ManiaPub in Maniaplanet: it starts now!

[Electron]

I overact a bit - sorry for this, gou. I made bad experience with ManiaPub (does not work a long time because of too high Internet Explorer security settings, refused submission, allways the same publishers on the top page).

But the problem is actually not ManiaPub. It's the gap between the normal players and the creators. Nadeo makes available so much powerful tools and services. I tested all of them. But I was not able to use most of them. The cummunity has written lot of tutorials and references. But it is for example too hard to find basic sample code for ManiaScript (like a simple Hello world window), some templates for ManiaLinks (that a user can easily modify) or a description of maniacredited packs to distribute own content.
I never started to create content for the community, because I was not able to create a ManiaLink page for publishing that content. My web space does not support PHP, so I can not use the available easy to use tools to build a ManiaLink. I only was able to build one page with the old version 1.0 elements. I read tutorials about 2.0 elements like frames and posn elements. But building a page without a WYSIWYG editor ist very hard.
Therefore it is essential that ManiaPlant 2.0 includes such a WYSIWYG Manialink editor with prebuild templates and some Maniaspace (Webspace) to host that Manialinks.

[gouxim]

I overact a bit - sorry for this, gou. I made bad experience with ManiaPub (does not work a long time because of too high Internet Explorer security settings, refused submission, allways the same publishers on the top page).

As I say often, everything is not perfect. We work a lot to improve things over time, thanks to the feedback of our users. You actually mentioned a good example: at first, all our Manialinks needed IE cookies to be enabled in order to work ; then we became aware of the issue ; now, it works even without cookies (there may be some glicthes left though).

But it is for example too hard to find basic sample code for ManiaScript (like a simple Hello world window), some templates for ManiaLinks (that a user can easily modify) or a description of maniacredited packs to distribute own content.

We make complex tools. But it's meant to be like that: they are powerful (hence complex) and they enable the "pros" to create great content.

However I do agree it can be discouraring for the newcomers. For example I never used the MediaTracker because I don't understand a thing (I cannot even do a simple track intro). But others create amazing content with it.

But we actually are sensitive to that issue. And you'll notice we started doing things about that. Here are some examples:

• You now have 2 track editors: simple and avanced
• The Maniaplanet Wiki and its progressive integration in Maniaplanet's menus - it still lacks content a bit as of today, but it will improve over time.
• ManiaPress to easilly make Manialinks without having to code anything (you'll need PHP/MySQL, but you can agree it's a pretty standard tech).

In the end you could ask: "y u no make simple tools before advanced ones? ". The answer is simple: it's wayyyyy more difficult to make simple things than advanced things (in pretty much every of our area of work).

Making simple things is all about finding the very fundamental aspects of your subject, and that's very difficult. That is why one of our methods is to release often (Maniaplanet updates, ManiaHome version, etc.). We often add stuff, but you'll notice also often simplify/clean things.

Here's an example of that: http://www.ohloh.net/p/manialib Check the "Lines of code" graph ; notice the drops? these are simplification of code ; you can notice that lately we've been simplifying it A LOT.

[gouxim]

Quick update: we updated the recommended image ratio from 5:1 to 4:1, and the manialink was updated accrodingly to display the ads with that ratio.

It's a better ratio on the long run (more efficient ratio for gfx card optimisations, better if we need to generate mip maps, etc.).

[kripkee]

Hello
I just tested the maniapub today, with an 4:1 image (1200x300pxl .png 605kb), but when I clicked ok to upload image I got "manialink error". Is my image to big, or is the system just not ready to recive images yet?
Regards Mim

The max size in tmuf is 512 kb, maybe there is the problem^^

[gouxim]

Indeed the max size remains 512Kb. The "Manialink error" message was a bug though, now you should have a message saying the file is too big.

[gouxim]

You can now advertise on ManiaPub ! For now, we placed billboards in the following menus:

• Multiplayer menu
• Create Multiplayer Server menu
• Local Play menu
• Editors menu
• Profile menu

[gouxim]

For those with the status "Bidding" please note that I will launch the first daily auction tomorow in the morning ; then it will be every morning at about the same time.

[kripkee]

You can now advertise on ManiaPub ! For now, we placed billboards in the following menus:

• Multiplayer menu
• Create Multiplayer Server menu
• Local Play menu
• Editors menu
• Profile menu

I get an error, if I try to make an advertise on the other menus. Bug or normal?^^