Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => The Theory of Everything => Topic started by: Petek on August 03, 2013, 07:53:23 PM

Title: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Petek on August 03, 2013, 07:53:23 PM
The Civilization Gaming Network (CGN) forums have been closed, according to buster (http://www.civgaming.net/forums/announcement.php?f=10), the forum owner:

Quote
The Civilization Gaming Network forums have been closed for new postings and turned into a static archive. Earlier posts , file uploads, images and the wiki will be kept accessible as an archive as long as some interest is still there.
Registering as a new members is also no longer possible.
Existing members will for now still be able to post in the site feedback forum and to use the PM and email to user system.


CGN focused on SMACX. Originally created to host multiplayer SMACX games, it later became the center of development for scient's unofficial patch.

RIP CGN.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 03, 2013, 07:56:58 PM
I wonder what the deal is with that...
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Green1 on August 03, 2013, 08:11:24 PM
Dead forums, just like dead puppies are no fun....

It is like a downward spiral. Less posts give way to less posts.

All I know is I did not like it as a lurker they made me register to DL Scient's patch. I guess they thought it would make me post. Lurkers that just want to DL something do not like that. It smacks of tackiness. particularly if you are a one trick pony and all you got is the patch I am interested in. That is my only memory of the place.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 03, 2013, 09:04:11 PM
This is a loss to the community.  Much as you might wish for everyone to be active where you are, there are lurkers who would have signed up there and eventually found their way here.  Or not, but made worthwhile contributions there.  Lots of SMACers are multi-forum, as this thread started by the CFC SMAC(X) mod demonstrates.  A rising tide lifts all boats, and the potential tide just got a little smaller. 

-Or less boats; whatever.

I strongly urge everyone to get in the habit of checking CFC and Apolyton AC forums once in a while, and posting when the fancy strikes.  It's good for AC2 for those places to be alive.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: ete on August 03, 2013, 09:51:18 PM
:( always sad to see a good site come to an end, but at least it's being kept as viewable. As a precaution against possible loss of information, I've done a full backup of the wiki over there (XML text backup plus the one image uploaded) an attached it to this post.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Petek on August 03, 2013, 10:08:40 PM
Thanks for making that backup. The SMAC Academy is a great resource. However, the information is unformatted when I open the file in either Firefox or IE. Firefox displays the following message:

Quote
This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.

Can that be fixed? Also, buster, the site owner. may have some IP rights to this material. If it was me, I'd check with him about posting it.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: ete on August 03, 2013, 10:17:58 PM
The format is designed for importing into another wiki, not for reading. It would be trivial to import it into the wiki here, but as you say that would be questionable at best on copyright grounds, or at least impolite. The pages will not be imported en mass or posted in a human readable format unless and until the CGN wiki becomes unavailable (at which point we would be an archive of materials otherwise unavailable, not taking traffic away from the original source, and helping out new ACers as I am sure the authors would want, much like the NN faction index), and I will respect author requests to not import or remove their work.

Edit: To clarify, mirroring with permission is something I'd like.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Petek on August 03, 2013, 11:28:23 PM
OK. Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Darsnan on August 04, 2013, 11:44:41 AM
buster, the site owner. may have some IP rights to this material. If it was me, I'd check with him about posting it.

When I was in the process of building the SMACX Scenario Repository at WePlayCiv I asked buster if it was OK to download all of the scenarios from CGN for the project, and he had no problem with that at the time. I will contact buster specifically about the Guide to Editing the alphax.txt file and see if he has any problems with me making a copy of that.

D
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: ete on August 04, 2013, 12:07:26 PM
Okay. I'd be very happy to have a full mirror of the SMAC Academy (with links back to the original) if we can get permission for that.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Darsnan on August 04, 2013, 01:19:31 PM
Okay. I'd be very happy to have a full mirror of the SMAC Academy (with links back to the original) if we can get permission for that.

Note that I am only focusing on the "Guide": I don't have the bandwidth to even attempt porting everything from CGN to the other remaining SMAC sites. FYI so there is no misunderstanding as to what I am volunteering for.

D
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: ete on August 04, 2013, 01:46:38 PM
If I get permission, it would take me under five minutes to create a full mirror of the wiki which has the SMAC Academy. Collecting and mirroring other things on wiki is also practical, if there's anything in particular which should be saved.

