I just tried to change some profile details and it kicked me off the site, asking for an email re-activation. I didn't change the password (I think) although it said I did?

I couldn't even read forum-posts, which I found a little too restrictive. Can people who aren't registered read forum posts? I hope so.

Er, yes.

Oookay... It says "new password" on the upper left corner of the control panel, and when I don't enter anything it gives me a "no match" error. So I thought, just enter my old password should be OK. But it ran through the whole activation process instead. Also what I changed in my profile did not appear.

Ok, I'll attempt to respond with the utmost clarity, so there's no confusion here (not that there was before, but I want to keep my posts efficient).

Regarding # 2. Regarding maps in Beta: Maps should be able to have a related thread (e.g. A thread linked to the map's profile) only if they are in Beta. AND maps that are in beta with a related thread should have their comments on their profile disabled (no comments can be made about a map on its profile page if it is in Beta with a related thread activated). But Beta maps without a related thread can have their comments active. This should be a note to the author before selecting the "In Beta" checkbox for their Map so they know.

larchy's responce said:
Restrictive? How about getting rid of comments altogether and just having discussion topics? No reason why a forum thread can't be inlined on the map's page where the comments currently are and it would remove the splitting up of feedback in different locations as well as precluding the need for any of the above malarky.

OK, so all maps will have the option to turn on feedback for their map, and if they do, it will open a forum thread right on the map's profile page? -That sounds cool. And if they do choose to have a discussion, then there could be a locked thread posted (like the linked threads posted now) in the Maps forum that simply link to the map's profile (like they already do). So basically, I'm saying, keep the ability to add a forum post in the map's forum, but let it be locked automatically so it only serves the purpose of keeping our maps (with discussions enabled) in the map forum table in-line. So we can still keep track of which maps came first. I know their update date is recorded and you can search for that through the map's section of the site, but if someone is searching for just discussions of maps, they can search through the map's forum and find threads linking to their map's profile pages where the actual discussions are being held...

If a person chooses not to enable feedback, then none of this occurs, and the maps remain without a comment system? I think the regular comment system should be the fallback. That is, if they choose not to enable full forum feedback, then they simply get the quick comments system like we already have now. -Is that just redundant? -Or should ALL maps get a forum thread in their profile? -with a thread linking to it from the map's forum?

Regarding # 3. Only after maps have been considered out of Beta (The user updates the map's profile and unchecks the "In Beta" checkbox) then the related thread (if there was one) would become locked and the comments for that map's profile would become activated. Once a user uploads a map without selecting the "In Beta" checkbox, OR if they update the map's profile and switch it to NOT in Beta, then they can never switch the map back to being in Beta because we would not want anyone abusing the locking and unlocking of their map's related thread by constantly changing the status of their map's profile and not have it reflect user's comments. If it was a mistake and they need to switch it back to Beta, then an admin would be able to do it for them.

larchy's responce said:
Dunno, I mean 'beta' just means not finished. Why restrict an author's right to modify his work? They could just delete & reupload if they really wanted to get around this too... strikes me as restrictive and not workable in practice.

You're right. If we get rid of having two separate ways to comment on maps, then we wouldn't have to lock anything. If in this new In-laid Thread system for map profile pages, you could include separate line breaks like this: (also note the placement of the "user online" and "Map Author" title in that example). The line breaks would let others know when the map was updated during the discussion. If an author updates it multiple times before another comment then the update bar in the thread will take the latest update and once a comment is made after that update, the next update will be posted as another bar after the latest comment.

Regarding # 6. -And also, to stick with tradition, we should have a smaller line mentioning: "This is SnarkPit version 4.##" -Whatever version you reckon we're on?

larchy's responce said:
No idea. Larchpower v3 or something by now smiley Prolly version 7 or something

Well, the old pit listed itself as "v4.5" It read: "This is SnarkPit v4.5." (without quotes of course). I would consider the very first implementation of the site you posted as v5.0. Each major update (whatever you constitute as a major update) would add +0.1 to the version count. I haven't been keeping track, but if you've made over 9 big updates since then (which I wouldn't be surprised if you had) Then when you release this version you're working on, I would have something that says: "This is SnarkPit v5.9." written at the top somewhere.

