Categories?

[timerover51]

I would like to see a split in the unit categories between foot and mounted units from Ancient to Modern to also include Fantasy and Science Fiction units. Then could there be a separate category for Steampunk units? I was thinking specifically of Tom2050's flying island. And then you have the character units such as Sherlock Holmes.

 

[Plotinus]

...i am very aware that i have never made a unit and therefore can only guess what that labor is about.

You should give it a try. You might be surprised.

It's an idea worth considering. It's also worth considering that it's one thing to have your creation voted down, it's another to be voted down yourself. Or even not be nominated. This is why, with the exception of birthday threads, we've tried to avoid personal threads throughout CFC.

Absolutely - I think having voting for people is a bad idea.

Plus, of course, if anyone really wants to rank creators they could just count how many monthly awards people have won...

I'd like to suggest some interesting superlative categories

Greatest Lost Treasure: no longer available because it was lost in the Great Hacking, hosted on an inactive site, or otherwise been lost. (hopefully a short list!)
Most Spectacular Failure: had great potential or interest but was never completed.
Most Inspirational: has produced the most derivatives, variations, or imitations.
Best Niche Creation: very well done but only applicable to a very specific purpose.
Most Revolutionary: noteworthy not necessarily for its own popularity, but for opening up a new direction for others to follow.
Most Saved Time: A utility, tutorial, or template that has saved the most effort by automating or simplifying a process.
Most Distinctive: universally recognized at a glance, and everyone knows who made it.
Best Prank: was made as a joke, and became unexpectedly popular
Most Technically Impressive: took the greatest skill and dedication to get right, even if it's not readily apparent (graphics, programming, or mod-making)
Best First: a particularly impressive creation for a first attempt
Most Tragically Overlooked: great work that for whatever reason just didn't catch on
Most Downloaded or Longest Thread per Graphic/Mod/Tool: More of an honorable mention, since it's an objective measure.

And a few personal achievements:

Polymath: for significant contribution to the community in multiple categories
Master Craftsman: for mastery of a particular category
Supporting Actor: valued not for what they create, but for what they post- whether it be encouragement, research, record-keeping, debugging, or technical knowledge
Founding Father: influential in the early days but no longer around
Powers That Be: For best contribution to the community in their role as a moderator (this could be a touchy one )

I think these are all great ideas. Not so sure about the personal ones, as mentioned above. Perhaps people could simply nominate who they think should get these titles, but have no votes. That keeps it more positive.

 

[keldath]

what a wonderful initiative!

the categories by WildWeazel are awesome.

i hope there will be anniversary for civ4 as well

 

[WildWeazel]

I had posted this in the other thread but I guess it belongs here. If we can identify a (too) large set of possible categories, there could be a multiple-choice poll to let everyone choose their favorite methods of categorization. It wouldn't need to include every individual category, but perhaps something like this for unit animations:
-Land/Sea/Air
-Human/Machine/Animal
-Units by Era
-Historical/Fantasy/Sci-Fi
-Most Unique
-Most Widely Used
-...
And another poll for static graphics, and so on.

I suppose there should be some mutually exclusive options (partitions) while others (superlatives) would be activated individually if they received plenty of votes.

Moderator Action: Moved this post - for clarity of the design & decision process. Try to keep specific category suggestions here & mechanics of running the polls in the other thread.

 

[Blue Monkey]

I would like to see a split in the unit categories between foot and mounted units from Ancient to Modern to also include Fantasy and Science Fiction units. Then could there be a separate category for Steampunk units? I was thinking specifically of Tom2050's flying island. And then you have the character units such as Sherlock Holmes.

Several categories such as "Most Unique" have been suggested. A "Character" category is an excellent sugestion. That would be a good way to include things like the "Spunky Kid", "James Bond" and many of the Zombie Island units.

... while others (superlatives) would be activated individually if they received plenty of votes.

- that will kick in by the numbers and constitute sort of Decade Achievement Awards. We can work that out.

Not so sure about the personal ones, as mentioned above. Perhaps people could simply nominate who they think should get these titles, but have no votes. That keeps it more positive.

Once the broad categories for the "hall of fame" are established add anything that gets more than a certain threshold of support to the list.

EDIT: "Best Conversion" ?

 

[Takhisis]

And what would that be? I'd hardly call any of my oddities noteworthy.

A certain piece of artwork depicting the adventures of Settler and Worker?

I would like to see a split in the unit categories between foot and mounted units from Ancient to Modern to also include Fantasy and Science Fiction units. Then could there be a separate category for Steampunk units? I was thinking specifically of Tom2050's flying island. And then you have the character units such as Sherlock Holmes.

Mounted units should get different categories depending on the animal being ridden. What about 'animal' units like the Dire Wolves, crocs, etc. etc.

 

[Kyriakos]

Moderator Action: category suggestions moved to this thread.