Edit: Oh, I remembered that I mirrored just the Alpha(x).txt editing guide back in March: http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Alpha%28x%29.txt_editing (http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Alpha%28x%29.txt_editing)
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Darsnan on August 04, 2013, 01:56:02 PM
If I get permission, it would take me under five minutes to create a full mirror of the wiki which has the SMAC Academy. Collecting and mirroring other things on wiki is also practical, if there's anything in particular which should be saved.


Awesome! :b: I definitely think it is worth the effort once we get official permission from buster.

Edit: Oh, I remembered that I mirrored just the Alpha(x).txt editing guide back in March: http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Alpha%28x%29.txt_editing (http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Alpha%28x%29.txt_editing) 


LOL! I think I am superfluous here in this regards!

D
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Darsnan on August 04, 2013, 11:31:13 PM
OK, I got word back from buster that he has no issues with the Guide being posted somewhere else, so np posting it here. Since this is already done I am going to re-prioritize this lower on my to-do list, however I will still probably update this sometime along. Ete, if I give you the updates sometime in the future can you incorporate them here for me?

D
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: ete on August 05, 2013, 12:14:05 AM
You should be able to edit the wiki directly using your forum account, does http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/index.php?title=Alpha%28x%29.txt_editing&action=edit (http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/index.php?title=Alpha%28x%29.txt_editing&action=edit) work for you? If not I'll try and track down the issue.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 05, 2013, 01:22:54 PM
Someone should invite buster over here...
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on August 05, 2013, 02:00:40 PM
Aren't you his uncle? Should seem appropriate you do it.
I'd lend my hand out but I don't know him-yet.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 05, 2013, 02:08:27 PM
No, Buster is my perfect niece.  This is another buster, and I'm the wrong guy for the job.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on August 05, 2013, 02:27:59 PM
Oh. That's confusing  ;lol

If I knew the person/had any way to contact him without seeming like an random mold I would.
But his reaction to an old dog he doesn't know would probably go like
 ???
 :-\
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Green1 on August 13, 2013, 10:29:36 AM
In my experience with projects and sites, usually when some one shuts down the thing, they do not want involvement on ANY other thing. Could be wrong, but that is usually the case.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 16, 2013, 09:50:43 PM
Good news on the Greater SMACX Community front:  I hope I'm not talking out of school to relate that Martin Gühmann, co-owner of Apolyton, sent some PMs yesterday encouraging 'poly SMACers to take advantage of the recent activity bump (it's been pretty healthy in their AC for about a month, thanks to a few enthusiastic newbs drawing the attention of old hands) and try to build some lasting participation. 

A very small number of people applying themselves can make a real difference, as the aforementioned newbs prove.  But you can't do it all yourself; promising newbs tend to lose interest for no particular reason, and old hands MUST do their part to establish something lasting.  It needs a team on the job, as even the most dedicated, energetic and talented member needs someone to talk to, or it's hollow.  It needs energy and patience.  Lots and lots of patience.  And a certain shamelessness and not taking no for an answer too easily about attempts to recruit others into the effort.

And of course, posting is job one.  Community/activity building must have a foundation of something to read and respond to, or all recruiting is for nothing.  Post, get the word out, generate and post game content, nurture a pleasant tone to the general conversation, and take good care of your newbs, always.  Take care of each other, too.  Post, first and last, because activity generates more activity, and enough activity for long enough will draw enough people to create a critical mass of activity and members that no one has to work at.

If all that sounds familiar, well, it's what I do, and this forum is the proof that it works.  Thing is, I didn't and couldn't do it alone.  I need help all the time in my efforts as a recruiter/organizer, even.  And that's where you come in.

You.  Don't leave it for the next guy - nothing gets done when everybody just wishes someone would; you

Keep doing what you're doing -things are hoppin' at AC2, and I got no complaints.  But take initiative about getting the word out.  There are thousands and thousands of SMACers out there who've yet to find the online AC community.  Check by the other (http://apolyton.net/forumdisplay.php/23-Alpha-Centauri) online AC nexii (http://apolyton.net/forumdisplay.php/23-Alpha-Centauri) regularly and post when you have something to say.  (Good to spread the word about AC2, bad to act like you're recruiting.  We have good relations with the people in charge at both those AC subfolders I just linked, and want to keep them.)  Let's breathe more life into those places.  Also, if you link AC2 in your sig at CFC and 'poly, that's good for our SEO.  Search engines are our single best way to be found, and copies of our URL are their food.

