SC Retro

[Einar Saukas]

Now the last link at the bottom of each game page points back to the same page within Spectrum Computing, except it switches between PRIMARY VIEW and COMPACT VIEW.

Once you switch to COMPACT VIEW, every page link will continue to show all information in COMPACT VIEW too. I still need to finish top bar and advanced search, but everything else seems to work just fine. Please give it a try:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/408 ... t_Renegade

[dfzx]

I'm not quite sure what's happening here. In a fresh web browser, with no SC cookie, I go to this link:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/x-list?label_id=10508

which is the Ocean Software page. Towards the bottom, in the "Associated titles" section I clicked the "100% Dynamite" link:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/111 ... %_Dynamite

which gives me an HTTP bad request error.

That 100%_Dynamite link is the /alt/ one, which is odd. Why is it linking there?

The bottom link on the page is "Battle Stations" which takes me here:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/123 ... e_Stations

which the server delivers correctly. It's still the /alt/ one though (and renders in compact form). Is that expected?

Opening a new tab in the same web browser (Chrome on LInux), going to SC and looking for "Jet Pac" in the search, the link takes me here:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/35942/ZX81/JetPac

which is as expected.


While proof reading this post in "Preview", I clicked the "100% Dynamite" link in the text above and it loaded correctly. But going back to the Ocean page and clicking from there gives the HTTP error. All a bit odd, but I'm supposed to be working and can't investigate further.

[Einar Saukas]

In a fresh web browser, with no SC cookie, I go to this link:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/x-list?label_id=10508

The link you posted is the COMPACT VIEW version of this link:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/list?label_id=10508

Notice how the top section looks different.

Towards the bottom, in the "Associated titles" section I clicked the "100% Dynamite" link:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/111 ... %_Dynamite

which gives me an HTTP bad request error.

You found a bug! Sign '%' has special meaning in URLs. I will fix it ASAP, thanks!

[Rorthron]

Now the last link at the bottom of each game page points back to the same page within Spectrum Computing, except it switches between PRIMARY VIEW and COMPACT VIEW.

Are there any plans to make this more intuitive? I understand you may have needed a workaround initially, but it would be much better with a clearly visible toggle button. The current layout makes this feature almost invisible.

[Einar Saukas]

Are there any plans to make this more intuitive? I understand you may have needed a workaround initially, but it would be much better with a clearly visible toggle button. The current layout makes this feature almost invisible.

I agree this layout needs more work. However I cannot make changes related to cookies without [mention]PeterJ[/mention] but he's way too busy at this time of year. Also I'm depending on [mention]4thRock[/mention] for layout improvements but he's currently on vacation...

I suppose next step would be fixing the header. I have in mind a minimalist layout, perhaps just the small SC logo on the left, quick search input on the right, and a row of smaller buttons below (including "DONATIONS" and "SWITCH LAYOUT". Or perhaps a drop-down menu instead of buttons to save even more space?

Problem is, I have zero experience with layout design and not much available time. But if anyone else is willing to provide the HTML, I will gladly make it work!

[Einar Saukas]

I have been gradually improving the "retro" view whenever I have a little free time.

There's now a navigation bar at the top left corner, that appears when you click on the site logo. It includes a new section where you can see software authors organized by development roles.

There's also a more powerful quick search at the top right. You can now search specifically for software, hardware, book, entity, group, license, magazine. Or you can just keep the default "ALL" to search everything at once.

Please give it a try. Any feedback is welcome!

[arjun]

Wow. Great job Einar! Not only is it blinding fast but the layout is very easy on the eyes. I do have a one suggestion though:


Maybe it's just me but I find the Authors/Contributors section inconsistent with the rest. For starters, the titles should come on the left, just like the other info below the main game title (Aliases, Release Year, etc). This will also allow multiple authors to be indented correctly on the right below one another:

Code: Select all

Code			Mike Lamb
In-game Graphics	Dawn Drake
			Simon Butler
Music			Jonathan Dunn
			Gari Biasillo
In-lay/Poster Art	Bob Wakelin

I think that looks visually better than the confusing way it looks now (for eg when I first saw the page, I was wondering why Simon Butler wasn't credited. lol).

[akeley]

Sorry if I missed it, but is there any way to make the compact view permanent? I would love to use it, I much prefer it to the other one, but if I have to scroll down/click link to get to it I probably won't bother.

[pavero]

Sorry if I missed it, but is there any way to make the compact view permanent? I would love to use it, I much prefer it to the other one, but if I have to scroll down/click link to get to it I probably won't bother.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/x-index.php

[Einar Saukas]

Wow. Great job Einar! Not only is it blinding fast but the layout is very easy on the eyes.

Thanks!

Maybe it's just me but I find the Authors/Contributors section inconsistent with the rest. For starters, the titles should come on the left, just like the other info below the main game title (Aliases, Release Year, etc).

OK, I implemented both options now so it will be easier to compare:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/408 ... t_Renegade

The problem is, listing authors/contributors first looks confusing when there's a lot of information. For instance take a look at this game:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/301 ... m/Ninjajar

Listing roles first will look like this:



Listing authors/contributors first will look like this:



Considering we are aiming for a compact layout, I think the first option works much better.