Personally i suggest these categories:

Maps (1 category for ALL maps)

Units (Fantasy, Historic, Machine)

PCX (Cities, Terrain packs, All other)

LHs (Fantasy, Historic)

Utilities (1 category)

Decade of achievement (non animated, animated creation)

 

[WildWeazel]

A certain piece of artwork depicting the adventures of Settler and Worker?

Ah, stories- that's a whole 'nother issue. But then, if it's specifically about a game of Civ3 (it wasn't) why not? Surely some of the game narratives (it wasn't) required as much effort and brought as much enjoyment as any other creation.

 

[Takhisis]

Well, if we're going to celebrate ten years of then maybe it'd be better to celebrate all of the game, not just C&C. Stories and Tales, epic games… I haven't been to the GotM area in ages. What would they say?

 

[Plotinus]

"Most unique" makes no sense, as uniqueness doesn't come in degrees. It should be "most unusual".

 

[Kyriakos]

If it ends up being a more elaborate system of categories, then one idea for Cities is to break it down to historic and fantasy. I will probably have a new fantasy orc set ready by then too

I think there is a sufficient number of fantasy city sets around to guarantee a degree of competition. For example i recall Aaglo's castle-cities, at least two dwarf sets by different people, Melnibonian cities by Yorgos, and Maisse had also made a couple of fantasy sets. Also i can provide an entry too

Whatever happens i would call for similar, or the same (if possible) categories all around.

 

[Takhisis]

And what about 'alternate history' such as, for example, the Byzantine Empire in WWII or England retaining their French possessions up to present day, etc. etc.?

 

[Kyriakos]

In that case i think it is only fair that the sole exception should be made for Byzantine Empire related works

 

[sepamu92]

"Most unique" makes no sense, as uniqueness doesn't come in degrees. It should be "most unusual".

How about a "funniest unit" award? For things like the Kool-Aid Man, the mummy, the voodoo doll...

 

[Balthasar]

Let's move this back on topic:

Just for reference, the standard Database categories (I've re-ordered them a bit and added my own suggestions in Red) are:

Spoiler :

1. Modpacks
Scenarios:
Subcategories:
2. -Ancient Scenarios Up to 470 AD
3. -Medieval Scenarios 470 AD - 1492 AD
4. -Renaissance Scenarios 1492 AD - 1700 AD
5. -Industrial Scenarios 1700 AD - 1900 AD
6. -Modern Scenarios 1900 AD - Present
7. -Sci-Fi Scenarios
8. -Fantasy Scenarios
9. -Other Scenarios

10. Leaderheads

Graphics:

11. -Graphics Modpacks
12. - Wonders (Splashes)
13. - Tech Icons
14. - City Graphics
15. - Interface Graphics
16. - Terrain Graphics
17. - Building Graphics
18. - Miscellaneous Graphics

19. 3D Models (original)

Units:
Sub Categories:
20. - Ancient Units
21. - Medieval Units
22. - Renaissance Units
23. - Industrial Units
24. ---Napoleonic units
25. - Modern Units
26. ---WWI military units
27. ---WWII military units
---Planes:
28. ----- Early 20th century
29. ----- Mid 20th century (1940) onward
---Ships:
30. ----- Pre-industrial
31. ----- Post-industrial
32. - Sci-Fi Units
33. ---Spacecraft
34. - Fantasy Units
35. - Other Units
36. ---Immobile units
37. ---Animals and Nature
38. - Multi-Figure Units

Maps
Sub Categories:
39. - Earth Maps
40. - Fictional Maps

41. Utility Programs
42. Tutorials, Reference, & Guides
Sound Effects:
43. - Unit Sounds
44. - Score

If we do a contest for each category, that's 44 contests (without my suggestions it's 32). That's not counting 'special categories', like Most Unusual Unit, Best Unit Conversion, and Best Unit Pack.

One thing that would help, Administrators, would be if the database were cleaned up a bit. Some of the category definitions are a bit fuzzy (i.e., Modpacks - Scenarios - Graphics Modpacks), and there are files all over in the wrong places. There are also files in the Unit Library that aren't in the database proper - uploaded to another database somewhere on this site...

 

[Supa]

I suppose you mean by "3D Models (original)", unconverted units ?

 

[Blue Monkey]

AFAIK it's for things like the paperdoll.

 

[WildWeazel]

How about a "funniest unit" award? For things like the Kool-Aid Man, the mummy, the voodoo doll...

*coughthepimpcough*

 

[Balthasar]

I suppose you mean by "3D Models (original)", unconverted units ?

Maybe. Don't know. I added the (original) tag because I mean to exclude anything that's been downloaded from another website and posted without change, as some models are. It's not something I know anything about. You're a unit maker, you tell me what you think should count as an 'original model'. I'd assume that the Paperdoll might be a good example because it was self-made, or modified enough to be considered 'original', I think, and can be used by others..

As promised, the OP has been updated to include this week's suggestions.

 

[Supa]

Ok, I thought you meant all the subsequent categories were subcategories of "3D Models (Original)", like categories 2 to 9 are subcategories to 1.