Asset Manager v1 now available
by Jules · 01/27/2009 (4:02 pm) · 16 comments
Asset Manager v1 now available
NEWS UPDATE 17TH AUGUST 2010: NEW VERSION OF ASSET MANAGER WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON! FREE UPDATE FOR THOSE WHO PURCHASED IT AT THE EA PRICE.
One of the biggest problems with developing a game is keeping track of the artwork you have purchased and the artwork you have produced yourself. Especially when you have several team members working collectively. Many of you have purchased content packs, hired artists and developers to create art/code for your game and you need one place to keep track of it all, rather than writing it all down on bits of paper, in documents, saving files here and there you can easily lose site of who owns what pack. This could leave you open to breaking licencing terms and conditions.
We've developed Asset Manager to keep track of the artwork that is bought and produced, searchable by various means and easily managed.
Features:
Login Area with MD5 encrypted passwords
Groups - Create groups as owners of artwork assets
Owners - Specify the owners of artwork assets
Locations - Specify a location of the asset (geographically or on a hard disk/server, so you know where they are kept)
Teams - Add teams allocated to each asset
Users - Add users allowed to enter add/edit/update records
Artwork Assets - Keep track of your artwork assets for each team/area of your game.
Code Assets - Keep track of your code assets for future reference
Licences - Keep Track of your licence agreements for each asset
Thumbnails of your art assets within searches.
Full Screen Image Preview of your art assets (based on image size).
Requirements:
PHP5, MySQL 5 - via a web server or installed locally.
This is just version 1.0 - we'll be listening to your requirements for future versions that will help you to keep track or increase your productivity by knowing what assets you do have! You could have bought a pack, and you forgot what was in it.
Asset Manager v1 is not a file repository. Its main purpose is for referencing code and art packs you have created or bought by taking screenshots. Ideal, if you have a few hundred assets to keep track of. You can then search for these assets by name, find out where they are located on your network, team, or geographical location with ease.
Our website is currently being updated at www.something2play.com but if you drop me your email address to helpdesk (at) something2play (dot) (com) then I will let you know when it's up and running next week, so you can order. Alternatively, if you want it within the next day or so we can arrange payment via Pay Pal. If you are no techy we can also provide an installation service (free of charge), as it requires a mysql database to be created, then ftp to copy the files to your php web server. A non editable demo will also be available on our website once we launch.
NEWS UPDATE 17TH AUGUST 2010: NEW VERSION OF ASSET MANAGER WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON! FREE UPDATE FOR THOSE WHO PURCHASED IT AT THE EA PRICE.
One of the biggest problems with developing a game is keeping track of the artwork you have purchased and the artwork you have produced yourself. Especially when you have several team members working collectively. Many of you have purchased content packs, hired artists and developers to create art/code for your game and you need one place to keep track of it all, rather than writing it all down on bits of paper, in documents, saving files here and there you can easily lose site of who owns what pack. This could leave you open to breaking licencing terms and conditions.
We've developed Asset Manager to keep track of the artwork that is bought and produced, searchable by various means and easily managed.
Features:
Login Area with MD5 encrypted passwords
Groups - Create groups as owners of artwork assets
Owners - Specify the owners of artwork assets
Locations - Specify a location of the asset (geographically or on a hard disk/server, so you know where they are kept)
Teams - Add teams allocated to each asset
Users - Add users allowed to enter add/edit/update records
Artwork Assets - Keep track of your artwork assets for each team/area of your game.
Code Assets - Keep track of your code assets for future reference
Licences - Keep Track of your licence agreements for each asset
Thumbnails of your art assets within searches.
Full Screen Image Preview of your art assets (based on image size).
Requirements:
PHP5, MySQL 5 - via a web server or installed locally.
This is just version 1.0 - we'll be listening to your requirements for future versions that will help you to keep track or increase your productivity by knowing what assets you do have! You could have bought a pack, and you forgot what was in it.
Asset Manager v1 is not a file repository. Its main purpose is for referencing code and art packs you have created or bought by taking screenshots. Ideal, if you have a few hundred assets to keep track of. You can then search for these assets by name, find out where they are located on your network, team, or geographical location with ease.
Our website is currently being updated at www.something2play.com but if you drop me your email address to helpdesk (at) something2play (dot) (com) then I will let you know when it's up and running next week, so you can order. Alternatively, if you want it within the next day or so we can arrange payment via Pay Pal. If you are no techy we can also provide an installation service (free of charge), as it requires a mysql database to be created, then ftp to copy the files to your php web server. A non editable demo will also be available on our website once we launch.
#2
01/27/2009 (4:36 pm)
yeah, sorry Brandon. I'm sure I replied... worth checking your spam filter.. since I changed hosts my email is going awol. I'll reply again tomorrow, in case it was a glitch. I created the asset manager after I found it difficult to keep track of what I had and did not have art wise, even though I had been fairly organised with the file structure by stating if it was a pack created by someone else and what the licence was for. The main reason was to be more productive in finding out what art asset could be used in which mission and keep the art pipeline consistent throughout, grouping them together into their own categories. Keeping the cost low on this, as if it saves a developer/team countless hours then it has served its purpose time and time again! Time for some Zzzs... 
#3
on this Asset Manager is there a way to change the color of the tabs and stuff might be good for the next version. though i would think we could just edit the tab img's that you used to make custom layouts. i like the color though that it is now but i some times custom the look of my pc so i would like to be able to custom this programs looks to pit the looks of my pc.
