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Feedback required: file database tagging


Dark0ne

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I'm looking to add a new system to the file database over the coming weeks that will allow you to "tag" files. In essence, "tagging" involves deeper categorisation of files by tacking multiple, set, individual defining elements on to the file that help to better describe what the file is about and/or contains. Breaking this down further, tagging will enable you to search for specific criteria in files, something that the current, broad category system cannot do.

 

The best example of the system I'm considering is available at a popular music site that I used to frequent; PureVolume.com. PureVolume is basically a Rock music site which is a cleaner, simpler version of MySpaz without all the pink on black colour schemes and confused 18 year olds, focusing on bands, not social networking. The bands/music are given up to three categories (what will be my "tags") that best describe the music. If you want to search for specific genres of music you visit the Browse (clicky for example) page, and click the "Choose genres" or "Exclude genres" links for a full breakdown of the available genres. By selecting what genres you would either like, or not like, you're able to search for bands that fit your specific needs.

 

Transfering this to the file database, the idea is to have a set list of file tags. People familiar with other sites' tagging systems will know that many allow you to specific your own tags, like keywords. I don't plan to do this. I plan to allow the author to choose between not tagging the file, tagging the file him or herself, or allowing users of the site to tag the file themselves based on a semi-voting system.

 

To expand on the voting system; the first user to tag the file sets the standard; the next user to try to tag the file notices the suggested tags and either agrees or disagrees, voting for or against each individual tag, or suggesting new ones. Voting for a tag gives +1, voting against gives -1 (or removes the tag suggestion if it is below 0). Once a tag reaches a set number (I'd guess either +5 or +10) it is publically listed and the file has been officially tagged with that tag. Such a system will need to be in place to prevent the obvious ass-hats out there who like to crap on everyone's parade and deliberately misclassify things; or simply stop people who don't know what they're talking about from running rampant.

 

Now to the meat and veg of it all: there's going to be a set list of tags, what should the tags be? Example tags would include things like: quests, weapons, armour, textures, animations. I need some help with creating this tag list, since, contrary to popular belief, I don't know it all!

 

Any help appreciated.

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Adding to WhiteWizard's list:

 

Music

Sound

Modders Resources

Bugfixes

Tweaks (Could be confusing as to what is a tweak and what isn't)

Total Conversion

Performance Improving

 

That's all I can think of right now. Maybe I'll add something to the list later.

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I'll be glad to come up with a large list for you in alphabetical order. ;)

 

I'll post the results of my list here (by editing this post over-and-over again).

 

- Adult-Only Content

- Animation New

- Animation Modifed

- Armor

- Armor - Shields (helps isolate weapons as shields - dual wielding)

- Audio - Sound FX

- Audio - Voice Acting

- Birthsigns

- Body Models

- Books / Storyline

- Cheats

- Clothing

- Classes

- Comedy

- Companions

- Compilation

- Creatures Rideable

- Creatures Other

- Environment - Other

- Environment - Sky

- Environment - Water

- Environment - Weather

- Female

- Gameplay Effects/Changes

- Gametype (Morrowind, Bloodmoon, Oblivion, Shivering Isles, etc.)

- Guilds / Factions

- Hair / Face Models

- Items - Apparatus

- Items - Clutter

- Items - Furniture

- Items - Ingredients

- Innovative / Unique Ideas

- Language - English

- Language - French

- Language - Italian

- Language - German

- Language - Spanish

- Leveled Lists

- Leveled Items

- Lighting

- Locations - Caverns

- Locations - Buildings Player-Owned

- Locations - Buildings Other

- Locations - Dungeons

- Locations - World Map

- Lore-Friendly

- Magic - Enchantments

- Magic - Potions

- Magic - Spells

- Male

- Modder's Resource

- Mod Dependancy (let's you know if this is must be used with other mods)

- New Lands

- New Models

- New Textures

- NPCs

- NPC Vendors

- NPC Trainers

- OBMM Compatible

- Official (anything related to DLCs, official and unofficial patches)

- Plants / Foliage

- Quests

- Races Modified

- Races New

- Related to Movies / TV / Other Games

- Related to Horses

- Related to Vampires

- Replacers (things that replace vanilla Oblivion rather than add to it)

- Requires Official Patch

- Requires Official Plugin

- Requires Oblivion Script Extender (OBSE)

- Requires Unofficial Patch (such as custom races and savegames)

- Saved Games

- Scripted Events

- Tutorials for Modders

- Tutorials for Players

- Utilities for Modders

- Utilities for Players

- User Interface

- Video

- Weapons

 

NOTE #1: It would be nice if the "Adult-Only" content flag was used on the site to protect casual browsers / kids. Imagine this site (in guest-mode) never allows "Adult-Only" content to be seen...as if it didn't even exist. But once you sign-up as a member, you have the option to "disable" the Adult-Only filter which is on by default. If used properly, this would allow us to link directly to this site from BethSoft forums without the irritating disclaimer as well as being viewed as a kid-friendly site...possibly. ;)

 

NOTE #2: With the use of "Races" and "Leveled Lists", it becomes easier to find/avoid mods that are likely to conflict with each other because of the way Oblivion was written.

 

LHammonds

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I suggest:

 

guilds

heads

house

huge mods

magic

npc

creature

plants

nature

races

sounds

patches

audio

video

wallpapers

alchemy

books

caverns

dungeons

city expansions

shops

tutorials

bug fixes

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I would like the texture replacers to have tags for hi-res and low-res. :D

That would be more subjective than anything unless clearly defined somewhere...wouldn't know where though. One would also wonder if they had a "normal" resolution, otherwise nobody would pick "lo-res" cause it sounds crappy. ;)

 

Example:

64x64 isn't high, medium or low if the texture is for an inventory icon.

 

512x512 can be considered high-res for a small weapon. It can also be considered low-res for a cuirass.

 

I don't mean to sound like I'm nit-picking though...just trying to figure out how it would be used in the end-result.

 

LHammonds

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