With the new Null topic that spun off into a discussion of SEN's competitiveness once SCII comes out, I started wondering if SEN is improving at this point. Is anything being coded?

I ask, because if IP doesn't have the time to devote to SEN anymore (which would definitely be understandable, and I'd never blame him for this), I believe that the smart decision would be to switch to Latova. Here's the link to static Maplantis. Now, I don't believe that we should drop SEN for Maplantis, but rather that we move SEN to Latova, creating SENv6. We would preserve the administration of SEN, we would preserve the forums. Assuming that IP is inactive:

Advantages:
-Latova is incredibly fast. I think it loads maybe four times faster than SEN, probably more.
-The DLDB and Wiki modules, I believe, are superior to SENs own.
-Latova was, I believe, made so that modules would easy to implement.
-The user system is more welcoming and less elitist, due to absence of minerals, medals, name colors or other separators between members. This'll appeal more to new members once SCII comes out. I wouldn't be against a Karma system, though.
-Streamlined. SENv5 is extremely bloated, with two minigames and a store that don't work, a polling booth that no one uses, Wiki and Tutorials overlap, and several other things.

Disadvantages:
-Probably impossible/difficult to port all members/posts/topics.
-No Review module. However, our current one is so basic that this isn't much of a loss. I think it won't be difficult to write a new one.
-No Map Night/Mod Night modules. See above.
-No 'Favorites'. I'll actually miss this. I hope this would be rewritten.
-IP's v5 work goes to waste. This is really my biggest reservation.

A SENv6 based on Latova would, I believe, be awesome. A green-based skin with the options to switch to that of Maplantis might bring back some members who left after the 'merger'. The DLDB system is good enough to compete with that of WCIII-based possible competitors for being #1 SCII mapping website. The Wiki is more intuitive and easier to use than our current Wiki, and, really, none of these potential competitors have one.

Looking back on it and discarding my 'loyalty' to SEN, the moderation there was ideal - people called it the best place for 'serious' modders (and presumably mappers), yet it was lenient enough to sticky the 'Evil Horde' topic and let people have some fun. Maybe it's nostalgia...

Again, if you guys are planning a major revision and streamlining of SEN, then this idea should go out the window. However, I don't think you are, so I'm suggesting this.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Oct 4 2009, 7:29 pm by Centreri.

This comparison cannot be made fairly on two different servers.

Isn't Maplantis now on the same server as SEN?

The static one is.
I should probably look into stealing stuff from it.

And I was talking about the static one. It's VERY fast compared to SEN. 200 milliseconds to load almost any page. Many in 100 milliseconds.

Yes, but there's far fewer people accessing it.
Though I don't know if that matters.
I guess we can say that you win this round.

If it's the same server, than those people accessing SEN would also effect me accessing Maplantis, no?

So you don't want to do it?

I did not intend to be the spark of a great fire, but I do support this. Maplantis was accessible, complete and competitive. We can probably implement certain features that we miss?

Your to do list will shrink noticeably fast.

As long as the name remains SEN, I'm happy with the proposed changes. The only question is, will anyone do the coding.

Even if latova wasn't used, the features would be nice.

This is, in my opinion, a disadvantage. The more members there are, the more important such distinctions of rank and prestige become. It is in a small group that you don't need them.

I would like to see a Latova skin that in some way resembles SEN.. otherwise it would not feel like SEN. I would offer to code, but I really don't have the time anymore now that summer is over.

Yes, a greenish skin for Latova, to make it SEN-like, with the option to switch to the Maplantis skin for those who liked that.

Separators between members have to be better-done than on SEN currently. I dislike the icon way to differentiate, and simply think that the best way to do it on SENv6 would be to create the 'regular', etc member groups. People who the administrator believes deserve it would be relegated to the appropriate user group. No need for icons or minerals. This could probably be done without coding, as the user groups already exist as a Latova feature.

I believe IP said if he ever wanted to write a v6, he was going to do it in ASP.

Who knows why, just cut loses and go Latova.

Me wants minerals, raffle 50/50 and magic boxes

They're already removed from SEN anyway. Might as well support the Latova movement.

There's also the pride issue. I don't think IP could ever swallow his and use Latova, even if it would be better for SEN.

There's the question of how active IP is at this point.

We all know IP is as active as a 90 year old's libido. There isn't much we can do. Unless you want to go beg Yoshi to come save us, not that he will.

We can... wait for it...

Do what I suggested in post #1.

Let's be realistic:
IP is never going to throw away v5 for Latova. He isn't going to do v6 on Latova. v9001 isn't going to be Latova because IP doesn't like the way its coded, or its coder for that matter.

Yes I think Latova is a better choice for SEN, but we aren't going to get it, no matter how much better it may be.

Take it up with IP Cent, as he's the only one in the way of SEN vLatova.

Oh. I forgot. IP provides the money to keep SEN running, right?