Post by Shadow on Feb 25, 2015 6:50:39 GMT -5
The Short Story
We’re going to have our own facebook with The Long Story
The full list of features and functions, as it was designed, consists of two parts, the Core Features and Extras. Due to limited technical and human resources, it is currently not possible to program all the features and functions at the same time. The Core Features have No. 1 priority and will be programmed first, while Extras are not necessary for the Parts War or the whole site to function, but they are valuable additions to use by every rider out there, and they will be added later at time.Core Features:
1. Rider’s Profile
2. Stormrider’s Profile
3. Team Leader’s Profile
4. Team Management
5. Riders List (or “Friends” in generic social network)
6. Messaging
7. Groups
8. Events
9. Battles
a. Battle Search Engine
10. Rankings
a. Personal Ranking
b. Team Ranking
11. Archive
a. Results of Battles
b. Deactivated Profiles and Teams
c. Disbanded Teams
12. Reputation System
Extras:
1. Parts Database
a. Blade Configurator
2. Tricks Database
a. Roads Chart
3. Map
4. SMS Notifications
5. Additional Languages
And now, a few words about each feature.
Core Features
Rider’s Profile
The home page of the each Parts War user. Here user can edit his profile, upload a picture of self (avatar), specify contact methods and links to other networks, so other riders can find him or her and get in touch. Also, there’s some rollerblading-specific fields (it is rollerbladers social network after all), such as Riding Style, Mastered Tricks, Current Setup. Riders are allowed to use all of the networks functions, except of those related to the Parts War system itself (Riders can’t send challenges, create teams within Parts War system and participate in official battles). To become an eligible Stormrider, Rider must provide a Personal Emblem image and a New Stormrider name (which cannot be changed later, same rules as for the team creation apply).
Stormrider’s Profile
If a Rider provides a Personal Emblem image he or she becomes a Stormrider, a totally rightful participant of Parts War activities. Stormriders gets an update to his or her profile, which will include tools to find and manage battles and territories, “Battle Statistics” (run by Staff) field with all the wins, losses, total number of points, current Rank and current Class. Everything else is the same as in the standard Rider’s profile.
Team Leader’s Profile
Every Stormrider is allowed to start a team at any time. To do so, Stormrider must send a request, which includes new Team Name, Team Emblem Image, and links to other Stormriders profiles, which would be his teammates. Stormriders mentioned in the Team Creation Request receive a notification that they are invited to a team, and can accept or decline the request. If at least one rider accepts, the team is created. All team members must be registered Stormriders to participate in team battles. The rest of team mechanics works according to the official Parts War rules.
Team Management
Team Leader receives another update to his profile, which includes tools for team management. Team Leader has total control over his team, Leader can invite and expel members, send challenges to other teams, manage battles. His team however, has some rights as well, team member can leave a team if he or she wishes to, suggest a challenge to the Leader, expand territory by placing a team sticker, vote up/down if some important decision is being made (like invitation of a new member).
Riders List (or “Friends” in generic social network)
It’s a generic friends system that works like in any other popular social network, except that it’s named differently. Here you will be able to manage your contacts and send messages.
Messaging
This feature also follows the working model of popular social networks, without any specific changes, so there’s nothing really to describe, go to your FB page and go to Messages: it will be pretty much the same.
Groups
This feature is also based on a other social networks working model, but with several adjustments. Any registered Rider/Stormrider can create/join Groups. Only restriction that is applied to all participants is geo-location, all group members must be of one city or country. Also group admins choose what kind of riders to invite, according to Road, Style, or everyone. Then, there will be 2 types of groups, Official ones and Non-official.
Official Groups are created by Area Generals and backed by the Parts War Staff. Area General has full control over the assigned group, can invite/ban members, create events, etc.
Groups are intended to help Stormriders to organize locally and have a form of a message board. Only members of a group can post and reply messages, file sharing is disabled. However it would be allowed to share links to external resources. A group has one main message board by default; Group Admin sets all rules, such as “Who can create new topics” or “Who can comment”, etc.
Events
This section serves as an announcement board for all the events happening in the Parts War system, it may be a Stormriders meeting, Official Gram Scale Tournament, local Battles or other kinds of events.
Battles
Now this is where things get more Parts War related. Here Stormriders will manage their official challenges: if being challenged, design a challenge: set a route, stake, time; send a challenge to friend or any other Stormrider. All battles are announced in the Events sections and can be seen/visited by anyone.
Battle Search Engine
If you’re searching for a challenge or some specific parts, this is your place. Here you will be able look up for Stormriders to battle; you will be able to search by name, within a city/state/country, by points, class, total number of battles, wins, losses, available and wanted parts. The search will be returning a list of riders according to specified criteria.
Rankings
And this, boys and girls, your source for your ego, the Global Ranking system. All registered Stormriders and Teams (Personal and Team Rankings are separate), a listed in the Global Ranking system. By default, it will show all the registered Stormriders and their statistics: total number of battles, total number of points, wins, losses, current class, city, state, country. You will be able to use filters, such as per country, city, class and several more.
