Fan Content On Minkata

[Malfhok]

CalumTraveler, I'll copy your post over to the MOULa forum thread for you.

I am in favor of the Fan Nexus idea. It's not an attempt to ghettoize content, but rather a way for Cyan, on their shard where they are responsible for the content, to say that the fan-created content isn't endorsed or created by them as a company, removing their liability for any potential issues if something slips through that isn't appropriate (content-wise, not in terms of story). It's also a way to make lots of fan content easily accessible in the long run. Read RAWA's e-mail that JWPlatt posted (emphasis mine):

It keeps all the fan-created Ages easily accessible from one place, and acts as a gateway that lets players know "You are now leaving Cyan-designed Uru" kind of thing. If the player chooses to visit one of the fan-created Ages (IC - "Explorer-restored Ages"), and something inappropriate is on the other side… we didn't do it. :)

Now, I also like the idea of curated fan content making into the game somehow, so I have this longer-term suggestion:

After the Fan Nexus is added, what if we allow Hood owners to select a fan age or three as featured ages in their Hood? This lets the community create a "list" of the best content, and it encourages people to visit multiple Hoods to see what ages are featured. This way, we can leave the City pedestals open for Cyan to use if they get a chance (which it seems is their desire), and lets us have a way to bring the best content to the forefront.

(I have no idea how this would work or how hard it is to make happen… I'm an idea person and this is just an idea. Do with it what you will!)

Also, consider this… If Cyan were to let us put fan books onto the City pedestals, what happens if we (crossing my fingers now) reach CAVCON 5 and Cyan wants to make their own content? Do you think the fan books are going to stay in the City? I doubt it. Then we'd have even worse hurting of feelings (not to mention player confusion) if somebody's great fan age gets removed from the City to make way for Cyan's new content. Better to not set up such a situation in the first place. :-) Never mind… Tangential and unnecessary.

[CalumTraveler]

Shorah, Malfhok, and thanks.

I Like the idea of putting the fan ages in the hoods as permanent locations outside of the Nexus. Putting them there gives a sense of display beyond simple nexus terminal. Minor offtopic rant:

Spoiler

(Oh. My GOD. Come On. I've been trying to post this one simple post for THREE HOURS NOW. Why is everything just fighting me this month?!) Stop giving me "The submitted form was invalid. Try submitting again" I'm getting tired of this stupid message every time I try to submit it!

[Karkadann]

Or if the Fan Nexus has an Age that proves to be popular it can earn a place outside of the Nexus

[Hoikas]

Personally, my tendency would be to rewrite the Nexus code with a new section for Fan Ages - but I don't know how difficult that would be.

This is, perhaps, the only case that I would be okay with nexus-izing fan ages.

[Karkadann]

Like having a restoration age section? Is that possible in Open Source, legally I mean. I know you guys can pull it off if they allow it, or maybe even have it ready if/when they do?

[Lyrositor]

I know it's technically possible (the-shard-that-must-not-be-named does it), but I have no idea whether or not it's illegal if it is done with Cyan's approval (perhaps on a contractual basis? I am no businessman).

[CalumTraveler]

I think a new tab on the existing Nexus would be a whole lot easier to add than re-creating an entire nexus from scratch. *nods* For now that' be the best bet, I think. Just need to see if Cyan's willing to go for it.

If Cyan really wants RAWA's 'restored links' disclaimer though, a post it note could be attached to the Nexus' main body for viewing in close up mode (Easiest method.), or maybe some kind of scrolling banner could be worked up for the Restorer's Links section (Probably the hardest method)?

Either way though, making a whole *NEW* Nexus seems like it's going to be a lot harder to pull off rather than simply adding a new section to an existing one, both in design and programming. It also clears away the fussy logistics of "How did a new book/Page get here all of a sudden?" as well. No Yeesha or Bahro magic, just an update to an existing age!

[rarified]

The whole spectrum of solutions from the Fan-Age-Nexus which Cyan already has given approval to, to the embedding of linking books throughout the game each have their pros and cons, and are worthy of consideration. But for the moment can we work on a path to the one solution that we know can make it (as a first effort) into Minkata and then perhaps MOULa? Even from an IC perspective, I doubt if Victor Laxman got his restoration work done right the first time (and I would have hated to be around the GZ when it didn't behave correctly ).

As has been pointed out on other postings, I currently don't have the experience to implement the duplicate nexus age myself. That doesn't mean I can't learn such things, but progress would be quicker if I can enlist the aid of developers who are willing to help out.

A current constraint for work on Minkata is my time. At the moment I have some tasks that must be finished by Oct 15th, so most of my non-work time will be spent on those. I'll keep up with any ready-to-integrate fixes for Minkata (which I hope Christian can help with), but additional effort will have to wait until then.

Can we start to focus our energies on getting the fan nexus solution moving forward?

Thanks!
_R

[Hoikas]

Can we start to focus our energies on getting the fan nexus solution moving forward?

you want to make a copy of the Nexus and to get someone to rewrite the nexus python so that it would be acceptable for the purpose of fan ages. [... that] is a lot more work than you think it is [...]. And I know for certain I'm not going to be doing it.

[Lyrositor]

But for the moment can we work on a path to the one solution that we know can make it (as a first effort) into Minkata and then perhaps MOULa?

I'm not sure there's really a big rush required. What I mean is that fan ages have been available for years for people to enjoy, so it's not as if this is an all-new feature (plus the Gehn Shard already does have two fan ages available). So, if we're taking it to MO:ULa, we should take our time making sure the proposed solution is indeed the best one (maybe two votes? One for the preferred solution, one for the easiest solution?), then work on implementing it. If people just can't wait for Ages, they can go enjoy them on another shard - it's not as if this is really IC or anything.

Rushing won't achieve much either: it will take time to organize a development team, solve any and all legal problems, design the Age (if it is a Fan Nexus after all), etc..