This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://rogueinteractive.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://rogueinteractive.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Heritage Special Events - a unique solution for a unique brief

Visit the Heritage Special Events website - http://www.heritage-events.co.uk

We were asked to not only build a online e-commerce ticketing solution for their forthcoming events, but create a secure e-ticketing system allowing for customers to purchase and download their event tickets online in the form a printable PDF file. For the system to work, each ticket was required to have a unique identifier, in this case a barcode, plus the users details would be printed on ticket.

Redemption

We were then asked to create a system to redeem tickets at the event gates. The problem we faced was that each event was in varying locations, with multiple entrance points in potentially varied weather conditions, so a wi-fi network / microwave link was out of the question. Our solution was to create an online redemption interface and utilise the GPS (2G/3G) networks. We helped source multiple, industrial handheld PDA’s with both GPS connection and a built in laser barcode scanner.

The secure redemption system would scan the barcode and automatically cross reference online and update the ticket status with full telemetry. This online system would highlight potentially forgeries and copies and only allow one person into the event with that specific ticket, even if the attempt was made at multiple entrances.

A backup system

Our next challenge was a backup system, in case the mobile network failed. We first developed an offline application which downloaded the data sets from the online database, and allowed the events team to lookup using the barcode, email address or ticket ID as a reference and subsequently redeem their ticket. The data set created can then be uploaded to the online database which would update the telemetry for each ticket. To speed up this process, we were then asked to upgrade this system to integrate a barcode scanner into our offline application.

Seating

Heritage Special Events were so impressed with the web site, e-commerce and redemption system that they asked us to provide a solution to manage event seating.

We created an desktop application which allowed them to create new seating plans, allowing for specific rows, columns and walkways. The system had direct access to the online database and would, via a drag and drop system, seat customers and group bookings. We also developed a ticket printing system, which would update the online database with the seat reference position and the printable ticket with the seat number.

Our next challenge was to try and automate this system, so for version 2, we created an automated seating system which upon request would automatically seat unplaced customers, sitting all groups together without splitting across walkways and would find any potential gaps and seat smaller groups.

A few words of thanks from heritage Special Events

Dear Peter

We would like to thank you and your team for all your hard work and producing us a fantastic web site, that far exceeds our expectations.

Our initial design and concept for the site, was to produce an automatic ticketing / e-ticketing for our events business. The tickets would then be scanned on entry to our events, which then provides a complete secure entry solution. The site being built from scratch carries out some complex tasks without our customers knowing what’s going on behind the scenes. Our customers only need make some simple choices to select the products they require, then a very simple process for payment.

We have moved the goal posts several times to make more of our tasks automated. This includes a complete seating system and a barcode scanning application for our PDA scanners, which makes our job so much easier.

All of the work has been undertaken within your time estimates and at a very reasonable price.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Rogue Interactive to anyone who needs anything from a basic website to a complex bespoke system.

Once again thanks for everything you have done for us.

Kind regards

Jon Wright
Heritage Special Events Ltd

Wordiverse - adoptaword.com

Rogue Interactive were asked to create a system to display a universe of words. The words consisted of the 64,000 words within the English language, highlighting by colour key, both words available for adoption and previously adopted words by businesses, celebrities and the public alike.

The ingenious system loads a random selection of a few thousands words at a time and enables the user to float around the wordiverse using their mouse to see words people have been adopting and to find a suitable word to adopt for themselves. The system also allows the user to view the word’s definition and discover the reason why adopted words were chosen.

The wordiverse system should help I CAN’s adoptaword website, which was developed by Rogue Interactive in 2008, continue its success into 2010 by introducing a fun, dynamic and engaging way of searching through the English language.

NEW - Core3 Messenger

Core3 customers can now benefit from our most recent upgrade, Core3 Messenger.

A standalone desktop application for both PC and Mac operating systems, linked directly to your Core3 system, allowing for secure messaging between staff members within your organisation using one unified internally managed system.

feature set includes: text based messaging, file transfers, staff favourites list, online staff and new message notifications, group messaging, read receipts, quick links to recent conversations, access to historical conversations.

Find out more or download the installer now.
Core1&2 customers, contact us to arrange a bespoke installation.

New Core3 solution for children's charity in Kent, The Caldecott Foundation

Rogue Interactive are honoured to launch the new website of The Caldecott Foundation utilising their Core3 content management system.

The Caldecott Foundation’s new website provides invaluable resources for social workers looking to place a child in their care or a support worker looking for help as well as providing information to the general public and businesses on how they can help with regular donations or fund raising events.

The new website is full of information some of which includes:

• Latest news and features
• Extensive details on all of their residential care homes
• Fostering information
• How you can help with fund raising and donations
  
• Social and corporate events
• Staff recruitment section

Visit the new website at: http://www.thecaldecottfoundation.co.uk

Core3 video tutorials - Staff Access Groups

The video tutorial on Staff Access Groups has been added to our list of online tutorials as can be watched from here

Other tutorials or screencasts are:

• Adding a Gallery
• Editing your home page contents
• Adding a downloads area
• Latest News Categories and Stories
• Templated pages
• WYSIWYG pages
• Adding banners to your Core3 site

If there is one we have not done yet that you would like to see next please do get in touch with us.

Kent Cricket Club launch new Core3 website

Rogue Interactive have proudly launched the new Kent County Cricket Club website utilising their Core3 content management system.

Kent County Cricket Club have worked with Rogue Interactive for 3 generations of websites, the previous version being a Core2 product which has served the club well for some 3 years.

The new website features many of the previous systems and has some new ones as well:

• Current and former player statstics, archive and blogging
• Fixtures with full details, compettion tables and online ticket purchasing
• League Tables widgets for displaying up to date competition results
• Audio player, Video player, Social Networking, Page Printing, Page Emailing and RSS widget
• Online shopping area for tickets, events, membership and merchandise
• Latest club news, supporters news and Sky sports cricket feed
• A new self-contained online forum
• Banner management system
• Calendar events system
• Integrated weather forecast system - COMING SOON
  and much more...

Visit the new website at: http://www.kent-ccc.co.uk

A few kind words of appreciation...

I have been working with Rogue for around 5-6 years and the website we launched last week was the 3rd developed on our behalf by the company.

The previous two websites have generated over £900,000 in online income and I expect the new site to substantially improve on this. The new site has resulted in almost 100 congratulatory letters and e mail - with only one e mail expressing a preference for the old site.

As the administrator of the new site I have nothing but praise for the Core3 system which gives me virtually total control over the content of the site. I am able to provide our supporters with a far superior website, with far greater depth and numerous additional features and I am able to do this in a fraction of the time it took me to administer the previous sites.

To sum up: I have no hesitation in commending both Rogue Interactive and Core3 to you and it has been a pleasure and delight to work with Peter Blay and Gary Burfield-Wallis these past few years.

Jon Fordham FCIB
Director of Operations, Kent County Cricket Club