Omnimaga
Omnimaga => Site Feedback and Questions => Topic started by: DJ Omnimaga on August 14, 2010, 02:00:53 am
-
If I remember, I received a bunch of requests over the time for a download section where Omnimaga people can upload their new games. Unfortunately, right now, we have one section only for staff and another (the RPG/tools section) that is hard to maintain due to the way it is done.
If I add such section, there would be a certain quality control as well as some security measures. First of all, text-only games (unless tifreak finishes TI-City, which would be an exception) would not be allowed, same for number guessing games, RPS and such crap. That stuff would either be rejected or there would be a section just for that (less likely). Also, only members with a certain amount of posts, like with PMs, would be allowed to upload stuff there. This would be to protect against spambots and at the same time keep the download section for Omnimaga users as much as possible. There's ticalc.org, still, after all. I feel it might be a nice addition to the site, but it's certain I would keep it restricted to calculator games, as well as game development tools. All games would be sorted by genre, but not by language. (although the user would be required to put instructions on how to install/run the game if it's not BASIC or if it contains multiple files/requires an add-on).
Two things, though: for this section, there will be no author field, to make file approval easier if someone uploads in the wrong section. You can put your author name in the description, though. Also, while we may be lax on some content such as swearing or internet references, users will need to use common sense, obviously. Example: while we will let an Omnimaga parody involving Genolo hunting for lolis slip in, such program will get rejected if it violates the website rules.
What do you guys think?
-
I honestly think it should remain staff only, with a few exceptions here and there.
-
I honestly think it should remain staff only, with a few exceptions here and there.
Yeah, I think so too.
-
On a side note, the final vote will not influence the future of the calc RPG downloads/tools section. That section will receive a final update at one point (I have a huge stash of calc RPGs waiting to be uploaded there since Sept 2008, which I never got around to do), then it's over. I may assign certain files to their respective authors forum profile, though, like Celtic III, so they can still update them on their own.
Also I had plans for a post count limit if I ever added the user-contributed section, but I was not sure how many. 50 seems a bit too restrictive, but at the same time, if it's too low, people will just register, upload their stuff, then leave. It won't be an Omnimaga community download section anymore. This is why I am not sure myself and am asking. At the same time, it kinda sucks that people like Nemo, Runer112 or Iambian, for example, cannot even contribute, but if I let most active members contribute, there would not be as much point in being part of the programming team anymore besides having sub-forums for all their project, being listed on front page, being able to upload non-calc stuff as well and having moderator status.
-
I like the idea, but as you say in your original post there would need to be quality control. Omnimaga does already contain older games in its archives that are not made by staff members doesn't it? Obviously it would need to be geared towards games and game creation tools (stuff like celtic, Xlib, and Axe would be applicable too). Those are just my thoughts anyways.
-
i really like the idea. ti-calc is just too vast a place to search through(the majority of the files there being number guessing etc) and searching through the forums to find things takes a while too. it would be nice to have an organized section with nothing but files that are guaranteed to be interesting.
in the interest of keeping it users only, i like the 50 post limit. all the unwanted craps will be filtered out and if somebody wants to upload who does not yet have 50 or cannot upload for some other reason, somebody we know has made a great game, or who is well respected in the community, he can simply email it to somebody and have it uploaded for him. this wouldnt be a problem because there's no authour field, right?
oh, and i like the idea of fewer restrictions than ticalc
-
Do it! This could be a good Idea, but yes, quality control, we must have quality control
-
^^what he said
-
ticalc has an entire section for guessing games and quadratics....
-
bump, for those who missed this thread
-
I think it's a great idea. People should have a place to put games on this site, but I don't think it should be in the Downloads section. I think it should be a new sub-forum for finished projects. The first post could contain the download, and there could be a discussion to go along with it. I think the Download section should stay small, as this is the location for games from Omnimaga staff. :)
-
Ya, I agree with Z on this.
-
Sounds good to me. It'd probably be simpler to add to and update.
-
i agree with ztrumpet. when sorting the files, maybe have both a function to sort by genre and also an option to sort by language? it may be helpful for someone who wants to learn basic/axe/asm and is looking for quality source code to learn from.
