So we have all heard about the addon WIM (WoW Instant Messenger).... When someone whispers you it will pop that whisper up in a seperate window, making it much easier to read and to seperate different whispers when holding multiple personal conversations with people. Thing is... Thats all it is, its not an instant messenger, its a chat handler in all honesty. You could do the same thing almost by making a new chat pane that handled whispers only and you would be just as well off.
My idea is to take this addon and completely out-do it... Make a real instant messenger addon. Make it so that it will pull all your friends off your social friends pane and throw them into a new window like a real instant messaging program. Allow it to add new friends, remove old friends, change your away status (AFK or DND) with messages to match all statuses, seperate window whisper chatting (similar to the current WIM addon out there right now), and finally allow mass chatting with 2 or more people with the same addon with inviting to chat rooms base on in-game chat channels.
I would honestly develop this addon myself if I had even the slightest knowledge past the base tutorials and development websites out there currently. As well I would need a much better understanding than I currently do of any programming. I think having an addon like this will take the development of PuG'ing, friends, and guildie communication to a completely new level. I hope I will see an addon based on this idea in the future. Anyways, thanks to any author that takes this into consideration...
A "real instant messenger" addon requires a central server that manages a list of everyone online/offline. Since there isn't a server that we can use, such an addon isn't possible or feasible to do because the players themselves would have to be the servers (either centralized on one online person or decentralized onto many players), each of who can go online/offline at any time.
Not to mention a player on an ignore list can't receive addon messages and that hinders players being a possible server.
Never understood the need for this given whispers and private channels. If you really wanna chat online, hop on AIM/MSN/GTalk/Y!/Skype/ICQ/IRC/XMPP/etc/etc/etc and use that.
While it won't create custom channels for group chat, I suggest trying out a friends/guild display like FriendsFu or PicoFriends, etc, etc. SLDataText has one, too. This will let you see who's online and select them for a whisper without having to open the social window.
A "real instant messenger" addon requires a central server that manages a list of everyone online/offline. Since there isn't a server that we can use, such an addon isn't possible or feasible to do because the players themselves would have to be the servers (either centralized on one online person or decentralized onto many players), each of who can go online/offline at any time.
Not to mention a player on an ignore list can't receive addon messages and that hinders players being a possible server.
Why would this not be possible when addons like FriendsFu exsist? I'm not saying create an addon that will allow you to make a completely new list of friends. Rather to use the actual friend's list that is already in game and basically recustomize the entire friends/ignore list pane. Now yes, being able to make yourself "invisible" that most instant messenger use would be kinda out there, or even allowing it access to other actual instant messenging programs would be far too much... But just taking the friendsfu addon, seperating it from the FuBar, giving it a set of +/- signs to add and remove friends would be almost EXACTLY what I am talking about...
When someone whispers you it will pop that whisper up in a seperate window, making it much easier to read and to seperate different whispers when holding multiple personal conversations with people. Thing is... Thats all it is, its not an instant messenger, its a chat handler in all honesty. You could do the same thing almost by making a new chat pane that handled whispers only and you would be just as well off.
Why would this not be possible when addons like FriendsFu exsist? I'm not saying create an addon that will allow you to make a completely new list of friends. Rather to use the actual friend's list that is already in game and basically recustomize the entire friends/ignore list pane. Now yes, being able to make yourself "invisible" that most instant messenger use would be kinda out there, or even allowing it access to other actual instant messenging programs would be far too much... But just taking the friendsfu addon, seperating it from the FuBar, giving it a set of +/- signs to add and remove friends would be almost EXACTLY what I am talking about...
Thing is... Thats all it is, its not an instant messenger, its a glorified friends list in all honesty.
Ok, I apologize for stating an addon idea in the AddOn Ideas forum... Please do not dismiss this as a foolish idea, because all I wanted was to provide an idea to something that I would like to see in-game... Even if it is a glorified friend's list, there are many addons out there that provide the same exact glorification for other already provided in-game utilities...
Idea provided, I would like to see something like this done, but if it no one ever takes up this addon idea, it isn't going to scar me for life...
Don't take it personally. Most of the criticism in this thread was actually constructive and would be extremely helpful to any author who wanted to develop the kind of addon you describe.
Have you ever used Trillian or Astra?
The minimalist layout would be fairly small screen space and show the indicator icons for online/offline status.
