FFR Community Pack 4 Released!

[moches]

Originally Posted by kommisar

Did you take out the rolls in purple drank ???

nope (the only thing I touched in that file was the minefield). do they not work?

maybe there was an issue converting from .sm to .ssc ???

[moches]

hmmm. maybe it's time I switch over to SM5. I should have done it a while ago but I love Xi Black too much to make the transition

anyway, if the 3.9 -> 5 thing fucked up any files, I'm sorry : (

[intensez]

i'm glad everyone likes training mode !_!

[TheSilentLord]

Hey, pack's out at last!

It's an amazing job with this many songs, stepartists and even a ton of cool graphics.

[rant]
Although I've been having a break from stepmania, this pack really shows that i'm kinda out of my league here :P. I can't even pass any of the 10+ NPS songs here and only some of the 9s (and you can't speak about scoring here, I'm happy to get a B or sometimes A). The extensive layering most stepartists use nowadays is killing my one-handed playstyle. I should probably look for some pad files to play, in fact.
[/rant]

Anyways, there were multiple songs here which I enjoyed alot. I don't even try to write reviews but I'll mention a few of my favs:

(Antronach) At Dawn
(Gundam-Dude) Leia (Standard chart)
(Rumia) lmbo
(Puppet) Loli fishing next 20000 leagues
(Don) Luna's Tower
(Kommisar) Puyo Puyo Song Game Version (Standard chart)

[Arkuski]

I geeked out when I saw the TSwift file. It was awesome.

[foxfire667]

As promised, your pack has been mirrored on SMO indefinitely. Those wanting to download the pack from SMO may get it from this link, and know that all patches to this pack mentioned in the OP have been added to this. So this is the up to date version as of this post (further pack updates depending).

Since this is a new release, I'll give you some time to ensure everything is in order with files, and if you issue a fix I will replace the pack with fixes. Try to post something in the list of major packs v2 thread though if you do, contact with me regarding updates will ensure I get them out as soon as possible.

[bmah]

Originally Posted by stargroup100

I only don't touch the lower difficulties because it's annoying enough to play through 100 charts in one sitting when I was playtesting, and to test a chart for the same song more than twice, especially when the charts are similar, is really tiring and tedious.

Just noticed this, but I'll note to a reviewer if two charts within a file are reasonably different or are just similar watered-down versions. For instance, one of my files here is quite jacky on the hardest difficulty, but jacks are very little with a completely different feel on the difficulty below that. I figure that some people with a bias against jacks would come to like the other charts.

Generally speaking, if you didn't enjoy a file on its hardest difficulty, but it does have multiple charts, try out another one. If you liked what the hardest chart had to offer, then that's good enough, considering how you reviewed a lot of other songs. I don't always elect to represent my "best" chart on its hardest difficulty. Then again, people have different tastes, so that's why I have multiple charts after all.

[blindreper1179]

I forgot to post my review. Sorry I didn't get to all of them.

Name of song- description of file/listed in difficulty order if more than one chart. My grade for the sightread for each song at end of description.

