It really is a bit odd when Massassi forums loads slower than Lilymud (Lion King Fanart Archive Message Board) does, which allows BOTH signature images (omg some of those sigs are AWFUL!) and avatars as big as 250x250 or 64k.

If I'm not mistaken, at least vBulletin allows disabling of avatars and signatures on an user basis, so if you're on 56k you can just choose to disable avatars...

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"For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

[This message has been edited by Mano (edited October 22, 2003).]

The issue on users is not the issue here; it's the stress on the servers. Massassi is alotted a certain amount of gigabytes of transfer each month. Avatars easily overrun this limit.

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"LC Tusken: the idiot is the person who follows the idiot and your not following me your insulting me your following the path of a idiot so that makes you the idiot"
Jack Chick preaches it
NMGOH

Your list seems pretty solid, Brian. I would also like to see these:

• Avatars with file size and dimension limits, with the ability for users to shut off the viewing of them so they don't take bandwidth. And as Wolfy says, if the server permits. But I don't think that's a problem, because the Firearms HL mod is hosted on Recon Gamer, and they have way more traffic that we do. Just look at their forums.
• Invision Power Board and vBulletin are excellent, and expandable I hear. A PM system could use a feature that lets you have all PMs forwarded to a specified e-mail address (with the option of performing any action on them in your PM box, so you can have them go to trash, delete, move to another folder, etc), and if possible, the ability to reply to PMs by replying to the e-mail. It would be easy to do with just subject lines, although I'm not sure if there's another, more reliable way to do it.
• Allow submission of more file screenshots, with the option of submitting larger versions. Two 640x480 screenshots really sucks, especially if you have a big level with more than two areas to show off, you have to divide up those screenshots, sacrificing detail and quality.
• For the sake of reducing clutter, merge the editing and COG forums. The activity is low enough on both that they can exist together without issues.

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Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

[This message has been edited by Emon (edited October 22, 2003).]

I would like to see the Admins a little more active all over the place. It seems like they go missing for months at a time and everything comes to a screeching halt when they arn't around to fix something.

Also, we need a hook to grab new members. A new site design would really really help this, such as the one I heard Kedri was working on (not /2/, it's ugly). And generally update the way the site runs, it's not 1997 anymore, we need to get into 2003.

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1 of 14 - The Coucil still lives
6-16 Never Forget.
Click.

Just remember that just because it's flashy dosn't mean it will last. We have a simple, solid design that has worked for years. And I never get sick of green.

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Mystic0 Editing Resources
Mystic0 Forum
The Massassi Post Count Summary

Feh, Massassi has pretty much lost its focus over the years. I don't recall Massassi releasing any tutorials for Radiant when JK2 was released, rather its pretty much just become a forum with a huge (almost un-navigatable) file selection. One of the reasons why massassi isn't getting any new members is because thats not enough - there are TONS of forums online and a ton of them relate to FPS/star wars. If Massassi would return to being chuck full of useful information as it once was (it was THE BEST resource on the internet... EVER. The best EVER!) I mean in this day and age of mass corporations hosting gaming sites, indepdent sites with not too much to offer might as well give us. That's why massassi needs content which will make it stand out.

Screw new forums... Massassi has forums. Massassi has a community... to be honest it has most of the building blocks that are required to make an excellent website. What it needs is content. It needs to be able to stand out.

I guess a new design will make it kind of prettier, but it won't make people want to come here.

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To myself I surrender to the one I'll never please.
But I still try to run on.
You know I still try to run on. But it's all or none.

Eddie Vedder

Insipid: One of the founding principles of Massassi was that we would give everyone a chance. You can weed out the bad levels by checking the download count and the rating. I don't see this policy changing, but I appreciate your feedback.

TheJkWhoSaysNi: Nothing is wrong with it (other than the fact that none of the other pages match, and the CSS there is borked in non-IE browsers - both of which can obviously be solved, though changing all the pages to look the same is a nightmare :P).

The_Mega_ZZTer: Good idea about the direct download link. I think that will be even more useful if we have thumbnails on the main page as well.

