Shields Down

Deposits Online

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:27:00 +0000

Deposits are back online.

New Schematics & The Truth...

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:26:00 +0000

As some of you will know, a whole bunch of new schematics have been created in Core Exiles. Seeing as such a major change was put into play, I stopped working on my new site and decided to concentrate on getting my schematic pages updated. Through blood, sweat and tears, it has been done.

The one downside is the categoriser that identifies the schematics and places them into a group was edited for my new web page and is incompatible with the old site. This means the majority of the new schematics are in a group called 'Unknown'. I will slowly make my way through them one at a time, but please be patient whilst this is done. The new web site will add a community theme, allowing you to suggest if a schematic belongs in another group (or even shared between groups). In the mean time might I suggest searching for a schematic in the top right section of the site?

I'm talking a lot about my new site - but unfortunately I don't have much to show you at the moment. If your interested, I'm building up a new framework first before adding the skin and colours. Because of this all you would see is an unusable dump of debugging information (unless you're a geek like me...). For that I apologise but please follow this blog if you want to be kept up to date. I'm also on Twitter (shieldsdown).

On another note, my current method of placing these news articles onto my site is about to change - currently I'm using Blogger and transferring the files across to here, but due to a system change this is not going to be possible(1st May). I should have a new system in place by then, but I would recommend following my Twitter account to be updated on this just in case its delayed.

Finally, I know I have been away and neglected this site far worse that it & any of you deserve. The fact that even in such a huge absence you are still here, reading this post, looking at my schematics pages and still giving positive feedback on it, makes me realise I really don't deserve you lot. Truthfully, I honestly thought I had left it so bad that none of you would be here, that it would be a throw away job when the domain name expired. You guys are amazing, and thank you all for still being here.

I forgot how much I enjoyed coding for my site, I forgot how fun it was to produce useful, meaningful tools that will help players develop and expand their knowledge and use of Core Exiles. I hope this continues for a long time, and that Shields Down will be with you all the way.

Thanks again all,

Rb

Shields Down

PS I have changed my mail's spam filter (I got very concerned that I have not had an email for a a year and a bit). Appears the old filter was feeding them into a blackhole never to be seen again. My new filter is producing emails that I need to answer which were previously spammed out, but good news is the contacts page is back online. Please feel free to contact me.

Expect Disruption - Complete

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:34:00 +0000

Hi all,

I'm about to launch a serious update to the Shields Down schematics pages. Unfortunately this update could potentially cause disruption to the user crafters page, players resources may go missing or be reallocated. I will attempt to keep the disruption to a minimum, but if you are working on any major projects (with manually entered values) I would seriously consider postponing the use of the tool until this upgrade has been completed.

I have backups of all the relevant databases so if something does go wrong, give me a shout and I'll restore it for you.

I'll keep you updated and let you know when the update has been completed.

---------
This is the note to say the relevant pages have been updated and you can use the site normally again. Thanks :)

Outage fixed

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:08:00 +0000

Account creations should be back online - drop me an email if this is not the case.

Outage - Account Creation

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:33:00 +0000

All,

I am currently working on a new blog post but this is marked as important.

It appears attempting to crate a new account is currently causing a 'CRITICAL ERROR' and to contact an admin. Unfortunately the admin is currently away from his desk, but will be able to look at this problem in the evening (GMT).

Further news to follow along with a new, more detailed blog post.

Robinb

Emails

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:39:00 +0000

Hey all,

Apart from my mail box is being spammed beyond belief, some of the 'correct' mail is being filtered out. Unfortunatly this was instantly deleted. I am not sure how long this has gone on for, but it would explain the recent downturn in emails.

I am setting up a new system for my emails, once online you will be able to contact me again.

For now, if you need/want to get in touch, please reply to this blog post. The Contact Us page will be modified soon to incorporate the changes.

Appologies, if anyone has sent an email recently, either PM me (Robinb) in the forums. Otherwise, i will get the new contact screen opterational as soonas I can.

Cheers,

Shields Down

Updated Schematics

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:20:00 +0000

Call it an early Christmas present - the Schematics & resources pages have been updated to the latest possible version I could find. If you knew how long I have been wanting to do this for, you probably wouldn't be anywhere close.

I am calling this the first step in a long journey. The site is knackered, old, creasing at the seams, but still it stands. And if your reading this, then its still in use - so Thank You!

So apart from long time promises from months back, all I can say is I am still here, I am getting back on track, and if there is one thing I seriously promise, when I relaunch this site, it will come with more goodies then you can shake a stick at!

