The Digital Memories of Ultima Online project has taken a giant step forward. I’ve been peppering my previous posts with updates, but I think it’s now time for a proper update.
First, I will no longer use Dropbox as the means to collect images. I’m now taking a very serious look at the Coppermine Gallery CMS and since it has built-in account management and upload features, Dropbox is not needed. Having said that, if someone has a large number of images and they do not wish to set up an account and upload the images directly to the gallery I’ll be happy to set up a private Dropbox folder instead.
If you’ve been following the blog, you know that the project is being developed in two phases. Phase 1 is now complete. I want to thank my friends who jumped in early to help sort out the technical details. At some point, I’ll give them the credit they deserve. Perhaps a “Rogue’s Gallery” on the website with character profiles and links to their websites. (It seems that everyone who plays UO has their own website.)
In a personal development, I’ve taken a job at a web hosting firm. The domain that hosts the gallery is on their servers. I realize that I still have a “split personality” since the blog (ravenofminoc.com) and the gallery (ravenofminoc.net) reside on different servers. The blog is still hosted at WordPress.com but when things settle down, I plan on migrating the blog to the new servers and getting all the domains set up properly. Then no matter which one you type, you’ll always come to the right spot.
I may have fumbled things a bit at the start of the project. I think that setting up a “test gallery” on another domain may have created the impression that I didn’t have a long-term commitment to the gallery. The Dropbox accounts probably put some folks off as well. In the forums, folks have expressed interest in specific features that I didn’t plan on offering originally, but these functions are all built into Coppermine.
So, give the project a second look and keep the comments rolling in!
UPDATE: The DMUO Gallery is now ONLINE at it’s permanent home.
I am still fiddling with Coppermine as the prime candidate for managing the album. If you didn’t get a chance to check out the album before during it’s “demo” hosting, you can now view it here.
UPDATE 04/19/2012: Dropbox folders are no longer being used. I’ve set up domain name for the gallery and it looks like Coppermine will be the CMS I use to manage the gallery. Take a look here.
After some brief but intense thought, I’ve decided that private folders are the way to go. I told folks that during Phase I, we would be seeing what works and what doesn’t so this is the first change that I’m going to implement.
If you would like to participate in the project, here’s how it works:
Go here, and read about the project then fill in the sign-up form.
I will send a Dropbox referral link to the email you provided in the sign-up form. It’s important that you use this link as it increases the size of the DMUO Dropbox account. If you already have a Dropbox account please check the box at the bottom of the form.
This is a critical step:After you set up your Dropbox account, wait until I email an invite link to the private folder you will use to upload your pictures.When you receive this email you will log into your Dropbox account (on the web) and you will see a message there informing you of the invite. Click to accept that and the DMUO_yourname_private folder will activate and show up in your Dropbox folder on your Hard Drive.
In your private DMUO folder (DMUO_yourname_private) you will see a file called DMUO_README_private.html – click on it and it will launch your default browser so that you can read it. (It’s an HTML file).
The DMUO_README_private file has a link at the bottom that takes you to an external HTML file that has detailed instructions about participating in the project. The reason I link to an external file is so I only have to make changes to a single file that everyone can read.
Now you are ready to begin uploading files! Woot!
The online readme file addresses security and privacy issues so it’s important that you read it before uploading. Nothing too scary, but it will answer some questions some folks may have (and hopefully keep me from having to answer the same questions repeatedly). This document will evolve as I get more participants until it turns into the official project FAQ.
Warning, Technical Stuff!
As I point out in the Mission Statement, Dropbox may be just one of the file sharing services that folks can use. I’m open to suggestions, and you could include your preference in the comment section of the sign-up form. Dropbox offers a free account but there is a 2GB size limit. Each time someone uses the referral link, it will add 250MB to the DMUO account, so you can see how its important for folks to use the referral link I provide (step 2). Since we are talking about screen captures, they aren’t huge files so I don’t think this will become a problem right away. After folks transfer their files to the DMUO Dropbox folder I may move those files onto my local storage (HD) to keep the main Dropbox from exceeding it’s capacity. I will notify you if I have to do this. Dropbox also has pop-up notifications that inform you of activity in your folders.
