StrategyWiki talk:Community Portal/2008/February

Where is the new game guide button?
I want to start a game page for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles for the gamecube, but I can't find that button on the page.

I looked at the guidelines for making a new page and it tells me about this new game guide button.

I can't seem to find it anywhere.


 * If you go to an empty page and click edit, you'll see 4 small gray boxes above the edit box labeled as "Main game page", "Guide page", "Company page", and "Table of Contents." I'll add a screenshot to the guide this evening.  -- 04:27, 5 February 2008 (CST)

Command & Conquer 3 Unit Template
I can get to work on that, but a template would be nice to organize data better, including
 * Type (Armour, infantry, building)
 * Attack type
 * Cost
 * Special abilities

Stuff like that to supplement a description. --Arrow Windwhistler (talk) 09:18, 6 February 2008 (CST)


 * Should be brought up on the C&C 3 talk page... -- 00:06, 7 February 2008 (CST)

Also on that Template for infantry and other CNC 3 Units we need the following things.


 * Numbers for an infantry squad like 6 for the Riflemen Squad
 * Role like Heavy Assault
 * Armour like heavy for tanks

(MrSue 00:56, 7 February 2008 (CST))

Common.css
Do the Chrono Trigger specific styles really belong in there... I understand the reason for putting it there, but it's specific to a single guide (everyone loads the css for the <1% that'll actually use it?) -- Prod (Talk) 10:32, 6 February 2008 (CST)
 * All of the guide specific template css changes to global were for the idea of multi-skin friendly templates - however I'm not sure if this is a good idea anymore, considering the files continue to grow in size, and alternate skins are only used by like .0002% of our viewers. Is SW really just a blue-cloud friendly wiki?  -- 21:17, 6 February 2008 (CST)

Appendices: Footer Nav Prev/Next Page Standardization
I doubt this has been addressed, but since we created the ToC layout structure I've always felt that the pages listed under Appendices shouldn't have their footer navs have previous and next page links, considering the appendices should be unrelated to one another (otherwise we group them together). However! I have no problem allowing appendices to have these navigation links. I would like to establish a policy for handling it though - does every appendix need these links? If so, we have many pages to do... What do you guys think - should we keep things logical, or provide readers with increased ease of use?

Additional/Summary thoughts:
 * The links provides additional navigation between subpages.
 * The footer nav already allows the entire ToC to be visible.
 * Appendices are primarily unrelated to one another (i.e. not in a series). -- 14:30, 8 February 2008 (CST)


 * IMO they should have an FN and use the prevpage/nextpage parameters. This allows someone without javascript enabled to easily navigate through the guide in sequential order (based off the ToC), as well as facilitate people that are too lazy to show the ToC itself (two clicks and perhaps a scroll versus one click). Plus, it looks really dumb when you have two links to a guide's main page within 50 pixels from each other. -- 15:07, 8 February 2008 (CST)


 * The FN is a standardization of ALL subpages, regardless. Also, I've noticed that some people don't realize there is a "show" button on the HN/FN.  I think adding it will add useful redundancy.  Anyone opposed to this (adding prev/next pages) to ALL footer navs?  Additionally we need to come up with a standard way of linking to and from columns (groupings).  Since we have it go Getting Started to Walkthrough, it only makes sense to link by row, not column - i.e. the last walkthrough page will link to the first appendices page (or section of the ToC in that location).  The problem then, is when a guide is developing, the pages get moved around a lot - thus maybe we should reserve this standardization to only level 4 guides and above...  -- 23:14, 8 February 2008 (CST)

Guide ToC
After a bit of discussion on my talk page, I've decided to bring this up on CI. Anyway, the current ToC for the guide is rather lacking in terms of thought when the appendices section was arranged. Therefore, I've started up a test in the sandbox for everyone to rearrange as they think right (although discuss it here to let people know WHY you did that in case it isn't obvious). After a bit, we'll have a bit more formal consensus from a few select revisions of it to decide upon and eventually implement. Have fun :) -- 09:08, 10 February 2008 (CST)
 * Some of the policies I feel would be better served within the guide itself instead of under a policies subsection. To give an example, "Account Naming."  Wouldn't it be a good idea to stick that under "Sign up" so that people see it before creating an account (I'm assuming most people who want help signing up aren't going to look at the "Policies" section first)?  If we place policies within the guide itself, we can then have a "Policies" page under "StrategyWiki" or "Contributors" and then have that page compile any policies we haven't mentioned.  Further, for policies that are within the guide, the policies page can have a link to those.  Not a big deal, by any means, but it might be a good idea for some policies.  Oh, and it'll clean up the ToC just a bit more.-- Duke  Ruckley Talk 10:11, 10 February 2008 (CST)

