A new beginning for our SM community.

[ELRayford]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

or do what KBO does, thats having normal hosting, but it has multiplayer which runs on someone's own pc

That sounds excellent. Are you talking about the players own pc setting up a room and hosting it? OR Having a dedicated server to host MP?

[Jousway]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

That sounds excellent. Are you talking about the players own pc setting up a room and hosting it? OR Having a dedicated server to host MP?

you could do both actually, like what they do with this fighter game called Iamp an touhou fighter, they use cowcaster to use direct IP to connect to eachother, but you have the problem with ports and stuff, so you can also both connect to an server to play together.

edit: but in the end it still needs to send the infomation, but if the goal of the server is to only to get the infomation a load of bandwidth will be free so more people can use it, like it only needs to receive infomation, so if someone makes an little program on your pc, so that when you go on sm and connect to localhost or 127.0.0.1, you connect to your self and every song you play will send infomation to the website, which will get the infomation and add it to your score, ofcourse there needs to be some kind of IP check that makes sure you are the one playing and not someone else, also an extra server for people that can connect with the same functions as the client one aside people wouldnt have to run an extra program on their pc incase they have port isues or an bad computer or something

[dAnceguy117]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

People nowadays care only about technique, sometimes forgetting fun factor

ahaha the nostalgia here is overwhelming. I agree completely. you always need to remember you're playing a game, and that it needs to be enjoyable for the end user. imo, though, the best way to cater to a large community would be to have a lot of variation. some players would actually rather play the super technical stuff. it's dangerous to assume that there's any one way to generate the highest level of "fun."

With a new forum, and step authors "teaching" their techniques to other people (like I said before), more people would be interested in stepping, bringing to life new styles and bringing more and more people to play Stepmania.

definitely a cool idea. again, just gotta be careful that new creators aren't encouraged or pressured to follow in anyone's footsteps, or you're right back where you started. I think there should be less focus on sharing techniques and more on sharing resources. DDReam sounded like an amazing tool, is it still being spread around? also useful would be links to sites with free music, and maybe a site with a community that would be eager to make graphics for new simfiles... just brainstorming here. it would be cool to see less talk about HOW to step something and more talk about WHAT everyone can utilize to produce their own creative ideas.

Playing wise, the community is getting close and has a kinda low number of active players. I can make a list with like 30 players, while there must be a hundred or even two out there.

30? ouch. centralizing everything and getting a fresh start is, well, a good start. aside from setting things up to be as welcoming as possible, though, are there any plans to spread the word? there are a lot of people out there who would be very receptive to a free game with as much potential as we all know stepmania to be.

[ddrxero64]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

yikes. here's my generic take on some of those issues.

motivation/commitment: those are effects rather than causes, imo. a thriving community will keep contributors coming back.

exclusiveness/elitism: pretty hard to make this problem disappear. every community will have its standards. diversity of notechart style, skill level, etc. should be encouraged, but it's tough to actually mandate this kind of thing.

abuse of power: sounds interesting. can I get an example? haha.

Of course. I stated the issues, not said they could all be solved. But it's just a list I made in 20 seconds.

You wanted some examples for abuse of power. Well to me it all boils down to not putting your personal grudges into your decisions. Abuse of power can be broken down to two things. Giving advantages to someone or going soft on someone.

Giving unfair advantage (within reason): You have a friend who recently joined. You're a moderator on a site, and you see someone trolling your friend on the forum. He gets upset because he doesn't know how to behave on a forum and how to handle troll posts, so he asks you to delete it. Would you? Have you done it for someone else?

Of course, sometimes these advantages are just for fun. So practical reasoning and common sense has to come into play. If your friend owns an arcade and he offered you to play every machine for free, wouldn't you? It's his arcade, and he pays for everything. But if you decided to give that advantage to someone else without his permission, that's where it's wrong. Of course, let's say his son walked in and you gave him the opportunity, would he really be mad? You always have to make some informed decisions, not everything is black and white.

