What's happening in here?

[justin_ator]

Originally Posted by psychoangel691

There should probably be two people who are like "site leads" that can help things keep rolling in all aspects of the site by checking in with the various groups and bringing on people as necessary. If there's two people I think there would be a better success with it because the work can be tag teamed and not just fall apart when one person gets busy with something.

+1 to this. It's a valid point, and a reasonable course of action in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Synthlight

This is proof of what I am trying to say. Get people fired up and engaged. We have to strike that balance of helping people stay here but generating new interest. It can all be done regardless of code, forum, site theme etc. I don't mean to sound like a broken record but I think that discussing this, you will see why what I am saying will work. The rest of the problems, (I don't mean to sound harsh) are either junior high style issues or problems that can fix themselves as a side effect of general inspiration.

I do think I understand what you're trying to say, but in case I don't I'll elaborate on where I am coming from.

We need to balance growing and retention, yes. But the way to doing that is action, and from a user's perspective on the site currently there is little action. So when you say "a majority of these problems can fix themselves from the general inspiration", I have to ask where the inspiration is to come from? As the user base we can definitely promote that inspiration, but when a lot of us (or maybe it is just AJ and I) feel like there is little happening in this community currently to keep us engaged and involved how can we be expected to foster inspiration and be fired up? It boils down to, in my opinion, a direction that should be established and pursued first and foremost by the staff. If the staff aren't excited about the site, how can the users be?

[Trumpet63]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

it's easily solvable with action: tell the users what's going [...]

And what happens when "what's going on" is nothing? What do we tell the users then, considering, that IS what's going on?

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

don't disorganize things by removing active users who are actually trying to be a part of the solution and not the problem

I don't get that you're concerned about things getting disorganized. How much worse could it actually be? Shake things up for a few days so we can put it back together how it needs to be.

The people who are active are in no danger of losing their positions, and it will give everyone a chance to redefine what they're willing to do, what their skills are, and what the needs of the site are.

For this to happen, we need someone (or several people) who is considered "in charge," which is something we all already agree is a main issue.

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by Synthlight

Thank you but where does this money come from? Any suggestions?

What I said to OWA:
#1 priority, fix the legal side of the site.
Turn all existing permissions to "legacy permissions"
Songs are in the game, contact me if you want them removed kind of deal. What Osu does.
Then rework the permission system to explicitly include the possibility of advertisements and microtransactions in order to pay server and development costs.
Future permissions are gained with this particular stipulation in mind.

Then, keep the game completely free to play.
But advertise, and charge for things that don't impact gameplay at all, like skins*. This is the 2010s video game business model, and it would work for FFR too.

*Anyone remember the characters that used to appear on your scorecard? Anyone realize how easy it would be to sell noteskins? Think a little.

[hi19hi19]

I laid out an entire business plan to OWA last night on Skype. What I just put above would be only the beginning.

It's clear FFR needs to change. There's plenty of opportunities and methods to keep the site alive.
Don't let it die just "because volunteers!!!"

[justin_ator]

Originally Posted by Trumpet63

And what happens when "what's going on" is nothing? What do we tell the users then, considering, that IS what's going on?

I stated this earlier but I think I should state it again:

If nothing is happening, there's two things that should take place. The first, be open on that to the community. If we know there's nothing going on, then at least there is transparency. Second thing would be to establish why there is nothing happening, and act accordingly. If it is because your lead devs are swamped with a heavy course load at Uni for a semester, evaluate the staff expectations and see if there needs to be a change. If that's not the issue, then go another route to facilitate the start of something. Have a suggestion board or something again like Zageron did a while back. Are most of the suggestions going to be jokes or impractical? Sure, but maybe there will be some good ones. Who knows?

[TC_Halogen]

Originally Posted by Trumpet63

And what happens when "what's going on" is nothing? What do we tell the users then, considering, that IS what's going on?

lmfao

"nothing's going on, what do I tell the users?"

how about you tell them that nothing's going on so that, you know... the users can tell you what you can do to improve their experience?

uh, tell users what's planned in the future? like -- ... really? you're acting as if users SHOULD be satisfied if your team is doing nothing. get real.

