Please use this thread for ideas/discussions/comments about Amibay (Amibench's replacement).

To Everybody,

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin....the story so far:

Amibench shut down after ten years and a lot of people mourned it's passing. Tecno has stated that he does not want to keep Amibench going any more and the scene has voiced that a replacement should come forward.

Enter the OldSkool UK team!!!

At OldSkool UK we came up with the idea of launching a replacement, a sort of 'Amibench on steroids' site with more ideas and some new features.

'Amibay' seems to be the name liked best by most people on various message boards, so that's what we are going with.

We are looking into hosting options, rules, feedback and loads of other cool things, some of which we will keep secret for now....yes, we have some new ideas which we think the scene will like a lot.

We are aiming to stay true to the ethos behind Amibench, that is a site for retro sceners who want to pay reasonable prices for retro kit and stay away from the auction culture. Think 'Loot for the retro scene' and you will get the idea.

We are looking at a forum format as most people are familiar with this, Zetr0 kindly mocked up an example here:

http://www.guildserver.co.uk/forums/amibay1/index.php

Pretty cool, eh?

We will be moderating the forums to stop unscrupulous people from ripping others off, people's feedback will be monitored and offenders dealt with, this will be a community site and we want to protect that.

This thread is your chance to add your support, suggestions etc. to the site. We would like some web coders to join the project, please post here if you are able and willing to assist. Anyone is welcome, we are not prima donnas here.

OS-UK are up for the challenge and will support this long term, I know I will.

Over to you for comments.

Merlin

I posted this else where, but its here i should of posted it :D

we really need to discuss a few important aspects

1. hosting.

whom, where what and when smile.gif

Technologies required.

* Web space 100MB
* PHP
* mySQL database
* CGI support

2. site use, ethics and disputes

how to get everyone to play nice and deal with others fairly

3. moderation / accountability and liability

Whom is liable when money is involved. disclaimer and user warnings. users that make persistent site infractions. false

listing protocols, how does one orchestrate combined selling classifieds ? i.e. eBay links / auction sites as well as local advertising,

4. Community Binding

Should we have links to established stores like amigakit.com / vesalia.de to name but a few?

One thing at a time Zet mate... LOL

Right, I've registered the name amibay.co.uk to yours truly via Fasthosts, it will take 48 hours to go through, cheers Dazza.

I've not selected the package to go with it yet as, it has the option to choose a provider.

I suggest we divide the tasks up to different people. I am happy to draft up site ethics and rules, I may need some help with moderation, accountability & liability.

I suggest absolutely NO warez or copied stuff of any kind, we should take a zero tolerance approach.

I suggested Paypal as that is one method to lodge disputes and obtain refunds, I'm open to suggestions about better methods.

We should steer clear of auctions and Fleabay listings, all that will do is cause spamming of the forums.

Amigakit and Vesalia are OK with me, as long as they don't start to dictate market prices or suck up any freebies on offer before anyone else has a chance.

Anyone else care to chip in?

Merlin

@Merlin

awesome grab for the domain name :)


I can help moderating and coding :)

I could host the project but there are restrictions,

Site Restrictions

there cannot be ANY advertising banners although links to a commercial site on a thread / page are acceptable in restricted (moderator controlled) areas like a sticky.

this would also have the disclaimer of neither the site or its moderators will be held responsible for what those links contain.

eBay links this is a touchy one however insofar as restrictions are concerned they are fine as long as
A.) they abide by the posting rule and ONLY link the item they offer (not their shop)
B.) Don't attempt to coerce / bait or badger members using eBay links for driving prices

----------------------

the restrictions are to make sure that guildserver.co.uk is not a commercial entity, it is for the community, strictly NON profit.

again eBay links... this is gonna be difficult as we dont want to limmit the users selling ability. but i tihnk we need to discuss this a bit more.

I deffinately believe your right Merl, we cannot allow vesalia or amigakit to dictate market value, but these are important to the community as a whole so i suggest that we limmit on how they are indirectly advertised.

this we can work on together my friend i would enjoy that. hell... i may even install MSN lol

I like the idea of employing a recycle bin, but i fear we will get fleeced in a big way, perhaps we could limmit access to it by only allowing long standing members. like an x number of months registered and x number of posts and obviously a l33tness interview :D

I also think your on the money again m8 (forgive the pun) with urging users to use PayPal for that extra buyer / seller protection, not sure we should enforce it but certainly urge its use.

