Something's not right

Discussion in 'Suggestions and Feedback Archive' started by Spanner, Nov 2, 2009.

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  1. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    I know this topic is frequently posted but it usually gets talked about then dies down.


    Activity on the forums seem to be less than before, all I've seen is a few stupid topics that got trashed, a bandodger and one decent topic that didn't get a lot of replies.


    I guess hacktube being offline is a major factor as to why shit isn't doing well, since people have just come here to post their silly hack. I'm sure the SSRG could do something else that could make this place active, or is it truly tumbleweed time?


    [​IMG]
     
  2. Qjimbo

    Qjimbo Well-Known Member Member

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    I've just been very busy lately (working 9-5 now) and haven't had the time to really resolve the hacktube issue. I'll be looking into it this week, though our options are exhausted as far as readily available java emulators go. I have other ideas for the site too, but again it's all time constraints.
     
  3. ddrmaxromance

    ddrmaxromance Well-Known Member Member

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    I, myself, contribute to the inactivity of the boards. I haven't been to the site that much as well due to Hacktube being down, which I thought was an amazing step towards growth of the website.


    However, I think the problem with developing or hacking a Sonic game has become a thing of the past, or it has become increasingly difficult to work on due to "time constraints" or competition of other hacks. That's only my opinion though.


    EDIT: 100th post on this site! :D
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 2, 2009
  4. Selbi

    Selbi The Euphonic Mess Member

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    Look at Sonic Retro. It's the opposite of "thing of the past", it's growing up. No, there's something else that SSRG brought to what it is. But I don't really think it's because of Hacktube, since you still can upload hacks. You just can't play them online.
     
  5. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    You can still upload shitty hacks, you just have to play them offline.
     
  6. ddrmaxromance

    ddrmaxromance Well-Known Member Member

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    Again...only my opinion. :D What I was saying was that the Hacktube is a step in the right direction for this website. I stopped hacking my game simply because I couldn't compete with the "cooler" hacks that get much praise. Sonic Retro IS indeed pushing forward with new technologies (engines, scripts, etc) and hacks that go beyond ASM, such as their Sonic 2 HD project. Perhaps SSRG could come up with something similar, it could get some new and fresh activity. Remember, this is not Sonic Retro regardless of a similar user database. We have a lot of talented members here that could come up with anything. :D
     
  7. Selbi

    Selbi The Euphonic Mess Member

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    Fix'd. Many users are inacvite as shit here, so you can't say that.


    Oh and, I don't want to say this, but it's obvious: SSRG will die, unless a miracle happens.
     
  8. PsychoSk8r

    PsychoSk8r HighKnights Member

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    Don't give up all hope just yet. RetroHack died, we don't want to lose SSRG too do we?


    There are plenty of things that can be done, but as Q said, time constraints.


    What happened to people being positive about things?
     
  9. Tweaker

    Tweaker OI! MIRON! Member

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    The problem, as I've stated several times before, is that SSRG lacks any particular incentive to the average person over Sonic Retro or any other Sonic hacking board outside of HackTube, which at the end of the day is really only a minor advantage that doesn't seem to matter much in the long run to people. It's more or less just as easy to get into both sites, the same general things will get you banned... the only difference is that Sonic Retro is, as a general rule, significantly more active. There are a few SSRG-specific members in the scene, but it's often rare to find ones that simply don't go here because they either didn't get into Retro or didn't know about it.


    Sonic Retro's all-encompassing nature, quite frankly, doesn't leave much room for other sites to stand out in any particular way. There's going to need to be some serious innovation in how things are approached here in contrast to other forums... and frankly, things like a registration test are not going to encourage new members to pop their heads in any more.


    Things I think you could concentrate on? Video tutorials seem to be a big thing here at SSRG that aren't really at other sites. Provide talk-through, visual walkthroughs of performing certain functions--not just tutorial. Have an extended video series that runs any given user through the basics of learning ASM and working with the Sonic engine an increasingly more advanced level. Find a way to cater to newbies at the art (read: not dipshits) in order to make it easier for people to start out, continue to get help, and move on to become advanced ROM hackers in more than one way.


    Will SSRG's purpose ultimately be left to that of a sort of stop-through community for greater heights? Maybe--but that's not necessarily a bad thing if so. Each board has their purpose in the scene, big or small, and the way things come together help maintain that natural balance that gives us all purpose in the scene. I remember I came here back in 2004 because I was stuck in Pending Approval at SWS2B and needed a place to go... and it ended being where I helped grow and expand my skills immensely. And now I'm an admin there! Nothing stops other people from following those same kind of dreams with a bit of knowhow, hard work, and dedication. And SSRG plays a significant role in helping that happen.


