Some suggestions for the downloads forum.

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Hi all.

I was just checking out some previous discussions in the download forum and basically checked out the whole forum. The current state is as you all know, its not very good.

So I'll be using this thread to add some ideas for the improvement of the downloads forum. Everyone can chip in here.

1. Make a seperate sub forum for work in progress patches. Most of them form the bunch of the downloads forum and sadly 70% of them aren't completed so they just clog up the downloads forum. This way will be more effective than tags most likely, and also would encourage more people to actually complete the mega projects they undertake.

This will probably sort out all the current issues in the downloads forum. I have some more ideas which I'll keep on adding time to time, and I'll keep editing this post with others people's ideas too.

Chip in yours, cheers.

 

[Highlander999]

Nuke it

 

[Punk_Sk8r]

Hi all.

I was just checking out some previous discussions in the download forum and basically checked out the whole forum. The current state is as you all know, its not very good.

So I'll be using this thread to add some ideas for the improvement of the downloads forum. Everyone can chip in here.

1. Make a seperate sub forum for work in progress patches. Most of them form the bunch of the downloads forum and sadly 70% of them aren't completed so they just clog up the downloads forum. This way will be more effective than tags most likely, and also would encourage more people to actually complete the mega projects they undertake.

This will probably sort out all the current issues in the downloads forum. I have some more ideas which I'll keep on adding time to time, and I'll keep editing this post with others people's ideas too.

Chip in yours, cheers.

I agree with that to some extent. Although I am not really into Cricket 2007 (sort of moved back to 2005) I still think the C07 Download forums are a mess. Just random threads all over the shot. People just posting about patches that they have thought up in their heads and not actually made or don't know how to make these patches they've thought up in their heads.

It's really frustrating, also one thing which has put me down about that section is that I don't trust anyone. I feel unsafe so to speak to release my latest downloads (which I have created) because I know somebody will plagirise them.

Hopefully something can be done about this!

 

[Deleted member 11215]

Download centre needs to be completely updated. Hitterman and anyone who has been found guilty of plaigerising should receive an instant 4 month ban. Password protecting on every download released with the downloader providing the password in a way that isnt easily accessable to anyone. Have to be a member to download from download centre. Need to be a member for a certain period before you can download.

I'd be willing to help but i won't be selected or needed. So goodluck.

 

[mattfb]

I agree with your idea Kshitiz. If we make a separate sub forum for work in progress, when the patch is finished it can be moved to the main downloads section maybe.

 

[Highlander999]

I just think it needs some really tough moderation. Once it became clear that plagarised work got you banned (I would have it for 9 months) people would quickly learn

 

[Punk_Sk8r]

Yeah, theres not been much moderation in that part of the forum. I think Tom has hit the nail on the head, I remember when I plagirised I got the punishment, even for the smallest things. These guys just plagirise and get away with it, even though they know theres a risk of being banned they still do it. If they know they will be banned then they wouldn't think twice. Although I can see why the mods have let go of that section as the game is dead and they do have a lot of forums to moderate.

I think if we clear up that forum a bit, get some tough mods in then it should be fine imo.

 

[Highlander999]

Looks like they have listened to us, new sub-forum is there now

 

[Punk_Sk8r]

Yeah I seen that, good job there admins. Only thing left now is to crack down the slightly idiotic side of that particular forum.

 

[MattW]

I agree with that to some extent. Although I am not really into Cricket 2007 (sort of moved back to 2005) I still think the C07 Download forums are a mess. Just random threads all over the shot. People just posting about patches that they have thought up in their heads and not actually made or don't know how to make these patches they've thought up in their heads.

If you can think of any further suggestions to organise it more than it is currently, it would be appreciated.

It's really frustrating, also one thing which has put me down about that section is that I don't trust anyone. I feel unsafe so to speak to release my latest downloads (which I have created) because I know somebody will plagirise them.

That's really disappointing to hear, your kits are the best I've seen for Cricket 07. Which helps to make it really obvious when someone plagiarises them.

As you may have seen, a minimum ban length has been introduced so people know what risk they are taking up front when they go to plagiarise. The ban will apply to any plagiarism, from any member.

Though it is near impossible for staff to check every download for plagiarism, so we need people to report it, action will be taken on every post report for plagiarism.

Hopefully this measure will sink in and you'll be able to release stuff without that fear of plagiarism.

Download centre needs to be completely updated. Hitterman and anyone who has been found guilty of plaigerising should receive an instant 4 month ban. Password protecting on every download released with the downloader providing the password in a way that isnt easily accessable to anyone. Have to be a member to download from download centre. Need to be a member for a certain period before you can download.

I'd be willing to help but i won't be selected or needed. So goodluck.

The Download Centre could do with an update, but it is a time consuming job. If you or anyone else would like to help with that, contact a global mod/admin and we can move you in to the usergroup that lets you do that and give you the details on how to upload to the download centre.

As for the rest of your post, limiting the download centre to members or requiring posting first is not something that this site needs. The whole point of making patches is so that you can make the game better, if as a side effect people join the site and become active members it is a good thing, but I have no issue with people joining just to get patches.

If you do feel that you'd like your own patches to be limited in such a way, you can password protect them or something, but I don't think it is necessary and adds a lot of inconvenience.

Also, in general, thanks to Kshitiz and everyone else in this thread, it is really good to see people offer ideas for how to fix problems on this site, rather than just saying about how horrible it is. It is the same with the downloads here, it'd be great if people were posting how to improve rather than just saying it is good.

"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" is a stupid saying and you should ignore it. Telling people their downloads are good when they aren't helps no one. Honest feedback would improve the downloads forum, and that can't just come from changes I or any other staff member makes.

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Thank you Matt, that cleared up most of the mess in the downloads forum.

Coming to plagiarism, well currently what's happening is I would call "disguised plagiarism". People just use someone's work and say "I've sent him a request " or "I'm waiting for a reply from him". Its really shameful to see posts like "May I use your so and so patch for my so and so megapatch? Thanks", in every thread. Basically nowadays it is presumed that you can use someone else's work by JUST asking from him, rather than getting his agreement. If this kind of behaviour could be rectified, it would be really good.

I don't discourage patch makers from letting others use your patches, but I think most good patch makers are smart enough now. If only they would identify which megapatch is basically just organising other people's work and deny their patch usage, it would really cut down the current state of megapatches. They just get there thread, and after like 1 week they are forgotten. Excuses like I got a virus in my PC are given, simply because no one came up to do all of the work. Then some 1-2 weeks later another thread is started.

That is not to say some megapatches are not serious, they are, and some are shaping up to be really good, but the general consencus is pitiful.

I'll give a think about how this could be rectified, but for now I think if a quick guide for patch making / experienced patch makers could be stickied with some hints from what I said above, it might do the trick.

 

[Chetan0304]

http://www.planetcricket.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48092&page=2

this are type of thread which are really irritating and need a Mod in action.

 

[Covvy]

We need to completly update the Download centre. Also maybe we could have a rule that if you say that your making a super-patch and you don't maybe there can be a penalty like not allowed to make a download thread for a month or something

 

[Highlander999]

I don't think you have a right to comment on the matter, considering you are only just back from a ban, because you were plagarising.

 

[MattW]

http://www.planetcricket.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48092&page=2

this are type of thread which are really irritating and need a Mod in action.

Then hit the report button, staff don't and can't read every post made in every thread. Complaining about it in the thread only adds to the problem of unnecessary posts.

Also keep in mind when attachments are being posted you need to double post if it goes over the limit of 3 per post.