The only big difference I see on this one compared to the wikispaces, is you can't make it private. Anyone with a registered wikia account can make edits. I can make certain pages protected (so once we decide what a pattern page template can be, I can "lock" it) but on the whole, you don't have to be a "member" of the wiki to edit on it.
I don't think this is a big enough downside to not use it, but if there turns out to be problems, or people who edit without sticking to the template, etc, at least we're aware of it upfront.
Since I wasn't an admin of the old wiki, I can't download the backup of it. I also don't remember what the basic template items were.
There are two things I've been playing around with, making a Template:Pattern to use for pattern pages, and customizing the Template:Infobox to have optional pattern details fields. Check out the page for the one pattern I have created: http://spritestitch.wikia.com/wiki/Epic ... h_The_Ages
That page is a little unique, because it is linked to two pattern posts. Most pages will only have one of these Infoboxes, and associated pattern links.
The other interesting thing, it looks like images have to be hosted on their site. You can upload them, but you can't link to an image hosted here, for instance.
From that page, you can tell the format I'm picturing.
Title of pattern <links to SpriteStitch forum post with pattern files attatched, not necessarily the first post of the thread>
Created by: username of creator, or URL of source if not a SS member
Any details specific to the pattern, like where the image came from, any special materials used, etc.
Infobox featuring pattern image (if available), along with pattern details. Current details I have included in the template:
- Canvas size (in stitches; it seems unnecessary to bother calculating inches/cm, since people can use different thread count and that makes it obsolete)
- Stitch count (in case the background isn't stitched, will give a better representation of the volume of the final stitching)
- # of Colors
If there are notable completed stitchings (for Epic patterns, most likely) they can be listed here and linked, along with completed date
I know I've eliminated some things that used to be in the details, like Manufacturer, game/movie/etc, but I think that info may be better implemented with categories. I'm thinking we can have main categories, like Games, Characters, Platform (maybe?) and then subcategories beneath those for better organization. It doesn't look like there are tags in this wiki, or a tag cloud.
Please let me know if you think we need something added to this template, or changed, or any additional details to add to the Infobox. All of the details are optional, so anything you think would be useful I can add there and it can be used the creator's discretion.
Feel free to add a page to play around with it, but I would recommend against any serious editing until we have this format agreed upon and templates in place.