posted 04-17- 04:56 PM               

1. Did you visit the BCATP on a regular basis for such things as Addons, New Aircraft, Paintschemes, etc? Was it your primary source?

2. Did the SDOE Art section in the Paintshop interest you? Is it worth maintaining that service to the artists in our community?

3. Did you ever visit the barracks section with the intent of contacting someone? Was it useful enough to continue as a service to the community?

4. Was the name BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Traning Plan) an impediment to the site's publicity? Was its uniqueness an asset or a stumbling block from your perspective as a user?

5. Was the interface, markedly different from other sites, a pleasant change, or just a pain to download?

6. Did the theme (an airfield) add interest to the site or again make navigation more confusing and time consuming?

Other comments/suggestions/complaints are welcomed!

Please understand that through all this my site was designed a)To be an experience, not just a SDOE warehouse & b)To showcase the visual appeal of the game through abundant use of visuals, integrated into the site via navigation bars and buttons.

Your input means a lot to me, because as much as I enjoyed working on my site, the numbers suggested that my efforts were misplaced, particularly with all the cries for a one-source system.

To Razer and Jaguar: I know that I have not made any attempt to hide the fact that I consider the hangar to be the "superpower" around here, but I do not mean in any way to detract from the fine work you two are doing. I'm writing this because for one reason or another I just get this sense that there isn't always the best atmosphere between us, and I don't know if that's just me or if I've done something to offend either or both of you.

Thank you,

posted 04-17- 06:12 PM               

Hmm...

No I havn't visited it forever.

I always go to the hangar. when i'm looking for skins i also visit the warpaint factory.
and now i have been going to dogmas simfiles site which is the best site for uptodate stuff and has a kick ass upload and email notification.

I really think you guys should just suck up any egos you have and melt EVERYTHING into one huge FS site hosted right on www.fightersquadron.com with dogmas system for uploading so no one has to take care of it.

We could have all the good parts of all the sites all in one place. And then you don't have to look all over for stuff and can direct the new users to one place.

nice dream but it won't happen

posted 04-17- 07:31 PM               

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posted 04-17- 08:02 PM               

It doesn't really Spyder. BUT how cool would it be to come to www.fightersquadron.com and have a download link in the menu that takes you to ALL the addons for SDOE?

it would make it so easy for newbies.

posted 04-17- 08:21 PM               

I mean- as it is whenever something new comes out, there is usually a direct link from the creator in a thread on the Forum anyways- so I rarely go to any of the other FS sites-- I think (and I hope I'm not sounding too "elitest" here- because I know that flies about as well as a penguin around here)a central site where everyone sends their creations- whether it be planes, missions, skins, etc-- would make for much less confusion and with a host of good designers working together it may very well kick ass. As it is, Ihave an hour at most each day to catch up on the news- and trying to get through all the FS sites in my Favorites list is a major P.I.T.A. Back to mission creating for me...

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Brought to you by the campaign for a better Dauntless!

posted 04-17- 09:25 PM               

Do what ever floats your boat. I know how hard it is to keep up a site and believe me I know how crappy xoom is. They did the same thing to me some time ago.

I visted your site off and on. About as often as I visit other peoples sites. Like Jeeves, I get most my stuff from the forum or sent to me.

I say if you had fun with the site then put it back up if not, focus on other stuff.

As for the whole central download thing, thats fine i guess, but then whats the use of having a site? If evryone has the same stuff or if people will only be going to one "main" site , then I really dont see the point.

I have been thinking of changing the mission of my site. Main reason is I cant find the time to update it as often as I'd like and no one ever took me up on assisting. Probably what I will do now is stop taking contributions and hosting files. I will keep it focused on Raiders and my projects. Maybe I havnt decided yet. I just find it hard to maintain

Again its your choice.

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Zoycite 33rd~GS

visit The War Paint Factory

posted 04-17- 10:02 PM               

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-=TheReaper=-

posted 04-17- 10:29 PM               

Exactly Zoy. Why have a site? I have one site that tells people how to join the active list. It is never updated and it never really needs to be updated. I just did it so people woulnd't email me and ask how to do it.

I always check out a new game and find out the best site there is and keep going there. While i'm looking through the rest i just say to myself

"why did this guy make a web site about this game?"

