Fan Sites

[Zaphenath-Paneah]

What would be the best use of a fan site?

[tobing]

Well, it's simply material about the game, background info's you can't find elsewhere, and most important a forum where people and fans can talk about the game and help beginners. Actually, the last is the most important, especially if you want to have a fan site which lives long.

[Son of Moose]

I suppose that the Walkthroughs and Cheats might be best handled by the fan sites as most of the rest would probably best be handled by the official webpage (i.e. here). I feel most strongly that fan sites must offer something different to the official webpage --- otherwise they succeed in dividing the community. Just look at the official Sunflowers webpage for 1503 AD --- it is enormous with 1000's of posts!! (Unfortunately Tobing, et al. have a huge advantage over me as I cannot understand German!! :( Some bits are like Afrikaans - my second language - but not much. :( ).

Maybe I have somewhat of an extremist view here (with this centralised approach) but I would be keen for the CB community to remain as united as possible. In addition, I see it as a form of loyalty to continue visiting and supporting the developers official webpage. :D

Please don't "burn" me if you really disagree with this viewpoint ... ;)

[tobing]

You're right, of course. Talking about a forum I was thinking of a local forum in some other language than english - the first point to look at for info is certainly this forum, if you can read english. But some people can't...

I'm not so much interested in walkthroughs, I must admit, nor am I into cheats. So providing space for a community seems to me of greatest value. Or maybe translated content from the official site, or additional content like more historical or mythological infos, if people want to read about that.

[Zaphenath-Paneah]

Thanks for the input so far. It will really help me decide what direction to go in for my fan site. I was really thinking about the history/mythology aspic for reference epically for those people who want to design their own historic maps with the map editor.

[Cironir]

SoM, one of the advantages of having a number of fan-operated forums is that more people will "stumble upon" the game -- if there's only one official forum, fewer gamers might learn about the product. Interest tends to generate (more) interest. :) There are advantages to few, large forums, too, of course ... this can be a time-safer if you are really into a game's community but don't have the time to actively participate in a number of places. Still, I think it's great for a game to have an active, vivid following! :)

[Son of Moose]

Cironir:

I certainly appreciate your point and feel that it is indeed valid. However, I can't help wondering whether the situation pertaining to The Sims is anywhere near ideal. There must be 100's (maybe 1000's) of sites which are seemingly mainly derivative and repetitive in nature. Heaven knows how much original material might sadly be lost amongst the repeats. :(

The worst example, imho, is The Sims Resource where you actually BUY aditional features for your game!! :mad: Surely this is illegal --- haven't Maxis some form of intellectual rights over their game? It certainly does not seem right that other people (third parties) can make money out of their game? I really hope that nobody tries this with CotN!! :mad:

[claudio]

I feel most strongly that fan sites must offer something different to the official webpage --- otherwise they succeed in dividing the community. Just look at the official Sunflowers webpage for 1503 AD --- it is enormous with 1000's of posts!! )

be happy that you can t read all. it s not very nice whats going on there

[tobing]

I think it is quite common for others to try and make some more money from some successful game. Just look at all the books containing the solutions, or CDs in boxes which look similar to the original game containing just custom maps or scenarios from the internet. The only way to stop this kind of makeing money is to send your lawyer against it, but mostly that's not of any value. No, I think too many forums are not good for the community, except for different languages, that makes a point.

For example for me the most promising resource for the old CB games is Heavengames, and I would not make any attempt to open up another forum like that. But some fans can't read that, so it is OK to retrieve infos from there, translate them and have other fans read that.

[claudio]

when the forum becomes like the ad 1503 forum you have nearly to open a second forum

[Son of Moose]

I am really sorry to hear that about the 1503AD forum. I certainly trust that our forum will retain its friendly and helpful atmosphere. :D I am not a great advocate of preventing freedom of speech but I think that it is vitally important to eliminate any harmful or obnoxious posts. It is our duty (and that of the webmaster in particular) to see that things never "get out of hand" here.

Hopefully the CB genre does generally attract a more intelligent and mature following that the FPS and RTS genres ... :D

[tobing]

when the forum becomes like the ad 1503 forum you have nearly to open a second forum
Well, that's sadly true, but just if the official forum would turn out to be like that one. No problem with these guys here. Did I say this forum is great? No? Well, now it's said and I mean it. :cool:

[tobing]

...I am not a great advocate of preventing freedom of speech but I think that it is vitally important to eliminate any harmful or obnoxious posts. It is our duty (and that of the webmaster in particular) to see that things never "get out of hand" here...
Nor am I. But there is some slight difference between eliminating harmful postings and eliminating all voices of criticism. In a forum it should be possible to discuss about nearly anything, maybe restricted to what's related to the product. But as I said elsewhere, smalltalk is important also.

