A new site?
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:51 pm
CASA has been around for ten years now, and I believe it's time to do something more with it. After much complaining and moaning, site users David Lodge and Mr. Creosote have very graciously offered to lend a hand with the site's further development.
Why a new site?
I think that, between all users of the site, there's a great deal of knowledge of adventure games, much more than for "just" solutions, maps and so forth. So my hope is to create a better site that will remain a repository for walkthroughs etc., but will also encompass game ratings, reviews, recommendations and more.
There are several sites like this, such as Adventureland, IFDB and IF Wiki, but none of them really cover classic games the way I’ve outlined above. Thoughts?
Model
There’s still quite some way to go, but for now, I’d very much like to hear your input on this mockup, courtesy of Dave and Mr. Creosote. The mockup doesn’t really do anything and needs a graphics overhaul, but I’d like to hear your opinion on the contents.
User involvement
How can I make it the most attractive to become an active user on the site? ("active" here both meaning posting in the forum as well as helping to maintain game data and submitting material)
1) Make it obvious who has submitted what
2) Try to establish a community around the site
3) Create "awards" in the form of small icons (stars) or similar to denote the most active users/reviewers etc.
4) Having various people head up the sections of the various computer systems
Re. 1) This seems to be well covered by the current model
Re. 2) I'm thinking of letting people have a rather extensive user profile, with fields such as "favourite system", "favourite genre" and "other interests". The site already seems to be largely carried by regular visitors who know each other to some extent, and hopefully an extensive profile will allow new users to get to know the regulars more easily.
Re. 3) I know, I know, this is purely gimmickal, but on some sites it seems to work. At any rate, having an icon saying "Master reviewer" on your profile might have an attractive quality.
Re. 4) It is my hope that some of you, who have special knowledge of a certain machine would be interested in assisting with a given area, be it Spectrum, C16, Apple II or Amstrad.
Now, if I knew exactly how to accomplish all my wishes I'd probably be working for Google or Coca-Cola or some other huge corporation
But I don't, and I'm all open to suggestions.
Of course, volunteers are more than welcome
In particular, if there's anyone out there who can do some proper design or decent graphics, please contact me.
Why a new site?
I think that, between all users of the site, there's a great deal of knowledge of adventure games, much more than for "just" solutions, maps and so forth. So my hope is to create a better site that will remain a repository for walkthroughs etc., but will also encompass game ratings, reviews, recommendations and more.
There are several sites like this, such as Adventureland, IFDB and IF Wiki, but none of them really cover classic games the way I’ve outlined above. Thoughts?
Model
There’s still quite some way to go, but for now, I’d very much like to hear your input on this mockup, courtesy of Dave and Mr. Creosote. The mockup doesn’t really do anything and needs a graphics overhaul, but I’d like to hear your opinion on the contents.
User involvement
How can I make it the most attractive to become an active user on the site? ("active" here both meaning posting in the forum as well as helping to maintain game data and submitting material)
1) Make it obvious who has submitted what
2) Try to establish a community around the site
3) Create "awards" in the form of small icons (stars) or similar to denote the most active users/reviewers etc.
4) Having various people head up the sections of the various computer systems
Re. 1) This seems to be well covered by the current model
Re. 2) I'm thinking of letting people have a rather extensive user profile, with fields such as "favourite system", "favourite genre" and "other interests". The site already seems to be largely carried by regular visitors who know each other to some extent, and hopefully an extensive profile will allow new users to get to know the regulars more easily.
Re. 3) I know, I know, this is purely gimmickal, but on some sites it seems to work. At any rate, having an icon saying "Master reviewer" on your profile might have an attractive quality.
Re. 4) It is my hope that some of you, who have special knowledge of a certain machine would be interested in assisting with a given area, be it Spectrum, C16, Apple II or Amstrad.
Now, if I knew exactly how to accomplish all my wishes I'd probably be working for Google or Coca-Cola or some other huge corporation
Of course, volunteers are more than welcome