Working with vPet Software.

[m3th]

Edit: Wrong forum, little hand here? :P

So, a few months ago when VPL was just sprouting about there was a thread started about vPet, which is sort of like an iPetsite.

The software is not free, and can be found here (http://www.phplug.com/index.html).

I purchased the software months ago, and the project was destroyed when my computer crashed and my hosting was canceled. I'm on a new computer now and I have "retrieved" the scripts, the original ones, meaning I get to start from scratch.

So I figured I would post my progress with the scripts, as I am using them as a base and reworking them for my needs. Basically, there are a TON of features, yet the scripts and overall website is a mess. The design is completely putrid as you can see by visiting their page, and editing it completely requires me to well... Edit every single file that is visible on the frontend.

So, if your not into edits or know absolutely no PHP then... Stick with iPetsite :P

Anyways, I started working on the site about 14 hours ago. I made a few template edits, redid some of the code that runs the quiz game and made a few items. That's right, I'm doing the art for this project to :P

I pretty much picked up vector art last night, I could never draw, and usually stick to web layouts but my father purchased some software known as XARA pro and I picked it up... Sort of. I can cell shade fairly well, but the process of drawing and coming up with unique items is rather daunting. I tried making a pet, and quite frankly I probably wont try again.

So as far as art goes, if any artists would like to join me, I would be more the welcoming. Sadly, my wallet is not at this point :(

Basically most of my time went into figuring out the graphics programs, the admin panel, and trying my best to make template edits. I hate working in something that is ugly :P

So, I will keep you posted on my progress with these scripts. Consider this some kind of, extended review or... Documented process of going from premade to hopefully launching a successful petsite.

[Fly]

I play on a site that uses these scripts. The owner told me they were indeed a mess. He said he has trouble with support also. Have you ran across that?

What are you planning on calling the petsite?

[m3th]

Well, as I have not quite concluded what I would like the theme to be, I've given it the project name "avabox" (just popped in my head).

I was thinking something along the lines of mysterious new island. Yes, I know, it's been used MANY times before, just not to it's true potential. I would like to generate a story, and use the environments to unfold events that would unlock temporary games and battle opponents and such.

For example, I already have the scripts for "capturing wild pets". So, what if suddenly the flora in the area where to attack the local villages, you could attempt to catch them as rare pets. Also, this could unlock secret shops for limited times etc...

My best bet is probably some sort of randomly generated word. Perhaps ill mix some Latin together. Maybe, Insutura, Latin for "island creatures" and merged together. Who knows?

EDIT: What is the site you play on that uses these scripts?

EDIT2:

Well, after working with these scripts all day long I ran into a few problemss, and some cool features. I mentioned before my plan on the "plant invasion" and other related events. It seems I have found some features that will make this even more possible. This is great, as although i am learning to code better and better each day, building complex scripts from scratch is still a daunting thought to me.

I would really like to have more involvement, and more constant change with this website. While I originally planned to use the scripts as an experiment, I decided to take it on as a full blown project. I think the petsite industry is crying for new features, or perhaps a petsite that not only claims to be different... but is different. I want to deliver this.

I would like to handle all the code myself until I get a stable basis up, after the release and user base I can worry about other coders to help me with new features and events. I will be attempting to recruit one or two artists soon, as while I am having fun creating the items, I only have so much time.

Anyways, I finally got around all the template errors that where preventing me from changing the skin. So, I quickly modded a zymic free template (just temporary, not done yet), so I can work in something that is a little more appealing. This template is not for the public, just for a few beta testers and whatever artists want to join me. I threw in a screenshot at the bottom of the post to give a little sample on my progress (yes I made the apple :P). As for bugs, the forums and news script where broken. The news script was an easy fix, just a problem with a mysql command. The forums, I am still working to fix. Should be moving to my new server next week, and the domain names are processing now.

As for my non-coding plans for the site. I have a lot of great ideas, most of which surround the island setting etc. I decided to go with the name Insuturu. I'll explain more of those plans later.

Screenshot:
http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/9780/skinkl3.th.jpg (http://img374.imageshack.us/my.php?image=skinkl3.jpg)
^^I spelt Insutura wrong on the header, good thing it's only temp.