Going soft: Your friend joins a forum you moderate, and he makes a post he knows was inappropriate. You know if an admin sees it, they'll temp ban him for a week. Do you delete it and risk the admin seeing it in the mod logs? Would you have done it for someone you didn't like?

I don't abuse power, whether people want to believe it or not. I've made decisions that I hated, but was better for the community. As for going soft?

I just temp banned yaboy 5 minutes ago for starting a thread titled penis. Will it make me hate him? No. Should he have done it on a forum where 12 year old female vocaloid fans are browsing? hell no. I don't care if he's cool with me, I would've banned any other person. I know him enough to know he posted it purposefully. It wasn't an accident.

I've stepped down to certain things, I've accepted people I don't like into projects, I've denied friends into projects, etc. It does ruin some friendships, but if a friend will take offense to a decision made for better of a community and not a friend then...maybe they aren't a good friend? Hm...

These are all real life skills by the way.

[dAnceguy117]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

gotcha. putting the right people in power is always tricky. sounds like you're a good candidate for a new forum

[Sky Kitten]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

Totally in for this.

[i love you]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

Count me in. I'll be willing to help in anyway for this.

[ddrxero64]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

gotcha. putting the right people in power is always tricky. sounds like you're a good candidate for a new forum

Nope. I told Staiain already that I don't want to run a new forum. Here are my reasons why:

1) I know I could do the job fine, but it's not my place. I realize that most of these members I do not know well enough. Pretend you're in a circle, and the more closer you are to the center the more you are well known and the more you know the "circle" of members. I just don't agree with taking a position that could ultimately be the downfall of a potential new community. Why?

2) Some people who support this community don't support me. While I agree this is childish, the fact remains. So if I were to run a forum like this, that would lead to less if not no support from those who support this idea but dislike me. Looking at the pros and cons, this community, if successful, would get more support from the majority of active members between all the notable SM communities. I know SMO members way more than I know FFR members, and I've come to notice that many SMO members don't come to FFR, and vice versa. I support this idea, but I will not run it. My involvement could ultimately be the reason it fails. It's ridiculously pathetic, but true.

3) I'm working somewhat on a site of my own. I traveled to Boston with little to no money in search of support for my idea. QED's panel wasn't brought to my attention until I sat in the food court reading the Anime Boston pamphlet. I saw it there, and then I decided to to go. I did my research, and even met an OD (ex?) regular from the days of OD 5 Mix submissions. He told me what he knew and saw, and said nowadays he's more of an observer. I can not remember his name for the sake of my life, but "haru" was somewhere in it (username). If this helps, he was cross dressing as an anime schoolgirl. Yes, no comment.

I became very lucky on my 20 minute subway ride back to my motel. 12 o clock midnight, and there was 5 minutes until I reached my destination. Small talk was spurred with a nearby subway rider/passenger/idontknowatall/goer as usual, because I tend to be very extraverted. A woman with her husband who was coming back from Bruins game. Talked about Boston and how I liked it. Went from that to why I was there (Anime Boston). Went from that to me telling a story about how I met a One Piece fan who ran his own panel for the first time and how he was nervous about speaking. Then I said something about how I tend to speak well in front of crowds though I'm usually a nervous wreck, and how I spoke to an elementary school class (5th grade).

**IMPORTANT SECTION**

She started talking about how she works for a technology company that has workshops and camps teaching kids (age group not specified, checked the site and its legit) website design, 3D Animation, graphics work, etc. I took advantage and gave her a little bit more depth to why I was REALLY at Anime Boston. Very open minded woman, and when I asked her for a business card she was happy to hand it to me. It was her company card, with the email she shares with her husband (who was there, sleeping? I don't know, exciting bruins game haha). She was hoping I'd email her with more details, it was only 2 minutes I spent talking to her.

My hopes are to create a new site that features something SMO has never gotten. And when I say it in that sense I mean it. This project of mine has a mission to reunite and revive rhythm gaming communities.

