StarCitizenHelp.com

Doc Flanigan

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Hey all! I'm looking for a bit of feedback on a new site that I've created to help new players get started in the 'verse, StarCitizenHelp.com. As a former new player myself, and even now, some times it's difficult to find the guides, community tools, info and resources to help me in the game. That's where I'm hoping this site will be able to help others. The site has a long way to go before it's feature complete, but I'm hoping this will provide some help and clarity to those starting out. Future plans include more content rich guides, revamping the community tools section, a content creator showcase and info about the official SC Guides system. I'm also hoping to pickup some referrals using my Star Citizen Referral code, but more-so I want this site to be a central repository for SC guides and tools.

This is just the first iteration, so there are bugs, inaccuracies and formatting errors that I'll be working to correct. If any of you fine TESTies have a moment, would you mind taking a gander and provide some feedback on the site? I'm interested to know what you would change, add or delete.

Thanks,
Doc
 

Ayeteeone

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Doc, happy to see this! TEST as a group should be doing this work, even if only as an act of self-preservation. Some significant efforts have been made in the past for specific topics (@Black Sunder 's original mining guide is a shining example) but so far none of the tools out there approach comprehensive.

Commenting here mostly to watch the thread, but will dig into it tonight after work.
 

Sky Captain

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Great job on this site! Wow!

My first reaction working through the site is that it’s a great resource site for Star Citizen gamers.

I see some things that are a work in progress. No comments there. My only constructive feedback at a higher level is how the site relies on other sites for some content but may not notify a viewer they are leaving the site for another resource that then might not let them directly return. This was illustrated for me the most with the CCU App site that wouldn’t let me use the back button on the browser to return to your main site. No recommendation on how to address this. Just sharing the observation as I experienced it.

Again, great job! Cheers!
 
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NaffNaffBobFace

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Okay that's a lovely site I can see it being very useful, as we're still in development I can only imagine the task keeping this up to date with current patch details is going to be! Are you going to retain previous versions for prosperity and archive or will it be a live evolving thing just as the game it?

Some feedback, not sure if this is what you're after but just in case:
Using the game guide search it doesn't find anything to do with missiles. Not sure if I was just spelling it wrong or if the search isn't finding it but there is reference in the key-binding thing and in another guide too but doesn't show either as an option when searching, comes up zero. Nearest I could get a result from was "Weapons".

Found the keybind references manually that say "M" for missile mode, "H" for missile lock, middle mouse button for fire. While that's good and factual I'm still a little lost on how it actually works without having my PC in front of me to press those buttons and see what they do - I wouldn't know right now if that's up-to-date, can anyone confirm this is how we fire missiles right now?

Regarding media, video is a lot of time investment creating and hosting costs too but also helps get info across in a show-don't-tell manner that can hep people who's first language is not English (or who just don't have the patience to read) that may broaden your reach to more users, but it and can become obsolete quickly if things in game change like keybindings, so probs make plans for comprehensive help videos but keep them on the shelf until CIG solidifies aspects such as controls and even whole mechanics. Feels like we are still sooo far out for that but a comprehensive help sites generally have more than one way of getting the info across :-)

Maybe contact CIG and ask about the likely keybinds for S42? Actually thinking about that, perhaps a dedicated S42 section might be of benefit to your site too, if the game launches people might come looking for help and if the stand-alone game has some little differences to the WIP SC, they'll need to be called out somehow... that somehow might just be you if you can put yourself in the right place :glorious:

Bit of feedback on an additional fun section you might feel like adding, you could have real life user experiences where they could have done with StarCitizenHelp.com or testimonials where the site actually helped:

I recall the first time I logged in, must have been Patch 2.3 or 2.4 I went into my Connie and was amazed the ship had a toilet and delighted I could sit down on it. And then I couldn't get back up. I pressed every key on the keyboard like I was trying to send a Morse Code, nope no hope I was stuck on the can. I thought it was bugged or something to logged out and in again, went to the toilet, sat and got stuck again. I went on to the RSI forums of the time and asked in public "How do you get off the toilet?", and the answer was, at the time, press and hold "F". Press and hold. Yep I really could have done with StarCitizenHelp.com that day!
 
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NaffNaffBobFace

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Not sure if the following is the kind of feedback you'd want but just in case:

Clicking around, I've noticed there are some quad-hash in some guides which seems odd, not sure if that's intentional or not?

