Quadropolis Upgrade??

Nieb | 2006-05-25 22:19

We were considering changing a few things around on the site, then the idea came up to change/upgrade the entire CMS (Content Management System, it's what the entire website is built on). If we did choose to change/upgrade the CMS, all the current content would be lost and it would be like starting over.
The changes we were discussing are:
- wip/beta maps section
- change the comment system to be more understandable, it can be confusing with alot of comments. Maybe more of a "forum" like interface
- a different way of visually organizing lists so you can see more in one screen instead of scrolling so much
- a better rating system could be possible with a new CMS

Some of this can be done with the current CMS, but a new CMS maybe more flexible and visually appealing.
Please comment and vote (poll) on you opinions, and if you have any suggestions for a CMS or ideas for the site, please do tell.

EDIT: The only thing possible on the list would be a "wip/bata maps section, with the current CMS."

Comments

RatBoy | 2006-05-26 04:41

Depending on wich CMS are you guys gonna choose. Personally, I don't know anything about web editing, but this site really needs some upgrading.

Passa | 2006-05-26 06:44

Accidentaly voted new CMS.

Nooo!!! I don't wanna lose all the content! This site has such a history!! :D

Yes drupal has some problems (this is a drupal backend and stuff right?) but it can't be justified by removing all the content. Although its not a bad idea if the current content _can_ be preserved.

thojoh370 | 2006-05-26 14:59

If you're talking about maps/mods/scripts when you're saying "content", then someone could download every single one of them and then upload again when the site has got a new CMS.

Good idea...?

dbox | 2006-05-26 18:02

I think everybody realizes that the maps, mods, scripts, etc. can be re-uploaded.

What I (and I believe Passa and others) are concerned with is losing all of the comments, ratings, dates items were posted, etc., that are associated with those items.

phoenix | 2006-05-26 13:54

I would definitely like to see a new cms, especially with a wip/beta section. There's all kinds of crap on my hard drive that isn't even remotely worthy of publishing, but there are some ideas that I would like to share with other mappers.

It would be a shame to lose all of the current content, though... Isn't there any way to back everything up? Still, I would have no problem with uploading my maps again.

dbox | 2006-05-26 14:47

Losing all of the history would really be a shame. I would hate to see that happen.

...Some of this can be done with the current CMS...
Of the bullet points you mentioned, what changes could be made with the current CMS?

If the only one that can't be done is changing the rating to a 10 point system, then it doesn't seem worth it to me to lose all of the content you have now. I can live with 5 points.

wurfel | 2006-05-28 11:13

Will these 'new features' make sense at all? This isn't the Cube forum and there are only 5 comment for every map on average. It's no problem for me to read the comments in the wrong order. :)
And only 0 to 5 stars is not that bad...

If you add a 'work in progress' category, will it be used by the persons which it is meant for?
I think most users won't submit maps there, because they see their maps as finished. And on the other hand 'pro-mappers' will use it, because they are never satisfied with their work...

'Work in progress' will maybe let the users submit more (perhaps more unfinished) maps. And this isn't Cube anymore where the filesize was really small. :(

One day you maybe will have to change the system after all. Because it's too old or whatever. Then you 'loose' more even maps.
But if you change now, you loose all the Cube maps (if they aren't uploaded again which I doubt in some cases) and there won't be much new ones (because of Sauer).
A bit like loosing history. :(

After all, its your decision. And your time you 'waste' if you change it. You know: 'never change a running system'. :P

Thanks for providing such a great website for Cube/Sauerbraten players and the webspace for those who sometimes tend to map. ;)

MeatROme | 2006-06-01 13:58

@LISTS : If lists (like the maps list) could be sorted by something else than timestamps I think that would be great - "by rating" ... as is quite common-place on other sites.
Also - if I search for "sauerbraten maps" I also get scripts and other content too - this should definitely be fixed!
(It only seems to work if I limit it to either MP or SP maps ... but if I want both ...)
@WIP : maybe all it takes is a bool in the respective SQL (quadropolis uses SQL?) table - the author can simply tick "WIP" and when he/she is not going to work on it anymore un-tick it ...
... a seperate listing for non-WIP/still-WIP would be sensible too and shouldn't pose much of challenge either.
@REMs : well, apart from users sometimes replying to a post w/o having hit the reply button which leads to confusion I can't see much of anything that needs to be done about the current comment system.
@RATING : 5 stars is a pretty tight margin to place your ratings in - but if you really have an opinion on the content then it shouldn't be too hard - it's just that seemingly most people either give no rating at all (which is sad) or only extreme ones (1star or 5stars) ... a new concept or even updating to 10stars max isn't going to change that IMHO.
A mediocre content gets 3stars, superb and only superb content should get 5stars and all the "in-betweens" should be straightforward from there. But again : it can't be helped that you'll always have members that don't see it the same way as you (or even the majority) do but that's democracy for you :)
Basically (for me) it comes down to an incapablity to discern
- "I like it"
- from "I'm impressed"
- up to "Awesome!"
Reasons for just 1 or 2 stars could be "it's still WIP", it's just not good enough but holds promise of better stuff to come, there are certain aspects you don't like but not all bad (like a map that looks great but doesn't promise much fun in playing for example)

... Maybe just a binary vote would be the only way to avoid this "Good" & "Bad" :)
Black & White
0 & 1
N00B & PR0
(oh dear, I'm getting worked up again ...)

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