As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, Phase I is a collection and testing phase. I want to find out the easiest ways for folks to send me their image files and use their feedback to make final decisions on what service(s) to use permanently. Your images won’t get posted publicly until I implement Phase II. During Phase II, I will decide what the best way to publicly share all of these (hundreds) of images is. You will get to provide your feedback on these discussions and will be informed when they are published online. Here is a link to a mind map that might help clear up any of your questions on how this process will move ahead.
I will do my best to proactively address concerns through blog posts here, but if you have a question about something I don’t address submit it as a comment to one of the blog posts, or include it in the comment section of the sign-up form. Remember that there is additional documentation that participants have access to. (Remember those HTML files I mentioned in steps 4 and 5?)
************ UPDATE (2/16) ************
I will probably announce the project on various UO forum websites this weekend. Check the links to the right for your favorite boards and look for an announcement there. If you don’t see your board listed, shoot me a note so I can set up an account. I’m currently on Stratics, Ultima Online Forums, and the Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards.
In trying to get this project up and running and one response I’ve heard a couple of times is folks telling me they need to “sort” their images before they upload them.
Maybe I’ve been unclear on this, but the end result of this project will be a “memory vault.” Basically just one large repository of images. This vault will not be broken down into separate albums for shards, locations, guilds, client, etc. There are no image categories, and no captions or notes will be needed.
I made the decision against categories/captions to attract the widest number of participants. If folks have to take the time to write notes for (potentially) hundreds of images, then they will never upload anything. Folks are just too busy for that. So sorting is unnecessary. Obviously, you get to decide what you want to share but beyond that I’m trying to keep this as simple as possible. If you have any stipulations about the use of the images you supply, then include that in a note in your upload folder and if I can’t meet your conditions, I won’t use them for the project.
There are no requirements for images. No minimum pixel dimensions, no file size or format requirements. Since these are screen caps, we’re not talking about huge file sizes anyway. If any changes need to be made, I’ll handle them at my end using bulk image processing software or some similar method. You do not need to worry about technical stuff.
One issue that has been brought up regarding the use of a shared (Dropbox) folder for collecting the images. Since this folder is treated like any other folder on the participants hard drive, perhaps some of you are concerned about other people “doing something” to your pics or engaging in mischief like deleting images in the shared folder. Part of Phase I is learning what works and what doesn’t.
Its possible that I may switch to assigning individual folders to contributors as we move ahead. That way you could share images with me (DMUO), but other participants could not access, alter or take images from your personal upload folder. If this system addresses your concerns, let me know and I’ll implement it immediately and email you a link to your personal shared folder for the project. (Be sure to sign up for the project here.)
We could still use the shared Ultima_DMUO folder for sharing project news, doc files, etc. (That way if I update the README file, I don’t have to copy it to a dozen different user folders.) But, that’s no biggie… I can handle the extra work and if having extra folders confuses folks then maybe it’s best to just abandon the Ultima_DMUO shared folder entirely.
If folks are already using an image sharing service like Photobucket, it might be possible for them to just provide links to their existing online albums and I could grab them from there. If there’s an option to download an entire album.
You probably thought that I had finished with Sosaria, but that is not the case. Though it is true that I spend much time of late pontificating over the mysteries of Linux, I am still very much attached to the lands of Sosaria.
While rummaging through the contents of my hard drive, I’ve come across a treasure trove of old images from Ultima Online. These were screen-caps I took while adventuring with my friends. Some images were taken to go with the stories I wrote in collaboration with my friends on the Stratics forums.
I’ve gathered all of these image files into one large collection and I’m sharing them online. They are accessible in three locations:
In addition to over 500 images, I’ve also found three stories written during my days playing UO. My friends from the Atlantic Forum on Stratics joined me in writing these stories so they are unique and wondrous tales. The documents are available as .PDF files.
All of this gathering and uploading is just practice to prepare me for the launch of the Digital Memories of Ultima Online project. Click on the link to read more about this ambitious project to create a community vault of digital memories from UO.
Since my conversion to Linux, most of my attention has been devoted to the technical aspects of mastering a new operating system. Sometimes I feel the need to just goof off and find myself looking at the games available to play that are written for the GNU/Linux OS.
