=== A Meeting is beginning in this channel === === Remember to follow all meeting rules === == 1. Start meeting == == 1a. Pick a chairman and a minutes man == I have been elected chair and Hyronymus opted to write the minutes == 1b. Discuss minutes of previous meeting == Anything to discuss? * * * WhiteHand shrugs If the forums were up, i'd give you a link.. but they are not. ~ are you going to set +m? no... -> pjaytycy? I read them last week, I know there were some parts of the log that were not in the minutes, but not very important ~ -> Hyronymus can you tell me what parts, pjaytycy.I wrote the minutes :)~ About you sending me a PM, so, nothing really important ~ -> Did he send the PM? :P ~ Hyronymus I did send him a PM. Anyone interested in what it says?~ -> pjaytycy is it seems I didn't say you didn't send me a PM, just that it was not among the tasks mentionned in the minutes ~ ok, ok Lets move on hmm * * * Steve^ kicks TinFoil Well, i better do it myself then 2. Progress on the Design Document Do we have a progress report, yet? -> pjaytycy apparently not~ == 2. Progress on the Design Document == There we go :P -> Hyronymus it could be uzurpator joins later, can we keep it open for discussion ~ fair enough I have it on the list of objectives, anyway == 3. Progress of the Management Group == == 3a. Website + Wiki maintenance == We probaly don't need these, as we haven't set the objectives yet But whilst we're here.. has the website group done anything? -> pjaytycy Zuu created a php system and we discussed the css (layout) a little but now Zuu has left the project, and I don't know if anybody has his code -> or if we want to continue with it or restart that part of the project too ~ I have it, on my website was it this code: http://tt2.sourceforge.net/ ~ -> Err yes, Hyronymus has been playing with it too WhiteHand? I could help with a website, but I'm not that good with PHP atm ~ -> The process will be fairly slow, so you can help where you can We have objectives for the group, that will be given later in the meeting -> Shall we just wait til then for more discussion Hyronymus pjaytycy, is it the code that's currently our website: http://tt2.sourceforge.net/ I did change a few colours~ yes it is I didn't know you worked with it ~ -> It might be re-written, depending on how the future website group choose to handle it Hyronymus it was part of Steve and mine surprise act pjaytycy * * * eis_os arrives I think we will come back to that later,right Steve^~ -> WhiteHand the website's colours a of the 'make your eyes bleed' category ~ :D I agree to a point But lets sort that out later I shall now move on == 3b. Available test-systems overview == Why does this keep popping up? -> Hyronymus I love to talk about it Go on then. pjaytycy did make an xls sheet with an overview the PM was about that sheet it even seems a new 'tester' applied don't know whether it should be updated now or at the time that we have something to test~ Probaly when we have something to test But we have some SDL demos floating around that will need testing anything to add, pjaytycy? no Lets sort it out when we are testing then == 4. Progress of the Code Group == == 4a. Setup development environments on our machines == -> I'm not sure the code group officially exists, so i'll guess nothing has happened here in the last fortnight? pjaytycy I promissed to try this on my pc and then write a document about it I could get some SDL demo's to work, but not all of them -> seems like the different SDL demo's have been made with (slightly) different setups, so I don't know what is the "right" one~ Organizing the SDL demos happens to be an objective, so further work can be done for that WhiteHand? trying not to sound dumb, but what are SDL demos? Well umm.. pjaytycy? lol SDL is the graphics library we will probably use. Some people did some tests with them. We call those the "SDL demo's" Or prototypes~ Ok since we have naturally progressed into this section... == 4b. progress on the SDL demo == ~ We'll avoid this until the objective later on -> pjaytycy I don't know anything about what setup should be used for the SDL, do we have anybody that is some kind of 'SDL guru'? ~ Don't look at me.. :P Maybe Hellfire, probaly best to ask when the forums are back up But anyway, talk about it in a bit == 5. User Interface progress == -> Hyronymus did we assign anyone at all to this part ~ I don't think so. Perhaps we should make this an objective? -> pjaytycy Does anybody have a clear idea about what this should be about?? Or remember why it was ever put on the agenda ? ~ Creating a prototype user interface? It is something easily done after the DD is made -> Perhaps we should suspend it until then? WhiteHand -> (Design Document) Once again, trying not to sound dumb(my first meeting in all) does user interface mean the graphics which the user sees or what? ~ Yes. -> How they control the game, select options, etc etc Not particulary the graphics of the trains though jfs? -> I suppose this could be something about deciding the general uidea behind the UI, eg. if it should be more like TT, like sc2k (which is in fact much like Photoshop) or maybe something entirely different an idea might be somewhat like how some Lucas Arts adventure games have