NewGRF Web Service

[wolf]

(svn r15126) -Feature: downloading content from a central server (content.openttd.org) where authors can upload they NewGRFS/AI etc. This should make joining servers that use only NewGRFs that are distributed via this system easier as the players can download the NewGRFs from in the game. It should also make it easier to see whether there are updates for NewGRFs and make the necessary updates.

[MHTransport]

I gave this a whirl tonight and it was just what I wanted. The ability to download the latest base graphics and AI without fiddling with a web browser.It even handled the fact I already had the UK renewal sets, that I found manually.

Thankyou, rubidium.

[Timitry]

I think we should rather stick to the "official" announcement & discussion to be found here:
http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=41472

And wolf, there is no need to dig up a thread that is half a year old just to post the changelog of the introduced feature, especiall when there's a thread in the General OpenTTD section!

[wolf]

And wolf, there is no need to dig up a thread that is half a year old just to post the changelog of the introduced feature, especiall when there's a thread in the General OpenTTD section!

I didn't saw that.

[Bilbo]

OpenTTD will never support downloading of NewGRFs due to copyright related issues that have been discussed a gazillion times already and I do not want to do it all over again.

r15126 | rubidium | 2009-01-17 17:53:32 +0100 (Sat, 17 Jan 2009) | 2 lines

-Feature: downloading content from a central server (content.openttd.org) where authors can upload they NewGRFS/AI etc....

Hmm ... I wonder, why such change in oppinion? All the copyright issues were sufficiently solved?

[Roujin]

I'd say the main issues have been more or less circumvented by only using one centralised server, instead of downloading any grf from the gameserver you are about to connect to, in combination with having to register (and in the process thereof, accepting some specific terms of use) at the content service before being able to upload something.
Luckily, no one abused the system (by uploading some grf he does not have the rights of) up until now, and I hope it will stay like this, so grf authors who choose not to use this system are not annoyed by it.

[Moriarty]

Well, it won't be long before authors who don't use the download service won't have their grf's used by most of the OTTD player-base. Exceptions will be made, but generally it'll result in everyone only using that one site for their download needs. My predicition anyway.

[JacobD88]

Well, it won't be long before authors who don't use the download service won't have their grf's used by most of the OTTD player-base. Exceptions will be made, but generally it'll result in everyone only using that one site for their download needs. My predicition anyway.

Agreed this could become a problem, albeit a short-term one as on the other hand, as most GRF authors use the forums or at least at some time or another will read a tutorial on GRF making, they should soon realise that if they want a GRF to be widely distributed... Add it to the content server via BaNaNaS... After a while it will just become habit to all GRF Authors so the problem will be alleviated...

To help this along, why not request through the forums, or by sending appropriate PM's that all GRF tutorials and FAQs are updated to add in a comment about using the content server to help distribute your GRF under the license of your choice...

GRFCrawler should also be updated to inform people of BaNaNaS but authors should really still be encouraged to post their GRF's there too if they want to maximise distribution and awareness...

OpenTTD and maybe the TTDPatch front-pages should have links to the content server too... I don't think the links section is necessarily the only good place to put what is since implementation into trunk a central service to the game...

People who already author GRFs should know of BaNaNaS by now anyway, those who don't will at some point find out from the forums, FAQs, Tutorials, etc. If this is done...