First, I’ll point out that some success may be had using Wine which is described as a “Windows compatibility layer.” There are other methods of running Windows games on a Linux box, but my goal is to experience Linux in its purest form, and so I’m sticking exclusively to games that were written for Linux.
To my friends in Sosaria, this means I may not return in the near future since Ultima Online is only offered as a Windows application. However, I still have a hankering for “swords and sorcery” type computer games so lets look at a couple of those.
One of the more prominent Linux games which features turn-based play against computer generated opponents. There are several campaigns available and users can also design their own campaigns and maps using the available map editor. Campaigns are developed by other players, and offer well written narratives with clear objectives. You can also engage in multi-player online campaigns. For Linux Mint, the game was available through the Package Manager which makes selection and installation of the necessary files a breeze.
I’ve played through several campaigns and found this game to be an enjoyable diversion, or even an obsession. When I first started to play, I would spend an entire day working through a campaign and not even realize how long I had been at it.
Here’s a game that hearkens back to the early MUDs (Multi User Dungeons). It is described as a “roguelike game.” It is also available using the Package Manager in two varieties. The console version is text only and the “tiles” version offers graphic maps, and inventory displays.
I downloaded this game this week, so I’m still working through the tutorials. The tiles version does allow use of the mouse for navigation and selection so that makes it easier to focus on the fun. You can play against computer generated foes, or online. The website offers more detail on initiating the online game. If you’re a fan of older style games, this is a good choice. I’ll be playing more of this after I master the tutorials and you may even see me online. Perhaps someday, Lord Raven will inhabit every virtual world known to man! Buwahahah!
Now that we’ve taken a look at a couple of swords and sorcery type games, let’s give our Wizard’s hat a rest and look at some other game options for Linux.
You are probably thinking of a game with a sim-ilar name and if you ever played the early version of that game, you already have a good idea of what Lincity is like. This game is available using the Package Manager so it’s pretty easy to install and play. There are similar games with “enhanced” graphics but they felt too much like a children’s version for my taste. There are lots of possibilities with this complex game and I admit that I’ve already spend a good amount of time playing it obsessively.
Deltaville, my perfect city.
After several failed megacities, I decided to focus on slow growth with a solid agricultural base. I won’t get into too much detail and spoil your fun, but it seemed like I finally found a working model which would grow well. Until it fell into ruin and chaos. Maybe I should withdraw my application for City Manager of Detroit and stick to simulations. On the other hand, how could I mess up Detroit any more than it already is?
There is no multi-player version so when your city fails it won’t be due to Mongrel Hordes, just your own incompetence. This is another game that will appeal to some folks as it has the look and feel of older DOS based computer games. Let’s face it, to some of us 3D graphics are just confusing!
One game you will have no trouble finding for Linux is Chess. Recently I decided to return to the game and set up a Chess circle on Google + which is based on correspondence type games. Having decided to dive right in, I also realized that my game might be kinda rusty since I’ve not had any friends… er, I mean “worthy opponents” for many years. It turns out that my precious copy of The Complete Chess Player uses an obsolete and completely baffling version of Chess notation so I also need to learn Algebraic Chess Notation and so I wanted a program that would display the game board and moves this way.
There are several Chess games available using the Package Manager, and I downloaded a variety to test. My personal favorite was glChess as it was simple enough for me to concentrate on my game, while offering the features I was looking for.
Some versions offer more sophisticated features, and there are options for playing against live opponents. Some of the games run in terminal mode, and use text instead of graphics. There are different engines available and it seems that some of the games will automatically recognize what is available on your system. I’m still a bit weak on the technical stuff in Linux so I’m going to avoid going into a lot of detail here. To summarize, just as the game is difficult to master you may also find installing and playing some versions using Linux equally difficult.
Every game I’ve reviewed is probably available from the repository for your favorite Linux distro. They were all available from the repositories I access using Linux Mint. I’d recommend using the Package Manager, or Software Manager to download and install them. However, if you refuse to settle for version 1.2 and insist on having version 1.3 the direct links to the websites are provided as well.
Back in October, I wrote about my experiences testing various Linux distributions and of my decision to go with Mint 11. I feel pretty comfortable with Mint now, but I’ve avoided downloading the new version. Instead, I’ve focused on getting my laptop set up with the same variety of software I used to use under Windows XP. I’ve had to identify Linux software packages that have the features and flexibility of Windows software I’ve used for years. So far, things are looking very good. In fact, since programs are available from the repository for free I’ve been able to re-populate my laptop with programs that cover every major program I used to use under Windows.
