announcement Simtropolis 9.0 Site Upgrade

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

Site Upgrade Announcement   

I'm pleased to announce @Dirktator has confirmed that today, Simtropolis is scheduled to receive a significant site upgrade. In the process we'll be incrementing the site's version to ST9.0. The latest major update to the IPS Suite will be applied to bring a whole host of new and exciting features.

Most notably:
 

• Reactions
  • This will give more flexibility to describe why you like a content item.
    It'll allow Reactions to be tailored to best suit our community, such as with custom sets & icons.
     
• Recommended Replies
  • A way for helpful, informative or useful replies to be highlighted inside a thread.
    Will be a way of drawing attention to popular posts, including those providing answers to the OP's question.
     
• Content Messages
  • Allow announcements or important info to be seen within a content item.
    Uses may include thread guidelines, reminders to follow, or even useful info for reference (e.g. links or images).
     
• Promoting Content
  • A range of possibilities to improve the accessibility of content. STEX files, CJs, forum posts, the whole lot.
    Social media options can be explored, such as to connect with the site's Twitter as a content stream.
     
• Fluid Forum View
  • Optionally view the forum via a topic list or grid mode instead of traditional categories.
    This is configurable for all users via a toggle, so it's possible to easily switch between the views.
     
• Editor Uploading Improvements
  • Simplified ability to attach images and files to a post.
    Now possible to drag & drop into specific locations, without needing to insert manually.
     
• Gallery Improvements
  • A range of enhancements for uploading Gallery images.
    Usability improvements also introduced for albums, and also the navigation with the image lightbox display.
     
• City Journals Sidebar
  • CJ authors can optionally add a sidebar with information about their entries.
    This uses the post editor, so text or other media can be added. HTML access available on request.
     
• Letter Profile Photos
  • The default avatar replaced with a random coloured background, featuring the 1st character of a username.
    This will only affect users who haven't changed their avatar from the anonymous grey silhouette.

 

There's also the Clubs feature, which will restore a similar functionality to the old Groups. The advantage here is it's integrated and built into the core software, whereas previously it was a 3rd party plugin that was made incompatible. We won't be rolling out the Clubs immediately, but we have some ideas on how they can be used more effectively this time around, since they'll allow more options.

Plus a visual overhaul and an assortment of other minor changes.

Along with a few other surprises in store coming soon, so watch out for those too...

 

Expected Downtime   

Since this is a larger update than usual, the site may be unavailable for a slightly longer period. It's scheduled anytime from 12pm noon EDT / 4pm UTC onwards (view clock), and we anticipate this will be no more than 1 hour.

Should the downtime be prolonged, please check our Twitter feed for progress updates.

 

Bugs & Stability   

The new version has been released in a client beta for several weeks, meaning stability has been tried & tested. However as is common with any new software product, there's a chance for undetected bugs to crop up when applied in unique environments. Please bear with us if there are any instabilities to start with, and report them below or in the bugs thread.

 

Feedback   

We'd love to hear ways the site and the above features can be improved or best implemented. If you've any ideas feel free to share them below. We'll also be opening threads specifically to gain feedback on specific aspects within the next several weeks.

 

Thanks everyone, and we hope you enjoy the new site!

[An_dz 5]

My feedback is for putting the time in UTC and as 24h next time so the rest of the universe can automatically know what time it will be on their territory without having to google what EDT is and without the eternal question if 12pm is midnight or noon. I'm assuming it's noon as I'm expecting the most common convention.

BTW that's 16:00 UTC. 

 

Edit: Looked at the changelog and nice changes, hopefully the STEX will be easier to search and navigate.

[_Michael 2,681]

6 hours ago, Cyclone Boom said:

Along with a few other surprises in store coming soon, so watch out for those too...

I'll keep my beady moderator eyes open... 

[Propfam 2,286]

I think, we should add other donation rewards in the ST donation. Sorry if slightly off-topic.

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

Are we there yet?

Please sound the all-clear when complete so those who miss the shut-down know they missed it.

[_Michael 2,681]

I'm back online. I'll start looking around

 

EDIT:

Or maybe posting isn't active yet?  

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

All clear! 

Don't worry, we're not quite done yet, and a few of the themes still need some major work. Many of the site's custom changes require merging with the new code. There are also other areas such as the navigation bar which need an overhaul. Also the moose icon in tribute to @A Nonny Moose we'll be finding a better way of adding the header.

Any comments, thoughts or things not working as they should, please let us know!

[matias93 7,535]

It's... back? It's back! Everybody, lose your minds, we have reactions! (Hmm, not yet :/ )

[SecretMbr_735754 2,157]

Looks really good and well organized.  In the  Latest City-Building News section the grey text on blue background isn't showing through.   Looked at the page with IE and Chrome. 

[_Michael 2,681]

3 minutes ago, Cyclone Boom said:

There are also other areas such as the navigation bar which need an overhaul. Also the moose icon in tribute to @A Nonny Moose we'll be finding a better way of adding the header.

I see changes already

[matias93 7,535]

4 minutes ago, RandyE said:

Looks really good and well organized.  In the  Latest City-Building News section the grey text on blue background isn't showing through.   Looked at the page with IE and Chrome. 

Yup, just checked on Vivaldi on a PC and Opera on a cell phone and in both the white backgrounds are gone, and some texts are thus sorely lacking contrast. In any case, I like better the darker backgrounds (or the lack of a white one), so maybe there's a choose to do there...

[MushyMushy 3,617]

Yeah, it does look like some of the text colors and some other things will need to be changed to increase contrast, but other than that I think it looks nice!

