What annoys ME about the project forum!

[Skyla Doragono]

Believe me, I'm trying very hard to help turn the project discussion around, but it's not exactly the easiest thing to do.  We are going to be cracking down on project content a lot more, but it's rather difficult because all people do is bitch and whine and don't report things.  I've already gone through every single page of that section of the board looking for "hacked" posts and other things that should have been deleted, but returned because soft deletion is fucking retarded.  I don't feel like doing it again any time soon.

Remember, there ARE new rules up, and you have every right to report a project or a post if it doesn't follow those rules!  I can't stress that enough.

Also, I didn't know Elias was writing a guideline for how to make an attractive project thread.  If it's good, I may end up posting it in a sticky as well.  I hope you don't mind Elias.

In addition, there will be added rules for each individual section of the Project Discussion.  It's just getting my ass in gear and telling my mental malfunction to gtfo long enough to actually do so.

So, you know, don't bitch and whine yet.  We're slowly picking our feet up from the hole we ended up crawling into.

 

[Luminier]

Awesome, Atemu!

Can you make a new rule for 'Early Projects' that says:"If you post a thread with no information, which "Will be updated in the future!", you get the banhammer."? Pretty please!  ;D

@Availer

I see where you're coming from, when you say that the worst project threads get a lot more attention, than the good ones. I can't speak for others, but I know that I find myself at a loss for words, when there is a particularly good game topic, that doesn't have a demo. If they have a demo, then that gives me something substantial to comment on, but if not... Then if I reply, I just sound like I'm flailing.  :-X

Of course, that's just me.

 

[Anonymous]

Can you make a new rule for 'Early Projects' that says:"If you post a thread with no information, which "Will be updated in the future!", you get the banhammer."? Pretty please!

i'm pretty sure that's not allowed anyway.

 

[Luminier]

Can you make a new rule for 'Early Projects' that says:"If you post a thread with no information, which "Will be updated in the future!", you get the banhammer."? Pretty please!

i'm pretty sure that's not allowed anyway.

Yeah, I know, but the threat of a banhammer is much better, than just closing the topic.  :P

 

[Rare]

It's not a bannable offence.

It should be, but that's hardly fair.

 

[Luminier]

It's not a bannable offence.

It should be, but that's hardly fair.

I wasn't being serious. It's annoying, but not that annoying.

 

[availer]

Awesome, Atemu!

Can you make a new rule for 'Early Projects' that says:"If you post a thread with no information, which "Will be updated in the future!", you get the banhammer."? Pretty please!  ;D

@Availer

I see where you're coming from, when you say that the worst project threads get a lot more attention, than the good ones. I can't speak for others, but I know that I find myself at a loss for words, when there is a particularly good game topic, that doesn't have a demo. If they have a demo, then that gives me something substantial to comment on, but if not... Then if I reply, I just sound like I'm flailing.  :-X

Of course, that's just me.

But that's not what most people want to do? Have 30 minute Demo on the thread. Firstly that'll get peoples expectations up alot so they want more and more. Secondly people will "stealz teh ideaz" and thirdly most people will complain how short it is. Demos shouldn't be created in all honesty.

 

[Luminier]

But that's not what most people want to do? Have 30 minute Demo on the thread. Firstly that'll get peoples expectations up alot so they want more and more. Secondly people will "stealz teh ideaz" and thirdly most people will complain how short it is. Demos shouldn't be created in all honesty.

I don't see where you're coming from, here. I haven't really seen anybody "stealz teh ideaz" from a demo. If they're gonna "stealz teh ideaz", then they wouldn't wait for a demo. Even if they did, then they would just steal them from the finished game, anyway.

Demos are really a good thing. Updates with new screenshots, more info, and stuff are good, and all, but playable content is where it's at. Without any demos, some games wouldn't get enough attention.

If you're speaking from personal experience, then I'm sorry for you.

Because, I haven't seen anything like this, really.

