Which stepchart, to you, is as close to perfect as it gets?

[Coolboyrulez0]

political relevancy

[M0nkeyz]

obscene amount of steam, I love that chart

[ilikexd]

Originally Posted by 3lijah

what the fuck is PR

proportional representation, an important concept in stepcharting by which all aspects of a song are represented in a stepchart proportional to how apparent or prominent they are in the music

[xXOpkillerXx]

Originally Posted by ilikexd

proportional representation, an important concept in stepcharting by which all aspects of a song are represented in a stepchart proportional to how apparent or prominent they are in the music

thought it was pitch revelancy, but that would make sense too

[DigitalS3r4ph]

Kil's Thermosphere
Aperson's Peaches En Regalia & Vunderbar (Dorian Concept Remix)

and Tsuka Bazooka. Because to me, it is.

EDIT: I also forgot Hardware Store by RaiRai. That file is godlike. There are a probably quite a few other files that I think are perfect but it's been a really long time since I've played on a regular basis.

Peaches En Regalia changed the playing field for what people thought was possible with making fun charts. If you were around at the time, it prompted a lot of step artists to think more creatively and literally step up their game. IMHO Thermosphere wouldn't have existed without it, because Kil literally stepped that file for a pack that Aperson was planning for creative and perfectly well-polished files ONLY, after Peaches En Regalia was so well received by the community.

[rushyrulz]

Gravity Blast (FFR)

[stargroup100]

Originally Posted by Yulanik

Honest question - what's so great about Thermosphere? Nearly everyone has mentioned it already.

from my viewpoint, I don't think thermosphere is all that amazing compared to a lot of stuff today, but it is possibly a very important historic (someone's gonna nail me for using this word) chart because back when it was released it was probably one of the best, if the not the best chart in existence. as I've mentioned before, this is the one chart that definitively triggered my serious interest and dedication to notecharting and viewing it as an artform

if the people playing this chart, regardless of whether or not they could consciously recognize the techniques, realized kil's masterful ability to connect the notes to the music (using many techniques that few have ever seen before), their mind and senses would've been bombarded with new ideas and aesthetics nonstop

the streams from the very beginning of the song uses a kind of melodic contour/pitch relevance that no one had even considered yet. on top of that, the dissonant melodic lines were represented with more peculiar pattern choices, making it feel really smooth, fresh, and funky. kil wasn't afraid to "stick" certain keys to certain sounds, resulting in very crisp structure and patterns, combined with a kind of flow that is very fitting to the genre. jack theory in certain sections highlighted the articulation of the synth very well, something most everyone else would ignore or at least not know how to handle. the solo sections are wonderfully colored and build up very well, and the background image in contrast really makes the rainbow colors pop out even more. the use of large chords to represent thick piano chords was also a relatively new concept that added a certain richness and fullness to even slow sections of the song. the immediate background change is not only fitting to the song but is an extra pleasant surprise. this section masterfully uses the tension and release patterns of the percussion, utilizing jacks and miniholds and adding heavier chords to increase the intensity. even though this section is slow, it builds up and gives a satisfying finish to the chart

so in the end I go back to the kil dick-sucking I've been known for. but in all honesty, the reason is very simple. he understands music very well, probably better than almost anyone here. he understands the aesthetics of this game very well, probably better than almost anyone here. you combine these two natural talents and you have a genius of an artist, like the leonardo da vinci of notecharting. he uses techniques that no one else has done before and he executes them beautifully. a true pioneer

[Wayward Vagabond]

if i had started stepping when kil did youd be saying that about me

[stargroup100]

Originally Posted by Wayward Vagabond

if i had started stepping when kil did youd be saying that about me

I've independently derived/discovered plenty of mathematical theorems and concepts that have been known since ancient times or even as late as the 1800's. If I had been alive back then I might've been famous for that, but since I'm not the first it doesn't matter.

I feel the same way about a lot of philosophical ideas as well as tons of game design concepts in all kinds of areas. I'm sure there are lots of people out there who feel the same way too about other things, but there's no way to truly tell who figured out these things independently nor is it realistic to credit everyone that has done it.

But even then, Kil's still way ahead of you even if the area of notecharting. You and I both know that I respect you a lot for you work and I love what you do, but even today he does things that nobody else does, simply because nobody has yet been smart enough to both figure out what he's doing as well as emulate it.

[DigitalS3r4ph]

Stargroup, if you don't come up for air soon, your face is going to turn blue.

[L.B.D.D]

all of u self proclaimed stepFile prodigies mus realize no matter whose file it is

that shit gets played by like 50 ppl max sry

[ilikexd]

Originally Posted by Shikari

These days, I told A2P that GLoVE was pretty much the ultimate step artist. His files were hard, yet really fun to play. They were technical, but not a clusterfuck of colors and weird patterns some people used in the last years just for the sake of "looking technically correct". They were sorta unique because, even if there wasn't a GLoVE's cover art, you'd knew it was a file of him. And, most of all, the replay value of his charts were off the fucking hook. Most of my favorites files are by him: Born, Endless Sacrifice, This Dying Soul, Taking Back My Soul.

Another step artists that makes me feel like this towards his files, after some time, are wc and Kommisar. wc had the almost perfect balance of technicality and fun, just like GLoVE: Crunk de Gaulle, Liquid Requiem, Shuriken Cut, even fucking A Quick Death. Kommisar threw the most files I played, ever: Bad Maniacs, Licky, Plasmatextor, Staring at my Spaceship, Jumper, Retard Drums v2.

