[karajorma]

Okay, Reorganisation phase 1 is complete. But that leaves me with some issues I hadn't realised.

1) The StarShatter OSP - I tend to feel it might be better placed at the bottom of the modding, mission design and coding section. At the moment it's kinda languishing - unloved - at the bottom of the board. Sticking it below the Voice Acting forum would give it a lot more prominence. With proper labelling it shouldn't be confused with the SCP board above it.
 If there would be the traffic for it, I'd suggest also having a Starshatter board in the Full Games section. But I don't think we have enough for that at the moment.

2) I'm not certain of the status of Homeworld: Blue Planet so I'm not certain if it should join MCO in the Non FS2_Open mods.

Anyway, if anyone has any other comments, feel free to post them.

[Goober5000]

One thing I didn't think of earlier is that several frequently used boards are now a lot farther down the page.  I have to scroll way way down to get to the SCP, FRED, or Tools boards.

Also, I recommend changing or removing the "FS2_Open" prefix from the Modding and FREDding forums, since they aren't technically restricted to FSO.

EDIT: Also, FSUP and SCP are now pretty far apart.  And I can't collapse all the hosted projects to get to the rest of the boards faster because they now contain Missions and Campaigns.

[karajorma]

Also, I recommend changing or removing the "FS2_Open" prefix from the Modding and FREDding forums, since they aren't technically restricted to FSO.

I suspect anyone who is still modding or FREDding for FS retail already knows that though.

We can always dub FRED Fred2_Open 0.1, and FRED 2 Fred2_Open 0.9 if it really bothers you.

[-Norbert-]

I was wondering why there is a distinction between "Non FS2_Open Mods" and "Hosted Projects - Non FS2_Open / Freespace".
While I can see why it would make a difference wether mods/projects are hosted on HLP or just "guests" if there were many of them, there are a total of 4 non-freespace project on the forum, so I think putting them into a single category would be better.

Also MechCommander OmniTech does look quite lonely, all alone in it's own category.

[Starman01]

Honestly, It makes me wonder too      But it Guess it's, the "other" projects have sort of a connection to freespace, while my project is pretty much an outsider here.. Only thing we have in common with Freespace, is the HLP Board (Btw, thanks again for hosting ).

And on a side note, in the current setup I'm closer to the top 

[karajorma]

The new section is for Non FS2 mods that have released something. I probably should rename the old section to indicate that.

[MatthTheGeek]

Also, I recommend changing or removing the "FS2_Open" prefix from the Modding and FREDding forums, since they aren't technically restricted to FSO.

I suspect anyone who is still modding or FREDding for FS retail already knows that though.

We can always dub FRED Fred2_Open 0.1, and FRED 2 Fred2_Open 0.9 if it really bothers you.

Do we really have to do with underscores ? I am afraid it might scare newbies away.

[Dragon]

I second Goober's concerns. The new layout may be more logical, but it's less comfortable. I don't like it.

[jg18]

Also, I recommend changing or removing the "FS2_Open" prefix from the Modding and FREDding forums, since they aren't technically restricted to FSO.

I suspect anyone who is still modding or FREDding for FS retail already knows that though.

We can always dub FRED Fred2_Open 0.1, and FRED 2 Fred2_Open 0.9 if it really bothers you.

Do we really have to do with underscores ? I am afraid it might scare newbies away.

I have to agree, the sea of underscores is kind of intimidating, and a bit unsightly to boot.

Maybe "FS2 Open" instead? Or just keep some names from before and maintain the current order: FreeSpace Modding, FreeSpace Mission Design (FRED), The FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project (which is the official name anyway), FreeSpace Tools and then FreeSpace Scripting. Might as well make the section title "FreeSpace Modding, Mission Design, and Coding" in that case.

EDIT: FSUP is now in the mods section? I suppose it's a mod, although that section isn't where I'd think to look for it. I'm not sure offhand where that board should go, but it strikes me as an odd spot. I'd expect to see only playable things in that section.

[mjn.mixael]

Tools and Scripting shouldn't be labeled as 'FreeSpace' anymore though. They apply to Diaspora, TBP, and to some extent, WCS.

FSU is fine in the modding section.. it's more about that than anything else.

[Scotty]

I second Goober's concerns. The new layout may be more logical, but it's less comfortable. I don't like it.

You'll get used to it.  Change is generally initially uncomfortable, and I daresay that letting new people see what's on the surface important to the game is more worthwhile than a few long time members being more comfortable with the layout.

[Dragon]

Still, I have to scroll all the way to the bottom to get to modding, which is the board I frequent the most. I'm sure that's the case with many other users. SCP is also way too low. I preferred it when I could go to the front page and had everything I needed within one turn of a scroll wheel.

[mjn.mixael]

Yeah well... this reorganization isn't for you or any of the long-time users. It's for the new users. The board is now organized generally from top to bottom where you can start at the top by playing campaigns an move into modding. It's good for new members. The rest of us can get used to it.

[Yarn]

I agree with getting rid of the underscores; terms containing them are usually file names or computer jargon.

Also, in "Non FS2_Open Mods" and "Hosted Projects - Non FS2_Open / Freespace," there should be a hyphen between "Non" and "FS2."

[Dragon]

Isn't there any way to make the new layout optional? I either have to collapse a few useful boards or scroll through the entire page to get to modding. If this one segment was higher up, I suppose I could get used to it. The way it's now, it's just irritating.

[karajorma]

You can make a page of HTML links to the forums you like to visit and use that when you visit HLP. There's your optional layout. There's no other way to do it.

Besides, you should be happy about the new layout. I've moved almost all the hosted projects you belong to closer to the top!



I personally don't consider the underscores to be a big deal. But we might as well lose them.

[Mongoose]

Most of this seems like a good idea, though there are one or two folders that I think might work better grouped a bit differently.  I can't help but feel like the SCP folder deserves a more prominent spot, and that it should still be close to FSU, even though the two don't strictly fall into the same category.

[Scotty]

I'd say group all of the non-FS stuff into one forum.  Right now MCO is just sitting there with its own board, and higher up the list than a single board section probably should be.

[karajorma]

From what I understand, MCO has actually released stuff. It would be rather unfair to group it lower on the forum just because no one else has.

Most of this seems like a good idea, though there are one or two folders that I think might work better grouped a bit differently.  I can't help but feel like the SCP folder deserves a more prominent spot, and that it should still be close to FSU, even though the two don't strictly fall into the same category.

Well I could always move it to the top of its category so it's above modding, FREDding, etc if no one minds. But if I move the SCP I really should move the tools project right below it too since they are both coding related.

[jg18]

I personally don't consider the underscores to be a big deal. But we might as well lose them.

It really does look a lot better without them. Thanks.

Most of this seems like a good idea, though there are one or two folders that I think might work better grouped a bit differently.  I can't help but feel like the SCP folder deserves a more prominent spot, and that it should still be close to FSU, even though the two don't strictly fall into the same category.

Well I could always move it to the top of its category so it's above modding, FREDding, etc if no one minds. But if I move the SCP I really should move the tools project right below it too since they are both coding related.

Makes sense to me.