For now, in case I don't post again, Happy Christmas from the SD team, may Santa et al. bring everything you have ever dreamed of!

Take care,

Robinb
Shields Down
http://twitter.com/shieldsdown for all the latest as it happens!

Been busy...

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:23:00 +0000

You may have noticed, the sites not a little outdated? All hell broke recently, and I am still working through the backlog, but I am managing and soon be back on my feet.

All in all, I will be doing a complete re-launch of the site when its back up to date, and with some exciting new features!

More soon, don't want to give it all away now :)

Rb

Tad Busy...

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Hey all,

Been a tad busy, work is taking most my time at the moment, so I know there are a lot of things out of date, outstanding and such. It should be settling down soon, and will be re-coding again.

I didn't cater that I would be out of action for 2 hours a day for driving... 2 years ago I was able to do work on the train - last I checked there is no device that would allow me to code whilst driving :( There are rumors of a direct train line from my home town to my place of work - although they have been talking about it for the past 4 years, I ain't expecting anything to happen this side of the century. Currently, it would take 1h50m to get from home to work on train, and then another set back. Great for coding times, but not great for relaxing - also I would be riding close to the last train. Joys!...

I got some other news, but I will post it later.

Take care,

robinb

My Bad...

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:41:00 +0000

Hey all,

Currently in Starbucks near my local town. Plan was to take my laptop
and do some work out here whilst I wait for someone to finish work.
Foolishly fotgot to pack it, stupid me. So, no updates his morning,
just a little insight as I am bored out of my mind.

Let's start with planning, something to wet your tastebuds. It's no
secret I have not been about much, and the time I have been about I
had hardware failures - all fixed now, moved away from an svn server
and running it on my localhost. If/when my personal server comes back
online I'll use it as a backup rather then the main content machine.
So, what is planned? First I have a reverification of all existing
content: some of it I'd missing, wrong or currupt. Any help on that
would be awarded :) (HINT)

Next is for new content. I have something I am calling a "secret game"
in construction. Basically you pay ingame credits for a board, and
weekly using a secret calculation it works out how many points you get
for that board. It can edit elements, rotate pieces etc. It's "secret"
as you don't know how the score is worked out. Prizes weekly, monthly
and special occasions. You don't have to wait for the work out to
play, single player will be available. More soon.

Second is one that's already created, but needs tweaking- Slot
machine! Last time my so played it, SD won 1 billion credits in 24
hours. Good news for me, but unfair for you lot. Some tweaking needed
me thinks.

Third, incorporating a new game to Shields Down. If you have a game
(large, small etc) let me know by posting a comment below (click title
to get to comment screen). It will have all the same games in,with
help tools And looking towards inter game trading!! Should be fun.

Forth, Market alerts. If you are after something, and someone puts it
on the pm at a price you are looking for, you will get an email about
it! Simple, plain and maybe your shouting about th GBM - if someone
gas a large request for 10,000 of something, but if want 10 this tool
should help.

Fifth, signiture tools for forums. I am in discussions with Core
Exiles and Transporter Tycoon to see if I can obtain a players
statistics (with the players permission), creating a dynamic pup
signiture so you can add it to core exiles fouls, transported forums
or any others you want. Facebook, myspace, the list goes on.

Sixth, newsletters. You may have noticed that in your settings you get
automatically added to tne mailing list. To keep it all legal,
everyone will be emailed to confirm you want to be added. Anyone who
doesn't will have to change that setting. Newsletter will include
important information, latest news and compertitions. I would strongly
advise signing up for it, the first compettition will be a very big
one!!

Right, wasted an hour and a half in starbucks, almost time to pick
people up. Again, sorry to people with withdraw requests, they will be
done when I get home.

Tell you one thing though, I love this iPhone. Amazing what a small
device can do
Take care all,

Robinb on iPhone, so forgive the mistakes!!

so many things... so little time

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:24:00 +0000

Hey all,

Been a tad bit busy recently with a holiday, new job, new car, selling an old car, killing a wasps next and having an operation on my wizdom teeth, all in a very short time.

With that happening, strange things have been happening to Shields Down, - I got a clump of emails in one day dating back 14 days+ (and I check it regularly). likewise, a bot has got access to my email address which is causing havok on my mail filters. I'm processing them all, so anyone who has sent an email i will be in contact with. Meanwhile, I am in the process of creating an intellegent system to filter spam and real messages, should have it operational soon.

There are a lot of withdraw requests (and i see the main lottery was won - well done :) ) - again I have only just been notified so I will sort that out soon.