[claudio]

Well, that's sadly true, but just if the official forum would turn out to be like that one. No problem with these guys here. Did I say this forum is great? No? Well, now it's said and I mean it. :cool:
and you are right
these guys look to their forum and to their fans
when the forum becomes bigger and they need some fan moderatore
<---- reporting for duty

[Cironir]

But as I said elsewhere, smalltalk is important also.

An "Off-Topic" or "Smalltalk" board might make a nice addition. I frequently catch myself straying a bit from the original topic -- like in our discussion about other games/genres, or our more distant exchange about the soccer championships. :)

[tobing]

...I frequently catch myself straying a bit from the original topic -- like in our discussion about other games/genres...
That's what I mean, not an extra forum for smalltalk. This just emerges and should have its place in any thread. Always with some measure, of course.

[claudio]

well i would preffer an own ot forum

[NeilV]

An "Off-Topic" or "Smalltalk" board might make a nice addition. I frequently catch myself straying a bit from the original topic -- like in our discussion about other games/genres, or our more distant exchange about the soccer championships. :)

:D I thought we had one already
For all Tilted Mill (and off-topic) related discussion that's not specific to Children of the Nile :D

[claudio]

ou than it s good let s talk:)

[Hathornefer]

It will really help me decide what direction to go in for my fan site. I was really thinking about the history/mythology aspic for reference epically for those people who want to design their own historic maps with the map editor.



I think the most important thing to remember when building a fan site is that it has to be a game you enjoy and just as importantly an aspect of the game that really catches your imagination. If Egyptian history / mythology does it for you then go for it. If you like micro management then make it more pertinant to that. Whatever your fan site is about, it will be better for having real enthusiasm for the aspect of the game you get a kick out of. (That said it may be worth noting that there is an awfull lot of Egyptian history out there on the net already. :( )

Me? I am looking into fuzzy logic by reading up on scientific papers from the likes of Bogataj, Girlich, Grubbstrom, and Molinder. :confused: Think any web pages of mine would just end up just as pretty pictures because my brain is really starting to hurt with all this formulii :p

Hath
x

[PCDania]

Other? (Please list):
General game help for when things just don't work as expected.
Technical help for when the PC and/or operating system acts up when playing CotN
A forum for general chatting.
A forum for map-making/scenario editing.

I don't like cheats as way too many people spoil their gaming experience by using the cheats instead of learning how to play a game. I'm partly against walkthroughs as some people depend way too much on walkthroughs for playing a game thereby again hindering them in learning how to play a game. When playing by walkthrough you effectively play as the person who wrote the walkthrough thereby acting like the monkey apeing the servant in the picture from the game.
Walkthroughs are good though if you simply gets stuck in a game and can't pass a certaint point however hard you struggle.

[Bizkit]

Walkthroughs are primarily for adventure games. It's where you have to follow a specific way in the game, otherwise you'll never finish. I have to admit they come in handy pretty often.
The walkthrough of a CB, IMO, would explain anything omitted by the tutorial (if such a thing ever exists) and provide tips&tricks for a better play.

[EmperorJay]

Bizkit, for the previous CB games, the walkthroughs contained the pre-scripted events and information on where it would be best to build defense structures, industries etc. I have no clue on how this would work for CotN, if any walktroughts would work for CotN at all.

[Traxia]

Well I'm planning a walkthrough section...

I reckon that a step by step description of how you constructed your city and acheived your goals is quite a useful addition to any fan site.

Especially if you don't want to cheat (as such and only at the level of knowing what's coming next) but don't know where to start.

Imagine you have a city that's been given to you to rule over because the previous governer/pharaoh/dude or dudette in charge has died/abdicated/run off with all the city's money.

In those kind of situations, knowing what industries are grinding to a halt and what you are lacking such as all the graneries have been reduced to a heap of flaming rubble is invaluable because their is always one industry that you don't notice isn't working until all your housing devolves and by then you can kiss the city goodbye.

[Son of Moose]

Traxia:

I would be really keen to visit this type of fan site and read more. Sounds like your site will be really interesting and useful. :)

[Traxia]

Planning and implementing are unfortunately two different problems altogether.

I am going to try and get it done but I have my final year of university to think about too...