I think I misread what he originally wanted, as in a list of people on the list that are online/offline, not just a messenger tool, but a status tool as well.
I have found myself wanton to know at a glance who is online.
While Friend/Guid Fu may work well for others, i found myself wanton for something of this sort.
So to that end i've started the basics and ugly parts of it's UI & in need of ideas for Layout & how it should look & feel :)
So here is the basic setup of what I would like to honestly see from this... This is just basic, but I guess it can give you the Layout... The look and feel... Honestly I am sure that anything you come up with, even a basic black 50% opacity window would do... Maybe even (later on of course) make it so that you can skin the window itself...
What I'm trying to say is, that picture you made ... well go compare it with Blizzard's default UI's friends list.
Exactly the same, minus the smiley online/offline face, and the status message.
This is true, however it's a big bulky window that some might not want to deal with.
As for the addon, i have the basics for the scrolling frame and the updates to buttons n' such.. Just populating that window is proving to be the difficult part.
What I'm trying to say is, that picture you made ... well go compare it with Blizzard's default UI's friends list.
Exactly the same, minus the smiley online/offline face, and the status message.
... Ok, honestly, at this point... If there was a way to ignore people on forums like you can in-game... You would be on my list... Bagnon does exactly the same thing as a bag addon, but provides a new function and putting it all together... Omen3 provides exactly the same information that is already given in game except that it shows Threat Per Second... HUD's provide health bars, except in a different location and manner... Get the general clue here? Half the addons out there already provide what is ALREADY available in game, but people still use them... At this point, you are only being an ass... JUST like OrionShock said its a Bulky window, you can't move it without the assistance of another addon, and its an idea, that OBVIOUSLY someone else liked enough to pursue... I'm sure if OrionShock puts the addon out, then there will be a TON of other people that will use the addon as well... How do I know? Cause well, in all honesty, you don't need an addon to capture your whispers like WIM does, but I see about 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 players that whisper me are using WIM... Why do they use it? Cause its convenient...
Ok, now that I'm done with that, I will go ahead and go onto the next step... What about making the window minimizable? Moveable? Perhaps even putting in new status messages instead of DnD and AFK? Like, status LFG or WTB or Sell... All of these things are just ideas and I'm extremely happy that you are pursuing this even if its only a tiny pursuit..
bout the only problem with the attached, is that the names often will come up with a lot of distortion in them because they are colored and oversized i think, but i don't know how to fix it.
It's also slow, as slow as the guild roster and about as touch-ie too.
First and Foremost... I love it... Its pretty much exactly what I wanted minus a few options, but can completely handle that honestly.... Now to get to whats going on and what might need to be worked on before making this a premier addon...
I'm honestly getting no form of distortion on my end with the names at all... I'm also however running in 1920x1400 resolution. I like the status area, but its not really what was meant by this... I'm not sure if it whispers out or not, but I was either meaning to have that happen.. (The addon sends out a whisper, stating that you are currently **This status**) Secondly, there is no add/remove part in the addon, though I did notice an ignore feature available in the right click panel... I have noticed the slowness on the updating... Infact it basically doesn't update at all from what I have seen on my end... Maybe someone just needs to go offline for it to update...
Final note... I super love the addon... It makes my friends list SOOO much more manageable... I can have it up on my screen for as long as I want now, without it getting in the way... Also, another feature to look into adding... Sorting by Alphebetical Order on names, sorting by level Ascending or Descending, and sorting by Zone... Though, this is a minor feature, and I think we need to take a look into finding out how to get the friends list to update more often that what it does currently...
OH, I did notice that guildies showed up in full on this list... Was that meant to happen? If so, thats even more awesome...
... Ok, honestly, at this point... If there was a way to ignore people on forums like you can in-game... You would be on my list...
There is a way to ignore people on this forum. Click on someone's name, and select "View public profile". Underneath the name on the profile page, click on "User Lists" and select "Add to Ignore List".
Xinhuan isn't trying to attack you or your idea. He just doesn't see how it would be different than what's already in the default UI, but rather than try to explain it, you've just gotten mad and attacked him. You did make a few good points -- such as that the default friends list isn't movable -- but mainly your responses have been a bunch of rambling invective that don't exactly inspire sympathy. I don't know why Orion is taking his time to be helpful to you, but you're lucky that he is.
