C3 Universe is here!
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Today is an important day for our community. We are launching a new platform that will ideally help authors work on more songs and keep them interested in authoring, while giving users tools to keep up to date and discover new songs.
I’m actually going to depart from my usual “we” because as you might have noticed, while the community added more and more new authors, the historic C3 admins have either moved to other projects or can’t be around that much. Again, as you might have read, the same goes in part for me, but I wanted to build one more tool/framework before taking a step back, something that could be used for a while.
This new framework has been done almost exclusively by me with the essential help of pksage (without whom we wouldn’t have the DB and I also couldn’t have completed the new platform), from MrPrezident and Dash Riprock who did a ton of testing and produced the docs, from FujiSkunk on the album arts libraries, from Jimi369 on a new feature yet undisclosed and from the authors who beta tested the platform and gave me valuable feedback. Help from TrojanNemo is explained later on, please make sure you read.
So, what is it exactly?
http://i.imgur.com/Tmn2mZe.jpg
C3U – C3 Universe
Author Share PassionSince I started working on customs I always found very disappointing to see things like broken links after all the work done by an author, discographies or big projects abandoned because of lack of motivation and authors not being recognized for their work. All of these were some of the motivating factors for me to start working on C3 with fellow authors a long time ago. As C3 we made sure all our files were always available, even years after release. We committed to always finish what we started and we made it a point to make sure all authors involved would be properly motivated by public recognition. We also made sure right from the beginning that no commercially available content would be shared in our community to protect the very same company that inadvertently gave us the tools to add songs in Rock Band 3. Finally, we wanted to pull together authors on a single platform. It’s now time for a next step to give our community the brightest and longest future possible with C3U following all those principles I just listed.
The C3 Universe is a complete platform for authors and users made up of a number of great features:
- C3 File Server
- C3 Control Panel
- Global Dashboard
- Personal Songs Database
- Profile Page
- Your Collection
- Follow Authors
- Notifications
- Authors Directory
- Class System
- Download Box
The C3 File Server
The C3 File Server is a free hosting space for authors. With this space authors won’t need Mediafire or other providers to host their files and it also means that those files should be free from takedowns, blocks, etc. file lockers automatically do. This also means no more broken links because an author who posted content years ago hasn’t renewed the subscription to a file locker and similar. Download times should also be very fast. You start out with a small account and you can request an upgrade any time you need one. Make sure you’re using it properly before asking for an upgrade: are your files using short mute tracks, for example? That way you can save space. There are various accounts with a maximum number of songs and a maximum space available: you can find the list in the pullout menu in your Control Panel. There are conditions on the use of this space that you can find at the bottom of the post.
http://i.imgur.com/t2BvxZ5.jpgC3 Control Panel
The all-new C3 Control Panel will change the way authors manage their content. When C3 started in 2013 I put together a simple control panel to let C3 originals upload files via FTP and get some stats on their files using a unified link system (the old keepitfishy.com/d.php?). Expanding on that concept I coded the C3 Control Panel – Community Edition. By its name it’s clear what it does: it provides the same benefits, and more, but for all authors of our community. In fact it does a lot more, and here is what you get: File Manager
The Control Panel will give authors a way to manage files in a simple way (delete, update, upload, create folders, etc.). If you so wish you can also link to external files instead of using the File Server.http://i.imgur.com/FUG3wea.jpg
Automatic info retrieval
Automatic info retrieval including artist, song title, genre, decade, album art, song length, etc. (some of these require a Customs Database entry) upon uploading your custom and creating a database record
http://i.imgur.com/D1iCPUy.jpgAnti-duplicate IDs system
Automatic check against all available customs to avoid duplicated song IDs
http://i.imgur.com/RROHKHZ.jpgNext-gen Dashboard
The most engaging features of all, a next generation Dashboard to display stats including:- Downloads for your songs
- Daily and monthly activity on your files
- Downloads by genre, decade, difficulty, etc.
- Number of songs you release by genre, decade, difficulty, etc.
