n/p bri, i'm rather over it at this point. that's not to say i have any time to work on this, but it's not an issue. I rarely hold grudges out past a couple weeks.

Thanks for taking over the Massassi files and hosted sites on your dedicated server, Cool Matty. Thanks, Brian, for letting us know what happened with Brad, too.

It sounds like this will be good for Brian to finally let go of "his creation". The original focus of the site (JK editing) has definitely fizzled into just forums and editing archives. Considering JK is reaching its 10-year anniversary this month or next (depending on who you trust for the info), this seems a reasonable time for Brian to "retire".

As always, I can assist with maintaining, admining, and editing the site, but I am interested mainly on the original focus of the site (via the JK Hub) and don't really care what happens with the forums. I want the main page of Massassi to keep some connection to the JK Hub. As some have suggested, placing the JK and MotS stuff "into" the JK Hub would make sense; JK Hub really is just an extension of what Massassi originally was. I could tackle the organizing and zipping or whatever for the JK and MotS files, including any big download zips or torrents. (By the way, I have every single file related to JK and MotS from Massassi on two separate hard drives, and I will be sticking around.)

For the main Massassi site, the primary step is to find a unique focus. Massassi needs a new focus, or else there really is no point in making any changes to the site. Keeping the site (even loosely) focused on editing games is a good idea. The few other gaming/editing sites I have seen are mostly cluttered nightmares; Massassi can do better. I have mentioned the idea before about having a small editing "hub" for each game; just like JK Hub is the hub for JK and MotS. That way, each new game could have its own hub (not meaning that they should all look like the JK Hub). The community can build around that, branching out to dedicated game servers, game stats, easier ways of contacting other players, etc. All of this potentially without the flashy clutter or the ad clutter of other sites.

Stretching out a bit, perhaps make the site more interesting to other geeks/nerds/gamers out there. Maybe expand or restructure the Interactive Storyboard and Showcase somehow beyond its forum form; maybe a wiki-like interface for more general showcase stuff than game editing. Fill a niche that seems left out in your Internet travels, and run with it. I don't know what that niche is, as my passion is for JK editing and playing.

What makes Massassi special? Figure it out, work it into any redesigns, and others will come.

I really agree with Gebohq

heavy on the community aspect, and heavy on the user created content part as well, doesn't have to be "game editing" could be anything music stories, artwork...

but i do think we should also still keep a healthy dose of the star wars gaming (specifically editing) involved as well.

I agree with Zeq

HI ZEQ

I'll stand behind 4 possibilities:
- The site stays as a Jedi Knight series editing site, possible expanding to Force Unleashed if it's editable and seems like a spiritual successor (heck, we were ready to go into Obi-Wan editing so this shouldn't be any different). This doesn't mean the site falls into decay, there's a few ways it could be improved.
- The site becomes a general Star Wars gaming site, or a Lucasarts gaming site like LFN only not crap.
- The site becomes a general editing site, the advantage being that we don't have stupid registration/login requirements on downloading files
- The site becomes a general Lucasarts editing site

I'd prefer an option that keeps the Star Wars/Lucasarts theme since we have a Star Wars name and if we change it we may as well just start from scratch. I don't like the idea of the site drastically changing focus and the existing community just becoming a means to give the hit rate a jump start.

I think we should start dealing in blackmarket beaguels. They have smallest droppings. That or little Geisha Dolls. Their heads wobble. HEY! People LOVE that.

Agreed. Wholeheartedly.

i'd like to see A and B. most of us are still star wars nerds.


i own http://starwarsstarwars.com/
i was going to do some stupid site about asking lucas to give us star wars on dvd wide screen. not any fixed edited crap cg star wars, star wars star wars on dvd. blech.

cool matty is a fine choice for the job. web master, server master, other master things... he's hosted about 20 domain names for me in the past 2 years. quick and easy.

btw, what's the size of the back-up of massassi's archives? i'd be more than willing to spend some cash on a dedicated hdd to store them on.

I think the primary thing that makes massassi special is its editing roots, which have evolved into a general creative focus. Yes, of course, the discussion forum spans everything including a lot of news discussions, and that should stay too, but the real core of the site is still (to me) people creating things, getting help creating things, showing off what they've created, etc. All things, too...music, art, levels, models, animations, games, stories...everything!

Now, originally I always hated it when another forum was split off from the main forums, further dividing the community. But now, in keeping with my original thoughts, and the thoughts of others who seem to be saying the same thing....I think the forums could be split up into a bunch of different sections for art, music, game editing, news, and all that, and then have them be all consolidated into one main page which allows you to expand particular forums, but which highlights discussions and showcases of interest.

I am also of the idea that the star wars focus doesn't matter anymore except as a leftover from our roots...meaning, I don't think it should be a stated focus so much as a sort of...ancestral undercurrent, obviously upheld by the name and perhaps special care given to keeping the jedi knight games alive..or at least as alive as they are now, through the community.