This isn't quite on-topic, though, so I digress.

 

[Rare]

It's not a bannable offence.

It should be, but that's hardly fair.

I wasn't being serious. It's annoying, but not that annoying.

Oh, I thought you kind of were...since you kept talking about it.

Sometimes you need to let the joke die Lumface o_o.

 

[Luminier]

It's not a bannable offence.

It should be, but that's hardly fair.

I wasn't being serious. It's annoying, but not that annoying.

Oh, I thought you kind of were...since you kept talking about it.

Sometimes you need to let the joke die Lumface o_o.

Hmm? I think I said something about it, in my original post, and then I made joke. I did let it die. Then I gave it a nice grave, and held a wake.

 

[availer]

Well, I read many big RMXP or RM2k tutorials on making a post saying you shouldn't release a demo without.. 6-9hours playability, basicly at least 80%. It's not from personal experience, seeing this is my first game. And I have released a 15 minute demo to some and they really enjoyed it.

 

[Olivia]

Well, you see, Cassy, I don't like to sugar-coat my opinions, when I comment on project threads. People may say that I'm rude, or call me "dumbfuck", but I just don't think any good will come out of commenting on "Final Destiny Legends:Awakening of the Demon" with the comment "It's okay, just keep working on it, and it will be awesome! :thumb:".

In order for someone to improve,they have to fix what is wrong.

Well, to be honest, I didn't say critque was not allowed. But I did not like the comments I saw on the boards like "It sucks".
I've heard of "Needs a plot, less RTP and more custom graphics" and "Needs much improvement.", and "Work on the story" and "Project thread needs more work, look at other project threads for examples" or  "That script would be better without, or modifyed..." which is a-okay.

But come on! "It's sucks" or "I'd never even bother to download the demo" "----- feature is annoying" is not helpful, it leaves a bad impression, those comments are useful; without the blunt comments I sampled, it may be true but I think it is plain rude, even if the game only cost 5 cents. If I ever critque a project or resource, I make sure I be honest but polite about it, if I don't, I just don't comment on it.

And another point is, do 100's of all members coming in even read the rules? You can't make them all do so. Most of them just leave a project, leech some resources and leave.  ??? So yeah, i've been on a forum where you get 13 members a day asking the same damn thing...

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

@availer
What?! 6-9 hour, minimum, for demos?  Jesus, someone shoot me.
Let's face it, most demo's aren't made for the soul purpose of showing off and gaining interest, most are made for feedback as well... infact many are made simply for feedback!.  And if someone is that far in before needing any sort of feedback, then I doubt we're the best suited for the job

@Cassey,
"----- feature is annoying" is a helpful comment.  It shows an added feature is not enjoyed by that person.  It's the same as saying that a project that was too heavy on the random encounters was annoying, or the bad spelling in dialogue, etc.

While I agree we can't make them all read the rules - we can at the very least try.  We do have them for a reason, and some people put a lot of work into setting them, and enforcing them.

 

[Olivia]

@Cassey,
"----- feature is annoying" is a helpful comment.  It shows an added feature is not enjoyed by that person.  It's the same as saying that a project that was too heavy on the random encounters was annoying, or the bad spelling in dialogue, etc.

While I agree we can't make them all read the rules - we can at the very least try.  We do have them for a reason, and some people put a lot of work into setting them, and enforcing them.

Yes but just instead of saying it was annoying, you could also say why it was annoying or if the author wants to keep it, how to improve or replace it with. Like some other things.

As for rules, yes people can have them enforced, I didn't mean to say you can't enforce them.
But when someone breaks the rules from not reading them, it's either they've forgotten them, can't be arsed, or doesn't even know what rules on a forum are. haha

 

[Orachii]

Since this is a thread on bitching about bad project topics (like we have not seen these before)...

