The Sims Wiki talk:Community Portal

The Sims: Medieval
Are we gonna cover this game? Is it part of 'The Sims' series? http://www.simprograms.com/the-sims-medieval-first-screens-and-preview-by-tsr/ Duskey ( talk ) 15:19, July 29, 2010 (UTC)


 * The link is bad; here's one that works (currently): http://www.thesimsresource.com/news/view-post/post/18586/The%20Sims%3A%20Medieval#comments


 * As for your question, if the game is confirmed by EA, then yes for the time being. We should have a page for it up to and until it's proven that the game isn't in line with other titles in The Sims series. So, my feeling is that we should create a page for it (once it's confirmed), and resolve the issue of whether or not it belongs here, at a later date after the game is released. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 21:24, July 29, 2010 (UTC)


 * I think our The Sims game rumors page is the only working link now :p I agree with LIR above. We should report on it when it is announced and after that we can decide whether it belongs here or not. Who knows, someone else might make an independant wiki about it. Duskey ( talk ) 02:50, July 31, 2010 (UTC)


 * Discussion is resolved; game is officially announced; will hold off on final decision until after release. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 19:02, August 3, 2010 (UTC)


 * A game magazine revealed some 'professions' or 'positions' that Sims can be in in Medieval. There's Doctor, Blacksmith, Wizard etc. How do we handle that if people start adding these pages? In my opinion, anything about the Medieval Doctor, doesn't belong on the same careers page as the Doctor or Medicine. It should be 'Doctor (medieval)'. Duskey ( talk ) 14:31, August 5, 2010 (UTC)

Families with one member
I'm beginning to see some family pages with one family member. Wolfe household & Curry family to name a few. Perhaps it's time for a policy or guideline stating that these pages aren't neccesary npr do they hold any information that cannot be added to the one Sim in the family. What do others think? To me they're just articles with no info on them, wasting space. Duskey ( talk ) 02:52, July 31, 2010 (UTC)

I think we should keep them anyway. I don't think it matters if its one person. They're still a family. Jason   Talk To Me!   02:56, July 31, 2010 (UTC)


 * There's nothing on the family pages that can't be included in the sim's page, unless that sim is the only person left living in their family (and the other members are visible on the family tree). I say delete the pages. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 02:58, July 31, 2010 (UTC)


 * That's exactly my point, Jason. If it's just one person there is nothing you can add to that page which you couldn't add to the Sim page. If these pages weren't family pages they'd get merged or deleted due to lack of content. Duskey ( talk ) 10:29, August 1, 2010 (UTC)


 * redirect. --a_morris (talk) 23:54, August 1, 2010 (UTC)


 * Alright, I did it to the Steel family -> Christopher Steel. I made sure to move the info on the family page to the Sim page and also moved player stories. I also remember to delete the family picture (which wouldn't add anything to the Sim page and was of poor quality). Do you agree that this is the right way to do it? Duskey ( talk ) 16:17, August 2, 2010 (UTC)

Achievements
Achievements are a new feature on Wikia. What are your thoughts on adding them to The Sims Wiki? (The blog post) --a_morris (talk) 21:18, August 6, 2010 (UTC) I say it will be a great addition to this wiki because i feel it will make users edit more to achieve the Achievements.--(Danny)Monster2821 (talk)(random page) 21:23, August 6, 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm less than enthusiastic. I think we would have to seriously look at the program and how we can customize it for this wiki before we implement it. I don't think we should adopt something if its primary emphasis is on increasing edit count, but if it encourages activity within a community setting, rather than just having more edits than the next person, I'll probably support it. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 21:25, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

also,another wiki already has the Achievements put in,and the wiki is doing great.--(Danny)Monster2821 (talk)(random page) 21:29, August 6, 2010 (UTC) http://callofduty.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Leaderboard here's a link to the leaderboard.--(Danny)Monster2821 (talk)(random page) 21:32, August 6, 2010 (UTC)


 * So, it involves a point system? Would there be a way to disable the points and just have it give out badges? I'm not sure a points system is the best idea... -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 21:36, August 6, 2010 (UTC)

yes,it involves a point system,and the only thing to disable is the achievments system on your account.-- Danny (Monster2821) (talk)(random page) 21:42, August 6, 2010 (UTC)