I am trying to find more hours in the day, and I will find a schedule I can work to. In the mean time the site is not dead, I am not dead and will be back in action soon.

Call this period an 'extended unscheduled' holiday - I'm sure you understand.

Take care all - I'll update soon.

Rb

And back, but backlogged

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:54:00 +0000

Hey all, back from my holidays today - been unpacking and getting everything back to how it was before I went away.

Having some severe PC problems at the moment, ranging from random reboots to hal.dll failures. Its strange how a PC can break from being off-line for a fortnight, might be its way of telling me not to go away again!

I have a backlog of emails, and with the Pc problems its slow process of getting them actioned and replied. I am running through them, so please expect a reply in the next few days, if not today.

Right, I am needing to run into town to get a compressed air canister, and a XP recovery CD - one thing I hate about commercial PC's is it only comes with there recovery CD's - no good if you want to get into the XP recovery console. Joys.

Hopefully be fixed soon - Might get a new PSU whilst I am at it - the random reboots are at the same time that the fans loose a bit of power. Chucked on some loggers, see if it is a faulty PSU that's causing the problems.

Back soon,

Rb

Holiday!

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:49:00 +0000

I'm outta here - on holiday for 14 days. Sorry for the lack of updates, been doing some projects on the side for multiple people and ended up so I didn't have much time to get Shields Down Updates.

I will get more done when I am back, most the projects are complete now. The navigator is 95% complete - setting it so you can go 'via' a place (maybe places if you want - let me know on the comments be clicking the title above)

Until then, have fun, take care, and I will be back back in a forghtnight!!

Rb

In Updates

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:13:00 +0000

Hey all, All my exams are now finished, so apart from celebrating I am now coding my site back to right :D

So, this post is going to be updated this week with everything fixed. There will also be an email shot to everyone (that has not opted out from the users options) with these fixes, as some are classified as critical and high.

Casino: Scratchcards are now back in stock. If you were affected by the shortage, please let me know and I will look into it
ItemDetails: Problems detected in Iexplore. Still working on an solution. - expansion: Going to change from a total JS solution to AJAX.

More to add soon. Keep an eye out as this is going to update rather then a new post created each time.

Cheers,

Rb

Still here

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Its been a while since my last post (if anyone does read this that is). My exams are almost complete, in fact I only have the one on Monday left. Afterwards its spanners, nails and a sledge hammer to get this site back to fully working conditions. So, please bare with me whilst I sort everything out :)

Week starting Monday, you won't know what's hits you when I'm finished!

Take care all!

Rb

Engineering items are history!

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:57:00 +0000

All,

If you have not heard the news, then I suggest heading to the forums double time. Engineering items have been abolished, leaving crafting wide open again. Anyone who wants to experiment in this area, now is the time!

In relation, Shields Down has already started removing and verifying the schematics for engineering items. There are also a few new schematics that would be interested. This blog post will be updated as development progresses.

Cheers,

Rb

Fully Intergrated!

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Sat, 03 May 2008 12:58:00 +0000

The schematic pages and the crafters user page have been integrated with the engineering items and are highlighted yellow :)

This has been extended to the tree being coloured :)

Hope it helps - I am going to enjoy the sun now and hopefully create a BBQ!

Rb

Updated Again!

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:31:00 +0000

See, told you I would be doing more when the dissertation was completed. Have a look at the Schematic Pages to see what I have done.

Engineering Items have been incorporated with thanks to Wolfje for the spreadsheet which this data is based on. Engineering items are highlighted yellow in the components section, whilst derbies are highlighted yellow in the resources section. Also added a whole list of components required for a schematic - thought it would be useful :)

I am confident it is 100% correct as of this post time, but if you see any mistakes please let me know.

This also means that if you find one of these, you can search to see what it belongs to. Working on a better buying pages, more info as I have any :)

Take care all! All comments welcome - I am a coder, not a designer. If I don't get any feedback nothings going to change!

Robinb

Workin :)

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:01:00 +0000

Hey all,

Been working through some of the suggestions players have been sending in - a small job I completed was the re-design of the Trees for schematic building. This is shown on the Crafters Schematics page and the User Crafters Page. If any problems crop up, let me know :)

The engineering items are almost done, but I knew I would not have had the time to complete it today.

More Soon!

Rb

Doctor.. the backbone.. its.. its... [edit]

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:59:00 +0000

Yea, backbones being rejected.. with the recent additions of VP, the backbone is no longer valid for the site.

Its not as serious as before... but its on the same lines...

