Point out the blatantly obvious from a viewer's perspective [locked]

2011-01-18 04:09:24 pm

Balls jerky

Before you even see the schedule, you see this:

Here's the list of what games we're playing and when. Remember, all times are EST (GMT -5).
Run times are approximate, so our schedule is subject to change. Keep checking back to stay updated!

It's not our fault you're too lazy to do basic math.

arkarian

2011-01-18 07:06:42 pm

gamelogs.org

trying to think of how to do that. i'm sure it's possible, so it's something i can look into next year if i do the schedule script again.

mike89

2011-01-18 08:07:21 pm

SEGA Junkie

Oh, this might be obvious, but if possible next year if we're going to dynamically update the schedule in the same way, when you update it after every run you should change the start time of the run to the actual time instead of having it based on the time of the previous run. Then we avoid things like DKC2 "taking" three and a half hours to adjust all at once.

arkarian

Edit history:

arkarian: 2011-01-18 11:30:36 pm

2011-01-18 11:30:24 pm

gamelogs.org

that's due to how the spreadsheet works. there's probably a way around that too, but it's for whoever does the spreadsheet to figure out. seems like what mike ended up doing (adding "setup" rows) would probably be the best again.

Mystery

2011-01-19 04:40:48 pm

Quote from dballin:

Before you even see the schedule, you see this:

Here's the list of what games we're playing and when. Remember, all times are EST (GMT -5).
Run times are approximate, so our schedule is subject to change. Keep checking back to stay updated!

It's not our fault you're too lazy to do basic math.

Oh come on. It's just for convenience. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?

arkarian

Edit history:

arkarian: 2011-01-19 05:25:49 pm

arkarian: 2011-01-19 05:25:27 pm

2011-01-19 05:25:06 pm

gamelogs.org

i agree it would be great to have a dropdown with all the timezones. thinking about it now, it probably wouldn't be too tricky to run the times through a timezone function in php before displaying them. can even have it auto-detect the person's zone.

Zealie

2011-01-21 01:42:22 pm

@dbballin yeah I knew it had that, just tried to make everything more convienient as some pointed out. Every small thing helps. Now that I think of it the thing that threw me off the most were the PM and AM. (we don't have that here, (digital) 24 hour clock ftw)

Furthermore, this idea might be more for nate, but only I just noticed the 'need help syncing' thread (yeah I know, I'm also blind). Anyway, I wanted to help out but soon realised I had a pretty tough time syncing it properly for random runs I haven't really seen.

This gave me the idea that maybe, if at all possible, you had so me sort of clapboard or anything so you could sync the runs. It doesn't really do anything for the viewers or charity, but it sure saves some hassle afterwards. For all I care the runner, or someone else snaps his/her fingers the second he/she presses the start button to play the game. It would be a great reference and if all runs had this, that current job of synching them would have been done by now I think.

So this really is more a suggestion towards the one who will do the run then anything else, just thought I put it out there. Because I haven't seen it suggested yet.

@dbballin yeah I knew it had that, just tried to make everything more convienient as some pointed out. Every small thing helps. Now that I think of it the thing that threw me off the most were the PM and AM. (we don't have that here, (digital) 24 hour clock ftw)

Furthermore, this idea might be more for nate, but only I just noticed the 'need help syncing' thread (yeah I know, I'm also blind). Anyway, I wanted to help out but soon realised I had a pretty tough time syncing it properly for random runs I haven't really seen.

This gave me the idea that maybe, if at all possible, you had so me sort of clapboard or anything so you could sync the runs. It doesn't really do anything for the viewers or charity, but it sure saves some hassle afterwards. For all I care the runner, or someone else snaps his/her fingers the second he/she presses the start button to play the game. It would be a great reference and if all runs had this, that current job of synching them would have been done by now I think.

So this really is more a suggestion towards the one who will do the run then anything else, just thought I put it out there. Because I haven't seen it suggested yet.

Lag.Com

2011-01-22 06:38:19 am

sda loyalist

I started manually changing the 'start' field on the spreadsheet to when the run actually started, but I wasn't always there/people didn't always read the note I wrote so it isn't consistent.

Zeo

2011-01-22 07:36:01 am

Quote from ZaibirQuild:

Furthermore, this idea might be more for nate, but only I just noticed the 'need help syncing' thread (yeah I know, I'm also blind). Anyway, I wanted to help out but soon realised I had a pretty tough time syncing it properly for random runs I haven't really seen.

