Author Topic: Zoo Admin Network (Read 9542 times)

Yellowrose · « **on:** February 20, 2007, 11:56:51 PM »

We have recently become a min network of sorts with 4 sites. All sites are related to one another as outlined in the descriptions below.

The Main Site

Site Name: The Zoo Admin Network
Site URL: http://www.zooadmin.org
Site Owner:Yellowrose
Site Designer: Yellowrose using an available template from the web
Site Genre: Mian Entrance site

Site 1

Site Name: Zoo Tycoon Community Downloads Directory
Site URL: http://www.zooadmin.org/DD/index.php
Site Owner: Yellowrose
Site Designer: Yellowrose - Currently using SMF default theme edited
Site Genre: PC Games

This first site is more a service site that provides gamers of the Zoo Tycoon series of games a central place to look for downloadable user made game content. We have listings to different sites within the Zoo Tycoon gaming community that offer downloadable content. Listings were set up in forum form to provide easy visual access to find what you may be looking for.

Site 2

Site Name: ZT Designer's Guild
Site URL: http://ztdesignguild.org/DD/index.php
Site Owner: Yellowrose
Site Designer: Yellowrose - Currently using SMF default theme edited
Site Genre: PC Games

This site was started to give those of us who design game content to have 1 central place to gather and share information and ideas for content design. Those of us who are members obtained membership by invite only. We have a downloads area where visitors can download usable game content for thier game. The members are from many different sites within the Zoo Tycoon gaming community. We have found that over the last year we have been able to create and release a better quality content for everyone due to the sharing of information. Zoo Tycoon can be a very addicting game especially when you get into the creation of content. This site caters more to those who create for the original release of Zoo Tycoon released by Microsoft Game Studios and Blue Fang Games in 2001. There is still a large following of this original release.

Site 3

Site Name: Zoo Admin
Site URL: http://www.zooadmin.net/index.php
Site Owner: Yellowrose
Site Designer: Yellowrose - Currently using SMF default theme edited
Site Genre: PC Games

The third is a Zoo Tycoon fansite that has been in existence for over 5 years that has just been aquired and moved to form a mini network. It will, when all files are uploaded offer over 2800 user created content downloads along with gaming tips, tricks, strategies, tech support and help for those who want to learn how to create their own material for the game.

Edit: This site is a conversion to SMF and Tiny Portal from Vbulletin 3.6.2 For the most part all transfered with minimal difficulties. The only problem we found was with the transfer of PMs but all in all was very easy go of it.

Site 4

Site Name: Zoo Admin ZT 1 Downloads
Site URL: http://www.zooadmin.net/ZT1/index.php
Site Owner: Yellowrose
Site Designer: Yellowrose - Currently using SMF default theme edited
Site Genre: PC Games

The fourth is a site created to host all of the game content released on the original Zoo Admin sites previous to my aquiring the site. Past problems with downloads databases and trying to adjust limits for uploading files in the TP downloads manager caused way to much frustration so we opted for a much easier way to boh provide the files for sownload and provide some need information on the file being downloaded. SMF provded the needed solution.

This was achived by setting it up in forum format. In each post is a picutre of what the file looks like in game along with information as to the creator, date of release, file size, game compatability and a description of what is is used for.

Likes & Dislikes

You will see the site banners on the main page still need a little work. I am still working on getting everything set up for both sites in regards to functionality mods and such. This backend owner stuff is still a little new to me and I'm looking around a few of the support sites to be sure I have all the needed template edits so I can continue adding what is needed for each of the sites for the functionality we need and want to add. Once I know server issues have settled down and we are not going to have any further issues I will be restoring the DilberMC theme but also need to do a few edits to it to have a few of the mods work and show properly. This will take me a little time to search out and see where and what code needs to be changed or added.

I love the ease of use and for the most part the ease of customization that both SMF & Tiny Portal offer the not so knowledgable like myself.

Have fun and enjoy exploring our little corner of the WWW

Please feel free to post feedback for me so I can better organize and have an attactive looking place for my members and guests like yourselves.

Yellowrose
Webmaster

©RebelRose · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2007, 05:51:25 PM »

Nice sites you have YellowRose. Keep up the good work and you will have them the way you want them.

©RebelRose · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2007, 11:46:13 PM »

Your most welcome, I just joined your site so I can see what it is all about.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2007, 12:03:21 AM »

I'll warn you ahead of time...lol...lol...if you ever get the game you'll get hooked and the stuff these kids make for the 3D version is just phenominal.

©RebelRose · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2007, 12:06:29 AM »

I split the topic, I didn't want us to take over his thread so I will put this in the showcase area.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2007, 12:10:35 AM »

Just a little update for both of these sites. With the coming of St Patrick's Day both sites are sporting my first attempt at theme creation. Thanks to a few directions from RebelRose I think they turned out rather cute and now have plans for Easter as well.

We are experiencing a few server difficulties with regards to the Zoo Admin site but the Downloads Directory reamins out of that loop for the moment. Zoo Admin you may find offline between the hours of 9 am & 7 pm EST to take a little pressure off the server. Anybody know a good hosting company who's upfront with usage figures for a large site....lol...lol man what they don't tell you can kill you.

Enjoy.

