Potential Newcomers...

Site Discussion Team Discussion
1

I’ve received about a dozen or so emails regarding helping out with the site. Thus far, I’m considering 2-3 of them as a “may be” with the email below sounding like a really good addition to the site.

[FONT=-moz-fixed][I]Hi, my name is Kyle.

I am a student and a Thundercats fanatic. I have experience graphic
design using Photoshop, I use Flash animation and can create 3D models
using a range of software. I am also very experienced with HTML
coding, CSS and have basic knowledge of Java scripting.

As an art student I am very creative minded. I am a painter, mainly a
portrait painter, and consier myself to be quite technically able. I
have just finished a foundation art course and am continuing at
University in Manchester England.

I grew up watching Thundercats and loved it. I had all the figures
which were released in the UK. My dad built me a almost to scale Cats
Lair. I kept all of my figures and recently acquired the full set of
episodes.

During the upcoming summer, I was thinking about producing a website
of my own which I intended to be a comprehensive ‘Bible’ of the entire
Thundercats Universe. I have been cataloging characters, creatures,
vehicles, and locations, with the intention of illustrating some kind
of guide that I would be able to convert into an online guide.

I have been looking at Thundercat websites on the net and think that
yours is the one that has potential, and I was just tempted when I
read that you were looking to add members to your team.

I would be interested in developing the section ‘about the series’ in
which I could add my intended project.

If you would like a preview of some of my work I will be glad to send
a mini portfolio.
It would be nice to hear from you on this matter.

Thank you.[/I][/FONT]
[FONT=-moz-fixed] [/FONT]
[FONT=-moz-fixed]The part about him wanting to do a comprehensive bible and having experience with Flash are the parts that got my attention.[/FONT]
[FONT=-moz-fixed] [/FONT]
[FONT=-moz-fixed]Tim has also asked to come back part time…but I’d like to get everyone’s opinion on that one. Also, tcatempire (Jon) is willing to come on full time as a graphic designer, which is a nice plus. I know you guys find my simple web layout/design adequate, but with Kyle and Jon hopefully on board, the site might just have a great future when it comes to art and design. :)[/FONT]

2

That all sounds cool Manny and it would be cool to have new team members!

As for Tim, I don’t know the circumstances behind him leaving in the first place, but I certainly don’t mind if he returns.

3

Chris here…

I’d be very much in favour of adding some new guys to the team, for two reasons - firstly that with the loss of Celesta we need someone to illustrate the Universe Guide/Encyclopedia/whatever, and secondly because I think that section of the site could do with getting underway. I think this guy Kyle sounds like exactly the sort of person we need - does he have a username on these Boards, or over at He-Man.Org? He’s clearly got a lot of passion for ThunderCats, and rather than start up yet another small TCats website wants to contribute to ours in a big way. :slight_smile:

My vote would be that we take him on - maybe start him off on a trial period of some kind to see how he gets along with everybody, but I definitely think he’s the kind of fan we need on this project. Plus, he’s another UK fan!! :smiley:

That’s all great about the graphic design too, IMO, although I am going to say that visually I think this site is 100% pefect as it is, and I would be uneasy about making the visuals too complicated. If you like at a site like He-Man.Org, whilst it’s visually impressive the graphics are clean and uncomplicated and always have been, and that is probably the most successful “1980s toy/cartoon” site on the 'net! However, if you’re happy, I’m happy! :wink: :smiley:

Re: Tim - to be honest, for me to offer an opinion I’d need to know the circumstances behind him leaving, are you able to post up more details Manny? (Or just drop me a PM if you prefer.) I have mixed feelings about him coming back on the team - if I’m being honest I was never that impressed with the quality of his work, yet at the same time he was involved with this project from the very beginning and so kind-of feel that if his workload allows he should be given a chance. This is why I feel I need to know more about his leaving the site in the first place… :slight_smile:

Maybe the thing to do would be to put him in charge of a small area and see what he does with that? I know there was talk about having a section called “The Treasures of Thundera” with wallpapers, screensavers, that type of thing. Maybe put Tim completely in charge of that and see what happens? :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

4

Tim left because I felt he had not offered anything to the site. He gave us ideas and possible designs for the site, but nothing he showed was used on the site. The only thing we used was his synopsis…and well, you know how Celesta felt about his writing. He continued to promise to have things, but never really executed on them.