There is a way to ignore people on this forum. Click on someone's name, and select "View public profile". Underneath the name on the profile page, click on "User Lists" and select "Add to Ignore List".
Xinhuan isn't trying to attack you or your idea. He just doesn't see how it would be different than what's already in the default UI, but rather than try to explain it, you've just gotten mad and attacked him. You did make a few good points -- such as that the default friends list isn't movable -- but mainly your responses have been a bunch of rambling invective that don't exactly inspire sympathy. I don't know why Orion is taking his time to be helpful to you, but you're lucky that he is.
You know, you're right ... I've gone back and read a few of his posts and what has seemed like an attack on my idea to me is just a simple confusion of why I would want this addon... And though I doubt Xinhuan will come back to this post, if you do, then I would like to apologize for attacking you in the past.... As I actually have made an attack at you. From here, I would kinda like to explain why I would wanna see this addon out in public use... So here it goes...
Friend So-and-So comes Online
Guildie So-And-So comes Online
**Didn't see any of it, due to either being blocked out by trade/LFG channel/Guild Chat/Party Chat/Raid Chat**
Now with access to this addon, I can without worry of consuming too much of my screen will be able to track who comes online and ask them if they wanna hang out while raiding, just talking, or perhaps run a heroic... Without having to go to a social panel, which may bring inconvenience to myself in one way or another... Also, another reason I would like to see this addon further developed is because it can and does give an Instant Messenger feel to the game when used in conjunction with WoW Instant Messenger addon (which sticks a whisper in a seperate chat box).
As for Orion, I know I have thanked you in private message, but just incase I haven't... I would like to thank you now for taking your time and actually developing an addon that I find extremely useful... It is a wonderful addon, it really is... Thank you so much for doing this! I can't wait till you release it to the general public (whether now or in the future after further development)... And I know there will be people out there that will take as much interest in this addon as I do...
My idea is to take this addon and completely out-do it... Make a real instant messenger addon. Make it so that it will pull all your friends off your social friends pane and throw them into a new window like a real instant messaging program. Allow it to add new friends, remove old friends, change your away status (AFK or DND) with messages to match all statuses, seperate window whisper chatting (similar to the current WIM addon out there right now), and finally allow mass chatting with 2 or more people with the same addon with inviting to chat rooms base on in-game chat channels.
I would honestly develop this addon myself if I had even the slightest knowledge past the base tutorials and development websites out there currently. As well I would need a much better understanding than I currently do of any programming. I think having an addon like this will take the development of PuG'ing, friends, and guildie communication to a completely new level. I hope I will see an addon based on this idea in the future. Anyways, thanks to any author that takes this into consideration...
Thanks again,
Jarrlaxle
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Curse PremiumNot to mention a player on an ignore list can't receive addon messages and that hinders players being a possible server.
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Curse PremiumWhy would this not be possible when addons like FriendsFu exsist? I'm not saying create an addon that will allow you to make a completely new list of friends. Rather to use the actual friend's list that is already in game and basically recustomize the entire friends/ignore list pane. Now yes, being able to make yourself "invisible" that most instant messenger use would be kinda out there, or even allowing it access to other actual instant messenging programs would be far too much... But just taking the friendsfu addon, seperating it from the FuBar, giving it a set of +/- signs to add and remove friends would be almost EXACTLY what I am talking about...
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Curse PremiumThing is... Thats all it is, its not an instant messenger, its a glorified friends list in all honesty.
Idea provided, I would like to see something like this done, but if it no one ever takes up this addon idea, it isn't going to scar me for life...
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Curse PremiumWhile Friend/Guid Fu may work well for others, i found myself wanton for something of this sort.
So to that end i've started the basics and ugly parts of it's UI & in need of ideas for Layout & how it should look & feel :)
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Curse PremiumThe minimalist layout would be fairly small screen space and show the indicator icons for online/offline status.
I think I misread what he originally wanted, as in a list of people on the list that are online/offline, not just a messenger tool, but a status tool as well.
So here is the basic setup of what I would like to honestly see from this... This is just basic, but I guess it can give you the Layout... The look and feel... Honestly I am sure that anything you come up with, even a basic black 50% opacity window would do... Maybe even (later on of course) make it so that you can skin the window itself...
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Curse PremiumExactly the same, minus the smiley online/offline face, and the status message.
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Curse PremiumThis is true, however it's a big bulky window that some might not want to deal with.
