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STO Community Portal

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Hi all,

In the most recent episode of Stoked, Chris and Jeremy made a few comments about how fragmented and divided the STO community seems to be, from competing podcasts to the various specialized sites. They suggested that Cryptic could do much to bring the community back together by having an official community portal of sorts.

I really like this idea. There could be a single page on the main STO site that automatically supplies the entire community with rss updates from all of the various STO fan sites out there, allowing for a central hub of resources and media. Incorporating fleets might be tricky, but something that better centralizes the STO community would be neat, especially if it gave browsers a portal to all of the various niches of the community.

Do you like this idea? In your opinion, how should Cryptic go about selecting the sites, resources, wikis, podcasts, etc.? How can they facilitate the continued growth of a vibrant gaming community?

Please share your ideas.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    I think it is a great idea. Sites could be selected based on popularity and votes from the community.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Kirkfat wrote: »
    Hi all,

    In the most recent episode of Stoked, Chris and Jeremy made a few comments about how fragmented and divided the STO community seems to be, from competing podcasts to the various specialized sites. They suggested that Cryptic could do much to bring the community back together by having an official community portal of sorts.

    I really like this idea. There could be a single page on the main STO site that automatically supplies the entire community with rss updates from all of the various STO fan sites out there, allowing for a central hub of resources and media. Incorporating fleets might be tricky, but something that better centralizes the STO community would be neat, especially if it gave browsers a portal to all of the various niches of the community.

    Do you like this idea? In your opinion, how should Cryptic go about selecting the sites, resources, wikis, podcasts, etc.? How can they facilitate the continued growth of a vibrant gaming community?

    Please share your ideas.

    No. Never. The community must never be united. These forums are one of the most reliable places on the entire interwebz for laugh-out-loud comedy from some of the most innane postings and nerd-rage rants ever. If everyone suddenly feels all communal, that'll dry up. That cannot be allowed to happen!

    But, ya know...hey, its a good idea and all. OK, fine. I like the idea. Just remember we will all blame you when all of the epic C-STORE IS EVIL! and WHY DO DEVS HATE KLINKS?! threads are gone and everyone is pleasant to each other.

    No apple for you. (good idea thou)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    What about a STO RP wiki site where people can post there captains ect
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    I agree, Cryptic really needs to promote the community more (more than the occasional one in the news) to show new members that we have a really good established community outside of Official Channels.

    The various wiki's, podcasts and fan sites (except fleet sites) should be given their own links page, if not on the Main Page.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    I'm for a portal
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    I'd love to see a community portal or, at least, more/functioning apps on the site for Foundry content, Fleets, etc.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    I'd love to see a community portal or, at least, more/functioning apps on the site for Foundry content, Fleets, etc.

    I worry though that the inclusion of fleets could be divisive, whereas the inclusion of all other sites would be a no-brainer.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    Kirkfat wrote: »
    I worry though that the inclusion of fleets could be divisive, whereas the inclusion of all other sites would be a no-brainer.

    No, no - I mean applications on the site that work properly (like if the Captain's Database were working) but ones for foundry missions or fleets. Small, bio-style pages.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    No, no - I mean applications on the site that work properly (like if the Captain's Database were working) but ones for foundry missions or fleets. Small, bio-style pages.

    Perhaps linked to that in game search feature.... Though I am sure most fleets would like to add extra stuff like external logo's rather than those in game.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited December 2010
    First thing i thought.. second life classifieds lol.

    A rating system where people vote on their fav would be just a nuisance and become a hot bed of problems. I like the idea of a community portal where fan sites are listed however, but without any type of rating system (perhaps just alphabetically), but it'd be something that'd have to be strictly monitored for the occasional person posting links to TRIBBLE sites and what have you (and we all know it'd happen hehe).

    Though Darren poses good points. More apps for fleets etc tied into the website would just rock (and I believe stormy did make that comment awhile back he'd like to see it too).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Askray wrote: »
    First thing i thought.. second life classifieds lol.

    A rating system where people vote on their fav would be just a nuisance and become a hot bed of problems. I like the idea of a community portal where fan sites are listed however, but without any type of rating system (perhaps just alphabetically), but it'd be something that'd have to be strictly monitored for the occasional person posting links to TRIBBLE sites and what have you (and we all know it'd happen hehe).

    Though Darren poses good points. More apps for fleets etc tied into the website would just rock (and I believe stormy did make that comment awhile back he'd like to see it too).



    There are so many different ways it could be done, but I also like your suggestions. They would need to avoid favoritism while still providing the community with a needed central hub of resources and fan sites. So long as it's comprehensive and fair, I think most players would welcome it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    I'd love to see a community portal or, at least, more/functioning apps on the site for Foundry content, Fleets, etc.

