About the card maker

[Sleepy]

I've heard before that the code of the card maker is kind of a mess, on top of very few people having access to even looking at it.

So I've been thinking this for a little while.

 

 

How possible would it be to, say.... Ditch the card maker completely and bring in something with a code that the staff CAN tweak?
I understand making new code from scratch is too much work, so what I'm saying is more along the lines of talking with somebody that might have something we could use. Maybe try to have some deal/agreement with the man that made TCG Editor or something like that.

 

 

The card maker is contributing to the site's detriment right now. YCMaker fixing it is not really something I expect at this point. He clearly lost interest after the Synchro era was over, taking almost 3 years to give us Xyzs and probably saying "screw it" when he looked at the Pendulum templates. Now we are at a vicious cycle where less people are expected to join the community because of the card maker not working properly, and YCMaker who already has low interest having less incentive to come fix things due to less traffic produced by the site. Heck in the past I've heard people talk about trying to figure out a way of migrating sites and making it work.

 

 

As is, the card maker is outdated but works, but it only works as storage and won't be easing up the path to putting the card here at the forums so we can maybe meet more new people.

 

- - - -

 

 

That or at the very least hang a sign at the card maker's page linking to Imgur with some quick instructions..... That wouldn't fix everything but at least would be a patch.

 

 

[Delibirb]

This was one of my major positions during the presidential election. One way or another, the cardmaker needs to become a priority, either by "learning" to sift through the mess or redesigning it to some degree as a whole. I'm sure people still come to use the card maker, but then they don't stick around/join in on the forums because there's a very small card maker community as a result of the limited templating options.

[Guest BGMCANN0N]

Well I personally have just been using TCG Editor especially since the guy who made it included a diverse Pendulum Template (something I was personally devastated our own card maker couldn't do which led me frantically searching for alternatives). It seems reasonably user friendly... Just have to know to use Imgur or the likes to get the image on here is all which is something new users may struggle with (I know certainly did).

 

Although as for updating our card maker...  I feel like its been addressed before, but I am not sure what the constraints were or how they would approach this issue.  As someone who has spent a decent amount of time here, I suppose it would be nice to not have to rely on another program, and, after all, making my own cards was to me the selling point of joining this forum.

[Arctic55]

As a normal user, why did I join here?  Because I could make my own cards.

Why did I stay?  Because people shared theirs and looked at mine.

What's pushing me away?  The broken card maker upload, the outdated card maker, and low user rate because of said two reasons.

 

Honestly, I wanna hang around, but it's just not worth it when it is such a pain to even tweak my cards nowadays.  Used to be, I made a card, clicked the generated picture, copied generated picture and card lore to my post.  Then someone commented, and I followed said process to fixed even minor tweaks.  And I felt good when people looked at my cards, which motivated me to look at other people's cards myself and try my hand at card reviewing.  Pendulums came out, and then the uploader broke, I limped along for a few months, but eventually, I just said "fk it" and stopped coming as the userbase had obviously shrunk in those few months.  Only reason I'm back is because I got an idea for a Wizard archetype to replace my terrible Trilogy archetype and I was looking for someone to help with OCG.

 

Edit for suggestions:

Not sure if anyone here can program, but might hire someone to:

1. Rework the code and clean it up.

2. Pull out the code and put in a cardmaker that works.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

As I've mentioned several times beforehand, Supers do have access to the cardmaker, but I only know about evilfusion having any sort of coding knowledge (and he doesn't want to modify it, given YCMaker may not appreciate his code getting modified, or the chance that it could very well screw up the cardmaker otherwise). It'll get modified for small things that we know won't destroy something, like adding Level 0 and changing the Magic/Spell stuff.

 

(I have some degree of coding knowledge, but I wouldn't say it's sufficient enough to rewrite any of the cardmaker's coding to add Pendulums and so forth. That, and we have no idea what language it's written in; evil probably knows.)

 

We all would like the cardmaker to get updated, but yeah, YCMaker is effectively dead as far as activity is concerned, the other admin is even more so, and thus issues aren't getting fixed.

 

Getting TheProgrammer as a developer here might be good, but whether/not he'd be open to a collaboration is another story (even if a lot of us are using the program). That being said, he is currently busy developing V1.3 so dk if he'd be available right now otherwise.

 

(I know I put a temporary instruction manual in CC on how to upload stuff to Imgur or any image host of your choosing; it would help a bit, yes)

 

Well I personally have just been using TCG Editor especially since the guy who made it included a diverse Pendulum Template (something I was personally devastated our own card maker couldn't do which led me frantically searching for alternatives). It seems reasonably user friendly... Just have to know to use Imgur or the likes to get the image on here is all which is something new users may struggle with (I know certainly did).

 

Although as for updating our card maker...  I feel like its been addressed before, but I am not sure what the constraints were or how they would approach this issue.  As someone who has spent a decent amount of time here, I suppose it would be nice to not have to rely on another program, and, after all, making my own cards was to me the selling point of joining this forum.