Originally Posted by Trumpet63

I don't get that you're concerned about things getting disorganized. How much worse could it actually be? Shake things up for a few days so we can put it back together how it needs to be.

The people who are active are in no danger of losing their positions, and it will give everyone a chance to redefine what they're willing to do, what their skills are, and what the needs of the site are.

For this to happen, we need someone (or several people) who is considered "in charge," which is something we all already agree is a main issue.

the issue that's going on has less to do with staff as a whole and the teams within them, as each team is communicating internally with one another to come with solutions to their various problems. it's not an organization issue, it's an issue with the fact that there is no communication. the teams, WHEN THEY ARE WORKING, have proven to work well, and this doesn't take too much searching to see.

even the dev's were being productive with their monthly releases.

so no, your point is completely invalid.

EDIT: hi19, I know that you talked to me privately about your particular interests but:

Originally Posted by hi19hi19

I laid out an entire business plan to OWA last night on Skype. What I just put above would be only the beginning.

It's clear FFR needs to change. There's plenty of opportunities and methods to keep the site alive.
Don't let it die just "because volunteers!!!"

the site operated quite well without this and it doesn't need money infused into it to get people going because there were people who were interested in doing things without payment that got rejected or turned away for various reasons - so please, stop trying to talk about things that are in your own interests

[_Zenith_]

I'm going to say this about FFR and my own involvement/desire for FFR.

I was attracted to the game before the community, and thus was naturally more involved with the game aspects than Events or anything else pertaining community (such as Simfiles, Developing, etc). That desire has never wavered, and neither has my own resolve to help FFR in any way shape or form that I am capable of.

I was added into the Event Staff team back last year around this time, but at that time I was incapable of not only producing content for the team, but I was rather inactive during our chats (and this lead to the accident in which I caused and was terminated for plus my inactivity). Honestly, and Psychoangel can attest to this, I tried very hard to get back on the team despite the discharge because there was a point in time that I was dedicated solely to events. I still host user-based events of my own and I'm still very much learning how to effectively be a better host/content creator when it came to events.

As of right now, I hit the skill peak of my own goals and now there is no major concern for improving at the game, however I as a person need something to fill the now-void with. I am currently working on something that I hope goes smoothly and if not then I can take it as a learning experience, but I have all of the time in the world (I literally have no real life ties to anything of importance) in which I can dedicate myself to FFR's growth and learn more about different aspects of FFR as a whole; or even rhythm gaming for that matter.

I was told by a staffed member that I most likely would never be able to be a part of staff here on FFR due to my "dishonorable discharge" from the Event Staff, but that still does not deter me from helping in any way due to my ambition to see FFR prosper because it was a major part in my life.

Sorry if this /rant displeases anyone, but we do have quite a collection of helpful, bright, and ambitious people here on FFR that would probably love to get their moment in helping FFR grow, however as it currently stands it is something that isn't high up on importance.

[Synthlight]

Originally Posted by justin_ator

I have to ask where the inspiration is to come from? As the user base we can definitely promote that inspiration, but when a lot of us (or maybe it is just AJ and I) feel like there is little happening in this community currently to keep us engaged and involved how can we be expected to foster inspiration and be fired up?

This has to come from above general staff level and then absorbed by staff and the community. I am not the solution by any means but magnify this last hour I have been involved by 7 days a week and that would make a tremendous difference.

[Synthlight]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

lmfao

"nothing's going on, what do I tell the users?"

how about you tell them that nothing's going on so that, you know... the users can tell you what you can do to improve their experience?

You don't need to tell them that nothing is going on or that things will go on in the future. You just need to involve them. "Hey, we want your input." and then build off of that.

[Synthlight]

Originally Posted by _Zenith_

and this lead to the accident in which I caused and was terminated for plus my inactivity

Can you bring me up to speed on what happened here?

[TC_Halogen]

Originally Posted by Synthlight

You don't need to tell them that nothing is going on or that things will go on in the future. You just need to involve them. "Hey, we want your input." and then build off of that.

Fair enough, but that still involves one key thing that's been missing for a while.

I don't think I or any other users need to keep mentioning the lack of communication and that's beating a dead horse at this point. It's time to take steps in the direction of repairing these issues.

