Fan Content On Minkata

[rarified]

You make valid points while heading to the final solution. But there are a lot of considerations that motivate me to work on a first solution. And since this one (the fan nexus) is, from a game play point of view, conceptually straightforward, I'd like to try starting there.

In this iteration, not only do we need to implement the fan nexus in the game client and models, but we need to think about how to expand the server side to accommodate fan content. And then begin to work with Cyan on how to integrate that content into their build and server structure. Those issues are there regardless of the form of the final solution. And are of interest to me from the perspective of operating a shard.

And there is experience to be gained with the game client coding of incorporating fan ages in different ways as well, which I think is valuable.

I realize from a player's view these are yawn-inducing topics, but they have to be dealt with.

[As an example of an unknown logistical element, I recall work being done on a central age repository. I havn't kept up to date on the state of that project, but I like the idea and would like to consider something like that as a reference source for fan content. But using it would require solving the logistics of how and when content changes would be pipelined from such a repository to a shard server.]

[CalumTraveler]

(Ugh, I swear the universe hates me.) ok, as soon as I get the Explorer's usergroup thing figured out on the MO forums, I'll be able to post this there myself.

So, AdamJohnso on the MO forums came up with an idea of maybe including a rubber stamp to say it's a fan age, an idea I liked! So I came up with a quick little design (Which has taken me a long time just to get uploaded onto an image hosting site due to computer issues keeping me from doing everything I want to do in the order I want to do them) for such a stamp.



I haven't had time to send it to anyone for vectoring or such, nor have I had time to correct the coloring on it, but I think the general design works ok? What do you all think?

[Lyrositor]

I like it! Although I would rather see something either red on a white background (with the actual appearance of a stamp), or white on a black background. I'm not sure about the image in the center though, which might confuse some people as to the purpose of this stamp. Maybe remove the two pens on the sides and put one giant one in the center, like the GoW logo?

[Hoikas]

I like the concept a lot. I also think that Lyrositor's comments bear some merit. I look forward to seeing a vectorized final product

You make valid points while heading to the final solution. But there are a lot of considerations that motivate me to work on a first solution. And since this one (the fan nexus) is, from a game play point of view, conceptually straightforward, I'd like to try starting there.

In this iteration, not only do we need to implement the fan nexus in the game client and models, but we need to think about how to expand the server side to accommodate fan content. And then begin to work with Cyan on how to integrate that content into their build and server structure. Those issues are there regardless of the form of the final solution. And are of interest to me from the perspective of operating a shard.

And there is experience to be gained with the game client coding of incorporating fan ages in different ways as well, which I think is valuable.

I realize from a player's view these are yawn-inducing topics, but they have to be dealt with.

[As an example of an unknown logistical element, I recall work being done on a central age repository. I havn't kept up to date on the state of that project, but I like the idea and would like to consider something like that as a reference source for fan content. But using it would require solving the logistics of how and when content changes would be pipelined from such a repository to a shard server.]

So I guess our experience on the Gehn Shard amounts to horse piss and isn't worth anything? What everyone seems to be ignoring is that we have successfully added a linking book in the Neighborhood and a city location to the Nexus. It works wonderfully and is very quick and easy to do. We have an excellent refactor of the Nexus python to allow quick addition of city locations. But, again, I guess all of this is really just horse piss.

[CalumTraveler]

I like the concept a lot. I also think that Lyrositor's comments bear some merit. I look forward to seeing a vectorized final product :)

<Quote pyramid prevention snip>

So I guess our experience on the Gehn Shard amounts to horse piss and isn't worth anything? What everyone seems to be ignoring is that we have successfully added a linking book in the Neighborhood and a city location to the Nexus. It works wonderfully and is very quick and easy to do. We have an excellent refactor of the Nexus python to allow quick addition of city locations. But, again, I guess all of this is really just horse piss.

I'll be working on a new version of the stamp after I get back dinner, though I won't send it for vectorizing until I'm happy with the design. :)

...I think what a lot of people are forgetting in all of this is that there's more than *ONE* fan Shard running, and that makes me sad as there are at least five others out there. :( Really, the people running these different shards are in the best positions to be offering advice on the subject of "ease of adding content," since they each have their own experiences with their own unique shards in terms of adding and changing things.

Though, while I have to say that a 'nexus code refactor' is news to me, that's only because I haven't been paying as much attention as I should have to these things until recently. :/ Time to start archive digging!