I tihnk we need to agree a sale information format for the members, like if i sell an item i am expected to message the buyer with an agree amount of information to make the transaction safely and securely, perhaps urging this (i.e. voice coms / phone etc) before moneys are exchanged. (just an idea)

okay thats just some idea.

@Merlin

Nice one for grabbing the .co.uk ;)

@Everyone i think we shouldnt move too far away from what Amibench did/was as clearly it WORKED for 10 whole years and still would be now so why change whats all ready a good working model.

just remeber we don't want it anything like E*ay ;)

@Merl & Zetro hell yeah get MSN installed then we can all chin wag :)
it might be M$N but it's better than ICQ lol:)

I'll chew over some of the other ideas / points later!

@ Sarek2k

Done.

Can you please PM some MSN deets to Zet and me, so we can all meet online to discuss things later?

Ta

Merlin

had a PM fest with my MSN deets guys :)

I have to admit,... i feel kinda dirty installing MSN..... urgh... but this project needs it.

I have set the AmiBay alpha engine now Full live, so sign up and I'l admin you all.

Sarek, my friend, i look forward to working some graphical stuff with you. :D

I have posted a couple of things nothing special. I am also thinking of registering AmiBay.org and maybe .com too.... have them all point to the same address...

I have to admit i am pretty stoked about it, but you guys are gonna have to reign me in, i do have a tendency to run off at 90mph so bolt me down or i am likely to end up at a complete different location than anyone else.

Ok, I've regged on Amibay - all looking good!

sweet, now adding you as admin...

Me too Zet please.

E-mither sent to you with a brain dump of draft rules for review and comment.

:)

Merlin

thanks my friend, i will read it very shortly, BTW you already are a site admin my friend...

as i have mentioned to sarek and dazzy, there a couple of template errors in the code, so please resist the urge to change templates because i am trying to track down which one is blowing up the database... damn thing... bear with me ;)

I feel at a bit of a loss here! I'd like to help but can't code for toffee!

With regard to running costs, who's footing the bill or did I miss something already?

Don't think I read it anywhere either, but I'm guessing it will be compulsory signup with a valid Email Address to place an Ad?

I'm signed up over at Amibay too! :)

@ Zetr0

Feeling Dirty at Installing MSN. :lol: ...I feel exactly the same m8y.....Respect!

@ Charlie

We are still working that out at the moment, Zet and I have worked on Terms and Conditions for the site now, they are ready. There's still loads to do, I am sure we can find something you can help with mate.

We can regroup later and work out where we are.

Merlin

@Merl: Do you need a hand with the web forwarder to link the URL to the main A'Bay forum? If so, I'll sort that out with you if you're on MSN later.

@ Zetr0 & Dazza

OK, I have set the hosting nameserver to guildserver.co.uk. I am not sure how to set up the divert to the forums, any help appreciated.

Edit: Site forwarding sorted now - www.amibay.co.uk is now tested, linking to Zetr0's alpha site and is working.

Whoo Hoo!!!! Thunderbirds are GO!!!

Merlin

@Merlin

awsome!

I have integrated the rules and conduct into the forums.... once we have it tested a smidge more, and if anyone else can think of additions we can move it to dazzys server as a live beta :D

I will need your mysql database host/name & password and ftp addy too my friend :)

i accept gold coins, gem stones and PM's of undying love :D

@Zet: No probs bud, I'll pass the details for the ftp over shortly.. buggared if I can remember the mySQL user/pass tho. Better go check ;)

@ Zetr0

There's a few typo errors in the Ts and Cs that need a tidy up (mine I think), otherwise we are good to go on that score.

Some suggestions / questions:

Maybe change the colour of the boing ball as I think it may be copyright, not entirely sure though.

I would also like a really retro "green screen" skin option if we can find one, nowt says retro like an old AS400 green screen display......

The site could do with a few background pics of retro computers, like Pets, MSXs, C64s, Ataris etc. as well as Miggys, it's a bit sterile at the moment. Not too "in yer face", just a subtle background.

Is the Recycle Bin going to be a forum on it's own or a sub-forum?

