Final Revamp

[PoLiX]

(Note: Sum up at bottom)

 

So over the years, I have done MANY upgrades, changes, designs, sites, backends, scripts, etc. etc.

 

All have been out of boredom, need, or just to test theories/ideas to see what will work or won't work for keeping my projects alive and running. SSForum was a wacky 2 am idea that has lasted for almost 8yrs now. SSCentral.com went through many faces, but sadly peaked years ago. SubSpace Online while catchy, has proven not to be the central domain for all my projects/work. Though the site's content and design will live on.

 

I was showing a buddy of mine some of the stuff I have done around SS over the years. As where I work, knowing stuff about computers makes you very useful (I work in an industrial shipyard for the government... not many computer smart people) and showing what you know can make you even more valuable. Well, he asked me "Why is there like 5 websites just to browse around the game? Seems kinda stupid to me. Go here for files, here for forums, here for news." I told him about my idea to combine everything, but then he also agreed with most people, and my 20-20 hindsight that while SubSpaceOnline.com is catchy, http://forums.subspaceonline.com/ or http://files.subspaceonline.com would be... rather long to type out. Now I don't think I should replace any site I don't run, but competing with SSDownloads is inevitble in trying to centralize.

 

Blast back to 2000. I was just getting into the ss web scene after finding there was more sites than DS98, SSHQ, or SSNet that were thriving post-vie. This gave me the urge to create my own website... SubSpace Gamers Network it was to be called... I got a free domain, and began working on a cool design. Sadly, as was normal back then, there were 20 others doing the same as me. So that year I was offered staff working on SSCentral.com and a few other small sites I forget. I lost the domain when I couldn't buy it after the free domain site shutdown.

 

Well, a few months ago, my domain FINALLY was released... yeah.. 9yrs of being controlled by domain buying sites... lame huh? But it is 4 chars, can't expect much more. Well, since aquiring it a lot has been going through my head... Combining... New staff structure... finding someone to once again be my right hand man... Anyways... the sum up follows...

 

Sum Up

- SubSpace Online, while a good idea, is failing, no matter how much I mention it to people, try advertising it, etc. The biggest complaint is how long the domain is (So fucking lame). It sadly isn't going to fill its purpose.

- The design/content are still VERY usable under a different atmosphere.

- I will be hiring a lot of new staff to help manage a new central domain. No more running this solo. It is time for you guys to put up or shut up. No more counting on 1 person to do this alone.

- SubSpace Gaming Network will be the name. SSGN.net the domain

- People from outside our game have mentioned how odd/stupid it is to have to visit multiple websites just to even GET STARTED in the game. Even GetContinuum.com doesn't contain everything they'd want / have grown to expect from other games.

- I have been trying to do this for a while now, but just lack the support. And am now aiming to go about finding those players who are willing.

- I will also be hiring/centralizing an "authority" behind promoting subspace internally and externally. This person and their support team will have my full support, and will be in charge of all of the sites promoting/advertising.

 

This has been long coming... and I have had a lot of support/push for this idea by sysops/old timers I trust. And my gut feeling is this will work, and will give me the ability to enjoy this game again. My #1 concern. Cause if this game continues feeling like it does right now, almost like a burden where I could care less to visit my own sites, I might as well just shut them down.

 

Edit: quite possibly everything I'll be looking for if I get the support/help - http://polix.subspaceonline.com/staff.txt

[Death+]

Great idea, funny how it is the same problems coming back around. Good luck Polix

[Dr Brain]

A single website makes it that much easier to kill the game. I'm not in favor of that.

[»Lynx]

A single website makes it that much easier to kill the game. I'm not in favor of that.

 

I don't really see how. Sites like TWForums/DSB/MG etc probably aren't going to move here, they all have their own communities. This game has shown time and time again that players will typically stick within their own community. Look at how rarely the regulars from the HS subforum post in the general forums here.

 

In all honesty it will be a name change for the better. SSDL/GetContinuum should definitely be moved in with SSGN. It doesn't mean that those domains have to die, or even if the sites have to die but SSGN should hold all of their functionality, and my opinion is GetContinuum should just be a redirect to SSGN (once it gets onto it's feet). Potential new players (and returning old players) should be able to see straight away that this game still does have some kind of playerbase. The news posts and quick links to forums etc will show that.

