talkings before starting with the FAQs....

So it seems that we have just had a "GO!" from assembler...

first of all we have to decide some preeliminary things...

1) the format to give the txt files, choosing some ascii art for all of them for giving all the work a "contiguos feeling" or something like that...

the same aplyies to intros and credits

2) what to talk about

so i think we should star making a list of interesting topic we might be willingly to make a FAQ out, giving votes and then opening a topic for _JUST_ one at a time...

(this are just sugestions, i mean... i'm not the boss )

so some topics that might be interesting and help people fresh on the forum are:

M2
Snes CD-Rom (tought i've already written a FAQ about it)
N64DD
Various Devkits maybe
Game Prototypes
etc etc

post as much suggestions as you can people! about topics and other.

Let's try togheter to make a wonderful work; people in this community are so good that i'm sure we'll do something great!

 

Why do it in txt? I know its tradition, but its a bit of a pain in the arse nowadays. I'd say just plain old simple html, as that would at least allow links to certain parts.

 

i think that posting html links can be a problem sometimes, but we might do that in html too, why not? or maybe even in pdf format... keep suggestions coming boys!

 

I think we should have topics like "What are SDKs?" for people who first visit the roarvgm or the upcoming future site for the first time. I'm a bit confused on how you would like the FAQs to be. Where exactly would they be seen? In this current forum (No Man's Land)?

 

ok lots of things

first
"I'm a bit confused on how you would like the FAQs to be."

This out of the point... we have to choose TOGHETER how to make it, and it'll not be MY faq, it'll be ours...

"I think we should have topics like "What are SDKs?" for people who first visit the roarvgm or the upcoming future site for the first time"

i like tha idea, we'll se what other people will think about it

"Where exactly would they be seen? In this current forum (No Man's Land)?"

No, i hope assembler will give us webspace here or else i think i'll have to register and host a web page just for that. we'll see, since i've been the one proposing it i think that i should spend something into it be it energyes or money even.

thanx for your interest, karsten

 

I think the wisest thing to do at the moment is wait until ASSEMbler's new museum is up on the net, but who knows. The whole FAQs idea sounds good to me.

I was thinking that we could have FAQs about Dev hardware: the software/SDKs associated with, the best OS to run the Dev hardware & software. Then we could have a FAQs about rare video games/what people should look out for when game hunting. I think that would be good for those who see games at store but do not realize how rare they are in value (Erm, almost happened to me!).

Sounds good?

 

Well I know there are many Gamecube development hardware's around..Gdev, Gbox etc. Id be very interested in learning the differences between all them. It might be a good idea for a knowlgable person in that subject matter to create a topic called

"Gamecube Development Hardware"

This would be the best way imo rather than an entire thread dedicated to all dev hardware. It makes it very easy for someone not in the know to find exactly what they are looking for and the topic wouldnt be so overwhelming with topics to cover.

and do a basic rundown of what the different models are, their functions and what sets them apart. If anyone has anything to add to it, they can reply, suggesting that something be added to the original post (so that users dont have to scroll through page after page to find useful info). If the person who made the topic is no longer here, then I know assembler can import someone elses post who wishes to take care of the thread thereafter.

Adding to that, If someone has a question on the subject matter then they can ask a question in the thread, and if the topic creator doesnt know it, he or she can list it in a section called "Unanswered Questions". That way the chances of someone reading the question and having an answer go up greatly (as opposed to it being on page 40 of 99).

Id say use forum code to your advantage, IE:


G-Dev

Basic Info:
the gdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaabla

Features:
gdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaablagdev is a blablaabla

 

Exactly, I was thinking the same! We should have a naming scheme for the FAQs per thread in this specific forum, since I doubt the whole (No Mans) forum would only consist of FAQs. Probably something like: FAQ - DEV - Sega Dreamcast. Then, we could have lists of other items in separate threads besides Development.

Who feels ready to start a new thread :nod:? I'd like more people to respond to see how they feel about all this, or maybe if they have better suggestions we have not thought of yet.

 

Mark, great idea. You know this forum is gonna have a ton of posts not related to the faq heh Who knows, maybe if it becomes too difficult Assembler could port the posts to another forum (though, thats thinking ahead of ourselves here. Were not even sure if people will contribute).

I'd love to start one, but I really dont know more than the average joe. I suppose if someone created a
FAQ - DEV - GameCube Software
thread Id be able to list what proto's I have floating around But like you said, I too would like to wait to see what other suggestions are given.

EDIT: I just realized, as a guest you cannot edit you post so perhaps it would be best if the original thread starter just made the topic and edited it with new information? That might get them in trouble though, so should we create some kind of "dummy" account that is used by certain people who request it?

I realize that might be a security risk, but its very easy for a few trusted members to keep archives of their "edits" on topics.

 

I'd guess, if there is an account logged into then the IP is automatically tracked, and can therefore be subpoenad. Even if it is just collating information from other people, this is still slightly sketchy in legal grounds, particularly in the US

 

Its been my experience with vbulletin that it logs guest IP's as well. Im not sure what Assembler did to turn them off but Id bet he would still get asked for the posters information. If they are logging IP's still and Assembler just said that to ease concerns I dont think it would be unreasonable to assume that his host would get the information for them.

So how exactly did ya do it man? Ive been meaning to try it on my own forum.

Im not sure on what you guys plan on posting thats going to get you in so much trouble, I mean the DEV forums we have already is full of info and I havent seen anyone there getting in trouble.

 

I'm a little sketchy about info on Dev hardware for consoles that are still producing games. Other than that, I doubt companies would take action if there is info about older consoles, unless someone actually reports (which has happened to someone I know). They still could though.

 

Well if worst comes to worst we could always bug a mod to edit the guest accounts post, I dont think editing a post logs the "editors" ip address.

 

as soon enough people will get interested, we'll have some kind of pool for choosing wich topic to cover first. please let's not open topics individually because that would divert people with the required knowledge in many topics and made impossiblew to change those topics in faqs without MAJOR efforts (i know what i say after reading all the posts in the snes cdrom topic and mading a faq of it). anyway i hope more people will be interested and willingly to contribute... so far only people interested in the faqs have surfaced, but no people willingly to give infos and background...

 

Let me put it this way, anonymous or not, i still can't say what i'm legally bound not to say. I'll talk about things that won't cause any trouble, but it would be stupid of me to jeprodize my career just to explain about the GD-Rom stamping process. That being said, i'll help where i can.

 

Well, how about this rather then rushing into each topic, why not hold a pole for a month on which FAQ you would like done first, and go from there?
Atlest you have more or less of an idea of people would like to learn about.
As stated by karsten.
Or more or less start with something that wount really get you into hot water, or any problems.
But one question I have, we will be allowed to show lets say what a ''mod chip'' does to a home console, or homebrew code to get some project off the floor? I wouldnt mind making DC Linux FAQ is people were intrested in it.

 

I can do a PS2 Homebrew / Modding / HDD utilities FAQ if you want. But it will take some time to get something worth to show everyone.

 

Count me in for PSP, some ps2 stuff if Johnny doesnt beat me to it, as well as Dreamcast

 

I would also love to do some NES 6502 stuff, but heh, that might be in a year or too...

 

I would highly recomend staying away from the subject of modding. Coding is fine, but modding will bring more attention from the wrong kind of people than we really want.