Three words:
Star Wars Fanfiction



In all seriousness, I like Zeq's idea of different "hubs" with different focuses. We could start out with just the JK Hub and perhaps hubs for JO and JA, but if enough members were interested in editing another game, another hub could be added.

We should in any case make it a priority to stick at least somewhat to our editing roots (preserving the discussion forum is a given).

I like this idea.

win

YES



Han and Yoda slash fiction? yeech.

In all seriousness,

Yes yes yes, ZeqMaw should be forced to help out with this. I like the guy. I'd probably go fishing with 'em.

If you actually think about it, you'd realize that site has always been about Star Wars fan fiction.

I think putting us into an editing-only/focused path severely limits us, especially the community that we've established.

I mean, just take a snapshot of threads over the past 6 months. We talk about anything and everything. Heck, sugarless doesn't even edit at all (and I KNOW there are many more of you who also don't edit whatsoever).

Also, I just noticed, but... Force Unleashed is not coming out for PC.

Wait what?

He said Force Unleashed is not coming out for PC

Every community forum talks about any and everything, regardless of what the community is about. It's not because we're no longer interested in editing that the editing sections have died, it's because we've grown up and no longer have the time for it. But that's going to apply to anything, for any kind of direction in the site we need younger members but this community chases away anybody who shows any sign of youthful immaturity.

Yes, choosing an editing-only path is limiting, but it's still branching out more than we are at the moment, then maybe once we have a larger community we can look into other things. But if you change the focus of the site drastically you're basically starting over.

To be honest, option B would almost be a good long-term aim, if it weren't for the decidedly dull "tech" aspect. I don't want to be part of a community that's full of more jumped-up techie geeks and the inevitable flamefest that follows every "what hardware should I buy?" question.

As for an editing site, there are loads of them but almost all of them are impossible to navigate effectively. Come up with a decent way of navigating huge amounts of tutorials and hosted downloads and you're on to a winner. You may not get the same amount of digg-related traffic spikes you'd get from a single good article, but you get a lot more of the kind of visitors who'd stick around for the forums.

Then what would you propose as far as editing? Any specific game? Also, keep in mind that we have to come up with content before we can draw visitors. Do we have anyone here that could even come up with such content (tutorials and such)?

Nobody said Massassi couldn't still have editing sections...it just wouldn't be ALL that it is.



Is that officially confirmed?

Wikipedia says so, and there's not a single reference to any PC version on the game's website (only console logos).

We've already got far more editing content than any other kind of content.

But really, you should see if we've actually get any community members that could write content for each of the options, rather than just people who think they can. There's no point switching to a general gaming/tech site only to find we don't have anyone who can write anything worth reading about the subjects.

That is an unscrupulous amount of homosexuality that an individual cannot enjoy this technological diversion on their personal computer!

Sige has said it's for the PC or will be ported. He's working on it so...

Unless it was canned? I mean, just google, there's even petitions for them to reconsider for the PC.

Shrug...if it were canned I would think it would have said PC and then later not say so. Presumably if it is for the PC, it will be ported later. Which means don't count on editability.

Fixed.

thats what I thought...

Well that sucks furious amounts of dick.

I kept wondering why people were talking about Force Unleashed as if it were going to be a PC game.

As for the backups, I'm definitely in. I'd burn it all to DVDs and probably shelve a HDD full too, I have enough spares. If we could get a "snapshot" of the site and forums before all the changes, it'd be nice to back that all up too.

As for Massassi vets helping to make decisions for the new focus, staffing, etc, I'd be happy to volunteer my time.

Why don't we use a cheap POD distributer and package DVDs for 3 bucks a pop?

We are going way over board.

CM: I have no problem with you as owner, even though you may and most likely have trouble with me as a member.

A general gaming/tech site with a Jedi Knight 1-2 influence site is perfect. With sections such as:

News - All sorts of news, including sub sections (games, international news, movies, sports, etc)

Fan Films - (self explicatory, I'd love to run this section, even though it would not have much activity.

Fan Fiction - Previously explained.

Web comic - Just a thought.

Forums - They must stay the same.

Chat - can stay as is

Game Files - Pretty much we'll have sections for games, and files for each

Downloads - Tools for all kinds of things, general computer stuff, image manipulation, 3d modeling, game editors, etc...

Editors Corner - Same thing only individual sections for the diversity of games, works.

These are just quick ideas. I think this is a general more attractive way of making massassi, and it will attract A LOT OF PEOPLE in time. The site however must keep a Massassi temple feel to it.

Am I the only one that giggled when I read that?

I just want to say we should discourage making a bunch of different boards on the forum, if we should decide to have our main page pull popular threads from the forums. I say this because I agree with a mentality Brian has mentioned before -- you get too many boards, and it becomes clutter spread thin, in some cases, not active at all. Just wanted to throw that out...

I vote we get rid of the ISB then. >.>

HARSH!

NAY!

At MOST I'd end up making 3 new ones, and that's even a stretch. We'd have to make at least one though.

i find you annoying. how is my opinion about you biased