Regarding # 16. Can we have the old Snark icons (or revamped Snark icons) for the "no posts/new posts" icons in the forums? It'll add to the nostalgia smiley

larchy's responce said:
Make some smiley

I'll talk with Muhnay about it sometime, unless he catches this post first :P. -I'd like to see some kind of animated icons for new replies and hot topics (threads receiving 50 posts or more).

The rest sounds fine I think

[EDIT]: Almost forgot... I'm cool with the LunarPages plan. It's pretty cheap, and they seem to have a good history. I'm for it, but This is really up to Gwil since he has already payed for another year of hosting with Globat. I don't know if he will be able to get a refund, but it's all on his accord as to when we would make the switch. -Oh and Gwil, If you have a Paypal account go ahead and post it! Some of us are just waiting to make a donation!

---

Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

re: PayPal - I assume you can just send it direct to me via your PayPal control panel, I couldn't locate the donate button code for love nor money (found it in the past though!)

gwilymjohn@gmail.com is my email addy regged with PayPal

This might work:

http://www.snarkpit.net/donate.htm

Gwil,

Nice, but I dont pay in pounds I pay in Dollars. Have you considered Yahoos PayPal like thing? ( nevermind that has been closed for sometime now. )

What about: http://www.2checkout.com/community/

Google has a checkout thing for a store.. but I dont think its very user friendly.

Again Paypal is the default.. and you can pay in many different currencies.

Doesn't really matter does it? Just enter the $ you would like into a currency converter then round it down a normal £ figure. £10 will be $20 just as £5 will be $10 whichever way you look at it. Problem with store signups is you usually have to pay a fee to run them. PayPal takes donations and levies a small pence/cent charge.

My PayPal is set up for GBP and, I will be paying for hosting off a UK debit card. To put it into $ then £ then $ etc etc is just rinsing.

Here are the current rates, BTW

10.00 USD

6.85412 GBP

My clan receives donations for its 3/4 servers, mostly from the UK but we have loads of people paying 10/20GBP in whatever their equivalent is - dollars, icelandic krone, euro etc. Just makes sense for the end receiver to have it in their native format.

To ring in the new year, I fixed up our Links page! I deleted all the broken and dead links (for those of you worried, I wrote them all down here.

I even went and made 100x32px sized images for all of em! -Most I had to screen capture their sites and make our own images instead because they didn't have a "link to us" image.

I also added four news ones, which is all I had time for atm. They are: HL2 Mods; PlanetPhillip; Podcast 17; & The Valve Community. I have a lot more I'll be adding later, but if you guys want to chime in, then link me to any half-life or general mapping communities! NOT portfolios or Mods. Although, if it's a community centered around a mod, that's fine too. We're a community, so it only makes sense to link to other communities.

-Check it out!

---

Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Riven said:
To ring in the new year, I fixed up our Links page!

Haha, I've been waiting for that page to be fixed for ages now! I am at rest now 8-). There are a few links in this thread I think should be on the links page, be sure to look at the last two posts aswell. A few others:

CGTextures
TextureHub
Game Artist

---

Aaron's Stuff

I've been thinking about the comments system a bit more.

I don't see any reason why the discussion can't be a forum thread like we have now for maps, and just format the thread to fit on the page of the map it refers to.

I don't see why a discussion topic needs to be optional... every map can just have a topic. If an author doesn't want feedback then he doesn't have to read the thread :P ...but the thread discussion will probably be useful for people downloading or using the map.

I think that would be a good way of doing things and it shouldn't be a problem to transfer all the old and current comments into threads. We could have the same system for articles too, and an articles discussion forum... and for downloads too?

---

How much do we need to donate for lunarpages? It's around £45 for a year ain't it? So if I pop Gwil £15 and two other people do the same will that be enough? I don't mind giving more if needs be... I'll pay the 40 quid if you like, just to get things going.

