Atari Legend Updates or Not

[Champions_2002]

I have been looking at Atari Legend and to me it looks a bit dated when you look at other similar websites.

So i thought what about getting the lovely people on here to see what we could with it

i have made a little pole, please vote

[alexh]

Look is irrelevant. Content is everything.

The only thing that would be good to change would be to make it a registered Wiki based infrastructure so that users could add content with little or no moderation.

[Grunaki]

A new skin might be nice, but not essential. I'm unsure as to what new features you could add, but I'd be interested to see the results.

(BTW - congrats on your Polish child ).

[Dal]

i have made a little pole,

(BTW - congrats on your Polish child ).

[wongck]

I get it now. good one.

[simonsunnyboy]

I go with Alex Holland. No need for interface updates, what AL lacks for years is fresh content. Allow users to upload shots and input data, maybe have people moderating it. Nothing more needed.

The content (and in any case RSS feeds to notify about updates) are essential. Presentation can be simplistic.

[Mug UK]

For someone who's been behind the scenes and tinkered with the data behind AL, I would echo the sentiments of those who would like to take it to the next level and turn it into a Wiki-based (but with moderation, naturally) format.

New features are still difficult to add unless you know exactly how it operates - plus the data probably could do with a lot of (and not just a few) fresh pairs of eyes going over it all.

We tried (the AL team) a few years ago to do a lot of updates but, like a lot of things, people wander off for 'real life' stuff and the creative juices stop flowing. There's a separate thread in the Atari Legend section which lists some of the requests - some of which have been requested a few years ago now.

I think (although I could be wrong) that the Amiga music preservation site went from it's original layout into a Wiki-layout and, whilst there were initial moans from the visitors, it enabled a lot more people with knowledge to add more details to each piece of music that was preserved. Maybe someone who knows Jools (Alex H?) could have a chat with him about what were the pros & cons of a Wikification?

Plus there's the work involved from years back when Brume, Silver Surfer and the others who originally set up AL - that all needs preserving in some way or other.

[bullis1]

Well said Mug.

The question is, if it moves to wiki format how feasible is it to create a script or something that converts the AL database entries to the new format?

[Champions_2002]

I think the Wiki idea is a great one as well

we need to get the Atari Legend database converted over somehow

[darklight]

Wiki is a great idea, if possible!

[lotek_style]

Brume already showed me the new skin years ago at Jaguar Connexion... well... finally please put it online

[MiggyMog]

It would be good if the data from LGD could be imported and merged too.

[Champions_2002]

It would be good if the data from LGD could be imported and merged too.

what kind of data from LGD would you like to see

[xtenbombx]

For someone who's been behind the scenes and tinkered with the data behind AL, I would echo the sentiments of those who would like to take it to the next level and turn it into a Wiki-based (but with moderation, naturally) format.

New features are still difficult to add unless you know exactly how it operates - plus the data probably could do with a lot of (and not just a few) fresh pairs of eyes going over it all.

We tried (the AL team) a few years ago to do a lot of updates but, like a lot of things, people wander off for 'real life' stuff and the creative juices stop flowing. There's a separate thread in the Atari Legend section which lists some of the requests - some of which have been requested a few years ago now.

I think (although I could be wrong) that the Amiga music preservation site went from it's original layout into a Wiki-layout and, whilst there were initial moans from the visitors, it enabled a lot more people with knowledge to add more details to each piece of music that was preserved. Maybe someone who knows Jools (Alex H?) could have a chat with him about what were the pros & cons of a Wikification?

Plus there's the work involved from years back when Brume, Silver Surfer and the others who originally set up AL - that all needs preserving in some way or other.

What wiki engine will you be using just out of interest? I am assuming you will be using a pre-built wiki system like Mediawiki.

[Dal]

*IF* we were to explore the wiki route, it would be based on MediaWiki as this is already the platform used for the forum wiki.

However, I have also seen the new skin that Brume was working on and it really does look slick. Hopefully this will make it into the live system one day.

[xtenbombx]

*IF* we were to explore the wiki route, it would be based on MediaWiki as this is already the platform used for the forum wiki.

However, I have also seen the new skin that Brume was working on and it really does look slick. Hopefully this will make it into the live system one day.

I shall be looking forward to see it. I will be launching my student forum at the end of July. So I watch with interest what you are doing with the wiki. I intend to incorporate a wiki engine which will allow students to collaboratively author numerous reference and articles. Being perminantly online it will hopefully benefit their fellow students as well as themselves.

[ST Graveyard]

Guys,

I was thinking about this as well. Here is my thought. What about contacting Kim Lemon? I mean, he was very cooperative in the past and AL is linked to Lemon Amiga. Lemon Amiga and Lemon 64 have great stable cores. Lot of potential. What if he would be interested in some kind of partnership? We could use the LA interface for AL, and he gets the credit? Something like that. And perhaps a new nice skin can be build around the core.

Just an idea...

Take care all,
Grave

PS : you never really leave the ST scene

[lotek_style]

St Graveyard... Now THAT is first good idea since ages LemonST

[simonsunnyboy]

Guys,

I was thinking about this as well. Here is my thought. What about contacting Kim Lemon? I mean, he was very cooperative in the past and AL is linked to Lemon Amiga. Lemon Amiga and Lemon 64 have great stable cores. Lot of potential. What if he would be interested in some kind of partnership? We could use the LA interface for AL, and he gets the credit? Something like that. And perhaps a new nice skin can be build around the core.

Just an idea...

Take care all,
Grave

PS : you never really leave the ST scene

Woah, welcome back And I second this great idea. I think it is worth investigating, why (again) double work that has already been done? Not to mention that I also like the interfaces and presentation of LemonAmiga and Lemon64.

[ST Graveyard]

I'm still into retro gaming but these days I'm building my ultimate gaming machine using XBMC and Hyperspin

Anyway, I think the key is we all have to work on one project and not reinvent the hot water again and again by building new sites ...

I still have an AL backup dated from june 2010 ... I haven't done any webbased coding since 2006 and I don't have time for such a big project, but I would gladly help in providing the data Would be a shame if all the work is lost in time ...

I will PM Kim on facebook next week, see if he remembers me and what he thinks of the idea ...

Oh, in 2010 I had a little boost and wanted to work on AL again. I noticed that the DB was password protected. Don't remember the pwd. Anyway I could be wrong but if we get positive feedback from Kim, I guess we need a skilled person to help us out ...

take care...

[Dal]

I can get into the backend. Would be happy to look at a platform migration if something really comes of this.

[ST Graveyard]

Pm'ed Kim over at his Lemon Amiga forum ... If I get an answer I will let you all know ...

[MiggyMog]

what kind of data from LGD would you like to see

It would just be nice to merge all the game info from both sites, LGD has tonnes of screen shots & YM music from the game etc.

Grave's IDEA about using a working engine seems sensible, with an ST skin of course. I liked the compare with Amiga/C64 version feature which linked to Lemon.

[xtenbombx]

Guys,

I was thinking about this as well. Here is my thought. What about contacting Kim Lemon? I mean, he was very cooperative in the past and AL is linked to Lemon Amiga. Lemon Amiga and Lemon 64 have great stable cores. Lot of potential. What if he would be interested in some kind of partnership? We could use the LA interface for AL, and he gets the credit? Something like that. And perhaps a new nice skin can be build around the core.

Just an idea...

Take care all,
Grave

PS : you never really leave the ST scene

That sounds like a fabulous idea. Maybe even putting to rest the daft arguements between Atari ST and Amiga owners? lol. Sure that will continue for forever and a time.

[Mug UK]

Sounds like a good plan. I'd like to also link to Atarimania too.