abandon- One part with the mines where there are hands is way harder than any part of the file. A
*****
Am I a Psycho- Consistent. AA
*****
Apple butter-
begginer- Mines shouldn't be there. AAA
Light- Introduced quite a lot. Kind of j/s, Mines(if you take out from beg) and a more constant stream. Maybe cut back the j/s? AAA
Standard- Jacks don't feel like they fit the song? AAA
Heavy- Some jacks felt out of place. But the ones going to the drums/sax fit well. AA
*****
At Dawn- fun, fluid, consistent.
*****
Avril 14th- Easy as hell. Awesome song for beginners/first quad. 3p AAA (backround won't load on sm5 alpha 2)
******
Bird Sprite- /Gundam dude AA
*****
Black Liar- beginning and middleish didn't flow well with the song.
****
Boulafacet- score file. A
*****
Canary pt. III
Light- move to standard. Blackflag
heavy- Fun. AA
*****
Chain Dumbin- Inconsistent difficulty, not even including the 32nds because those are correct. I don't feel replay value either. AA
***
Club Ibuki
Begginner-Almost no difference between the two........ AA
Oni- Kawaii AA
****
Cygnus Vismund Cygnus- Not my cup of tea, but was made well. AA
****
Dacingbox-fun as shit. AA
******
Deja-vu-catchy, upbeat, fun. AA
*****
Dengeki-
Heavy- Score dump. A
Edit-DUMB AS FUC. C
**
Dirtwalker- A lot easier than expecting. Good constant flow unlike every other song like this. D: AA
*****
Dolize- Icyworld. AA
*****
Drawcia Soul-What the fuck was that. O_o A
****
Dstrukt- Played before. Fun file. AA
*****
Earth Tower Devotion- Le0nid. A
****
End of the world
Heavy- fuild. AAA
Oni- Mine theory. Explain it to me! It was like your chart for our song. If the mines make sense to you, awesome. Because they don't to me! Hard as balls at some points, and none at others... D: AA
*****
Fatal Tragedy- Dream theather. AA
*****
Final Battle vs. Satan- That was fun! AA
*****
Floating through time- Constant easy file, now that's awesome. SDP
******
FUCKING PARANOID- MADE ME FUCKING PARANOID, HOW TO HIT ARROWS. O_o C
*****
Ghosts
Heavy- fast/fun. AAA
Oni-Fun as fuck. AA
*****
Gun rock V2- Not my type of song, but the file was still fun to play. AA
*****
Hand throw- This music is running rampant over sm. AA
*****
Happy screaming night business man- fuck neros day. A
*****
I knew you were trouble- DA BES FYLE N DA GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAA LIKE 80 TIMES
************************************************************************************************************
I say don't drink that shit
Beg.- didn't even bother!
Heavy- technical dump! A
*****
ID- Why the long pause, WHY! At least follow the music with mines?
*****
Infinite Prayer- Now that's mine theory I can understand. AA
*****
Judgement Day- kind of dragged out. AA Background didn't work. (sm5 alpha 2)
****
Judgment Day-Horrible offsync. I out of all people noticed it. Arrows were way early. I'm talking half a second here. Besides that, twas fun and tricky. AA
****
Juicy
Light- Offbeat(not sync) short streams. Nice to see in an easy file. AAA
Standard- Adds just enough to make this an easy hard file. SDP
Heavy- I don't understand any of the jacks..... AAA
*****
Koi no blah blah- Kawaii. BF
*****
Lataia- Relaxing. SDG
*****
Leia
Standard- Honestly, I don't know what to say. AA
Heavy-Very obvious changes from standard. Nice. AA
*****
Lewd Violence oni- Fun bursty dodgeballin'. AA
*****
Lightning strikes again- Kommisar. AA

Lost Woods Dubstep- I know it's my song, but I feel like this is my first song that takes a song with not much going on, and gives it some umph!
*****
Satori de pon- I seriously just love this file. I love the music. They clash so well together. It's so beautiful. :')
******
Still getting it- Love dubstep. Love file. AA
*****
(I wanna give you) Devotion- Nothing wrong with the file. but the song choice..... AA
****
...In a movie- Index with some hard parts. Not that bad. AA
*****

[iCeCuBEz v2]

lol wut my file is in here rofl didnt even know

[blindreper1179]

Also, Thanks for reviewing my files guys. I appreciate it. One comment was made on lost woods that I use PR over funner patterns. That makes sense, but how should I know whether to go PR or go with a better flow? I get the pr is wrong comment on files all the time. ;_;

I know that there's going to be haters/lover for each sim but I would like to know.

[moches]

Originally Posted by Arkuski

I geeked out when I saw the TSwift file. It was awesome.

I'm glad at least one person enjoyed it ahahaha

[bender5]

Originally Posted by blindreper1179

Also, Thanks for reviewing my files guys. I appreciate it. One comment was made on lost woods that I use PR over funner patterns. That makes sense, but how should I know whether to go PR or go with a better flow? I get the pr is wrong comment on files all the time. ;_;

I know that there's going to be haters/lover for each sim but I would like to know.

