Websites for Budding Games Designers
by Timothy "Timpa" Hanslow · in General Discussion · 06/14/2001 (4:17 am) · 30 replies
Look people its very straight forward. If you have a project you want taken seriously then you need a focal point. A website for supporters to see how youre doing and somewhere central to post updates, newly created files and t hand out work lists. There is no shortage of free webspace providers on the net.
I think we need a central point.
Personally I do some web design work :) (tongue in cheek) and even though im not devoted to putting that much effort into my own personla page. Im willing to offer some assistance to someone or someone's who might need it.
Its easy to set up an ezboard, ftp space through freeservers or just about anything else.
If youre serious abouyt making agame and getting people on board then give them something to look at when they wanna check you out.
I think we need a central point.
Personally I do some web design work :) (tongue in cheek) and even though im not devoted to putting that much effort into my own personla page. Im willing to offer some assistance to someone or someone's who might need it.
Its easy to set up an ezboard, ftp space through freeservers or just about anything else.
If youre serious abouyt making agame and getting people on board then give them something to look at when they wanna check you out.
#22
Basic service includes:
Web hosting on Windows or BSD
Shell/FTP access
50 megs of webserver space
CGI/PHP or CGI/ASP/CFML with appropriate database support.
Email
DNS
etc. All the basics.
Forums, email, news service possibly preinstalled, but entirely customizable.
Like I said, haven't done a business case for it, apart from the napkin calcs and talking to my partners.
And yes, we are legit business folks ;) Most of my hosting clients are NOT game developers: We have artists, flower shops, consultants, search engines, 1 largish gaming group, private folks, pretty much a range of clients.
While we settle pricing, and GG considers it's next move, if anyone wants to talk, give me a shout.
I think MGO was considering this kind of venture as well, prices in the same 'hood.
Later,
edg@deckersds.com
07/09/2001 (7:19 am)
Well, that's all I am talking about is website hosting. Little or no restrictions, in the 10-20 dollar range for a basic service, extra for extra disk space.Basic service includes:
Web hosting on Windows or BSD
Shell/FTP access
50 megs of webserver space
CGI/PHP or CGI/ASP/CFML with appropriate database support.
DNS
etc. All the basics.
Forums, email, news service possibly preinstalled, but entirely customizable.
Like I said, haven't done a business case for it, apart from the napkin calcs and talking to my partners.
And yes, we are legit business folks ;) Most of my hosting clients are NOT game developers: We have artists, flower shops, consultants, search engines, 1 largish gaming group, private folks, pretty much a range of clients.
While we settle pricing, and GG considers it's next move, if anyone wants to talk, give me a shout.
I think MGO was considering this kind of venture as well, prices in the same 'hood.
Later,
edg@deckersds.com
#23
Game teams often dont have the time or energy to maintain a site AND work on a game.
giving them some space and offering pay services (provided by other members in exchange for a little cash) is good business.
if its just server space you need, why dont you ask for donations from gg memebers with commercal space?
a few megs here or there could add up to enough for hosting game sites and their related files.
pay em back with discounts on service or other stuff.
07/11/2001 (7:02 am)
I dont see how its baby sitting at all. Game teams often dont have the time or energy to maintain a site AND work on a game.
giving them some space and offering pay services (provided by other members in exchange for a little cash) is good business.
if its just server space you need, why dont you ask for donations from gg memebers with commercal space?
a few megs here or there could add up to enough for hosting game sites and their related files.
pay em back with discounts on service or other stuff.
#24
I mean, GG is providing everything for us, must they also make sure we have a place to put screen shots and information? I don't think so, grow a little, expand. If any of you are really thinking of making computer games for a living, you have to be independent.
07/11/2001 (8:39 am)
but Frederick, I really don't see a web site being such a big thing that the team members can't work on the game itself, I mean, you save up 100 dollars from doing whatever (I mow lawns). You get yourself a good little space in a server and you make a site, the web site shouldn't take longer than a week to make, and you have a server to do whatever you want with it.I mean, GG is providing everything for us, must they also make sure we have a place to put screen shots and information? I don't think so, grow a little, expand. If any of you are really thinking of making computer games for a living, you have to be independent.
#25
Look at source forge as an example of whats needed. Something like bugzilla and a webpage or two, but the "website" for a project can sit anywhere, not many hosting people actually host CVS services (or know what they are).
I'm planning on hosting a private CVS server at my place when I get a cable modem.
Phil.