[whalz]

bunch of stifs, really look at all popular games, they have one website, with all the users, the main site, you can download, ask questions, get answers, look at zone settings, look at zone maps, get the overview of wtf subspace is

 

as it is now, we branch off of what? we dont have a tree and we are all just random branches.

 

I think polix wants to re-invent subspace as it is on the webpage side of things. Make a tree that all of us can be branches of!

[»Xog]

PoLiX I love you to death, you're a great person, but I think you are missing a big factor. Zone owners are zone owners. Continuum isn't just one game; it's several, hundreds of games. Each zone has a general playstyle, and within that zone there are subgames you can play.. Bringing all of this together under one roof isn't going to help anything at all. A lot of people will be disgruntled by this.

 

What you are theoretically doing, is creating a new ice cream shop right across the street from one that's been there for 10+ years, just for the people down the block that just moved in. It won't be successful. Sure there's a long line at the older place, but that's not going to stop the customers from coming back to the same place they have for the last 10 years.

 

-X

[Chambahs]

Word, hire me, we'll get results.

[Hakaku]

I'm pretty sure that everyone understands that this game encompasses a multitude of different zones which have their own cultures, communities, rules, graphics, settings, staff, ideologies, etc. The problem is, even though all these zones are seemingly separate, they're still all inevitably related through the game known as SubSpace and the game client known as Continuum. In fact, the majority of these zones are connected and centralized through the SSC biller, and a great portion of players, while loyal to one zone, will still venture into others.

 

A website is a website. There's nothing stopping these other zones from having their own web communities. But I do think, that to a certain extent, some form of centralization is needed. A one stop shop where newbies and regulars alike will be able to obtain all the basic information, screenshots, downloads, forums, news & events, and links to other related websites. A single zone alone will only advertise itself, talk about itself, and thus appeals to a smaller spectrum of potential gamers. To add, most zone websites are so very rarely updated that you wonder if they're alive at all. That was also one of the major criticisms of SubSpace Downloads, it was left in the hands of so few that no one cared to maintain any of it.

 

We need to show to others that this game is still alive, healthy, and active.

 

My only issue with Polix's changes is that there's absolutely nothing on the website that makes me want to go back. The forums already provide me with the news (though you should consider adding an rss feed to the site for those who aren't part), I already know what Continuum is, and the top navbar already includes the rest of the info I need. In other words, it's lacking user-generated content. It's sad to say, but Continuum is dead, and it alone will not be enough to attract people. Consider galleries, score information (yes, I know), randomness, quicklinks to server modules and bot plugins, allow page commenting, video submissions, user guides, public maps, etc.

[Samapico]

He's not forcing the other zones to shut down their websites and forums... We need a somewhat "official" site where new players can find everything they need, but that doesn't mean other zone-specific or player fan sites can't exist. But as it is now, our game just cannot be perceived seriously because nothing is centralized. If someone asks you "What's the website of the game?", what do you tell him? "Well, some forums are here, some others are here, getcontinuum.com gets you some links, and emm..."

Couple of years ago, we had subspace.net and sshq that worked fine as "official" site, now we don't have anything. GetContinuum.com is nice to download the game and get a few links to related sites, but that's about it.

 

0.02$

[Dr Brain]

My only issue with Polix's changes is that there's absolutely nothing on the website that makes me want to go back. The forums already provide me with the news (though you should consider adding an rss feed to the site for those who aren't part), I already know what Continuum is, and the top navbar already includes the rest of the info I need. In other words, it's lacking user-generated content. It's sad to say, but Continuum is dead, and it alone will not be enough to attract people. Consider galleries, score information (yes, I know), randomness, quicklinks to server modules and bot plugins, allow page commenting, video submissions, user guides, public maps, etc.

 

I think you really hit the nail on the head here. Let me emphasize that SSForum is *great*. The question becomes what more will sscentral/ssgn provide beyond what ssforum already does?

[PoLiX]

Actually all that is being added. Right now it is getting people on it, and a lot of people are on board. I just had to goto my cousin's son's b-day at his parents and then once the fiance got home we went over to his place and yeah. I was gonIe most the time I was gonna spend on that. But I have already outlined it and setup a task list some people have offered to help with bits of so far. I have added quite a few people to the staff for the new site, and the forum has a lot of input so far from them. Good variety of players from all over SS, and who have started in different eras spilling out ideas.

 

I am pushing on the scores again.

Quotes is being merged into the site 100% and going to clean out a bunch of them.

