Brian unfortunately has had a lot of real life issues and can't find the motivation to continue running Massassi.

I've talked it over with Brian, and we're going to be moving Massassi onto my webserver. There will certainly be a rough transition, and it'll be occurring over the next month or so. However, I think this can be a good sign for Massassi. The webserver is faster, supports more (PHP5), and I wish to discuss some major changes for Massassi's main site.

Although some won't like to admit it, JK is dead. Massassi is currently just its forums. I'd love to change this, but it's going to require a lot of work, which is where you all come in.

First we're going to move everything over, domain names, emails, files, the whole shebang. Once Massassi is running 100% on the new server, I will be creating a secondary "beta" site for our future site staff to work on. I will be keeping all our hosted stuff, there shouldn't be any concerns there.

For those worried, I have no intention of messing with the forums. What I want is to build a brand new site around our popular forums.

Of course, that means we need some new ideas. What do you all think Massassi should become? Here's a few ideas, but you're more than welcome to make up your own:

A. A general star wars gaming site
B. A general gaming/tech site. Maybe include user reviews of new games and such?
C. A generic "Star Wars" based site
D. Something not Star Wars or tech based?

Also, if you are truly interested on working on this new site, feel free to post your abilities (PHP5, HTML, Artwork, etc). Only volunteer if you really think you can put some time into it though.

As for Brian, he's mentioned that he would like to finish up the SP contest before he leaves. I'm sure he'll post and let you all know exactly how he feels and such. I really appreciate what he's done for the community, and I'm sure you all do too. He'll be sorely missed (and of course always welcome to stop by!).

I say B, it seems like that's what we have become and what most here are interested in.

I think it should remain a general Star Wars gaming site. Maybe for the new SW and Indy games, assuming they don't suck.

The problem with a generic Star Wars site or even just a Star Wars gaming-editing site is that there are millions of them out there. And often they attract so many idiots. I say we should wait to see if Force Unleashed is editable. I think the community is better when we are a niche, relating to the subject of the site. "Niche" meaning we focus so much on an old game, we established a community instead of being another mindless SW-loving fanboy site.

So, just an average STAR WARS GAMING SITE seems meh.

Edit: I think Massassi should be community-orientated. I mean, isn't that what is Massassi now and part of it's success? Trying to push the site into the mainstream Star Wars gaming seems a way to ignore the valuable part of Massassi in order to attract crowds.

Wow...just wow.

You know, it's funny, there are a lot of people who are going to rejoice, but I think this might solidify me leaving massassi. I respect Brian a lot as an admin, and an owner, and as a man of honor who has never abused his power.

Honestly, I could never see you in that light. You seem to me to be one of the worst candidates to own any part of massassi.

I'll probably leave once the transition is done.

I'm gonna say B too.

Just seems like there's a lot more potential there. Why be about a "Star Wars Games" specifically when most of them are rather lame?

@Yoshi

I'm sad to hear that :/

Seriously, if you have that much issue with me, I don't know what to say.

A. I've been an admin for a good ... 6 months now? I've yet to do anything drastic, and everything I've done was with approval of other admins.
B. Are you implying that I've somehow abused power? I don't see how...

You may hate me, and I guess there's not much that's going to change it, but you act like I'm going to totally blow away Massassi, or even Brian's views of Massassi. I've absolutely no interest in that, which is why I'm asking everyone here to help.



---

As for options, remember, you guys can come up with your own also :p I just threw some out there. I think our greatest challenge will be to give something unique to our site. I'm open to all ideas on that.

The forums are the most active part of the site so why not make the rest of the site more like the forums? I say B with a healthy helping of A.

Like you say, #cry, it'll help.

B.

I don't hate you, I just don't like the way you use (or don't) your power. I can't see you managing the way Brian does (ie, the Brad situation). I'm not saying Brian should stay on, I understand the kind of strain an online responsibility adds to an already stressful life, but I just don't want to be a part of massassi with you at the head.

Just worked this out with stat and NoESC in IRC:

How about a gaming/tech "focused" user review site? The idea is that while there is a focus on gaming/tech, you wouldn't be bound by it. A person, say, sugarless, could post a review of her trip in Europe or something, and that'd be legal.

Reviews would be posted in a special review section of the forums where either a special review staff reads them over and selects the best, or users get to vote on them, with the highest ranked submissions appearing on the main site.

While I am saddened that Brian's leaving us, I'm fairly sure I'll live without massassi. I will miss Avenger, and more than anyone else on the forums I'll miss Schming (I'll never forget what you did for me), but this isn't a ****ing CS game. It's the end of a community, as I see it, and is easily one of the more drastic changes to the community at the least.

i for one welcome our new BURGERBOY overlords

What about the Brad situation?

B is probably the best idea, but all this is a bit weird to think about. I don't know if this community would ever warm up to new members, though. If they come. I like things as they are.

That's an issue. The reason why Brian rocks is that he isn't part of the "usual crowd" on Massassian forums and distances himself from forum-related culture/sway.