 

If you guys read the "Do not suggest this" thread, asking for the cardmaker to be updated is the first thing you see. We know the cardmaker needs to be updated (hell, people have been asking for Pendulums since they were mentioned in 2014).

 

At the moment, I do use TCGEditor or the GIMP/PS templates that Zex and I technically collaborated on [mind you, the latter is what the current YCM templates are, barring Season 7/8 stuff]. There are Series 9 templates with Pendulums, but they're still being modified [well, font adjustment and getting the Level/Rank stars aligned].

 

(If you guys want them, they're in the GFX Tutorial section; albeit buried on page 2 by now if I recall).

 

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I admit I originally joined just for the cardmaker (though we had a more primitive one back then); if I were a new member joining now, then yeah, I'd probably leave after a while if the cardmaker was broken.

[Sleepy]

As I've mentioned several times beforehand, Supers do have access to the cardmaker, but I only know about evilfusion having any sort of coding knowledge (and he doesn't want to modify it, given YCMaker may not appreciate his code getting modified, or the chance that it could very well screw up the cardmaker otherwise). It'll get modified for small things that we know won't destroy something, like adding Level 0 and changing the Magic/Spell stuff.

 

(I have some degree of coding knowledge, but I wouldn't say it's sufficient enough to rewrite any of the cardmaker's coding to add Pendulums and so forth. That, and we have no idea what language it's written in; evil probably knows.)

 

We all would like the cardmaker to get updated, but yeah, YCMaker is effectively dead as far as activity is concerned, the other admin is even more so, and thus issues aren't getting fixed.

 

Getting TheProgrammer as a developer here might be good, but whether/not he'd be open to a collaboration is another story (even if a lot of us are using the program). That being said, he is currently busy developing V1.3 so dk if he'd be available right now otherwise.

 

(I know I put a temporary instruction manual in CC on how to upload stuff to Imgur or any image host of your choosing; it would help a bit, yes)

 

 

If you guys read the "Do not suggest this" thread, asking for the cardmaker to be updated is the first thing you see. We know the cardmaker needs to be updated (hell, people have been asking for Pendulums since they were mentioned in 2014).

 

At the moment, I do use TCGEditor or the GIMP/PS templates that Zex and I technically collaborated on [mind you, the latter is what the current YCM templates are, barring Season 7/8 stuff]. There are Series 9 templates with Pendulums, but they're still being modified [well, font adjustment and getting the Level/Rank stars aligned].

 

(If you guys want them, they're in the GFX Tutorial section; albeit buried on page 2 by now if I recall).

 

=====

I admit I originally joined just for the cardmaker (though we had a more primitive one back then); if I were a new member joining now, then yeah, I'd probably leave after a while if the cardmaker was broken.

 

 

I understand asking about fixing the card maker is forbidden due to how many times it has been brought up. I tried to make this thread not a "please fix the card maker" but a suggestion thread on how to. Not sure how much of a difference that'd make.

 

As for being hesitant on tweaking with the card maker, I'm not knowledgeable about coding at all, so I'll just ask how viable it is to have a back-up so that it could be messed with in a way that could avoid consequences. I also don't know if the changes are something immediately effective or if the site needs to refresh or something along those lines.... That could make things more troublesome, independently on if people capable of these can/want/have enough time for trying something like this.

 

Glad to hear there is already a message sticked at CC about how to upload via Imgur.

I think the ideal would be a sign right on top of the card maker template, where one wouldn't need to even click to read it, but that'd probably be hard to do considering the Card Maker section isn't exactly just another sub-section of the forums so I wouldn't expect it to be the same as re-naming Movies & TV Shows or Showcase....

 

Anyways, just wanted to put this out there, just in case me or somebody else posting here can come up with something interesting that might not have been already brought up/thought up. More as in "let's give this a shot"....

[SANDAA BORUTO]

There's a very good reason why I only use MSE nowadays: This card maker is garbage. No offence to the guys who made it, but it's a complete mess.

 

At this point I'm not even sure if it's worth fixing this card maker, so really, it might be better to just remake it from scratch.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

There's a very good reason why I only use MSE nowadays: This card maker is garbage. No offence to the guys who made it, but it's a complete mess.

 

At this point I'm not even sure if it's worth fixing this card maker, so really, it might be better to just remake it from scratch.

Tormey is the only one that can shame YCMaker into coming back

 

The other admins won't touch the maker

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

Tormey is the only one that can shame YCMaker into coming back

 

The other admins won't touch the maker

 

Even if we can get Tormey to contact YCMaker, there's no guarantee that he'll even respond. 

 

I've said this before, but only evilfusion has any coding knowledge and since he doesn't know how YCMaker structured his code; if he tries to modify it, the whole thing will crash. Maybe Flame and Night have some knowledge, but yeah. Forget about Falling Pizza. 

 

====

That being said, now that we have another summon mechanic to deal with, well...cardmaker's outdated now. 

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Even if we can get Tormey to contact YCMaker, there's no guarantee that he'll even respond. 

