Rebuilding The New Website

[trainzamtrakfan]

Hello All:

Due to some good,friendly Tips from JohnK .. I will ask anyone to tell me what kind of content should be avilable on this upcoming website.


Any Suggestions please leave a reply;

Andre


p.s. This Is On the Same Platform as the old website but with a huge difference..
Date due : 1/15/2010

 

[Wessex_Electric_Nutter]

Date due : 1/15/2010

Is it finished yet? Heres a big tip, DON'T ANNOUCE DATES! And don't use freeweb templates, your site looks like just another clone. The idea with websites is to be creative, use your own work to be creative if you can. (If you use anyone elses work, check the copyright.)

 

[gary6204]

Hello All:

I will ask anyone to tell me what kind of content should be avilable on this upcoming website.

i have to say some routes, locos and rolling stock, and buidings.

Wessex is right, try to be creative, maybe do a google search and see if there are templates available there.

 

[mjolnir]

One thing that is needed is a set of companion pages to Obo's locomotive catalog. I'd would be a great service to the community to have a site where one can see the various types of freight and passenger equipment available from DLS and the various third party sites.

ns

 

[Disturbnthapeace]

trainzamtrakfan,

i suggest you should make trainz content like msts clones for trainz . it would be a good idea

 

[trainzamtrakfan]

thank you all for the advice, but i will be making only routes , i do not know how to make any trainz ,or objects ,but routes i will make myself , with content from other websites , but only with their permission..

The dates thing is just an approximation . it will not actually open on that date

 

[trainzamtrakfan]

Is it finished yet? Heres a big tip, DON'T ANNOUCE DATES! And don't use freeweb templates, your site looks like just another clone. The idea with websites is to be creative, use your own work to be creative if you can. (If you use anyone elses work, check the copyright.)

Dates get people ready to embrace everything ..

 

[NIARTcar]

you can always go with the old faithful statement:

it will be ready soon© :hehe:

 

[trainzamtrakfan]

you can always go with the old faithful statement:

it will be ready soon© :hehe:

:hehe: :hehe: :hehe: :hehe: :hehe: :hehe: :hehe: funny , but you have seen the date above, but its just an approximation

Andre J.

 

[StorkNest]

One thing that is needed is a set of companion pages to Obo's locomotive catalog. I'd would be a great service to the community to have a site where one can see the various types of freight and passenger equipment available from DLS and the various third party sites.

ns

Obo's catalog does that, it just hasn't been updated enough, don't know why.

 

[mjolnir]

Obo's catalog does that, it just hasn't been updated enough, don't know why.

Well, it's titled "Obo's Locomotive catalog", and while I didn't look for any "easter eggs", I didn't see an obvious link to a catalog of passenger and freight cars.

ns

 

[trainzamtrakfan]

true true. i need more content from obo's trainz magazine

 

[Wessex_Electric_Nutter]

Wessex is right, try to be creative, maybe do a google search and see if there are templates available there.

And even if your route requires it, don't redistribute others work, look here:
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~burgess/pages/Mk3s.html

This is due to be replaced in the future anyway.

I did add a lot more to my post to get you to think a lot more, but it didn't make it in the edit.

A good successful site is one well designed, one that is categorised correctly, complete and you can reach your info in 3 clicks.


- Before you start, specify what it needs to do, what monitor size you are catering for, etc. By the way, NEVER make a web page that fills the size of your own monitor, use another compute with a lower screen resolution if possible. (There is nothing worse than scrolling sideways to read the information.)
- Draw a design out, if you want to go full colour, do, but you don't need to go that far! (Wheres my RIPRO book?) Draw a structure, show how you are going to organize it, show where everything is going to go and then do a story board. What happens when a visitor clicks a link? Does it take them anywhere?
- Be visual, visitors LOVE images, but avoid a big block of text. Text is there to support the image.
- NEVER use mailto links! http://www.ianr.unl.edu/internet/mailto.html Use contact forms, I've used one and it was a simple PHP script I nicked (Yes, I checked the licence) and included in a site.
- Avoid background music, there is nothing more irritating than background music that appeals to no one, you know that don't you trainzamtrakfan!
- Avoid some of the more crappy stuff, no one wants to know really.
- Use a good sense of english. Dis iz nt hw u rite, tis jst anoyik.
- Offer freebies to attract site visitors.
- Spam it to draw attention, but in a discreet way. What about your signiture, your profile, etc? What about if someone wants something? Promote it.
- Don't be afraid to push the creative boundry!
- Have fun.


