Questions and Wish-List for the new website

from Sins Forums

So the new site I'm building should be up in a couple weeks.  I think modders will find it particularly useful as I'm putting a file manager on it.  This means it can have all mods, maps, models, etc. in a good system.  Each can be rated, has it's own update tab, discussion tab, and comments tab.

As I'm not a modder, I'm not sure which file categories you actually need though.  Please enlighten me as to what you think the file categories should be for the Mod section.

Also, if you have anything else you want to support modders then let me know.  It's already turning into quite a powerful site that should be able to handle most things.

Thanks

-slowreflex

modding
12,159 views 20 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Models
    Ships
    Structures
    Planets
Abilities
Maps

Sound
    Music
    Effects
    Voice Commands 


Feel free to start pulling files from my skydrive to start your layouts.
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=4BB4BC0AAC3684C3

There is also
http://www.moddb.com/company/soase-m0dders/members

where this can be a general download area
http://www.moddb.com/company/soase-m0dders/downloads 

 

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

 I think total conversion should also have its own category (I assume these are not mutually exclusive), so people would know what mods remove the base factions from those that do not.

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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting GoaFan77, reply 2

I think total conversion should also have its own category (I assume these are not mutually exclusive), so people would know what mods remove the base factions from those that do not.
End of GoaFan77's quote

Can you elaborate?  Do you mean an all inclusive category or to have sub-categories under a Total Conversion category?  Or just another line in addition to myfits0's list above?

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting slowreflex, reply 3
Can you elaborate?  Do you mean an all inclusive category or to have sub-categories under a Total Conversion category?  Or just another line in addition to myfits0's list above?
End of slowreflex's quote

Well, did you have mutually exclusive or non-mutually exclusive categories in mind? If they are mutually exclusive, then Myfist's categories do not make sense as many mods do all those things. If they are not, then total conversion should be another category alongside "New Planets", "New Ships", "New Music" etc.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

So by Total Conversion do you mean a completed mod?  Like your 4x mod?  I noticed completed Mods aren't in myfist0's list.  However, Total Conversion to me sounds like it's been made almost a different game?

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting slowreflex, reply 5

So by Total Conversion do you mean a completed mod?  Like your 4x mod?  I noticed completed Mods aren't in myfist0's list.  However, Total Conversion to me sounds like it's been made almost a different game?
End of slowreflex's quote

Ah, my mistake. A Total Conversion is indeed a mod that tries to make an entirely different game out of the Sins engine. Of course few actually get to that point so my definition is any mod that removes the original Sins factions. Sins of a Galactic Empire, Sacrafice of Angels, and most of the other Sci-fi show/movie inspired games fall in this category.

Mods like my Enhanced 4X mod or Infinite Space I label as "Enhancement Mods", they may add a lot of new content but usually they do not usually add new races. Some like Infinite Space focus on just one theme, in that case "Planets". Others like Enhanced 4X and Distant Stars systematically change virtually all aspects of the game to some degree, and often package some of the specific themed mods into them.

Mods like Maelstrom and Requiem fall into a interesting category in that they add new races but do not remove the Sins ones, and in ZombieRus' Sins of a Fallen series is interesting as you pick and choose which races you want to play with from a set which includes both new and default ones. Still, I think these belong in the Enhancement category, perhaps with a "Adds New Races" category as well.

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Well what I want to be careful of is that we don't end up with categories with only a few files in them.  If I wanted to keep it quite broad, what sort of categories would that be?

I think I may have to have Replays and Guides in the same module for now, so I don't want it to be too massive, unless it's justified.

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting slowreflex, reply 7
Well what I want to be careful of is that we don't end up with categories with only a few files in them.  If I wanted to keep it quite broad, what sort of categories would that be?
End of slowreflex's quote

Well quite honestly, even if all the mods on Moddb and the forums here got but on your site, some categories will still only have a few files in them. But the broadest you can get would be "Total Conversion" and "Enhancement". To be a bit more specific, "Total Conversion", "Planets", "Races", "Units", and "Sound" would be the most useful categories to start with IMO.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

my comment was not for mods, I thought there was to be modding files sections, so if someone wanted to share their planet textures or something, there was a place to upload. Skydrive is kinda fugly to use but better than nothing.

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting myfist0, reply 9

my comment was not for mods, I thought there was to be modding files sections, so if someone wanted to share their planet textures or something, there was a place to upload. Skydrive is kinda fugly to use but better than nothing.
End of myfist0's quote

Well I plan on having it have mods and mod resources.  Or simply put, all files that are useful to soase players/modders.

Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top

A directory of planet textures (with their meshes and corresponding meshinfo's that would go at the top of a the entity file) would be nice...a screenshot of each planet in game would help people pick the planets they want without having to first see them in game...

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting slowreflex, reply 10


Quoting myfist0, reply 9
my comment was not for mods, I thought there was to be modding files sections, so if someone wanted to share their planet textures or something, there was a place to upload. Skydrive is kinda fugly to use but better than nothing.

