ZC Project Sites

LinktheMaster · (This post was last modified: 01-15-2009 01:06 PM by LinktheMaster.)

Due to the demand for QPFs, I decided to go ahead and release a plan I had previously been coming up with.

Simply put, ZC Project Sites are CZC's answer to PureZC's Quest Project Forums, and they're different in multiple ways. Obviously they involve a site. Tongue

However, I'll get to that in a bit.

When a person is given a ZC Project Site, they are given a ZC Project Forum. However, each ZC Project Site/Forum is given for one project. When that project is finished, the site and forum will be archived and a new one will be given up. This is being done in order to prevent some people from clinging to forums even though they never truly release anything.

Now that that's out of the way, let me talk about the ZC Project Site. Every person who is given a ZC Project Forum also gets the ability to create a site for their project. Through this they will be able to provide people quick information about their projects as well as a place to store images, downloads, and videos about the project. All of this is managed by a database created by myself. No need for FTP. No need for HTML. It's simple, easy, and quick to do.

Project Site Image Gallery
You can host up to 48 images on your project site, and users will be able to enlarge the images in the same window. No more opening images up in new windows.

The ZC Project Site will also link with its respective forum. All announcements on the site are taken from the owner's latest topics in the project forum. There is also a page to view the latest topics in teh forum. Unfortunately entire threads aren't viewable on the site, though. When you try to view a thread on the site, it will merely go to the page on the CZC forums.

Project Site Video Gallery
YouTube videos may also be placed on the site for viewing. It's as simple as putting the the url to the video.

Also, I understand that if this is going to be your project site, you may want to customize it. Don't worry, I've included several ways to do that. While there are multiple default pages (announcements, downloads, pictures, etc.), you can also have up to three custom pages to name yourself and add in your own content. Want a page for credits? Perfect. Want a page for giving people images to advertise your project? No problem. Want a page for just the characters in your quest? Go ahead.

Project Site: Before
This is the default look of a ZC Project Site.

You also have the ability to customize the colors and look of your ZC project site. The amount you can change is limited, but you can change things like border styles, font types, text color, and backgrounds. You can also upload your own banner image to be displayed on the top. With a bit of effort, you can make your ZC project site look unique.

Project Site: After
This is an example of the amount you can stylize a ZC Project Site. This was done in about 10 minutes, so it's not a good example of what can be done.

That concludes the description of ZC Project Sites. Now let's get on to how to get them! The process will be similar to that of PureZC. When a slot is available, a topic will be created in the Project Sites: Openings forum. In that topic, people will then showcase their projects. After a while, a poll will be created for people to vote on who they believe should get the project site.

After a person wins the poll, they will be given a forum and access to design and add content to their site. During this period, the site will be unviewable to the public. Once the site has been started to a respectable degree, an admin will "open the doors" on the project site, making it viewable to everyone. It's fairly simple.

However, something I should mention is that project sites and forums will be available in limited numbers. At the present moment, both Migokalle and myself have ones. (Migokalle tested the system for me.) During this round, I'm opening up 5 new slots for them. That number may be low, but a problem with PureZC's QPFs was simply that too many people got into them, making the entire thing seem less of an awesome thing to have. :-/ The number of ZC Project Sites will grow when the community grows, however.

There are a few more things to mention, but I don't think they're worthy of making separate paragraphs for, so you're getting a list. Tongue

Only one project per ZC Project Forum/Site
Up to 3 people can share a ZC Project Forum/Site
Tilesets and large scripting projects may also receive a ZC Project Forum/Site
All forum rules apply to ZC Project Sites
No using a project site for material not related to that project
Up to 48 images may be uploaded, 10 videos, and 5 downloads
ZC Project Sites will get their own section on the "random featured" bar
Admins reserve the right to edit any material on a project site!
One person may only have 1 project site at a time unless part of a group project

So, go ahead and sign up for the forum. Smile

Simply go here to showcase your project and enter for the site. If you have any questions about the project site, please mention them here. Also, if you feel that someone from another site deserves a project site... well... tell them to get their butt to CZC! Wink

Polling for the positions will begin either next Wednesday or the Wednesday after depending on the amount of people who request one. Polling will last for a week.

If you would like to see my site or Migokalle's site, please click the appropriate links below. Bear in mind that they are not completely (I have yet to even construct a banner or even begin to edit styles). I just thought that they might serve as an example for what the sites can do. Wink

Important Links
Enter for a Site - My Project Site - Migokalle's Project Site

Twilight Knight · 01-16-2009, 04:26 AM

You are AWESOME!!! I will showcase my stuff immediately, in the hope in win some piece of this greatness! Super Happy

Good job!

Christian · (This post was last modified: 01-16-2009 05:27 AM by Christian.)

isn't it a bit too early to do these kinds of things?
I mean people that are already showcasing there stuff, have QPF's on another site. so why would they want to have one twice? they should give other people that don't have one a chance.

it's more likely the people that have QPF's on pureZC will most likely win their showcase.

I don't think it's a really good idea to do this now you know. we only have 41 members. it's too low. we should wait untill we have at least 100 members and active.

LinktheMaster · 01-16-2009, 06:42 AM

Well, it was a frequently requested feature. Multiple people have requested that we have QPFs, and decided to oblige those requests. Also, since these sites will offer places to host and organize things, they're really superior to forums (especially since they come with forums).

It may be early, but I'm hoping this will be a drawing feature for people to CZC. I could be wrong, but I intentionally kept the number of project sites low just because our member group is low.

Twilight Knight · 01-16-2009, 07:54 AM

Of course everyone would want a spot there... It's also much different then PureZC's QPFs.
I think Christian HAS a point though...

LinktheMaster · 01-16-2009, 07:58 AM

Yeah. It is a valid point. Indifferent

(Though waiting for 100 active members is a bit much, IMO.) And that is one reason why I'm waiting to actually give this out. It'll probably be around a month before the actual sites are given out. It's not like I'll be handing these out tomorrow or something. Tongue

Lithium · 01-16-2009, 02:09 PM

So how's this gonna work since we can have 3 per site? Does the winner get to own it and choose the other 2 or something?

Christian · 01-16-2009, 04:08 PM

I'm still not too fond of this idea. it's way too early. just because people requested it doesn't mean it deserves to get implanted fast. ZC project sites are much better than QPFs of PureZC yes, which makes it very valuable and only true questmakers should own it. that being said I think it's very predictable of who's going to win the showcase.

Lithium: yes, I believe when you win, you own the site and invite 3 people to accompany you at the site.

LinktheMaster · 01-16-2009, 10:45 PM

Eh, no. Like I said, there's only one project per site. It's just if you have a group project, two other people can be able to control the site. They'll be "co-owners", if you will. They won't be able to use it for a different project or anything like that. So only 7 projects will be allowed.

Hmm... who else believes that we should wait for these?

Migokalle · (This post was last modified: 01-16-2009 10:49 PM by Migokalle.)

(01-16-2009 04:08 PM)Christian Wrote: I'm still not too fond of this idea. it's way too early. just because people requested it doesn't mean it deserves to get implanted fast. ZC project sites are much better than QPFs of PureZC yes, which makes it very valuable and only true questmakers should own it. that being said I think it's very predictable of who's going to win the showcase.

Lithium: yes, I believe when you win, you own the site and invite 3 people to accompany you at the site.

Oh, I see your point, Chris... and it makes sense...
but what DOESN'T make sense, is the fact that you're basing your opinion of the idea ON these points.
You're saying that it's a good idea, but you're also saying that it's not.

This will probably attract a good few members to this forum, which is why they where released when they where.

EDIT: LTM, I so no reason to wait. At all.