'poly has been very cooperative in several promotions, and CFC AC moderator Petek is one of us and has supported AC2 from the beginning. Both deserve our support in return.

Forums are not girlfriends; it's okay to have more than one.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on August 16, 2013, 10:37:01 PM

Forums are not girlfriends; it's okay to have more than one.

What if your a polygamist or a Scoundrel?

 ;lol
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 16, 2013, 11:01:05 PM
Your RL behavior towards yo' wimminz is no one here's concern unless you tell us about it.  Likewise, try to confine your scoundrelry to analog, and it's not my problem.  Otherwise, make your stories entertaining.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on August 17, 2013, 12:05:37 AM
Your RL behavior towards yo' wimminz is no one here's concern unless you tell us about it.  Likewise, try to confine your scoundrelry to analog, and it's not my problem.  Otherwise, make your stories entertaining.

I'm just kidding. I don't have the energy for more then one woman...


Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 17, 2013, 12:34:03 AM
:D  But I'm sure she's very tired now. :D
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on August 17, 2013, 01:14:58 AM
The closest woman to me is my neighbours, and that's a fair walk and she married and plus, things have come out of her that I'd rather not associate with. Despicable little gremlins  ;lol

I've been single for about 30 or so odd years. Only marriage that's lasted me up to the present is me and my mustache.

Of course I was happily married once, and then had a short, rocky one a little after that one, but that one was just a case of me and the other not really mixing well so we went our separate ways.

Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 17, 2013, 01:16:48 AM
Her way was to the doctor to do something about the tiredness and soreness...
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on August 17, 2013, 01:40:41 AM
And mine was as well because it burned when I peed-

 ;lol
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 20, 2013, 07:07:22 AM
Good news on the Greater SMACX Community front:  I hope I'm not talking out of school to relate that Martin Gühmann, co-owner of Apolyton, sent some PMs yesterday encouraging 'poly SMACers to take advantage of the recent activity bump (it's been pretty healthy in their AC for about a month, thanks to a few enthusiastic newbs drawing the attention of old hands) and try to build some lasting participation. 

A very small number of people applying themselves can make a real difference, as the aforementioned newbs prove.  But you can't do it all yourself; promising newbs tend to lose interest for no particular reason, and old hands MUST do their part to establish something lasting.  It needs a team on the job, as even the most dedicated, energetic and talented member needs someone to talk to, or it's hollow.  It needs energy and patience.  Lots and lots of patience.  And a certain shamelessness and not taking no for an answer too easily about attempts to recruit others into the effort.

And of course, posting is job one.  Community/activity building must have a foundation of something to read and respond to, or all recruiting is for nothing.  Post, get the word out, generate and post game content, nurture a pleasant tone to the general conversation, and take good care of your newbs, always.  Take care of each other, too.  Post, first and last, because activity generates more activity, and enough activity for long enough will draw enough people to create a critical mass of activity and members that no one has to work at.

If all that sounds familiar, well, it's what I do, and this forum is the proof that it works.  Thing is, I didn't and couldn't do it alone.  I need help all the time in my efforts as a recruiter/organizer, even.  And that's where you come in.

You.  Don't leave it for the next guy - nothing gets done when everybody just wishes someone would; you

Keep doing what you're doing -things are hoppin' at AC2, and I got no complaints.  But take initiative about getting the word out.  There are thousands and thousands of SMACers out there who've yet to find the online AC community.  Check by the other (http://apolyton.net/forumdisplay.php/23-Alpha-Centauri) online AC nexii (http://apolyton.net/forumdisplay.php/23-Alpha-Centauri) regularly and post when you have something to say.  (Good to spread the word about AC2, bad to act like you're recruiting.  We have good relations with the people in charge at both those AC subfolders I just linked, and want to keep them.)  Let's breathe more life into those places.  Also, if you link AC2 in your sig at CFC and 'poly, that's good for our SEO.  Search engines are our single best way to be found, and copies of our URL are their food.

'poly has been very cooperative in several promotions, and CFC AC moderator Petek is one of us and has supported AC2 from the beginning. Both deserve our support in return.

