Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register
YaBB - Yet another Bulletin Board
 
Midnight Mansion Forums
    
from
   
ActionSoft




Latest news!

February 2025's updates of custom mansions are:
- for MM1 Sky Boxes (version 1.3) by Semi-Native
January 2025's updates of custom mansions are:
- for MM1 The Bat House (version 1.1) by Chippy
- for MM2 Brave New World (version 1.1) by Freddy
- for MM1 Art minds mansion (version 1.1) by Veronika
December 2024's updates of custom mansions are:
- for MM2 Hanging Gardens of Babylon (version 4.1) by Freddy, SandyBean, Josephine and brell
- for MM1 Cheetah Castle Easy (version 1.2) and Cheetah Castle Normal (version 1.2) both by Catwoman.

New to the forums?

Go ahead and register! Why register? Click here to find out the difference of being a guest and a member. After you're done, go here to learn how to start posting. Make sure you've read and agree with the rules of posting here!
The forums are run by three administrators. Read here who they are and what you may (and may not) expect from them.

A brief history of the game
At first there was Midnight Mansion, now often called MM1. This game package was for Mac only and contained 8 mansions, each on easy, normal and hard level. Above that there was a builder included, so that customers could design mansions themselves.
Then there was Midnight Mansion HD, now abbreviated as MM1 HD for both Mac and Windows. It contained the 3x8 mansions from MM1 plus 3x a bonus mansion: Tomb of Princes. All in high definition!
Actionsoft's latest game, Midnight Mansion 2: The Haunted Hills, includes 28 mansions with a lot of new features. The 8 built-in mansions have 3 difficulties along with 4 extra custom mansions. Yes indeed, the MM2 package also has an included builder to create mansions!

Custom mansions

In the past decades several customers started experimenting with the builders. Creating rooms. Talking about it on the Midnight Mansion Forums. Sending their own designed mansions to other board members to test them. And finally sending them to the administrators of MMF.
Result? Nearly 200 extra mansions are downloadable from these boards and some of them have over 100 rooms.
If you like to download custom mansions, go to the General Custom Mansions Area (Mac and Windows) where you find the lists with all the download spots.

  HomeHelpSearchLoginRegister  
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
Mansion Repository (Read 14817 times)
ryos
Explorer
Offline


Colorado, USA

Posts: 243
Utah, USA
Gender: male
Mansion Repository
15.02.2007 at 11:34:47
 
Hey,

I'm a little concerned about the way the mansion repository works right now. For one thing, it's a lot of work for Freddy! I mean, even though I'm sure he doesn't mind, even the most devoted of volunteers burns out eventually. Circumstances change, and, even if it's a few years down the line, someone always needs to maintain that repository.

It's also inflexible for the users in that it doesn't store much information (only as much as Freddy maintains by hand). It seems impermanent as well; I mean, it's all stored by the forum software's upload facility, right? Well, what if you decide you want to change forum software?

Etc., etc. What I'm saying is, we need a dedicated mansion repository. For an example of what I'm thinking, have a look at Ambrosia Software's addon files repositories--they have one for each of their games. Under such a system, anyone can upload, but an administrator must approve an upload before it becomes available for download. Approving (or denying) a submission would be as easy as pushing a button.

What's more, we could store metadata such as description, version, author, date, download count, etc. We could even allow for user ratings. You get the idea.

This isn't just an idle suggestion; I'm willing to put my money (or time, at least) where my mouth is. I would volunteer to write the code (or help out at the least) needed to get this up and running. I'm working my way through school as a webmaster for a University department ( http://www.elc.byu.edu ), but I think I could steal a few hours of MM playing time to work on it. Wink

What do others think?
Back to top
« Last Edit: 16.02.2007 at 12:07:25 by Freddy »  

"Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking.  (Hint: this is impossible)" -Randall Munroe
 
IP Logged
 
Psychotronic
Explorer
Offline



Posts: 174
Alaska
Gender: male
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #1 - 15.02.2007 at 13:53:45
 
I agree a hundred-fold. We had something a lot like that two forum sites ago, and I think it worked pretty well. The only thing you need is somebody checking submissions fairly regularly.

I'm also in favor (although I think most here would disagree with me) of the user ratings for custom mansions. I bought Ambrosia's Sketchfighter a while ago, and as a new user of the game, I really like being able to scan the custom levels for the best rated ones, so I don't have to deal with as many buggy or wonky levels. It reduces my frustration level with my new product. And when I'm done with those levels, I can always go back and play the others, but it's so nice to have some guidelines when there's a huge repository of add-ons for a game.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
Freddy
YaBB Administrator
*****
Offline



Posts: 1801
Brugge, Belgium
Gender: male
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #2 - 15.02.2007 at 15:42:18
 
Thx for this input. We will surely have a look at it.

But to have no misunderstandings. One of my own demands to Vern was that there was a construction with several administrators. To avoid troubles when one "disappears" or "has a burn-out" etc. That is why we are with three administrators who are ALL able to do the up- and downloading-stuff. So, for example, when I am on holiday next week, MM-life certainly goes on!
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
Alan Falcon
Wanderer
Offline



Posts: 85
Vegas, baby
Gender: male
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #3 - 01.02.2008 at 20:36:28
 
ryos wrote on 15.02.2007 at 11:34:47:
Hey,

I'm a little concerned about the way the mansion repository works right now. For one thing, it's a lot of work for Freddy! I mean, even though I'm sure he doesn't mind, even the most devoted of volunteers burns out eventually. Circumstances change, and, even if it's a few years down the line, someone always needs to maintain that repository.

