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Buddy World
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Buddy World // Roundtable
Post by splinters // Mar 1, 2009, 12:01pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Buddy World is still very active with several activities added in the last few weeks as well as WIP's and some new books in development.
A few people have asked if the books can be bought and I always say no...but I remembered that they are avilable on lulu.com although I never made them public.
Anyhow, for anyone interested in actually owning one of these, they can now be ordered here:
http://stores.lulu.com/buddyworld
Little Cloud, Harold's Hair and Harold's Bike for now but I am adding more. |
Post by splinters // Mar 29, 2009, 3:48am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Could I ask you guys (and you new members!) to do me a favour. I am hoping that 3D World will print the letter I wrote them as they said they would. It is about my troubles getting the books printed the 'old fashioned' way and why I am taking them online.
It would run next month with pics and a link to the site so I do have a few weeks to get the site sorted but if you have a few minutes spare could you take the free tour offered on the main page. I am really looking for feedback on a few things:
1. Are there any broken links or other navigation problems such as difficulty getting into or out of an area without using the browser buttons.
2. Is there enough content here to get an idea of the site BUT
3. Is there enough held back to make users want to sign up to see more?
4. Is everything easy to understand and explore.
Bear in mind that you should feel a little frustrated by the dead ends otherwise you would be seeing the whole site.
I know this is a big ask but it might even be an enjoyable trip for some, especially if you want to see another possible use of tS or you have kids. |
Post by v3rd3 // Mar 29, 2009, 8:48pm
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v3rd3
Total Posts: 388
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Couple of small suggestions ....
Make the title of the tour button on the main page "Parent's Tour". Most of the later text in your demo is written for that audience so it may be beneficial to qualify who you are addressing.
Your use of the globe as a reference for the main page is great but in some cases the use of an image only can confuse some readers. For example, nowhere.html has a concluding statement of "click the image to enter". Given the separation of this text from the picture you want the user to click and the proximity of the globe I can easily see a first time visitor to your site going back to the main map and possibly missing the next part of the demo.
Same with the following page.
Given that the next item of interest in the nowhere section is the info describing chonkyponk you do not really need the 3 image menu page for book/pictures/concept.
Also when using this kind of marketing approach, you might find favour with your reader by indicating on the menu page which items are available in the demo and which are not. One suggestion might be to draw a thin border around active links and grey scale or apply transparency to images that will lead to the "no permission" page.
More later ... time for my nap... :D |
Post by splinters // Mar 29, 2009, 10:29pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Phew, thanks for that...now to put some of that into place.
Cheers. |
Post by CdeB // Mar 30, 2009, 2:52am
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CdeB
Total Posts: 160
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Hi Splinters,
I went into Buddy World for the first time in ages.
You have achieved a lot and the interaction is very slick.
I did feel frustrated that I never saw something to its end (an effect you seem to want to have)..my only reservation (a complement coming from a fellow Yorkshireman;)?!) is that maybe the frustration is also counterproductive too. Is it possible to let the user taste one theme from beginning to end? This may be giving away more that you want but that would give a full picture of what was on offer on the rest of the site. Just a thought. I.e. Like games manufacturers give away one level which gives you a good idea of the whole game. I have bought many games on the strength of such a demo. By everything leading to a dead end I came away not quite getting the whole picture. But of course I am an adult. Maybe I will give my youngest daughter a peek and see how she reacts...
I really hope this works out for you...there's a lot of excellent creative energy gone into it!
Chris |
Post by splinters // Mar 30, 2009, 4:47am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Thanks CdeB, why not try a weeks membership for £2 and see how it compares to the sample site, that way you would see how the subscription process works. Maybe see if your daughter 'chomps at the bit' after the sample part. Where are you based by the way?
As for frustration. Yes, that is the plan sort of...
Don't want to alientate visitors but I do want members to feel that they are getting something for their subscription fee. I am just finishing a book with a subtle easter theme which may be removed when it is no longer 'seasonal'. That would be a good one to keep free I guess....certainly something to think about.
@ V3rd3, I changed the Nowhere pages as suggested and will update tonight (can't do it from school!!). I am adding the 'members only' logo to what would be dead links and keeping the 'sorry, only members can access this' page for when stories and activities come to an abrupt end...;) |
Post by CdeB // Mar 30, 2009, 5:33am
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CdeB
Total Posts: 160
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Hi Splinters,
Thanks CdeB, why not try a weeks membership for £2 and see how it compares to the sample site, that way you would see how the subscription process works. Maybe see if your daughter 'chomps at the bit' after the sample part. Where are you based by the way?
Will try Deborah: now based in Stockholm -grew up in Shipley, W.Yorks and spent time (about 20 years in total and in no particularly order) in Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Durham and Cambridge (all UK, so the originals not the copies :D;)).
CdeB |
Post by v3rd3 // Mar 30, 2009, 10:29am
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v3rd3
Total Posts: 388
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I had a look at Nowhere and found that when you click on the first image I was presented with an authentication popup. Clicking cancel closes the panel and you need to click on the background of the resulting page in order to be presented with the 3 image menu.
