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Old 09-12-2007, 10:43 PM   #1
midare
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Default The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

Wow, a serious thread.
(MrRubix's training video is also very serious)

I was leafing through the brag board today, paying particular attention to the SM scores thread, when I started to wonder: what're the chances that Stepmania (as a competitive community game) actually survives another year?

I mean, reading through the first few posts of the SM scores thread and through posts on other various boards, (see: ODI) it seems to me that, on the whole, the Stepmania community is on the decline. There just don't seem to be as many people playing the game. A majority of very good players just don't seem to, well... play anymore.

Actually, what really caught my attention was the fact that I'm playing a lot of the same simfiles that people were playing in posts dating as far back as 2004. That means that they're very well made files; however, when was the last time that Zaghurim or Blurk sat down and stepped a new file? Thank God that the SMG pack 2 was recently released, but to quote Ossa: "This will probably be the last pack that's professionally produced for a long time."

As I write this, the thought that occurs to me is: "Okay, so if they're not stepping files, why don't you go and step files for yourself or for others?"

I could certainly try. But for whom would I produce?

There doesn't seem to be a matching influx of players to match the flow of those retiring (note: for the purposes of this thread, I'm ignoring FFR, and focusing entirely on SM). samt0rx and exouds gave up SM for school (which I applaud), ieat and dynam0 seem to be missing.

All in all, that's a pretty significant loss. The only other people posting scores, at least on FFR - and I'm unsure as to where else to look - other than those that I would consider "established" are Ravia, Bzt, MrRubix, and myself. I can't believe that I just grouped myself with them, but, to be honest, it's true.

Anyway, I guess my point would come to this:

How much longer do you (you, the reader, and I placed this thread in the BB to hopefully attract a certain audience) think that this will go on for? I mean, Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I would be lying if I said that I played Stepmania ENTIRELY "to have fun". I love competition. That being said, however, I also cannot deny that it feels ****ing awesome to clear a ridiculous song like vertex GAMMA or earthquake. However, given a long enough timeline, I'm eventually going to "peak" and no longer be able to improve. That's where the apparently declining competition and stemmed influx of simfiles particularly concerns me.

Honestly, if I didn't have people like thaor posting their scores on youtube, smitty and ledwix and loot on the bb, I'm not sure how much I would care if I could eventually FC Disregard or 8bit oni or pass MIHC. I'm not entirely sure that it would be worth the effort. I absolutely HATE competing against myself.

So... how much longer will YOU Stepmania for?

smile!
midare

ps. i just wrote a stepmania essay. english much?

pps. so no one feels left out: massflavour, necros, revolutionomega, dazzled, yay.

Last edited by midare; 09-12-2007 at 10:46 PM..
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Old 09-12-2007, 10:46 PM   #2
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I probably would've quit already if not for stepfile making... which may not be the most fun task in the world but it's a hell of a rewarding task.
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Old 09-12-2007, 10:48 PM   #3
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

sweet you mentioned my file im efamous
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Old 09-12-2007, 10:48 PM   #4
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

yeah, definitely, dore. i dunno if i managed to convey that sentiment or not in my main post, but i completely agree.

thanks for replying so quickly.

edit: cetaka that file is awesome. should be efamous. haha.
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Old 09-12-2007, 11:13 PM   #5
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

It's on the decline because

1. Nothing super-exciting has been released. Things were active when Stepmania was constantly undergoing massive upgrades (and now it's always minor fixes, it seems) and when multiple websites were churning out content constantly. A lot of DDR/SM sites died out along the way and few have made new ones.

2. After a while, average skill comes to a plateau and people get bored of the same general file-cannon. Fewer people seem to be stepping worthwhile files. People get bored with stepping. Remember Bemaniruler? His files were arguably some of the leading skill-setters, and he eventually got bored with the game and with the community and dropped.

3. The community. This is my own personal gripe, for obvious reasons. People constantly call BS on each other, and it's a little ridiculous and doesn't make for a cohesive community. People forget it's just a game, and a lot of people get fed up with the general level of callousness and stupidity and slowly migrate to other things.

4. Awareness. A lot of old files get randomly posted and then they get lost in the flow of time (e.g. Ayu Trance), and it's hard to see what's all out there to amass a big collection worth talking about. Legal issues make it even tougher to get a hold of certain large packs, let alone the bandwidth issues. As a result, it doesn't facilitate common play within the community. People will post scores for songs that many others have never even heard of. It's just a generally slow process to get everyone on the same page. It's all very disjoint.

5. Lack of consistency with respect to output. I remember when there were huge DDR Tournamix contests, and now I hear nothing of the sort anymore. Tons of people got involved and there were generally large booms of SM activity. When those large-scale events die out for too long, people, again, will get bored and leave.

The only people still playing are those who still have fun with this game. I enjoy self-competition. However, a large part of the decline lies in the community. If more people cared and started making worthwhile files and if sites started pumping out incentives for people to stick with SM, then you'd see a rise again.

