Your Gaming Control Panel

Flumps · #1 04-10-2009, 04:45 PM

Im currently developing a game control panel.

got basics developed already,

start
stop
restart

download files etc

what features is a must for you gamers and users of the control panels out there. what do you want in a gaming control panel whats your must top 3 things?

the panel im creating is going to be free so whatever you say I'll do my best to put into what ive already got over the upcoming months before the beta is released.

just wanna say its a linux control panel aswell...before people start saying do x for windows lol.

avizzle · #2 04-10-2009, 04:59 PM

You need to have some sort of file manager on the web interface, as well as the companion FTP server.

You need an ability to roll out updates for all games of a specific type.

There are quite a few features a game control panel needs to be successful. You could just look at TCAdmin's feature set and go from there.

Flumps · #3 04-10-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avizzle

You need to have some sort of file manager on the web interface, as well as the companion FTP server.

You need an ability to roll out updates for all games of a specific type.

There are quite a few features a game control panel needs to be successful. You could just look at TCAdmin's feature set and go from there.

thats very true...

Just wanted to get more of a market research list of features from an actual audence then copy the features from what sum1 else has hehe.

CorvetteX · #4 04-10-2009, 05:56 PM

The absolute #1 needed feature is: automated setup without human intervention. It needs to know that the credit card or paypal payment went through successfully and complete the process all on its own. It should have functionality that allows for addons, mods, and other customizations(they vary by game).

Then add the basics. The world is all about getting stuff done as quick as possible. Think microwaves, cars, or even the internet itself(instant information).

There are companies out there that can build your house in 2 years, or you can pay X amount extra and get it done in 3-6 months.

They do this because an enormous amount of people these days don't have the patience to wait really long when the rest of the world is operating on overdrive. Compare whatever you are making with other real life scenarios and always ask yourself WHY, then you can take those WHY's and apply them to your product or business.

Red Squirrel · #5 04-10-2009, 08:38 PM

Think it really depends on the game too. Each game will have it's own needs.

For example I run a UO game server, and some of my requirements are:

- Able to upload server patches easily
- Able to have automated daily offsite backups

Most of the other requirements are done within the game itself (restart, create/edit world items, etc)

Flumps · #6 04-11-2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorvetteX

The absolute #1 needed feature is: automated setup without human intervention. It needs to know that the credit card or paypal payment went through successfully and complete the process all on its own. It should have functionality that allows for addons, mods, and other customizations(they vary by game).

Then add the basics. The world is all about getting stuff done as quick as possible. Think microwaves, cars, or even the internet itself(instant information).

There are companies out there that can build your house in 2 years, or you can pay X amount extra and get it done in 3-6 months.

They do this because an enormous amount of people these days don't have the patience to wait really long when the rest of the world is operating on overdrive. Compare whatever you are making with other real life scenarios and always ask yourself WHY, then you can take those WHY's and apply them to your product or business.

Thats some very good advice.

seeing as its going to be a free panel I dont have to worry so much with transactions.

its basically going to work on the process of user picks game and inital settings, clicks a button then it sets up that server on that specific physical server the user has chosen.

so yeah kinda will be automatic in that sense.

going to try and make everything with a web front end, less chance of things going wrong then - Ive worked with some GSPs where people that have access to ftp delete files that they need. I'm going to try and stop / limit that ability.

Flumps · #7 04-11-2009, 08:05 AM

Just realised ive read that automation in the wrong context, you meant as you said auto sign up....

I see what you mean now, from the moment the user picks the game and the slots it creates it.

And billing will have to be incorporated for GSP's to bill there clients..sorry I was looking at it from a different perspective. lol.

cAPTAIN^k · #8 04-16-2009, 09:01 PM

I don't mean to knock your project, it is great to see it happening however it would be much more productive to have your efforts put in to improving an existing open project - Open Game Panel

I hope you don't take this the wrong way, you need all the encouragement you can get!

Stevie21 · #9 04-16-2009, 09:36 PM

Custom command lines that users can edit, file manager, punksbusted/steam updater built in, automated setup etc.

Good luck man!

mijfg · #10 04-20-2009, 11:03 PM

Just a humble opinion, make it as user friendly as possible, keep in mind, that when someone ask's for server, hes or she is either 10 or 20 or 30 , so they are not that computer literate in respect to game server set up.
Best way to test out your program is to take some 12 year old who has been playing games and ask him.
Which game do you play ?
Can you set this game up ?
What do you need for it to be working ?
**Then consider the time needed for him to answer yes or no questions. Usually its about 3-5 mins, that is, if the interface is set up correctly**

Flumps · #11 04-23-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cAPTAIN^k

I don't mean to knock your project, it is great to see it happening however it would be much more productive to have your efforts put in to improving an existing open project - Open Game Panel

I hope you don't take this the wrong way, you need all the encouragement you can get!

its more effort to do that cause ill have to learn thing what sum1 has made already. then supporting it would be harder.

atleast if I make my own I know how it works, what code does what etc.

plus its already been started, got a few more things that need doing then ill be working on an actual shiny interface cause at the moment it all looks very plain and boring hehe.

Flumps · #12 04-23-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mijfg

Just a humble opinion, make it as user friendly as possible, keep in mind, that when someone ask's for server, hes or she is either 10 or 20 or 30 , so they are not that computer literate in respect to game server set up.
Best way to test out your program is to take some 12 year old who has been playing games and ask him.
Which game do you play ?
Can you set this game up ?
What do you need for it to be working ?
**Then consider the time needed for him to answer yes or no questions. Usually its about 3-5 mins, that is, if the interface is set up correctly**

I already know the games that will be used in the beta stages to test things:

will be all source related games and a few others such as the call of duty series etc.

I will have a big private beta testing which will be locked down to 10-30 signups to test things such as security, useability, things to add etc.

then I will add things depending what people find when testing it etc.

then have a first release etc then go from there.