Ever wondered how to get your game project update to the rest of the team?
by David Higgins · 07/11/2007 (11:46 am) · 3 comments
Some of you may remember me posting a blog a few weeks ago about a site I just launched called PhotoDrop.com. One of the key points of the site was the accompanying windows client that allows for easy 'drag and drop' online album creation and storage. I don't recall if I mentioned it in that blog, but PhotoDrop was actually an upgrade to an existing site that my employer hosts called TransferBigFiles.com. Some of you may even already be familiar with the site.
Well, I just launched the originally intended upgrade for TransferBigFiles last Tuesday, this upgrade covered the Web Site and database modifications and we just launched the Windows Client (Link to Usage Video) this Monday.
Now, what does this site have to do with Indie Game Developers? How can it help you? Whats the point? Can you benefit from it's usage?
Let's answer those in a reverse order;
* Yes, You can benefit from using TransferBigFiles
* The point is quite simple, it's a great way to send a friend, colleague or fellow developer (or even your game testers) your files.
* Email is a great way to send simple things like low-res screen shots, a script file or two, but most email services limit the maximum file size you can receive and therefore prevent you from sending large files. TransferBigFiles allows you to easily send these files.
* Now, onto the one question that you've all been waiting for (if you even bothered to read through this far);
TransferBigFiles is a great way to send data files to all your developers, let's say you have a Modeler, Animator and a handful of Developers. Well, your Modeler might have an FTP somewhere that they can send there files too ... but FTP Clients can sometimes be cumbersome and complicated to use, and they aren't always all that user-friendly. What if they just exported the player model, or a really great Interior for your game and all the Developers now need the update -- the Modeler can simply 'Drag and Drop' the DTS/DIF file right onto the TransferBigFiles DropZone and then simply Email or Instant Message the download URL to the rest of the group.
Ever wondered how you could control the number of 'Open Beta' testers for a game your working on? Well, TBF has a 100 download limit and a 10-day file storage when the data is uploaded through the Windows Client. So, if your looking for up-to 100 people to test your game, and you want the door of opportunity to be fairly tight (10 days or less) you can very simply upload the game build through the DropZone and then post the link on the GG forums asking for people to beta test -- it would be advised that you tell them what the expiration date is going to be and that it's a "first come, first serve" (up-to 100) scenario -- but now you've got your limited open beta and a no-cost storage location.
With a TBF Account you can expire your files when ever you like, so if 10-days is too long, you can always log into your account 2-days after posting the files and expire them.
So ... yes, this blog is an advertisement for the new site, but ... I wouldn't have posted it here had I thought the site had no use for the community as a whole. I truly believe that both TransferBigFiles and PhotoDrop can be very useful for Indie Game Developers, especially those without the funds to launch their own sites and pay for storage and bandwidth.
And on that note, here's some screenshots ;)
Here's the Web Interface
And here's the website ad for the DropZone client, showing a screenshot of the usage video.
Yes, I took a screenshot of a screenshot, I couldn't resist the irony.
Well, I just launched the originally intended upgrade for TransferBigFiles last Tuesday, this upgrade covered the Web Site and database modifications and we just launched the Windows Client (Link to Usage Video) this Monday.
Now, what does this site have to do with Indie Game Developers? How can it help you? Whats the point? Can you benefit from it's usage?
Let's answer those in a reverse order;
* Yes, You can benefit from using TransferBigFiles
* The point is quite simple, it's a great way to send a friend, colleague or fellow developer (or even your game testers) your files.
* Email is a great way to send simple things like low-res screen shots, a script file or two, but most email services limit the maximum file size you can receive and therefore prevent you from sending large files. TransferBigFiles allows you to easily send these files.
* Now, onto the one question that you've all been waiting for (if you even bothered to read through this far);
TransferBigFiles is a great way to send data files to all your developers, let's say you have a Modeler, Animator and a handful of Developers. Well, your Modeler might have an FTP somewhere that they can send there files too ... but FTP Clients can sometimes be cumbersome and complicated to use, and they aren't always all that user-friendly. What if they just exported the player model, or a really great Interior for your game and all the Developers now need the update -- the Modeler can simply 'Drag and Drop' the DTS/DIF file right onto the TransferBigFiles DropZone and then simply Email or Instant Message the download URL to the rest of the group.
Ever wondered how you could control the number of 'Open Beta' testers for a game your working on? Well, TBF has a 100 download limit and a 10-day file storage when the data is uploaded through the Windows Client. So, if your looking for up-to 100 people to test your game, and you want the door of opportunity to be fairly tight (10 days or less) you can very simply upload the game build through the DropZone and then post the link on the GG forums asking for people to beta test -- it would be advised that you tell them what the expiration date is going to be and that it's a "first come, first serve" (up-to 100) scenario -- but now you've got your limited open beta and a no-cost storage location.
With a TBF Account you can expire your files when ever you like, so if 10-days is too long, you can always log into your account 2-days after posting the files and expire them.
So ... yes, this blog is an advertisement for the new site, but ... I wouldn't have posted it here had I thought the site had no use for the community as a whole. I truly believe that both TransferBigFiles and PhotoDrop can be very useful for Indie Game Developers, especially those without the funds to launch their own sites and pay for storage and bandwidth.
And on that note, here's some screenshots ;)
Here's the Web Interface
And here's the website ad for the DropZone client, showing a screenshot of the usage video.
Yes, I took a screenshot of a screenshot, I couldn't resist the irony.
#2
07/11/2007 (12:51 pm)
cool.. I think everybody wished for a site like this at some stage.
#3
This looks like a useful service if you have outside contractors delivering content to you, but for day-to-day file distribution and management, I'd suggest looking into setting up a CVS server of somesort (CVS, Subversion, Perforce, Visual Source Safe, etc). They are much better at handling things like version control, concurrent access, and organization than emailing files back and forth.
At my last job, I worked with over a hundred developers in an office. Most of our communication was by email and we had Perforce to handle our version control needs. I could easily imagine that structure working well for teams with geographically disparate members. I'm assuming that accounts for a healthy number of the teams forming here on GG.
That said, TBF does look like a rad tool and I'm sure I'll be using it for something in the future. ;)
07/12/2007 (9:04 pm)
I tried posting this once already, but I think the system ate it. I'll try to sum up.This looks like a useful service if you have outside contractors delivering content to you, but for day-to-day file distribution and management, I'd suggest looking into setting up a CVS server of somesort (CVS, Subversion, Perforce, Visual Source Safe, etc). They are much better at handling things like version control, concurrent access, and organization than emailing files back and forth.
At my last job, I worked with over a hundred developers in an office. Most of our communication was by email and we had Perforce to handle our version control needs. I could easily imagine that structure working well for teams with geographically disparate members. I'm assuming that accounts for a healthy number of the teams forming here on GG.
That said, TBF does look like a rad tool and I'm sure I'll be using it for something in the future. ;)
Associate David Higgins
DPHCoders.com
So ... as the site is still in beta, I'd like to ask that any one who does use the site, even if it's just to try it out ... please contact me at Support _ at _ TransferBigFiles _ com _ with issues, or alternatively check my profile and email me at home or send me an IM on AIM. The more help I get from active testers, especially those with some development background, the better I can make the site and the client.
If you don't run into any problems, I'd also like to hear from you -- feedback on what can be done to make the site more useful, general kudo's and even the occasional "I use [insert some other site here] and I like them better" are all welcome.
Thanks,
David