1747201935730.png


I'm on a laptop using Firefox if that helps.
 
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Cugino83

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I was looking forward to check the site and provide some feedback but I think something is not right here... all I see is this:
1747238976286.png


no menu, no text, no image... basically a static page to contemplate the emptiness of the space...

Tested on two different chrome-base browser, to HTML 5 should not be a problem with same result

EDIT:
Found the problem!
AD-block extension detect all the tiles as Advertise and delete them... quite efficiently.
I'll suggest to review a bit of the page code, I'm not the only person to use such nice extension...
 
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Doc Flanigan

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I was looking forward to check the site and provide some feedback but I think something is not right here... all I see is this:
View attachment 26443

no menu, no text, no image... basically a static page to contemplate the emptiness of the space...

Tested on two different chrome-base browser, to HTML 5 should not be a problem with same result

EDIT:
Found the problem!
AD-block extension detect all the tiles as Advertise and delete them... quite efficiently.
I'll suggest to review a bit of the page code, I'm not the only person to use such nice extension...
Sorry about that. It wasn't your ad blocker, I was in the middle of deploying version 2 of the React app for the site. It should be back up now with a few tweaks.
 
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Doc Flanigan

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Not sure if the following is the kind of feedback you'd want but just in case:

Clicking around, I've noticed there are some quad-hash in some guides which seems odd, not sure if that's intentional or not?

View attachment 26441

I'm on a laptop using Firefox if that helps.
Thank you for all the feedback! I'm not a web developer so I'm learning on the fly. I built alot of the guides in Notepad, and tried to convert them to markdown, with varying degrees of success. :)
 
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Doc Flanigan

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Okay that's a lovely site I can see it being very useful, as we're still in development I can only imagine the task keeping this up to date with current patch details is going to be! Are you going to retain previous versions for prosperity and archive or will it be a live evolving thing just as the game it?

Some feedback, not sure if this is what you're after but just in case:
Using the game guide search it doesn't find anything to do with missiles. Not sure if I was just spelling it wrong or if the search isn't finding it but there is reference in the key-binding thing and in another guide too but doesn't show either as an option when searching, comes up zero. Nearest I could get a result from was "Weapons".

Found the keybind references manually that say "M" for missile mode, "H" for missile lock, middle mouse button for fire. While that's good and factual I'm still a little lost on how it actually works without having my PC in front of me to press those buttons and see what they do - I wouldn't know right now if that's up-to-date, can anyone confirm this is how we fire missiles right now?

Regarding media, video is a lot of time investment creating and hosting costs too but also helps get info across in a show-don't-tell manner that can hep people who's first language is not English (or who just don't have the patience to read) that may broaden your reach to more users, but it and can become obsolete quickly if things in game change like keybindings, so probs make plans for comprehensive help videos but keep them on the shelf until CIG solidifies aspects such as controls and even whole mechanics. Feels like we are still sooo far out for that but a comprehensive help sites generally have more than one way of getting the info across :-)

Maybe contact CIG and ask about the likely keybinds for S42? Actually thinking about that, perhaps a dedicated S42 section might be of benefit to your site too, if the game launches people might come looking for help and if the stand-alone game has some little differences to the WIP SC, they'll need to be called out somehow... that somehow might just be you if you can put yourself in the right place :glorious:

Bit of feedback on an additional fun section you might feel like adding, you could have real life user experiences where they could have done with StarCitizenHelp.com or testimonials where the site actually helped:

I recall the first time I logged in, must have been Patch 2.3 or 2.4 I went into my Connie and was amazed the ship had a toilet and delighted I could sit down on it. And then I couldn't get back up. I pressed every key on the keyboard like I was trying to send a Morse Code, nope no hope I was stuck on the can. I thought it was bugged or something to logged out and in again, went to the toilet, sat and got stuck again. I went on to the RSI forums of the time and asked in public "How do you get off the toilet?", and the answer was, at the time, press and hold "F". Press and hold. Yep I really could have done with StarCitizenHelp.com that day!
This is great and valuable feedback!

The GameGuide is more of a framework, then a comprehensive library. I will be continually updating the content there and will make sure to include your feedback. ; The keybinds article is also a rought draft as best, and my plan it to generate a PDF that include the keybinds that can be sent or viewed on another device, while you are in SC.