I suggest the general gaming site. Star Wars is fading away for the most part, and I have felt since the release of the last film that this site should adapt into a general gaming website. I love the idea of user reviews of games, in addition to reviews of user-created content.

oh im sorry, i forgot that the internet was for serious business only.

POOLS CLOSED EVERYONE GO HOME

Here, Yoshi said you are or will be a bad admin. Over AIM, he said he had no problem with you being an admin.

In short, there is no problem with you as an admin, Yoshi just hates you. You should probably delete all these stupid posts and let the thread start over.

I can understand what you're saying. I still plan on keeping the staff in mind with my decisions as I have in the past. I certainly understand the possible bias. I'll try to avoid it if at all possible, but I'm sure you all will keep me in check also.

It will be sad to see Brian go. He never abused his power and used his own time and money to give us a place to communicate.

Just one question. Will we be receiving our souls back when Brian leaves?

The soul cabinet will be donate to the "Kedri Foundation" and all future souls donated to the cause.

B

But with heavy influence on our Star Wars roots.

[Ninja edit:] keep the same forum styles too (i.e. don't delete Massassi classic or anything) when developing new forums down the road.

As I said (OMFG READ) the forums won't be changing. All styles, forums and such will be staying. I'm not crazy, I'm not going to kill off the soul of Massassi :p

And strong roots in editing. Don't forget about that.

Sorry, I just reread your post and noticed.



Exactly. If we can somehow integrate that into the new site too...but how?

Bah. Brian has left... what? Twice already? He can't stay away. This is his first baby. Are you sure he just isn't discouraged because of the SP contest?

'twould be sad, if he did leave for good, though. Brian's guiding vision has kept Massassi from imploding. I'd hate to see Massassi go the route the Command Chamber did. It was only forums for a long time, and eventually, the forums dried up to only 1 or 2 new posts a month. Yeah, posts. A painful and ugly death.

User-reviews of user-made content? Or maybe more tutorials on doing things? More community-related news on front page? I dunno. Persoanlly, I would wait and see if Force Unleashed is editable (Spring 2008?) before anything drastic.

I could write some editing tutorials on JO/JA. People could write good (well-thoughtout) reviews on the forums which can be linked to front page? Weekly events and projects?

Don't be a Negative Nancy. [I can't believe I just typed that].

This forum is losing members every month (see: Yoshi), and our "new member" threads have been what...1 in the past year? That's why we're changing the site around a bit in a few months. Get fresh souls. Still, even so, the forum has a long way to go before death.

Brian won't be gone for good (maybe), he'll check in I'm sure.

I feel a little uncomfortable letting Brian transfer my soul to CM though >.>

I think he's pretty serious. He told me his reasons, but he asked me not to go into detail, so I won't. As I said before, I'm sure he'll let you all know everything he feels comfortable with saying.

Massassi was a major editing site, yes. But I don't see how we can continue to pursue this avenue in the future. I don't think we can compete with other dedicated editing sites. We won't be deleting our JK/JO/JA files, of course, but I think it's necessary we put it on the backburner.

If we do convert to option B, then I think we should archive the old JK/JO/JA stuff and start fresh perhaps. I don't know.

A pure game review site loses essence of what Massassi is now. That is, we have socio-political discussions and etc., along with games.

Personally I have a real problem with pure game review sites, most of them are asses.

Exactly who is going to do the reviews? There are a ton out there, and most of them suck. Why do we think we could be any better? And why would someone associate "Massassi" with anything other than Star Wars? Hell most Star Wars fans don't even know what it means.

Most Star Wars "Fans" are episode 1 people anyways.

Perhaps not so much of a game review, but in the forums we could have a game discussion: That is, someone gets their hands on a new game, reviews it, then someone comes along and says "lol ur review sux and ur opinion is wrong"

B is really the only option I could see that would 're-vitalize' the site.

Well, I was just flingings suggestion out there. Just trying to suggest ways the community can get involved because that's what Massassi is left with. But yeah, reviews on sites tend to fall under the "one-voice" feeling. But not so much when it comes to reviewing user-made content, that leaves room for decent criticism and ideas for editing instead for fanboy-feeding when it comes to retail games. And seeing that we are basically an editing site:

Review of major games: fanboy nightmare
Review of user-create stuff: Possible room for criticism and keeps in the nature of Massassi's editing history.

*shrug*

edit: mispelled criticism twice.

Hey, me too. I'm not complaining about that.

The idea of this review site would be a focus on user-submitted reviews. Anyone could write something up and post it. And then the best ones make it into the Massassi website. It allows anyone at all to participate. Quality control would be done through people voting on the reviews they like. Bad reviews fail to make it to the site, and are eventually closed.

As for reviewing user-made content... you kinda need user-made content to review >.>

That's true. But it seems something like that would be just a fancier gaming blog site. And people would rate pretty much on gamer bias, like PS3-Wii-Xbox fanboyism. If there was a comment section involved, I could see it turn into a nightmare to control, fight among members.