EDIT: Re-done version of the outline:



I've sent the 'stampized' version over to my pal for vectoring.

[Lyrositor]

This I like! /thumbsup

[CalumTraveler]

Here it is, the 'finalized' vector'd stamp design! (I say finalized but I can make changes to the original and have it re-vector'd if anyone wants that.)



I went with a "Too much ink" overflow which is common on some complicated stamp designs, including Yeesha's own Book stamp, because I doubt you can get that much design onto a stamp that wouldn't keep excess ink in it's gaps and dents.

Now, the image I'm posting here is just the *Preview Icon* from my own Gallery page on DeviantArt. The full view image is wayyyy too big for any forum to display properly, so I'm linking to it here if anyone's interested in huge vectored images.

[GPNMilano]

Okay, I think it's a good time that I chime in, as I've always had an interest in how fan content is integrated into a shard. Over the years I've seen many good suggestions, and many IMO bad suggestions brought up on how to accomplish this goal. From a Nexus to a library to using the pedestals in the city and hoods. All of the ideas have drawbacks. Placing all the links to fan ages into a separate Nexus makes some feel that it's ghettoizing the content made by fans. Others feel this approach is duplicating already existing content (IE The Nexus) and is in line with the "sloppiness" of the Guild Pubs and Pods. The library concept is in great in theory but has limited space, as does the city and hoods. (There's only so many pedestals you can put into one place before things start getting cluttered.)

Personally I've always felt that the Nexus was the best option. As long as it was done right, cleanly, and integrated well. And I think that if the last part is done right, everyone would be happy with it. So I'm going to suggest a way to integrate it.

First the linking book to the "Fan Nexus" (I hate that name by the way.) is placed in the city by the DRC.

A KI Letter from Victor Laxman explains the purpose behind this particular Nexus, that the books contained in it are linking books to ages and areas both restored and written by explorers. That the DRC found it during during the initial restoration and that it was empty at the time. It's discovery was made by Phil Henderson. During the second phase of the restoration (MOUL) It was hoped that the revival of the guilds would one day allow the DRC to fill the Nexus with ages that were written by explorers. Now that the restoration is in the hands of the explorers the DRC felt it was time to allow us a place to store and share the links we've written/restored.

Once you use the book, a new book appears on your relto shelf. The Red Nexus linking book that Phil has on his shelf.

Thats the first step of integration, the second comes when new ages are written. When pushes are made to Cyan that involve new fan ages, those ages are looked at throughly. When a particularly good one (like Vothol) appears rather than be in the fan nexus, the DRC places a book to it in the city, or the hoods, or a link in the original Nexus (Only if it's a city or hood location) these books will then have the stamp that Adam suggested. This way it's not ghettoizing the work of content creators that aren't employed by Cyan. It's allowing everyone to have their content included, with the truly exceptional work being showcased along side linking books to Cyan's ages.

Just an idea.

[Emor D'ni Lap]

Thank you, Chloe... I agree.

The idea of a Nexus makes sense to me for so many reasons. The Ages can be searched alphabetically, can be scrolled through easily, or can be grouped, if desired, into sections - beyond "Public Links", "Private Links", etc. This is far more convenient, I think, than scanning through bookshelves with over a hundred books initially, possibly many times that number eventually.

It's been suggested that the "best" Fan Ages will be determined, over time, by explorer votes or by number of visits or similar means. But - at least at first - ALL Fan Ages must be included in any such project, if they aren't pron or otherwise objectionable content. Because you know that the "community" won't abide by the thumbsup/thumbsdown decisions of any Supreme Administrative Fan Age Judging Board!

And frankly I see nothing whatsoever that "ghettoizes" fan content in a special Nexus for that purpose, unless explorers enter it to find themselves in ghetto environments.
If, instead, they walk into fascinating, well-designed wonderlands of beauty, intrigue, or even despair, there is no way such content would be considered "ghetto".

The idea of separating the content that we as fans have produced non-commercially from those Ages that have been created on a for-profit basis is something we should be proud of, not ashamed of.

On the other hand, if you wanted to ghettoize Fan Ages, I can think of few better ways to do so than to send them to the Doghouse, "referring to someone (in this case, something) out of favour being sent out alone into the cold." http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/in-the-doghouse.html

[JWPlatt]

Content is such a deliberate, manual process going through both community review and Cyan review that the risk of objectionable content making it to MOULa is essentially zero.