©RebelRose · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2007, 12:12:29 AM »

Check the hosting section, they have some listed in there.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2007, 11:27:28 AM »

Both sites are currently offline due to a server move. However we now have main site pages you can visit to learn a little about the network itself. These are just starter pages and will be added to in the future. The main site page can be located at http://www.zooadmin.org

Yellowrose · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2007, 01:47:12 AM »

Been a while since I updated this. Since my last post we have moved servers and both sites have new theme looks as well as had TP updated to 9.8

If you have any suggestions as to how I can make things look better please let me know your feedback. I'd like to have both forum sites and the main site look like they were professionaly done instead of done by myself. Any suggestions you can give that will help me to achieve a more professional look are greatly appreciated.

Skhilled · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2007, 09:34:16 PM »

Got a "404 - Page Not Found" from Host Gator.com.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2007, 01:14:30 AM »

oops...we moved servers and the link for the Downloads Directory needed adjustment. all 3 links work for me now.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2007, 10:53:59 PM »

The Easter holiday has crept up on me real fast

I didn't realize it was so close.

Finding out it was so close I did updates to both sites so they both now sport holiday skins and greetings, new icons and a great set of holiday emoticons.

Shadow Queen · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2007, 11:28:53 PM »

Good looking site you have there

Skhilled · « **Reply #13 on:** April 04, 2007, 08:22:28 AM »

Quote from: Yellowrose on April 01, 2007, 01:14:30 AM

oops...we moved servers and the link for the Downloads Directory needed adjustment. all 3 links work for me now.

I still get because you didn't change the link in your profile. Click the globe to the left of this post under your avatar.

I clicked the links in your first post (which I should have done first. LOL) and the Easter theme is VERY nice. kudos.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #14 on:** April 05, 2007, 10:27:58 AM »

Thanks Skhilled I forgot about that link

All fixed now and added the link to my other site in my sig as well.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #15 on:** May 24, 2007, 08:26:14 PM »

Sorry for not posting an update but site frustrations and being away for work kind of got in the way.

We discovered that our host was just not the one for us as our main ZT site is just to big and needed a dedicated server. We are in the process of moving all the sites we host to a new dedicated server.

The main site zooadmin.net is offline and will remain so for about another 2 weekds. The Downloads Directory site is still up but has it's problems as well with 3 of the major sites we do listings for have or are undergoing major site changes.

Hmmmmm....seems like an epidemic in the ZT Community these days....lol

Well hopefully all goes well and I will post a nice update when all is finished and I have made all the major changes I'll now be able to make having our own dedicated server.

Rose get ready I may need a little advice from you.

Hope everyone is well and now that I have the link back after a new drivew install and reformat of my system I'll be here more often.

©RebelRose · « **Reply #16 on:** May 24, 2007, 08:28:13 PM »

I am always here and willing to lend an hand

Yellowrose · « **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:26:49 PM »

WOW it's been a long time since I was able to update everyone.

A lot has happened to the sites since I last updated here. Last October we had a major hard drive failure and we almost lost everything. Luckily the host I have has some very talented people working for them and they were able to recover everything off the failed drive and restore it to a new drive. The process took a few months due to I/O errors but I am happy to say we are back online and functioning again.

The boards have been upgraded to SMF 1.1.4 but I have left TP at 9.8 for now until I get things finished with a few things I'm working on and my boards are modded pretty heavily so don't want to disrupt too much with just getting everthing back to somewhat normal again.

We.ve added a few new block code snippets to the main Zoo Admin site 2 of wich only show on the main page and a new theme has been added designed by one of the retired webmistresses.

Things are again looking good and traffic is again increasing daily.

Hope you'll pop by and pay us a visit. Registration is not required to see most of the site.

Skhilled · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2008, 08:52:19 AM »

Hi YellowRose! Good to see you around again.

However, I do see on your site that you are using blocks. If you are using TP then I suggest that you do not remove the copyright. You might find yourself in a bit of a pickle.

The copyright for any software should not be removed unless the creators specify it can be done in some way.

Jakki · « **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2008, 08:01:36 PM »

I tried to get to your site and I get the 404 error

Yellowrose · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2008, 10:39:55 PM »

I knew there was something important I was forgetting to look into when things settled down. A former admin at the site made that Blue colored theme for the site. If I post the right php file can you adjust it for me so the copywrite shows again please. I think it's the index.template.php right ??

Skhilled · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2008, 08:30:40 AM »

Sorry, I haven't been here lately...been busy. Yes, it is index.template.php.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #22 on:** April 30, 2008, 12:24:14 AM »

OK here it is.

Skhilled · « **Reply #23 on:** May 11, 2008, 03:48:53 AM »

Sorry for taking so long. Try this one.

And make a backup first.

Yellowrose · « **Reply #24 on:** February 10, 2009, 06:52:36 PM »

It has been some time since an update has been posted here for these sites.

Real life commitments have kept me pretty busy since my last post. We have also undergone some major problems with the server. We had a major loss in July of 2008 that lost most of the information on the main fansite Zoo Admin. It hasd been a long haul back but we have made it so far and are lookig forward to hopefullly regaining a lot of the information once contained from an olddatabase backup that hopefully will be restored to a fresh SMF install.

We have also added a 4th site into the mix. The information for all sites and all links in the first post have been updated so there will not be too much trouble finding us.

Please stop in and have a look at what I have been up to. All of the 4 sites are now all decked out for Valentine's Day celebrations. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment or 2 I take critisism very well and I'm open to suggestions from all who choose to visit.

News:

Author Topic: Zoo Admin Network (Read 9542 times)