Over the past 5 years, I've presented findings from my online surveys in a variety of formats. I settled on The Daedalus Project as a way to quickly provide content on a standardized template. The blog format made it easy to show the details, but incredibly difficult to show the larger themes. Many who stumbled into The Daedalus Project for the first time simply got lost.
The Daedalus Gateway is an attempt to solve that problem by providing a set of short thematic primers that link to the more in-depth findings and presentations. It will be linked to prominently from The Daedalus Project when the next issue comes out. Take a look.
This is great, Nick -- thanks.
Posted by: greglas | Dec 08, 2004 at 08:48
Correction: Been looking around it awhile -- this is *really really* great.
Posted by: greglas | Dec 08, 2004 at 08:55
Gawd. [mouth hanging open]
I see the future. When academics and pundits have some web-development skills, this kind of awesome, informative, intuitive site will be commonplace. But today, it's a gem.
It's especially good I think for pointing anyone who is a little more than new to the space. They know about MMORPGs, but are wondering what's going on, at a deeper level. They're interested in data, too, not speculation and conjecture. (That's what we do here!)
Now we need a basic "Intro to Virtual Worlds" site, a VW 101 to accompany Nick's outstanding VW 201 site.
Posted by: Edward Castronova | Dec 08, 2004 at 10:29
Nick, what programs did you use to build the pages & graphics?
Not everyone knows, btw, that Nick programs cool Flash and Java eye-candy widgets when he isn't doing pathbreaking MMOG research. See, e.g., Firefly Sanctuary and Circular Logic.
Posted by: greglas | Dec 08, 2004 at 10:48
Very very nice. I'm really happy that the raw data has been given some interpretive context, and in such a pretty-looking format too. =)
Thanks!
Posted by: Aaron Kurtz | Dec 08, 2004 at 12:35
You had me at hello.
Wonderful job, Nick!
Posted by: Will Leverett | Dec 08, 2004 at 12:41
Wonderful!
Posted by: Raph | Dec 08, 2004 at 12:43
This looks fantastic, Nick!
Posted by: Aaron | Dec 08, 2004 at 13:39
Thanks for all the positive feedback.
Greg - I use Photoshop for the graphics, Imageready for slicing them up for the web, and Dreamweaver for putting it together in a template.
Posted by: Nick Yee | Dec 08, 2004 at 15:42
Great site, Nick. Thanks for sharing. The gateway is very helpful indeed and it's a beautiful design.
Ted wrote: Now we need a basic "Intro to Virtual Worlds" site, a VW 101 to accompany Nick's outstanding VW 201 site.
Great idea! Maybe someone will build one! ;) I know, I know, you probably want one that's includes more of the traditional RPG type of virtual worlds. I'm working on that for 2005.
Posted by: Betsy Book | Dec 08, 2004 at 19:24
Great site - Nick, have you ever done any spatially based population dynamics studies using e.g. geographical coordinates? In biology, we do a lot of studies of communities and their interactions, and I have been thinking about whether these survey/analysis methods could be introduced in the online environment. however, most are based on geographical coordinates (as basis for tracking sampling), and I have been uncertain about whether this exists in online world - i.e. the ability to track individuals spatially (tag them). Also, unlike fish and mussels, I guess we cannot sample players and put them in formalin ;-)
Posted by: Anders Tychsen | Dec 08, 2004 at 20:03
Betsy> Great idea! Maybe someone will build one! ;) I know, I know, you probably want one that's includes more of the traditional RPG type of virtual worlds. I'm working on that for 2005.
Yes, exactly. I was thinking, "something like VWR but including all the D&D worlds too."
Look for it in the new year, I guess, eh?
Posted by: Edward Castronova | Dec 08, 2004 at 21:29
Yes, hopefully the upcoming holidays will give me time to make a few of the changes I've been planning, which include not only expanding the list of worlds but also providing information like a basic timeline of world launch dates and a list of academic institutions that offer programs encouraging the study of virtual worlds. Right now the site does a pretty good job of directing newbies to various worlds that interest them. But it also would be great to have one organized list of programs to direct students who are interested in starting to study vw's or who want to continue their work in a post-grad program.
I'd like to hear what else folks think would make a good addition to a "VW 101" site.
Let me know if you have any thoughts on the matter.
Sorry Nick - didn't mean to hijack your thread. Everyone please return to marveling at Nick's l33t web skillz now :)
Posted by: Betsy Book | Dec 12, 2004 at 10:21
http://craps.cnt-group.com > http://craps.cnt-group.com
http://craps.cnt-group.com > craps
Posted by: | Aug 07, 2005 at 05:47