Last weekend, I decided it was time to take the next step and I focused on learning BASH shell commands and getting a better understanding of Linux directory structure. Instead of working from a terminal window in Gnome, I exited the desktop and worked exclusively from the console. (CRTL-ALT-F1 invokes console mode, CRTL-ALT-F7 switches back to the Gnome desktop.)
I found that this experience reminded me of my old DOS days. I undertook a number of exercises to broaden my understanding of Linux commands and learn how the file directory is organized. Since I have two laptops, I decided to convert my old Dell to a Debian test console. Here is my to-do list from the weekend:
Installed Debian 6/Gnome on a Dell laptop. (manual/expert install due to video driver issue).
Executed commands from the tutorial: cd, pwd, ls (-l, -a), mkdir, mv, rm (-r)
Gained basic familiarity of standard Linux file directory structure.
Composed a simple BASH script using Nano to execute various functions related to file movement, directory creation, CD ejection. (Executed using SOURCE command).
Added user “mark” to SUDOER list using VISUDO.
Gained additional experience with file commands and BASH commands by writing a script that creates a mount directory (/mount/USB), then mounts a USB flash drive. (script attached) Commands used include, clear, echo, wait, sudo, fdisk, mkdir, mount, cp, ls.
Gained experience using aptitude from the command line and text interface. Performed the following actions during package maintenance: install, update, search.
Practiced IO re-direction using “>” and “|”. ex., whois inmotionhosting.com | less
Installed and configured LaMp (Linux Apache, MySQL, PHP)
Set unique password for MySQL. (did not use root pwd)
Installed and tested phpmyadmin. (Gnome/browser)
Executed commands using less, more, tail, head and cat.
Executed basic file permission changes, owner, group, users. Created two additional user accounts with the same group to test permissions by logging into different user accounts.*
Other commands/applications used or learned: source, shutdown, ftp, mail, whereis, ifconfig, iwconfig, lspci, file, umount, mutt, su, man, eject.
Installed YUM, however no repositories are set up so I continued to use aptitude.
Successfully composed and sent email between local user accounts using Mutt.
Successfully configured FileZilla (passive mode), but I had to bypass my Linksys router. I’m still trying to determine what changes I need to make to the router configuration.
Reviewed cPanel demo and features. (Gnome/browser).
Every task listed above was completed from the console with the exception of creating the two test accounts I used for experimenting with file permissions. I was able to create the accounts using adduser, but I snuck into the Gnome desktop to modify the group settings.
To test my basic understanding of the commands and directory, I wrote a script that mounts a flashdrive and copies selected contents to the /home directory. Note that not all of the commands in the script are necessary… I was playing with various commands and wanted to “beef up” the script.
********** practice script **********
clear
echo Script to mount USB thumb drive and copy some contents to a test directory.
echo Display current devices:
sudo fdisk -l
echo Create mount directory: /mount/USB
sudo mkdir -p /mount/USB
wait
#need sudo for previous command, and added -p
echo Mount USB drive to file system.
sudo mount -t vfat -o rw,users /dev/sdb1 /mount/USB
wait
echo Test installation by using ls to view contents of the drive.
ls -l -a /mount/USB
echo Create a new directory and copy files into it.
mkdir /home/mark/USBstuff
wait
cp /mount/USB/b* /home/mark/USBstuff
echo Okay, did it work? Lets take a look at the USBstuff directory.
ls /home/mark/USBstuff
wait
echo Lets create a file with the contents of the new directory.
ls -l /home/mark/USBstuff > output_usb.txt
wait
echo Thats all folks!
********** end practice script **********
My next goal is to try send and receive email using Mutt. Obviously there are a number of email applications for the Gnome desktop, but I want to get a feel for what is going on behind all of those fancy graphics. What does it really take to accomplish something that most of us think of as a simple task.
Ultima Online, ORIGIN, and the Ultima Online and ORIGIN logos are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.
Game content and materials copyright 2002 Electronic Arts Inc. All rights reserved.