Gallery is being re-added.

Twenty Questions is going to become a weekly ordeal.

Going to rebuild a new file archive.

Player submitted "You know you're addicted to ss when"

Contests with real prizes.

Editorials section for those wanting to spill their thoughts and not get flamed.

Fan Fiction section which I hope to have Rowen kick off with his old Lord of the SubSpace Rings.

Favorite moment section where players can share and laugh at each others "best moment" in subspace.

In the news section where people can share links to ss news stories, reviews, etc.

What if... section that people enjoyed on SSNet where you could post your favorite "What if..." IE: What if Trench Wars shutdown today or What if VIE Came back to SS.

Population graphs for SSC Zones and zones who request one. (less server intensive than pulling EVERY zone on the directory server)

And the good old weekly editions of the Zoner SS Comics.

 

These are just beginning ideas. People have mentioned many others to me, and will add them in time. These are the sections that made SSNet interesting to keep coming back to.

 

 

And nowhere did I say all the zones would be under 1 site. Not quite sure where that came from/is coming from except from 1 person's incorrect assumptions and everyone following suit.

 

The only sites merging under the domain is the SSC Billing information site (which I have the template finished for) with its support scripts (bang/billing), Quotes, SSForum, SSCentral's hosted sites (IE: dcme.sscentral.com), and everything at SubSpace Online. Also since SSDL has been down for some time, will probably setup a back up files section for important files and things that are still useful.

 

A lot of this will be player driven, and a lot of it will use the forums for management so players can very easily submit content, and we can monitor/control it. Most will only be visible on the site itself, but will be submitable here.

 

It just makes it more centralized, and easier on whoever steps up to fill in as my comp time is about to take another big hit with the possibility of going back to school this fall for the next 3yrs, and working a lot more overtime. Right now there is more work at the shipyard than there has been in its 100+yr history, and 7-12s and 7-10s are a mandatory standard through a lot of areas of my shop and the yard, and my section is losing fighting it off. So between school, marriage, and work, I've gotta do something to keep these sites afloat and finish what I started with SSO.

 

Those are my intentions. If they are wrong to you, sorry. I am tired of trying to please everyone. I have tried for too many years, and have just driven so many people away because I don't just put my foot down and tell people to fuck off. So if you got suggestions for the plan, suggest them. But "I don't like the idea" or "This idea sucks" isn't gonna do any good.

[Samapico]

Now that sounds fun

 

By the way, I'm searching for a new appartment now that my university is done, but when I'm all settled down, I should have plenty of free time to put in these things. I'm not web programming savvy much, and I pretty much suck making graphics, but I'm sure I'll find some way to help you out http://www.ssforum.net/public/style_emoticons/default/blum.gif

 

Population graphs for SSC Zones and zones who request one. (less server intensive than pulling EVERY zone on the directory server)

You mean the total population ssc-and-some-more--wide, or a per-zone graphic?

 

 

What if... section that people enjoyed on SSNet where you could post your favorite "What if..." IE: What if Trench Wars shutdown today or What if VIE Came back to SS.

hmmm, that sounds like something that would be a forum topic ô.o

[»Maverick]

If you need it (I doubt you do as you've already acquired a domain name), you are welcome to make use of subspacehq.net/com/org and/or sshq.net* to the fullest extent necessary. I was planning on using them for a new project but I doubt I'll begin working on that anytime soon (if ever).

Maybe making these domains mirror SSGN / SSO would be a good idea.

 

As for the population statistics, maybe we can work together on that subject. I already have a pretty good setup which I've been testing the last few months. It's powered by Cacti, RRDTool and several scripts that are pinging the zones every minute to acquire population numbers. The website I created to present the population statistics is almost finished aswell. As the website is aimed to supply the population graphs to the general public and anyone willing to use them on their website (by making use of graph exports every 5 minutes), it's possible for SSGN to simply link to them and display them at SSGN's website.

 

 

 

* You can only use the root domain of SSHQ.net if needed as I'm still serving websites and offering hosting under it's subdomains.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Maverick

[Emit]

There needs to be a smack talk feature.

[»D1st0rt]

Why so you can get 0wnt? Sit down ewok.

[kid]

Needs scores section.

[Hakaku]

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[PoLiX]

fixed... It is something weird with the firewall. I need to look into it deeper. Just takes a quick restart of the firewall and all is fine.