There are lots of cases like this, such as:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/300 ... e_Brunilda
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/301 ... r_Ababol_2
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/357 ... Pi-Dentity
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/300 ... m/Goku_Mal
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/301 ... trum/X=Y=Z
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/301 ... rs_Revenge

[Einar Saukas]

Sorry if I missed it, but is there any way to make the compact view permanent? I would love to use it, I much prefer it to the other one, but if I have to scroll down/click link to get to it I probably won't bother.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/x-index.php

Right. If you start navigating from this alternate home page, then you always be in alternate mode.

It's easy to distinguish if you are in regular or alternate mode, they have very different headers at the top.

We may also use cookies later to remember user preference. More about this later...

[akeley]

Ok, I've tried it, created my custom Firefox search from that page and now it works perfectly - I always start at Compact. It's brilliant, thanks to all the responsible for this iteration.

And while I'm here, I will repeat my earlier suggestion of implementing an optional Dark style in this version

[Einar Saukas]

I was wondering why Simon Butler wasn't credited.

He's credited, but we currently don't know his roles in the development of that game.

[Rorthron]

Is this a good time to suggest again that "creators" might be a neater replacement for the awkward "authors/contributors"?

[arjun]

OK, I implemented both options now so it will be easier to compare:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/alt/408 ... t_Renegade

The problem is, listing authors/contributors first looks confusing when there's a lot of information.

I see what you mean. Although I wonder if the first layout will be still easy to read when viewed on a narrower screen (mobile for instance)? I honestly prefer the second layout just because it's easier visually to scroll vertically for information than moving horizontally. There is just too much info content in one line IMO. But I think we are down to personal choices here so whichever you decide on is fine, really.

[Audionautas]

I was wondering why Simon Butler wasn't credited.

He's credited, but we currently don't know his roles in the development of that game.

Here we have an interview with Simon Butler himself for El Mundo del Spectrum where he tell us what his role was on Target Renegade. http://www.elmundodelspectrum.com/entre ... on-butler/

"Cuántas veces te has dado realmente cuenta en tu vida como profesional de la industria, lo que Target Renegade significó y significa para nosotros? ¿Puedes realmente medir lo que tú y tus colegas nos disteis con ese juego y cuántos niños (hoy hombres) están agradecidos por una joya así?

En su momento sólo era un juego más. Hice el diseño del juego, de los personajes y de los niveles, pero el trabajo final lo realizó otra gente con mucho talento. Sólo en los últimos diez años he conocido a gente, aquí en Reino Unido, en Francia y en Alemania, que me ha confesado lo que ese juego supuso para ellos. Cuando empecé a trabajar en Alemania, uno de los programadores me pidió que le autografiase una copia impresa de la carátula y se conectó a Internet para decirle a su hermano, que vivía en Turquía, que había conocido a Simon Butler. Lo encuentro extraño, pero me llena de satisfacción haber ayudado a crear algo que ha hecho disfrutar tanto.

Translation:

How many times have you really realized in your life as an industry professional what Target Renegade meant and means to us? Can you really measure what you and your colleagues gave us with that game and how many children (today men) are grateful for such a jewel?

At the time it was just one more game. I did the game, character and level design, but the final work was done by other very talented people. Only in the last ten years have I met people, here in the UK, in France and in Germany, who have confessed to me what this game meant to them. When I started working in Germany, one of the programmers asked me to autograph a hard copy of the cover and went online to tell his brother, who lived in Turkey, that he had met Simon Butler. I find it strange, but it's a great pleasure that I have helped create something that has been so enjoyable.

[Einar Saukas]

Awesome!

I believe an even more literal translation from Spanish would be "I created images of the game, of the characters, and of the levels". Therefore his role was "in-game graphics".

Another mystery solved! Thanks!

[Audionautas]

Awesome!

I believe an even more literal translation from Spanish would be "I created images of the game, of the characters, and of the levels". Therefore his role was "in-game graphics".

Another mystery solved! Thanks!

It was a Googlish translation, but my translation (to be completely understandable) would be something like: "I made the game design, the character design and the level design". Anyway, it would be great to have access to the original English interview from Pablo L. del Rincón to know exactly what Simon's words were. I will ask Pablo if he can send me the original English interview. Stay tuned!

[Einar Saukas]

It was a Googlish translation, but my translation (to be completely understandable) would be something like: "I made the game design, the character design and the level design".

Good point! The word "design" is ambiguous. If he meant "concept/planning of game, characters, and levels", his roles would be "game design/concept" and "level design", but perhaps not "in-game graphics".

Anyway, it would be great to have access to the original English interview from Pablo L. del Rincón to know exactly what Simon's words were. I will ask Pablo if he can send me the original English interview. Stay tuned!

That would be great! Thanks!

[Audionautas]

Good point! The word "design" is ambiguous. If he meant "concept/planning of game, characters, and levels", his roles would be "game design/concept" and "level design", but perhaps not "in-game graphics".

Yes, exactly. In my opinion game design/concept fits with what supposedly Simon said. In-game graphics, instead, seems way too simple or generic for what Simon is discribing. Anyway, I've contacted Pablo L. Del Rincón asking for what Simon exactly said on his interview, because sometimes some things are lost in translation.

[arjun]

Good point! The word "design" is ambiguous. If he meant "concept/planning of game, characters, and levels", his roles would be "game design/concept" and "level design", but perhaps not "in-game graphics".

I pinged Simon Butler and asked him and he said:

I did game and character design.

I take that to mean he did game design and character design, which isn't the same as art.

[Einar Saukas]

I guess it means "game design/concept"?

Thanks!!!

[arjun]

I guess it means "game design/concept"?

Yes, that would be the right term.