[Fly]

I play on Pookapets. Even tho it's like ipetsite in the fact that a world per say hasn't been created for it yet (I think the owner is planning to have one made) I find it relaxing and enjoyable.
I've talked to him quite a bit, as I was going to purchase this for my daughter Shannon. She wants a petsite for her children and their lil friends to play on. It wouldn't be for the public, just a few kiddies. After hearing what he had to say about the site, I decided I wouldn't purchase the scripts for it tho. I'm still looking however for something....

I think it's pretty intriging to hear about a site that plans to be original. If you can pull it off, kudos to you. So far it sounds (what lil bit you've shared) nice and interesting.

I wish you the best of luck with it. By all means keep everyone posted on your progress. :)

[cpvr]

Edit: Wrong forum, little hand here? :P
It's in the correct forum. :)

[m3th]

Not to many coding updates as the temporary server I was working with finally reached it's mysql data quota. The new server should be ready within a few days, and running under the name of Insutura.

I finally fixed most of the annoying issues with the tables that content was being displayed in, I managed to make them look much nicer yet I still have many edits to make with each individual page they are displayed in as all of the content titles look like this:

--Resister--

To big, and the "--"s are extrmely annoying. So, I'll try and make the content boxes look a little more sleek after fixing some of the major code edits.

Two new members have joined the team, a pair of artists which work together. I don't know if they want their names listed or not so I will keep it safe. They are very enthusiastic and have many awesome ideas to share. Glad to have them on the team.

That's about it until I get my shiny new hosting, besides the fact that I have put aside a little fund for that dedicated server that I hope I will eventually be needing. :)

[Brae]

Not to be rude, but the money you spent on that.. You could've just hired a cheap programmer to do custom scripts...

Sure it has games and all of that, but is it all custom designed to your needs?

Just think about that =P

[m3th]

I paid $70 for a set of scripts that I got five minutes later, as well as "lifetime" updates and support. Yes, I could have hired a cheap programmer, yet the entire point (at the time) was to make myself more familiar with php. The scripts where not custom built for my needs, but they are being custom modified by me while I learn more about the language in the process.

Also, besides the visual issues I quite liked the way the entire thing was put together :)

[m3th]

Sorry for double posting, I would edit, but the topic is down here so I figure it's okay. If it isn't, please let me know.

Anyways, the artists are working great, we have two pets so far and a variety of items. I try my best to create items on my own, worthy enough of matching the artists' work, but it usually does not work out.

We have the money for the hosting, but we are trying to find a provider that will allow us in their TOS. Also, as we will be using shared hosting, I'm trying to find a provider that does not cram to many clients on one server. Hostgator has good plans, and I think we will end up going with them.

Until then I am unable to make many updates, as not only have we filled our MySQL storage quota on the temp. free host, but the host itself disallows a lot of "stuff" to do with PHP, which is stopping a lot of our scripts from working.

I will soon step away from this topic, as when we are on our new server I will be creating a page from the perspective of the "Insutura Explorer's League". This will be a news page, with entries from the league depicting what they have found while exploring this new land.

We are working on a rich storyline, and i think the news page will introduce that effectively so people are aware of what the site is about when it opens, and what is going on in the world of Insutura.

[Fly]

You can always post your news on VPL, we'd be happy to get it.

There are so many new sites coming up, it's hard to keep track of every one of them.

[erapets]

good luck with it I edited a bit of the scripts myself but I aint going to use them I might try and sell them once I finish editing them and making them easier to use for noobs.

[Fly]

You edited the scripts to the phplug? What was wrong with them and what did you fix?

[fluff]

I ordered the vPet Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game 2 hours ago and haven't received anything yet! Not even a letter from the support team! I just hope my money wasn't stolen! How long did it take before you finally received your package via email?(I ordered mine through paypal)

[m3th]

They probably handle the delivery's manually, if you don't have it just sit tight, it took me a few hours to get mine. You just need to wait until someone is online to handle the delivery.

[fluff]

Okay thanks! I just got it yesterday and it's all set up...it's just that a few things don't work right and there is no way to change some of the games to my liking such as the Random game. Other than that I like it:) Just need to learn PHP coding and MySQL:)