 * Well, I guess I don't mind it as much if we choose not to place an undue amount of emphasis on edit count. For example, I don't think points should be awarded for having a certain number of edits (except maybe giving out points for a person making their first edit). I think there are a lot of other things that may warrant awarding points - creating and participating in contests, writing and commenting on blogs, participating in community discussion on portal talk pages or talk pages for articles, Sorting and categorizing articles, creating new categories or templates, or doing work on projects. In short, I don't think we need to award points to reinforce the thought that edit count is important. However, I do see this as having some possible positive benefit if implemented well. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 21:46, August 6, 2010 (UTC)


 * I'm against it since I believe it will promote micro-edits and a lot of 'spam' in the form of 'Cool post bro!' comments. The many micro-edits will flood the history page of an article. Duskey ( talk ) 17:38, August 8, 2010 (UTC)
 * Fun fact of the day, the wiki linked to (Call of Duty) has removed the achievements and even enforced 'punishments' for people who were abusing it I've read the comments on the main page about achievements and the opinions are quite mixed. Those declaring themselves admins were generally against it though. At least from what I could gather. Duskey ( talk ) 14:55, August 17, 2010 (UTC)

Newsletter
Seeing as how TheDataMonster is... well, not really around, I'd like to test the waters for a newsletter of sorts. Basically I think of it as an article where editors can add tiny bits of information about the Wiki, stuff which doesn't deserve it's own posting. When it has accumulated enough news or some time has passed without a news update, it will be posted in a blog article to the front page. That's basically it. We can include stuff like winners, nominations and new user created contests, maybe interesting blog posts if we find any. Those are just fluff pieces at the end. The body of the newsletter would be new pages on the wiki, new layout of pages or new templates/userboxes and so forth. Again, just wanna get a feeling about what the community would think of this. Duskey ( talk ) 20:45, August 11, 2010 (UTC)

Added stuff to The Sims Wiki:Newsletter. Duskey ( talk ) 14:45, August 15, 2010 (UTC)

I'm scrapping the Newsletter idea again. We can use the blog posts and our social sites. I'm working on re-doing the main page so we'll have a twitter feed displayed there. -- Duskey talk 04:09, September 6, 2010 (UTC)

Copyright candidate for speedy deletion
Just because I don't think anyone's checking that page. Duskey ( talk ) 19:45, August 15, 2010 (UTC)

By that I mean I posted something on the talk page there and wouldn't mind a commenti :p Duskey ( talk ) 18:36, August 19, 2010 (UTC)

Nevermind, I added it now :) Duskey ( talk ) 17:42, August 25, 2010 (UTC)

Community lot type categorization
Where do we put categories like Category:Bookstores and Category:Market shops? Do we put them in Category:Community lots or Category:Types of lots or both? Duskey ( talk ) 14:57, August 17, 2010 (UTC)

Mandatory new wikia skin incoming
& Duskey ( talk ) 16:35, August 17, 2010 (UTC)
 * It doesn't seem like there's any way around this. Apparently this isn't the first time Wikia has transitioned, so I guess this was bound to happen sooner or later. The best we can do is to create or keep a style that is uniquely TSW while still adhering to Wikia's requirements. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 16:40, August 17, 2010 (UTC)


 * For me, one of the primary issues is readability and usability. Reducing the amount of space available for content will affect that, especially here, where infoboxes are the norm. IMO, the extra bells and whistles Wikia wants to add will also affect that. Another issue is that a wiki such as this isn't just a community of regular editors and readers, but is also a resource for a larger community, many of whom may have little or no knowledge of or interest in Wikia. Someone who finds an article through a web search may not care how many photos are on the wiki, much less want to wait while a slideshow of all photos loads. Dharden (talk) 15:58, August 19, 2010 (UTC)


 * Personally, I think it should just stay the same as it is now. I can already forsee the negative impact the new skin will have and even though this may sound crazy, I have a feeling that users with slower internet connections and lower end computers will have difficulty loading up the Wiki. It's happened with websites before. GEORGIEGIBBONS 11:40, August 20, 2010 (UTC)


 * Yes, we can all agree that we do not like this idea very much, but as LIR put it earlier: We just have to make the transition as smooth as possible when it comes. That means customizing the new skin when it comes out, before they remove Monaco. Duskey ( talk ) 20:31, August 20, 2010 (UTC)


 * Bad news for the few low resolution people with us: W:Forum:Wikia’s new look - User questions. 1000px article space + menu = Screen width overflow. Duskey ( talk ) 08:04, August 24, 2010 (UTC)


