Version 11's Liva Alpha - Build #24!

Just a quick heads-up - the 24th build of PlutoLighthouse.NET's Version 11 Alpha is up and looks tons better. I made some minor graphical updates to the template/theme of the Portal and a kind of "construction" page is up for the Scrapbook and Portfolio so you can see the new themes.

For all intents and purposes, the Portal is basically done. The only thing left to do is a full, final review of all text on the Portal to make sure there aren't any glaring spelling, grammatical, or other errors and fix 'em if there are.

Here's the link to the Portal, again, and the Small Fixes update as well in case you want to keep-up with the progress. I've also posted links to the two constructions pages for the Scrapbook and Portfolio so I hope you enjoy. :)

Portal (95% Complete)
http://plutolighthouse.net/portal/
Small-Fixes Log (for Build #24)
http://plutolighthouse.net/portal/index.php?page=updates&sub=viewer&postcode=small_fixes_log_-_v11_alpha_24

Scrapbook (Placeholder)
http://scrapbook.plutolighthouse.net/

Portfolio (Placeholder)
http://portfolio.plutolighthouse.net/

-Age

Small Fixes Logs (V11 Alpha Build #23)

I've decided to keep a small log of all the changes I do as I do them. I didn't think they deserved an entire post each, but at least this way you can keep up with the small changes in my progress. You can catch-wind of new features as they're added here as well. Just check the log for the specific build every so often until a new build is uploaded and a new log released.

Small Fixes Log (Build #23)

If nothing else, this should give you the perfect excuse to test my new comments system. ^_^

-Age

PlutoLighthouse.NET Portal - Version 11 Live Alpha

I wont apologize for a lack-of-posts, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record - needless to say life has been very busy lately and I've had very little personal and/or posting time to speak of.

That out of the way, I've decided to post what I've done so far in kind of a live "Open Alpha". The Portal is not done, of course, and it still needs a lot of work, but I've redone the entire engine/structure/layout that all sites on the PlutoLighthouse.NET umbrella will run under and this is the first candidate utilizing the new framework. The goal is to keep this "LighthouseNET Framework" for a few years at the least and continuously improve and refine the coding. I'd like it if you could take a look at the PlutoLighthouse.NET Portal (Alpha Build #21 #22 #23 #24) and let me know what you think. What you like/dislike about the whole thing and what works and what doesn't.

NOTICE : The Scrapbook and Portfolio links will not work yet as they are password protected - I will eventually open these up when I know they are secure, but for now they're inacessible.

Certain things I'd like in particular to be looked at are listed below - parts of the site that I'm particularily proud of and I'd like some comments/crit on;

• the breadcrumb-like link-trail I've created under the menu
• the new, simple menu at the top & bottom of the page
• the coding! take a look at my HTML source code - for a website built exclusively from PHP, I'm very proud of how clean the source-code has come out (note : I realize indenting source code makes it easier to read and modify and rest-assured, the PHP source code is very nicely modualized and properly indented - the HTML is output without indents as it's the most effecient means of keeping the code clean)
• the HTML itself is 100% compliant to HTML 4.01 specifications and every page validates against the W3's HTML validator - check if the site's HTML validates yourself (you can also check any other page on the portal)
  
• the CSS has also been 100% validated - check the CSS validation
• the speed for page loading has been greatly increased due to all the code and design improvements - there may not be much there now, but you should already see a significant different in the speed to load the page

The rest of the pages (Links, for example) as well as the rest of the content for existing pages (the rest of the version history in the About the Website page for example) will be added as they are completed, so look forward to more as time goes on.

Lastly, this entire Portal site was developed using a personally-coded Admin Panel that I created for myself. The Admin Panel obviously can't be shown due to security reasons, but I'll work on getting some screenshots and a walkthrough for what it's capable of in the future. For now that, please let me know what you think about the Portal - I'm excited to finally be making some ground, even if it is at a very slow pace. ^_^

-Age

UPDATE : An incomplete but still functional Links page (and subpages) have been added to the Live Alpha for your viewing pleasure. ^_^

UPDATE2 : The 'Links' page and it's subpages have both been completed now and now appear as they will when the site goes live for real. I've also added to the 'Disclaimer' page and done some minor-tweaks to the 'Home' page and some misc. coding. Let me know what you think. :D

Hallow Man (Powered Up) Redesign

Dear Blog,

Hello again! Sorry I haven't posted in you for a few weeks, I had a run of crazy schedules for a while, but I'm back now (for a bit). I've been working on something in what little spare time I have and I thought I'd show you. I know you're just a web-application, but hopefully you can see the beauty of my work (lol).

Anyway, I've been working on redesigning the Hallow Man character I created a few years back for my MegaMan Powered Up TCG. He was okay before I guess (quite a lot of people seemed to like him), but I think he was a little half-assed as far as his design and artwork goes. Granted, there were a small few other Mega Man fans who noticed his lack-of awesomeness as well, so I had always planned on redoing him anyway - now I finally have! Well, I started redoing him at least.

FirstDraft Hallow Man Powered Up (II)


I'm posting the initial doodle/sketch (above) and then the refined illustration (below). They're both on lined paper, so not exactly professional quality, but they do look kinda cool. I've already started on his full-colour CGed version. I'll post that too once it's done. Hope you like them!

Second Draft Hallow Man Powered Up (II)


-Age

Drill Man Doodle

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry for not posting in you very often. I've been very busy with work and life in general and have had very little time for artwork, posting, or pretty much anything else. I still love you though! I promise! Things will get better once my life gets on track again...

I doodled a picture today, while I was on a call with an annoying customer. It's not that good, but I think it's cute so I'm posting it on you. Hope you like Drill Man! He might not be 100% accurate, but he's still pretty damn adorable! :)

Until next time,
-Age