Next staff meeting: March 8th
Anyone know when the next staff meeting is being held? Also, agenda would be nice too :) -- 19:53, 14 February 2008 (CST)


 * It's funny, things have been running so smoothly, and there don't seem to be any major issues, so even if we have a meeting, I can't really think of what the agenda should be. So let's do this.  Let's call a meeting for March 1st.  That gives us a solid two weeks to think of an agenda.  DoubleJump Press is resuming their negotiation with us about the branding.  They are about to publish a new strategy guide, and they would like to have an agreement in place by the time they go to press so that they can include an advertisement for SW in it.  (FYI, the guide will be for Mana Khemia).  Everyone is welcome to attend the staff meeting, and as such, everyone is welcome to contribute to the agenda, so please help us build one. Procyon (Talk) 21:16, 14 February 2008 (CST)
 * I'd like to attend, but at the moment, I'm unable to connect to the IRC server. If someone with IRC op powers would like to help me out, I'd appreciate it.  --Tathar [[Image:Tathar.jpg|32px]] (talk | contribs) 15:16, 16 February 2008 (CST)
 * Hmm... I can't make it on the 1st. The 2nd would work for me somewhat, but 1st is definately out. -- 15:28, 18 February 2008 (CST)
 * Considering Ryan is a major part of this upcoming meeting, we need to meet his (as well as everyone else's) needs. As such, the meeting has been pushed back to the second (oh I love to sound like I have authority).  If there are any more problems, please bring them up.  -- 20:23, 18 February 2008 (CST)

OK, I've worked out about 10 things with my schedule, and I now have a conveniently-placed 2-hour time period where I'm not doing anything on the 1st (read: If rescheduling the meeting is too hard for some of you, I can make it on the 1st, I just might have to bow out early if it runs for more than an hour and a half). So, I'd like some input as to actually when we should hold it then. -- 15:06, 21 February 2008 (CST)
 * If it's on the weekend I should be able to make it no matter what. -- 03:14, 22 February 2008 (CST)
 * Regardless, I'll be unable to make it. If there is anything left unresolved, post it here and I'll put in my two cents after that meeting.  Also, while the meeting transcripts are great, if someone wouldn't mind taking the time to put up a summary sometime after the meeting, that would be wonderful.-- Duke  Ruckley Talk 06:48, 22 February 2008 (CST)


 * I apologize for adding to the confusion by not following up, but I was under the impression that the meeting was today (the 1st), and as such, Skizzerz and I are sitting in the IRC channel waiting for people to arrive. If anyone reads this and can sign on in the near future, that would be great.  If not, we may have to postpone a week.  Unless you guys are comfortable running the meeting without me (which I have no objections to), cuz I can't make it tomorrow.  Procyon (Talk) 12:54, 1 March 2008 (CST)

OK, that was a bust. So let's give it one more week. We will meet on March 8th, Saturday at 2pm Eastern Standard Time. One week before St. Patricks' day :) See you all then. Procyon (Talk) 13:59, 1 March 2008 (CST)
 * Aaargh. I completely forgot about it, and while you were sitting in the IRC channel, I was rocking to Turisas and Alestorm at a concert. Fun times. --DrBob (talk) 18:04, 1 March 2008 (CST)
 * I thought it was still set for Sunday lol. I slept through it.  DB, I get to see Turisas in a few months with a bunch of other awesome bands.  I can't take Alestorm seriously, and I take my folk metal seriously.  -- 19:09, 1 March 2008 (CST)

Agenda

 * 1) IRC stuff (getting more people on, getting some StrategyWiki IRCops, etc.)
 * 2) DoubleJump: contract preview
 * 3) Forums
 * 4) Rearrange Main Page and SW:CP to improve visibility
 * 5) Rearrange the MediaWiki:Sidebar
 * 6) Possible revamp of how Promising Guide and CotM work nomination/promotion-wise
 * 7) Discuss the Calendar and Mailing list
 * 8) Transitioning CI and SL to forums

That's pretty much all I want to cover :) -- 15:45, 15 February 2008 (CST)
 * Added something I'd like to talk about since Drift City didn't appear to benefit from being CotM last month. --Tathar [[Image:Tathar.jpg|32px]] (talk | contribs) 15:16, 16 February 2008 (CST)
 * I've expanded/rearranged the agenda, and added it to the Calendar. -- Prod (Talk) 12:52, 6 March 2008 (CST)

