Regarding the Changes and Moving Forward! Options

[kaz]

Hello everybody

No one can ignore the fact that now the official forums for RPGMaker are open, this will affect the activity of other forums including RRR.

We are therefore changing the focus of this Forum in order to become more competitive. We are moving away from engine support and into the game making stages. You can still discuss engines and get help - but it might not be in the same area as before or in the same format.,

We are planning a few new areas at a time- we would liked to have done a big reveal for you all but feedback from certain sources has made this impossible. We have based these changes on Forum Statistics, pm's with ideas and general observation.

We would liked to have had time to throw these ideas around more for discussion before they were implemented, however we find that if we put a topic in for discussion it gets ignored yet when changes are made we get complaints. Faced with this we have to implement it first. Even we do not know if the ideas will work at this stage, so actually putting them out there and getting them operative is the way that we are doing it- even though some members may not agree.

We have to be allowed a little trust here- the focus is reviving a stale forum into something new.
(We can only work within the constraints we have, we cannot improve the main page or even upgrade the board- but we can build on and hopefully enlarge the community)


With all that in mind-

You will notice all kinds of different areas popping up over the next few weeks,

Initially they will look rather random and even in wrong place. The forum will look huge but fear not eventually we will get them right.

Some areas are based on we already have, but in a different format.

Did you know Theory and Design has always been the most popular area of the forum according to the statistics, Members are quite happy to discuss planning stages of their games. We are trying to expand on this area and so split the Theory and Design into separate areas,

There are Q and A topics in each of the new areas so ask away!

We have a new area for Story- anything from the written word to plot advice and critique. This is based on the number of topics discussing this in the Theory and Design areas- we felt giving it a new forum would provide an area of interest,This will be taking in the writing works in the Art and Lit and music area (which is being changed at a later date)

We have also changed the roles of the staff members- they are now providing support and feedback in the new areas, and will be named support staff on each forum.

We want to eliminate people leaving due to lack of feedback for their ideas or projects.

We want to build on the community we have and expand it ..

We want RRR to survive all the changes....we have to change or we will not survive - simple.

Any questions or suggestions as always please use the Feedback Forum or check within the new areas and use the feedback topics provided there.

[X-M-O]

This will be taking in the writing works in the Art and Lit and music area (which is being changed at a later date)

Just wanted to highlight this part and remind anyone who has written works in the Art/Music/Lit Network forum, please follow the link in my signature if you have an art topic that also has written (or other types of) works in it. We want to be sure that everything moves along smoothly, despite the changes not happening immediately (we're giving you a bit of time to get your things set-up whilst we work on preparing these changes for you). Thanks!

[Rob_Riv]

Hopefully this is okay to be posted here.

Personally, I don't mind the rolling out of a pilot, but my concern is that I don't know what to think of the changes, because I haven't been sure of the vision. An example of this is that while I like the game development focus, the Show-off Screenshot thread seems to run counter to that.

Ultimately, you have to be better or be different, and if we can't compete by being better (with more resources etc) then being different is definitely the right way to go. I don't think there's a valid argument against that. Additionally, it's go big or go home. I think a fundamental shift in the vision, dynamic, and overall philosophy is a great idea and it embodies the name and spirit of RPG Revolution.

I don't know if this is the direction you're going in, but I worry that the fragment forums (yes, I just named them) need a centralised hub. Perhaps your game thread functions as this? By ensuring your game thread links to your map thread, your story thread, your mechanics threads, you essentially give each game their own forum, but spread out across the different categories of game design. I think this is a cool idea.

However, the random, incomplete and chaotic nature of the implementation will always hurt it in the eyes of the forum-goers, as they're not able to see the whole vision. I think staff should ensure that there the vision is communicated to the forum adequately, as a lack of communication is perhaps the biggest reason for disagreement. I would almost propose an induction / cheat sheet thread, "You want to make a good project, you have your game thread like this, then you can ask here for story tips, here for mapping tips, here for mechanic tips". It depends on how easy the forum will be to navigate.

