A New Website for WoW Modding

[Milly]

Hi everyone, I hope you are well. I want to talk to you about my concerns and why I think we need change if we want the modding scene to survive. For those of us (myself included) who originally come from and have deep roots in Modcraft, you might wonder what's the point of creating a new website. I'm going to try my best to explain my point of view without pissing everyone off and causing a flame war. I'm also not very confident with that statement, but hey, I tried. Let's begin:

First and foremost, the WoW Modding scene simply isn't as active as it used to be. With the decline of WoW's subscriber base, a lot of people have also been leaving the modding scene as well. Some of us might look at this and think of it as justification for Modcraft's inactivity, but let's take a closer look: The most recent census for World of Warcraft's subscriber count is 5.6 million, a far cry from what it used to be. Though how many of us have considered how big that number actually is, despite it being a huge decline? Think about it. How can we be struggling to keep the modding scene alive when there's still 5.6 million players who love Warcraft, most of which are young, creative, computer-literate people? Let's also consider the tens of thousands of people who know how to access and play on private servers, as well as the 5+ million who are sitting on the bench hoping that Legion will revive WoW and they can start playing again.

Don't get me wrong when I insist that this is all because of lack of effort. I mean, Modcraft really is a great website to learn about modding and connect with other people who share the same passion, but it's still very lacking in several aspects. So, what's wrong all of a sudden? Nothing in particular, Modcraft is the same as it ever was and everyone seems just as satisfied as they ever were. But this mentality has led us to set our standards way too low. Still to this day, all you read are people complaining that there just isn't enough modders working on tools or collaborating on projects. Can we take just a few moments to wonder why there aren't people doing these things?

Maybe it's because nobody knows about WoW Modding? Modcraft is running on some free web-hosting service, at least from what I've been told. Plus it has made no known effort to advertise. It also has a ".de" extension, which cripples its potential to reach audiences that aren't living in Germany. The domain name itself is also heavily obfuscated and hard to remember. Wouldn't we prefer a more desirable name such as "model-changing.net" to make us easier to find? And maybe we could also put more emphasis on making the users (especially newcomers) feel like they're getting a user experience that they deserve?

To me, the most important aspect of any website that I'll be spending a lot of time staring at, is the color scheme and design. Though, it's easy to understand why some people prefer functionality. But ultimately Modcraft doesn't excel in either of these senses. The design is white on gray on gray on black on black, and it comes packed with an assortment of graphical glitches (http://imgur.com/a/1J2EG) as well. It may be functionally sound but it's still an outdated phpBB forum which lacks basic modern features and a visual WYSIWYG post editor. And beyond these aspects, the only thing that Modcraft is really good at is content, albeit outdated with lots of broken links.

At this point I hope you at least understand my concerns, even if you don't fully share them. But what can we do as mere users to help improve Modcraft? Well, me and Skarn started working on a new website in July as a surprise gift to the modding community. Before we finished it we requested Steff's involvement so that we could focus our efforts and use our website to help improve Modcraft. Steff was offended that we kept this project a secret, even though we were just trying to making a meaningful impression. He then declined our offer and explained that he was already working on a new website. and he didn't agree with our approach. These events occurred just a few days before the ambitious Modcraft Community post showed up, which inevitably never saw fruition.

It has now been four months since Modcraft set its course towards a new website, yet we've only seen a few positive changes; new moderators, and some post pruning. The most significant change came off as very undesirable, as expressed by the majority of our users. That of course was the removal of the username ranks such as Advanced Artist, Contributor, etc., which a lot of people worked very hard for and didn't ask to be removed. With that being said, the only other major change within the past five years was the removal of the shoutbox; once again, an unwanted change. Nowadays Modcraft's activity is dwindling even further and the only moderator who is around anymore is schlumpf (praise his dedication), and Steff hasn't posted at all since October 19th. I believe it's safe to assume that this new "Modcraft.io" website isn't actually coming, especially with Maruum, Noggit 1.5, and other projects holding higher priority. We need to accept the fact that there won't be any progress if we sit around and wait for other people to do it for us.

So... Let's start a new community! An organization that does not innovate cannot survive. So let's hold our own leash and walk ourselves outside. We've given Modcraft its chance, we've given feedback and made suggestions, asked for featured projects and a shoutbox. Mostly everything we've ever asked for has been ignored. The few things that have actually been implemented were done so in a way that suits higher opinions and not what was actually asked of them.

My proposal is as follows: Let's bring back the shoutbox and the username ranks. Let's switch to a paid website host, better forum software (Invision Power), and a better domain name for search engine optimization. Let's cast aside what Steff literally referred to as a "good totalitary system" and start emphasizing the needs of our users; the people who have nurtured our community for years.

Despite our instincts to be conservative, let's add new features, not because they're necessary, but because they're nice. Let's spend 800 € on our website design because I'm fucking insane. And let's finally stop talking like we haven't done these things already, because we have. Me, Skarn, and Prokion have worked many months to bring this website to you, and it is now finished. You need not ask what the difference is, see it for yourself. We understand that some people actually prefer phpBB over Invision Power, Modcraft over MC-Net, and this design over that design. But we fight for the greater good and I believe there's something positive here for everyone.