    I think the video tutorials could be a good idea, but I think it would help if people who knew exactly what they were doing could go about making them. No offense to Qjimbo at all, but while his videos were helpful and he has a wonderful narrative voice, it seemed like he very much lacked the technical knowhow to truly bring things together. Experts running through complicated concepts and approaching that at a simple, easy-to-understand level are what helped me learn more advanced concepts; I'd think the best way to approach helping others learn would be to take a similar direction.
     
  10. ddrmaxromance

    ddrmaxromance Well-Known Member Member

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    I wish I had a bumper sticker for this since I say it almost everyday. People just stare at me like I'm crazy or something! Is it really possible to critique someone without having to tear apart their soul and dreams of success? The only professor I have this semester that is actually optimistic is my piano instructor, yet her mother is dying. No matter how much we mess up on the piano, she says how great we are at improving and if we have ever played for anyone. She is encouraging, and I wish there more people like that not in only the real world, but also in the virtual world, like you! B)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 3, 2009
  11. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    /me revives this topic again.


    Silly downtime. :eek:
     
  12. amphobius

    amphobius spreader of the pink text Member

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    Mass email, probably? I don't know. :eek:
     
  13. Qjimbo

    Qjimbo Well-Known Member Member

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    November XX? What is this? A godzilla game ? :eek:


    Anyway I still haven't been able to sort out anything with hacktube. Someone, I think it may have been Oerg, suggested JPC (a Java x86 pc emulator), in combination with Kgen for DOS but I haven't had a chance to try that out yet. No doubt it'd need a powerful CPU to run well.
     
  14. EMK-20218

    EMK-20218 The Fuss Maker Exiled

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    MY OPINION is... The staff is in lack of decent members to organize the whole Sonic Research.
     
  15. Spanner

    Spanner The Tool Member

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    Does Hacktube have to be the core component on the SSRG? Although I like the idea of using a Java DOS emulator and KGen to power the system, Hacktube is in dire need of fixing due to the uploads that people provide on the service.

    I'm rather confused about this sentence but are you suggesting a change of staff? If that is the case, then maybe there needs to be staff members who know about the SSRG and hacking. I'm unsure about who would fit into this category, though Ayla seems to be someone who would know how to improve the site.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 20, 2009
  16. Selbi

    Selbi The Euphonic Mess Member

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    The thing is, Ayla is nearly never around here. That would be useless (no offense here). I mean, even someone knows about hacking and stuff, it makes no sense when he/she is never online anyway. And don't think just because someone becomes a staff member, he/she will be more active.
     
  17. EMK-20218

    EMK-20218 The Fuss Maker Exiled

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    I think yes, so as a part of the current staff has no time to work on site, people REALLY interested in supporting the team could have a chance to do what I believe can help Sonic Research to be improved. Starting with (perhaps) content rules to the hacktube. Rules which if aren't followed will be subject to removal of unwanted content. Because I've seen that has people putting inappropriate content according to the sections of hacktube (like clean ROMs in the hacks section), and creating topics that do not cooperate in the conduct of the site and forum. In my opinion, I think that kind of attitudes gives to the forum a certain aspect of "abandonment", and that is what prevent users who want to see the forum working actively from visit the forums. So, I think that the staff is in need of people that wants to help Sonic Research, to help the other administrators to improve it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 20, 2009
  18. Reverie

    Reverie Good sir, I do read that as "Derp" Member

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    Agreed, and in order so this site can be improved, some of the staff and admins should try to be on here more often.
     
  19. Ayla

    Ayla Sonic Hacking Contest Founder & Commentator Member

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    Oh, I wouldn't say that. I've had a lot of ideas for this website for a long time. I was even working on a website for SSRG with Qjimbo, but he wanted to change the layout of it since my HTML skills are stuck in 1999 -- not sure what the status is on the transition, though. I may not post on the message board often or go to the inactive IRC channel, but if anyone were interested on input to help this site I'd do so out of sheer nostalgia. SSRG is where I got my start -- my claim to fame. I'm certain that I could offer some useful ideas if anyone would have them.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 20, 2009
  20. Selbi

    Selbi The Euphonic Mess Member

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    There is something which IS not working: Hacktubes moderation. SonicVaan told me he left the SSRG because of the shit which's going on here. This means Hacktube has no moderation. We defintly need a new one, someone who's not rarly online and someone who can say what a beginner hack is and what ain't. This and rules for Hacktube are the most important things, IMO.
     
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