As for the addon, i have the basics for the scrolling frame and the updates to buttons n' such.. Just populating that window is proving to be the difficult part.
... Ok, honestly, at this point... If there was a way to ignore people on forums like you can in-game... You would be on my list... Bagnon does exactly the same thing as a bag addon, but provides a new function and putting it all together... Omen3 provides exactly the same information that is already given in game except that it shows Threat Per Second... HUD's provide health bars, except in a different location and manner... Get the general clue here? Half the addons out there already provide what is ALREADY available in game, but people still use them... At this point, you are only being an ass... JUST like OrionShock said its a Bulky window, you can't move it without the assistance of another addon, and its an idea, that OBVIOUSLY someone else liked enough to pursue... I'm sure if OrionShock puts the addon out, then there will be a TON of other people that will use the addon as well... How do I know? Cause well, in all honesty, you don't need an addon to capture your whispers like WIM does, but I see about 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 players that whisper me are using WIM... Why do they use it? Cause its convenient...
Ok, now that I'm done with that, I will go ahead and go onto the next step... What about making the window minimizable? Moveable? Perhaps even putting in new status messages instead of DnD and AFK? Like, status LFG or WTB or Sell... All of these things are just ideas and I'm extremely happy that you are pursuing this even if its only a tiny pursuit..
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Curse Premiumbout the only problem with the attached, is that the names often will come up with a lot of distortion in them because they are colored and oversized i think, but i don't know how to fix it.
It's also slow, as slow as the guild roster and about as touch-ie too.
I'm honestly getting no form of distortion on my end with the names at all... I'm also however running in 1920x1400 resolution. I like the status area, but its not really what was meant by this... I'm not sure if it whispers out or not, but I was either meaning to have that happen.. (The addon sends out a whisper, stating that you are currently **This status**) Secondly, there is no add/remove part in the addon, though I did notice an ignore feature available in the right click panel... I have noticed the slowness on the updating... Infact it basically doesn't update at all from what I have seen on my end... Maybe someone just needs to go offline for it to update...
Final note... I super love the addon... It makes my friends list SOOO much more manageable... I can have it up on my screen for as long as I want now, without it getting in the way... Also, another feature to look into adding... Sorting by Alphebetical Order on names, sorting by level Ascending or Descending, and sorting by Zone... Though, this is a minor feature, and I think we need to take a look into finding out how to get the friends list to update more often that what it does currently...
OH, I did notice that guildies showed up in full on this list... Was that meant to happen? If so, thats even more awesome...
There is a way to ignore people on this forum. Click on someone's name, and select "View public profile". Underneath the name on the profile page, click on "User Lists" and select "Add to Ignore List".
Xinhuan isn't trying to attack you or your idea. He just doesn't see how it would be different than what's already in the default UI, but rather than try to explain it, you've just gotten mad and attacked him. You did make a few good points -- such as that the default friends list isn't movable -- but mainly your responses have been a bunch of rambling invective that don't exactly inspire sympathy. I don't know why Orion is taking his time to be helpful to you, but you're lucky that he is.
You know, you're right ... I've gone back and read a few of his posts and what has seemed like an attack on my idea to me is just a simple confusion of why I would want this addon... And though I doubt Xinhuan will come back to this post, if you do, then I would like to apologize for attacking you in the past.... As I actually have made an attack at you. From here, I would kinda like to explain why I would wanna see this addon out in public use... So here it goes...
Friend So-and-So comes Online
Guildie So-And-So comes Online
**Didn't see any of it, due to either being blocked out by trade/LFG channel/Guild Chat/Party Chat/Raid Chat**
Now with access to this addon, I can without worry of consuming too much of my screen will be able to track who comes online and ask them if they wanna hang out while raiding, just talking, or perhaps run a heroic... Without having to go to a social panel, which may bring inconvenience to myself in one way or another... Also, another reason I would like to see this addon further developed is because it can and does give an Instant Messenger feel to the game when used in conjunction with WoW Instant Messenger addon (which sticks a whisper in a seperate chat box).
As for Orion, I know I have thanked you in private message, but just incase I haven't... I would like to thank you now for taking your time and actually developing an addon that I find extremely useful... It is a wonderful addon, it really is... Thank you so much for doing this! I can't wait till you release it to the general public (whether now or in the future after further development)... And I know there will be people out there that will take as much interest in this addon as I do...