used, where you click somewhere on the landscape and a toolbox pops up around the cursor ~ eis_os? It's how the design of the control works (where it is, is it useable, easy to use) not really if the UI looks fancy, that is part of the graphic team to make it look cute ~ pjaytycy? But is it about graphics style <=> ordering of the different menus/buttons <=> how we can technically implement a skinnable user interface <=> writing a requirements document about the interface ??? ~ I'd say it covers all of that -> jfs i'd say it's first and foremost about usability, which mostly covers the "ordering" and "requirements doc" part, but also something as basic as selecting what options should even be present directly (eg. some options that might be very different in implementation, might have a logical connection for the user, so they should appear as "the same thing") ~ Ok -> pjaytycy Well, we can't really decide on menu ordering if we haven't even decided what functionallity will be in the game (ie: before we have the DD) ~ Yes, but we can decide on general princibles. We have an idea of what is in the game Well, i think we'll set this an objective in the next meeting !Thats why I demand to finish the DD And then progress from there Move on? !move on and make it an objective for the next meeting == 6. Project Objectives == Right, the good bit :) Since the last meeting, myself and Hyronymus had a little chat about things we can be doing at this stage from this, we have set a series of objectives to continue with The objectives are small and designed to be completed between meetings, in 2 or 3 weeks To help the project progress We shall discuss the objectives here first and then i shall post a thread on the forums People who decide to help out an objective can make a new thread for discussion if they need it Any questions before we start? -> Hyronymus has questions? Oh dear. keep the threads we create open for discussion, it saves trouble~ Ok, lets get started == 6a. Website - Create Template == -> The website group should create a basic template for the TEmpire website, from the specficiations given earlier and now It should have considerations for how PHP will create the page in the future, but for now is a just a basic outline on how the site will work http://tt2.sourceforge.net/ Is Hyronymus' start Hyronymus? not fair to call it my start since zuu and pjaytycy did the real work -> Ok, fair enough Punro the site at the given URL is fairly OK to me and I think it serves as a good start for the site no ~, Steve^ do you still need someone for making graphics for the website? wait *g* I myself think we shouldn't change too much to the 'current' website except change the text to something serious and helpful~ oops, sorry Hyronymus. Punro? !the colours are painful -> -> as I asked, do you still need someone fro making graphics for the website? ~? ehm.... waiting for an answer and might want to say after the anwer... Punro, that's the next objective. We thought of you :) ok, i really am interested~ Hyronymus? WhiteHand, the colours hurt but it was just a try of me to find out how php does colour settings. As I said: we shouldn't loose ourselves in details but instead worry about a decent, informative website~ !It's better to have not mentioned something before you have a dead links, from outside this looks unprofessional and not very attractive to devs... pjaytycy? I just wanted to mention we can change the colours very easy ~ eis_os has a point, but for this 2 weeks, we just want the template This includes basic colours but no real content. After that, we will start adding content, features and so on It may be best though, to include no links, rather than dead links Any other questions on this objective? !that sounds like a good idea What do you expect? :P Right, moving on Actually Who is interested in working on this objective? -> pjaytycy ->->->-> I want to work on the css ~ Hyronymus Hyronymus Hyronymus Hyronymus you're ruining the support behind creating a topic if you ask here who want to work on it either we ask them here or we see their 'application' in the topic, right~ I thought we could do both. But lets do it your way. == 6b. Website - Graphics == !i have to go now Punro, this is partly for you, as you offered your services, but everyone is welcome byw WhiteHand :P -> Hyronymus? !bye, ill read up tommorrow the 'create a logo' topic was an early start from my side. I undermined this objective a little bit (sorry Steve^) but it does belong here~ -> Part of it is the logo yes, but here is the objective To create prototype graphics for the website These are just ideas for the graphics, not the final versions. They should be just designs that we can view in the next meeting and decide upon They must also wait for the website template to be made, so they fit The logo is included in this, but the logo could also be used in the game, which isn't exactly what i had in mind Punro? are there already some colors / a color chosen which should be associated with TE, so which also needs to be used in the website, logo and such?~ The people that make the template might make such decisions But nothing is final, yet. -> -> Punro Can I already start making some sketches?