CONSIDERING FORUM CHANGE/UPDATE

[Tom]

I've been playing around with the SIMPLE MACHINE FORUM message board, trying to evaluate its benefits over the current phpBB used at Quest Studios.  I've heard any number of times that the SMF board is more secure than the phpBB system.  I don't have any experience with SMF boards, though.  The features look nice, and there seems to be more of them than what's available with phpBB.

An available php converter utility (converts from phpBB, to SMF) is available, and my initial test run seems to have worked; I was able to convert all of the current phpBB categories, threads, and posts, and most of the member list.  I'm still working with that.

I'm interested in making this change because, for some reason, the phpBB forum backup function no longer works; hasn't for the last couple of version releases.  I've been backing up the MySQL database, instead -- but because of its size, I'm not sure I'll be able to restore it through phpMyAdmin.  In fact, I'm sure I won't be able to.  (My hosting service can still restore, though...in case of an emergency.)

Does anyone have any opinions or comments about the SMF system that you can share?  I know it has some "gee-whiz" features, but I'm also  interested in its ease of use and functionality, especially from an administrative perspective.

Thanks!

Tom

[Laust]

I don't have any personal experiecnes with SMF, but I can attest that phpBB isn't really all that great (user administration in particular - deleting spam accounts takes ages and involves lots of clicking).

If you have a 2nd board set up, maybe you can let some of regulars run wild on it to get second opinons?

[Tom]

I'll do that tomorrow.  I just screwed up the existing SMF board by trying to manually overwrite a database table to it.  Oopps.  At present, I haven't been able to transfer any messages past about November or October of 2005, to the SMF board; I'm thinking that it's because of the overall size of the current database is too big.  I may have to prune messages from way back...say 2000-2003...before I can do the full transfer.  It seems to get so far with the transfer from phpBB to SMF, then stops.

Yeah, deleting spam accounts is a bit of a pain with phpBB.  Even though registration requires admin approval, I have to check out each new account.  About 2-3 spam account attempts each day, and about 2-3 new legitimate members each week.  I still need to see if SMF has a better process of handling new members.

[Marten]

I'm only on one forum using Simple Machines (1.1 RC2)... I can't say that I like it very much.  It's useable, but not terribly user friendly.  The notification of updates is complicated.  The calendar feature doesn't integrate with messages as nicely as it could.  It sticks \ before apostrophes in calendar items to automatically escape them... then displays the backslashes on other views.

Most of the sites I visit use phpBB.  I like it a lot.  The layout is usually the same from board to board (this is one of the few sites that doesn't use the typical layout).

Other alternatives:  InfoPOP, Invision Power Board.  Of the two, I'd say I like Invision a bit... but it lacks the "view posts since last visit" feature.

I suspect that one of the reasons phpBB is "insecure" is because it is such a good user-friendly board, it is widely used, and so hackers know if they can find a vulnerability, it gives them access to many bulletin boards all at once.

My recommendation with any bulletin board software is this:  Keep customizations to a minimum, be on the mailing list for updates, and upgrade every time a new patch comes out.

[Laust]

The "View posts since last visit" feature is a requirement, IMO. I lose track in forums where it is not available and find it highly annoying.

I personally like PunBB, but its minimalist approach might not make it suitable for QS.

[Rhizome]

I did have an SMF based forum in the past, but it got hacked. I moved to vBulletin because I got sick of my forums being hacked. I personally wouldn't recommend any free-forum software at all.

[Alistair]

Hey Tom,

Y'know what's ironic? The same topic arised with my message board all of 5 days ago.

Check this out:
http://smc.alienharmony.com

I can't elaborate though, since my webmistress has all the know-how. Also, I'm really busy. But thought I'd post here to say I fully identify.

Basically, I run a YaBB SE board and SMF is the next stage up from YaBB SE.

- Alistair

[Alkarion]

Hm, as the current board works reasonably well, I think keeping old posts should be a priority. I'd be against a board change if some messages have to be dumped in the process.

[Rhizome]

I prefer the forum we have now. I really don't like the layout of SMF after my use of it in the past  :?

[Ari]

I'll do that tomorrow.  I just screwed up the existing SMF board by trying to manually overwrite a database table to it.  Oopps.  At present, I haven't been able to transfer any messages past about November or October of 2005, to the SMF board; I'm thinking that it's because of the overall size of the current database is too big.  I may have to prune messages from way back...say 2000-2003...before I can do the full transfer.  It seems to get so far with the transfer from phpBB to SMF, then stops.

Just out of curiousity, is there any way to get access to the older database at all from before 2003/4?

[Tom]

Ummm...not that I'm aware of, unless I have a backup of it on a CD, somewhere.  I may have backed it up with my other Website files, a few years ago.

I've decided to just let things stay as they are right now with this phpBB forum.  Instead, I'm concentrating on getting the rest of the HEART OF CHINA soundtrack recorded...

[Alistair]

On that note, best of luck with that HOC CD Tom, although luck isn't what you'll be relying on. I (and loads of others) eagerly await it!

- Alistair

[Tom]

Me too!  I'm surprised with how much of this music I've not heard before;  but then, it's always a surprise to me when I pause the game, and the music from various scenes is allowed to play through its entirety.

[Alistair]

Heh. With HOC, it's doubly so because of the 'plot branches', loads of deaths with new music (Dynamix did that a lot), and because the majority of tracks don't play through, as you say.

