Ya'Think?

[drsawbones]

Hi TT'rs!

Today, while making site repairs...

Noticed here on this site...

If I were 100% new to this game or hadn't
played in a while...

I'd be somewhat lost trying
to get online and get into action...

Q. Does anyone have time to collate, edit, collaborate, publish a news bulletin/new home page?
I wish it could be a monthly thing,
but for now, if it was just a
HEY HERE'S THE DRIFT article
on the home page,
popup,
smack you in the face in the showcase position whatever...

I'm thinking:
1. Top news - GG Masters Servers are GONE
...one simple line of code and you will be
online with the NEW Mr.P Master Servers in less
then 1 minute!
2. Not many default servers - best to get the most
recent Expansion Packs/Maps ...(link to download)
3. Leauges are still happening....more info

and anything else you think relative.

Woot, Cloud, Stiff...you all need to revist
the download areas and articles you started.

I don't think this community realizes in general,

that this little site that could...
was a baby crawling on the floor,
not ready for prime time,
a barely breathing development area,
when we all had to call upon it's glory
to save the planet
after that evil hacker hit the bricks
and knocked out the last incarnation
of our illustrious phpbb3 board.

Site needs work...I'm just saying...
you're all great,
the game is still great,
let's give our community a bit of polish
so all those facebook fans and new twitter
followers have meat to sink their teeth into
when they visit our aging, but never dying
PLANET!

Best regards,
Doc

[stiffler]

Do we have any clue where we had lst left off with that? its been awhile and i dont know where w00t and cloud left it

[drsawbones]

Heya Stiffy,

I guess the only place to begin is
to start with what needs
priority billing, as outlined above....

try browsing the site once with
"virgin" eyes.

Downloads area...
Rx's expansion pack? 2006?
(and that's if I can find the link which
took me to a not found the first few clicks_)

Daz pack? is the file we have online the most recent?

Skins and all that can fall in line as we all have time.
The data is there, it just needs to be
brought to the foreground and hooked up.

ie: you click something on this site,
read it and test the links
if you have bad
change it, fix it, or delete it/hide it/unpublish it

[stiffler]

The daz pack should be good unless he has agged somethings in the past year

For the skins i can have everyone that has made a new skin with in the past year email them to me so i may add thoes. the email is troyhanvey@aol.com

[drsawbones]

@stiffy....good thinking, for now, start with newest and work backwards?

In theory, all registered users/members should be
able to create and publish their own download
items in the file repository.

However, I just check the
"submit file link"
and it's not up to speed,
so I'll work on that next...
mechanics..

[LGM]

Doc, I'm willing to help post articles, write new info, whatever...

but I have no idea how to post an article, link up data, etc.

Fill me in on the gory details, and I'll pitch in when I can. (Free time is limited somewhat, though) If I start any content, I'll go till it's finalized... don't like it hanging around undone.

I'd like to help spruce the place up. (and I like the new theme on here- easier on the eyes)

[drsawbones]

That's great LGM!

You have above average permissions here,
you should be able to do just about anything.

On any non forum page, like the home page
if you are logged in
you will see in upper right corner of articles
an edit/page icon.
Click that
to edit existing content.

If you don't like the html code editor
go into your user settings in Joomla
(Joomla ACP>Site>User Manager>find yourself)
and select the JCE editor - it's much like msWord.

For new articles...we were basically taking the main
chunks of top info in each section of the forum categories
and breaking them out into articles.

For submitting new articles, once logged in
you should see a "Submit New Article"
at the top of the forum header...
link

Fill out the form with your article content
making sure to select/check all the options below
ie: category = modding resources; publish on home page? that sort of thing.

For best control, however, I prefer to set up new cats and sections et al in the Joomla ACP>Content>

For the home page showcase ... best to leave that for me to build...send me the copy and I'll hook it up.
The showcase best fit is
(3) articles of your choice.

Questions? ASK BEFORE CLICKING/SAVING!

[supratank]

Doc,

I am pretty sure that Daz will redo and update Daz pack as well as create a video turtorial for changing the master server for people.

I chatted with him the other day and he is very busy, but expressed a desire to help in this area.

I am happy to create articles and information.

The front of the site needs a rotator graphic that leads people to the new server info immediately. Would this be possible?

[drsawbones]

Hiya Sups!

Well, for now I re-linked the main top nav
menu items bar at top of all pages
Game Servers | update now!!!
to the article of mr.p...

If there is a decent article completed
screenshots all that...
I'd be happy to pull one of the 3 existing
showcase articles out and
swap.

Oh, and that's super about Daz willing to contrib.!!!

[Baba]

It's a great idea to have a clear succinct first page to welcome and direct people to what they need to get involved with the game.
Especially with the (temporary?) loss of the Garage Games Master Server there are still lots of people out there who played the game who cant find their way back to it.
Some may not have a lot of patience searching through forums and threads to figure it all out.
The links should be clear and to the point.
We run the risk of getting cut off from a sizable percentage of our TT playing community if we cant find a way to get them back.
I wonder if after that entry page is up if we can then start a email campaign to all those who registered on the site (as well as old vets and players from various players leagues, armies, skinners, modders, friends lists etc) to show them how to get re-connected to the game.
The site keeps looking better Doc, many thanks!