[Gforce]

i missed the last bump of this topic so ..........

imo you appear to have the green light go ahead from the support i see for your design in here.

looks great btw

[Mark]

Lols I was expecting you to bump this topic with em done .

I say you automatically have the green light by having the coolest looking site lol.

[Mercie]

Anyone know how to use CSS such that I can provide a demo that makes sense? Or do I have to reverse engineer SR's?

//edit - Ill just to quick HTML and let you people figure out the hard stuff

//edit2 - All set. Now to find a host...

//edit3 - fuuuuuuck.... Cant find anyone to host this mess. Well, all my my web design capable friends are UKian and asleep, so yeah. Tommorrow evening.

This post has been edited by Mercie on Wednesday, Mar 7 2007, 03:21

[Mercie]

Okay, Illy got the FTP info for me so all this is a go.

Main page just to show what I had in mind... http://www.myriadislands.com/mercie/index.htm
Direct link to the flash... http://www.myriadislands.com/mercie/header.swf
Direct link to the background... http://www.myriadislands.com/mercie/background.gif

I left the 'screenshots' on the flash just as a something to keep it rather interesting. Also, links can be added easily, just tell me what they should be and where they should link.

Furthermore, using flash, I can create a top view map that, when a lot is hovered over, will display a screenshot and information of corresponding lot. If anyone wants the flash doc, just ask and I'll send it over. Total filesize of all the web components is 160k.

Cheers. Comments and criticisms would help make this much better.

[steve-m]

That looks quite good, actually. Just need to pick/make better screenshots for the header where you can see more than just the sky. But yea, I like it, even that screenshot preview thingy. Would be great if the flash could load the screenshot/thumbnail URLs from a text file so it can be updated and extended easily. And if we had a static fallback header in case flash doesn't work, but that can wait.

[Mercie]

QUOTE (steve-m @ Mar 11 2007, 21:13)

That looks quite good, actually. Just need to pick/make better screenshots for the header where you can see more than just the sky. But yea, I like it, even that screenshot preview thingy. Would be great if the flash could load the screenshot/thumbnail URLs from a text file so it can be updated and extended easily. And if we had a static fallback header in case flash doesn't work, but that can wait.

I know flash could load the screenshots from a text file, just don't know how. Thats something I could figure out if you would like... In hind sight, I should have exported as something like flash 7 (everyone should have it) rather than 8 (most have it) largely because I dont use any flash 8 components, so no need to have the Flash 8 tag.

[mickarrow]

The design side of it looks to be in good hands, but other things need to be discussed too.
What will be the content, purpose, target audience,... etc..

[steve-m]

QUOTE (Mercie @ Mar 12 2007, 04:26)

I know flash could load the screenshots from a text file, just don't know how.

Yea, that's definitely possible. I'd help you, but my Flash skills are less than zero. Maybe someone else can? I imagine a simple text file with numbers, separated by commas or spaces or linebreaks, which are the IDs of the available screenshots, and the Flash app would have to generate the full size and thumbnail image URLs, embed the thumbnails, and link to the screenshots. And maybe another file for the background images. Keep in mind that all of those have to allow for varying amounts of entries. Also, would be great if it only loads images that are currently needed, and preloads following images in the background so the user doesn't feel any slowdowns.

QUOTE (mickarrow @ Mar 12 2007, 17:15)

What will be the content, purpose, target audience,... etc..

Content:

• front page with short introduction to MI, important links, and project news
• download page with links, file info and short install instructions
• a (non-Flash) screenshot gallery?
• a FAQ page
• history and roadmap (what big lots or map parts are being made currently? what will be added to future releases? what are the longterm plans? ...) and other general information about the project (maybe some info about the core team?)
• a page with lot maps and info on how to contribute

Purpose:
Get people informed about the project, answer common questions, lead them through the download and installation, let them know where they can get help and how they can contribute if they like to.

Target audience:
People who have played the retail game, not necessarily experienced in modding. Age 14+, I'm afraid.

[illspirit]

I used to maintain a Flash website that loaded stuff from a .txt file delimited by commas and/or linebreaks. Never could figure out how exactly the txt file was called though.

Flash8 should be fine though. Most gamers would probably already have it, especially if they've ever looked at any of Rockstar's pages.

Either way, it looks great. My only concern now is that the title text could be a bit bigger.

[Bret_HartvsSting]

This is moving along soo slow. Everyones going to be doing GTA 4 modding by the time this mod is even close to being finished.