I mean, as with every game, it has a natural lifespan. It's like trying to "bring back old-school Nintendo parties" or something. Sure, you might get people together for a nostalgic event, but in general it isn't something that will be done on a widespread scale ever again, and Stepmania may face the same fate. However, usually this is due to something superior taking priority over an older concept. In SM's case, it's clearly the best in its realm, and it has potential for becoming more actively used -- a lot of the power here lies in the online communities.
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Old 09-12-2007, 11:23 PM   #6
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I think FFR and SM are dying. Everyone is leaving. Which is why we need to become them.

ps: MrRubix, please check the pm I sent you.
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Old 09-12-2007, 11:29 PM   #7
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I see no pm.
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Old 09-12-2007, 11:32 PM   #8
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

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I see no pm.
Sent again.
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Old 09-12-2007, 11:41 PM   #9
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I have no idea how long I'll play sm for. also why did you put my name in your post? I'm probably missing something here but whatever rofl

edit: rereading
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Old 09-12-2007, 11:45 PM   #10
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

Quote:
Originally Posted by midare View Post
ieat and dynam0 seem to be missing.
I have been, how do you say, "cruising beneath the radar."

:ver oops:

I am somewhat StepMania inactive, though.

:re-oops:
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Old 09-12-2007, 11:59 PM   #11
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

yeah, everyone really good is leaving. sooner or later, i'll be the best, and not because i'm really good. and when that happens, it will be a sad day. i like seeing these amazing scores that i don't see myself getting anytime soon.
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Old 09-13-2007, 12:09 AM   #12
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I'm thinking about it, and it seems like about only 50 or maybe less people are active on the forums. That's low...
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Old 09-13-2007, 12:13 AM   #13
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I am still an active member of the SM official message boards as well as here at FFR. :3

And about the packs, I know of a few "professional-like" packs that will be released very soon.
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Old 09-13-2007, 02:00 AM   #14
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I honestly felt like playing stepmania after I read that. That and the fact that I've been stepping a few files for SM lately.

Files are boring now because we've all pretty much run out of new songs to step, and new styles to step them. I noticed this last year when I quit right after the release of the first SMG pack. I quit so I could come back to FFR and play here for a while, which I've been doing. But I actually feel like playing SM once again.

If less skilled players start to become the "best" because the actual best players have quit, it will be a sad day. You'll miss the old days, just like I miss the old days of when Reach, Nima, boneti, fusi0n, hayden, and a few others posted scores on the brag board. Back two or three years ago. I miss those days the most.
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Old 09-13-2007, 02:17 AM   #15
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

I know what you mean Rebirth, 2-3 years ago was the best time.
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Old 09-13-2007, 02:51 AM   #16
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebirth0 View Post
If less skilled players start to become the "best" because the actual best players have quit, it will be a sad day. You'll miss the old days, just like I miss the old days of when Reach, Nima, boneti, fusi0n, hayden, and a few others posted scores on the brag board. Back two or three years ago. I miss those days the most.
i do too really. those days ruled. back when the competition was good and people didn't ****ing cheat as blatantly. nowadays everyone cheats and every single file is awful. i enjoyed competing with people back then. plus the community was generally a lot more entertaining. the only piece really left of the community is vent krew on odi (some of us on vent krew). emccky, fusi0n, myself, tsutter, and some other funny guys always chill.

and vertexdude (rOfLz): everyone thinks you cheat because you never really competed with anyone or showed any remote sign of progression. you just post disgustingly good sm scores and expect people to believe you. you really have to build a reputation before you go doing that, because no one will ****ing care. so if anyone is to blame for everyone calling cheats on you, it's you. even if you make videos now no one is going to give a ****.
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Old 09-13-2007, 04:45 AM   #17
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

Are there new step authors/players who have the potential to revive the community?
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Old 09-13-2007, 08:21 AM   #18
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

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i do too really. those days ruled. back when the competition was good and people didn't ****ing cheat as blatantly. nowadays everyone cheats and every single file is awful. i enjoyed competing with people back then. plus the community was generally a lot more entertaining. the only piece really left of the community is vent krew on odi (some of us on vent krew). emccky, fusi0n, myself, tsutter, and some other funny guys always chill.
yeah, i mean, i feel like i missed out on a lot. i only started playing about six months ago, and i can't help but feel like i'm trying to run uphill as (almost) everyone else is tumbling down. :\

but what can we do? (being completely serious, and a little bit sarcastic/defeatist)

haha.

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Originally Posted by Rebirth0 View Post
If less skilled players start to become the "best" because the actual best players have quit, it will be a sad day. You'll miss the old days, just like I miss the old days of when Reach, Nima, boneti, fusi0n, hayden, and a few others posted scores on the brag board. Back two or three years ago. I miss those days the most.
i already miss the "good days" of ffr. there's so much drama and cheating and whatever now that there wasn't even like nine months ago. damn.

Last edited by midare; 09-13-2007 at 08:24 AM..
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Old 09-13-2007, 08:45 AM   #19
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

yeah, the cheating is ridiculous.

i've only been in the community for about 1.20 years here, and other places, but like you said, back than no one cheated as much, and there wasn't so much bs as there is now.

ps. i like comma's.
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Old 09-13-2007, 09:28 AM   #20
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Default Re: The continuation of Stepmania as a competitive whole.

Maybe 3rd style will bring back alot of people. Baha said he's coming back when 3rd style is out.
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