- Downloads by calendar (today, this week, this month)
- Most downloaded author of the day and most downloaded song of the day
- Downloads by time of day, day of week, month
http://i.imgur.com/ynk0VqT.jpg
Global Dashboard
This is a community-wide dashboard with which both users and authors can see all kinds of trends like most downloaded song day by day, most downloaded genres, difficulties with the most songs released, distribution of downloads over months, days of the weeks, etc.
http://i.imgur.com/BOfg8mH.jpgPersonal Songs Database
A database-like interface allows you to browse through your songs, sort them and search through them. Data like genre, decade, length, etc. is displayed and searchable.
http://i.imgur.com/FKjIDei.jpg.jpgClass System
Climb the social ladder by releasing more songs and getting more downloads! For every new class you need to meet both a song count and a downloads requirement.
http://i.imgur.com/Y4Zknvz.jpgProfile Page
This is a page that’s both for the authors and the users, because it allows authors to showcase their work. This public profile page displays the author’s work including downloads rankings, stats, songs released, etc. Share it with a very simple link like p.customscreators.com/farottone
http://i.imgur.com/di20tn5.jpgYour Collection
This is the page where users will find the collection of songs they downloaded. All songs you download from the database are recorded here alongside album, length, genre, etc. so you can keep track of your collection with ease. Unfortunately this doesn’t work retroactively but you can go to any author’s profile and click on the cart icon for any song you own to add them to your collection. You can search through your collection, sort by any field, etc. On top of that this page lets you keep track of authors you follow.
http://i.imgur.com/6v19kOn.jpgFollow Authors
Users can now follow their favorite authors and see whenever these authors release new songs. Authors can in turn build a loyal followers’ base and receive notifications when users start to follow them.
http://i.imgur.com/cA9Qik4.jpgNotifications
The new notification systems notifies you of system changes (your account), class promotion, following/unfollowing and more.
http://i.imgur.com/llDv2Lw.jpgAuthors Directory
All authors are listed in a database with all their important stats like class, account, songs released, daily records, followers, etc. From this directory users can also go the authors’ profile pages and start following them.
http://i.imgur.com/8HDAYax.jpgNew Download Box
When you click on a link you will now be taken to a download page where the download will start automatically as usually but where you will be shown a data box more files from the custom’s author and more random songs from the community.
http://i.imgur.com/IKBv142.jpgSo, what happens now?
For now this is an open beta, which means that everything should work mostly fine, but some wrinkles will probably need ironing out. We are NOT live yet, C3 Universe will officially launch in roughly 1 week. If you want to help out AND you are a frequent contributor who can easily test the panel, please PM me to be added to the project’s Slack chat. We are looking for 3 or 4 authors to do some testing right before release. Please keep in mind that you will be asked to contribute feedback, etc. so be sure you can make time for it. On a weekly basis we will remove people from the C3 Slack chat altogether if they are not contributing to the discussion of the C3U after asking to be added.What happens once we go live…
If you’re a user, meaning you don’t author, you need to be patient for a little more. When we will go live with the final version, which is soon, you can just go to the c3universe.com login page and log in. You can find your password in your My Profile page here on the forums, it’s called Unique token.If you’re a C3 original author, you will find all your files and stats from the beginning of our time (April 2013).
If you’re an author, you need to first make sure you posted a song in the Customs database. If you have, when you log in you will be assigned the Unverified account. Request an upgrade from the File Manager and if we don’t find anything wrong with your request you will be given the upgrade quickly.
To make things easier for you authors we have already automatically migrated most of your files from your current external host accounts as of January 1st 2017. Any file you uploaded after that date you need to add to the Control Panel. In addition, roughly 30% of the files you uploaded before that date didn’t transfer, so you will need to add those too. All files have been moved to your Main Folder but you can create subfolders and move them around if you want. We have also added some “legacy stats” for your files: since we can’t track the downloads you had on your external host, for every 10 views of your custom’s DB page we have added 8.5 download records. That’s a ratio we devised using customs for which we knew both actual downloads and DB views. Please update your DB links as soon as you can to maximize download stats because from now to the moment when you switch links, your views will not be translated to downloads.
This is very important: please update all your links with the new C3U links (d.c3universe.com) in order to start tracking downloads as soon as possible.What happens to the Customs DB?