I do not and will not ever compare myself to Synthlight. I can stand by my decision and say he is the first person to ever create a success online rhythm gaming community back in 2002. After reading his post that was made when this was back up, I realized how much he did for this site, and how it bit him in the ass. He went into debt, skipped mortage payments, payed people out of his pocket (much like SMO.eu's admin does, he's payed for the server since 2007, the first two years having a grand total amount of members less than 200 iirc), and refused 5,000,000 dollars to keep control of FFR. Why? I'm sure because it would no doubt have become mainstream, or in essence, like Konami and DDR, who now listen to investors rather than the fan base itself. Even then, I've put myself in debt, have done things ridiculously out of my way in real life (going to Boston with limited money and barely any food is no joke), and have overall ruined most of my life trying to revive this community.

To put it simple, it's because I enjoy rhythm gaming. As a child who was ignored, left behind by his father, and misunderstood due to Tourette's, I owe a lot to music and gaming. Music being my appreciation, gaming being my passion. I enjoy gaming more because of the people it has introduced me too. If shooting games were friendly, I'd probably be there too. I don't need to spill my life here, and if I did it would be dark times for some people here. It can always be worse, I could have been a starving child in Africa, but with that mindset you undermine the pain someone endures because "it could be worse."

I've seen music change a lot of people, including me. And gaming only brings like minded people together. The way I act now is far different than how I acted in high school and middle school. I do owe a lot of it to music, because my interest in it introduced me to someone who liked it as well, and ultimately helped me make a friend who to this day has a huge influence on how I analyze things before me.

I have this email being sent out to this company, and I hope to get the support. And if the support is possible but not guaranteed, I'd love for everyone in the SM community to email these people as well when the time comes. But with the elitism here, my decisions will become questioned, debated, rebelled, looked through for holes in logic, etc. There's no logic behind the fact that I made myself suffer to go to Boston and attempt to get the support.

If by any chance this support doesn't come, I do plan on leaving these communities. Being in debt isn't fun, and being in a city where even the smallest businesses are really stupid in hiring people isn't paradise either. Dozens of applications sent along with resumes, as compared to the people with no education, criminal records, etc. being hired over me is beyond ridiculous. But I know I can't do anything about it, so I continue to try and land a guaranteed job. The time I spend here could be spent looking for more job opportunities (which believe me, I still do, there are only so many resources), and if my work here is done in vain, then I may as well leave.

If I ever was able to successfully create a united and productive online community, I'd always and forever listen to the community before I listen to company offers in my ear. Synthlight did the same, and I would never change that. But, like him, expectations vs reality is a hard concept. He understood it, and he knew it was time for him to go. I realize that time is coming soon for me, but I won't leave with regrets. So whatever I can do now will be done, so when I leave I can tell myself "I did what I could."

[GG_Guru]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

Yeah this sounds cool.

[Xx{Midnight}xX]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

If you need me for something let me know. I'll see what I can do.

[dAnceguy117]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

@xero: damn, man. all I can say is props for all the hard work. I know it doesn't help, but know that I really mean it. best of luck; I'll definitely send an additional email if it might help any.

Some people who support this community don't support me. While I agree this is childish, the fact remains. So if I were to run a forum like this, that would lead to less if not no support from those who support this idea but dislike me. Looking at the pros and cons, this community, if successful, would get more support from the majority of active members between all the notable SM communities. I know SMO members way more than I know FFR members, and I've come to notice that many SMO members don't come to FFR, and vice versa. I support this idea, but I will not run it. My involvement could ultimately be the reason it fails. It's ridiculously pathetic, but true.

I can't speak for everyone, but I believe that anyone with such strong ties to the site they came from might as well be shut out. the new community would need members who are fully willing to accept different ideas. not trying to urge you to fill any position you don't think you should though, especially since it sounds like you've got plenty to deal with already.

make sure you can provide for yourself. be safe!