When it comes to hosting, avoid free sites! Pay for it if you can, mine is hosted free as I know the guys that deal with website hosting, but the domain cost me a little less than £6 for 2 years. When it comes to domain, think of something thats not been done, like www.elephant.co.uk, apparently, it was only registered to an insurance company, as no one thought of using it for insurance.

 

[Wessex_Electric_Nutter]

true true. i need more content from obo's trainz magazine

Looking at this idea that I missed earlier, I would avoid it, while it is OK to link sites, not many would be happy with you hosting their own content, especially if you are redistributing it as your own.

 

[trainzamtrakfan]

Obos content will be for my personal use only

 

[xero]

Diesel Locomotives of Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern and CSX!!!!! Evolution Series Locomotives!!!!

 

[Johnk]

I've been absent for a couple of days, but I really need to add my ten cents worth here.

For starters, Wessex_Electric_Nutter is offering some really good advice. Designing a web site is a bit like writing a book. Firstly you need something to write about, then you have to decide if there are any prospective readers out there. I'd be inclined to develop the routes first, then create a web site if and when you have enough routes finished to attract visitors.

I'd really like to comment on mjohir's suggestion and Storknest's response.

A few months ago, someone in these forums told me that the Trainz Resources Directory was more or less a clone of Obo's Trainz Locomotive catalog. That surprised me because I've spent a lot of time on Obo's site and there's no resemblance whatsoever. I consider the Directory to be unique in almost every respect and that's why I created it.

When I started the Directory last year, I spent many months doing exactly what mjohir suggested. I catalogued a thousand or more assets and started listing them on my home server. As the people from Auran will attest, the directory became massive and it was obvious that I would never be able to afford a dedicated server to run the thing. I then approached the concept from a different angle. I created very generalised listings of in various categories, but even these listings became a nightmare. The time I spent researching each web site was astronomical. I think I spent about 20 hours on Vulcan's site alone.

It became clear to me that this wasn't a project I could maintain, or justify on my own so I completely removed the Assets section from the Directory.

I've just turned the Asset Section back on for you to take a look and hopefully see what a massive undertaking it would be. The project was never finished and there are only a hundred or so listings representing around 1,000 assets. Because it's not part of the Directory, there are several missing images, very limited descriptions and only a couple of content creators actually listed. Take a look anyway and head to this thread to read my suggestions and post your comments"

Do we need an independent Asset Registry - Debate

Please don't enter into further discussion about an asset registry here because it's off topic.

Thanks

 

[deeelare]

I've been absent for a couple of days, but I really need to add my ten cents worth here.
For starters, Wessex_Electric_Nutter is offering some really good advice. Designing a web site is a bit like writing a book. Firstly you need something to write about, then you have to decide if there are any prospective readers out there. I'd be inclined to develop the routes first, then create a web site if and when you have enough routes finished to attract visitors ... snip ...
Thanks

trainzamtrakfan,

Follow Johnk's advice , reread some of your own threads regarding starting a site , listen to the advice given , and give it some attention ! Do a search on 'websites' here on the Forum .
You have decided to delay your opening until January , I seriously doubt if it will be a sucess even by then , you appear not to take suggestions and advice well ?

Sorry , Simply my thoughts --- ,DLR

 

[Johnk]

trainzamtrakfan,

Do a search on 'websites' here on the Forum .

Sorry, but that would have to be the worst possible way to look for other Trainz web sites. Just go to the Trainz Resources Directory, click on Web Sites and you'll find every (or almost every) Trainz community web site know to man, woman and child. You can visit any one of the 150 plus sites in 10 seconds, compared to an exhausting forum search which would take you ten days and still only come up with half the sites out there. I know!

Sounds like you haven't visited the directory yet deeelare You don't know what you're missing!

 

[deeelare]

Johnk ,

My suggestion on searching was for the purpose of anyone attemping to start their own website . How many have attempted to do so , the difficulties , and the failures . It is not as easy as some believe ! I was not very clear in posting my thoughts .

And I agree , Trainz Resources Directory is an excellent access to exsisting Trainz sites .

--- ,DLR