Well I plan on having it have mods and mod resources.  Or simply put, all files that are useful to soase players/modders.
End of slowreflex's quote

I won't allow my mod to be posted here... no offense or anything. I bet most other mods beyond simple one offs would want their work here either.

Quoting GoaFan77, reply 6
Mods like Maelstrom and Requiem fall into a interesting category in that they add new races but do not remove the Sins ones, and in ZombieRus' Sins of a Fallen series is interesting as you pick and choose which races you want to play with from a set which includes both new and default ones. Still, I think these belong in the Enhancement category, perhaps with a "Adds New Races" category as well.
End of GoaFan77's quote

I made it as simple as possible in my review thread. 

Original factions removed := Total Conversion

Adds new factions and keeps original := Expansion Mod

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting ZombiesRus5, reply 12

I won't allow my mod to be posted here... no offense or anything. I bet most other mods beyond simple one offs would want their work here either.
End of ZombiesRus5's quote

Umm...why not?  Everyone else has been very supportive including Yarlen.  This is a non-commercial site aimed at providing the tools, reference, and files that are currently spread all over the place.  You can also provide a link instead of a file that will take them to your own site or another destination if you wanted.

I'm putting a heavy investment of my money and my time into this site and it would be very disappointing if it's not appreciated by the community.

Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting slowreflex, reply 13


Quoting ZombiesRus5, reply 12
I won't allow my mod to be posted here... no offense or anything. I bet most other mods beyond simple one offs would want their work here either.

Umm...why not?  Everyone else has been very supportive including Yarlen.  This is a non-commercial site aimed at providing the tools, reference, and files that are currently spread all over the place.  You can also provide a link instead of a file that will take them to your own site or another destination if you wanted.
End of slowreflex's quote

I'm talking about the mod files itself as a file sharing device. If you have something similar to Rick's galaxy that has links to where the mod may be downloaded, then that's fine.

I think overall the ideas are fine for this project, but don't expect everyone to leave moddb or their own hosting sites to jump on board with their projects.

 

Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting ZombiesRus5, reply 14
I'm talking about the mod files itself as a file sharing device. If you have something similar to Rick's galaxy that has links to where the mod may be downloaded, then that's fine.

I think overall the ideas are fine for this project, but don't expect everyone to leave moddb or their own hosting sites to jump on board with their projects.
End of ZombiesRus5's quote

When a resource is created by someone, they can choose to upload it or provide a link.  The important thing is that there is one central place for all of the information.

And yes, I DO actually expect people to migrate to the site from moddb and other sites as mine will be better and have no advertising, but realize this won't happen overnight.  I expect that to happen when people see how professional the site will be and that I'm quite serious about making it a success.

Obviously if it's on their own site for a good reason then certainly there's no issue with that.  I'm referring to it replacing generic file hosting sites.

Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top

A long time ago I made a "Directory of Planet Mods"...I was kind of busy at the time so I didn't really try to do a whole lot with it other than sort of organize a variety of planet mods...

For each mod, I posted a link to the most relevant thread on the sins forums...I started with having actual links to my own mediafire account where I had back up copies of several mods...however, I asked each modder (if they were still around) for explicit permission before actually hosting their files...some were a little slow at responding so I kind of did the "do it now, ask for forgiveness later" approach, but I immediately removed any links to my own hosted downloads as soon as the mod owner requested it to be taken down..

I clearly stated my intention of my downloads as being backups in case for whatever reason the modder's own links or website fell out of use...this was at a time when some people were transitioning from Trinity to Rebellion so there was a very real fear that some graphics mods might become completely abandoned...in any case, people still treated my links as "live and up-to-date" and in the end it became clear that hosting copies of mods just wasn't a very good idea...

Moral of the story....link to threads or websites, DO NOT host direct downloads...now, you may want to keep a personal cache of downloads and if you see one fall out of existence, well then it might as well be "public domain" for all intents and purposes...

Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top

I can only sigh at the people still using moddb, but I for one don't want any of my resources (current or future) hosted on a site external of where I have posted them. Thanks for understanding, and good luck.

Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting IskatuMesk, reply 17
I can only sigh at the people still using moddb
End of IskatuMesk's quote

It sucks, but it saves me from writing all the web code myself (though I have a crude mod website ready to deploy if I should ever need it). Also the larger user base is also a plus. Can reach people who wouldn't normally keep up with Sins mods that way.

Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top

I wouldn't consider the average moddb user human, so I try to avoid reaching into that particular toothy bucket.

Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top

Guys, linking to wherever you want it to link to is more than fine with me.  In fact, it's better because it keeps my bandwidth down on the site!  I can create the links myself, but I would prefer that the authors do that.  This is because there is also an update tab where you can put a change-log, but it's up to you.  I'm just trying to help with the mod components people would like in a central place and a master link list to the mods available, like Seleuceia referenced.