I guess in my opinion, I didn’t feel he was going to be able to offer anything to the table. However, like Chris said, he was here from the very beginning and while I felt he had every opportunity to help, may be I didn’t give him enough.

For me, my vote goes against him coming back. I know that might sound critical, but I’d rather have someone who could apply ideas and have them show up on the site.

That’s my opinion of course. :slight_smile:

5

Chris here…

[QUOTE=TCL-Manny]
Tim left because I felt he had not offered anything to the site. He gave us ideas and possible designs for the site, but nothing he showed was used on the site. The only thing we used was his synopsis…and well, you know how Celesta felt about his writing. He continued to promise to have things, but never really executed on them.

I guess in my opinion, I didn’t feel he was going to be able to offer anything to the table. However, like Chris said, he was here from the very beginning and while I felt he had every opportunity to help, may be I didn’t give him enough.

For me, my vote goes against him coming back. I know that might sound critical, but I’d rather have someone who could apply ideas and have them show up on the site.

That’s my opinion of course. :slight_smile:
[/QUOTE]

Cool, thanks for letting us know your thinking! :slight_smile: OK, this is my $0.02…

I actually agree with a lot of what your saying, and if I’m being honest I’m kind-of in two minds about Tim’s involvement in the site. On the one hand, I agree that a lot of what he promised never materialised, he was basically an ideas man, but in terms of actual content to use it was very, very thin on the ground. I’m also going to stick my neck out and say that IMO, the quality of the work he did do was not very good. :frowning:

However - my one reservation about Tim’s departure actually comes down to a debate about how seriously a project like this should be taken. I don’t mean how seriously in terms of the quality of the work (and this, for me, is where Tim used to fall down) but in terms of whether this should be treated like a job where people effectively get shown the door if they don’t deliver to a standard acceptable to the others, be that standard quality of work or quantity of work.

As far as the quality of Tim’s work goes, I was never that impressed with it. His writing was not great, he wasted large amounts of time on a design for the Cartoon Section that looked decidedly so-so, and he would sometimes get the wrong end of the stick about things. God knows, I used to get as hacked off as everyone else with him about various things! :slight_smile:

But, as far as the quantity of his work goes, this for me is the rub about his departure - my understanding as to why Tim was unable to contribute more to the site was because of pressure of work, and this I can completely understand. You may remember that for a good few months I contributed almost nothing whatsoever to the site, because of outside pressures. Tim & I were effectively in the same boat. I believed him when he said his work was the problem, and I also remember him saying he was trying to get time off work to work on the site. The bottom line is that work is more important than websites, and if he really was working the hours he claimed to be, and was as tired as he claimed to be, I don’t think he can be criticised for putting his job before the site.

All of which is an elaborate way of saying, it’s a hell of a tough one to call! :wink: The quality of his work I don’t think is anything to write home about, but he was involved with the site from the beginning and if he does now have the time to devote to it, in a way I think he deserves the chance to prove himself. But, the flipside of that is that the quality of his work is still suspect. You see the dilemma! :wink:

I think some thoughts from some of the others would be good here! :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

6

As far as bringing in Kyle it all sounds like he really knows what he is doing. I think I actually saw the project he’s working on because he posted it a while back. It might have been someone different but if its the same person Im thinking about I would say that he is definitely one to bring on board at least from the work I think he has done. Sounds like he knows what he’s doing and it sure seems like he has a lot of potential. tcatempire I think would also be a good addition, that new forums banner is awesome my vote for him is yes too.

Now as far as Tim goes I’m not too sure on that one…his material was not IMO the best and the thing with him not having time didnt help either. Everyone has circumstances and its understood but when participation is almost next to none then why be part of the team. Yes he was here from the start but I think before we take him in we should consider what part time means to him, in order for there to be success time and material is require. I’m not too sure if he does have the time, perhaps give him another chances? Maybe…Perhaps now he does have a significant amt of time and ideas to contribute. One part votes no against him coming along but I’m actually leaning more towards giving him another chance. Sometimes people need that second chance to prove themselves

7

You bring up very good points and defnitely should be considered.

It took me a long time to decide whether or not to let go of Tim…if you remember, I was already complaining about Tim even before the launch of the site. I tried my best to stay optimistic that something good would come out of him staying onboard, but in my eyes I didn’t see anything different.