~ Yes, please do. pjaytycy Colour of the website template is easier to change than the colors in a logo, so just make sure the logo looks as good as possible~ Good point -> Hyronymus try using safe colours for all sake~ -> Punro Colors in (website) graphics are not always easy to change~ Anything else? -> eis_os If you use css the color changeing should be only a matter of replaceing the css file for all the documents on the website~ !eis_os : we do~ Yes, using CSS properly is important. Lets move on. == 6c. Wiki - Re-organize == Last meeting we decided to make the wiki a place for developers and leave the website for the public Therefore, we will need to perform some 'spring cleaning' on the wiki to set it up as a proper developer zone, rather than its current muddled state It may also be a good idea to make a section for storing minutes and logs, until the website can perform that function properly Questions? !not me Then we shall move on == 6d. Coding - SDL Demos == -> Punro? Probably stupid question, but what's "SDL"? ~ We've already answered this! Ish SDL is the graphics library we will probably use. Some people did some tests with them. We call those the "SDL demo's" The objective: To organize the various SDL demos already been made and test their suitability towards the project And then have a (small) report on them for the next meeting And we need the Coding Group to actually come to meetings ;) Comments? Well.. nothing? Ok.. Lets move on == 6e. Design Document - Progress Report == Since the DD team have yet to tell us anything, this is an offical objective For the next meeting we need to know what it going on, when we can expect something to be released and the format it will be released in -> As mentioned last meeting, it would be nice to get the DD in parts, so how this can be done is important to be discussed too pjaytycy? -> and if we don't get the info? Do we give them another 2 weeks to come up with *something* ?� (Is that µ a ~?) !yes Well, we do have contact with the DD people They just aren't coming to meetings Hyronymus I have PM-ed uzurpator and he said that, in his view, Hellfire isn't doing anything. he did also say that he could and would do the DD writing alone if we allowed him -> Steve^ and I don't consider that a bad thing as there will be others who read and correct where needed <- Hellfire today wrote (on the forums) that he never got my PM !Check your sentbox/outbox I can't check this because silly me has the obsessive disorder to empty his PM boxes when they get slightly filled~ :P -> Hyronymus I am certain though that I wrote 2 PM's and uzurpator only got 1 I even recall changing names to suit the proper person~ Ok We'll make sure we get contact over the next 2 weeks and even if they can't get to the meeting, we'll have something to say We may have to find a replacement for Hellfire, if he is truely slacking Any other comments? -> pjaytycy If uzurpator prefers to continue alone, that's no problem with me~ ok, moving on == 6f. Empire Bot - Meeting Control == Well, TinFoil = Empire Bot, if you didn't realise You may have noticed the little problem i had earlier on, so i'll make sure to fix that and other meeting related things comments? -> pjaytycy Do you plan to implement other things (and what do you want first) ?~ A possibility is full meeting control, but i think humans are better at that. Suggestions are welcome. ~ -> pjaytycy Do you get help with the -> , <- and ~ orders ?? That seemed the original intention of the bot ~ No, i don't. It isn't that hard right now, it has got easier since we finished the design process I could make them however And Hyronymus is instructed in the use of the bot ~ Ok, moving on == 6g. Management - Objectives == The management, myself and Hyronymus have the objective of making the objectives and keeping them organized on the forums this includes sorting threads, a main objective topic and other.. stuff. Comments? -> Hyronymus if noone dares: Steve^ and I don't intend to become tirans so please correct us when you feel it's needed. Don't loose creativity either~ -> Oh yes. We are often wrong. Please tell us so. -> Well Hyronymus is often wrong. I'm perfect, of course. Punro I think you're doing a good job, AFAICT~ pjaytycy? Well, I fear the rate of management / other people is getting pretty high... -> but, I do think you did the right thing in replacing chris and your preparation for this meeting was very good! ~ I realise that us giving a list of objectives may seem a little controlled, but that is why we have these sessions Nothing happens until it has been discussed in the meeting And the objectives are designed to keep people doing things Hopefully we can keep it up :) Anything else? Ok, then it is time for everyone's favourite section.. == 7. Any other business (AOB) == AOB? no -> Hyronymus can I go to the loo ~ No... Just kidding. :P Just don't tell us about it !too late~ !can we move on please (my parents are calling me to help them getting packed to get on holiday) umm, k == 8. Next meeting == Are fridays good? SImilar time next week? !fine for me Sorry, not next week In 2 weeks Friday 19th starting monday I'll have a student job again, so it might be difficult to come to the next meeting for me -> Hyronymus friday 19th is a no go for Punro and me~ Punro thinks otherwise