How are we going to integrate feedback on users?, As a score, karma level, or whatever? Suggestions please.

We are nearly there lads, I am getting excited......

Merlin

LOL spelling mistakes eh?

well you can sort them my friend, your admin too :D :P


i am gonna try and root out the templates error tonight, so we can have a selection of themes to choose from....

and while doing that i will be thinking of a simple way to implement a feedback system...

@Zet: Psst! Check your MSN window ;)

lol, cheers Dazzy... your confidence in me is appreciated and well founded my friend...


now.... things not to do... sneak off for 10 minutes making cheese on toast when MSN'ing.....

@ Zetr0

I am not messing with anything on the site, I don't want to break it even more while you are trying to fix it. :blink:

Thanks for sorting the typos out mate :) it is appreciated.

@ General

Is there anything else we can be doing while Z is under the bonnet sorting the problems out?

Merlin

@ Merlin
Is the Recycle Bin going to be a forum on it's own or a sub-forum?

Could it sit nicely in General Chat?

It looks like I don't know how to quote here. :D

Ignore that... I meant in the AmiBay first group, underneath General Chat. :)

Heys Meega,

welcome to Oldskool...

I hope we can implement the recycle bin, i think its something that needs doing, it will tricky but i am sure we can implement it in a fair way....

up for some ideas on that too :)

More encouraging feedback from the EAB lot, which is good to see.

sorry to jump sort of off topic but regarding logo for AmiBay think we should have a logo compo across EAB / Amiga.org and other top Boards etc what you think good idea or not??? not trying to get out of putting my art package on ;) just thought it might help the board along!

Glad to see AmiBay is picking up support across the community!

just signed up buddy

no doubt we'll cross paths in there m8y

:D

@ Sarek2k

Definitely mate, that would be really excellent advertising! Classicamiga.com are also well on board with this and Submeg had this to say:

Hey Merlin, yea well that's cool that you will branch out into all things retro I will help spread the word, let me know when you have a banner for your site and I will stick it on my myspace....I get about 20 hits a day in my blog, so I'm sure you'll get some traffic Yea the recycle bin is cool

Harrison (Admin at Classicamiga) had this to say:

I just had a quick look at it's starting to look good already. My only concern is that you are using phpBB to run it as it is very insecure forum software and easy for people who know to hack into accounts etc...

But with enough moderators it should be possible to keep on top of any such breaches. I hope it takes off and starts to become popular.

And when you have a final banner advert available for the site please let me know as I think setting up an affiliation between classicamiga and amibay would really help amibay take off. Especially as I would like to feature it on the homepage of classicamiga once it is fully finished and up and running.

Looks like all the promoting I've been doing is getting us noticed!!

@ Zetr0

If possible, the Recycle Bin should be a forum or sub-forum, making it a thread will be a nightmare to moderate. Threads within a forum are much easier to handle and aren't 27 bazillion pages long LOL

@ meega

Nice to see some EAB members on here! Welcome

Merlin

It's all sounding pretty cool so far! :)

@ All

Something is starting to happen.... I mean, OS-UK has 36 regged members, Amibay has 11 already and it's not been up a week!!

From what started as an off-the-wall idea, I think we are on to something....we are definitely generating interest.

Cool!!!

Merlin

@Merl: Everythings sounding just dandy-o m8!

I don't think it'll take long for AmiBay to eclipse our membership number 'cos we run a pretty tight ship here. I'm booting about 20+ spammer sign up's a day ;)

@ Dazza

You just pee'd on my bonfire you spoilsport.... LOL

M

@Merl: as if I would do a thing like that? :P

Oh btw.. I've got some sweet Amiga goodies to clear out shortly but I think I'll leave it til A'Bay goes LiVE, so I can break that puppy in.

@Dazzy

if its hardware it has me drooling already ;)

Holy Crap!

Even amiga.org are starting to think this is a good idea, I never expected that!

http://www.amiga.org/modules/newbb/viewtop...=41735&forum=37

My gasted is well and truly flabbered.

Merlin

as is mine......


I have sent an email off to streamline to see if they can change the latency of database query (php config)... i have done some testing on dazy's server and the site is still suffering from database query timing out.....

there normally quick to get back to me, so should get an answer by mid week.