Beyond The Sprues

Notices => Forum Notices => Topic started by: jcf on January 07, 2012, 05:05:09 AM

Title: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: jcf on January 07, 2012, 05:05:09 AM
Okay I've been looking through options available from SMF (for the reason that they are known to be compatible)
this one is called ClabIcons (I've nicknamed it FSM for obvious reasons).

I'll be putting up polls on other options over the coming days, and will leave each emoticon collection live for a
few days.

Note that not all sets have the same images, so those Yolks used previously, some will be dead for the moment.

I am looking into a reduced size version of Yolks as well.

Regards, Jon

BTW I have activated each members ability to change smilie sets in their profile, be aware however that
as not all images are in all sets it means that while you can see something, a person with different settings
might get an X or ? in a box.

(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/joncarrfarrelly/FSM.png)
Title: Re: Smilies
Post by: Stargazer2006 on January 07, 2012, 07:22:57 AM
The new gray set of icons is incredibly dull!! They don't stand out on an already slightly hued grayish background.
Actually, I seem to recall that a few members (me included) had suggested a different set as this.
Bring back the old pixel-type emoticons! To me they are still the best.
Title: Re: Smilies
Post by: GTX_Admin on January 07, 2012, 07:35:46 AM
Actually, I seem to recall that a few members (me included) had suggested a different set as this.
Bring back the old pixel-type emoticons! To me they are still the best.

We are looking into this.  The only problem (as Jon has alluded to above) is that the version of Simple Machines Forum (the forum software we are using) is of a much more modern release status than that used on other boards.  Not all smiley packs are compatible which results in the dreaded Red X's and the like.  That is not to say that the ones you and others have referred to won't work, it's just that we only find out after we have uploaded.

Regards,

Greg
Title: Re: Smilies
Post by: jcf on January 07, 2012, 09:57:34 AM
The new gray set of icons is incredibly dull!! They don't stand out on an already slightly hued grayish background.
Actually, I seem to recall that a few members (me included) had suggested a different set as this.
Bring back the old pixel-type emoticons! To me they are still the best.

Then you'll hate the transparent ones that are only features of the emoticons without a coloured balloon head.  :icon_fsm:

Title: Re: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: Doom! on January 07, 2012, 11:30:49 AM
Wow, you guys aren't kidding about the lack of availablility for SMF2.0.2 compatible smileys. I did find a couple which are a little more traditional.
http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3228 (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3228) or this one http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3230 (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3230)
Title: Re: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: jcf on January 07, 2012, 11:53:22 AM
Thanks Jeff,
I did see those two and did download the Standard set.

Like many things the smilies are a work in progress, although I do find it amusing that
folks on a board devoted to the imagination are discomfited by smilies that don't fit
the 'norm'.  ;)

On a personal note, I find the same 'ol same 'ol rather boring.  :icon_fsm:
Title: Re: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: RussC on January 07, 2012, 04:55:03 PM
Will not use the new emoticons, not very interesting. Liked the set that was here earlier a bit better- would use those.

Emoticons are like taste in music I guess, one persons symphony is anothers' noise.....
Title: Re: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: Stargazer2006 on January 07, 2012, 08:20:56 PM
I do find it amusing that folks on a board devoted to the imagination are discomfited by smilies that don't fit the 'norm'.
 

Emoticons are like taste in music I guess, one persons symphony is anothers' noise.....

Agreed... to some extent. In the end what really matters I think is that they are 1°) clearly visible and 2°) not too big so you can use them as punctuation within a sentence without pushing the other lines far away. As for style, of course we'll never all have the same tastes, and it's best like that.
Title: Re: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: Weaver on January 08, 2012, 01:04:18 AM
I don't mind "different" smileys, but the key thing is that they have to do the job, i.e. convey emotion. The problem with the first set, and to a lesser extent this grey set, is that it isn't at all clear what many of them are supposed to be, or what they convey. Smileys are a part of internet "language" and that means they have to be universally, or at least widely, understood. I could "use my imagination" by making up my own language, but you'd rapidly get fed up with my posts because you wouldn't be able to understand them. Likewise if someone follows an ambiguous comment with  :icon_cc: it conveys nothing: what is it supposed to mean?

Novelty smileys are amusing (I love the FSM one in this set) but they shouldn't be the deciding factor because, realistically, how often do you use them in conversation?
Title: Re: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: jcf on January 08, 2012, 01:22:13 AM
Folks, nothing has been decided and as stated I'll be trying various things and
poll results/feedback will be used to determine the answer. We truly do want to
make this board as democratic as possible.

Also if the changing icons over the next few days are bothersome to folks,
you have the option of turning smilies off in your profile:
Profile->Modify Profile->Look and Layout->Current Smiley Set

Regards
Title: Re: NEW SMILIE CHOICE ... POLL 1 ...
Post by: GTX_Admin on January 08, 2012, 02:59:04 AM
Folks, nothing has been decided and as stated I'll be trying various things and
poll results/feedback will be used to determine the answer. We truly do want to
make this board as democratic as possible.


I concur fully.

Folks,  both this Poll and the related "What is your preference regarding the smilies? (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=238.0)" one are part of our efforts to resolve this so that everyone is happy. 

Please be patient though.  Unfortunately, to all of our frustrations, something like this isn't as quick a thing to rectify as we might hope.  Apart from the fact that we are learning as we go (despite the stellar job Jon is doing, we are still seeking an IT Guru (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=264.0)), we also are somewhat limited by the technical aspects of the software and related.  As stated above we are running SMF 2.0.2 (the latest and greatest? version).  We chose this to try to ensure the forum was fully up to date and able to offer you the most.  Unfortunately, it looks like that means we are suffering a little of the dreaded "bleeding edge" problem in that whilst it may be good in other areas, there are still limited confirmed smiley groups available.  We will keep trying though.  The same goes for the other issues that are still pestering us - these are being looked at.

All I can say is please be patient and try to look past these minor technical issues.  They should not prevent you from still having a good time here and posting interesting comments.  We have been going for less than a month, so issues of this sort should be expected.  I am sure in a few months nobody will even remember them.

If anyone wants to know more or to follow up seperately, my PM is always read and responded to.

Regards,

Greg