No immediate hurry as I want a bit more time to work on the new version of the site which I'm planning to upload&test on the new host as there are quite a lot of changes.

I dont know quid, so tell me if I can pay in American $, if so let me know what it is in Dollars and I will donate.

quid is just slang for one of Her Brittanic Majesty's Imperial Sterling Pounds

/salutes

£1 is currently $1.45

So £15 would be $21.75

That's if me, you and.. er.. Riven was it? all donated.

snarkpit.net is registered through godaddy

I've got a plan in my head that if we grab the lunarpages hosting I can upload this new update I've been working on and iron out any kinks on the new hosting. Then we can just point the domain name at the new host when we're ready... sound ok?

Ok, Thanks for that link Aaron, I knew there was a thread started about the Links page, but I forgot.

New Links added:

• The VDC
• Gamedevmap
• MapCore
• The Optimization Guide
• TWHL
• SnarkPit Steam group

@ Larchy: about comments. I am for the idea of having full Thread features right on map profiles! -That sounds like an excellent idea. I also think you're right about discussion topics. They should be default for every map.

For articles, yes, Thread features right at the bottom of the page would be great! However, I don't see it necessary to have a whole new forum created for Articles. We already have an Article layout. I suppose it's because we never had one before for articles (even though we did have comments for them) -It just never seemed necessary. -Unless of course people are for it? I'm more for as few forums as possible. The Maps forum can stay because people don't have to post a map profile in order to make a thread in it. So it serves other purposes.

We've never had comments for downloads, so any form of communication about those might be welcome. Again, I wouldn't build an entire forum for them, but maybe quick reply comments would be sufficient.

-New idea about map threads. Would it be redundant if Threads on a map's profile were the threads listed on the map's forum? I mean, If you clicked on a map's thread in the map's forum, it would take you to that map's actual profile page instead of the standard thread detail page. -Maybe this was what you were already planning?

-Also, for the links page, is it possible to auto alphabetize them? And remove the backslash bug from the form fields. (every time you see a " or ' it places a / in front of it)

@ Muhnay: I donated $20 USD. It's simple. First choose you're $ USD amount you want to donate, then calculate the £ GBP amount using Gwil's conversion ratio:

10.00 USD

6.85412 GBP

Then type in your £ GBP amount in the donation box and fill the card info out and submit! Low and behold, on your bank statement it will read your original $ USD amount you spent. Paypal converts it back for you when during the charging process.

---

Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Riven said:
-New idea about map threads. Would it be redundant if Threads on a map's profile were the threads listed on the map's forum? I mean, If you clicked on a map's thread in the map's forum, it would take you to that map's actual profile page instead of the standard thread detail page. -Maybe this was what you were already planning?

Er no, wasn't planning on doing away with the forum altogether. Basically the forum topic for a particular map would just be shown on the map's profile page too in place of the comments system.

A lot of news site do this, where 'comments' on news stories are just a forum topic which gets reformatted slightly and shown on the page for the news item.

I wouldn't have to 'build' a new forum for articles - it's all dynamic m8, the code handles everything. You could make one yourself - the option is there in the control panel. Just type in a name and click "create" :P

I was just thinking if I do this for the maps I may as well do it for articles and downloads too... was just wondering where to stick the threads :P An 'Articles & Downloads' (or separate forums) seemed logical.

cool links page, looks neat gogo gadget SORT BY name ASC !

Just sent Gwil £20 via the speedy and easy to use Paypal (ffs it's like pulling teeth! sodding thing)

On Tuesday I get paid.. I will donate then.. $25.00 USD ok?

Not sure I can use Paypal though.. will see what I can do.. if not, what other ways can I donate?

Paypal is rubbish as it goes but is still pretty decent. $25USD is excellent Muhnay - that should bring us over target for hosting, which I will match for 2 years of security.

Re: domain name. larchy, i think its tied to globat D: I might have to get nasty with their support!