[ThugLord187]

@Bret_HartvsSting: That, I believe was posted in the wrong place.
@Mercie: Looking great.
@steve-m: Good choise of layout, I think the non-flash screenshot gallery should be there.

[Mark]

QUOTE (Bret_HartvsSting @ Mar 13 2007, 14:30)

This is moving along soo slow. Everyones going to be doing GTA 4 modding by the time this mod is even close to being finished.

Sorry Sir, but people who do this are doing it for fun with no money being made out of it. This is a hobby, not a company. This mod was started in the early days of VC modding, and considering the GTA community has no official support from R* whatsoever, I personally think that progress has been amazing.

Now, if you want to see it done, how about you stop negatively critisizing and actually help? It is a community map project after all. You're just as much at fault for it being "soo slow" as you put it.

Not to mention GTA4 modding isn't likely to be on the cards.

[locO G]

mickarrow: You win (joke). What's it for? The big question. If it's the main MI portal, it has to work on many levels. It's been a static (out-of-date) advert for too long and one which is pointless to bookmark. Links to the beta download don't really count.

steve-m/illspirit: I know quite a lot about ActionScript, I could help on that front. I may not have the time (busy with lot modelling) but, if people want it, I can do it.

As for easy dynamic Flash content, I've used a delimited .TXT but I'd suggest using .XML
However, what other backend technologies are available for MI.com? .PHP .ASP?
That could make it even easier to update without using Flash. Just a thought.

All that aside, my point in replying is, regardless of its looks, it has to be decided for what purpose and for whom MI.com exists and update accordingly. For me, it's content, not form that really matters.

[steve-m]

QUOTE (Bret_HartvsSting @ Mar 13 2007, 14:30)

This is moving along soo slow. Everyones going to be doing GTA 4 modding by the time this mod is even close to being finished.

Who said this mod is ever going to be finished? If all of the currently existing lots are filled, we'll just add new empty islands. And if GTA4 ever allows for modding, we'll just move MI over to the new engine, like we did for SA.

QUOTE (locO G @ Mar 14 2007, 02:24)

As for easy dynamic Flash content, I've used a delimited .TXT but I'd suggest using .XML However, what other backend technologies are available for MI.com? .PHP .ASP? That could make it even easier to update without using Flash. Just a thought.

No need for xml if we just have a simple list of numbers. And yes, the site uses php, but the point of using Flash is to have animated, dynamic stuff in the header, like the changing backgrounds and the thumbnail scroller. You obviously can't do that with php...

[mickarrow]

@ LocO: you're too slow old man (joke)
@ Steve: He, you covered the content and target audience pretty well I guess. I can't really think of anything to add at this moment.
One thing that confuses me though is the purpose. I thought your content summary explained the purpose, but if I read correctly you're more thinking along the lines of taking the forum to the site. Did I read it righht?

[Mercie]

QUOTE (mickarrow @ Mar 14 2007, 15:10)

@ LocO: you're too slow old man (joke) @ Steve: He, you covered the content and target audience pretty well I guess. I can't really think of anything to add at this moment. One thing that confuses me though is the purpose. I thought your content summary explained the purpose, but if I read correctly you're more thinking along the lines of taking the forum to the site. Did I read it righht?

The purpose of the new design is merely to replace the current MI site. The purpose of the current site is said above. This would remain as is with nothing more than a new look in www.myriadislands.com.

[Bret_HartvsSting]

GTAuron, I never made any claim that this project had any financial objective, and I understand that this project is solely undertaken by the general GTA community which really consists of people such as you and me, young and old, people working full-time, part-time and even young students. And really, I acknowledge that have no place here to criticise as thus far, I have not actually created anything for this mod myself.

One thing I cannot stand is blind ambition and delusive beliefs. Please do not take this as attack. 9 out of ten GTA mods or mods for any game for that matter are ludicrously over-ambitious and simply fail. We have seen time and again people laying claim to constructing new GTA game, reconstructions of cities such as New York, et cetera. Just by visiting the forums now and again one can tell of the lack of activity here. And over and over again we are told .6 release is around the corner, "this coming week" for instance. Yet the months pass.

Please don't take this an attack, it's just an observation of mine.

[Mark]

Then I suggest you visit the #myriad channel on GTANet. This forum atm is just a front for everything, the real work goes on on IRC.

[Bret_HartvsSting]

I understand

[trains]

If someone can point me the right way I could probably start making a site for ya'll asap.

Btw I am 14 going on 15 I have my own site but it is kinda behind since I quit the game it supports and also my uncle works for Cabelas as their graphic designer. And he has taught me some so I hope I can help you out.