01/27/2009 (4:52 pm)
well that personal email is fairly new i don't get any spam as of yet. i added you to contacts as well so you should always go in inbox.on this Asset Manager is there a way to change the color of the tabs and stuff might be good for the next version. though i would think we could just edit the tab img's that you used to make custom layouts. i like the color though that it is now but i some times custom the look of my pc so i would like to be able to custom this programs looks to pit the looks of my pc.
#4
(E.g. Log-in and checkout a file and you're the only one that can edit it until you checkout. This way there are no conflict issues.)
I'll be sure to keep an eye on this. :)
01/27/2009 (6:33 pm)
Have y'all considered adding a checkout feature for the assets? (E.g. Log-in and checkout a file and you're the only one that can edit it until you checkout. This way there are no conflict issues.)
I'll be sure to keep an eye on this. :)
#5
01/27/2009 (7:40 pm)
Looks impressive.! 
#6
01/27/2009 (9:08 pm)
great work, very useful stuff... 
#7
With so many game assets to track I really need an Asset Manager.
01/27/2009 (9:21 pm)
Julian, this is a great tool, and I will purchase it!With so many game assets to track I really need an Asset Manager.
#8
@Ryan - If you mean turn the asset manager into a store, it's possible. Although I'd probably release a module for a store front access with a members area to keep it simple. It would then interface with the pictures and descriptions from the asset manager, enabling you to add prices in a store admin area and a gateway to paypal. I'll keep this in mind for later. Could be useful for art studios.
@Maxim, Surge - thanks!
@John - sent you an email. I am working on installation documentation today, but happy to provide support, listen to any features you think could be useful and add them for the next update.
01/28/2009 (12:11 am)
@Brandon - Anything is possible. I can change the style, I have about 5 skins for it, but unfortunately there is no way to change them on the fly at the moment. there is a non tabbed version with a menu bar down the side if this is your preference let me know and I'll put up a screenshot. Will get back to you re your email later today... @Ryan - If you mean turn the asset manager into a store, it's possible. Although I'd probably release a module for a store front access with a members area to keep it simple. It would then interface with the pictures and descriptions from the asset manager, enabling you to add prices in a store admin area and a gateway to paypal. I'll keep this in mind for later. Could be useful for art studios.
@Maxim, Surge - thanks!
@John - sent you an email. I am working on installation documentation today, but happy to provide support, listen to any features you think could be useful and add them for the next update.
#9
01/28/2009 (12:31 am)
@Ryan - just got what you meant on the checkout - not awake yet! :) yes good idea. I'll add that to the next release so that there are no conflicts for multiple teams. Next release should be within a week or two, and will only require updating the files.
#10
01/28/2009 (12:41 am)
hmm that's even better makes it even more worth it. i think tabbed version is better thought then on the side as screens are longer from side to side not from top to bottom. i got 1 thing for my computer to keep it organized but its not made for allot of stuff its just to keep your programs in mostly. i got this program because the computer was looking like a mess. i will be buying this program as well but i in no hurry for it will wait till you release your site.
#11
Edit: anyone know where I can get a php package installer software?
01/28/2009 (3:31 am)
no worries. lots going on here, later today I'm starting work on the bolt-in modules for the asset manager, such as.. Asset Portfolio (enables you to showcase your artwork assets for client based projects using their own login details, or everything you've worked on in general). Asset Shop (create a public accessable site enabling you to sell your art assets). Asset Blog (showcase your artwork assets that you are working on, with blog entries). All up and coming. Edit: anyone know where I can get a php package installer software?
#12
01/28/2009 (9:04 am)
Visit our website for more info: www.something2play.com
#13
1.1 Records that are being edited will be locked by a user until they save their changes. This will prevent duplicate records or collisions. - thanks to Ryan for suggesting this.
1.2 Last Edited. This log shows who last edited and saved changes to the current record. So you know who to contact.
Future update change logs will be on our website once our full website has gone live.
Forgot 1.3 - Set user priviledge levels, No Access, Read Only, Add Only, Edit Only, Full Access, Admin
01/28/2009 (9:45 am)
version v1.0b is now complete and being packaged with updated documentation in a day or so - those of you who have ordered v1.0 will get an upgrade zip file and instructions to apply these changes. If you have gone for a years managed service (available on request), and you're not a web developer/techy - we'll update your site for you when a new release becomes available. We also provide web hosting if you do not have the system requirements, or space.1.1 Records that are being edited will be locked by a user until they save their changes. This will prevent duplicate records or collisions. - thanks to Ryan for suggesting this.
1.2 Last Edited. This log shows who last edited and saved changes to the current record. So you know who to contact.
Future update change logs will be on our website once our full website has gone live.
Forgot 1.3 - Set user priviledge levels, No Access, Read Only, Add Only, Edit Only, Full Access, Admin
#14
Thanks to those of you who have purchased already. v1.2.2 with some cosmetic bug fixes and a few new additional fields added. Available in the next few days.
02/01/2009 (9:04 pm)
Just to recap: FREE updates to future releases and bug fixes. We'll also listen to what you'd like added to the Asset Manager.Thanks to those of you who have purchased already. v1.2.2 with some cosmetic bug fixes and a few new additional fields added. Available in the next few days.
#15
06/24/2009 (4:17 pm)
moving hosts, so demo is down at the mo!
#16
08/17/2010 (3:24 pm)
Just an Update for those who have been following... Asset Manager v2 will be available soon, I'll be creating a blog about it real soon. 
Torque Owner Brandon Baker
World Core Studios
i sent a reply to you 2 days ago would like to know the status on that.