Forums are not girlfriends; it's okay to have more than one.
I wish everyone would read this...
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Geo on August 20, 2013, 05:20:40 PM
And mine was as well because it burned when I peed-

 ;lol

 ;lol
Too much gunpowder went through during your lifetime?  :D
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on August 20, 2013, 10:20:12 PM
No, more of white phosphorous that came out of me. My artillery has gotten a little worn down  ;lol
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Droom on August 21, 2013, 02:56:03 AM
Yea, so I took your message to heart and increased my posts from 5 to 7 on 'poly( I've been a member since 2006 and then 2000 b4 the crash).
Then I pm'ed ete and volunteered to do a task on the wiki.

You've got a slimy tongue, BUncle.

Next think you know, I'll be getting an avatar.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 21, 2013, 03:12:13 AM
Please?

That's not slime, it's honey.  Leadership!

P.S.  Good man.  ;b;
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 21, 2013, 07:39:25 AM
 :danc:

Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums.  Sig link AC2 at other forums. 
;)
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Geo on August 21, 2013, 03:37:53 PM
You've got a slimy tongue, BUncle.

Ain't that the truth!
I remember the day's on WPC I suddenly became member of the GOTM committee.  ???
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 21, 2013, 03:55:12 PM
Yeah; that didn't work, either - besides, Dale did it.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Geo on August 21, 2013, 04:32:46 PM
Yeah; that didn't work, either - besides, Dale did it.

AFAIK, you initiated it!
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 21, 2013, 05:06:59 PM
I've put Dale up to a lot of stuff over the years - what of it?  You could have been a huge help if you'd chosen to be. ;)
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Geo on August 21, 2013, 05:18:15 PM
I wasn't up to an AC2-style commitment back then.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on August 21, 2013, 05:22:01 PM
I've noticed the difference lately, and I appreciate your support. 

Are you volunteering for something?  I could really use a tech-end guy, if I was confident the Vegas rule would be observed.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Geo on August 21, 2013, 05:53:21 PM
Got plenty in my cap atm with Tau Ceti B!  :P
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: NewAgeOfPower on September 02, 2013, 10:00:09 AM
All I know is I did not like it as a lurker they made me register to DL Scient's patch. I guess they thought it would make me post. Lurkers that just want to DL something do not like that. It smacks of tackiness. particularly if you are a one trick pony and all you got is the patch I am interested in. That is my only memory of the place.

People are active on forums which they can connect to other users with. It's the people.

I've found some... interesting... characters here  ;domai;
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on September 02, 2013, 01:56:08 PM
You're right that it's all about the people, the community.  We have a nice wiki (which you should check out) for the pure information.  I had a clear vision coming in to building AC2 that we needed people, because without the congress of erudite SMACX fans, there'd be nothing here that truly interested me.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: JarlWolf on September 03, 2013, 06:04:40 AM
Well, you got a crazy cast. Lets review of just some sort of people we have here

- A bio-friendly farmer from Utah who is a Halloween enthusiast
- Beer drinking AAR nerd who loves to crack jokes and make people have a laugh and managed to rig free internet on his phone. Magic.
- Grumpy old, ex-Soviet Military Man who likes dirty, brash and crude humour
- Very well mannered modder who has a total conversion mod for converting SMAC/X into a nudist version of a cartoon animal/beast thing. (I think it's called Pokemon, never really knew much of it.) Who I think is a pious Christian: but don't quote me on that.
- A very interactive Admin who likes to boost forum morale and activity like a drunk likes to holler and piss on a wall. (And I say that positively and in intention of a compliment mind!)
- An infomaniac wiki admin who likes his stats and cataloging (Some people I cannot understand, but salute nonetheless.  :salute: )
- And an Exe. coder who is a wizard in his craft and has cranked out numerous patches.

That's just to point out a FEW of the collection of individuals we have gathered here, many more people with their own special quirks. This forum is weird, wonderful and damned fantastic.

(Won't match those descriptions to names, but they should be fairly obvious.)
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: NewAgeOfPower on September 03, 2013, 06:27:26 AM
Ha. We need all kinds of people.
Title: Re: CGN Forum Closure
Post by: Buster's Uncle on April 03, 2018, 08:06:01 AM
FWIW, CGN went away completely late last year.  Nobody I'm aware of has been able to contact buster (no relation) and Solver did try pretty hard.
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