Flash And Checklist

[WarmFluffyUK]

Hi folks.

Okay so I have been a bit busy, and the compatibility lists are on the way. But I took some time off to play with flash and came up with:

CheckList

Also there is my design idea for the way to select the emulator under a system, it's a sort of javascript tree system generated by PHP (info for you technical folk), kinda proud of it actually..
I have written the database engine but not added anything more than the front screen, so presently you will get an under construction page if you click on any Emu etc.

Just thought you would like a preview of how the new lists are coming along.

More soon.

 

[nickspoon]

Wow, that's really very nice. I like the flash on the right. It all looks very professional. I commend you on your 1337 skillz.

 

[Alex.]

Very nice system Clare. It's very clean and easy to use, accessible and organized. I hope that you will continue working on it, ie. adding lists. Keep us updated!

- Alex

PS: The flash work is fun and creative, good job on that too!

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Thanks for the encouragement

Ok here's a question, how many are in favour of flash? I'm thinking of using flash for part of the control mechanism for the site. I'm pretty sure most people these days are flash enabled and don't realise how many sites use it. But if you think that I should keep this all PHP and Javascript like the old site, then please let me know soon as I'm going to develop the main list control panel soon.

Clare.

 

[nickspoon]

Flash would probably be a much better choice than Javascript, and is easily interfaceable (is that a word?) with PHP scripts. Some survey that some web organisation did showed that more people have Flash-enabled browsers than Javascript-enabled.

Plus, you can do fancy effects.

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Flash would probably be a much better choice than Javascript, and is easily interfaceable (is that a word?) with PHP scripts. Some survey that some web organisation did showed that more people have Flash-enabled browsers than Javascript-enabled.

Plus, you can do fancy effects.

​

Okey Dokey, I will design some control sections in flash

 

[critical]

Flash would probably be a much better choice than Javascript, and is easily interfaceable (is that a word?) with PHP scripts. Some survey that some web organisation did showed that more people have Flash-enabled browsers than Javascript-enabled.

Some person on some web forum is talking some unsubstantiated and highly-unlikely nonsense.

I'd recommend making it quick to load, simple to navigate, and usable on mobile devices too... otherwise I'd personally get fed up with it quite quickly.

The essence of these systems is ensuring that they are kept up-to-date with accurate information that can be easily accessed. I don't see how a few flash anims and five entries per screen visible on my 1024x768 laptop display is going to help with those fundamental issues.

It looks smart, but to me it's not the ideal design for the purpose for which I think this is intended. That's my opinion, anyway.

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Flash would probably be a much better choice than Javascript, and is easily interfaceable (is that a word?) with PHP scripts. Some survey that some web organisation did showed that more people have Flash-enabled browsers than Javascript-enabled.

Some person on some web forum is talking some unsubstantiated and highly-unlikely nonsense.

I'd recommend making it quick to load, simple to navigate, and usable on mobile devices too... otherwise I'd personally get fed up with it quite quickly.

The essence of these systems is ensuring that they are kept up-to-date with accurate information that can be easily accessed. I don't see how a few flash anims and five entries per screen visible on my 1024x768 laptop display is going to help with those fundamental issues.

It looks smart, but to me it's not the ideal design for the purpose for which I think this is intended. That's my opinion, anyway.

​

I'm presently not designing it for a mobile device.

Once I have all the code running and the site complete, I may think about skinning it so that you can select an alternate version that can be used on a mobile device. Presently though, I just want to get it all working.

And with the intention of the site, it's a compatibility list that is not just for mobile gaming, it can be used as a resource for all manners of devices that have compatibility issues. The way this is designed it's pretty flexible.

So far the feedback for the new design has been quite positive

 

[critical]

I'd recommend making it quick to load, simple to navigate, and usable on mobile devices too... otherwise I'd personally get fed up with it quite quickly.

The essence of these systems is ensuring that they are kept up-to-date with accurate information that can be easily accessed. I don't see how a few flash anims and five entries per screen visible on my 1024x768 laptop display is going to help with those fundamental issues.

I'm presently not designing it for a mobile device.

No, in fact you're designing it to NOT work on many mobile devices. That's up to you, but personally I'd think that was a bad thing... it's really quite handy if you're off using your portable gaming system and you've just tested a game. There are a few mobile phones out already and more to be released in the next year that make entering information in a compatibility list from your phone viable.

Once I have all the code running and the site complete, I may think about skinning it so that you can select an alternate version that can be used on a mobile device. Presently though, I just want to get it all working.

Then I'd suggest getting it all working and then doing the UI.

Anyway, those are my thoughts - good luck.

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Then I'd suggest getting it all working and then doing the UI.

Anyway, those are my thoughts - good luck.

​

So far the control for this is all PHP (Which is server side and will not effect any mobile device at all) and HTML Forms which also should be pretty standard. Oh and I have used some javascript which can be replaced by links and buttons.

To be honest, I never even considered mobile support when I was initially designing the site, and in another post I did ask people if they would like something included in the lists and I didn't remember anyone asking for this feature. All that said, I think my plan of action here should be to get the whole site running in its present state, and then copy the site to a mobile folder and cut out all the graphics, reformat the output and make it browse only, that should be easy enough .

I have updated the site a little, take a look:

Checklist

Added now is the main Lister screen so you can browse, sort and search games etc. Please no bug reports as it's obviously in development.

Any other ideas?

Edit: Also note I'm developing all this in my spare time, so this is why the site is only slowly being written. Please be patient :unsure:

 

[Alex.]

I don't have a 19" monitor just so I can see decripit websites tailored to fit a cell phone screen. If you need the internet 24/7 to check a games compatibility list, then it is you who should sacrifice, not the site's mass audience. As it is right now the site is clean and easy to browse through. Information is easy to find, and that's what matters.

- Alex

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

I don't have a 19" monitor just so I can see decripit websites tailored to fit a cell phone screen. If you need the internet 24/7 to check a games compatibility list, then it is you who should sacrifice, not the site's mass audience. As it is right now the site is clean and easy to browse through. Information is easy to find, and that's what matters.

- Alex

​

I didn't want to say the obvious and I was being polite, but I think you're correct. The main intended audience for this site is people with real browsers .

 

[critical]

I don't have a 19" monitor just so I can see decripit websites tailored to fit a cell phone screen. If you need the internet 24/7 to check a games compatibility list, then it is you who should sacrifice, not the site's mass audience. As it is right now the site is clean and easy to browse through. Information is easy to find, and that's what matters.

- Alex

​

A website that's designed to work on devices with different capabilities that it is sensible to support is not decripit - it's properly-designed. The BBC website works fine on mobile platforms, these forums work fine, google works fine, etc. The navigation and presentation methods currently used for the compatibility list preclude use on most mobile platforms.

My use case for the benefits of being able to submit entries to a compatibility list from any device was this: if you're out and about, it's more likely that you'll be using a portable gaming device. If so, it'd be rather handy to be able to submit compatibility information from your mobile. If wireless GP2X ever takes off, the same applies. I wasn't asking for something that's tailored for a mobile's screen. I wasn't asking for something that didn't go out of its way to preclude it. It's bizarre to me that anyone could misunderstand what I previously wrote, unless they wanted to.

Anyway, hope it goes well, WarmFluffyUK. It's great that you're putting effort into this, as it could be a good resource.

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

I don't have a 19" monitor just so I can see decripit websites tailored to fit a cell phone screen. If you need the internet 24/7 to check a games compatibility list, then it is you who should sacrifice, not the site's mass audience. As it is right now the site is clean and easy to browse through. Information is easy to find, and that's what matters.

- Alex

​

A website that's designed to work on devices with different capabilities that it is sensible to support is not decripit - it's properly-designed. The BBC website works fine on mobile platforms, these forums work fine, google works fine, etc. The navigation and presentation methods currently used for the compatibility list preclude use on most mobile platforms.

My use case for the benefits of being able to submit entries to a compatibility list from any device was this: if you're out and about, it's more likely that you'll be using a portable gaming device. If so, it'd be rather handy to be able to submit compatibility information from your mobile. If wireless GP2X ever takes off, the same applies. I wasn't asking for something that's tailored for a mobile's screen. I wasn't asking for something that didn't go out of its way to preclude it. It's bizarre to me that anyone could misunderstand what I previously wrote, unless they wanted to.

