2 stupid questions about ScummVM
 

1. I'm trying to get ScummVM Ver 0.6.0 but I can't seem to find an executable or anything to download from ScummVM's download page anywhere. Can anyone help?

2. I downloaded the talky ver of FOTAQ, and when I unzipped it I only got 2 files:

readme.txt and
queen.1c

How the hell am I supposed to open a .1c file? The readme tells me nothing.
Thanks.

http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/s...2.exe?download

scummvm will open that 1c file.

2 birds with one stone... thanks.

They should make the exe more prominent IMO.

How exactly is it not prominent? What would you suggest, apart from perhaps a bit of flash shining a 400 pixel arrow on the Windows link?

But seriously, I keep getting this complaint. I reorganised the page two days ago and even added instructions, but people still arn't getting it... WHY?

The average Windows user doesn't know - or is afraid of - the word "binary distribution". I'd suggest putting a link that says "Download latest Windows Version of ScummVM", and a small "other" -link that would point to the other files. *slightly kidding*

That does sound more user friendly.

Sorry, but for the average user, what's the point of having the latest binary libraries with a nice bold heading, when the majority of users are just looking for the standard executable, so they can run the damn program? No point in hiding the thing since it's you can't run anything else without it.

Edit: I realised you're from Perth too. You from North or South of the river?

*points to the page*
But for the past two days it states quite clearly "Download the latest STABLE release of ScummVM below", followed a few lines later by "Windows Installer"... Which is the first download link.

But putting at the top, adding a blurb explaning (with the big word 'STABLE' in capitals to prevent confusion with the development stuff which is now at the bottom of the page).... all this seems to have just increased the number of people who can't find the file. *crys*

It's driving me nuts. I just want somebody who couldn't find it to tell me why. I'm sure there is a reason, but I just really don't see how people can miss it.

Oh, and although I know you were (slightly?) kidding, as for the 'other' thing... everybody should keep in mind that there are really only two Windows people active on the ScummVM team. Everybody else runs Linux or SOME kind of unix...

So for the majority of the team, 'Windows' is the other :)

You really should put a friendly one or two sentence description beneath each section header instead of (or in addition to) something general at the top of the page :)

That or include respective icons/OS/system logos next to the links to the ScummVm binaries for each platform.

Ah, so you were looking on Monday then? I moved the developmental stuff to the bottom of the page after lunch on Monday... I thought you were having problems with the page the way it is now.

As for North or South, North. I live in Nedlands and work in Leederville. Yourself? :)

Wouldn't it be logical to give the most important file on the page a heading of its own, instead of bunched together with a zillion other files under the heading 0.6.0 Release binaries? Why would an average user, in their right mind, look under that heading? I don't care about some binary library, I just want the damn executable! You gotta think like the lowest common denominator, a mistake 99% of programmers fail to realise when creating user support documents etc. Not all users have as much knowledge as you do! Just coming from a user-friendly point of view.

Actually, I was looking Wednesday Perth time. I live in Marmion but I go to University in Nedlands. What do you do?

Well, we really don't consider the Windows binary to be the most important file heh. In fact, to us, the most important is probably the source-code. But it is the first downloadable file on the page, at the very top of the first section.

Maybe it needs a name different from "Windows Installer"?

No, I think it's fine, just needs to stand out more. I found it too easy to skip over, being the file which lets you operate the program you are promoting/offering. All I'm saying is it needs to stand out better, having it's own heading, a little blurb telling users what the files does (need only be a short sentence of less than 10 words), being in bold, or something different altogether, since all other files for downloading are useless without it.

The usual Perth geek thing. Worked at iiNet as a Systems Administrator for a while until I got sacked, and now I work as a part-time Systems Administrator for Headquarters (the skate park opposite the Leederville train station).

Marmion... There's a marine park up there, isn't there? Always meant to go there.

I'm from Tassie originally, no jokes *g*. Moved to Perth at the end of Year 12, the whole student thing bored me too much. So I guess I've been here for a bit over 4 years now)

As for the file, I guess I'll put it in bold. It certainly doesn't deserve its own heading tho.

You don't think so? You gotta think from a dumb users POV like me.

It's the most essential file on the page IMO. Everything else is useless without it.

For dumb WINDOWS users, yes.. but what about dumb Mac users? Everybody denies it, but there has to be one or two out there, surely *ducks Jake* :)

Anyway.. I hated to do it,but how about now?

But I bet that the majority of the traffic on your site is windows users. From looking at the site I don't have issues finding the download. However the line that says "If you run Windows and really are not sure what you are doing", I don't feel is necessary. Just section out the downloads with headings of the OS it's for. Not that difficult.