Emon: Hmm, more than two screenshots. I agree, esp. if we have thumbnails, that 640x480 is quite a limit. I would like to up that to 800x600. I don't know if having more than two is a good idea. Authors can always link to their own page somewhere in the description, but generally, two good screenshots is enough to hook people to download something.

You guys all have great suggestions. I would like to have avatars, maybe they should be off by default for all users, so if you want them, you have to log in and turn them on. I'm not sure if a forum system allows that, but obviously I could go in and make that modification with no problem.

I have a problem with vBulletin/IPB simply because they're so complex nowadays. It results in tons of DB queries, thus slowing the whole db-driven site. Also, it would be REALLY tough to import all the threads. Possible, but tough. Users are fairly straight-forward. Will have to be considered. I still have to talk to blujay regarding exactly what my position will be around here, so... thanks again. I will continue reading this thread - consider "avatars" being "considered," so unless you have anything new to say about those, forget it


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I don't much care for avatars usually, but if there is the ability to turn them off I'll be happy with that.

I would definitely like to see a PM function on the forums. All other additions would basically be just icing to me. Oh, and, dear god in heaven NO SIGNATURE IMAGES!

As a few others have said I think Massassi has slipped from the head of the editing scene over the last year or so. Since '98 it's been hands down the best site for this game series, but of late, I dunno...

Lastly, I only visit it periodically, but I'd like to see these silly chatroom dramas resolved. It's just a chatroom for godsake, it shouldn't have dragged on this long. It's time to compromise.

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Cantina Cloud | BCF
Corrupting the kiddies since '97

I agree with what Geb said earlier, mostly regarding the forums. The ISB has a list of demands - er - wishes, too. A larger word limit would be nice (I've never hit it, but I can see how it would be aggravating), and tabbing also would be very nice, for those who haven't quite adapted to doing without it like the rest of us.

Also, Geb's idea for some sort of library for completed stories in the ISB would rock. It's kinda dissapointing to work forever on a story, and actually finish it (!), only to watch it slide down to the bottom of the list where it will never been seen again.

Also, with the theme, I agree with most people -- New design would be cool, but the green and black needs to stay.

/the Viking slinks back into the dark recesses of the ISB.

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5=(x-(x-5))
where x = infinity

I meant make more screenshots optional. Links to sites work, except people like having a good few right there in front of them.

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Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

Maybe we can start having video tutorials. Start off with a shot of Brian, with some 50's educational music in the background, going through some basics...

Actually, that would be extremely useful. Or at least a butt-load of pictures. I dunno, guess I can't really say until I revisit the tutorials. Ah well. One of these days...

Heh, just be sure to keep local copies of any NES's you value incase something goes wrong with the forums. A long time ago we lost one of the NES chapters we had on the Bespin City Forum and it left a big hole in the continuity.....well..as much continuity as there was. We still mourn the loss of NES2, may it rest in peace.

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Cantina Cloud | BCF
Corrupting the kiddies since '97

Oh, I do. I have copies of everything in my sig (not including featured stories and the link to another site). Speaking of, that reminds me...

/goes save latest on NeS

Btw, I've been saving by viewing source and saving the .txt... should I save the .html page as well/instead, or would it just be wasting time?

Oh yeah -- as moderator of the ISB, I'm willing to save any other stories on my computer per request, so if you got requests, speak up (or just save 'em yourself).

[This message has been edited by Gebohq (edited October 22, 2003).]

All I have to say is...**** Pommy.

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for my information... what are Avatars? i dont get out much.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE PLEASE READ

Employees dying on the job are faling to fall down. THIS PRACTICE MUST STOP as it becmes impossible to distinguish between death and the natural movement of he staf.

Any employee found dead in an upright position will be dropped from the payroll.

little pictures what go under your name

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1 of 14 - The Coucil still lives
6-16 Never Forget.
Click.

I think it should just stay how it is now. If it aint broke, don't fix it kind of a thing.

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Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
I'm a schizophrenic
and so am I

avatars!
that's all I want for christmas... massassi forums with avatars
(hosted ones would be great... but off-site linking is fine too)

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"Those who are able to work, and refuse the opportunity, should not expect society's support."

Fair enough. Put in that light, I'd have to agree. I just never really thought of it that way, kinda elitist of me.