This gave me the idea that maybe, if at all possible, you had so me sort of clapboard or anything so you could sync the runs. It doesn't really do anything for the viewers or charity, but it sure saves some hassle afterwards. For all I care the runner, or someone else snaps his/her fingers the second he/she presses the start button to play the game. It would be a great reference and if all runs had this, that current job of synching them would have been done by now I think.

Actually I had this thought before. I don't know if it would cause controller lag to hook up a button logger or not. but then have the button logger set up make a noise every-time the start button is pressed and have players to press the start button during cut scenes as well. the sound could even be silently added to the commentary recoding and not streamed out-loud.

[quote="ZaibirQuild"]

Furthermore, this idea might be more for nate, but only I just noticed the 'need help syncing' thread (yeah I know, I'm also blind). Anyway, I wanted to help out but soon realised I had a pretty tough time syncing it properly for random runs I haven't really seen.

This gave me the idea that maybe, if at all possible, you had so me sort of clapboard or anything so you could sync the runs. It doesn't really do anything for the viewers or charity, but it sure saves some hassle afterwards. For all I care the runner, or someone else snaps his/her fingers the second he/she presses the start button to play the game. It would be a great reference and if all runs had this, that current job of synching them would have been done by now I think.
[/quote]

Actually I had this thought before.  I don't know if it would cause controller lag to hook up a button logger or not.  but then have the button logger set up make a noise every-time the start button is pressed and have players to press the start button during cut scenes as well.  the sound could even be silently added to the commentary recoding  and not streamed out-loud.

Zealie

2011-01-22 08:16:44 am

I think mike is having a bad day seeing he banned someone (not going to argue if it was deserved or not) and changed the name of this toppic to something rather silly if you ask me.

I guess help is not wanted from other circles then the ones participating in the marathon?
Or maybe he had his other reasons.
Ah well I'll just shut up if it is so desired.

Lag.Com

2011-01-22 08:19:40 am

sda loyalist

mike remarked that everything said in this topic by people who weren't present has been entirely useless and/or obvious

rereading the threat has given me much the same view

moooh

2011-01-22 09:31:22 am

Exoray

Well, there have been some good points made by off-site people in this topic but I agree that most of the posts has been of the kind "you were behind in schedule, I didn't like that", so I can definitely see why he's tired of hearing it all over again (viewers moaned about that during the entire marathon, so it's just not here the repetition of the obvious appears).

Having something to help with sync of the two videos is definitely a must for the next time. It can be as easy as the runner saying "pressing start, NOW".
For the record, the synching is not what's taking time, it's the recovery of some of the semi-corrupt files that has been slowing down progress on the videos.

Rakuen

Edit history:

Rakuen: 2011-01-22 10:19:46 am

Rakuen: 2011-01-22 10:12:46 am

Rakuen: 2011-01-22 10:12:05 am

2011-01-22 10:11:47 am

Weegee Time

Quote from Lag.Com:

mike remarked that everything said in this topic by people who weren't present has been entirely useless and/or obvious

When dealing with people who are trying to offer help you should show a measure of contempt as indirectly as possible. I can't believe I didn't think of doing that myself.

Seriously, Mike, even obvious solutions get overlooked every day and what's obvious to one person isn't to another. If every single suggestion is really so obvious, why weren't they all done this year? I'll tell you why. It's because nobody's perfect, not even you or I. I can understand being annoyed at all the people who come in and talk about the schedule, but that's no reason to be a blanked douche when other people are trying to brainstorm actual solutions. That's especially true if you're not willing to say it yourself.

Now that I've sufficiently derailed this thread, back on topic, title be damned.

mikwuyma

Edit history:

mikwuyma: 2011-01-22 10:29:15 am

2011-01-22 10:24:22 am

My feelings on The Demon Rush

Rakuen: Then I'll say it myself so you won't whine about it, 90% of what's been said in this thread is a cesspool of useless suggestions and SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE. I will say the page listing the donation bids and such, and IRC bots are both very good suggestions. The reason why the suggestions obvious now and not during the marathon is because these problems/suggestions became readily apparent during the marathon, not before. Adding more time to everyone's game is blatantly obvious to everyone who was there, so why suggest it 100 more times? In fact, I was kinda pissed people kept on making really tight time estimates because it only meant more chance for them to go over time. Why didn't I implement a looser schedule right on the spot? Because I had no idea how tight or forgiving some of the estimates were. So I would either be overcompensating or undercompensating.

