"Technologizing" NHL 13 GM Connected - Calling all Software Devs/IT guys! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Stealth22 · 09-16-2012, 11:19 PM

I just made a new thread because this affects both the PS3 and Xbox leagues.

A lot of us are finding that we need more than just one thread per league, and that PM's are a bit cumbersome to communicate with other GM's.

I'm in software development for a living, and I've recently branched my skills into the mobile device side of things. I thought about exploring the possibility of an app, that we could all use to instantly IM with one another (provided our phones are nearby) regarding trade proposals and such.

Mitch also suggested that we have a mini forum/site, just for GM Connected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch

Here's an idea- make a mini forum (website) for the CP GM Connected?

That way we could organize our things into threads instead of crowding CP. We can have an individual trade block thread, polls for changes, trades, etc. It would be a lot better instead of trying to navigate through 30 pages of it in 1 thread.

There could be trading blocks, polls, like he said, and even rumour threads, for those of us that enjoy doing that. Hell, let's even designate someone to be Eklund!

Anyway, rather than go out and spend two weeks making an app just for this purpose, I've thought the best way to do this is the following.

With permission of the mods, I can get a mini forum set up pretty quickly. CP Mods would have Admin access, as would the Commissioners of each league. That's the easy part. Once we're all done with it, which would be when NHL 14 comes out, it'll be gassed.
For the communication thing, we could use something like Google Talk, if we want to stick to a free solution. However, it won't be as good.

There's two possible solutions for this, and this is where I get into technical terms, and could use input from other IT guys or software developers on this forum.

Build a mobile app for iPhone and Android that would connect to a server via a web service, and we would all message one another that way. I'm a bit of a newb when it comes to mobile programming though, so I'd have to learn how to do push notifications.
We find a Linux host to put an XMPP server on (same principle that Google Talk runs on), and that way, we have a chat server to ourselves. Everybody signs up for their own account, set their display name to their team, and the PS3 and Xbox guys would each have their own groups. I can talk to my boss to see if they would be willing to share some server space for a small Ubuntu server or something. Or if someone else owns a server, even better. This way, each person can use one of the multitude of XMPP/Jabber clients out there for their device, and its all instantaneous. Only problem is, it might be tougher to get an XMPP server going than a regular web server for solution #1. That wouldn't be too hard at all for no cost.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Pierre "Monster" McGuire · 09-17-2012, 01:23 AM

I have no idea what you said at the end, but the rest I agree with 100%. I'd use both a mobile app and a specialized forum for the CP GM Connected leagues.

bspec · 09-17-2012, 04:05 AM

I like the idea of a mobile app since the EA one isn't all that functional for communication. I'm a recent computer science graduate, but my mobile development experience is... limited =P It would be cool to set up a repository for several people to develop and work on that as a pet project. I feel like by the time it's up and running, however, NHL 14 will be out haha.

Stealth22 · 09-17-2012, 06:26 AM

Well, it wouldn't take that long for me to do one up. Only problem is it would be something quick that wouldn't alert you to a new message if the app is minimized. That's what I meant by having to learn about push notifications.

I'll set up a forum today, and if the Mods have any issues, feel free to PM me.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

AR_Six · 09-17-2012, 06:36 AM

There's a sticky at the top in which it was discussed whether to make a subforum in this subforum for GM connected - that'd be quicker; can't they just do that?

miraisoup · 09-17-2012, 06:52 AM

3 justin 3 made a forum for the 360 league using invision. An app however, would be fantastic if you guys can pull that off. As for being alerted I don't think it matters all that much because of how easy it is to just check it any time you want.

http://z13.invisionfree.com/CalgaryP...ex.php?act=idx

Stealth22 · 09-17-2012, 07:06 AM

I can set one up for both leagues this morning if he wants. This one would have no ads, and I'd be able to install Tapatalk on it, for mobile access.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

miraisoup · 09-17-2012, 07:11 AM

Good idea man.