 * Created Project Skin. Duskey ( talk ) 21:11, August 25, 2010 (UTC)


 * The project contain links to all the important Wikia pages on this new skin and the discussion and questions should be taken there. Duskey ( talk ) 13:00, August 26, 2010 (UTC)

The Sims Wiki Battles
We are already in the midst of creating a Sims Wiki Battles feature. These battles will work like the battles at the Final Fantasy Wiki and the Kingdom Hearts Wiki. Users can vote for or nominate a fight between two things in The Sims series. These things can be Sims, Objects, Life states, anything like that. After a fight is chosen, users can then vote for which of the two things they want to win. After the fights time is up, the thing with the most votes wins, and a new fight is chosen from the nominations. We have already created the Battle layout and are considering the Sims Wiki page it will be on. Please feel free to tell us what you think about this new feature. Thank you. --Random Ranaun 22:18, August 20, 2010 (UTC)


 * I've added my take on how to implement this. I made a template Simbattle and you can see it in action with three examples here: The Sims Wiki:Sandbox/SimBattle. Duskey ( talk ) 03:45, August 22, 2010 (UTC)

Affiliation with non-Sims sites
Sparked by a message left on AM's talk page, I wanted to start a discussion whether we should allow affiliation with non-Sims sites/wikis. The pro would be more traffic I suppose, but if we do allow it, where does it stop? Do we need a link to every wiki here on wikia? Duskey ( talk ) 06:19, August 23, 2010 (UTC)


 * I don't want too much traffic here and there, but this wiki should help sponser some run-down wikis that need urgent help, such as the Spyro wiki and Bandipedia. I am the admin at the former wiki, and I am really asking for more help, y'know! Uxie   Lover  1994 06:30, August 23, 2010 (UTC)


 * I don't really agree with non-sim affiliation. This is a wiki site for information about the game, it's simply not relevant to link to other sites or other wikis that aren't in any way related to the Sims genre. I know we want to build a community, but it really doesn't make sense to start linking to every other wiki. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 14:09, August 23, 2010 (UTC)


 * I agree with LIR for the same reasons. Duskey ( talk ) 05:28, August 24, 2010 (UTC)

Disney wiki request
I reponse to Sundogs' forum post here on the Wiki, I requested more information and this was the message I recieved on my Community Central talk page:

Basically saying that:# I like to be affiliate with you, This is what I tried to ask in the forums at the Sims wiki. Please understand that these listed things are direct and to the point, and at the time of the posting; all the requested needs to cover in meeting. Thanks. Sundogs American Law Wiki • Apple Wiki 12:42, August 23, 2010 (UTC)
 * 1) note that we are more commercial use; i.e. like the Disney's Online World Wiki site (their wiki site). I want it to be both Disney's' Online Worlds Wiki and your Sims Wiki combined.
 * 2) Willing to make the Sims Wiki admins be admins to our site until we have our own admins.
 * 3) Use templates from your wiki,
 * 4) note that I like all your templates and I would like to use them at the wiki site that I am at.
 * 5) Reword our text to match yours or better sounding from your wiki,
 * 6) note I don't want our articles sounding or looking or sounding like the Wikipedia's pages or anyone else in that matter.

I know as much as you do at this time. This seems related to the "non-sims affiliation" discussion. What are your thoughts and questions? Duskey ( talk ) 13:43, August 23, 2010 (UTC)

He has added some clarification to his request on the Community Central forum. Duskey ( talk ) 05:28, August 24, 2010 (UTC)

Since there's been no indication that this is something the editors of The Sims Wiki are interesting in, I'm declining the request. -- Duskey talk 04:10, September 6, 2010 (UTC)

Spyro Wiki
So this means you are not going to help? We need the help ASAP, and it would be great. I disagree with linking to every wiki, but the Spyro wiki is in need of urgent help! Please don't leave it to only ZACH, Aura and I! We need more help. Uxie  Lover  1994 08:19, August 24, 2010 (UTC)


 * I believe many of us are here because we have a passion for The Sims games, I believe this to be true of most wiki's; you contribute because you have an interest in the subject. The question of whether we're willing to link to your wiki as an affiliate is still being discussed here. In the meantime I suggest you check out Advice:Building a Community at help.wikia. There's other good articles there on how to attract visitors (and subsequently editors) to your wiki. Duskey ( talk ) 10:38, August 24, 2010 (UTC)


