Current events

What's going on

Templates

I've created a couple of templates for editor use: Template:Stub and Template:Rewrite. Template:Stub is to be used on pages that are missing large amounts of important information - an example is Broom. Template:Rewrite is to be used on less severe cases of missing information, or on pages that merely need rewriting - an example is Alumina refiner. Sho 15:21, 24 Sep 2005 (EDT)

Decisions

Machine Formatting

We need to establish formats for different object types. My page for smelting furnace, I will be using as a format for all new machine pages I create, which I intend on making a few of. I'd appreciate if people did the same. I'd like it if tools and resources could have a format that resembles my machine one, although with different properties, for obvious reasons. --Nick Roberts 08:41, 15 Sep 2005 (EDT)

• I like this layout - it's user-friendly, easy to read, and easy to find what you're looking for. Would it be possible to a.) leave a larger space between the end of one project and the next for clarity, and b.) create a template for this for all users to access? Kabl00ey 00:01, 17 Sep 2005 (EDT)

• Well, I was hoping the smelting furnace page would act as the template, actually. I will see about separating the projects list further. As we don't really have any ops for this wiki yet, I'm hoping everyone can agree to use the smelting furnace page as the template for machines. Changes to that template can be discussed here.
  • There, I added horizontal lines to the format and I think it looks much nicer now. Comments?

--Nick Roberts 08:58, 18 Sep 2005 (EDT)

Link Formatting

All links in lowercase letters, please. Wiki automatically capitalises the first.--Nick Roberts 09:26, 18 Sep 2005 (EDT)

Language setup

Do you think maybe the different languages ought to have different wikis, instead of being on the same pages? --Nick Roberts 20:30, 12 Jul 2005 (EDT)

• I agree. --Creepyguyinblack 04:50, 13 Jul 2005 (EDT)
• I changed it. --Jos Elkink 05:08, 13 Jul 2005 (EDT)
• Would it be possible to make a true multi-language setup, similar to Wikipedia's? I don't know what's involved in making that work (I have a suspicion that it's not feasile here), but it's kind of annoying when half of the time Special:Randompage brings up a Polish page; also crosslinking articles is rather inelegant with the current system (no framework; also there are some pages like Jeep(pl). Sho
• That would certainly be preferable... and was what I had in mind when originally making this suggestion. I don't like coming across polish articles when clicking on random page, or having search results clogged up with Polish links. --Nick Roberts 08:37, 15 Sep 2005 (EDT)

Spam

At the moment Spam is at low levels - just a couple of pages have been targetted - Should we consider only allowing entry by registered users ? --Chris Johnson 14:41, 30 Aug 2005 (EDT)

• That would be good. It would also make it easier to communicate with some of the users who have been doing a fair amount of work but haven't registered. On the other hand, it would probably be just as effective to block the IPs that have been spamming, and maybe also lock Talk:Equipment, the page that's being spammed. Sho
• I agree with Chris, in that I'd prefer to see it so only registered users can edit. It's not hard to register, but we could determine who is making changes they shouldn't be. --Nick Roberts 08:39, 15 Sep 2005 (EDT)
• My two cents: I also agree. Registering is easy, and although it doesn't in any way verify the identity of the user, it does add a extra step for anyone wishing to spam. Kabl00ey 23:59, 16 Sep 2005 (EDT)

Categories and templates

It would make things a lot neater if we could use categories and templates to standardize the presentation of items and such. Virtually all of the information in here right now is begging to be categorized. I can't do it myself, not having any experience actually creating those, but does anyone else? Sho

• I'm putting the vehicles in a category system. This will eventually mean tearing down the Vehicle page, but for now I'll just make nondestructive changes. Sho
  • Done. The whole manufacturing tree is being moved to a system of nested categories. Some debate on the Category talk:Vehicles page. Sho 15:32, 25 Sep 2005 (EDT)

Agglomeration vs. subdivision

Some categories of items, such as tools, have all of their elements listed on the same page. Others, such as resources, have separate pages for everything. My gut instinct (as a Wikipedian) is to split everything into separate pages and use categories to tie them together (it makes it easier for people to just type what they're looking for in the search box), but I can see why we might want to keep things in big metapages - it's similar to the format found in IC guides, often the individual data aren't big enough for individual articles, and it would be loads of unrewarding data-entry grunt work. Anyone have any opinion? Sho

• The category system (tools) is so much clearer and easier to access the information you're looking for, so whilst I understand the Wikipedian urge to split everything, I think that the category system still provides easily accessible information. I cry a little on the inside when trying to find stuff on the seperate system (resources) - segregating the data, whilst easier to categorise and search, adds unnecessary pain in wading through links and editing pages. Kabl00ey 00:07, 17 Sep 2005 (EDT)
  • With proper use of categories, I think splitting makes things easier. In Firefox, I can use quicksearches to instantly pull up a page on anything that has its own page, without clicking on any links. I can't do that with a monolithic megapage. In the same way, it's easier to just punch the thing you're looking for into the search box - one click - with split pages. Categories can bring the pages back together anyway. Sho 00:35, 17 Sep 2005 (EDT)
    • I agree with Sho, the category system that was used for the resources worked great. I think a similar system should be used for machines, buildings, vehicles, tools, et al. --Nick Roberts 08:53, 18 Sep 2005 (EDT)
      • I'm surprised the tool set-up has lasted so long, it was only a copy/paste from an ingame guide I'd made - it looks ugly here. I'd like a segregated set-up there, but not for clothing I don't think, as that'd be no more of a copy of the in-game set-up - I've started discussion on clothing about how I'd like to go about finishing that section.--Hallucinatingfarmer 18:13, 22 Sep 2005 (EDT)
        • Yeah, everyone agrees with that HF. It just hasn't been gotten to yet. --Nick Roberts 13:49, 27 Sep 2005 (EDT)

Tasks

Admin tasks

Spammer IPs

Block the following IPs for spam:

• 69.152.35.94
• 24.202.53.171
• 68.75.27.99
• 66.72.161.240
• 211.117.169.172
• 82.67.192.173

Pages for Deletion

Delete the following pages, which are redundant or meaningless:

• Budynki i meble is covered by separate buildings and furniture pages.
• Coaster Harbour* is empty and serves no purpose.
• Desert Beavers: Need I say more?
• Stormoffires Song stock is empty and serves no purpose.
• Kielnia is covered in the tools page.
• Polish Version is obsolete and redundant.

User tasks

"Stamp of Approval"

It's not clear how much of the stuff here is data from Programming or Resources Department people (and therefore probably complete and correct) and how much is contributions from players like me (and therefore likely to need verification). For example, I'm not sure how much to trust the data on the ability of certain boat types to dock to each other; I feel that it looks like some types were left out, but I can't be sure. Some way of, say, putting a stamp of approval on information would be excellent. Sho

• A good idea would be to add notes into the discussion pages stating the information added and from what department. Personally, I've added the information for vehicles and animals, and so should be 99.9% accurate. --Anthony Roberts 22:59, 16 Aug 2005 (EDT)