The forum has slowed down

Atrocities · #1 August 22nd, 2001, 02:27 PM

Just an observation. But, I have noticed that this forum has slowed down. Do you think its has something to do with a falling off of interest in the game, or has everyone just become lurkers?

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"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats! They invade our space and we fall back -- they assimilate entire worlds and we fall back! Not again! The line must be drawn here -- this far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" -- Captain Picard STNG
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dogscoff · #2 August 22nd, 2001, 02:54 PM

If you go back a few months in the archive you'll see huge threads discussing how cool it would be if MM implemented such and such a feature (Imperial capital/ civil war thread a prime example).

We don't get so many of those now. I think it's because we now realise that MM is unlikly to implement these crazy ideas of ours, and certainly not before dozens of other things have been done (drones, fixes, AI improvments etc)

Personally i liked those threads, even if it never gets implmented it's fun to discuss.

Some of the old schoolers have turnd lurker I think, but they are being constantly replaced by newbies. Hell, I've only been on this forum 4 or 5 months.

How about a quick lurk check, just to see how many of you vetrans are still out there...

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Matryx · #3 August 22nd, 2001, 04:13 PM

I was a lurker back in the olde-days (since about post 15000) and I only started 'talking' when I had something worthwhile to offer.
I remember long discussions about possibilities and ideas but I agree, nowadays we are starting to realise the futility of such ideas as realistic options.
(Notable exception: Lord Kodos who seems to post every idea under the sun

)

Anyway, if you remember it took no time at all to reach 20000 Posts but it seemed to take forever to reach the 30K mark.

I think ideas should be thrown around more

How about this : what do people think about someone starting up a 'tech council' for an uber-mod.
Such a council would review suggestions for new technologies and then, after balancing, include them into a mod.
This way we could perhaps get a *huge* mod incorporating everything available.
Also, it could be designed in such a way as to allow Users to switch on/off sections of the mod (splitting it up into modular tech areas springs to mind)

Anyway.. just more of my random mumblings

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mac5732 · #4 August 22nd, 2001, 04:42 PM

I like MATRYX'S idea on the council idea, should also include some tough superior new races as well, aggressive types. The modders should be on it and they could recommend to everyone additons and let them vote for the additions or changes, this has some very interesting possibilities. As far as slow down, I for one am guilty. I have become more of a lurker, do to the fact I have been trying out some new games like Europa Universalis, but I still read this forum almost everyday as well as always coming back to playing SE4. It is also vacation and summer season, and wives do make our lifes miserable during this period as they always come up with things for us to do cutting down on our "good times". I still learns new things here and hope it continues. Maybe we should add a off topic post or game comparison post where we compare other space games with SE4. oh well

just some ideas mac

dogscoff · #5 August 22nd, 2001, 04:48 PM

Like the tech coucil idea.

I also think we should consider a suggestions coucil - rather than flood Aaron with dozens of individual emails, discuss which suggestions are the best and most likely to be implemented, and each month send those in on just the one email, with a note saying "X number of Shrapnel Forum members agree that they would like to see this in the game".
Might make his job a little easier.

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SE4 Code:
L Gd! $ Fr- C- Sd T!+ Sf-- Tcp-- A% M>M+ MpD Pw RV Fq+ Nd- Rp+ G-
/SE4 Code
http://www.sandman43.fsnet.co.uk/se4main.htm

capnq · #6 August 22nd, 2001, 05:15 PM

Well, I read the Forum at least once a day, but I only post if I have something to say.

Here's an idea I had for a PBW game victory condition: "MEE First". You'd win the game by meeting the requirements for the AI to declare you Mega-Evil Empire.

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Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

Suicide Junkie · #7 August 22nd, 2001, 05:47 PM

quote:
How about this : what do people think about someone starting up a 'tech council' for an uber-mod.
Such a council would review suggestions for new technologies and then, after balancing, include them into a mod.
This way we could perhaps get a *huge* mod incorporating everything available.
Also, it could be designed in such a way as to allow Users to switch on/off sections of the mod (splitting it up into modular tech areas springs to mind)

There are only two problems (AFAIK) to creating an Ultimate Mod.

1) Many ideas are mutually exclusive.
Eg. P&N v2 propulsion, and Plain SE4 movement bonuses.
Eg. Shields vs Armor. weaker, stronger, by how much, etc. You can't do both, since players will just use the stronger and ignore the weaker.

2) Everybody has their own view on what is "Ulimate." At the very least you would have a fractured mod, divided up into "Plausible tech", "SF-TV tech" and such. Also, any mod trying to incorporate all reasonably good ideas would be a bloated, 100MB monster and take years to build.

Thus, I believe that there cannot ever be an Ultimate mod. Really Super Great mod, sure, but you can't please everyone. You can't even please one person all the time.

[This message has been edited by suicide_junkie (edited 22 August 2001).]

Matryx · #8 August 22nd, 2001, 06:02 PM

I have started a dedicated thread regarding a mod council.
I have also updated it's 'goal' somewhat.
See that post for more details.

SJ. I agree entirely so the council has been clarified somewhat and will be more of a "service" now, where they take peoples ideas and turn them into new mods or incorporate into existing mods.
In doing this, those that are unable to code to save their lives can still get to see their vision of a mod created.

There will still be the occasional large mod, where a themed mod keeps getting added to. But it will be more of a resource for smaller mods.

mac5732 · #9 August 22nd, 2001, 06:33 PM

There are numerous ideas on the forum for incorporation into the game, but the council would go thru them, see which ones are feasible for patch & mods, put changes to vote of the forum members, then send to MM and modders. This keeps fresh input into the game, keeps interest up, and makes the game better. Some of us are not modders and don't like to tinker with a game but would like to see changes put into the original game for better play. A super Mod, realisticly, is not feasible like SJ stated, but a Better Realistic Mod could be made possible if the council keeps and sorts which ideas to use. To put all ideas into the game, would be an impossible task, but a lot of them could be done if everyone cooperates and a nunber MM could patch into the game itself. I like the concept and idea of the council. Changes could be by majority vote by the council for specific ideas, then to the forum for majority of members, then sent to MM. This would cut down on the number of e-mailes to Aaron & Richard & MM and put foreward and would help with patchs to incorporate that which the majority would like to see...

just some ideas mac

Antonin · #10 August 22nd, 2001, 06:48 PM

I'm a relative noob (only 3 mo as a SE4 player), but I check the forum several times a day from work.

I don't post much, but I find the forum to be an excellent resource.

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