There is a 'domain management' option in the globat CP, but it just says "fuck off" (or something similar, can't remember exactly :P )

There should be a way of changing where it points to or getting proper control of it somehow... just have to ask. Maybe check before buying the lunarpages hosting just in case there's a problem?

Maybe its just one of those nights, but the black to white gradient transition/fade in the menu at the top is starting to get to me a bit. I think it should be more subtle, perhaps it could fade to a gray instead? I don't know how that will affect the "Welcome member! | updates | cp | logout | search" thing.

Just a suggestion, what do you guys think?

---

Aaron's Stuff

I really like the blue. How can I switch?

Ok, so I have 25 bucks burninga hole in my internet pocket. But I can not use paypal.. they say I have an account registered to my 2 email address. One I logged into after the password retreve.. the other was closed. The one I logged into says I owe them money.. but I dont recall ever using it or the ebay account its linked too. So I closed it.

I want to donate this money so we can get the new hosting and move forward. I am looking at other options.. any ideas? Can I use my Credit Card without having a PayPal account?

You can't - that's the new version of the site which is for the new hosting. Still a work in progress but it will bring a few new things like the discussion topics for maps we've been talking about: Topics created for all old maps (see the forum screenshot above and check the topic dates!), and all current comments, old comments and reviews copied into the relevant map threads: New control panel: etc...

If you click on the link Gwil posted above then it let's you enter a credit card without a paypal account, although the card must not be registered to a paypal account or it will complain that you need to be logged in.

Gwil is really busy with Uni work and is focused on his dissertation, so sorting out the hosting can wait until next week when he tells me he'll be finished

So this is the first time I'm using that PayPal Donation thingy. You just got 15 GBP from some guy from Austria. If it worked.

Can someone stick the Paypal info on the front page, please?

Thanks Reaper for the support.

Dont know if this is an issue, but I check the pit from multiple computers. I always log onto the pit at home, then I log on else where (normal), then when I come home I navigate to the pit, it says there was a log-in error (Outdated cookie?).

The login thingy authenticates you against an ip address, so it'll kick you out if you change PCs and you'll have to log in again.

If this is getting annoying for you I'll see if I can work a way around it.

I'll really miss this theme of the Pit after the change.

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

why? it's still there! I've made the width smaller to accomodate the smaller screen sizes, but the blue is just an additional theme. This black one will still be the default!

Hi everyone - just to confirm, all those who have donated so far I have received your donations and were are in good stead to buy up some new hosting. As larchy pointed out I was rather tied up with uni work lately - that's all behind me since Monday though this week has been turned over thus far to tidying up/clearing away old papers and sorting out my post graduate application. Got a family birthday tomorrow so it'll be Friday when I look into buying the new hosting and harassing Globat about the domain name.

Thanks GWIL for the update. I will still kick in what I have promissed..

I have had a hell of a few days now. My Uncle was hospitlized, and in the process the EMT felt his living conditions were sub standard and we had ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES come in and inspect us.. his room was bad, so we spent the weekend cleaning it.. and it was far worse than I thought. He just got home today, and can not walk so we have had to baby him and I am under a whole lot of stress. But as soon as I either explode, or cool down and things settle here.. I will be back in full swing.

Geeze Muhnay, I hope everything turns out all right.

I may not be keeping strict updates for the compilation map, but I have been organizing snarkPit a little more lately.

I recently added these icons for their particular mods in the games and mods list:

• Counter Strike:
  
• Counter Strike Source:
  
• Other
  
• Natural Selection
  
• Day of Defeat Source
  
• Day of Defeat
  
• Fortress Forever
  
• Deathmatch Classic
  
• Ricochet
  
• Red Orchestra
  
• Zombie Panic Source
  
• Left 4 Dead
  

And I also added Thinking With Portals to the Links page. -Just a little something I suppose. I aim to make sure every mod has it's own individual icon! Feel free to make suggestions!

---

Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

It feels abit stupid,for me,when i'm looking at the firs page of a topic.I don't like the empty space under the avatar of the member who posted the topic.I think it will look abit beter if the firs post of the topic has a square around it and the other posts are plased like before.

