Sword of Moonlight Forum

The Water Cooler => General Discussion => Topic started by: dmpdesign on January 27, 2011, 10:33:48 am

Title: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: dmpdesign on January 27, 2011, 10:33:48 am
Hi gang,

Its time for me to start overhauling some sections of this website, with the departure of a certain someone that was really draining my desire to visit the site I have a renewed interest in getting this place in tip top shape.  So a few things to talk about for the months ahead that might spark some ideas from you folks on what you would like to see here.

Help is welcome, and if you have any technical expertise in website coding please let me know :)

Here are the things I have been working on, some are completed and some are just now getting started.

#1 - Pruning the forum and updating it to keep it safe from hackers.
This I have already begun by removing other admins to the database and locking everything down. The forum is actually hosted on a new, streamlined database now, which should query much much faster than the previous one that was bloated with several sites worth of data that for whatever reason was stored inside SOM's files (including all that wordpress garbage).

I would like feedback as to whether I should re-enable the SomEx section of the site if anyone really wants to go back through and read into some of the things Holy was working on...if need be I can get it back up on here.

#2 - The main page still looks really amateur to me, so I will want to update the whole layout of the table and try to incorporate some new graphics.  This also means I would like to create a few new sections to add to the main page for our new games that are in progress, specifically Mytrosia and Rathmor.  So I will be asking Ben and Joe for permission/files to add to the main page to highlight their projects.

I may incorporate flash animations if i get the time, though I dont know how folks feel about that.

#3 - The forum design...I still want to update this to some degree, not because the old is bad, but because the old is well...old.  I would like to refresh the starry background to something new and higher res and also maybe spruce up the top banner a bit.  Any suggestions would be appreciated...I thought about maybe integrating some thumbnails of the different games available in the masthead.

#4 - SOM addons section of the site...this is something I am working on which will be a living repository of custom collections in a gallery format where people can upload/download custom packs for their games.
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Guyra on May 12, 2011, 06:46:30 pm
Hi,
This is kind of weird for a first post, but I'd like to help out if I can. I'm no master, but I have worked professionally with web development, at least. (Before I dropped it due to work being two and a half hour drive away. :P )

In any case, being the KF fan that I am, I'd love to help out the community some. :)
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: dmpdesign on May 12, 2011, 09:57:25 pm
Hey thats great news!  Any help is appreciated.

I wonder, do you know anything about creating some sort of decent repository that folks can access/update?

We have the addons sections but its too complicated to be useful to our members in its current form i think.
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Guyra on May 13, 2011, 04:12:18 am
I think I should be able to fix that if we used Joomla, for example. Which I'd actually recommend, seeing as it'd make it much easier to publish any new information on the site.
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Verdite on May 14, 2011, 06:30:07 pm
Awesome! Hope to see something new coming our way - ive got alot to add!
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: dmpdesign on May 30, 2011, 09:07:22 am
Installing Joomla backend today I think...gonna try to move forward on getting something concrete for everyone soon.

Does anyone have any good examples of a website that incorporates joomla, or a website similar to what we are trying to accomplish here (i.e. community homebrew gaming?)
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Guyra on May 30, 2011, 09:41:58 am
You can do just about anything with Joomla, especially with extra extensions. There are extensions for just about anything you can think of, and most are free. ;)
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: dmpdesign on May 30, 2011, 02:48:49 pm
Guyra, I installed joomla and set you up with a login, mind having a peek at what we have to work with and what we should add?  I will PM you the details.
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Guyra on May 30, 2011, 03:09:58 pm
Go right ahead. :)
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Guyra on June 27, 2011, 02:52:42 am
Okay, a little update here: I haven't been able to work on the new design at all. Reason is that I was living with my uncle, and he didn't pay the power bills, so ofcourse the power was cut. which means no computer and no internet.

Now I've moved, but at my new place there's not much possibility of internet, either. Only times I get online is at my girlfriend's place and at friends' places.

Sorry, guys. :/
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Creatura on June 27, 2011, 03:44:16 am
This is great news.
I'd be glad to help with add-ons.
I'll contribute models and stuff.
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: HwitVlf on September 30, 2011, 01:08:03 am
Testing testing....1 2 3... testing...   ... is this thing on? Everything with the new forum looks great I've seen so far looks great and works fine so far! Thanks for all your work Todd :birdo:
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Guyra on November 20, 2011, 01:17:32 pm
By the way, how about changing the forum title from "My Community" to something more fitting? xD
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: AsusX2 on September 22, 2012, 08:08:25 pm
I like the new website and forum. I've been without internet for a year and a half  :madani: I'll be moving to a new place with broadband soon. YaY
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: dmpdesign on October 27, 2013, 01:53:17 am
Ive put this off too long, going to work on updating the main page in November, the forum shouldn't see any downtime, but the main site is going to get a rework.

I also finally took the time to figure out how to add custom menu options on the forum menu, so i added the somwiki section in hopes that people who may have forgotten it may go there and poke around a bit and add some info :)
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: HwitVlf on October 28, 2013, 06:45:17 pm
I think adding a link to the wiki and also a "what's this site about" statement would be good.
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Smittiox on November 02, 2013, 05:01:55 am
Site looks good man ! I got a lil suprise when I logged on earlier. It's good to see the add-on section up n running :) I can throw a few things in there too sooner or later.
  Yeah, it may have been overdue but I sure understand it takes time to do these things when you've got to work and all that real life jazz. Thanks Todd  :biggrin:
  Oh, btw. I'm about half way through dark destiny and havin a lot of fun with it. I got sidetracked though and need to get back in there n finish the game. Much appreciated man. Thanks for the game !  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: Guyra on May 15, 2014, 02:54:00 pm
The new site design looks great! Good work! :D
Title: Re: Website Updating Project: Ideas/Brainstorming/Contribution
Post by: djil;f on November 08, 2015, 09:03:12 pm
Looks great. Good Work :biggrin:


Wild Ninja Brian appeared :ninja: