Project postponed.

This was the first time for many months I actually had a look at the site's source code as a whole again, and quite frankly, it is a terrible mess. It was my first bigger project in PHP, and so I used some solutions which I now know are very fussy. Later changes (for example of the download script) are now using workarounds instead of actual solutions. There is obsolete information floating around in the database due to some changes.

Uploading to some directories containing screenshots is not possible using a Modem anymore, because there are so many files in those directories that even only getting the file list takes several minutes.

The worst thing is the lack of a unified system, though. It's basically programmed as if it were several sites, even though these 'sites' all deal with games. That is why there is different information depending on the system a game was added for, and sometimes, the same information is just called by different names. I don't want to get too technical here, that is why this rant might be a little hard to understand.

Just one example: To add a new system to the site (outside the Hall of Fame), I'd have to program everything for it from the scratch each time. If I want to add new features, I have to program them individually for each section. That is for example why the 'game comparisons' are still only available for Amiga games.


That is why I've decided to rewrite the whole site from the scratch. The way it is at the moment, it could continue to run, but it's not expandable anymore (at least not with even more workarounds and a lot of effort). I guess with nearly 300 games and more than 50 apps, we've just outgrown the code base.
This will take some time, of course, but it will be worth it. Not so much for the visitors, as everything will look exactly as it does now when I'm finished (just with the addition of 'combined view' which I'll include immediately), but mainly for me and the other webmasters.

Of course, go on renaming... I will make a backup after you're finished so I have them on my hd with the same name.

Screenshots button now linked correctly for all games and cases. SNES doesn't show yet because of the files named differently than for other systems. Tapuak? Would it be ok to rename the SNES-screenshots to save me a lot of programming of exceptions? I would do this, of course, just asking because it's your section...

I think the "best" version should represent a game, for example the Amiga version of Chaos Engine.

As for the buttons, I'd prefer a set of buttons for each version.

What still needs to be worked on is the actual 'review pages'. First question: Should every version have its own set of buttons, or would you prefer to have all the reviews, and then all buttons combined? Also, since different versions can have different ratings, publishers etc., all this should be listed above the respective review as well (and not only on the 'listing'). This is more a question of design. Last but not least, it has to be decided which version to present on the 'listing'. On the one hand, it'd make sense to use the 'original' there. On the other hand, the 'best' version might look good as well (especially in regards to the screenshot -> first impression).

Edit: Note to self: Game entries with additions to the name (like for example "Brutal Sports Football (AGA)") shouldn't have an individual listing.

Edited by Mr Creosote at 15:47 on December, 20th 2003

Yes, I think that's better.

Hm, I was just wondering about my rating for The Choas Engine - at first, it seemed to be too low considering the quality of the game, but on the other hand, 13 points are probably justified because you can't finish the game without cheating...

Edit: Changed to 14.

Edited by Tapuak at 13:30 on December, 20th 2003

That's no problem

Edit: Done. It now shows the system the review is referring to, and in case there are different ones, it lists them all (see for example Chaos Engine).

Edited by Mr Creosote at 12:01 on December, 20th 2003

Yes, I think the system(s) of a game should be visible in the "list".

Excuse me to be so short minded again, but that's exactly the kind of page that I would run away from like the plague. If at least you could say from which platform the game is from before clicking on "more infos" would be an incredible improvement in my opinion.

A first draft: http://www.goodolddays.net/allgames.php?query=letter&letter=i&page=1. There are still some graphics missing, not all screenshots work correctly (there won't be animated ones on these lists, of course) and so on. I think it makes sense since TGOD is a gaming site, so it will be done (as an addition to the system-specific sections)... sooner or later.

Edited by Mr Creosote at 22:32 on December, 19th 2003

This is drifting off more and more into a direction I anticipate. What I'm planning is not to add as many 'alternate versions' of games as possible (this will stay a very minor aspect of the site), but to have all 'game names' in one section, regardless of from which system the entry into the database originates.

Well, that's why I'd be satisfied with just a simple page, linking to all reviews. However, I see no reason for a "combined" or "unified" view.

All those views are pretty interesting to read, however, I find it surprising that nobody has even refered to the point that generally reviews of games can be largely applied to any system. Like NetDanzr for example once said, he visits "The Amiga Games Database", because the reviews are very good. I doubt he has ever played a single Amiga game. I think people looking for game information (as opposed to downloads) don't care much about which version a review is.

I think the 'search the whole site' function works pretty well, why not make that available from the pages for specific systems (sorry if it already is but I didn't think so)? Or maybe even a link under the reviews that automatically searches the site for other entries on the same game? I voted for both anyways since I think it's a good idea to make the separate pages for each system more 'connected' in some way.

I guess it depends what you are looking for in the end, if I'm looking for a golden oldy for my pc, I'll prefere sections, but if I were looking for diffrent variations of a game, just to see how much they differ, I would prefere the combined view.

I don't like the combined idea too much. Of course, it depends what the purpose of your site is. If you want to appeal to hardcore fans of certain system, keep it as it is. If you want to appeal to masses like MobyGames does, switch. I personally would prefer the former. The competition in the latter is too strong, and it's doubtful that switching would bring in more visitors; it'll only alienate the old ones. Giving an option of all games may be nice for new visitors, but without a direct link back to the main menu. I see it as allowing the visitor to click on a game, but then be stuck in the old design, in a particular section of the site.

Well, if you choose 'PC' in the top menu, you'll get PC only, but if you explicitely go to the 'all' section, you'll get all. That's the idea of having 'both'.

SNES and Amiga games run with less problems than MS-DOS games on most current PCs, but that's probably off-topic.

I beleive that combined view is a bad idea. When I want a game, I want it to be able to run on my PC. If I search for a Snes mod or an Amiga game, I search specificaly for those kind of games. Having a list with all the games genre blend in would be a complete waste of searching time, unless you are searching nothing in particular (and indeed already wasting time).

Both combined and by system would be a viable option, but be sure to keep the system only the basic link and then offer the option of having a big list with all the kind blend in. I guess it would be the best way to keep everyone happy...

I thought of having both, too, but there is one potential disadvantage: while it would bring more attention to games which might stay 'undiscovered' otherwise, it'll certainly take readers away from the 'misc' texts in each section, e.g. the introductions to the systems.

As for the design issue, I thought of using the 'wood' design for the 'combined view' and give the PC-specific section a new face. That'd make sense, because then, all the sections of 'general interest' (all games as well as FAQ, crew,....) would share the same look, and each system's subsite would still work on its own seperate from the rest.

I think the "combined" approach is good if you want to call attention to games that are not noticed by many visitors. And in fact, for me it isn't really important whether a game was released for PC, C 64, or Atari Lynx; only its quality matters.

However, I think that Cypherswipe is right that many people are looking for a specific system and not for "games" in general. And many people would never touch an emulator for example. For such people, a list that contains PC AND SNES games would be unnecessary.

Therefore, I personally like the idea of a "combined view", but I think there are a lot of people who don't. But as the site is based on a database, it's not a problem to have both (combined/sections). In any case that includes a "combined view", it's necessary to have a unified layout, though.