I'd say any time you make a file, play it A LOT. Make sure that by the time you want it to be played by other people you're not totally sick of it and can't stand the pattern choice. Your main goal should be to create something with high replay value. Go by what feels fun.

Of course try to work in PR everywhere possible, but sometimes you need to switch up the patterns to keep the file new and exciting as the song progresses.

Lost Woods was well made, but it got a tad repetitive and a bit boring. I think you could have layered different sounds in there to spice the chart up and add a touch of trickiness to keep the player wanting to keep trying for a better score.

I dunno if this rant will help but I hope it does

[Wayward Vagabond]

lol pr comments

[moches]

Originally Posted by foxfire667

As promised, your pack has been mirrored on SMO indefinitely. Those wanting to download the pack from SMO may get it from this link, and know that all patches to this pack mentioned in the OP have been added to this. So this is the up to date version as of this post (further pack updates depending).

Since this is a new release, I'll give you some time to ensure everything is in order with files, and if you issue a fix I will replace the pack with fixes. Try to post something in the list of major packs v2 thread though if you do, contact with me regarding updates will ensure I get them out as soon as possible.

just caught this. thanks so much, dude.

as for PR/technicality: the basic principle is that how a chart FEELS matters more than how it actually IS. that is, don't sweat it too much if not every single note follows "higher notes on the right, lower notes on the left," because so long as the general flow of the chart is that way, it won't matter and most people won't nitpick it.

the exception to this is, of course, if you're stepping a solo.

guideline to stepping percussion: figure out the main melody, then if the same part repeats, switch up how you organize the patterns going to the percussion. for instance, in gamma, the same 2-measure phrase repeats quite often, but instead of just going C+P on that shit, I had phrase A and phrase B in which the melody was stepped the same but the jumps/jacks around it going to the breakbeats had different patterns. then I repeated A-B-A-B for each 8-measure section. or something.

this is really unorganized, mostly because I don't really have a guiding philosophy to it myself and a lot of my stepping is just done by trying tons of different things and seeing what works. hopefully this helps, though. just remember that Stepmania's a game at heart and, while most people won't criticize you if your file isn't technically perfect, they will criticize you if it's not fun.

[AlexDest]

stepping philosophy pffft

i just step what i feel is right to the song. too bad my half-assery likes to follow along

[stargroup100]

Originally Posted by AlexDest

stepping philosophy pffft

i just step what i feel is right to the song. too bad my half-assery likes to follow along

what "feels right" to you is an influence based on your previous experiences of playing other charts and taking techniques from them, so you do have a CHARTING philosophy you just don't actively acknowledge it

the "i just CHART what feels right" thing only works if you actually have good taste and judgment when it comes to charts and music in general. if you don't have the innate sense for it, you'll have to learn the rules and follow them

[intensez]

i think fun factor > everything

if you wanna make pr/super layered technical files just call yourself shadow_god and make sure theyre boring as hell too

[stargroup100]

Originally Posted by intensez

i think fun factor > everything

ideally, yes, but the point is that there are patterns and reasoning as to why certain charts are more appealing to others, and these techniques can be used to make your charts appeal to more people

and this doesn't even take into consideration that different people have different tastes too, so understanding what makes a particular chart appealing greatly improves your own judgment and repertoire

ffrcp4 is a great example of this. through examples and learning a lot of the techniques that makes charts appealing, a lot of people emulated previous works to incorporate into their own charts, and it resulted in a highly appealing pack that most people find to be generally successful. it not only has charts on both ends of the spectrum ("art charts" that focus more on flair and more technical scoring charts) but it manages to begin to blur the distinction between them as people get better at charting

[moches]

I think stepping's the same thing as every other art: you have to figure out the rules to play with them. If anything, I'd compare it to a language...not every orator speaks in the same cadence, but there's a set of principles that every single person draws from.

I also think, like stargroup100 said, that this is a time for different disciplines to mix and mingle.

[moches]

I would like to mention, though, that (at least personally) a lot of my current style is just a result of me messing around in the editor for hours on end...and revising the shit out of the resulting mess. So I'd continue to encourage people to be bold and inventive and try tons of things that you find awesome, just so long as the community at large continues to reason towards what works and why.