Forums » Suggestions
Player published in-game newsfeeds
Idea: Implement an in-game news reader that allows players to subscribe to newsfeeds and access them via station (and/or in-flight) interface.
Motivation: To provide a formal and convenient means for spreading information in-game, without any administrative overhead on the part of the devs. The idea is that anyone who wants to publish something can do so.
Considerations:
At first I had RSS in mind as an ideal format because of its simplicity, but I realized that it is tailored more for publishing summaries. It provides no semantics for distributing content. Atom, on the other hand, includes semantics for distributing actual content. It is also a bit more complicated than RSS, so it would make the most sense to only implement a subset of its features. For example, content should be restricted to plain text and HTML/XHTML (ignoring most of the markup). Atom is fairly prolific, so users should have no problems finding a host for their community web site/newsfeed.
There would need to be an easy way to find and subscribe to the feeds, since writing down URLs and typing them in manually would be a pain. One solution would be to provide an interface on the Vendetta web site where a player can paste the URL, click submit, and the feed would then be available in game.
The in-game news could be migrated to this system. Announcements could be sorted into separate channels for bounties, trade routes, etc, allowing players to opt in and out of the various feeds.
Private feeds could be realized by supporting basic HTTP authentication in the client. A publisher wishing to utilize this would need access to a web host that allows the user to configure HTTP authentication for a resource. Alternatively, someone could provide a service that is tailor-made for this sort of thing.
Motivation: To provide a formal and convenient means for spreading information in-game, without any administrative overhead on the part of the devs. The idea is that anyone who wants to publish something can do so.
Considerations:
At first I had RSS in mind as an ideal format because of its simplicity, but I realized that it is tailored more for publishing summaries. It provides no semantics for distributing content. Atom, on the other hand, includes semantics for distributing actual content. It is also a bit more complicated than RSS, so it would make the most sense to only implement a subset of its features. For example, content should be restricted to plain text and HTML/XHTML (ignoring most of the markup). Atom is fairly prolific, so users should have no problems finding a host for their community web site/newsfeed.
There would need to be an easy way to find and subscribe to the feeds, since writing down URLs and typing them in manually would be a pain. One solution would be to provide an interface on the Vendetta web site where a player can paste the URL, click submit, and the feed would then be available in game.
The in-game news could be migrated to this system. Announcements could be sorted into separate channels for bounties, trade routes, etc, allowing players to opt in and out of the various feeds.
Private feeds could be realized by supporting basic HTTP authentication in the client. A publisher wishing to utilize this would need access to a web host that allows the user to configure HTTP authentication for a resource. Alternatively, someone could provide a service that is tailor-made for this sort of thing.
Sounds like a great idea
Off-topic: Are you a marathon player?
On-topic: I like the idea. I wonder how it'd work out in reality (even though it may be virtual), whether it would need any form of moderation or not.
This would also reduce the number of people who are ignorant of the changes in the game because they don't read the News page (I don't count me out of that group).
On-topic: I like the idea. I wonder how it'd work out in reality (even though it may be virtual), whether it would need any form of moderation or not.
This would also reduce the number of people who are ignorant of the changes in the game because they don't read the News page (I don't count me out of that group).
I'd love this idea for the advertising possibilities - I could charge for ads again without spamming channel 100.
But, obviously, there would need to be moderation when the hordes of players come calling.
But, obviously, there would need to be moderation when the hordes of players come calling.
Off-topic: Are you a marathon player?
Yup ;)
Regarding moderation: I'm not exactly sure where it would fit in. The system I described adds the functionality of a (feature-limited) newsreader. The actual feeds would be hosted by users, either via some site like Blogger.com, or by other means. It would be impossible to control the content, but there's nothing stopping players from clicking "unsubscribe" when someone decides to spam his own feed with free iPod schemes.
Yup ;)
Regarding moderation: I'm not exactly sure where it would fit in. The system I described adds the functionality of a (feature-limited) newsreader. The actual feeds would be hosted by users, either via some site like Blogger.com, or by other means. It would be impossible to control the content, but there's nothing stopping players from clicking "unsubscribe" when someone decides to spam his own feed with free iPod schemes.
I like that, it being self-regulative (reduces load on the guides).
I like this idea!
One question: Why use Atom if you're going to limit content to Plaintext? :) RSS is more than adequate to do that job.
One question: Why use Atom if you're going to limit content to Plaintext? :) RSS is more than adequate to do that job.
OK then, I'm in. If the content is player-hosted and the players are merely using Vendetta as a "reader", then OK. They can always unsubscribe.
Marathon > j00.
On the other hand, I dunno about some of the 'questionable' content. I guess Leber has a point though.
On the other hand, I dunno about some of the 'questionable' content. I guess Leber has a point though.
On the other hand, I dunno about some of the 'questionable' content. I guess Leber has a point though.
http://www.questionablecontent.net
Is it really that bad?
http://www.questionablecontent.net
Is it really that bad?
One question: Why use Atom if you're going to limit content to Plaintext? :) RSS is more than adequate to do that job.
Atom has a content element, RSS doesn't. RSS is only for providing summaries of resources and linking to them, but one of the goals behind my idea was to have these newsfeeds self-contained. That keeps the implementation and the user-interface as simple as possible.
Ideally, it would be nice to have support for a limited subset of markup. Stuff like headings and paragraphs could be handled easily just by adding newlines where appropriate. Lists might be a bit trickier.
Atom has a content element, RSS doesn't. RSS is only for providing summaries of resources and linking to them, but one of the goals behind my idea was to have these newsfeeds self-contained. That keeps the implementation and the user-interface as simple as possible.
Ideally, it would be nice to have support for a limited subset of markup. Stuff like headings and paragraphs could be handled easily just by adding newlines where appropriate. Lists might be a bit trickier.