What do you think about the NEW Download System?

Okay, I guess I'll list my pros/cons here too. I voted that it okay, but needed changes btw.

Pros
Not anything really specific here

• The general layout and sorting of files seems to be more organized
• It doesn't seem like a cookie cutter generic dl site
• Rating System
• Ability to update and manage your information without making multiple listings for the item

Cons
More specific here, and more of them

• The list headings in detail view are off
• Options for # per page is only in some sections
• Icon (or Compact) Display has to reload on mouse over, which can be a major pain on slower computers. (This REALLY needs fixed imo)
• No kind of quality control, which results in some VERY lame submissions
• Names of items are their file name
• Limitations on file types to upload are a pain
• Download links are mixed in with the other site pages, as well as being directed to the main page instead of downloads
• You don't feel like your even participating in something WC3C related because of a different look
• While the the downloads seem non cookie cutter, it does feel like a half done personal web site because of the generic and mixed in links at the top and the errors on the top site information stuff, as well as the ads for the natures call stuff.

My sugggestions for improvements or changes

• Add the # of items per page to each catagory, and put the default as a low number and in detail mode. The reason is that the slower computers still have to struggle with the initial loading, and newbies may be confused with the compact mode
• While the options to sort things are nice, there are some problems I see. The only potentially major one is that the authors list is going to get unbelievably huge, maybe change that to more of a search function.
• Connect directly to a download section, and maybe have it a shared download site, rather than on one site or the other. It would look nicer without the extra things from either site, and could have simple and bold links for the different sections.
• Add some kind of option to sort by date submitted, or new items since your last visit, including newly updated items.
• Add a row at the top that is always in compact mode, with the current top downloads from whatever section you are browsing, as well as maybe making the first one a "Featured" item.
• Give people the option to make a title for the uploads, rather than the file name
• Unless I missed it, (which might have happened) give the option to upload a couple additional images with their upload. Maybe something like 1 required, plus 2 optional images that can be seen when looking at an item in detail.
• Some kind of archive that will keep ancient, rarely downloaded items out of the newer submissions. Something like moving anything that is a year old to another place and stripping everything from the files info except the file itself. Maybe be able to list these just as text links somewhere. Mostly used to free up space and keep the sections from becoming too big for newer users to look back through.

I guess thats it for now. The new way could definitely be nice, but right now it seems too foreign and has some functions that people were used to missing. The really big thing I think people are all saying right now is just to change it so it doesn't feel like you are booting them off the site to go download somewhere else.

Maybey there can be some way that when we come from this site you get like a splash screen thing instead of the main page of ur site. Basically an alternate front page that is only viewed when u click the dload section link from Wc3c. One big problem that the people who are saying "its a diff site wtf" are having is that instead of getting a dload section there getting news and everything from a site and ads 4 naturels call stuff. They just left the main page where all the news and Ads 4 campaigns and stuff is at. They don't wanna see more.

egg, the skins were d-leted because the artists arent here anymore, or (like me) wanted their work to be at wc3c only. i'll prolly just find all my skins and give em to wc3warehouse :P

ya mine ar gone

lol well I'll welcome you and anyone with open arms. Honestly I think they should bring the old dl system back. Damn egg you posted so much you must really hate it lol.

Well not really any more but it does need ALOT OF work, and i see that darky is following through on his word 2 take sugestions.

damn, egg is a relentless campaigner...

I agree though, I hope they're allowing zips now...

but even if they make all these changes, I still prefer the look and feel of the old one

@tha_chump

Except for iconpack which will be available soon, the submission of Zip files will never be allowed.

Map, Skin, Model and Spell section will never have zip submission support.
Icon Packs will have a zip submission option for packs.

I can understand why it's safer to prohibit .zips but I couldn't upload my wall pack - it has mdxs and tgas

what was I meant to do?

there should be packs 4both skins and mosels cause some things shouldn't be broken up. Ive seen his wakable wall pack an its awesome. It also requires a read me because it talks about how 2 use the wall set. Now the only other section that needs pack support is the icon section, but thats tricky it would be nice 2 keep the format u have there. maybey where it says what kind f icons ur lookin at theres a otion that says icon pacs. Then it takes you 2 a slightly diff format. If a person has an icon pack (like iron Ian his had like 100 sumptin) they can upload a ss that has 2 have every icon in the same size you have it there but as 1 pic, no exceptions, if the dirrections are not followed its deleted. Any way then the download and a discrition can be under it.

Its WAY 2 much work 4 people who have 2 uplad all ther icons, especially if u have 100 or more. Maybey u cant call it an icon pack if its not over a certain amout.maybey like 20. Its real sad 2 not see special icons (ithink they were ians not together they hav there own non wc3 style border.

I appreciate all the hard work ur doin Darky, sorry if im comming of as a pext but this is my home i love 2 mod, i love 2 forum in this community. So all this is very important 2 me.

Thank You
- Egg

Well Darky, I know the downloads have pretty much become your thing so I guess the final say is up to you no matter what. Just remember that when wc3 did use your site for dls, traffic went up by like 50% (at least I am pretty sure I read that), so it would be a good thing to try to please the masses and keep the traffic up.

Okay, that out of the way, would you mind explaining why you will not consider having zips, or at least some kind of packs available to upload to sections other than icons?
It will be pain, like it was said, to upload things now. For example, I have 1 group of tiles that I had for my wood set, it was a total of 16 variations, it just doesn't seem to make sense to have people with things like that, and the wall pack to upload things seperately. Would it be possible to have a "pack" section maybe? where you select the files to upload and you site adds them all to the same file?

Right now it might seem like icons are the only thing that really needs packedI have seen a lot of things in the works for other model and skin packs that people probably wont want to be split up. What about things like a model with new icons for their spells, like the goblin bomber that used to be up here? Oh well, like I said we can't make you do anything, but it would be nice of you to consider.

packs are kinda needed... im playing around with a map pack myself. i also get the team idea, maybe you should be able to change whats in the artist box?
also to stop the artists thing getting cluttered you might be able to sort it aphabetically maybe? then select the artist from the S's or D'd or whatever.
and the downloads stuff is a bit mixed with the rest of the links...

I don't quite follow you, you want your files to be wc3c only, but will give them to wc3warehouse ?

hes saying he wanted them here but hes giving them 2 the warehouse because its so tied it 2 wc3c anyway. It was hella popular b4 then Samods wen't down. It's so funny the news of samods return was on the front page then it vanished

i wanna release teh new version of my Starcraft map today, so how can i submit my map now, i cant find it! and is it possible to submit a 4mb map like it was before on wc3c ?