07/11/2001 (9:19 am)
Its not web hosting thats the problem guys, its actually having a distributed development thing, which in this case is actually something like CVS more than any web or FTP service.Look at source forge as an example of whats needed. Something like bugzilla and a webpage or two, but the "website" for a project can sit anywhere, not many hosting people actually host CVS services (or know what they are).
I'm planning on hosting a private CVS server at my place when I get a cable modem.
Phil.
#26
I would argue that the majority of us here just have at least one game in mind for now, and if we acheive that goal we'll already be pushing the luck limit for this lifetime.
The ammount of work a person has to outlay working independantly of a company to make said game, is extreme. That week could have been spent doing a dozen other things than LEARNING how to build a website.
For the same $100, GG could provide a much greater service than simply a vacant lot on the web.
Im sure theres at least a few people here that could build a cheap, fast, clean web page in less than a few hours for a reasonable fee.
So instead of me paying "unknown party" $100 for an empty slot, internick another $70 for a name, as well as other fees.
I can pay that $100 to GG and have a fellow member wrangle together a page under their name.
if all these sites are being organized by the same entity, then they can also benefit by using the same cgi and other fandango.
It wont be the best site ever, but it will look 100% better than what I might build with my own two hands and at a better price.
I think putting that money BACK into the system thats supporting our games would do more for everyone in the long run.
07/11/2001 (11:13 am)
But what if your not making games for a living?I would argue that the majority of us here just have at least one game in mind for now, and if we acheive that goal we'll already be pushing the luck limit for this lifetime.
The ammount of work a person has to outlay working independantly of a company to make said game, is extreme. That week could have been spent doing a dozen other things than LEARNING how to build a website.
For the same $100, GG could provide a much greater service than simply a vacant lot on the web.
Im sure theres at least a few people here that could build a cheap, fast, clean web page in less than a few hours for a reasonable fee.
So instead of me paying "unknown party" $100 for an empty slot, internick another $70 for a name, as well as other fees.
I can pay that $100 to GG and have a fellow member wrangle together a page under their name.
if all these sites are being organized by the same entity, then they can also benefit by using the same cgi and other fandango.
It wont be the best site ever, but it will look 100% better than what I might build with my own two hands and at a better price.
I think putting that money BACK into the system thats supporting our games would do more for everyone in the long run.
#27
I know for a fact that the ISP infrastructures I use will not be able to support full blown CVS functionality :)
And, welcome back, you all moved in?
07/11/2001 (11:29 am)
Point taken, Phil, but alot can be done communication and public facing wise on a "normal" website.I know for a fact that the ISP infrastructures I use will not be able to support full blown CVS functionality :)
And, welcome back, you all moved in?
#28
there, heck they even walk you through the page making process, I mean, lets say you aren't going to make the game for money or anything like that, you make it to learn, well now you learn how to make a web page
07/11/2001 (12:59 pm)
okay frederick, you don't want to pay any money, go here: freeservers.comthere, heck they even walk you through the page making process, I mean, lets say you aren't going to make the game for money or anything like that, you make it to learn, well now you learn how to make a web page
#29
I clearly stated that anyone intending to host a half decent site is going to be forced to outlay some cash. it would just make more sense to have that cash comming into Garage games and web developers HERE who:
1. could use a little money
2. share your interest
3. will do the work for you :p
why do I have to learn website building or outsource work on a small website when GG can offer that service to me for a competitive price?
you cannot get good service for free.
you might as well employ one of your own for a few hours, than pay more to some hack or a totaly unrelated organization to do the same job.
and if GG dosent have the staff in house, Im sure they can contract someone to do the same thing and scape a bit of coin off the top. it still workes in my best interest.
the way I see it, If I spend my money on the system thats supporting me, it helps me even more in the long run.
07/11/2001 (1:56 pm)
And who said I was not willing to pay?I clearly stated that anyone intending to host a half decent site is going to be forced to outlay some cash. it would just make more sense to have that cash comming into Garage games and web developers HERE who:
1. could use a little money
2. share your interest
3. will do the work for you :p
why do I have to learn website building or outsource work on a small website when GG can offer that service to me for a competitive price?
you cannot get good service for free.
you might as well employ one of your own for a few hours, than pay more to some hack or a totaly unrelated organization to do the same job.
and if GG dosent have the staff in house, Im sure they can contract someone to do the same thing and scape a bit of coin off the top. it still workes in my best interest.
the way I see it, If I spend my money on the system thats supporting me, it helps me even more in the long run.
#30
10/27/2006 (7:53 am)
@Jeff - What ever happened to this idea? Canned? Backburnered?
Jonathan Whitehead
I'll be updating my .plan on GG soon. Things are really moving along now. We are well on target for our 19th July launch date