"What does this site do that the other one doesn't?"

I really don't see a need for 50 SDOE sites. Theres not enough to talk about to do that.

I hate going to 5 different sites to find all the coolest skins. So ya know what I do? I don't get any. The only skins I use that arn't stock are the ones posted here and the P80 skin I requested.

Some SDOE sites are cool cause they do somthing that the rest don't. The gazzette is cool. SV's openplane site is cool.

If your site is just another depot for a couple of your own planes and some skins i just say to myself WHY?

Make a site to host some info on your creations so people that want to learn more about it can visit. BUT don't force people to visit the site if they are not interted in any background or history.

posted 04-17- 11:54 PM               

No one is forced to visit any site. Nor or they forced to download anything. I get visitors every day, Why? Im not really sure Its really amzazing when you think about it.

But it is fun to work on "sometimes". Thats "Why" No other reason. I will continue to house my personal stuff at my site and if people dont like my stuff or cant seem to find the time to check it out, then thats fine with me. Its not like I make any money for page views or something.

The more I have been thinking about it, the more I think I will stop posting stuff for others. Since the general feeling is that people dont visit anyhow, maybe their stuff is better off else where

Or maybe better yet I'll just close and keep all my stuff to myself Boy think of all the free time I would have. But I'm not that selfish, so again if you choose not to visit its no biggie Its your choice.

BTW, why should you be flamed? Have you been bad?

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Zoycite 33rd~GS

visit The War Paint Factory

posted 04-18- 12:20 AM               

The final word is that you make a site for yourself. Do with it what you will.

I really hate to do work on my personal computer. If keeping a site is not fun, drop it.

Ah shit! Now I have to go change my links page

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silas Demon's Runway
Fortes fortuna adiuvat

posted 04-18- 12:21 AM               

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posted 04-18- 12:32 AM               

Regarding the Xoom fellas removing your site: They have done that to one of the Red Baron doyens, Beery, just recently, for some cockamamie reason about putting up cracked software ...

But anyways, the point of my story, is that after the dust settled on that, they instantly put his site back up. They must have had it on a backup somewhere and they just re-instated it. (He thought he would have to up-load ALL his files again.)

That might be a bit of an encouragement for you.

As for the FSSDOE central site for downloads:

One of the other correspondents is talking about THIS board being the central site for notifications of downloads. At this point, fightersquadron.com is NOT that central site unless you have the time to read it every day. This could change and fightersqudron.com could be the most logical site as the central repository for files of all classes.

I have visitied BCATP in its earlier days, and tried to go there just a day or two ago, but it would have been an exploration because I do not recall its contents. The British Commonwealth theme would have been of interest to me, especially if the planes, skins, FMs and games can all be easily worked into the FSSDOE game, either as single play or multiplayer on line.

As the other writers have said, do whatever gives you a buzz ... some Beaufighter stuff (historical and for the game) would be of interest to me. I still have to get there (wherever it is) to get that Beaufighter.

posted 04-18- 03:48 AM               

Anyway bonne chance et bon vol.

posted 04-18- 08:23 AM               

Zoy,
I didn't put up simfiles so that it would replace anyones site. I put it up to help people like spyder whom if he had just relied on the fact that he sent SDOE Chameleon to combat sim nobody would be able to download it yet today. I put it up to prevent things like happened to Werner. Becuase Xoom took his site down where is the nations addon available ?

You guy's sites are very valuable treasures to the community and I for one don't want to see them go down. You guys are providing some great content as well as a look inside what makes each of you tick.

posted 04-18- 08:40 AM               

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Cheers
Kat out

posted 04-18- 11:49 AM               

About the site title: all I can say there is that the word Commonwealth always confuses me, hehe!! The words 'common' and 'wealth' never seem to quite fit together for me!

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nealg=FC=

posted 04-20- 12:14 AM               

Ahem. I took some time away from the game to relax a bit and reflect on all your comments. I've read this thread end to end many times, and I've archived all the email sent to me, and I am grateful for the feedback. The BCATP is coming back, thanks to a generous offer from 3DGW, but I am going to take some time to tweak a few things and do massive updating. In particular I want to beef up the SDOE Art and paintschemes sections. For that reason it won't be online for a while, but I promise it's coming. Again, thank you to the community for all your feedback - while the site will remain fundamentally the same, there will be some new twists thrown in.

