Quote: "Why not *require all developers to include an alpha or beta of their current project for download in the first post when starting a new WIP thread? It would keep the board more organized, and reserved for the more dedicated and progressed projects the same way the Showcase Board requires a demo to post. Developers would have to provide more progress than one or two, three-minute screenshots to push other developers' work down. But at the same time, this would still allow any member, regardless of their skill level, to share their work."
I really don't agree with that idea at all. What you've just described is more or less the Showcase Board. There are any number of reasons people should not be required to post a demo; protecting scripts or media, to name a couple. The single screenshot requirement that's been in place is enough. Sure, encourage devs. to post more, share videos, etc. but requiring a demo is over the top. As far as threads getting pushed down it simply means that the interest isn't there. Either viewers aren't interested in it or the dev isn't interested in keeping it up or generating interest.
I really don't think there need to be more rules but I think the reqs. posted in the thread are fantastic guidelines to help people craft a thread that shows their work and helps to generate interest from viewers.
Personally, I'd like to see most of the new rules treated as helpful guidelines and not enforced. Here's why...
Quote: "1.) Name of Game (in bold, underlined and centered); this can be substituted by a Title Graphic (the Game name must be in the graphic). The graphic should be reasonable in size."
Some people hate center justification. Having the name of the game is a good idea but the rest attempts to dictate presentation style. Again, its a great guideline for people who don't know how to present their project but for veteran users who have their own presentation style it's too restrictive.
Quote: "2.) Developer name (a "company name" is acceptable)"
Again, a great suggestion but how many fake company names are going to be cooked up now? Unneeded as the dev. is th one who posted it 95% the time.
Quote: "3.) Which FPSCreator you are using: X9 or X10 (this should also be in your thread title as either [x9] or [x10]). You should also include which version you are using (ie., 1.15, 1.16, etc.)."
I agree totally with the [x9],[x10] designation in the title but version number/mod etc. are best left in the OP description because we all know those things can change.
Quote: "4.) Storyline and/or description"
That's so vague that I have no issue here. Obviously there is a show and tell component to the WIP boards so yeah; tell us something.
Quote: "5.) No limit on screenshots in the initial post; but you MUST have at least one(in-game only; thumbnails are acceptable) in your initial post. The mandatory image MUST be viewable in the post itself, without having to click a link, or click on the attachment button. Screenshots should not exceed 800x600 pixels; no one wants to have to scroll to see your image. You may link to a larger image however."
I do imagine some users won't be able to re-size images or properly hotlink an image so again I think its a great guideline and devs should be encouraged to do this and realize they will get more thread interest with hot-linked images but they should not be punished for not doing so.
Personally I'd like to see more people hot-linking at least an image or two because 9 times out of 10 if i see a WIP with attached/hidden images I just click the back button.
Quote: "6.) Link(s) to additional images (optional)
7.) Website and/or videos...must be click-able (optional)
8.) Download link...must be click-able (optional)
9.) Credits (optional)
10.) Contact info (optional)"
These are all optional and great guidelines.
Anyhow, thanks so much Keith for your time and effort putting together the mega sticky; it's a great service to our community and very nice to not need to scroll down to see real threads now.