It's also inflexible for the users in that it doesn't store much information (only as much as Freddy maintains by hand). It seems impermanent as well; I mean, it's all stored by the forum software's upload facility, right? Well, what if you decide you want to change forum software?

Etc., etc. What I'm saying is, we need a dedicated mansion repository. For an example of what I'm thinking, have a look at Ambrosia Software's addon files repositories--they have one for each of their games. Under such a system, anyone can upload, but an administrator must approve an upload before it becomes available for download. Approving (or denying) a submission would be as easy as pushing a button.

What's more, we could store metadata such as description, version, author, date, download count, etc. We could even allow for user ratings. You get the idea.

This isn't just an idle suggestion; I'm willing to put my money (or time, at least) where my mouth is. I would volunteer to write the code (or help out at the least) needed to get this up and running. I'm working my way through school as a webmaster for a University department ( http://www.elc.byu.edu ), but I think I could steal a few hours of MM playing time to work on it. Wink

What do others think?


Someone might e-mail Eric at www.snakequest.com and ask about possibly using his custom system that he built for Snake Quest level files.  I think it is a great system and knowing Eric is probably very flexible.  I know that I've asked for special features such as mansion sets that are "Stickied" as "Editor's Choice" and he implemented that very quickly.  But then, the page was made so long ago that he may not longer have interest/time in updating it for use with another game.  But you'll never know if you don't ask! 

http://snakequest.com/contact.php
Back to top
 

-------> Original Designer of 'Falcon Manor', 'Chateau de Medusa'
-------> Now making iPhone games at FalconEmpire.com
WWW  
IP Logged
 
aquaMat
Expedition Leader
***
Offline



Posts: 1159
Berlin, Germany
Gender: male
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #4 - 01.02.2008 at 23:20:25
 
Although ryos has a valid argument with what he says, I feel the system as it is now is far superiour to that of our early forums.

Freddy and brell are doing a wonderful job here and the system is clear and very easy to handle. I especially like the three different list-forms.
Plus: The admins are very quick with uploading new mansions to the lists.

Also one must not underestimate the amount of control the admins have over the mansions (and new entries) in the current system. And we definitely wouldn't want an "uncontrolled" custom mansion list. (We have "Free Up- And Downloading" for that purpose !)

As long as Freddy and brell are willing to continue their work I see no reason whatsoever to change that system.

Also I feel the information provided about each mansion is sufficient.
Back to top
 

Why is a carrot more orange than an orange ?
WWW  
IP Logged
 
rose
Treasure Hunter
**
Offline



Posts: 976
Sweden
Gender: female
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #5 - 01.02.2008 at 23:48:51
 
My view too, AQuamat!
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
Toybox
Treasure Hunter
**
Offline



Posts: 561
Kiel, Germany
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #6 - 02.02.2008 at 03:47:13
 
ryos wrote on 15.02.2007 at 11:34:47:
This isn't just an idle suggestion; I'm willing to put my money (or time, at least) where my mouth is.


Right, that's it, that's one too many.

What exactly does this expression mean? I've seen it here and there and never quite could grasp what it means. So, might anybody explain in easy words?
Back to top
 

profile picture 'The Book of Secrets'
(c) Marta Bevacqua http://m0thyyku.deviantart.com/
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Toybox
Treasure Hunter
**
Offline



Posts: 561
Kiel, Germany
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #7 - 02.02.2008 at 03:51:14
 
And, to speak about the current topic too, there is always the opportunity to upload freely non-approved Mansions. Maybe there could be some sort of List too, which could:

- on the one hand, make it easier to download fancy experiment,

- on the other hand, for random people to test it and, possibly, for Administrators to pick it and approve it at any time for officialisation?

(I'm not sure whether this is clear?)
Back to top
 

profile picture 'The Book of Secrets'
(c) Marta Bevacqua http://m0thyyku.deviantart.com/
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Alan Falcon
Wanderer
Offline



Posts: 85
Vegas, baby
Gender: male
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #8 - 02.02.2008 at 15:19:06
 
Toybox wrote on 02.02.2008 at 03:47:13:
ryos wrote on 15.02.2007 at 11:34:47:
This isn't just an idle suggestion; I'm willing to put my money (or time, at least) where my mouth is.


What exactly does this expression mean? I've seen it here and there and never quite could grasp what it means. So, might anybody explain in easy words?


It means he is hungry, and all he has is some money in his wallet.  *munch* *munch*

No, just kidding!

It means that he is not just telling someone else to fix it and standing back to watch, he is willing to help out and take on the work himself.  He is willing to actually help out with what he is asking for other people to do. Smiley
Back to top
 

-------> Original Designer of 'Falcon Manor', 'Chateau de Medusa'
-------> Now making iPhone games at FalconEmpire.com
WWW  
IP Logged
 
ryos
Explorer
Offline


Colorado, USA

Posts: 243
Utah, USA
Gender: male
Re: Mansion Repository
Reply #9 - 04.02.2008 at 09:51:33
 
Wow, this is something I didn't expect to see resurrected, a year later. I don't have anything else to add. Smiley

Offer's still on the table. I've actually been wanting to write a web app that does this gracefully and well for quite some time, to release as open source. There are a lot of small/indie companies with products whose users could benefit from such a thing.
Back to top
 

"Fun game: try to post a YouTube comment so stupid that people realize you must be joking.  (Hint: this is impossible)" -Randall Munroe
 
IP Logged
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print