Cold One
Realjuan
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Hi Everyone,
I want to share a tool/website idea I had for a long while, but I am not sure that there is a need or desire from such a tool. Please let me know EVERYTHING that comes into your mind while you reading, and dont be afraid to be negative or critical about the idea, better to face reality now than after months or years of work. NOTE: I am in early stages of the project, which means a lot may not be needed, missing and change, please take this as a feature instead of a bug.
Main Idea:
To create a model gallery that can be query as a database, keep stock of collections, and find inspirational miniatures.
Bonus: Make the project an addon to forums/websites/blogs. i.e. automatically add an image from your blog update or tweet. OR show your profile/favorite searches as info box on the side.
Examples:
What it will NOT be:
What exist now:
Computer, Blogs, Forums, Facebook, Twitter, CoolMiniorNot and Google
(If you have others, please let me know)
What does not exist: (To my knowledge)
A model first database, your here for the models and if you want to know more you will click on the image.
A collection organizer or tracker. Best would google spreadsheets.
Search for model images base on quality of the model and not the quality of the source. When you search google, the first hits are based on the platform the image is at or how well is tagged. Images of the box of the model are valid according to google.
Use Cases:
Searching for images
Inspiration
Keep Track of your collection
WIPs
Deleted Images
What model/piece is this
Next step:
January
- Feedback from the community.
- Create user management system.
- Create a database for models (names, id, producer, year, etc)
- Create a tool so user can manage their own collections
- Create a dynamic signature creation tool.
Feedback:
Please do tell me everything you want, think or expect from this. Try to keep it respectful and constructive, but if you cannot, send me a PM.
Can I help?
Yes, and I hope you do. I would love to have people that can help me with.
- Editor: Writer/Proof reader posts, tweets, etc.
- Graphic designers
- Test Users
- Programmers
- Information gathers, find/produce well formatted list of models, model parts or paint.
But if you have an idea on how you can help, let me know.
Important questions:
I am pretty sure I am missing some information, so please ask questions and I will update this thread as necessary.
I want to share a tool/website idea I had for a long while, but I am not sure that there is a need or desire from such a tool. Please let me know EVERYTHING that comes into your mind while you reading, and dont be afraid to be negative or critical about the idea, better to face reality now than after months or years of work. NOTE: I am in early stages of the project, which means a lot may not be needed, missing and change, please take this as a feature instead of a bug.
Main Idea:
To create a model gallery that can be query as a database, keep stock of collections, and find inspirational miniatures.
Bonus: Make the project an addon to forums/websites/blogs. i.e. automatically add an image from your blog update or tweet. OR show your profile/favorite searches as info box on the side.
Examples:
- You want to look for models that would fit a 28mm, fantasy, human, etc army. Search and find models that have those tags.
- You want to keep a list of the models you have and which ones you are missing (for collectors).Create a user profile, select a model and add x amount to your collection. Extra, add the status of your models (Painted, Based, and/or add a picture).
- You want to look for inspiration to paint your new models, search for the model name/number and look at what others done before.
What it will NOT be:
- A forum or other social communication interaction platform. (Links to twitter, Facebook or forums)
- Buying/Selling/Trading website. (more info later)
- Anyone's source of income.
What exist now:
Computer, Blogs, Forums, Facebook, Twitter, CoolMiniorNot and Google
(If you have others, please let me know)
Your computer file managing system.
- No matter how organized you are or what naming convention you use your computer file system is not a database or you do not remember what you looking for,
i.e. 2006FinishMineHumanSpearmenRedWhite.jpg
Did you paint it in 2002 or 2003? Or whats the name of that model, the lizard with spiky things.
Blogs, Forums, Facebook, Twitter
- Great to share your images, but not to store or find images a few months after. You need to search for the post, and not the image.
CoolMiniorNot
Cannot narrow your search and the website is (in my opinion) tailor to sell/buy or promote miniatures. Some images are meant to be display for a few weeks or until sold and not after. No tags.
Google, i.e. "Warhammer Spearmen"
Images on the web were not uploaded with enough information to find them, so google gives high value to the source of the image and not the image.
- No matter how organized you are or what naming convention you use your computer file system is not a database or you do not remember what you looking for,
i.e. 2006FinishMineHumanSpearmenRedWhite.jpg
Did you paint it in 2002 or 2003? Or whats the name of that model, the lizard with spiky things.
Blogs, Forums, Facebook, Twitter
- Great to share your images, but not to store or find images a few months after. You need to search for the post, and not the image.
