Standard category for new IF dev systems

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We’ve been getting a lot of submissions of new IF systems lately, and I noticed they’re not all sorted into any one particular category.

Some of them are in the Technical Development → Development Systems category:

Some of them are in the Authoring → Other Development Systems category:

Some of them are in the Playing → Project Announcements category:

Here’s one in the Authoring category:

I think it would be helpful to categorize these together in some way. This might make it easier for developers of new systems to see their threads alongside other developers of new systems, to compare and contrast themselves with what’s out there.

I don’t necessarily think we need a new category for this. (Though, maybe we do?) I think the main thing is to pick one category and stick with it, moving threads in the “wrong” category into the category we think is the “right” one.

Which category would be best? “Technical Development → Development Systems”, I think

IMO, it’s a toss up between Technical Development → Development Systems vs. Authoring → Other Development Systems.

But the “Authoring” category seems better suited to Q&A about a system, not necessarily expecting the system developer to weigh in, whereas the “Technical Development” category seems more suited toward discussions with the people directly working on the dev system.

I note that it’s especially strange for announcements of new dev systems to appear in the “Playing” category, but I can’t blame anybody for posting there, because the “About” description of the Playing → Project Announcements thread currently says:

Have you just released a new work? A game? A book? A utility? A development system? Tell us all about it and where to find it here!

I feel like “Playing → Project Announcements” is perfectly suited to the announcements of new games (which is always of interest to players) but the “Playing” category feels like a bad fit for development systems/utilities intended for authors to use. I’d vote to change that description to say something like:

Have you just released a new work? A game? A book? Tell us all about it and where to find it here! (If you’re announcing a new tool or system for IF authors, post about that in the Technical Development → Development Systems category instead.)

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I agree and I’m willing to try this.

I’ve created a tag new-platform for debut messages.

I’ll move everything around and we’ll see how it works and if anyone grumbles!

Remember if you participate here enough, you likely have access to recategorize topics that should be in a different spot. Hover over the original post title and click the pencil icon to modify topic title, category and tags. We appreciate assistance with tidiness.

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Yeah, I agree that Technical Development > Development Systems is the best place for them. We should adjust the description of Playing > Project Announcements to point people there.

EDIT: Ah, Hanon already has! Perfect.

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Also @dfabulich thank you for compiling the new systems, I hadn’t read about many of these and am now diving in.

I’ve shamelessly stolen all your links to create a pinned topic with new dev systems…

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Is this about where to put new announcements or all discussion of systems? Honestly I am not even sure which I tend to pick so if everything should go in Technical Development > Development Systems now that’s okay with me.

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This is basically housekeeping since it’s not initially clear where to post.

You can discuss anything basically anywhere appropriate, but realize anyone with enough trust can move your post to a more appropriate category, so don’t sweat if you’re in the wrong category - someone will likely find it and move it.

In general announcing games and discussion of playing them go in:
Playing
Playing > Project Announcements
Playing > IF Reviews and Essays for long-form reviews, comparative reviews, or general scholarly musings about IF topics.

This topic is about gathering announcements of new development platforms in one spot, specifically
Technical Development > Development Systems

For technical discussion about using specific platforms, those go in
Authoring
Authoring > Inform 7
Authoring > Twine
Authoring > Choice-based IF
Authoring > Publishing
etc.

Nobody will be in trouble for posting in the “wrong” place - there are times discussion might be appropriate - for example Spanish discussion can go in Discusión en español regardless of what it’s about.

Competition reviews and discussion usually land in the appropriate Competitions category, but can migrate anywhere, especially after a comp is ended and an entry is its own game.

We can always split topics when necessary if the discussion evolves and would be better served in a different category or as part of another topic.

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