I need to get a handle on what's going to get priority in my off-work development time over the next few months. There are some things I would like to accomplish before certain times, specifically in regard to Less Than Slash, that are sensitive to certain events out of my control. So I'm just going to list a few of my projects and their current kinda-statuses.
Welcome to my world. Since something happens to me every day, usually boring, but sometimes worth talking about, I should really have an update here every day, regardless of length. But I would like some quality materials, nonetheless.
Development-wise, I would like to re-add the archive feature, which is still there, but not linked-to because it's not in the new site format. Getting at the Abby-specific articles is too hard without a user-side channel feature like that. This will need to be done soon, or I'll just end up changing it again for my next site layout.
Nobody seems to know what I have in mind for this site. I was thinking about showcasing some good javascript or flash or something there, but I just don't have anything like that. Perhaps I'll use it as a kind of web-based photo album. This is certainly a far cry from the roleplaying platform it used to be. But I'm using Midnight Circus as my "Doing Business As" name these days, so it's possible that when I actually focus and specialize my contract work I'll be able to set up shop here.
I haven't really explained this idea to anyone's satisfaction. Basically, I wanted to create a fictional world in which people could sign up to do online script-based combat. It wouldn't be very graphical in nature, but more word, style, and statistic oriented. I was thinking of modeling it somewhat after one of the fighting/superhero RPG games, like Streetfighter or Champions. Something with rules that beg to be tweaked for absolute resolution on the web.
I've had this domain forever, and haven't done anything with it yet. Someday, Brian and I will figure out how to make this game click somewhere other than on POGs.
This site I have a lot of plans for, and they involve setting up for the coming school year. Basically, I want LTS to be a destination for students learning XHTML. I want LTS to be their tool, and I want them to pay a couple bucks to use it.
I don't think this idea is too far-fetched. I'm getting about 50 downloads per week. If I get convince only one of those people to fork over $10, then I pay off all of my advertising.
I was considering setting up some kind of word-of-mouth affiliate program in which a person can get a $2 rebate (or something) if they get a friend to mention them when they buy a copy. This would hopefully be through some kind of banner or link, so that the advertising sprials and shows some impact on Google so I don't have to advertise any more.
But I'll have to update LTS to include a pay-worthy feature. Not that there arean't already features that are worthy of money, just that it needs refined and one essential thing needs to be turned off so that people can pay for it. Well, what can I say? I have to pay for this site somehow.
Talking to Berta this evening leads me to the conclusion that PageCat is doomed as a commercial product. This doesn't mean that I'll not be updating it. After all, I use it for my site and so does Bud, so it's going to need updating. But others in the field are so far ahead that it will be very difficult to catch up.
I have recently gotten some interest from qualified parties in getting the old ASP code running in PHP. I think the project might be worthwhile. It's just a lot of work. RPG Wire is one of the most complex things I've coded for the web. At least it seemed so when I did it. It will be even harder this time because PHP doesn't natively support xml xpath, which is used all throughout the RPG Wire code. I have found PHP libraries to compensate and hopefully they'll do the job. If I pick up the work in PHP, that is.
And if I do revide the internal code, I'm going to revitalize the site, too. I think that some kind of phpNuke structure for the home page with news and links might be a good idea. I will probably pull this info from other pages if I do such a thing. This is all just speculation at this point.
And so with my list of sites all listed, I bid the list goodnight. All I have energy for tonight is this one simple article. None of this is ever going to get done, is it?