-
I think it's a great idea. People should have a place to put games on this site, but I don't think it should be in the Downloads section. I think it should be a new sub-forum for finished projects. The first post could contain the download, and there could be a discussion to go along with it. I think the Download section should stay small, as this is the location for games from Omnimaga staff. :)
This is possible to setup. When this forum started, it is how it was. When someone added a download, it automatically created a new topic. It was removed at the time, though, since it was extremly buggy back in the early days of the download mod. I am not sure about language sorting, since I feel it kinda single out BASIC games. If I add the sub-forums, I think only the download sections will be sorted by language. It is guaranteed that games will be sorted by genre, though.
The downloads discussion section would probably go under Calculator discussion and news or projects and ideas.
I migth also re-enable this feature for staff, but I fear it might not work. I'll probably just try and see how it goes.
For now, the user-contributed section would have TI-83+/84+/SE, TI-89/T/92+/v200 and TI-Nspire, split by programming utilities, action/fps, racing/sport, adventure/rpg, arcade/shoot-em-up and misc games. Later, sections may split if they get too cluttered.
EDIT: If the sub-forum thing works, I think I'll make the board open to new discussion, but if people flood it with install help topics, I'll make it reply-only again
-
that solution is fine by me. good luck implementing!
-
This sounds like a good solution to me as well. :)
-
I have worked on this for a while now, although this hasn't been tested yet. I finally decided to ditch programming language divisions because of the following reasons:
1) It's hard to classify hybrid games today. Some may be mixes of ASM/Axe, some Axe/BASIC, Some DCS/xLIB/Omnicalc/Celtic III extended BASIC, ASM/Basic and we got BBC Basic, New Prog and FastRPL languages.
2) Although it would be awesome for Axe games/utilities to stand out to promote Axe language, I was never a big fan of dividing programs based on language. I feel it kinda singles out BASIC games. Either people think "BASIC" means "lacking features", or they think all BASIC games sucks, even if there are good ones. As for shells requirements, it's normally in the readme anyway (or the file description)
Later I'll probably create a dummy forum account to see if things works as I wish. I also need to put a notice at the top of the download page for upload instructions.
-
Interesting concept. I want to see the results. :)
-
48 sprites editors, 13 guessing games and 3 quadratic solvers uploaded so far.
-
YAY, it's open!
thanks dj (now i just have to make something worth uploading...)
-
Cool! I might use it :D
48 sprites editors, 13 guessing games and 3 quadratic solvers uploaded so far.
:P
-
YAY, it's open!
thanks dj (now i just have to make something worth uploading...)
Those programs you showed screenshots of a while ago (there was some sort of tilemapper with automated/dynamic tiles) seemed pretty awesome. Maybe that could be a great candidate for the programming tools section, assuming they're in a state where they can be used by anyone. :)
-
Once you upload a download is it possible to update that download without re-uploading a whole new thing?
-
I am not sure yet. I'll have to see if it's even possible to update your own files without being able to edit others. If so, then all you'll have to update is the zip file. I'm not sure if they'll be unapproved automatically, though. Otherwise, I guess you'll need to re-upload the whole thing with description (have one tab open with the description then you copy everything and upload a new file. Afterward, I simply manually replace the already existing file info with the new info and file, but keeping the same file info page, so you won't lose your download stats.
ALso it is impossible to upload screenshots, sadly. They need to be linked to img.removedfromgame.com or elsewhere (even a file attachment), then I can edit the links after I host them.
-
A little update on this:
Although there has been a 1 month delay in implementing this, it is coming pretty soon! I finally figured out a SMF feature allowing me to setup permissions in a different way than I normally do. Instead of just not giving permissions to people under 100 posts to upload stuff to the downloads section, I simply deny them access to the upload feature. Otherwise, the higher post groups overrided the lower ones' permissions. Don't ask me why SMF works like that. In addition to that, I have set members above 1000 posts so their files are automatically approved instead of requiring an admin to approve them.
The downside with the new permission settings, though, is that the deny permission thing override staff permissions as well, so now even our own staff require 100 posts (and approval) to have their files added. Oh well. I might just give them the ability to moderate the download system, so they can add their file then manually approve them.
So feel free to start uploading your files now! But make sure to read the rules on the download pages! http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=downloads