This post has been edited by Rob_Riv: Apr 2 2012, 06:16 AM

[kaz]

I don't know if this is the direction you're going in, but I worry that the fragment forums (yes, I just named them) need a centralised hub. Perhaps your game thread functions as this? By ensuring your game thread links to your map thread, your story thread, your mechanics threads, you essentially give each game their own forum, but spread out across the different categories of game design. I think this is a cool idea.

Thank you Rob- yes you see the complete picture. more coverage more feedback and dealing with a game in sections, get it right and then and only then show your game.


We will soon be posting a guide as to how the finished forum will look and how it works in tandem.but at the moment the rules and layouts are being worked on ready to get them active. I do like the guide sheet idea thank you.

We have had resources taken away from here by those that had a beef with i entry over on VX,net - ideally they would have been the way forward .

[amerk]

I'm always looking forward to changes here, if it makes the site better. It's too bad about people leaving, but at least we can focus on new people coming in.

[kaz]

We are all frantically working in the background to get these new areas ready.--but we hope you appreciate what we are trying to do here.......feedback when it is up and running is great....but the logistics not as easy as you think....

I have not spent the last 5 years here to let the old girl go down without a final flurry-and the staff feel the same....

...clue... pixel to perfection....

[amerk]

Don't worry, Kaz, you can only do so much, and many of us appreciate your enthusiasm for this site. Once things get to where they need to be, the stress won't be as high.

[kaz]

Don't worry, Kaz, you can only do so much, and many of us appreciate your enthusiasm for this site. Once things get to where they need to be, the stress won't be as high.

Thank you

The next section is open - Art and Audio

This will replace the art music and literature forum.

[X-M-O]

The Writing Critique forum is replacing the writing from the old art forum, the Audio is replacing the music, and the Visual Art forum is replacing the art. (Which is why we had a few members separating their art topics for us to move them into the new areas.)
This is just a note for clarity. =]

Thanks for being patient with us as we migrate things over!

[Klokinator]

I expect that someday this board will be nearly the size of my warn list, and quickly scrolling to the bottom of the index will result in an internet black hole which can devour your computer.

122 boards and counting!

[X-M-O]

No worries, the amount of new forums versus the amount of old forums (being replaced) will eventually bring the forum count down a bit.
We're still in the beginning stages for many areas. ^^

[kaz]

I expect that someday this board will be nearly the size of my warn list, and quickly scrolling to the bottom of the index will result in an internet black hole which can devour your computer.

122 boards and counting!

For the moment we have to leave old boards there until all the topics are moved- when it is done it should be a lot smaller!

We will now be moving topics from the art music and lit forum to their respective new homes.

[kayden997]

I expect that someday this board will be nearly the size of my warn list, and quickly scrolling to the bottom of the index will result in an internet black hole which can devour your computer.

122 boards and counting!

There is such thing as a 'End' key.
Love what's happening. Hopefully we can get sorted out ASAP!

[kaz]

Latest changes

We are now working on the Creative Commons

Welcome to Amerk who has joined us from Staff to L mod status.

[Scott Taylor]

Just a heads up, but the Gameplay- Theory and Design under a new name section isn't viewable unless you are logged in. Was this intentional?

This post has been edited by Scott Taylor: Apr 9 2012, 03:43 PM

[kaz]

Just a heads up, but the Gameplay- Theory and Design under a new name section isn't viewable unless you are logged in. Was this intentional?

Yes it is - validating members only see certain portions of the site at the moment - will make all viewable when the changes are complete.

Thanks for noticing though!

[amerk]

Can't let our spies view all our secrets too early!

[Scott Taylor]

Haha, I guess so. Am not used to logging in as I am a lurker really, so am glad this will be changed at a later date

[Knot]

Oh, wow, that's cool! I've been stopping by over the past week non-logged in and thought nothing was happening, but all these new boards look great!
Also, grats Amerk!

[amerk]

Thanks for the congrats, Knot, and glad you like the board. Kaz and X-M-O have put in a lot of time and effort trying to get things set up.... I doubt they ever sleep.