Anyway, hope it goes well, WarmFluffyUK. It's great that you're putting effort into this, as it could be a good resource.

​

Thanks for taking the time etc, but I think you are kind of missing the point of the site. This isn't intended just for mobile device compatibility, it will eventually be for a LOT more. have you noticed that PC is also on the list too? Also, please note that the data you are presently viewing is just test data, and doesn't contain a 10th of what the database will be when it is finished.
Also, parts of the site will be locked off to users who do not have the correct permissions, imagine the chaos if any old person was able to delete systems or emulators from the database. I am restricting that to SuperAdmins, and presently that's me.
Other sections like adding and editing items (games) will be for SuperUsers, Admins and SuperAdmins. But Deleting them will be Admins and SuperAdmins only, I think you get the idea here .

Correct me if I am wrong, but there's presently only one person requesting mobile support. Until I have more requests, it's going to remain mainstream browser only.

Sorry for that, but I really do have enough on my hands writing the control code in the first place.

Here's another update:
Checklist
You may now change statuses, SuperUsers and Admins can add and edit Games/Items.

Byee for now,
Clare.

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Hidehi folks,

Okay there's been another update:

Checklist

This site is growing into a rather complex baby, so what's new:

1. Games may be added, Edited by anyone that has SuperUser or above. Only Admins and SuperAdmins are allowed to delete them.

2. New Hardware can be added, Edited and by anyone that has Admin status or above, but only SuperAdmins may delete.

3. Systems (Emus) can be added and edited by anyone that is Admin or above. Only SuperAdmins and are allowed to delete them.

4. Eye Candy: I have introduced an eliment which I call STOOPID to the site, on entry from the root of the site, you will be greeted with a mini (very quick) random animation. So far there are only two, this will increase when I think of more evil ways to smash a space invader :blink:

Things left to do:
I need to finish the Classes page and I need to write the reviews section.

So what does all the above jargon mean when related to Checklist? Ok here's what...

Hardware: This is what physical device you are running the thing on. i.e. GP32 would mean you are running the system on a Gamepark GP32

System: This is the core software or emulators, i,e, DrMD is a Sega genesis Emulator Running on the GP32 hardware.

Items: These are the items that are 'compatibility rated' under the relevant the systems. i.e. Paperboy might have a status of "Works perfect" when running under the System DrMD on the hardware GP32.

Status: This is the status of the above items.

Please ignore the lack of data so far, I will concentrate on that when I have finished writing the control code...

Oh on one point, I need definitive lists for ZX Spectrum games, if anyone has one of them please let me know, but don't post it here.

Bye for now,
Care.

 

[nickspoon]

Very nice, very flash, very professional, and I like the Space Invader animation at the start.

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Very nice, very flash, very professional, and I like the Space Invader animation at the start.

​

Glad you like it . By the way, the space invader gets nabbled in two ways, it's random each time you enter the site.

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Latest news:

Well it's almost finished, I just got to write the reviews section and do some tidying up and that will be the interface for checklist complete.

I'm also busy importing games lists into the systems too, presently working on the zx spectrum list.

When it's complete, I will let you all know the new address for the site and roughly how to administer it.

Bye for now....

 

[Alex.]

Whoa there, an intro with sound is a bit excessive. Remember, the main reason why people will visit your site is for the lists, not for the flash work. And as a rule of thumb, sound on a website, especially unnecessary sound is a thing to avoid at all costs.

- Alex

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

Whoa there, an intro with sound is a bit excessive. Remember, the main reason why people will visit your site is for the lists, not for the flash work. And as a rule of thumb, sound on a website, especially unnecessary sound is a thing to avoid at all costs.

- Alex

​

It' only an intro, and you can bypass it by clicking the link if you like. Also on the finished site you will be able to click an option to bypass it in future.

What you're looking at is not the update, I'm not going to publish any more updates now until the site is complete.

Oh on the point you raised about why people are going here, I thought it was all about games compatibility, usually retro games, so I thought the intro kinda suited it. I have never been accused of being boring