Conceptually 2km2kt

[Rob Lang]

[misterecho]

The name is KEETON, and so say all of us.

[Onix]

I guess the main thing most of us can contribute is what features we think would be important. I mean I can code PHP5 but I'm rusty and can't guarantee my code isn't full of flaws. I can write SQL but the most complex I get is using a few group bys and joins. So in the end, if you want it done right, have Rob do it.

Anyway, as a feature, it might not be bad to have the option to post links to games that we host instead of putting the hosting on 1km1kt. Give the links the same sorting and meta tags as the actual files so they're mostly the same. If the sql is storing a link, then why not make the option of having it point off site.

Along with that thought, it would be handy to have a dead link flag that a user could flag and a mod could confirm and then list the link as dead. I don't know if you want to completely kill the meta data or just have it labeled as a dead link in the search. That way the user could know the game existed at one point but has disappeared. They could then ask around if anyone still has a copy.

As a third option, 2km2kt could have a link that points off site, but then if the link is DOA a stored version of the game would then become active and locally hosted if the original poster uploaded one.

Those are just my initial thoughts on that.

[misterecho]

I disagree with the links off site idea. The core reason for 1km1kt being started by OGB (and his missus) was to store games because so many were disappearing. Especially with PDFs being so (relatively speaking) small.

[Rob Lang]

I disagree with the site links idea too. I can see the benefit - easier for the author to update the PDF, track its downloads and so on. However, when Geocities went to the wall, it took hundreds of RPG sites with it. If you go through John Kim's list of free RPGs, the number of Geocities sites there are are incredible. That was a cataclysm but there have been loads of other games that have just quietly disappeared. Icar, The Artefact, Heroes Against Darkness, Warrior Rogue & Mage are all games that have their own sites that aren't going anywhere but they are the tiny minority. It saddens me to say it but it is the biproduct of philanthropy.

I'd rather give Authors more tools on 1km1kt to update new versions, add more files, publicise, link, share and discuss their game than do offsite links.

[Stargazer]

I actually think it would be cool if each Philantropist got his or her own overview page, where you can post some info on the person behind the free games, and find the links to his or her website, blog, social network profiles etc.

I also think the Philantropist should be able to upload a cover thumbnails much like you can do on DriveThruRPG for example. Overall I think it wouldn't hurt to look at DTRPG to get inspirations on what 2km2kt could look like. Yes, it's a shop system, but it's one that a lot of gamers are used to and it actually does a pretty good job of helping people to find out about new stuff they might be interested in.

By the way, if you ever need someone to help you beta test the new site, let me know.

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

I also think it would be cool if both visitors and philanthropists could sign up at the site. That serves several purposes. The site could have a library for each user that tracks which PDFs he or she has downloaded before and also let's the user know if files have been updated.
The uploader should also be able to update his "overview page" and the stuff he or she has uploaded. How much this needs to be subject of moderation is something I don't know. On stores like DTRPG/RPGNow there's actually no moderation at all, but that's probably because a) it's a lot of work and b) the publisher agreement makes sure that DTRPG/RPGNow is not responsible if you upload stuff that's illegal etc.

[Rob Lang]

[Onix]