Wiki Public Relations/Mod Ideas Opens

Released: August 1, 2002

Occasion: Entropic's Mod page is revamped as the Mod Ideas page and is opening up to the wider public.

Release

The [Unreal Wiki] is pleased to announce its [Mod Ideas] pages have gone public. This new area of the largest reference site on the Unreal Engine is a place for suggesting, debating and hopefully creating new mods for the upcoming Epic game [Unreal Tournament 2003]. The large collection of mod ideas already listed ranges from complex total conversions through to incredibly simple concepts all ready to be discussed and developed.

After months of collecting the insane ramblings and musings of a [short-haired English geek], we've decided to open it up for anyone to join in. Scripters are invited to store mod ideas while they dwell on them. Anyone who has ever played a mod and thought "if only the author had included this feature it would be so much cooler" is free to suggest improvements to existing ideas. The [Wiki collaborative environment] makes it possible.

(The geek is still around, but only while he's not changing nappies.)

Reactions

Mychaeel: In case you thought already UnrealOps ("Unreal Wiki Info: This particular MOD site is very new to me but if Beyond Unreal hosts it can't be that bad") did not quite fully understand what the Unreal Wiki is supposed to be, check http://www.unrealed.info (rough translation): "I've been asked by Tarquin to publish these news: 'Unreal Wiki' has been released in a new version." – Ah well. If people click the link, it's all the same, and if we continue doing press releases, maybe it'll sink in.

Tarquin: Feedback: PU haven't covered us (do we smell or something?). ModSquad describe it as an idea of genius.

Tarquin: Just seen MPZ's writeup: "The UT/UT2k3 Mod developers Brain Tank". Wow! That is a GREAT headline! Thanks, MPZ!

DJPaul: We're on Deus-Ex.org - they say "We have recieved an email from tarquin that UnrealWiki, a very popular tutorial site for the unreal engine, has opened up their new Mod Ideas page for all unreal engine games, including Deus Ex: ..."

DJPaul: Spotted us on DeusEx-Machina too.

Discussion

Tarquin: Do we want a news release for the Mod Ideas page, or include it in the 1000 page release below?

EntropicLqd: Now there's a good question. In terms of PR it would be better to handle them as separate releases. It means you get front page news on the sites that matter more often. How many more days do you think it will take before we get to the magic 1000?

Tarquin: On July 30th we're at 922. So I'd say a few weeks. Then again, if publicizing mod ideas brings an influx of new idea pages and writers in general, could be less. Let's go for a Mod Ideas release: it's an important development in the uses of this wiki (and one I hadn't anticipated... it's great when that happens )

DJPaul: I'm not mighty sure that's a good idea; worst case, we'd have a lot of newbie scripters come the release of UT2003 bookmarking projects saying "i'll do that", and them releasing a substandard one, or nothing at all. For example, if I am thinking of doing someone else has marked, I think twice - if a newbie scripter has bookmarked them, they could never get done, and no-one would offer to do it (shared work, etc.).

EntropicLqd: While I'm willing to concede that I have considered the possibility, it does at least provide the opportunity to bring on new talent and get new scripters and contributors involved with the scene. If we do find that someone completely bungles a mod implementation then it's always possible to release a version 2 mod after walking the original developer through a bit of a code review/how to script session. If we find that a mod sits in an unfinished state for a long time, a polite e-mail would probably do wonders for the scripter's motivation.

Tarquin: → Mod Ideas: GPL suggestion.

After months of collecting the insane ramblings and musings of a short-haired English geek and writing them down as mod ideas for Unreal Tournament 2003, the Unreal Wiki is pleased to announce that the mod idea pages have gone public. The Unreal Wiki team invite you to visit the largest known collection of mod ideas and concepts for the next Unreal Engine based game. The mod ideas listed range from complex total conversions through to incredibly simple concepts all ready to be discussed and developed.

If you've ever played a mod and thought, "If only the author had included this feature it would be so much cooler" then you will love this part of the Unreal Wiki. Feel free to add your own comments on the mod ideas described - the Wiki makes it possible.

If you are scripter looking for a place to dump mod ideas while you dwell on them, or complete another mod, then this page will be of use. You will find it an useful mechanism for getting feedback on your thoughts and ideas. You may find the Wiki approach a little alien - giving up ownership of an idea can be an unsettling experience - but it is uniquely rewarding.

How about this refactoring:

The [Unreal Wiki] is pleased to announce its [Mod Ideas] pages have gone public. This new area of the largest reference site on the Unreal Engine is a place for suggesting, debating and hopefully creating new mods for the upcoming Epic game [Unreal Tournament 2003]. The large collection of mod ideas already listed ranges from complex total conversions through to incredibly simple concepts all ready to be discussed and developed.

After months of collecting the insane ramblings and musings of a [short-haired English geek], we've decided to open it up for anyone to join in. Scripters are invited to store mod ideas while they dwell on them. Anyone who has ever played a mod and thought "if only the author had included this feature it would be so much cooler" is free to suggest improvements to existing ideas. The [Wiki collaborative environment] makes it possible.

(The geek is still around, but only while he's not changing nappies.)

EntropicLqd: Yup - that reads fine.

But my idea is the coolest!!! It has aliens and shotguns that shoot exploding fish!!! Ahh... to be a n00b again... - Raaa

MythOpus:Needs an update? UT2k3 isn't the only game that the mod idea pages support :S