Video content is the standard now-a-days I know, but like you said it's so hard to keep up to date when things change constantly.
 
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stockish

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Haven't had a chance to take a look as I have been super busy, but if you need a hand on anything, I don't mind lending a hand making videos or assisting in write ups. I need something to do with all this travel down time lol
 

Cugino83

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Ok, just made a quick pass so of a couple of page (really, I just check two pages...).

Lack of a cookies disclaimer: this need to be implemented ASAP because is a legal issue!
If you don't have any just include a note that "this site don't use cookies".
You could also made a funny one: "This site contribute to your carb free diet: we don't use cookies"


Starter ship page need to have update content, since it lack:
- Cutter
- Intrepid
- Pisces
- 100i
- Syulen
- Arrow
- Nomad
- Freelancer
- Andromeda

Either you list them all or just the basic one.
Personal opinion, since is a beginner help site, I'll list them all BUT I'll start the page with "our recommendation" with few inexpensive ship and why one should stick to them as a starter.
There is no mention of the fact that you'll be able to buy ships in game in this page, this is a big miss for a beginner player!
In game price are completed invented: Aurora MR is 680'400 in game, the Mustang 640'000.
Didn't check the others but 2 out of 2 wrong is not great... Check all the data!


Upgrade path lack a bit of explanation, this section should have a lot more of a discussion rather then a list of ship.
INFO ON THE TITAN ARE WRONG: Avenger have TWO shield even if S1, missiles are 2xS3 (sporting as default a 322 rack).
INFO ON THE CUTTLAS ARE WRONG: cutty have a S2 shield and 6xS4 hardpoint for missiles (mounting as default 4x423 and 2x442 rack for 8xS3 and 8xS2 missiles)
Didn't check all the other but is 2/2 wrong so not a great average, check the info: wrong data are not helping new players.

As a rule of thumb if you provide some data either provide them correctly or don't provide them at all.
No info is better then wrong info!


As a general consideration, while I get that the site is under construction, structuring as a simple list of images and some (wrong) data probably is not the best approach: put in more text to explain the content, for example what is a "starter ship" and what should you look into it at the beginning and why? Just after this consideration you could list all the ship for a wannabe new player to be able to choose and our (your actually) suggestions.
Maybe include in the started ship page include the link to the pledge store of that ship too so that someone could jump there without need to move to RSI site and then re-search the pledge store and re-search the package that he decide to purchase. Remember you should need to have a disclaimer that you are exiting the site.

Also, "the basic" section should guide the player, page by page, to the creation of an account with the mention of the referral code that can be inserted ONLY at the account creation.
A little note about the recurring offer during IAE or Invictus should be mandatory like the mention of "free flight" events to try out the game BEFORE spend a singe dime on it.

This whole section should be way more extensive and complete: since is the starting point should have priority over other section and be done right at the beginning IMHO.

Will provide more feedback in the next days as I browse the site more.
 
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Cugino83

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This is great and valuable feedback!

The GameGuide is more of a framework, then a comprehensive library. I will be continually updating the content there and will make sure to include your feedback. ; The keybinds article is also a rought draft as best, and my plan it to generate a PDF that include the keybinds that can be sent or viewed on another device, while you are in SC.

Video content is the standard now-a-days I know, but like you said it's so hard to keep up to date when things change constantly.
Doc, for the Key binding why not use what CIG already provided?
The default key image in-game is great and for the list of command why not simply export the configuration? It came out as an xml file and it's easy to adapt it to a web page.
this will also provide some benefit:
- you'll have a complete list of all the command
- updating it will be much simpler

Plus since the default key bind are a bit crappy with similar command spread trough different key depending on the situation (ship, vehicles, FPS), you could provide an "optimized" configuration to download and the instruction to load and use in-game.
For an example of what I mean as spread out bind looks at the toggle light command, or the position of change "fire mode" and "wipe helmet" (hint I set mine to "X" and "B" respectfully, with no ALT, CTRL etc...)
 

Ayeteeone

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Thank you for all the feedback! I'm not a web developer so I'm learning on the fly. I built alot of the guides in Notepad, and tried to convert them to markdown, with varying degrees of success. :)
If you want to stay simple but with genuinely useful features, get Notepad++. Cannot recommend highly enough!
 
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