 

I've said this before, but only evilfusion has any coding knowledge and since he doesn't know how YCMaker structured his code; if he tries to modify it, the whole thing will crash. Maybe Flame and Night have some knowledge, but yeah. Forget about Falling Pizza. 

 

====

That being said, now that we have another summon mechanic to deal with, well...cardmaker's outdated now. 

 

 

No harm in trying

[Arctic55]

No harm in trying

I agree, this forum is basically condemned to die if nothing changes.

 

At this point, YCMaker hasn't been online since at least 2014 right?  That's 3 years.  To hell with it, hire someone to rewrite the code.  There are plenty of programmers who can not only reverse engineer the code, but also update it.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

I agree, this forum is basically condemned to die if nothing changes.

 

At this point, YCMaker hasn't been online since at least 2014 right?  That's 3 years.  To hell with it, hire someone to rewrite the code.  There are plenty of programmers who can not only reverse engineer the code, but also update it.

He turned up for a bit in 16

[Sleepy]

I agree, this forum is basically condemned to die if nothing changes.

 

At this point, YCMaker hasn't been online since at least 2014 right?  That's 3 years.  To hell with it, hire someone to rewrite the code.  There are plenty of programmers who can not only reverse engineer the code, but also update it.

 

We can't "hire" anybody. All mods are running the place on sheer conviction during their free time.

Only the admin YCMaker might be making a buck or two out of the site, but not too much considering how much AdBlock runs around.

 

We would only be able to ask if somebody with the knowledge necessary is willing to kindly help us out with this issue. If anybody was to be hired, one or more of us the users (including the staff/mod team) would have to bring it out of our own wallets.

 

Also last time I checked (which was admittedly a while ago) YCMaker still sometimes drops by to check the site still exists and is not entirely down. However, that isn't exactly on a daily, or even weekly basis, and he won't fix anything that would constitute an improvement/upgrade anywhere. As long as we can access the site, it's about where it ends.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

I agree, this forum is basically condemned to die if nothing changes.

 

At this point, YCMaker hasn't been online since at least 2014 right?  That's 3 years.  To hell with it, hire someone to rewrite the code.  There are plenty of programmers who can not only reverse engineer the code, but also update it.

I talked to Tormey, he'll contact YCMaker

 

We can't let this place die

[IQuitDolphin]

What is the card maker coded in? If it's a language I'm fluent in someone can give me the source code and I can work off that.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

You'd need to ask evilfusion because as I've said before, none of the regular mods have access (may need to check if evil can still access the cardmaker), but I would guess Java[script] or another common language. May be wrong though.

 

But yeah, if one of you guys knows how to code, then that's great.

[Delibirb]

You'd need to ask evilfusion because as I've said before, none of the regular mods have access (may need to check if evil can still access the cardmaker), but I would guess Java[script] or another common language. May be wrong though.

 

But yeah, if one of you guys knows how to code, then that's great.

Furthermore, we would need to figure out how/if we can upload the new resources (card frames) for the programmer(s) to even make the card maker use.

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

Zextra and I already did the templates for Pendulum (well, he contributed Normal/Effect/Xyz (to an extent), I made the rest) and Link template is by me (check Showcase; be warned that I am still modifying the latter). 

 

But yeah, gotta figure out how we're adding the templates. Again, matters concerning how the cardmaker functions is only answerable by evil or one of the Super Mods. (Suppose I need to PM him about it, or at least get him to answer the questions here). 

[Delibirb]

Zextra and I already did the templates for Pendulum (well, he contributed Normal/Effect/Xyz (to an extent), I made the rest) and Link template is by me (check Showcase; be warned that I am still modifying the latter). 

 

But yeah, gotta figure out how we're adding the templates. Again, matters concerning how the cardmaker functions is only answerable by evil or one of the Super Mods. (Suppose I need to PM him about it, or at least get him to answer the questions here). 

I'm less concerned with how to program the card maker to use those templates, as with time and effort I'm sure it could be done, and more with our capability to actually put the templates in the website such that they card maker can use them; they may need to be uploaded to the site itself, like the banner, and I don't know if anyone can do that except the site owner.

[2freeYour]

 

 

Pendulum Cards - Will be added when they're added. So don't post requesting them.

 

^ This announcement is honestly very deterring and hope-bursting. Not good for getting people interested in this site. just saying. xD

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

^ This announcement is honestly very deterring and hope-bursting. Not good for getting people interested in this site. just saying. xD

 

Same can be said about Link Monsters; while we would like to have them available, our administrator (who's the only one who can modify the cardmaker without it crashing) is extremely inactive and chances of him updating are VERY slim. 

 

Wording may need to be toned down, but yeah. (Heck, even the sticky thread saying what not to ask mentions this explicitly). 

 

===

We'd like YCMaker to be around more often to fix things (because there's a lot more he needs to fix other than the cardmaker), but he's dead for the most part (as in really inactive and not paying attention to forum affairs).