WIP Category?

[SHazardous]

Hey!

 

(tried to check if this has been discussed before, but didn't find anything from recently discussed threads)

 

This is both a request and a question.

 

What does community think, should there be a new category for mods that are still work-in-progress? Or maybe an extra button to mark mod with WIP status, or Alfa/beta status. Same way you can do with adult content mods. After status is updated to stable or something and such it wouldn't show in wip-category anymore. And maybe even show up as a new file on frontpage. This would be good so people would notice when a mod is ready. As many, I think, don't like to install unfinished mods.

 

Page where you can check the updated files is great. And of course it's possible to do search with phrase "wip". But I believe it would be nice to see what mods are still alfa and/or beta with just a click or two.

 

What do you think?

Edited February 9, 2012 by SHazardous

[Thandal]

From the Terms of Service:

 

o Insure you upload a file for your file entry as soon as possible. Do not create "placemarkers" or "Work-in-progress" pages for files that are incomplete or you haven’t even created yet. If uploading a file will take a long time or you’re not ready yet then keep your file set to “Hidden” until you are ready. Do not deliberately create a file page without uploading any files just to generate hype or interest in your work; it will get you banned (uploading a text document with your ideas will not get around this issue).

[Tidus44]

I don't think the OP was talking about placeholders or pages with no files. The reference is to mods that are uploaded to the site, but are not fully tested or complete and/or the modder is looking for people to download and try it and provide feedback. Unfortunately, these mods are not always clearly marked and it seems any number of terms are used for mods. A quick search for "WIP" lists 43 files identified as such for Skyrim. However, the files do not all say why they are a work in progress or what one may expect (or what the modder is expecting) on downloading and installing the mod. Additionally, not all mods being worked on (as they are not fully complete) are identified as WIPs.

A WIP designation seems obvious, but then what do "alpha", "beta", etc. and other terms mean? Are they WIPs as well or is something different going on with those mods and the modders are looking for some other response/reaction? All these terms seem to be interchangable and are sometimes used based on what the modder thinks they mean.

 

While it would be nice to have such mods clearly identified, there is already a tag system and it doesn't get used as much as it should now, so adding another tag probably won't resolve the concern.

 

Best advice - buyer beware - or in this case downloader beware.

[Thandal]

@Tidus44; In the sense you mean, all mods are "works in progress", (unless one is claiming perfection. :tongue: )

 

Authors are free to post a "recruiting help with mod" topic in the appropriate game's forums, then work directly with those who want to help in creating a mod to share. And authors are free to request suggestions and feedback on their working mods in the Comment threads.

 

But atm, one may not post "non-working", "partial", or "this is just a rough idea, please help" items in the Files Areas. :armscrossed:

 

(Just wanted to make sure we're all on the same page regarding what's allowed on the Nexus in the first place. :thumbsup: )

[bben46]

If a modder posts a Working WIP or beta version of a mod, with the intent of asking for feedback on parts of the mod, we will usually allow it. A video showing a proposed mod is not really a WIP, and we do have a category for vids.

 

However, a upload that is nothing but a document stating what someone plans to do is neither a working downloadable mod, WIP or a Modders resource that can be used and WILL be removed.

 

A place holder is not allowed as from our experience, around 85% of proposed mods are never completed. A post like this in the uploads is a waste of space and site resources. Mod proposals, planned mods and recruitment for mods are properly posted in the forums where they can be discussed as proposals.

[SHazardous]

(I hope I can explain what I mean... cause these more...err.."deep" conversations are sometimes bit hard for me cause english isn't my native language)

 

Good points all. It's very much true that definition of work in progress can be very different with different people. I should have been more clear what I meant and understand as WIP and Alfa/Beta. I see WIP mod as something that has already actually changed and added something in the game that does show signs what it will be. Something that you can test in-game and have a feel how the concept might work when ready. Something people could comment and give suggestions before author goes and finishes things that many people think doesn't work at all. As a graphic designer I could compare WIP or alfa to a already detailed preliminary sketches or layouts (not sure what the right term in english is) that I show to client and they can give their opinions about it and then I can change things etc.

 

Well anywho... I found it very usefull on one site that did have option to choose if you want to search alfa or beta mods or only those that are marked as ready. It's always nice to know how ready mod is before downloading and installing and then realising its anything but ready. I think it was some L4D mod site that had this.

 

Also, now that I think I shouldn't have use phrase WIP at all but maybe just alfa and beta stage/category. :)

Well...I can always blame my english skills of any misunderstandings.

 

::edit:: maybe I should change WIP to alfa on my mods headline? :)

Edited February 9, 2012 by SHazardous

[channel0]

@Tidus44; In the sense you mean, all mods are "works in progress", (unless one is claiming perfection. :tongue: )

 

Authors are free to post a "recruiting help with mod" topic in the appropriate game's forums, then work directly with those who want to help in creating a mod to share. And authors are free to request suggestions and feedback on their working mods in the Comment threads.

 

But atm, one may not post "non-working", "partial", or "this is just a rough idea, please help" items in the Files Areas. :armscrossed:

 

(Just wanted to make sure we're all on the same page regarding what's allowed on the Nexus in the first place. :thumbsup: )

 

just to be clear. if a mod works on my (legal) copy of the game, can i upload it on the nexus for testing purposes?

clearly mentioning that it is for testing compatibility to everyone else's copy of the game?

[Stormcrown]

I'd like this.

 

Quite often mods like Arthmoor's Open Cities Skyrim only include 2/5 cities (example) but it's not very prominent in the description.

 

To explain a bit more.

 

"Open Cities Skyrim" ~The title implies that all cities are open. It would just be nice to have a flag that says "Hey! This is still a work in progress". Even for reasons that I like to see WIP mods and download them, hopefully giving helpful feedback. I've installed mods ONLY because they are WIP and the modder wants some feedback and bug testing.

 

Although the staff here are explaining that people would start posting placeholders and barely-started mods with the WIP tag. It would cause a lot of work for the staff unless it was explained correctly, and I'm not sure it can.

 

Although the staff here are really smart! I'm sure they can do it!

Edited February 10, 2012 by Stormcrown

[Thandal]

::edit:: maybe I should change WIP to alfa on my mods headline? :)

Yup, that might help! :biggrin:

 

(But in English, it's spelt "alpha".)

[SHazardous]

::edit:: maybe I should change WIP to alfa on my mods headline? :)

Yup, that might help! :biggrin:

 

(But in English, it's spelt "alpha".)

 

hehe, thanks for correction. Was actually wondering it didn't look right, but well close enough. :D