Personal Ranking
A separate list where you’ll be able to see what’s your place in the Parts War world and find out who’s who for sure. Ranking goes by country, state/region, city, riding style, points, class, total number of battles, wins, losses, road type and reputation. Also you can apply filter to the ranking board, based on any of the above parameters, or even all at once and see, for example, who’s the most respected rider in your city, or who’s the best C-Class rider in your country.
Team Ranking
As the name states, here you will be able to see all currently registered and active teams and their global rank. Same working mechanics and principles apply as to the Personal Ranking.
Archive
Here results of battles, deactivated profiles and teams will be stored, for the sake of preserving history of the project and for statistics.
Results of Battles
Each battle, after it’s finished, will be stored in this section. This will help to keep track on Stormriders and teams activity.
Deactivated Profiles and Teams
If a team chooses to disband on its own, or a Stormrider decides to quit battling and become an ordinary rider again, their profile are archived to this section.
Disbanded Teams
When a Stormrider or Team loses emblem, their profiles will be disabled and archived to this section.
Reputation
Each action you make in the Parts War Network, a comment you post, a battle won or lost, a challenge thrown, will be judged by people. Reputation system works similar to the “likes” system in popular social network, except for that you will be able to “dislike”, namely +Rep/-Rep. For example, if you’ll be boasting about your last win like it was a piece of cake, those who actually saw the battle, and rivals, will quickly show how bad it is to boast. If you will be nice to your fellow riders and won’t talk more than needed, you’ll be likely to become the one of the most respected riders in the Parts War Network.
Extras
Parts Database
Ever wanted to know some specific details on a certain boot or frame? Well, soon you’ll have that possibility; the Parts Database will be the fullest and most detailed resource on blades and parts ever. Each part will have its separate file with the complete information about it. Anyone will be able to add info, but not without moderation, we aim to keep the resource of unnecessary and biased opinions and thought, just the numbers and facts.
Blade Configurator
An even more interesting function: The Blade Configurator. It will use files from the Parts Database as its resources, which means that the more parts you add to the database the more there will be in the Configurator. But due to the technical limitations, the Configurator will allow to change only following parts: the boot, the frame, each separate wheel and bearings within it. Each configuration you make will have a Performance Summary, which will show in what your setup is best, total weight, and other several useful things. You will be able to save and share setups with friends within the Parts War Network and other sites. Also, all the stuff uploaded and updated will be moderated by the Parts War staff, to keep info in proper shape and look.
Tricks Database
Ever had hard time to find a decent tutorial on a certain trick or got lost in a dozens of definitions of the same trick? Well, no more! Our trick database will be aimed at making and preserving the most detailed trick data ever. Each trick will get a separate file with description, detailed text and video tutorials, many pictures and other useful info. Though trick combos (180 Spin + Mute Grab) will not be covered, it’s up to rider to combine any known tricks into his or her own unique style. Information on the tricks will be added by users and moderated by Parts War Staff as well.
Roads Chart
Our Road System won’t go anywhere either, each trick in the Trick Database is used in the Roads Chart. Each Road will have a specific trick pattern, with trick most suitable for a specific Road. One trick can belong to several roads, however. The function serves more like for entertaining purposes, rather than a guide or something.
Map
This is your place to know what’s happening in your neighborhood, city, country and the whole world. Map will display many various places to visit: spots, meeting, battles, team territories, trick passes. Even more functions might be added in future.
SMS Notifications
If there’s a challenge being sent to you, or you receive a message, or there’s a major event or meeting nearby, the site will drop an SMS onto your phone to keep you informed.
Additional Languages
As we aim to unite the riders of the whole world, we’ll be adding new languages to our Network and try to make national and language barrier a bit thinner. We all ride under one sky.
The Current State
Most of the working mechanics and logics are finished and will get minor updates when necessary. Currently the actual interface and graphic design is being in development. As I’m just a designer, I’m having hard times choosing the technologies for the project and require help of the technical specialists. Current questions are as follows:1) Should the site function using an existing engine (CMS/CMF) or it’s better to develop a new one, specific for the project.
2) Which mapping engine should be used for the “Map”?
Also, most likely, I’ll require help setting up all those things, as I have little experience in the actual web-development. The problem is that the amount of work to be done is huge, and I hardly image some programmer to help us just for kudos. If you happen to know such a dude though, point him to this topic and ask if he can make all this real.
The Conclusion
After all above said, you shall be able to imagine how it will (I hope) work. It will be an international social network for Riders, by Riders, with all the necessary tools and information to develop oneself as a rider. It shall be interesting to use not only by those who look for a challenge, the Stormriders, but also for ordinary riders, who want to know more about technical aspects of riding, find new friends to ride with and watch Stormriders battle each other for parts, territories and respect.So, I’ve covered the most of the new things, if you have questions feel free to ask.