Opinions on a mod vault

[johnie102]

Hey all,

For some time now, I've been working on a mod vault for FAF. Before finishing everything I would like to have some opinions from the community.
The current featurelist (most of these not yet implemented):
-A browsable mod list like the mapvault
-Mods updatable by their authors.
-Auto updating when trying to start a game with a mod.
-Selecting a mod before starting a lobby (otherwise people won't be able to automatically download it from the vault)
-When uploading a map the option that a certain mod is recommended or required for it (to encourage custom maps).

Now, the parts where I would like opinions of other people. I'm currently thinking of having a 'like' system instead of a rating system for mods. This means that you can sort for the most-liked mods. I think this gives a better idea of a good mod then a rating.
When an author uploads a new version of his mod, should the old version be removed from the vault? Should players be able to still play with old versions? If old versions should remain in the vault, how should this be done? As seperate items or as a subitem of the newest version of the mod?
When starting a game with a mod selected, should there be an option to make the game ranked?

That is all I could think of for now. It will probably be a few more weeks (or more) before I have something which is usable enough to release.

[Myxir]

that's a nice idea, but the problem is that someone has to make it (and Zep won't have time)

[Kurbain]

that's a nice idea, but the problem is that someone has to make it (and Zep won't have time)

Hey all,
For some time now, I've been working on a mod vault for FAF.

I can't see any reason why there shouldn't be a mod vault.
I'm not sure if it's necessary, though.
All the popular mods are listed on the "Find Games" screen and automatically get downloaded if you host a match with them.

[Zock]

If old versions should remain in the vault, how should this be done? As seperate items or as a subitem of the newest version of the mod?

As subitem would be the best solution i think.

[johnie102]

I can't see any reason why there shouldn't be a mod vault.
I'm not sure if it's necessary, though.
All the popular mods are listed on the "Find Games" screen and automatically get downloaded if you host a match with them.

They are popular because they are listed in an easy way (and because they have a certain quality of course). If the mod vault is easy enough we will see other mods being used as well.

that's a nice idea, but the problem is that someone has to make it (and Zep won't have time)

Yeah, that's why I'm making it. This way Zep only has to do a bit of work on the database side.

Ok, another question: A lot of mods from the GPG era are made by people no longer on FAF. Would it break any kind of copyright if those mods are uploaded to the vault by another person (as long as that person credits the original author of course).

[Myxir]

ow, was reading it too fast when i first looked

about the opinions:
1) i think you should be able to play with old mod versions (example: hotbuild works with GAZ_UI 6.0 but not with 6.1)
2) about the structure: following the example of GAZ_UI, it would be nice to have a folder named "GAZ_UI" in which there are either the zipped versions, named "5.0", "6.0", "6.1"... or it contains subfolders (named "5.0"...) in which you can find the zipped mods with their real name so the players don't have to rename it later

[johnie102]

ow, was reading it too fast when i first looked

about the opinions:
1) i think you should be able to play with old mod versions (example: hotbuild works with GAZ_UI 6.0 but not with 6.1)
2) about the structure: following the example of GAZ_UI, it would be nice to have a folder named "GAZ_UI" in which there are either the zipped versions, named "5.0", "6.0", "6.1"... or it contains subfolders (named "5.0"...) in which you can find the zipped mods with their real name so the players don't have to rename it later

Your number 2) probably wouldn't work because (as far as I know) FA only looks at it's mod directory and not in sub-directories of that.
I think it would be better then to have multiple folders for mulitple versions or maybe only allowing 1 version of a mod to be installed at a time.

[dstojkov]

Hi


Your idea is great. I was asking for something like that in every patching season ....

The design problem that you will have to face is not really the one of the mod version but the patching system of FAF itself ....
All the mod that are playable in the mod featured are based on the script of faf which for some is a totally nonsense the like Vanilla.

I proposed to have a common script base : the one of fa ( the 3599 one ) every mod in the old mod vault (GPG) will be usable right out of the box.

I am facing this pb for my mod ... every new patch i have to adapt the script to make it "working" with faf. This is a pain in the A**
I wish you good luck and hoping we will have it soon !!!

Regards

[Veta]

This is really great johnie, you're doing god's work.

Thoughts:
1) Will UI and miscellaneous mods be available in vault?

-When uploading a map the option that a certain mod is recommended or required for it (to encourage custom maps).

2) Mod recommendations on maps are good, what about map recommendations on mods? Maybe there's a way to have a default map associated with a mod or vice versa when making a game?

I'm currently thinking of having a 'like' system instead of a rating system for mods.

3) At first I agreed but on thinking about it, StarCraft II has a 5-star rating system that works well. Popular mods/maps have the most ratings but a decent new mod/map can still have a high rating even though it's not as well known. A "like" system might be easier to make though. Being able to sort by # of downloads and rating would be good.

4) Will we see a similar rating system for the map vault?


Looking forward to seeing this in action.

[vongratz]

IMHO, FAF is very well organized and functional, and, to implement something that could mess it, would be tragic.A few mods, that represent the best things made for Supcomm FA are a must, and they worked very well here.Do not change this, please!