Gaming Hybrid BETA

[Oti]

Well, I've been keeping busy since FFE first died in 2003, but releasing my own fansite in 2004. However, I tried to keep things changing and going well, but it seems that it was best for me to start over. So I have-ish.

Gaming Hybrid v3 is to take the fan sites head on. Giving a different, yet familiar experience with a fair amount of interactivity. One of the key features of this version that many fan sites have not been able to produce is a Global Style Changer, which changes not only the forums', but the website's style to match. Many modifications and additions bring GH to be different from others while still giving that fan site feel. Though, some things (aka memberinfo) from FFE inspired me :3

Anyways, I'm really looking to gaining some BETA testers for the site. BETA will start Sunday or Monday of next week and will allow the testing of course features. Content and media will be added during that time, so just features and functionality is to be tested during the first phase.

If you're interested, PM me or post here. More information as well as patch notes will be available next week. And, as always, this is not to replace FFE, as I work here to. So you better not leave FFE or else...

Gaming Hybrid

Benefits of being an Active BETA Tester is that you'll gain permanent Honored Membership status, which is basically liek a premium membership where it rids the advertisements on site and forums, however is a worked at status and not buy able :P

[The Dude]

I thought this was for Guitar Hero 3. I might pop in if Dave doesn't have anything for me to do by then.

[Oti]

Originally Posted by The Dude

I thought this was for Guitar Hero 3. I might pop in if Dave doesn't have anything for me to do by then.

There, I fixed it

And cool stuff. From what I see, the Global Style Changer, basic navigation, and forum modifications work out. Just gotta get my vB.org access back to get cool stuffz, other than some arcade.

[Jak]

Im in if you want me .

[Oti]

[Public Testing/Treat] Video Streaming System

From time to time, I'll have a feature the public can test. Right now, the first feature is the "Video Player" which will stream FLV videos, give links to download options, and will give a list of the top 5 newly added videos. Some features aren't fully working, and those are pointed out in the player window. Think of this as a taste of what is to come!

Public Signups for the BETA is coming... please bare with me...

http://www.gaminghybrid.com

Yes! Finally you can see some of my work, while adding features that were going to be placed on "hold". The link above pops up the "Video Player", which will be standard to guests, and optional for members+. The download system as well as the streaming system is virtually complete. So, when these current issues are finished, GH will be released. I've not given up and this website will be my biggest investment I've ever done!
The video player also has notes to what sections are currently working, and which are currently being worked on. Just because you can "see" it, doesn't mean it is actually working. An example of that is the "Top 5 Newest Videos", where it does show th list and the links do work, but it doesn't actually "feed" anything from the server, meaning it isn't really the "newest"... not "yet" I mean.
Implemented/Planned Features

• Advertisement
  As a bonus for testing the BETA, there are no advertisements! However, come the release of the site, there will be. However, as the comment in the placeholder, that row will vanish if your account has "Honored Membership" status. Staff automatically have permanent status.
• FLV Player
  This is a low-bandwidth streaming solution. We have, however, made the as much quality for the flv files as YouTube, if not better.
• "Welcome Guest" area
  Will give an area letting you know if the script identifies you, and gives guests information (mainly).
• Download Format
  For testing reasons, I have not enabled "member-only" access to this portion, where the live version will require a membership. On there, it'll list various format you can download the video with, for convinence of the member. I mean, why go through the trouble to convert, when it is done for you? Any link with a strkethrough means the format is not yet available for the current video. This can likely happen since the formats are manually added via FTP.
• Top 5 Newest Videos
  This is planned to list the top 5 newest additions to our library, however this currently does not work. I mean that as it is hardcoded at this time, and thus not acting as a interactive server feed.

Here are the keypoints of the final version:

• Guests Can Only Stream FLV, not download...(could change)
• Members can stream FLV AND download AVI & iPod (and more) versions.
• Queue system has been added, but only used based on server activity.
• Honored Members get ad-free streaming/download pages.
• Guest, Member, Honored = Queue priority from lowest-highest.

[Oti]

I've just added the pop up download version too (for only downloading the file). Why have that? Not everyone wants to stream, as sometimes it will ask for a flash plugin if the viewer doesn't have the up-to-date one or so...

In general, for convinence