23 replies to this topic

[DarkBlaze557]

A quick announcement from HeatedHeart:


For those who've been around XeroCreative for a while, the name XeroChat is nothing new to them. XeroChat has been a project of XC almost as long as YVD has, and has been developed and worked on by several different generations of scripters and development teams. Personally, I've always seen the XeroChat project as a sort of milestone marker in XC's history. with different versions and revisions being developed at key points throughout the times. Few will argue that now's a rather difficult time for XC, as the user base is but a fraction of what it once was, none the less XC prevails on; Driven by that which has allways separated us from the rest, a community filled with those dedicated to her, and those willing to keep pushing her forward. XeroChat 3 will be as much an innovative and functional chat platform as it will be a dedication to this era of the XC community, A symbol of the perseverance for each and every member here who log's onto here and keep this place alive, weither it be their post's on the forums, or just simply idling in #YVD, or even just coming on and reading what the latest news is, such as this post. This project is dedicated to you, and this is XeroCreative telling YOU how much your appreciated. Reality is what you create.. so welcome to our reality, Welcome, To the XeroChat 3 Project:

http://xerocreative....al-xero-chat-3/

[HeatedHeart]

<3 DB

[Rayth Mistwalker]

<3 this.

[GothicKratos]

Thanks for the news article! (:

[Dante of the Inferno]

Feels like the XC programmers have really been pushing for more IRC development.  I'm not sure if that's for better or worse, since it requires us to be active both here AND on IRC in order to find the really cool stuff, but at this point everyone but the most dedicated have left anyway.

Let's see how far things go before we have to call in a new set of programmers for XC Chat 4/YVD X-5.

[HeatedHeart]

Its because IRC is one of the major things that seperate XC from its compeitors (cough* DN *cough) so its one of the things we feel we should focus on in order to create a better experience for the community, aswell as continue to push XC to new fronts.

[Rayth Mistwalker]

plus irc is where all the tournaments and stuff happen

[Cyberlancer]

And we have a radio channel which I have found to be amazing recently.

[Rayth Mistwalker]

technically.. wev had that channel a year now

[Cyberlancer]

I started using it like a month ago >.>

[GothicKratos]

The thing about IRC and the Forums is they are different tools for different goals. Think of it this way; forums are static forms (i.e. the information never goes anywhere), where IRC is a revolving door (i.e. the information being displayed is ever-changing).

In that, forums are great for announcements and news, since they are accessible to basically anyone, with no learning curve and no overhead (and in some situations, doesn't even require registration!). They're also good for certain types of discussions, usually things that boil down to lists or comparisons, but particularly for debates and the exchange of information - since the information is static and the information is not constantly flowing, it allows for the construction of well thought-out replies and articles. It also allows for fun threads like "Lulsy Fotoz" and the such, without the hassle of posting a link in IRC, clicking said link, and waiting for your browser to load the image - it's simply there when the forum page loads, for your loling enjoyment. On the topic of images, it's also a great tool for critiquing, since it allows for static images (or stories, or what-have-you) to be posted for review and static response for the artist to look back on and reflect on (and have a conversation about!).

That being said, IRC is a completely different beast. IRC allows any person to communicate with any person that may happen to be anywhere in the world in a real-time, face-to-face exchange. This allows for more fluid exchanges of information that's not really something that needs documented or to be stagnant. It allows for more causal conversations like, "Hey, how are you? I heard there is a new tin coming out!" conversations, rather than the more informative forum post of "Check it out! Ten of the eighteen cards in the new tin were leaked, read this article for more information!" type of thing without having to worry about seven people replying to what you're replying to too, since IRC displays the replies in real-time, you can tailor your response in real-time, too.

Both tools are great tools for a community, and both tools are highly over rated and under rated, at the same time. There's a good reason why most forum communities have a 'chatbox' (and alternatively, most IRC communities have a community forum). They both allow different types of articulation.

What we (and by 'we', I mean 'me', since I only speak for myself, not the XeroChat team, nor XeroCreative) are trying to do here is allow for an already extremely useful tool to be even more useful, but at the same time, it's not going to be the atypical bloatware you'd expect from some basement dwellers (or Mozilla) to throw together. Standards are extremely important to me, as a programmer and as a designer, and furthermore, as a consumer. Rest assured, I will bust some asses, if standards are not being met. Standard allow for streamline implementations and easy access to all users.