I also have a folder of extracted HOC MIDI files. Although they don't loop (not hard to make them of course), they will show you EVERY SINGLE musical track from the game (very easy to miss tracks in that game), and they have up to 8 letter title descriptions (for example, FORTKATE.MID, where you find Kate at the warlord's fort- damn, forgot his name!).

Anyway, let me know, email me if you're interested.

Regards,
- Alistair

[Tom]

Definitely interested.  I've recorded around 38 (single and combined) songs from the game, but I doubt I got them all.  Even with a walk-through, I still don't think I've been everywhere possible.  So, if you can send me the MIDI's you've extracted, I'd appreciate it.

There's really not much I want to do with the soundtrack.  I love the MT-32 patches that were used (especially, Brass Pad and Bassoon 1), and how they were used.  Even most of the strings, many which are played pizzicatto, work very well.  Resin City, Nice Strings, and Slow Strings are great MT-32 patches!  The game uses several of my favorite MT-32 sounds, and gives the soundtrack a character of its own.  I don't want to alter that.

[Alistair]

Agreed wholeheartedly! But, I'd be most disappointed if you didn't enhance. Even your usual job, like you did with KQ5, of "stereo-setting" the instruments, panning them in stereo (MT-32 original with a stereo, quieter SC or XG track). I'm sure you could bring out the life of HOC's soundtrack. I personally think most tracks are pretty tedious, but I'm probably in the minority there (I think people remember one or two tracks very well and forget that half the soundtrack is background string/ethnic music! Same goes for PQ3, except with background synth).

http://smc.sq7.org/assorted.HeartOfChina.rar

Although the reverb SysEx commands aren't embedded, you'll see a single controller on channel 1 called (in DOP anyway) "General Purpose #5" (Controller CC #77, I believe). It'll have a value between 1-10, that value is the master reverb amount which should be added into the MT-32 MIDI file.

Regards,
- Alistair

[Tom]

http://smc.sq7.org/assorted.HeartOfChina.rar

Hmmm.... I'm getting a dead link for this location.  
Is it possible for you to 'ZIP' the files instead of using RAR.  I've not had very good luck with using UnRar utilities in the past, for some reason.  Currently, I don't even know where to find an UnRar utility without purchasing one.

Oh, sure...I'm doing all the normal tweaks with panning, balancing, and such.  I've only made it through the Intro thus far, and every track was panned dead center.  Can't imagine why.  I also added a little SC-8850 French horn and strings to the mix.  What I don't want to do is, full instrument substitutions -- updating MT-32 sounds with Sound Canvas sounds, like I usually do...unless it will truly benefit.   (Exceptions will be with Ama, and the  Walall...Lama song, where some SC voices should work well.)

What I like most about this soundtrack is its authenticity.  I would agree that there are some tedious tracks...quite a few.  There's always a couple of games that are remembered as "special" by players (bringing back fond memories), and this is one of mine, so the music probably means more to me than to others.

[Zemus]

The URL is http://smc.sq7.org/assorted/HeartOfChina.rar
I've found WinRAR to be the best one unRAR utility. It can be used for free, but will nag you about registering after a month or so.

[Tom]

Thanks.  Got it, and unRAR'd it.  I'm so use to ZIP files -- been using "PKZip" since 1988, followed by WinZip when Win31 hit the scene.  And now, with DSL speeds as good as they are, compressing a file by a couple of more bytes using RAR over ZIP doesn't really float my boat, as it were.  

[Alistair]

Actually, I haven't even got WinZIP anymore- when I reinstalled XP a few months ago, all I got was WinRAR. It has the lovely right-click and "extract here" feature where you can extract a zipped folder right there, which creates the folder with contents, without opening a program!

Oh, sure...I'm doing all the normal tweaks with panning, balancing, and such. I've only made it through the Intro thus far, and every track was panned dead center. Can't imagine why. I also added a little SC-8850 French horn and strings to the mix. What I don't want to do is, full instrument substitutions -- updating MT-32 sounds with Sound Canvas sounds, like I usually do...unless it will truly benefit. (Exceptions will be with Ama, and the Walall...Lama song, where some SC voices should work well.)

Wally Lama?

Heh, sounds good to me. As for pan center, most Dynamix files seem to be thus. Actually, with HOC I udnerstand why, because some instruments pan themselves while in center. Hmm. I think the bassoon 1 was one. I know the custom HOC orchestra hit was another (but I think all orche hits do). But, check it out. I think there were self-panning patches in the game. Alternatively, a lot of the custom instruments are very resonant, and 'large-sounding' (as opposed to thin, narrow-sounding SC-55 instruments).

Look forward to the results, man.

What I like most about this soundtrack is its authenticity. I would agree that there are some tedious tracks...quite a few. There's always a couple of games that are remembered as "special" by players (bringing back fond memories), and this is one of mine, so the music probably means more to me than to others.

I'd agree with that. I really, really like HOC as well. I think all Dynamix adventure games are wonderful, better than most Sierra ones. Shame the interface sucked (I hate 'one click does all' interfaces). Still, HOC was freakin ' awesome.

I guess that's why Rise of the Dragon's music means a lot to me. I liked it even more than HOC as a game (though it's a close thing), and the music really hit it off with me.

I guess I remember games through their music, and although I love HOC, the music is overall not great (a few awesome pieces, a lot of humdrum background ethnic pieces, also quite short). And I like catchy music, which ROTD has a lot of.

What's your favourite piece? Mine'd be the British Officers' Pub in Istanbul, though the finale and intro's are wonderful, of course.

- Alistair