I really like the effect for the active menu link... |
Post by splinters // Mar 30, 2009, 11:37am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Yup, my bad. I made the sample page from the member version but of course, the background image was still referenced to an area that requires a password.
Should be sorted now. I have started adding 'Members Only' labels to restricted areas...let me know if it works for you.
Just updated Sandcastle Beach to have a similar 'active' effect. |
Post by splinters // Mar 30, 2009, 1:03pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Taking some time to add all the 'members only' links....still, I guess that shows just how much stuff a member gets so that is useful. Should be quite a few in now if anyone is taking an updated look. |
Post by v3rd3 // Mar 31, 2009, 3:41am
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v3rd3
Total Posts: 388
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Just dashing off for some appointments so I will look at the site this evening. |
Post by splinters // Mar 31, 2009, 4:36am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Most of the sample site is updated now with the restriction signs. Just a few more areas to go; this should be done tomorrow...:D |
Post by splinters // Mar 31, 2009, 8:34am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Gotta go out for a few hours but I think I got em all.
Let me know if you spot anything out of place.....:D |
Post by v3rd3 // Mar 31, 2009, 10:32am
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v3rd3
Total Posts: 388
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http://www.buddyworldbooks.com/sample/village/harold.html
the red car takes you directly to the members only warning... needs the members only flag.
http://www.buddyworldbooks.com/sample/dsd/info.html
This page displays your content outside of the viewable area in IE7 and FF. I think the issue is your CSS. You have eliminated the impact of margins on image placement but you also need to eliminate the padding.
You have specified a 1024x768 image and have the default padding left and right. Your code centers the bg image. As such you are centering the sum of the width of the image plus the default for padding. Hence the placement of the left side of your image outside the viewing area.
The rest of the site navigates well and presents a lot of material.
Are Secret Island and the other inactive links members only or just areas for future development?..... |
Post by splinters // Mar 31, 2009, 1:22pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Harold is fixed but not sure about DSD. I just viewed in IE and FF and it seems fine. Monitors are supposed to be 'peeking' into the screen and the pop up when you click on them.
Some links are to WIP's abut some would go to full content. Currently DSD, Limbo and Bob and Blob are WIP's. |
Post by v3rd3 // Mar 31, 2009, 6:28pm
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v3rd3
Total Posts: 388
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attached is screenie of page that I see. I get the same result in both ie and ff.
I use IE7 and FF with default settings @ 1024x768. I did not test with safari and opera but can if you like. please let me know |
Post by splinters // Apr 1, 2009, 12:23am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Puzzling. I am viewing at 1280x800 (widescreen) and I get this. Looks the same as the other pages (I view in fullscreen, and these are intended to be ready for larger/HD resolutions). Looks like this in FF and IE. Not sure how this is different from the other pages but I am happy to look in to it further if it is causing viewing problems. |
Post by v3rd3 // Apr 1, 2009, 11:57am
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v3rd3
Total Posts: 388
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Sorry splinters... must be I was tired. I didn't think it was your intent to display a portion of the monitor. My bad. |
Post by splinters // Apr 2, 2009, 12:00am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Please, no need to apologise. You have done so much to help and it is appreciated very much. This simply highlights bad design on my part. I really need to make it clearer that they are off screen, probably by making them part of the background; like they are slotted into a docking panel or similar.
Thanks again...:D |
Post by splinters // Apr 25, 2009, 5:31am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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While I am very near to 'nailing' this phase of the project, I am always looking for volunteers with an eye for 3D and an idea of what children like. Free passes are available to anyone with young children who would like to try Buddy World. I am still hoping for feedback on a few points:
1. Is the Free Tour enough to entice subscription or does it show too much?
2. Does the main site warrant the subscription cost (you have to be honest on this one)? And if not, why?
3. Does the concept work as a sort of 'online library' with associated games and activities?
There is a whole section focussing on the educational aspects of the site coming soon, something I touched on in the Planet Hoppers Galaxy tour.
Hope to post some new artwork here soon. |
Post by noko // Apr 25, 2009, 1:44pm
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noko
Total Posts: 684
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What pops in my head is a site that is ever changing and growing with multiple authors or artists so something always new to explore. Maybe you are not the only one with this concept but first. For being on the internet this looks like a safe house or haven for kids which for parents I would think a most welcome site. |
Post by Finis // Apr 25, 2009, 5:29pm
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Finis
Total Posts: 386
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It says "Ehplore" instead of "Explore" on the DSD picture in posts 106 and 107. |
Post by splinters // Apr 25, 2009, 10:37pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Spelling is ok, it's the font. Which I like but certain letters look strange! |
Post by splinters // May 20, 2009, 1:16am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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For those who have supported me in this project, I thank you. Buddy World is very closely related to tS, hell it was entirely made in tS, but that does not change a thing and I will continue to add stuff to it.
So, if you have kids, love 3D or even want to reminisce about what tS render look like ;) take a trip over there. Membership is incredibly cheap but there is always a free tour. I might even rename it 'A trip down memory lane' in a few years...:p |
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