You'll find many useful features that come pre-packaged with the IPS Suite on our website, as well as many plugins and custom modifications tailored to our purposes. All of these are improvements. We've also utilized the Invision Power modular applications to create different sections to our website, such as the Portal, the dedicated Releases section, an image Gallery, our Projects directory, and the Tutorials board. And of course, you can make use of the really cool social media tools such as user profiles and proper message inboxes as well.

Remember, we did this all as an act of charity. There is nothing of value for us to gain here other than satisfaction. We don't have a Maruum agenda. We worked relentlessly for months to make this happen, and it was only to help improve the community that we love. Our community really deserves more than what it had. Unfortunately, our offer to merge our efforts with Modcraft and move forward as one was denied. But that won't stop us. WoW Modding is our passion, and we really want to see it thrive again--even if it has never truly thrived.

http://www.model-changing.net/forums/

[Skarn]

Well, I can't agree more, really. The main point why WoW modding is slowly dying is being frozen on one particular expansion which is already outdated (Yes, people want fancy graphics) and even the one we are on does not have all the required tools developed.  :?:  And why?
Because the community is inactive, and most people don't know that it exists. That's why we need to move on.

 :arrow:  Guys, just recall the old times when the community was getting new modders, new tools were developed and well, I have to admit, shoutbox existed. This social factor is very important for the community to exist, function and develop itseilf. Otherwise, it turns into a board where skilled people just help some newbies and seldom throw a coupld of pics to each other.

Is not it the time to stop backporting stuff and finally be able to use the recent client versions on full potential? Mhm?

[axel0099]

I definetely support this idea, some valid arguments for once. Instead of the endless waiting for things that will never happen.

[Amaroth]

At looong last. You have my full support, however, I won't leave this forum. I will just stay here, and also help you.

[Milly]

At looong last. You have my full support, however, I won't leave this forum. I will just stay here, and also help you.

Thank you Amaroth, for your words. I also would never expect you to leave Modcraft behind. So long as this place remains a source of WoW Modding knowledge, I'll be here too. But moreso there.

[Met@]

We have to keep in mind that the players who leave live servers maybe want to continue their epic adventure somewhere. And where ? On private servers of course ! I was talking of modding with some players on live servers, and they was pretty interested. Some peoples just to play, but maybe other to create new content or tools, there's level designer or coder guys who play on these servers.

We have to redirect them on modding forums, to grow the community and the knowledges.

In my case, I can't choose one forum and leave the other, so I post my work on the two sides, no one jealous.
But if the community doesn't evolve and stay at the same level here, we can move forward and feed it on the other. We can work in harmony, side by side, without brawl or war. Nobody to spit on peoples who don't have same opinion or less knowledge.

[Amaroth]

In my case, I can't choose one forum and leave the other, so I post my work on the two sides, no one jealous.
But if the community doesn't evolve and stay at the same level here, we can move forward and feed it on the other. We can work in harmony, side by side, without brawl or war. Nobody to spit on peoples who don't have same opinion or less knowledge.

Here comes a very good point. What about Ownedcore? And, are there any other websites I am not familiar with? Any chance of working together with them?

[Skarn]

As you may have noticed guys, no one here persuades anyone to leave anything. We are also active members of Modcraft ourselves while being the admins of another modding related site. It is fine, I think. Modcraft is a good site that contains loads of useful information but the way it works is a dead end for modding, so we just try to create something better.

[hyakkimaru]

I am a great internet traveler, and I'll go on your forum, if modding needs to evolve, and  it is necessary to create a new platform to reach this goal, I'll be on it for sure.

[Drany]

Great ! It look like very good

[Roarl]

I agree with every Idea you put forward, I'll be there as well (but still here too as long as Modcraft will last)
If there is anything we can do to help, just say so (I'd gladly help for one)...

Ur site's design's pretty good!

[schlumpf]

Stuff will be posted at both sites until one of them dies -- and i probably will be modcraft. Reputation, Shoutbox and a new design won't change the state of modding. That 800€ would better have been spent on supporting some developer or reverse engineer in doing/finding stuff for the community.

[Amaroth]

I believe reputation, shoutbox, design AND domain name and other things can help bringing and keeping new blood into modding scene - and thus help to change that state of modding you mentioned schlumpf.

[Milly]

Stuff will be posted at both sites until one of them dies -- and i probably will be modcraft. Reputation, Shoutbox and a new design won't change the state of modding. That 800€ would better have been spent on supporting some developer or reverse engineer in doing/finding stuff for the community.

Well, I won't disagree with you. That money could have been spent on a hundred different things, such as my college education. A new website doesn't guarantee us anything. But if we're lucky, and we actually put forth effort,  it might breathe some life back into the modding community. I think it's already starting in some ways.

Hopefully this might attract some developers and improve our prospects on the modding side of thing, maybe not. In any case, as I mentioned in the post you linked, we're still basically fucked as far as emulators are concerned.

[spik96]

Stuff will be posted at both sites until one of them dies -- and i probably will be modcraft. Reputation, Shoutbox and a new design won't change the state of modding. That 800€ would better have been spent on supporting some developer or reverse engineer in doing/finding stuff for the community.

Let's say I have 1000€ in my pocket.
We would have to determine, aside from finding an available dev, what is the most useful task we should ask him to change the "state of modding".
I do think that's the tricky part. What brings normal, everyday people into mods ?
Maybe we should analyze how some game got their successful community, see what the end user gets in front of his eyes and what motivates him to try multiple mods. Then we could have an idea of the road to take.