EDIT: synth you're breaking forum rules stop triple posting you're going too fast aaaaaaaaaa

[psychoangel691]

Originally Posted by _Zenith_

I was told by a staffed member that I most likely would never be able to be a part of staff here on FFR due to my "dishonorable discharge" from the Event Staff.

I don't know who said this but that's not really true. There's been plenty of staff that have made mistakes, no one's perfect. Just a matter of proving yourself moreso.

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

the site operated quite well without this and it doesn't need money infused into it

Wait so you are saying the site has been operating "quite well" since it came back online? I would dispute that...


Just because we could have done a lot better with a volunteer system doesn't change the fact that, with purely volunteers, the site has never been even a tenth as busy as it reached when there was money involved.

[_Zenith_]

Originally Posted by Synthlight

Can you bring me up to speed on what happened here?

The Event Staff was hosting a Scavenger Hunt (For Halloween iirc) and due to my inactivity within the chat, I never saw the confirmation that the images were distributed within the site and I had caught one and mentioned it in Profile Chat with Zageron there.

It was entirely my own fault.

My level of inactivity was growing too sadly which never helps in a staff position.

[TC_Halogen]

Originally Posted by psychoangel691

I don't know who said this but that's not really true. There's been plenty of staff that have made mistakes, no one's perfect. Just a matter of proving yourself moreso.

ahaha...

justin_ator can vouch for this since he was the target for reasons that I cannot remember other than the fact that I was a part of a toxic Skype group and did things I shouldn't have, but I got an initial one year ban (turned into 10 days to my surprise) for being completely ridiculous. I think Dossar also got banned for that same thing, haha.

If you can prove yourself to be a useful asset and are generally responsible, stupidity like that can generally be overlooked. I definitely regret being that immature, but I mean... I certainly redeemed myself afterward with everything else.

[Synthlight]

Originally Posted by TC_Halogen

EDIT: synth you're breaking forum rules stop triple posting you're going too fast aaaaaaaaaa

I have to make up for the time I am not around!!!!

[psychoangel691]

Originally Posted by Synthlight

Can you bring me up to speed on what happened here?

He was brought on to the team on a trial basis. Prior to joining the team I let people know what the expectations are. During the time on the team he was not active in our group where we communicate and wasn't actively engaging in doing anything with the team. Then he disclosed a location for a hunt we were doing during Halloween last year.

That's the quick version.

Edit: I also removed another member who became inactive due to life things and added on a new person. The person removed knows that they're welcome back if things change.

[Synthlight]

Originally Posted by psychoangel691

Then he disclosed a location for a hunt we were doing during Halloween last year. That's the quick version.

(read all the responses regarding this situation) Yeah, people get stupid sometimes. It happens to me also. I passed on a very militant like style of protection here at the site that was leftover from the commercial days. It's good in general to "protect the brand" but maybe the sentences are a little harsh? (maybe I am ignorant?). We now have a much better method for backups than we have had in the past, which means we can always roll back if needed. I would feel differently if 10-15 salaries depended on the success of the site.

[psychoangel691]

Originally Posted by Synthlight

(read all the responses regarding this situation) Yeah, people get stupid sometimes. It happens to me also. I passed on a very militant like style of protection here at the site that was leftover from the commercial days. It's good in general to "protect the brand" but maybe the sentences are a little harsh? (maybe I am ignorant?). We now have a much better method for backups than we have had in the past, which means we can always roll back if needed. I would feel differently if 10-15 salaries depended on the success of the site.

It wasn't just about disclosing the location, he wasn't actively engaging in the group. Then there was a lot of stuff that followed that I'm not going to get into in the forums.

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by Synthlight

(read all the responses regarding this situation) Yeah, people get stupid sometimes. It happens to me also. I passed on a very militant like style of protection here at the site that was leftover from the commercial days. It's good in general to "protect the brand" but maybe the sentences are a little harsh? (maybe I am ignorant?). We now have a much better method for backups than we have had in the past, which means we can always roll back if needed. I would feel differently if 10-15 salaries depended on the success of the site.

We are operating as if there are 10 salaried positions contributing to the site.



But there aren't.



Am I really the only person who sees the massive disconnect here?