I, myself, feel very strongly about supporting not only the less fortunate (i.e. lacking funds for a "decent rig") but the less savvy (i.e. "WHERES THE START BUTTON AGAIN?!") as well. Why, do you ask? Because I know what it's like to have to struggle with a lower end rig, trying to do all the fun shit your friends are doing. Not having the cash to just throw at a gaming rig, like some other folks I knew, I used some of my technical knowledge to make my experience slightly more tolerable, however, I am extremely aware some are not that lucky. I also know, less personally (lol), that a large portion of any clientele is going to be computer illiterate. So what? Why should they be excluded from the enjoyment (and potentially, my profit, in some ventures) because they don't know what a packet is or what a VPN is? Exclusion - the fast track to being Linux. No thanks, I'll keep my blue hat!

This is the way we (again, 'me') envision things. There will be no bloat. There will be no unnecessary. There will little chrome. It will be based on a complete customizable engine. Think of Opera (barebones, effective browser, for low end browsing), with Chromes sexy minimalistic layout, but with Firefox' amazing plug-in accessibility. I know, you're all thinking, "What the fuck is Opera?" "That sounds way too good to be true", and I know it does, but I will say, we'll be trying our damnedest to make it a reality. (:

(sorry for the wall 'o' text)

[Rayth Mistwalker]

Also XC is SO solid in sticking around, that there are about a million different ways we can keep one thing alive.

Atm afaik Myke has the forum and site on his webhosting.

Master hosts 1 of the IRC servers (guardian) and gum hosts another (bubble) where there are other staff members who have capability of hosting another/replacing one if required (looks at DM and Myself)

DM Hosts the duel server

I host the radio server + radio site


At least with this setup, XC doesn't rely on a single person to manage everything so if one thing goes down everything else still runs *looks back at Hurricane Myke and Master breaking IRC.. and the radio being down for about 8 months*

Also.. to be slightly trollish...

GothicKratos, on 16 March 2012 - 07:43 PM, said:

That being said, IRC is a completely different beast. IRC allows any person to communicate with any person that may happen to be anywhere in the world in a real-time, face-to-face exchange.

Face to face? we can SEE each other? I want the mIRC update that allows this! *runs*

[GothicKratos]

LilPuddinTators, on 16 March 2012 - 08:11 PM, said:

GothicKratos, on 16 March 2012 - 07:43 PM, said:

That being said, IRC is a completely different beast. IRC allows any person to communicate with any person that may happen to be anywhere in the world in a real-time, face-to-face exchange.

Face to face? we can SEE each other? I want the mIRC update that allows this! *runs*

XeroChat 3.0 will have a Skype plugin, codename: YVDRoulette.

[Rayth Mistwalker]

forreal?

[MyBlackwingPlaylist]

LilPuddinTators, on 16 March 2012 - 08:11 PM, said:

Face to face? we can SEE each other? I want the mIRC update that allows this! *runs*

^I wouldn't mind this. Rayth is smexeh >.>

[HeatedHeart]

GK, that was beautiful, brought a tear to my eye.

In all seriousness though, this project is going to be a platform that appeals to a wide variety of users; Because those developing it are as diverse as the users it hopes to serve. All of us have different taste's and preferences, yet the very way XeroChat 3 is being designed will tailor all of those preferences. It really is being worked on as a team, and in the end it will reflect that. No linear decisions on design or functionality, constantly communicating with one another piece by piece. Also, as far as idea's are concerned; Try to post them in the XeroChat3 thread, that way the entire team and community can offer input on it. If it's something your shy about (no idea why you would be.. inb4 porn pluggin >>) then pm'ing any of us would work.

XeroChat 3.0 will have a Skype plugin, codename: YVDRoulette.
^Inb4 Genitals.

[GothicKratos]

(For those of you that didn't get the joke, it was a reference to Chat Roulette, aka genitals, as HH pointed out. No Skype plug-in is played, but it completely plausible since, Microsoft is supposedly releasing an SDK for developing for Skype.)

[HeatedHeart]

Its HIGHLY possible actually.. >>

[GothicKratos]

Not entirely, it all depends on what functionality is allowed with this SDK (or if we even actually get it). There is a Kinect for Windows SDK to be released soon, too. Look out world, touch screen IRC.

[HeatedHeart]

I believe there is a .dll for webcam support for mIRC. Writing a matching code to have it interact with skype.. or even hardcode it so it communicates over DCC... defiantly possible