That's the line I just added. It appears to be necessary, and I really don't want to section the page out any further.

Yes, I guess that will do.

See, because of me they now have a warning.

Hey, do you ever go to Steve's pub in Nedlands? Went there tonite with a few mates and there was an insane amount of hotties there.

Nite.

Ok, thats fine. Don't complain next time if people can't find the right download just because you didn't want to type a few words.

Up on Broadway? Yeah, a few times. Gets pretty packed :)

And oh crap. Nite. Just noticed the time! (2AM for those following along heh)

Well if you're only making ScummVM for your own use, then that's great. But if your goal is to make something for other people to use, it really doesn't matter what system you prefer, or that you want to have the source code available. The vast majority of computer users run Windows. The vast majority of computer users would have absolutely no use for the source code, and would be scared off by something called "binary distribution". Programmers often forget that not every one is like them. Just because you love and use Linux and have a large vocabulary of computer terminology does not mean every one else does or should. If you want ScummVM to be convenient for the average person, Windows really should be the focus on the download page. All you have to do to make the download easy to find is put the windows executable as the first download, in a larger font, in it's own subheading simply marked "Download latest Windows version".

Um, majority be damned. The Windows installer is already listed at the top of the list. Splitting it off any farther from that is just silly. The point of ScummVM is that it lets you run these things properly on all types of modern systems, not to cater to Windows users.

and I thought Mac users were whiny and demanding... sheesh

Spoiler:

well, they are, but come on, man :)

If people are having problems, you definitely need a better name than Windows Installer. An installer sounds like a separate program like InstallShield, not the ACTUAL ScummVM program itself. When it's listed as one of many files available, people probably think they need the installer AND the program, and can't figure out where the heck the program is. Then they start reading through the list and getting confused.

Doesn't have to have its own heading or instructions. Just so long as it says something simple like Windows VERSION and people will clue in.

If they can't find the correct file to download, they're probably not intelligent enough to run the actual program anyway. At least that is my view. :)

Or maybe even not intelligent enough to operate PC and windows. Wait! Than how the hell did they managed to surf to ScummVM.org?

Don't crack me up "little" buddy.

I can't stop laughing at such thread. Can't believe it stretches over two pages and just because some guy didn't know what to download.

I see my 2 bugs for Zak still remain even in 0.6.0 release... (according to bug tracker) :D Must be some nasty stuff, ha ha.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I fell into this same trap a while ago and then realized the error of my ways.

Guys, remember... what version number is ScummVM? 1.0? 2.0? No! It's 0.6. Maybe when it's officially "1.0" and "done" then you can throw the "well if youre making it for everybody why dont you make it for everbyody!!!!11" argument out into the ring... but for now its still technically sorta pre-release, and therefore not for everybody.

Its good that its getting easy enough that everybody can use it, but re-doing the download page 30 times so that everyone on the forum is satisfied that they can find the link probably isnt going to be anyone's #1 priority until the program is done.

Just a guess though :shifty:

At the first time I looked the website, I was kinda confused too. I looked at all those files and wasnt sure if I needed ALL of them or just 1 of them. After carefull examination, I realised that it could only be the Windows Installer one. :)

I dont really know what "binary" means when refering to a program like ScummVM, anyway. Could someone explain, please?

A binary, in this context, is basically a program. An .exe

Ditto. The first time I saw the world "installer" as in "download installer", I thought it was just an utility to be used with the .tar.gz.rar.zip file or something. (This was not ScummVM, but some Linux program, can't remember which. I had just installed Linux...)

I thought like that for about five seconds.

Eh? You don't use installers on linux. You use a packaging system instead.

Then why not just call it what it is? Don't beat around the bush with your pseudo language. Just take the 30 seconds and type headings over the downloads.

If most of the team members are into Linux then they're not quite beating around the bush (hehe), since that's pretty common language in the Linux community.

--Erwin

It isn't pseudo language. Binary here does mean that the program is in compiled form, i.e. executable, in difference to source code. What is so hard to learn a new word? Why is there a tendency to run around and just scream help when people see a new word? The word "binary" isn't dangerous, neither is "source code".

Also there is a misconception that windows-users should be the main target for ScummVM. It isn't. Most of the games supported by ScummVM already works on windows, even if you might need a little tweaking to get it to work on XP. The main target for ScummVM are *all* supported platforms and windows isn't the most important one, they're all equally important. So, why should stupid windows users have an easier way around the site at the cost of everyone else?

Thats true, and they have all the right to call it that. I just can't understand that if there are people that are having problems with thier site, why are they so unwilling to type a few headings just for the sake of good web design?

Thats why i mentioned putting headings for all the different OS's.

It isn't good web design to clutter up a page with lots of extra headers.