I very much understand the priority of work…on one hand, I worked 8 hour shifts when I was working feverishly to get the site done for the December launch. On the other hand, I didn’t work 12-14 hour days.

I have nothing against him personally. He’s a great guy and is very knowledgeable with Tcats…but I had several other inquiries from different people, and right now, I’d rather see what these newcomers could do rather than go with Tim.

8

[QUOTE=TCL-Manny]
You bring up very good points and defnitely should be considered.

It took me a long time to decide whether or not to let go of Tim…if you remember, I was already complaining about Tim even before the launch of the site. I tried my best to stay optimistic that something good would come out of him staying onboard, but in my eyes I didn’t see anything different.

I very much understand the priority of work…on one hand, I worked 8 hour shifts when I was working feverishly to get the site done for the December launch. On the other hand, I didn’t work 12-14 hour days.

I have nothing against him personally. He’s a great guy and is very knowledgeable with Tcats…but I had several other inquiries from different people, and right now, I’d rather see what these newcomers could do rather than go with Tim.
[/QUOTE]

Any decisions I’ll back you up on it Manny, I would give Tim a chance but at the same time I want to see what new team members can bring. By the way anyone seen Kyles website www.kzhome.net?

Kyle just sent me this message “No I have not been on the forum before. Would it be possible to show me how to access the team area whilst we are both online..thx”

Does that mean he is part of the team now, he’s asking me for the access. If he is Manny I can go ahead and give him access

9

Chris here…

Whatever the decision with Tim, I’d definitely like to see a couple of new guys on the team - I think bringing in a fresh dynamic like that could help inspire us all to new heights, plus with this guy Kyle I really like the way he comes over in his e-mail, sounds like a polite, educated guy with a lot of skills and a lot of passion for ThunderCats! :slight_smile:

Also, I can’t remember if I’ve raised this before, but has anybody spoken to the author(s) of this thread - http://www.catslair.net/forums/showthread.php?t=119 - about adding some of their amazing stuff to either the Cartoon or Animation Art section? The guy who started that thread even offered to donate stuff to that section - I realise that neither the Cartoon or the AA are my sections, so I hope no one is offended by me jogging people’s memory about this - but, it looks like there’s masses of fabulous material there begging for a home! :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

10

Chris, I think I asked them before if they wanted to help out and I remember them saying they were busy with their own sites. It would have been nice though. :slight_smile:

11

Chris here…

[QUOTE=TCL-Manny]
Chris, I think I asked them before if they wanted to help out and I remember them saying they were busy with their own sites. It would have been nice though. :slight_smile:
[/QUOTE]

Oh well, not to worry - I should have known you’d be on-the-ball with that side of things, Manny! :slight_smile:

Also, just thought you’d like to know that I completed the interview with Tim Perkins today, and it is amazing! He’s given such detailed, informative and entertaining answers! I think you guys will be seriously impressed. :slight_smile:

He’s adding a link to this site on his own, www.wizards-keep.com - I’ve told him that his site will be referenced at least twice in the interview (indeed, at my encouragement he has actually plugged it twice in his answers! ;)), but he did also ask me whether it would be possible for a reciprocal link to be added to our “Links” page? I told him that I couldn’t guarantee this because I’m not in charge of that area of the site, but I said I’d pass on the request, which I am now doing - I hope that this is OK. Perhaps you could LMK what you think to this idea, Manny? Many thanks! :slight_smile:

Take care… :slight_smile:

12

Someone we know will be returning to help Kyle and Martin write the profiles for the Encycloped/Bible…:slight_smile: We’ll need him/her if we’re to keep up with Kyle! Keep your eyes posted!

13

Thats really good news. I do think that this project needs 2 writers. I appreciate how long it takes to compile a profile. Research, reference etc…

It is the same for me, because I hate copying existing images.. I like to create original images, and threfore need as many images to work with as possible.

I think that if I declared a working order… for the next couple of months, that would give everyone the opportunity to get a head start on profiles I am yet to begin working on.

But yes..really happy to hear that and look forward to having another person to work with!

14

I will probably help contribute writing wise as well. But this person will be a huge help because of all the knowledge he/she has of Thundercats.

15

Thats great, once ready if you could point them in the direction of the Encyclopedia Team thread then the writing can be begin.