Russic · 09-17-2012, 08:46 AM

I think it's a great idea, but I'm wondering if we're not trying to reinvent the wheel. Redmile34 was saying they use GroupMe for his online football league and it works really well. Available on iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7.

If Stealth really wants to take on a pet project that's quite another thing... have at 'er. I'm just wondering if a solution already exists.

https://groupme.com

Stealth22 · 09-17-2012, 08:57 AM

Yeah, I'm looking at a few ways of doing it. I'll keep you guys posted.

In the meantime, I've set up our little mini forum at http://cpconnected.no-ip.org/index.php

Feel free to register, and post here with your username, your team, and please post which league you're in as well. I'm coordinating with 3 Justin 3 to see if we can get both leagues under one roof.

CP Mods and league commissioners, feel free to post here as well for extra access rights.

zukes · 09-17-2012, 09:10 AM

What is wrong with just using this thread, or several threads here? This sub forum is for exactly what we are doing.

likwid888 · 09-17-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukes

What is wrong with just using this thread, or several threads here? This sub forum is for exactly what we are doing.

Agreed. I don't want to have to visit 2 different sites to keep tabs on the league. Talk to photon and see if he is willing to create some sub forums on CP for us instead.

Joborule · 09-17-2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukes

What is wrong with just using this thread, or several threads here? This sub forum is for exactly what we are doing.

The advantage of setting up a separate forum is that it could keep things extremely organized, clean, and threads don't get cluttered by having a high number of pages.

You could have one section purely for threads on update roster listings, another for trade block, proposed trades and approved trades, schedule matchmaking, ect. It'll keep things more organized and simpler to access information or coordinate.

AR_Six · 09-17-2012, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likwid888

Agreed. I don't want to have to visit 2 different sites to keep tabs on the league. Talk to photon and see if he is willing to create some sub forums on CP for us instead.

This makes sense - though it'd be pretty badass if the response to EA not making an android app was someone else making a web-based one.

jschick88 · 09-17-2012, 09:39 AM

We could set something up like this league I'm in.
http://hit-the.net/forum/index.php

You have your own team page. One sub thread would be your current roster and another thread could be your trade block as mentioned by Jobo.

FlamesKickAss · 09-17-2012, 09:47 AM

signed up

Russic · 09-17-2012, 11:00 AM

Whatever we do we should probably come up with a standard method. I'm not sure too many people are going to be keen to check multiple places for messages. I don't want to have one of my games played without my knowledge (known from here out as "igitang'd") because I didn't check the right site.

Stealth22 · 09-17-2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Whatever we do we should probably come up with a standard method. I'm not sure too many people are going to be keen to check multiple places for messages. I don't want to have one of my games played without my knowledge (known from here out as "igitang'd") because I didn't check the right site.

For our purposes in the PS3 league, lets use the site that I set up. If the Xbox 360 guys want to come in on the same site, that's up to them, it'll be easy to separate it out by system.

Jobo, once you sign up, I'll get you admin rights.

zukes · 09-17-2012, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joborule

The advantage of setting up a separate forum is that it could keep things extremely organized, clean, and threads don't get cluttered by having a high number of pages.

You could have one section purely for threads on update roster listings, another for trade block, proposed trades and approved trades, schedule matchmaking, ect. It'll keep things more organized and simpler to access information or coordinate.

Why can we not do that here?

Have a subsection labelled "PS3 GM Connected" and then have stickied threads for trade blocks, abscence alerts etc.

Stealth22 · 09-17-2012, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukes

Why can we not do that here?

Have a subsection labelled "PS3 GM Connected" and then have stickied threads for trade blocks, abscence alerts etc.

Its still only one sub forum though. This would allow us to have separate sections everywhere.

Again, the URL for the PS3 forum (I asked 3 Justin 3 if the Xbox guys want to come over to this one) is http://cpconnected.no-ip.org/index.php