On the flip side, I have 11,100 words done on my min. 10,000 word dissertation, so its soon to be finished.

As soon as its done, it is the first thing on my list. Promise.

Right, back to the Design stage.......

Robinb

_________
Decided to edit this post rather then create a new one. Don't ask why, just thought it would be easier.
Update to the schematics - finally got around to adding the Engineering items into the schematics. That was the easy part. The hard part is getting the debris integrated so its separate from the components, but is still as important. I am probably going to get another drop section for engineering items, but that needs more coding. As someone with a large stick is poking me every time I look away from my dissertation, its not easy... (he went for a coffee, giving me time to do this!)

So, at the moment the engineering items are classified as Resources. This is so it appears on all the schematics so you know how much you need. I will keep you up to date on the engineering items.

Right, being poked again... guess its back to work for the 40th day in a row. Man I miss socialising :(

Rb

My time is short

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:02:00 +0000

Dissertation. All I have to say really, a 10,000 word dissertation that is taking up all my time, and stopping me from doing the things I love - coding. Although the dissertation required an application (notice the past tense), the technical document to follow is a PITA. Woo for me.

I do have plans for getting the crafting section back under control. I know there have been a lot of changes that I have not posted, and as such use it with caution for now. As soon as its updated, I wil be screaming and shouting about it here and on the forums.

So, watch this space, and the CE forums. More info soon :)

Robinb

Last time I create a Back Bone!

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Urg, who would have known creating a new backbone for Shields Down would have been so time-consuming! Goes to show that I really should code for exansion, and not for static like I did 5-6 odd years ago. My previous table was hidious, and didn't contain half the player market items that were available, and every time it detected there was an 'unknown item', I had to manually insert it. Worse then that, I decided to have a compound key - one for the category, and one for the type (so I could order it better). Lets just say that I am never going down that road again.

So, what have I done for the past month? Well, a new table layout meaning that the Player Market is now working and up to date, giving what items people are selling, and at what price. There is also a history page and graphs to show the history and average the items sells at. Its worth a look to see how much you should sell an item for.

It also means I can now 'detach' the user accounts. Before an account was so tied into the PHP, that even if I created a new column part of the site would crash! So, now, happily, I can expand faster, easier, and also better then before.

Just a heads up, I will be on holiday starting Thursday -> tba, so all withdrawal requests will be held.

Well, I know it doesn't look like I have done much to the surface, but a lot has been done to the spine. I hope you will see the benefits sooner then later :)

Cheers,

Rb
Shields Down

New Resources!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:17:00 +0000

As announced by the ISN, new ores have been discovered that will shake up the way that settlements are built. Already blueprints have changed, and crafters everywhere are flocking to get their hands on these valuable ores.

Shields Down has taken the lead, with updating its database with the new ores, and intergrated them with the schematics and where they are used. Have a look at the Settlement All schematic to see how many are required in the building of a whole settlement.

Otherwise, you can click on the new ores that are displayed to see where they are used, and in what quantity.

Myself, I might be creating a service of rare ore sales, so watch this step.

Have fun with the new ores all!!

Rb

Shields Down

NEW FEATURE! Item Details

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:20:00 +0000

Players,

We all know what the CEDR is a good little tool in game. It gives the basic information on all the items, along with some of the required information for players. See, this is good, but it can be better. And once again, Shields Down goes that extra step just for you.

Introducing the Item Details page. Not only does it have more information on the pages, but it also able to sort depending on the header that you want it to! Want to know the most damaging weapon? The least energy consuming cargo expander? Its all there, and more. Head on over to the tools tab, or click this link to be taken there instantly.

More information will be added at a later stage, but I am currently in the process of integrating this new data into the rest of Shields Down. As you may have noticed, and with my previous post, most the items are not displaying on the Player Market. This is the first stage to getting them listed. The only problem is that the old data and old table layout was referenced in all the major pages. Needless to say, this means re-coding all of those pages, and its not going well at the moment.

More updates as I get them!

Rb

Footnote: Just read Ctrl Alt Del and it split my sides in laughter. Worth a look!

Player Market...

noreply@blogger.com (The Coder) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Some of you may have noticed that most the items on the Player Market are not displaying on the lists, even after the update. Since there have been hundreds of new weapons, shields, etc added, its going to take some time to organise them. Without doing a complete facelift of the workings of it, I am afraid all I can ask is to wait it out, and I will post as soon as I have more details.

By the way, what do people think of Blogger in Shields Down? You can add comments to each news post - follow the link above and say whatever you want :)

Cheers all,

Rb