I might not be able to make the 8th - due to work scheduling. We'll see. -- 22:59, 6 March 2008 (CST)


 * Everyone, please try to make it tomorrow, this is an extremely important meeting. Procyon (Talk) 23:17, 7 March 2008 (CST)

Babel Sword notability
The Babel Sword article I recently started putting together is already being cited as possible delete on grounds of notability. I just wish to argue in favor of it here rather publicly. As it stands the game is extremely well known within the community itself as a google search will easily point out, and has made mention in forums and blogs beyond the main mugen scope. Mugen as an engine though has a lot of quagmire involved due to the whole image of it being nothing more than an overglorified melee-fest, and I'm asking for the opportunity to prove otherwise and show this game is notable and give a solid guide to this game. Just requesting the opportunity to let the finished article testify for itself when I'm done and to prove it is indeed notable. Thanks for your time.--Kung Fu Man 23:06, 14 February 2008 (CST)


 * It's a little annoying when this happens, because we have to make a decision as a community. Before doing anything too quickly, I'll probably be testing this game for the next week or so to help make an educated decision on the matter.  Notability very important, but we've seen many times when a guide is necessary for a game that's difficult to understand (or is quite large).  Maybe things will point to inclusion.  -- 12:14, 15 February 2008 (CST)
 * I think this one will pass, however we need to figure out how many of these user generated games we are willing to allow. -- Prod (Talk) 11:32, 16 February 2008 (CST)

Control selector
New set of templates to announce. Control Selector and control. Used for systems with multiple controller types. Usage can be seen on The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess/The Beginning. Supports a maximum of 5 different controller types. -- Prod (Talk) 10:09, 24 February 2008 (CST)


 * That's absolutely amazing work. Congrats to Prod and DrBob for developing this.  It truly is one of those "little things" that is going to continue to set up apart from competing sites.  Great job guys.  Procyon (Talk) 11:15, 24 February 2008 (CST)
 * Nice, The combo box needs a bit more work (mainly so it isn't a combo box... doesn't really get the point of it across. I'll work on that in a bit on my test wiki...). Also, there needs to be an alternative for those without javascript-enabled browsers, so that everyone may have an enjoyable experience being able to read a guide without having to translate controls/directions/etc. -- 12:41, 24 February 2008 (CST)
 * It's a combobox so it doesn't take up too much space. Still needs a label to tell what it's for and perhaps some alt text for accessability.  The default is only to show the first set of controls (and hides everything about it otherwise).  The point being, it degrades "gracefully".  I was thinking that another way for it to degrade is if the alternate control scheme(s) show up in brackets, though that could take up a lot of space and be somewhat unclear. -- Prod (Talk) 13:34, 24 February 2008 (CST)
 * Is there a way to add pictures to the box, that would emphasise it a bit and still keep it small, the ones in icon would look good but I'm not sure if you can (or how to) add pictures.-- The preceding signed comment was added by Rocky (talk • contribs). 15:38, 24 February 2008 (CST)

I still would like to know what measures will be taken for those without javascript enabled. As of right now, the way it is set up all the changes you made mean that it is literally impossible for someone without a javascript-enabled browser to see the GameCube controls. Also, there need to be alternatives to the combo box just to make it look more aesthetic. I actually have something in mind for each of them, although it would require a new parser function (which would be easy to code and is cache-safe) and some extra js. If you could come onto IRC, I could explain it a bit better. -- 16:12, 24 February 2008 (CST)
 * Very cool, after you get things sorted out, please add the documentation... -- 18:02, 24 February 2008 (CST)
 * I've got a working prototype of it here. You can use the selector to change it, or you can go to, say, this to change it based off the URL (will allow those without js-enabled browsers to still toggle between the things). Still working on an alternative method to the combo box, however, but that's just an aesthetic issue. -- 19:51, 24 February 2008 (CST)
 * That looks good Ryan, and I'm sure it could be modified to include our plans to store the user's choice for each guide in a cookie. Why do you think the combo box needs replacing though? It's a suitable form element, and while it does need a label adding, I see nothing else wrong with it. --DrBob (talk) 00:50, 25 February 2008 (CST)
 * I'm not saying it needs replacing, it's just that sometimes an inline element would be more suitable than a right-floated combo box. Not sure when though, so it's a low priority, plus the current code works very well. -- 15:09, 25 February 2008 (CST)
 * Ok, I've got a prototype of the inline selector on the test wiki as well. -- 21:43, 25 February 2008 (CST)