What I hate is when someone make a Demo and there stuff is good, but yet you play there demo and you see the beginning of the damn story. News flash, that is not a demo; might as well call it a Sample. A demo consist of little story shown and shows off game features. I mean if people put a lot of thought in a game and turns out to be a good idea, then atleast they could take the time and Make an Actual demo.

 

[ChaosMaxima]

What I hate, is when people misuse the early projects forum. It's a place to post ideas of your game and at least some  information about it.

I mean, something like this: "HAI im makin dis gaem an i waz wondering weather u guys wud play it???111one..."

 

[Kojo]

What I hate, is when people misuse the early projects forum. It's a place to post ideas of your game and at least some  information about it.

I mean, something like this: "HAI im makin dis gaem an i waz wondering weather u guys wud play it???111one..."

If you ever wonder about this, post some information on IRC, people there are more than willing to give you feedback, and usually (for me at least) the feedback is positive, or at least polite when they tell you that it needs some work. Also, to all those people who mercilessly rip up posts by beginners: There is a nice way, and a very mean way to say that something needs work. Unless a project thread has NO good stuff, you should give at least an equal amount of praise for the amount of criticism. That way, nobody hates you, or thinks you're a jerk.

 

[Xilef]

I find weak project posts annoying. There's a pre development topic stickied for weak project posts.
Newbies should experiment with RMXP, see what others have done and try to work to their level rather than jump in and make up their own genre which is a mix of final fantasy and winnie the pooh's rumbly tumbly adventure, then create a hybrid of Final Fantasy Mystic Quest and Halo 3 in single player.
Once they create a "Demo" of this new, daring project they upload it to some rickety host and put the link onto their thread without any screenshots, so for all we know we could be downloading some virus that displays O RLY owls all over your screen.
And another thing, "Demo" stands for "Demonstration", which Demonstrates your game and what it can do, so why do people post a demo with script errors, messy graphical rips and poor mapping as a demonstration of what they are capable of with RMXP...
Compile all that together and slap a thread title of "My Game" or "My First RMXP Game So Don't Flame Me About This" the worst thread title can be "AWESOME NEW GAME A MUST PLAY", I give that 10/10 of the annoy-ometre, if it was "Awesome new game - a must play" then I give it 7/10 on the annoy-ometre.


That's what I hate most about project threads.
And this is how I think it can be improved.

A decent thread would have a great title like: "The Final Testament RPG - v1.84b" It has the title of the game, and a version number, showing that it has been improved multiple times and that it has played loads and is professional.
Then in the thread have different section, Title, Download links, Story, Game play, Screen shots, Credits, Other Links, or the other way around, if your screen shots are the best bait for downloaders then have them under the title, then game play, then story synopsis, download, credits, other links.
And no anti-flame messages, it ASKS for flames, it demonstrates that your work gets flamed often and so is of low quality and shouldn't be looked at.


If your game is new and doesn't have much body to it compared to other RMXP projects, post your ideas here: Feedback on Predevelopment Projects

 

[availer]

Yeah, thats where 6-7 line projects should go. And also, projects that dont come up to standards should be locked and moved into a forum where the writer can edit and improve it. Your the only one who can see your project. A moderator then chooses when its the right time to move the project back to the early project or project discussion area.

 

[sixtyandaquarter]

Since this is a thread on bitching about bad project topics (like we have not seen these before)...

What I hate is when someone make a Demo and there stuff is good, but yet you play there demo and you see the beginning of the damn story. News flash, that is not a demo; might as well call it a Sample. A demo consist of little story shown and shows off game features. I mean if people put a lot of thought in a game and turns out to be a good idea, then atleast they could take the time and Make an Actual demo.

The biggest heaviest demo I ever saw - I mean, it had COMMERCIALS - was the demo for Final Fantasy 7.  Every game magazine had something mentioning it, Square promoted it, etc.  It was a demo.
It was the first half chapter or whatever of the game.

A "sample" can be anything.  A demo is a piece.  A Tech Demo is just features.
That's how it works in this day and age it seems, though once it wasn't like that.