 * I guess you are right. We are very upset with you guys due to your refusal to say something about us that could help us. Uxie   Lover  1994 07:03, August 25, 2010 (UTC)


 * Since there's been no indication that this is something the editors of The Sims Wiki are interesting in, I'm declining the request. -- Duskey talk 04:10, September 6, 2010 (UTC)

Cars & Vehicles
How should we list and categorize cars & vehicles? With FLS incoming we'll need to sort it out. Duskey ( talk ) 16:23, August 26, 2010 (UTC)

Once FLS hits I have half a mind to make an extra menu item in the main menu, pointing to the page and associated pages. Duskey ( talk ) 19:05, August 26, 2010 (UTC)

Child userbox
Template:User child. Isn't it a bit iffy we have a child userbox when you're legally not allowed to edit here unless you're 13, which would make you a teenager. Duskey ( talk ) 16:41, August 26, 2010 (UTC)
 * I have noticed that Wikipedia have no objections to children editing there. Seeing as some of our policies are similar to those of Wikipedia (such as assume good faith), I think the template creator had taken the rule from WP. GEORGIEGIBBONS (talk) 17:17, August 28, 2010 (UTC)
 * Regardless, Wikia ToS require that users are at least 13 years of age, so the child userbox really isn't needed. Even if a user were under age 13, adding the child userbox to their page would be as foolish as listing their actual age, since doing that would show that they were clearly in violation of the ToS and they would be subject to a cross-wiki block until they reach 13. -- Patrick (LostInRiverview) (talk)(blog)(random page) 17:30, August 28, 2010 (UTC)


 * I removed the userbox, category and deleted it from the user pages and reminded those users about the Wikia Terms of Use. -- Duskey talk 03:20, September 6, 2010 (UTC)

Any artists among us?
Do we have any artists among us who are semi-good at making wallpapers? I "borrowed" a wallpaper from The Sims Supply and inserted a greyscale logo in the table (it needs to brighter, I know), but this is what the portal COULD look like. However, I'm not very keen on ripping off The Sims Supply so if anyone can create a similar wallpaper that'd be awesome. There are some requirements however.
 * Needs to be at least 1680px width (Article space with Monaco skin at 1920x1080 resolution)
 * If it's a 1920x1080 wallpaper we'll just resize it and then we also have a TSW desktop image :D
 * Needs to fade out to white at the bottom, or it's gonna look funky.
 * Light colors are preferred, nothing pitch black.
 * Should contain the TSW logo (File:Wiki.png) if you put in the middle it'll be hidden by the table, that's a good thing.
 * Must be FLS and/or LN themed.
 * No video caps, they look horrible. Promo images and renders only.

If you wanna do something similar to The Sims Supply's picture, I believe they're using a toned down neighborhood picture and then some promotional images from the game. See also their current LN background for inspiration.

I'd you're interested it could be nice to do this for all future releases and maybe the non-game portals too. Duskey ( talk ) 17:03, August 28, 2010 (UTC)

Miniboxes
I wanted to make templates to mark articles who had a portal, userbox and/or a shortcut associated, but I can't quite decide between the big or the small ones. Any thoughts? Duskey ( talk ) 17:43, September 1, 2010 (UTC)

Marking Wikia as a bot
Would anyone object to marking User:Wikia as a bot so the "Welcoming new user" and "Generating talk page" or whatever it says, so itdoesn't show up in recent changes by default (you can show it by clicking "show bots")? If you're worried about missing new users you can also see them in the log. Duskey ( talk ) 20:03, September 2, 2010 (UTC)

Advanced player story link
I've added an "advanced" player story link to Template:Sim and Template:Simbio-end. The link is down below. If there is no subpage in the current articles named "Player stories" it created a link which, when clicked, takes you to a new page with the text  already added to the edit section. Try it below:



Before I add it to neighborhood and other infoboxes, I wanted people's opinion on this (and hopefully discover any bugs) and I also wanted to know if it should be added to any more bio infoboxes. I checked most of them, but apart from "sim" they all seemed to rely on "simbio-end" for the playerstories.  Duskey ( talk ) 20:17, September 3, 2010 (UTC)

Featured content cleanup
Or featured content archive isn't too good. There's loose template and categories floating around from when the wiki was created. Before attempting to make some sense of it, I would like your opinion on a new template to show an article has been featured. It's being tested on the Riley Harlow article. Lemme know what you think. Duskey ( talk ) 23:52, September 5, 2010 (UTC)