---

Never think about bad things!
TNKqwe:The New Killer qwe
[img]http://images.quiz.wegame.com/production/personalities/22/badge.jpg[/img]
I am Engineer - Play Free Online Games
[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/global/moddb_88x31_v12.png[/img]
Citizen Arms

Any news Gwil?

Not heard anything back yet, but I don't hold out a great deal of help. My solution would be to perhaps buy a new domain (sigh) eg snarkpit.co.uk then have a globat page at snarkpit.net doing a meta refresh to there.

Incidentally we raised about £50 / $70 / E53 so that covers new hosting AND domain reg if we need to do it.

You could just add an index.php file on globat with the following code:

<?php
header('Location: http://www.snarkpit.co.uk/');
exit;
?>

Redirects any browser, nice and easy.

I'm still slowly pottering away at the new site update... lots of new stuff... looking good!

Globat insist to me it is regged with godaddy, looks like through some other company - so we might be saved. I checked this out and it looks like its locked into Leps old hotmail account so i've fired an email off to him.

Aha, was hoping it'd be something like that!

Could you grab the new hosting then? Then I'll be able to get the new site tested and upload the database/content etc... then we can just log into godaddy and change the nameserver stuff to point to the new hosting whenever we're ready?

I have the info now Sir Larch - where do you want it forwarding to? Also, do you maintain a permanent presence online (eg Skype/MSN etc) ??

lol I have ids for all that stuff but never use them!

Went to dl messenger but decided against it since it's now bloated to 66+MB of crap. aha, web messenger!

larchster at gmail.com too

OK, so I've been making some revisions to my account, certain things, like: that pic is from 5 years ago, and I look nothing like that, and I was changing my signature, I must say it is somewhat ridiculous that every time you make a change to your account you must reactivate it through email

you should probably fix that, because I've never had a forum do that to me and it is quite irritating

[edit] nevermind, apparently my stupid browser kept inputting my password into the "new password" box and kept changing my password

/me smacks face

FatStrings said:
OK, so I've been making some revisions to my account, certain things, like: that pic is from 5 years ago, and I look nothing like that, and I was changing my signature, I must say it is somewhat ridiculous that every time you make a change to your account you must reactivate it through email

you should probably fix that, because I've never had a forum do that to me and it is quite irritating

[edit] nevermind, apparently my stupid browser kept inputting my password into the "new password" box and kept changing my password

/me smacks face

No, no, don't smack your face yet! The site currently has some issues, most of which are long fixed and up on the new and improved server. I'm sure that you may join the beta, if you want to have a look and help testing. larchy is doing an amazing job.

The new new Snarkpit is gonna be more polished than the site has ever been before!

larchy said:
Went to dl messenger but decided against it since it's now bloated to 66+MB of crap. aha, web messenger!

66mb! Its probably got other programs in that package too! Try MSN Messanger 7.0 (smaller download) or use a web based messanger such as ebuddy or meebo.

---

Aaron's Stuff

I use G-mail IM thing.

http://www.google.com/talk/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20instant%20messenger

I used to use xfire too.. but I dont anylonger. I also have a MS live account and use the live messenger built in.

You could also try Skype.

Muhnay said:
I use G-mail IM thing.

Really? That thing is so primitive and you can only speak to people with gmail. Maybe I'll see ya around on it sometime when I'm checking my emails .

---

Aaron's Stuff

Yepp, thats why I use it. I have the seperate app. So I get e-mail alerts and people I want to chat with know where to find me. You can voice and video chat with it too.

aaron_da_killa said:

Muhnay said:
I use G-mail IM thing.

Really? That thing is so primitive and you can only speak to people with gmail. Maybe I'll see ya around on it sometime when I'm checking my emails .

Considering it's real-time chat in a browser using GWT ... I'd say, as the application stands, it's pretty cutting edge.

It's silly to have that as your only IM contact, though.

---

Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

If you read my message again, you'll see, I dont just use it.

irc ftw, is the pit's still up btw?

I never got into IRC, I found it to be way too geeky.