DarkRadiant Website

[greebo]

As sourceforge provides free webspace for its projects, I put a first version of the DarkRadiant website on the server:

 

http://darkradiant.sourceforge.net/

 

The content is of course static, I don't think we'll need a CMS right now. Feel free to leave feedback and suggestions here.

[OrbWeaver]

Fantastic, very professional looking. I particularly like what you've done with the logo (I noticed this the other day in the About dialog).

[greebo]

Thanks!

 

I have a high-res version of the logo available as well as the Blender source file. I didn't know where to put it, but I think I could create a folder on the FTP. The website source files (photoshop) belong there as well.

[New Horizon]

Yes, very nice looking. Love the new logo as well.

[OrbWeaver]

One addition I think the website ought to have is a brief description of what DarkRadiant actually is, on the front page (perhaps in the space between the two logos?). Coming to the page for the first time, it is not obviousl that DarkRadiant is a Doom 3 editor, for example.

 

If you're feeling in a graphical mood, you could consider whether the new logo could be part of the DarkRadiant icon. I am thinking of two icons -- a 32x32 version of the DR logo for Doom 3-only builds, and the DR logo combined with the Dark Mod gear for Dark Mod builds (i.e. those that include SR and Objectives editors etc).

[sparhawk]

Nice page. Will you put up the daily build there as well?

[SneaksieDave]

Coolnesssss.

 

But one question... What exactly is the logo? I always think "D O E".

[OrbWeaver]

But one question... What exactly is the logo? I always think "D O E".

 

It's based on the 2D splash screen I knocked up when first taking on the project:

 

http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=darksplash1po.jpg

 

It is supposed to represent a dim star, such as a red dwarf (i.e. something Dark and Radiant), as well as being reminiscent of my spider avatar.

[greebo]

One addition I think the website ought to have is a brief description of what DarkRadiant actually is, on the front page (perhaps in the space between the two logos?). Coming to the page for the first time, it is not obviousl that DarkRadiant is a Doom 3 editor, for example.

Yep, agreed, there's should definitely be room for a one-liner. What would you suggest as a catchy description? "open-source Doom 3 level editor" or specialised Doom 3 editor for the Dark Mod? I'm not very good at these titles, obviously.

 

If you're feeling in a graphical mood, you could consider whether the new logo could be part of the DarkRadiant icon. I am thinking of two icons -- a 32x32 version of the DR logo for Doom 3-only builds, and the DR logo combined with the Dark Mod gear for Dark Mod builds (i.e. those that include SR and Objectives editors etc).

You mean the icon that goes along with the executable? I can look into this, I think I had such an icon software some time ago, I'll have to dig through my software folder. Let's see if my creativity has run out for today.

 

Nice page. Will you put up the daily build there as well?

I'm in a split mood, the page is public after all. I don't know if it would it cause any problems, but I can of course go Komag's way and put up a non-linked page which is referenced within these forums only.

[sparhawk]

Well, doesn't matter much, as long as you always use the same link on FTP. I guess that SF would be a bit faster though. For these constant updates I definitely prefer a constant link because then I can bookmark it.

[SneaksieDave]

It is supposed to represent a dim star, such as a red dwarf (i.e. something Dark and Radiant), as well as being reminiscent of my spider avatar.

Aha. That clears up the long mystery.

[greebo]

The snapshot release page is up now: http://darkradiant.sourceforge.net/snapshot.php. I'm gonna use this link in the future when I'm uploading a new snapshot.

[sparhawk]

Oh, good.

[OrbWeaver]

Yep, agreed, there's should definitely be room for a one-liner. What would you suggest as a catchy description? "open-source Doom 3 level editor" or specialised Doom 3 editor for the Dark Mod? I'm not very good at these titles, obviously.

 

How about "An open-source, cross-platform level editor for Doom 3 and the Dark Mod"?

[Komag]

that might read as Doom 3 and the Dark Mod going together, as in you have to have both, that it's really for the Dark Mod, which happens to require Doom 3.

 

I suggest to make it clear that you can use it for just Doom 3 as well, adding "both" - "for both Doom 3 and the Dark Mod", although it begins to get wordy, so I'm not sure if that's best.

[greebo]

What about leaving out the "cross-platform" from the title? It sounds a bit long-breathed otherwise. It would look like this: http://darkradiant.sourceforge.net/

 

Should we include a minimalistic FAQ to address the cross-platform questions?

[OrbWeaver]

Yes, that's fine. "Open-source" carries an implication of "cross-platform" anyway, even though this is not always the case.

[greebo]

That's why I thought it would be good to add some FAQ items to answer this question. I'll create such a page, we can always ditch it if we don't need it.

[greebo]

Heh, I just typed in DarkRadiant in google and the new website is immediately listed top-ranked. I didn't expect that as I never linked anywhere to that page, but obviously the search term "darkradiant" being part of the URI weighs heavily.

 

There are also some Italian and French websites talking about The Dark Mod and DarkRadiant, translating the news from our front page. We're being observed.

[sparhawk]

Wow!

[Crispy]

You're on candid camera!

 

Speaking of foreign languages, I suppose someone will be wanting to translate the mod at some point... I wonder how Doom 3 manages localisation. Hrm.

[sparhawk]

Translation should be easy. There is a big file, that contains all strings and are refered to in GUIs via their string numbers. So you would have just to replace that file with a different language. Don't know about languages where the direction of character printing is different (like chinese or hebrean), but with most other languages this should work.