Nothing, the Customs DB is the place where all original C3 and C3 community releases are showcased, its purpose does not change. If you’re a user and you want to download a custom you go to the Customs DB. If you’re an author and want to release a custom, same.Terms of use and how to behave
I have designed and coded all of this so that it will hopefully give even more stability and solidity to our community, spur more interest and pull authors and users together. It’s important that all authors know that we will enforce a very strict policy of only allowing uploads of CONs and of archives for Phase Shift, Wii and PS3. The storage space cannot be used to host private files you share with friends, for pics, videos, etc. We’re going to have a “1 strike and you’re out” attitude: space costs, bandwidth costs, we want to get as many authors in as possible so we can’t afford waste and abuse.On that note, all the work on this new platform has been really exhausting in terms of time and resources. The infrastructure we are using is complex, extremely so. There are a lots of moving parts that had to be properly set up to last for a long time. This also means some significant bills to pay on a monthly basis, that in part TrojanNemo is helping to pay. For that reason, always keep him in your thoughts: he’s done so much and retired some time ago and didn’t have to contribute a dime, but chose to do so anyway. After his contribution there is still a lot to pay so first of all be respectful when you use the system and always remember that all those of had a hand on it did so because of their passion to give you something to enjoy. Remember that you are using entirely for free something that took months to develop and requires daily maintenance, on top of the aforementioned bills. Author properly, support official content, release great songs. In the C3U Control Panel FAQs you can read about a way to help me out if you feel you want to give back, so please check that out.
*Notes on the C3 File Server
There are some small caveats on the use of the panel. After logging you in and before using the panel you must agree:- not to use it to host personal files that are not Rock Band, Phase Shift, FoF, etc. customs or tools for customs
- not to upload any song already available for any Rock Band game based on legacy instruments or legacy instruments+keys
- properly author (for example, your songs need to have a tempo map)
Finally one caveat about long term storage… To avoid data loss we are going to have a local backup of all data hosted on the C3 File Server so that in case of any major failure or disservice we still have all the files the community uploaded. It’s added costs but it’s also added security.
A personal note before we go on. I spent a lot of time on this, probably against my better judgment too, and I know that it will cost money and time going forward. I did for the reasons I explained and because I think the world of rhythm gaming can be a lot of fun for a lot of people and can inspire like probably no other gaming world. People enjoy what we do with their families, they reconnect with parents and friends, they get through hardships and in some cases they find the will to live, and it’s not an hyperbole, it literally happened.
I’m happy I did this, and I’m excited to think that in the future we can even build on this platform, but please keep in mind this has been a tough project to put together and it will require work. So before complaining about something, requesting a feature or even just taking something for granted please, please don’t make me regret the amount of resources I put into this.
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_wink.gif”>Have fun with C3U!
I’ve been honored to have a small part in, and an early peek at the new playground. Take my word for it, if you author customs, no matter how much or how little, you’re gonna have fun with this. A BIG thanks to Farottone and crew on what they have built!
It has been, and continues to be, my pleasure to have played a small part in bringing this platform to fruition.
For a sneak peek of what’s to come, check out the new Author’s Profile page.
As a UI geek, the interface looks incredible! I can’t wait to try this out. Thank you Farottone and everyone else who was involved, for contributing the time and resources to make this happen! I’m very excited.
It’s been quite interesting watching this being built. Thank you to those who helped with testing, and of course a big thank you to Farottone for putting forth a lot of time and a lot of money from his very cramped schedule.
As that being said, I know saying this probably won’t be needed but please be kind and don’t abuse this system. If you do you’ll have to deal with me.
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_smile.gif” />Again, great work everyone! I’m honored to have been able to watch this come together with the help of our own C3 crew members.
As a person who accidentally got a sneak peek of this, it’s really awesome and you can tell a lot of love and care went into it!
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Thank you Farottone for giving me the opportunity to give back to this wonderful community that has given me so much for so many years.
The new site is simply a masterpiece, you should be very proud of your hard work. Thanks to everyone who contributed!
Keeping the content Canadian since 2017!
SomeOldGuys: https://db.c3universe.com/songs/all/__user/someoldguys
MrPrezident: https://db.c3universe.com/songs/all/__user/MrPrezidentEveryone gets to see what a handful of us have been testing and using for a lil bit now!
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_biggrin.gif” /> I have found the whole CP to be F*****G AMAZING. Great work to everyone involved, and thank you for giving me the chance to help on it!Lol gotta love my cameos in the first post
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_biggrin.gif” />This is 1 from the best upgrade for still working with the passion of the rhythm game!
Thanks for all!
Looks amazing! You guys did an outstanding job from what i can see. I can’t wait to try this out!
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_biggrin.gif” />Seems pretty neat, excited for it
” src=”/wp-content/uploads/invision_emoticons/default_SA_biggrin.gif” />
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