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

14 minutes ago, matias93 said:

we have reactions! (Hmm, not yet :/ )

To start with we've just enabled the default Like heart button, so the functionality is currently still exactly the same as before. But they will be coming once we've decided on a suitable configuration, with our own custom icons.

 

13 minutes ago, RandyE said:

In the  Latest City-Building News section the grey text on blue background isn't showing through.

Thanks. Yes, those block headers will need more contrast to make them stand out more.

 

11 minutes ago, _Michael said:

I see changes already

Dirk's just added the pink overlay as a test, and to show the site has upgraded.

That won't be the finished version and there are plans for a completely new header image.

[jaredh 195]

Where did the newest additions on the home page go?

Take a look at individual lot pages.....there's some work to be done there quickly.

[matias93 7,535]

14 minutes ago, jaredh said:

Where did the newest additions on the home page go?

Take a look at individual lot pages.....there's some work to be done there quickly.

On the right side, after the 'welcome to simtropolis'; though they have been there for a couple of weeks by now,

[TekindusT 3,809]

Looking sharp over here! Still a couple of things to iron out, but sure you guys will pull it off!

[krbe 193]

1 hour ago, Cyclone Boom said:

That won't be the finished version and there are plans for a completely new header image.

Ugly as sin! Perfect if you're a roadworker or as a life jacket, though. 

[RobertLM78 1,597]

Looking good except for the hot pink header..... hehehe  

Glad to see Nonny's avatar will still be there once it's figured out how to nicely do that. 

 

[BC Canuck 207]

Holy Moly!  You really outdid yourselves in the CJ section.  Korver's pictures look even more spectacular with the larger size and super resolution.

Definitely need to change the font colour (white maybe) on the dark background.  Hard to see.  And perhaps some of the smaller fonts could be enlarged. - some of us are in the older crowd you know...

The STEX looks way better.  Like how you show the different city games.

Really like the new header on the home page. Don't find it ugly myself.

  Looking forward to what you do with A Nonny Moose's avatar.

Keep up the good work (even if I hate change on websites as long as  I can still find stuff I'm good).

 

[JP Schriefer 5,590]

Wonderful update! Thanks for that

[madhatter106 3,903]

This header color makes me want to meet up with Rizzo, Frenchie, Marty, and Jan at the Frosty Palace afterschool, so we can crash Danny and Sandy's date.

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

Thanks all for the comments.

 

4 hours ago, jaredh said:

Where did the newest additions on the home page go?

Newest files should still show on the right hand sidebar (scroll down a little).

If that's not it, do you mean the features slider or one of the other feeds aren't shown there?

 

4 hours ago, jaredh said:

Take a look at individual lot pages.....there's some work to be done there quickly.

There are a few theming issues on file category listings. Is that what you're referring to?

If not, please post a screenshot and a link to an affected page and we'll investigate.

----------

@krbe  @RobertLM78  @madhatter106

Try a force refresh (Ctrl+F5). It should be a bit better now.

[RobertLM78 1,597]

Waaayyyy better!   Very nice!   

[simmaster07 1,220]

Pretty cool stuff, loving the new forum features! I just went to check out the city journals section for the first time in a long while, though, and was surprised to see it pulling 232MB of content before I even opened one of the CJs in detail. This isn't an issue with the new update since it looks like it's been like this for a while, but it seems to have to do with the site downloading the entire contents of the CJ entries shown on the front page — including the high-res images — even if nothing below the first image is shown. Is there a way to change this behavior?

[Dirktator 2,310]

23 minutes ago, simmaster07 said:

Pretty cool stuff, loving the new forum features! I just went to check out the city journals section for the first time in a long while, though, and was surprised to see it pulling 232MB of content before I even opened one of the CJs in detail. This isn't an issue with the new update since it looks like it's been like this for a while, but it seems to have to do with the site downloading the entire contents of the CJ entries shown on the front page — including the high-res images — even if nothing below the first image is shown. Is there a way to change this behavior?

Yes, it's something we're flagging with the developers as it is rather egregious! We don't have any direct control over this.

[Fantozzi 4,067]

9 hours ago, Cyclone Boom said:

To start with we've just enabled the default Like heart button, so the functionality is currently still exactly the same as before. But they will be coming once we've decided on a suitable configuration, with our own custom icons.

I like the new like button. To me (senior mole with old glasses) it's more easier to find and to hit it now.  Don't put too much functionality there - making me worry and thinking for days: which one ist the right to click? Please keep it simple. But maybe 'like' could be split up in two parts: one to thank saying this is interesting and helpful post, one to like saying this is beautiful or amusing etc (to split helpful and entertaining posts). Later one could perhaps sort results by the most voted as helpful when searching for an issue?

[AsimPika3172 1,129]

Thanks for making new look of SimTropolis! Keep moving forward!   Plus, nice LOVE likes icon!

[Jeffrey500 567]

It is looking great to be honest. Far more smarter then it used to be. 

[jaredh 195]

11 hours ago, Cyclone Boom said:

Thanks all for the comments.

 

Newest files should still show on the right hand sidebar (scroll down a little).

If that's not it, do you mean the features slider or one of the other feeds aren't shown there?

 

There are a few theming issues on file category listings. Is that what you're referring to?

If not, please post a screenshot and a link to an affected page and we'll investigate.

----------

@krbe  @RobertLM78  @madhatter106

Try a force refresh (Ctrl+F5). It should be a bit better now.

Wow, I totally missed that over on the right.

 

And the issues I was seeing were all theme and are all fixed now.   

 

It's looking really great now.

[_Michael 2,681]

Loving the Trixie reactions and updated menu bar, though I'm not certain on the all white background. Makes the site a little bright to look at and kinda blends each post in a little too much, to be honest.