Ok, so the thread title is a bit shit, but I don't really know what to call the software that I'm looking for (which makes it rather difficult to search for). So to better explain I'll give a hypothetical example of what I may want to use it for.

Say I'm working on a game design, not so much the mechanics, more the setting and background and style of the world, etc. And I could have a bunch of stuff used for reference or inspiration, everything from pictures found on the net, to music, to notes and documents. And I want something that lets me organise all this stuff in some kind of meaningful way, like things which relate to the technology of the world in one place, things which relate to society in another, etc. And I want it all to be able to be displayed like all on screen together so if I go to the "technology" section I get a page that shows all the images, has notes in appropriate places, links to documents, music, etc. So I don't want to just organise files and list file names I want the actual stuff itself to be displayed in some kind of meaningful way.

So yeah, a bit vague I know, but tbh I don't really know what I'm even looking for, I just want something that will let me throw all this stuff up on the screen at once and just mess around with it and kind of brainstorm with it I guess, but then have it all recorded so I can come back later and know where the process was at and continue on.

Scrivener is a program for writers, but its like a management system for notes, documents, web pages, videos, audio files etc. it's more focused on a writing/literary type project, but it might work for you because you're collating information for a game world, much the same as someone who was writing a novel would?

this explains it a bit betterScrivener Wiki

http://www.evernote.com/ and http://www.mindnode.com/ come to mind.

My advice would be don't try find one app that does it all - maybe a combination of a mindmapping tool and some asset/file organisation will help you keep track of your process. good luck!

We used some project management thing for programming at tafe (or maybe school) that sounds like what you're after. Fucked if I know what it was called. I'll see if I can remember when I get home.

Sweet, I wasn't expecting so many good suggestions from my vague wishy-washy OP :P

Yeah, its not really project management or asset management I need (at least not at this point), more of a brainstorming thing and a way to organise all the random shit flying round in my head, and then using images or whatever I find as reference to help reinforce those ideas.

Scrivener and Evernote both look good, I'll be checking them out. Free is better than stuff I have to pay for, since this isn't for work, this is for my own personal use.

And good call thermite, Pinterest was the site I have been trying to remember. I saw it featured somewhere months ago but didn't need it at the time, and I've been trying to remember the past few days wtf the site was.

+1 to onenote

Oh and I forgot to mention, that you can then export the Mindmap out to a word document where it will use all your work as hierarchical headings (for doing a document up), which you can then drop the outline of to Powerpoint.

You can also out put it to an SVG then you InkScape and Sozi to create Prezi style presentations. Or JessyInk can do it to I think.

Or export to HTML.

I was kind of half joking when I suggested Pinterest. But I use it for collecting and organising ideas for interior design, and other house & garden type stuff. It has shortcomings in that it only supports pictures on webpages, and doesn't work at all on Android. But they're fairly new and still getting set up. They've recently set up an office in Palo Alto, started hiring staff, and are refusing to speak to media until they sort their shit out, so that's a good sign it will get better.

Khel, you need a Pinterest account.

Haha I lol'd. Pick up a mum while you're there to boot!

I wish I knew what I used about 5 years ago - it was excellent. More geared towards managing textures and 3D models, with a model viewer that allowed you just to look and rotate textured models. I'll see if I can work out what the bastard was called.

Evernote is awesome, exactly what I need at this point. It lets me dump out random ideas and snag cool stuff off the web as I find it and then group it all together and categorise it, which is really all I need atm.

When I get past that initial brain-dump phase and want to start making connections I'll grab one of the mind map apps, and Scrivener looks like a fantastic tool once you're actually at the point of building up a narrative. Got myself a nice little suite of tools for all occasions now, QGL delivers the goods yet again.