All of these files are my answers for this question. And they all represent my opinion, given my arguments.


EDIT: I forgot to mention ==Planet Karma==. Despite Stargroup wasn't mentioned, this file is also as close to perfect as any can get.

The fact that so many simfile artists still name GLoVE "the greatest or most significant or most influential" simfile artist ever only tells you how far Stepmania simfiling still is from becoming a serious art. Metal simfile judges have long recognized that the greatest metal simfile artists of all times are GLoVE and dascookieman, who were not the most famous or popular of their times, let alone of all times. Classical simfile judges rank the highly controversial stargroup over classical simfile artists who were highly popular in forums around FlashFlashRevolution. Simfile judges are still blinded by universal acclaim: Kommisar simfiles were played more than anyone else's (not true, by the way), therefore they must have been the greatest. Metal simfile judges grow up playing metal simfiles, classical simfile judges grow up playing a lot of classical simfiles of the past, they barely know the most popular. No wonder they will think that GLoVE did anything worth of being saved.

[MinaciousGrace]

pertinent inquiry:

which simfile circle jerk, to you, is the largest. the stepmania simfile circle jerk or the ffr judging circle jerk?

and how would you characterize their relationship to one another? are they entirely separate jerking entities or are they more akin to a venn circle jerk- in which only a particular subject of jerkees partake in jerking within both circles while the remaining jerkees jerk only within their respective jerking confluences and simultaneously shun their counterparts while jerking the hybrids? or perhaps it is a single closed system, a self sustaining and infinite moebius jerk in which jerkage flows from one circuit into the other and back again; propelled by the insatiable desire of each jerkee to be jerked by all other jerkees until everything comes around full circle and they might as well just be masturbating while spinning in their chairs.

[ilikexd]

Originally Posted by MinaciousGrace

pertinent inquiry:

which simfile circle jerk, to you, is the largest. the stepmania simfile circle jerk or the ffr judging circle jerk?

Easily the Kil circlejerk

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by L.B.D.D

all of u self proclaimed stepFile prodigies mus realize no matter whose file it is

that shit gets played by like 50 ppl max sry

honestly tho

If you're making files for ~internet notoriety~ idk man hate to break it to you but you're doing it wrong

I make files because it's relaxing and fun for me...

[L.B.D.D]

idk you guys are making it sound like simfile making is some Grandiose Art That Can Only Be Appreciated By ArtisTe Men

which is not the case l0l i wish u guys would stop doing this whole Who Is Da Greates Of Al Tiem......CircleJerk shit

[L.B.D.D]

the greatest of all time is konami so u gusy can stop arguing now

[DigitalS3r4ph]

I'm definitely in the same camp as hi19hi19 though. All the files I've stepped, I stepped because they were fun and I enjoyed the song. I've played my files more frequently than I've played anyone else's, and I'm perfectly fine if no one else plays a single file of mine ever again.

Girls in Trouble, dekarengaaa~~

[stargroup100]

Originally Posted by L.B.D.D

idk you guys are making it sound like simfile making is some Grandiose Art That Can Only Be Appreciated By ArtisTe Men

which is not the case l0l i wish u guys would stop doing this whole Who Is Da Greates Of Al Tiem......CircleJerk shit

You are right, notecharting is not that, nor did I say it was. You don't have to be artistic to enjoy da Vinci's work, nor do all artistic people like da Vinci's work, but that doesn't change the fact that he's universally recognized as a great artist. That also doesn't mean he's the best artist in every respect. Mozart would probably not be a good rap artist, Snoop would not be a good jazz musician.

Similarly, Kil would not be as good a metal notecharter as GLoVE in my opinion, but the depth of his musical knowledge and insight in general surpasses that of GLoVE's I believe. And that is generally the basis I use for determining who I think is a great artist, which is not necessarily the same as the criteria I use to judge what I enjoy aesthetically.

The fact of the matter is I can come up with plenty of methods to demonstrably show my understanding of the medium. For example, based solely on someone's notechart, I can generally tell you about how much musical training or knowledge someone has, which is why I'm confident in my ability to judge artists by that aspect. And that's just one example.

You shouldn't care whether or not we judge artists this way, just as how one could listen to electronica and not care how highly people regard Bach. It doesn't change how good or important Bach is, and it doesn't force you to like him or his work.

[stargroup100]

I'm actually getting a little bit tired of this double standard we have when it comes to art.

We know there's a difference between critical reception and popularity. We know the difference between Les Misérables and Harry Potter. We know there's a difference between Skrillex and Mozart. We don't question that they have different audiences with generally different desires and interests. Why is it that we can't make the distinction when it comes to games? Can't an artist be revered for critical acclaim without people caring about it?

Art in all of its different forms shape us both individually as well as as a society. Some people enjoy it aesthetically and look no further for gratification, and that's fine. But some of us choose to analyze these things and study them, in order to better understand them. Critical acclaim is simply positive acknowledgement from this subset of audiences.

If we understand better why certain foods taste good, we can then work towards making food taste even better. If we understand the implications of food (such as health), then we can figure out what kinds of foods we should be eating to better our society and us as individuals. Let the rest of us figure out how the food is affecting you, and you can decide what you want to eat. The same goes for games. Let us figure out how the games are impacting you, and we encourage (but do not force) you to use what we've learned to help you make a judgment that could potentially improve your experiences.

Don't discredit us for being elitist, because we are not forcing you to do anything or think like us. In fact, we do these not only for our thirst for knowledge and understanding, but also to help you. Whether or not you choose to use what we've learned is still totally up to you.