CoolMiniorNot
Cannot narrow your search and the website is (in my opinion) tailor to sell/buy or promote miniatures. Some images are meant to be display for a few weeks or until sold and not after. No tags.
Google, i.e. "Warhammer Spearmen"
Images on the web were not uploaded with enough information to find them, so google gives high value to the source of the image and not the image.
What does not exist: (To my knowledge)
A model first database, your here for the models and if you want to know more you will click on the image.
A collection organizer or tracker. Best would google spreadsheets.
Search for model images base on quality of the model and not the quality of the source. When you search google, the first hits are based on the platform the image is at or how well is tagged. Images of the box of the model are valid according to google.
Use Cases:
Searching for images
Imagine you have 100 or more images of your miniatures, and a few docent of miniatures from friends, examples. No matter how organize you try to be with your files its going to be hard to find one specific miniature. You can name a file by the model name/number, which is easy to figure out when you saving the image but harder to recall when searching for the images months, or years later. Would you like a tool that would add tags to your images, so you can later search using vague details, i.e. Human, Red, Games Workshop, etc?
Inspiration
You just bought a new miniature, but you are not sure how you want to paint it. Sure the box has an example, but you want to think outside the box. You go to google, and search for the miniature name, but you get lot of noise in your search, bad quality images, or images of game play. Would be nice to get images of model only that are meant to be inspiring, and have them ranked by how many times they have inspired other people (inspired=like button). Also if the owner has multiple images of the same model show them to be in an orderly fashion.
Keep Track of your collection
How many miniatures do you have? How many are painted? Tweet, post on a specific thread (in your favorite forum) or update your blog. We will add your image to your profile, and add it to your collection. You could also ask a signature to be made with the details that you want.
WIPs
This would be a model base database, so you will be able to add multiple images of your model. Different angles and in different stages. I would make sure its easy to navigate through.
Deleted Images
You deleted an image, but you dont want to leave a broken link? We will try to do our best to say, "Images has passed away but here is the next similar image or another image from same painter.
What model/piece is this
Imagine you found a model, but you cannot remember the name or other details. Maybe the model still has some production details model number, producer but maybe you do not see any markings. Why not add the details you have to the query and hope for a good result, "Rat, metal, 20mm, sword". The database would return unique model for you to compare, and since the main strength of this project is information, there will be a whole section for people to try and find out name, or details of models and add them to the database.
Next step:
January
- Feedback from the community.
- Create user management system.
- Create a database for models (names, id, producer, year, etc)
- Create a tool so user can manage their own collections
- Create a dynamic signature creation tool.
Feedback:
Please do tell me everything you want, think or expect from this. Try to keep it respectful and constructive, but if you cannot, send me a PM.
Can I help?
Yes, and I hope you do. I would love to have people that can help me with.
- Editor: Writer/Proof reader posts, tweets, etc.
- Graphic designers
- Test Users
- Programmers
- Information gathers, find/produce well formatted list of models, model parts or paint.
But if you have an idea on how you can help, let me know.
Important questions:
Q: How do you going to get the money to pay for it?
A: All work/time to run the website by me or anyone else will be voluntary. As long as I can afford it I will be paying the server, and external requirements by myself. After year I would add a donation option, which would be use ONLY to improve the website and giveaways.
Q: Did I read giveaways?
A: Yes, I cannot promise anything but if life continues as it is. I would try to run small giveaways ($100 twice a year?).
Q: Are you going to run Ads?
A: I would do everything possible not to run ads and would try to keep it ad-free for at least one year. If this doesn't work I would ask the community if they (stores, gaming clubs, blogs, etc) want to place one none-intrusive ad (no pop-ups, clearly label ad, no flashing lights, etc). Worst case, if this is not enough I will add google adsense (or similar), but I will be doing this as a last resort.
A: All work/time to run the website by me or anyone else will be voluntary. As long as I can afford it I will be paying the server, and external requirements by myself. After year I would add a donation option, which would be use ONLY to improve the website and giveaways.
Q: Did I read giveaways?
A: Yes, I cannot promise anything but if life continues as it is. I would try to run small giveaways ($100 twice a year?).
Q: Are you going to run Ads?
A: I would do everything possible not to run ads and would try to keep it ad-free for at least one year. If this doesn't work I would ask the community if they (stores, gaming clubs, blogs, etc) want to place one none-intrusive ad (no pop-ups, clearly label ad, no flashing lights, etc). Worst case, if this is not enough I will add google adsense (or similar), but I will be doing this as a last resort.
I am pretty sure I am missing some information, so please ask questions and I will update this thread as necessary.
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