OOTPhub.com

jazzrack · 08-30-2016, 07:19 PM

I just want to remind everybody that OOTPhub.com (or ootpmods.com & ootpwiki.info they are all the same website) is still up and active. I just completed an upgrade to the next version of the software package

As some may know I have had some health issue this year, so I have not made as much progress as I would have liked, Mostly I have focused back-end stuff but we are functional. There is a lot of potential here, we have the resources and the website is very powerful & flexible but if I continue to work alone, progress will be slow and in fits and starts. it's the nature of things for a busy adult with health issues.

While I was working on the upgrade I was asking myself why aren't more people using the site and what can I do about, giving the constraints of reality.....

off the top of my head I can come up with a handful of issues with why the site is under-used.

1. culture - this is a big complicated issue, one aspect is we are used to a passive mindset when it comes to a mod site and the current site requires and active mindset. but this in one of those things I can do very little about, I sure as hell ain't now "cultural leader" around here .... but there are many more aspects to this and they play with each-other

2. the site is not exactly attractive - it's not offensive to the eye, so this would be fine except for ...

3. landing pages suck and navigation is clunky ... at best. - fixing this requires some decisions and grand-scheme planning

4. complicated to use with not enough information - see #3

5. we had some technical issues early on and that may have turned some off

this was just off the top of my head, I am sure we could make a long & better defined list without much trouble.

the more difficult task is finding solutions. I'll just know off some thoughts on my criticisms

1. cultural discussions are for another day, but must be considered for long-term planning.

2. not much I can do about the attractiveness of the site other than change themes, it's just not in my skillset. If we want a custom theme the community will have to take care of it. or we do some fundraising and pay for one, but either way I don't think it's a huge issue if we fix some other issues

3. since the concussion writing is difficult for me (even this post) maybe I can get one of the talented writers around here to re-write the landing pages? you don't have to update the page, just send me the text I'll update the page. same goes for the navigation buttons (maybe this works for attractiveness as well?) we have talented artists, maybe somebody can make me some better buttons while we work on long-term navigation decisions

4. some of the complications with the site have been dealt with by recent software updates. on some others it is my responsibility to give better instructions. in my defense, there is a lot to do for one person and I need to be more organized not just with the individual tasks but the whole structure. it's a bit overwhelming at times

5. as far as I know most technical issues have been dealt with. I still need to automate the server backup & MySQL sometimes forgets a size limit change

yes, i need help with the landing pages re-write and maybe some graphics, but I would have a lot more time to work on tasks if I had some help strategic planning, organizing & prioritizing my tasks

so here is where I am going to ask for some help, is anybody interested in forming an ad-hock planning committee? we can meet on google hang-outs or something & record the session. Even post it for the community to view and for comment? (or not, again decisions to be made)

there is a bit of good news, i moved my personal sites to the same software package so skills i learn are transferable.

The real help ootphub.com & ootpmods.com is not work on the website, it's vision, decisions and planning and i need your help.

ps.

I know i have missed some communication in the last 6-7 months. all i can do at this point is apologize and ask if it was a mod or something important to please get in contact with me.

I am open to comments and criticisms, so feel free to fire away

08-30-2016, 07:19 PM	#1
jazzrack Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still kicking Posts: 3,229	OOTPhub.com I just want to remind everybody that OOTPhub.com (or ootpmods.com & ootpwiki.info they are all the same website) is still up and active. I just completed an upgrade to the next version of the software package As some may know I have had some health issue this year, so I have not made as much progress as I would have liked, Mostly I have focused back-end stuff but we are functional. There is a lot of potential here, we have the resources and the website is very powerful & flexible but if I continue to work alone, progress will be slow and in fits and starts. it's the nature of things for a busy adult with health issues. While I was working on the upgrade I was asking myself why aren't more people using the site and what can I do about, giving the constraints of reality..... off the top of my head I can come up with a handful of issues with why the site is under-used. 1. culture - this is a big complicated issue, one aspect is we are used to a passive mindset when it comes to a mod site and the current site requires and active mindset. but this in one of those things I can do very little about, I sure as hell ain't now "cultural leader" around here .... but there are many more aspects to this and they play with each-other 2. the site is not exactly attractive - it's not offensive to the eye, so this would be fine except for ... 3. landing pages suck and navigation is clunky ... at best. - fixing this requires some decisions and grand-scheme planning 4. complicated to use with not enough information - see #3 5. we had some technical issues early on and that may have turned some off this was just off the top of my head, I am sure we could make a long & better defined list without much trouble. the more difficult task is finding solutions. I'll just know off some thoughts on my criticisms 1. cultural discussions are for another day, but must be considered for long-term planning. 2. not much I can do about the attractiveness of the site other than change themes, it's just not in my skillset. If we want a custom theme the community will have to take care of it. or we do some fundraising and pay for one, but either way I don't think it's a huge issue if we fix some other issues 3. since the concussion writing is difficult for me (even this post) maybe I can get one of the talented writers around here to re-write the landing pages? you don't have to update the page, just send me the text I'll update the page. same goes for the navigation buttons (maybe this works for attractiveness as well?) we have talented artists, maybe somebody can make me some better buttons while we work on long-term navigation decisions 4. some of the complications with the site have been dealt with by recent software updates. on some others it is my responsibility to give better instructions. in my defense, there is a lot to do for one person and I need to be more organized not just with the individual tasks but the whole structure. it's a bit overwhelming at times 5. as far as I know most technical issues have been dealt with. I still need to automate the server backup & MySQL sometimes forgets a size limit change yes, i need help with the landing pages re-write and maybe some graphics, but I would have a lot more time to work on tasks if I had some help strategic planning, organizing & prioritizing my tasks so here is where I am going to ask for some help, is anybody interested in forming an ad-hock planning committee? we can meet on google hang-outs or something & record the session. Even post it for the community to view and for comment? (or not, again decisions to be made) there is a bit of good news, i moved my personal sites to the same software package so skills i learn are transferable. The real help ootphub.com & ootpmods.com is not work on the website, it's vision, decisions and planning and i need your help. ps. I know i have missed some communication in the last 6-7 months. all i can do at this point is apologize and ask if it was a mod or something important to please get in contact with me. I am open to comments and criticisms, so feel free to fire away __________________ . "Never confuse composure for ease" Was once Head Cheese of Corporate League Baseball Last edited by jazzrack; 08-30-2016 at 07:26 PM.