    You should check out the site I built for our fleet: http://starfleetops.org/crew/user/Starwalker/
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    A fine idea in theory... however, from a legal standpoint, the responsibilities of the different parties involved and the very strictly controlled nature of the Trek IP will not allow this to happen.

    Who would pay the lawyers? who will pay the fines and who will pay the royalties and who will receive them? who will decide on policy and what violates it and what the penalties are and who enforces it over the entire world as we know it.

    If you can answer these questions with out any ambiguity or loopholes then perhaps that may be possible, but you better be a lawyer working pro-bono for about 5 years to sort it all out and then win the lottery to pay everyone else's lawyer for taking the time to shoot your ideas down in flames.

    Don't get me wrong... it would be nice to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony... but you'd have an easier time just buying them a Coke and watching them smile.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    A fine idea in theory... however, from a legal standpoint, the responsibilities of the different parties involved and the very strictly controlled nature of the Trek IP will not allow this to happen.

    Who would pay the lawyers? who will pay the fines and who will pay the royalties and who will receive them? who will decide on policy and what violates it and what the penalties are and who enforces it over the entire world as we know it.

    If you can answer these questions with out any ambiguity or loopholes then perhaps that may be possible, but you better be a lawyer working pro-bono for about 5 years to sort it all out and then win the lottery to pay everyone else's lawyer for taking the time to shoot your ideas down in flames.

    Don't get me wrong... it would be nice to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony... but you'd have an easier time just buying them a Coke and watching them smile.

    It can't really be that complicated, can it? There are a limited number of sto fan sites, each with a niche of their own. The community portal would simply bring them all together for the playerbase.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    I suppose they could do it similar to how Square Enix does their portal. Basically they have two categories: Premier Sites and Featured Sites.

    Premier Sites are usually larger community/journalism sites such as ZAM. In order to become a Premier Site you have to agree to a set of terms laid out by SE. If your site has forums, then you have to abide by certain moderation guidelines they lay out. Premier Sites also have some access to interviews with community reps. Premier Sites are often featured in the game launcher and sometimes press releases made by SE. Sometimes these sites even have contests sponsored by SE. However, SE can also make your site take down articles and such at the risk of losing your Premium status. It's happened before when they stepped in and made one of the sites take down info that was posted too early.

    Featured Sites are basically sites like LS (fleet) pages and other lesser community pages. They are just listed on the portal and do not have the privileges of Premier Sites.

    FFXI Community Portal
    FFXI Home

    FFXIV Community Portal
    FFXIV Home

    They also have this nice little disclaimer at the bottom of the page:
    * Players must visit these sites at their own risk. Square Enix does not regulate the content of the aforementioned sites and will not be responsible for any damage or losses resulting from their viewing.

    You can check around those sites to see how they do it if you like. The FFXIV page has more community features like personal player sites, player blogs, LS (fleet) pages/forums, character stats and such. As nice as it is, I really don't think Cryptic needs to make it quite that extensive.

    Anyway, with talk about a community portal I thought I'd post a working example of how it could be done. I don't mean to say that they should do it exactly like this, but merely to provide an example. That said, I do like the idea of a community portal. I only just recently found the STO wiki, but only after someone mentioned it in zone chat in game. It would be nice to have that listed somewhere here.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    I like the general idea here. Even if it was just a big list of sites that people had submitted and Cryptic had checked, that would be neat. Something like: "Here are the informational sites: [ list ] Here are the fleet sites," etc.
    halfchance wrote:
    What about a STO RP wiki site where people can post there captains ect

    You mean like stogeek.com?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    No offence, but cryptic and community do not seem two words often found in the same sentence with a posstive meaning.


    Beside that you will always have seperate groups that form, simple science, try putting x number of people in a room, if the number is 3 or lower most chance they form 1 group, above 4 the large the number the more likely they form sperate groups, generaly maxing each group at 6-8 people (depending on table size).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    Kirkfat wrote: »
    It can't really be that complicated, can it? There are a limited number of sto fan sites, each with a niche of their own. The community portal would simply bring them all together for the playerbase.

    Yo Kirk it can be done. It's just a matter of willpower. We could make it happen, if there was concerted effort.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    This post has been edited to remove content which violates the Cryptic Studios Forum Usage Guidelines ~GM Tiyshen
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited January 2011
    This post has been edited to remove content which violates the Cryptic Studios Forum Usage Guidelines ~GM Tiyshen

    Yeah, I should clarify. Keep marketing 8 miles from this idea, lol.
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