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someone feed the monkey while i dig in search of china

If the site gets redone, Massassi may once again be the greatest editing source for the series. LucasForums isn't doing so hot in the editing topics, they have a few mappers, but the only really thing notable is the coders, which unfortunately are too elitist to come here. I fail to see how the people here are worse than the ones at LucasForums. We don't have, "OMG RAVEN R SUX PATCH TEH GAEM!!!"

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Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

I'd also suggest more stuff for the community... i.e. community links, just for projects that people work on.. for example, I'm sure a site dedicated the Massassi Music scene would be interesting.

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To myself I surrender to the one I'll never please.
But I still try to run on.
You know I still try to run on. But it's all or none.

Eddie Vedder

a Music Forum with me as it's moderator

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Eat Right, Exercise, Die Anyway.

Community projects are always fun. You've had things like MLP in the past, so expanding on that with some more official massassi projects could be interesting. Be it an official collection of short stories dealing with the fictional Massassi Temple or even compiling an album with tracks from the musically inclined here....speaking from experience, that's quite fun to do (just don't take it -too- seriously ).

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Cantina Cloud | BCF
Corrupting the kiddies since '97

Hey, man, I finished my job on the project ...

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Sigs are for n00bs.

[1337 FRNDS_Pommy | 3.14 of 14 | » And-GTx2]
Half-Life 2 Central - your definitive source for everything HL2!

Arrgh! Those things are annoying and distracting!!

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"The Tenloss Disruptor was outlawed throughout the galaxy because it's such a stupid gun"

If we have Avatars, I really think there should be an option to turn them off (if such a thing is possible.)

I've experiance Massassi on 56k, and I never want to again, especially with a 40 100x100 pictures having to load..

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[12:42] Spork: I wish I knew, coned sucked. owned owns coned and pwned.
[23:30] <happydud> Crap! I think I just dislocated my shoulder while sneazing...
MadQuack on Military school: Pro's: I get to shoot a gun. Con's: Everything else.

I know this is far fetched, but what about another massassi email?
just a suggestion.


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^^
00

I really think we should do more MLPs. With the mapping community at Massassi being just about as strong as at JK.net, we could easily start to pull in lots more traffic and visitors with something like that.

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Bassoon, n. A brazen instrument into which a fool blows out his brains.

You guys all have great ideas!

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A forum with private messages would be great, because then if I wanted to tell Gebohq to check his email, I could just fire off a PM saying, "Geb, check your email! Posse out!"

Yeah.

Hypothetically.

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Fighting for your rights; the Massassi Civil Liberties Union.

That's what AIM and MSN messenger are for, foo'

A shifty eyes smilie would be nice, too.

And really, check your email.

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Fighting for your rights; the Massassi Civil Liberties Union.

I just did. I could check again...

Really, AIM: Gebohq. MSN messenger: gebohq@hotmail.com. We can converse on more than one idea every other day this way

Just to add emphasis to that, it doesnt take much searching to find forums where sig images are allowed, and just how absurd those images get. Ive been to forums where most of the members had 300kb+ bitmap sig images, and no bloody way to turn them off... So, please, Im begging here, no sig images.

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Fight the future.

/me chants "MLP5! MLP5!"

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Have a good one,
Freelancer

Speaking of sigs, I sort of wished the boxes WEREN'T automatically checked. But that just might say that my own sig is so annoying/big that I actually worry about showing it too much...

I came up with this one a year and a half ago.

The word from blujay is that level packs are outdated because JK2/JA can do auto-download.

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Ω of 14
Half-Life 2 Central: your definitive source for everything HL2!

Yeah, but that's not the point. The whole idea of a level pack is to have get the community involved in something and say "this is what we did." To kind of unite us, sort of.

Geb: Okay, *now* check your email. Friggin' internet...

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Fighting for your rights; the Massassi Civil Liberties Union.

Design should stay, I like it. I also like allot of your ideas brian.

I know! a massassi trillian skin.


Communicate, the massassi way!

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"In the memory you'll find me. Eyes burning up.
The darkness holding me tightly.
Untill the sun rises up."

Exactly, the fact that autodownload is now around is totally irrelevant.



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Cantina Cloud | BCF
Corrupting the kiddies since '97