Werner Molders

posted 04-20- 08:11 AM               

I've been out and about with work again (!!@#*?!#), so I've only just noticed this post.

I am heartened to see some of the comments about your site as I feel the same.

Well done on your decision to rebuild the site - I look forward to seeing it in all its usual splender

You will remain top billing from my site - just let me know if your URL changes aye !

Cheers,

AGAS 5

posted 04-20- 08:21 AM               

Werner great stuff. What is your site going to do different or better then the other sites? I think the last thing we need is just another skin or download site.

posted 04-20- 12:38 PM               

Spanky:
I agree having to surf 100 sites or so can be a pain, but a central site needs a lot of maintenance and very quickly it becomes more a job than a hobby. When Razer asked for help for the hangar, nobody replied.

One day I had send my sq. 329 skin to the Hangar, and a few days after it still wasn't posted so I decided I would not bother Razer with that and started my page. Now it gets 250+ hits a week, but you know what? I still feel those skins would be better on a central site. The logical thing to do would be to offer my help to Razer but 1.Lots of uploads. France Telecom. 'nuff said. and 2.general laziness.

This being said, the file that gets most downloaded on my page is the only skin not by me, it's Lfbpro's "No guts no glory" P-47.
And also, I'd like to salute my 10 visitors from Japan, my 5 visitors from Brazil, my visitor from Norway and, last but not least, my one and only visitor from the US armed forces (.mil domain). How big the world is!

posted 04-20- 03:39 PM               

You may not be too happy then because I'll still be hosting aircraft, paintschemes and all the misc stuff I dump in the warehouse. I will, however, do a better job keeping a/c up to date (it's really not that bad, the contest was what made the last few weeks hard). There will be a link on the index page that addresses the question "Why should I bookmark this site?", and a few other things. To answer your question, yes I will do things differently than other sites, but much if it I did already, only that I'll be highlighting it more for your ease of reference and adding a few other features. I'm being vague because I don't want to give too much away and I don't want to commit to things I may not be able to do. We'll see.

Pachy,

I can't really get rid of the pictures for the paintscheme sections, but I could make a text-only navigation section for aircraft and misc other stuff. Thanks for the feedback, I'll look into it.

Ideas and comments are duly noted, and I will try to incorporate as many of them as possible into the renovations.

Werner

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It's coming... The NEW bcatp! Stay tuned for details!

posted 04-21- 07:05 PM               

1) I've visited the BCATP site like twice a month or so. I never used it for textures, addons, etc. I've always relied on links inside the forum for that. I don't go more often to the FS Hangar either, since I get everything from here, just like Jeeves.

2) No, can't remember me visiting there, though I think I did.

3) I visited the barracks section a couple of times, when I was just a new member. I never actually used it, because for online flying I have always relied on my own squad (the EAF) or on the JV44 sunday's.

4) I think the name wasn't that good either. It almost stopped me from entering the BCATP (I thought it was only for British, Aussies, etc.) and it sounds like the only thing the site has to offer is a kind of squad (the barracks section).

5) I liked it, better too much graphics than too little.

6) Airfield and a Flight Simulator... Sounds very reasonable, and looks fun.

I used to think that hits to my site mattered, but nowadays I don't even have a counter anymore (if you check my site you see some little bar that's out of order). Often I'm anxious to know how many people came to my site, but I don't really care anymore. Should it matter if there were 10 or 1000 people coming every month?
Also, when I first set up the Flying Poodle page I wanted it to be the one and only FS site. Of course, that's what you're first thinking of, but later on when making the site you don't even seem to be updating the news regularly. What's the point if Lector's site was doing that already?
Same goes for all the add-ons. I always visited Lector's site for everything that had to do with FS. Lector's site was the beginning point of my internet session and everything I needed was there, with all the links going nice into the right frame. Lector eventually "lost" against the FS Hanger due to his busy job, but I still think it's the greatest FS site out there (though somewhat outdated by now).

I think there's no point in copying what another site is doing already. So my site is only my own work, and not much more. Adding more wouldn't contribute to the site at all. Noone would be using it anyway.