lot less headache then listing all of us by name.
I'm probably being overly optimistic, but would you be able to get an amount of attachment space of about 2 MB? This would let me put the music up directly as attachments rather then emailing them to you, and it would save a lot of time.


1 Sep 2005 [comment_9622]
NEW! Jeppo
Steve, Programmers world is back up again. asdf1248, the admin was updating the site and a few bugs came up and typhoon knocked his power off for a few hours which delayed him that was why it went offline.
Anyway there is something there that might interest you. Go into the PHP forum and look in the thread entitled 'XOOPS!'. There's a bit of information about it.
You'll also see an ad to this site if you look through the forums. (It's under 'Other Programming Languages')
Anyway PW is powered by MyBB, the same forum that powers xoops, so it might look like that.
http://progworld.mihopa.com/index.php


1 Sep 2005 [comment_9623]
NEW! steve
dantheman: Post the link where?

Jeppo: Just a slight correction. Xoops isn't made by the same company who does MySQL. MySQL is just the database system that xoops (and practically all php based web applications, use). This current website also uses MySQL, for example.

It seems as though Xoops has it's own forum software. If we are not happy with it, there are other modules we can try including one for invision power board.

Thanks for posting the advert, MyBB does look nice - there currently doesn't seem to be a module for it for xoops though and for now I'm quite happy to try the forum sofware that comes with it.

Morsh: That's ok. Not everyone has to be a moderator!

ironman2244: ok, thanks for the link. Looks like a cool forum.

evilishies: hopefully, moderating won't take up too much time for each session (could just be ten minutes) but it would help if moderators can log in regularly like once a day most days.

It's hard to say, but I think that most of my time is spent writing repsonses. Hopefully the new forum will allow other members to answer some of the questions which I currently answer.


1 Sep 2005 [comment_9631]
NEW! mr#
Here's a Merlin emoticon.
 
<:|>
^ ^ beard
hat |_________|


1 Sep 2005 [comment_9633]
NEW! dantheman
I HAVE A VOTE!

Steve: maybe in the Memebr panel, so people dont have to go here to find the link. mark it as "want to be a Moderator?"


2 Sep 2005 [comment_9642]
NEW! steve
mr#: lol - that's cool!

dantheman: Actually, I think more than enough people have put themselves forward already - I don't really need any more.


2 Sep 2005 [comment_9647]
NEW! dantheman
MR#: That really is.. Er.. Funny. No, sorry, but i dont get it.


5 Sep 2005 [comment_9712]
NEW! Shadowfax
I found this list of Content Management software. Although I haven't tried any of them myself, you might find them useful.

Drupal - http://drupal.org/
Geeklog - http://www.geeklog.net/
Mambo Open Source - http://mamboserver.com/
PHP-Nuke - http://www.phpnuke.org/
phpWCMS - http://www.phpwcms.de/
phpWebSite - http://phpwebsite.appstate.edu/
Post-Nuke - http://www.postnuke.com/
Siteframe - http://siteframe.org/
Xoops - http://www.xoops.org/


5 Sep 2005 [comment_9718]
NEW! steve
Shadowfax: thanks for the tips but I've already settled on xoops. The forum is coming along nicely and I expect to have it up during this week.


5 Sep 2005 [comment_9738]
NEW! Shadowfax
Ooops... I didn't notice how old that conversation was. Sorry.


6 Sep 2005 [comment_9750]
NEW! ironman2244
SHADOWFAX?[gasp] LORD OF THE RINGS!!! CHECK OUT THAT LINK I HAD UP THERE!


6 Sep 2005 [comment_9769]
NEW! steve
hehe things move fast!


7 Sep 2005 [comment_9796]
NEW! MerlinRulez
There's just one problem. I'm not allowed to chat on forums.


11 Sep 2005 [comment_9833]
NEW! cjfjcjfjc
IM ALL TOTALLY AGAINST THE FORUM IDEA
THERES JUST A MILLION AND ONE PROBLEMS


13 Sep 2005 [comment_9848]
NEW! steve
A million and one?

Wow that's a lot, can I have the top 5?


9 Oct 2005 [comment_9909]
NEW! MerlinRulez
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO WAH! *crashes into wall*


15 Oct 2005 [comment_9936]
NEW! MerlinRulez
VOTE 1 ON THIS!


15 Apr 2006 [comment_10643]
NEW! mr#
<:|>|:

New and Improved Merlin emoticon!


19 Apr 2006 [comment_10774]
NEW! Darren
What? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! I love the DB!!! You couldnn't be so cruel!!! I think I'm going to have a breakdown...I'm going to go crazy...I can feel it comming on...noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Pleeeease, noooooooooooooooo...it would be pure eeeeeeevil of you!


19 Apr 2006 [comment_10779]
NEW! steve
Don't worry, this suggestion is waaaay out of date. I closed the suggestions DB for a while, and opened a forum. That was quite good as far as it went but it was hard to see where to go from there.

The suggestions DB is back and here to stay!


19 Apr 2006 [comment_10811]
NEW! mr#
Yup. By the way, <:|>: Revenge is great! (Just wanted to use that emote) <:)>:


21 Apr 2006 [comment_10836]
NEW! Darren
What? YEEES!!! Yes! I'm sooo happy! You're a genius!


22 Aug 2006 [comment_15985]
NEW! cjfjcjfjc
steve you know with the ranks,try[suggestion_1585]


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