[ddrxero64]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

@xero: damn, man. all I can say is props for all the hard work. I know it doesn't help, but know that I really mean it. best of luck; I'll definitely send an additional email if it might help any.



I can't speak for everyone, but I believe that anyone with such strong ties to the site they came from might as well be shut out. the new community would need members who are fully willing to accept different ideas. not trying to urge you to fill any position you don't think you should though, especially since it sounds like you've got plenty to deal with already.

make sure you can provide for yourself. be safe!

Thanks. Anytime I do need help I'm not afraid to ask. I have asked other sites for help before, and they've refused. I've also asked other sites for help and got a lot of things done. I'm not the guy who is too full of himself to realize when he needs help.

As for the last comment, I'm about to reach the tipping point where I need to get off to work 24/7 to find a way to make that happen. But yea, I'm hangin in there.

I'm not filling a position, but I support this site 100%.

[00Razor00]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

1) I know I could do the job fine, but it's not my place. I realize that most of these members I do not know well enough. Pretend you're in a circle, and the more closer you are to the center the more you are well known and the more you know the "circle" of members. I just don't agree with taking a position that could ultimately be the downfall of a potential new community. Why?

Lol, why do you even care so much about who knows you and who doesn't? The matter of the fact is, that, you're helping contribute to the site by making sure things run smoothly, and things get done the way they're supposed to. Since when does it matter if 90,000 people know you or 2 people know you?

[ddrxero64]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

Lol, why do you even care so much about who knows you and who doesn't? The matter of the fact is, that, you're helping contribute to the site by making sure things run smoothly, and things get done the way they're supposed to. Since when does it matter if 90,000 people know you or 2 people know you?

Because those 90,000 people then feel the need to make their own site, create their own community, and convince people who don't like me to do the same, thus creating the same vicious cycle. It's more beneficial to have someone who's well known and well respect by all to lead the pack, because decisions are less questioned and productivity would be higher.

SMO was once a single community. There are now many. Backtrack and realize why it was split up. How can this be prevented? It's not only about elitism, it was the countless alternative communities made. Once someone thinks the admin is doing something wrong and enough people agree, they will split off. You would need someone who is well respected by most to prevent this, AKA crowd control. It's like if you had a crazy fight at a bar about girls, and a playboy bunny walked in to stop it. Are guys really going to continue to fight if they see this girl trying to break it up?

Seemingly random example right? Guys are very much impulsive when it comes to hormones. Similar to the follower type idea on forums. You have Person B who is well respected trying to split off, but Person A walks in with more respect. Person B is forced to step down unless he wants to be criticized thoroughly.

[00Razor00]

Re: A new beginning for our SM community.

Because those 90,000 people then feel the need to make their own site, create their own community, and convince people who don't like me to do the same, thus creating the same vicious cycle. It's more beneficial to have someone who's well known and well respect by all to lead the pack, because decisions are less questioned and productivity would be higher.

SMO was once a single community. There are now many. Backtrack and realize why it was split up. How can this be prevented? It's not only about elitism, it was the countless alternative communities made. Once someone thinks the admin is doing something wrong and enough people agree, they will split off. You would need someone who is well respected by most to prevent this, AKA crowd control. It's like if you had a crazy fight at a bar about girls, and a playboy bunny walked in to stop it. Are guys really going to continue to fight if they see this girl trying to break it up?

Seemingly random example right? Guys are very much impulsive when it comes to hormones. Similar to the follower type idea on forums. You have Person B who is well respected trying to split off, but Person A walks in with more respect. Person B is forced to step down unless he wants to be criticized thoroughly.

If they wanted to make their own site then, by all means, they can. Truth of the matter is, you should at least stay loyal to a site you're gonna put your all into, regardless of popularity or not. To be quite frank, I'd rather have a(n) unknown/less popular person managing my site who can contribute and bring the skills necessary to have things running in proper fashion, versus, having someone being known by an entire community yet has no clue what they're doing.