It has nothing to do with being perfect, it has everything to do with how everyone in this topic assumes we're idiots who didn't watch the marathon ourselves.

I am not kidding when I say this thread is the same 4 or 5 complaints and suggestions over and over with some actual good ones buried underneath, and I have to dig deep for the good ones.

P.S. I can't believe I had to explain the blatantly obvious part.

Rakuen: Then I'll say it myself so you won't whine about it,  90% of what's been said in this thread is a cesspool of useless suggestions and SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE. I will say the page listing the donation bids and such, and IRC bots are both very good suggestions. The reason why the suggestions obvious now and not during the marathon is because these problems/suggestions became readily apparent during the marathon, not before. Adding more time to everyone's game is blatantly obvious to everyone who was there, so why suggest it 100 more times? In fact, I was kinda pissed people kept on making really tight time estimates because it only meant more chance for them to go over time. Why didn't I implement a looser schedule right on the spot? Because I had no idea how tight or forgiving some of the estimates were. So I would either be overcompensating or undercompensating.

It has nothing to do with being perfect, it has everything to do with how everyone in this topic assumes we're idiots who didn't watch the marathon ourselves.

I am not kidding when I say this thread is the same 4 or 5 complaints and suggestions over and over with some actual good ones buried underneath, and I have to dig deep for the good ones.

P.S. I can't believe I had to explain the blatantly obvious part.

Paraxade

2011-01-22 10:32:09 am

I imagine that, regardless of how obvious everything being posted was, most of the people posting in this thread were trying to help and there are probably a lot of better ways to handle it than openly ridiculing all of them.

mikwuyma

2011-01-22 10:33:41 am

My feelings on The Demon Rush

Zaibirquild: Look at 13013's posts, his banning was long overdue.

Paraxade: I'll disrespectfully disagree. Tongue

Zeo

Edit history:

Zeo: 2011-01-22 10:40:52 am

2011-01-22 10:40:27 am

Indeed on 13013.

Okay: One NOT so obvious suggestion. what about a microphone headset for the current runner? No offense but I'm a LOT MORE interested in what they are saying about their own run, then the revelry going on in the background most of the time.

Rakuen

Edit history:

Rakuen: 2011-01-22 10:45:26 am

2011-01-22 10:42:59 am

Weegee Time

Bitchwhinemoancomplain. Tongue

I didn't assume you're an idiot. I don't think anyone here has assumed anyone else is an idiot, with the exception of 13013. Just don't act like a jerk about it, okay?

Regardless, feel better now?

mikwuyma

2011-01-22 10:44:48 am

My feelings on The Demon Rush

Zeo: This will be debated until the end of time. Some people want focus on the runner, but others want focus on the commentators, and others just want whatever the hell can be heard in the room.

Zeo

Edit history:

Zeo: 2011-01-22 10:49:24 am

2011-01-22 10:49:02 am

True, I was just thinking of giving the runner a volume boost though because they tend to be furthest away of all relevant conversation from the mic.

Rakuen

2011-01-22 10:50:39 am

Weegee Time

Actually, I think the runner and the commentator were about equidistant from the mic, and then everyone else is even further back. So long as everyone in the peanut gallery isn't trying to talk at the same time, it should work fine the way it is.

Aitamen

Edit history:

Aitamen: 2011-01-22 10:51:22 am

2011-01-22 10:50:43 am

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

^Actually, since all of this *is* recorded, while I'm unsure the benefit to the marathon as it's live, it may be beneficial to get a clip-mic or something to record it and have it as an optional track for the run post-marathon. I don't know how hard it'd be for whoever does the syncing, without audio cues, but that too was a good idea....

EDIT: Oh... wow, this was a reply to Uyama... slow tired typer~

Sir VG

2011-01-22 10:56:27 am

Fucking Weeaboo

I think the commentary audio wouldn't have been as bad if there wasn't so much extra chatter in the room. That boom mic picked it up TOO well. ^^;;

Aitamen

2011-01-22 10:57:46 am

Bwahahaha... there WILL be domination!

Also, on a personal note, I can only think of a couple times I had any trouble hearing the runner talk, I thought people did really well on that note.

Flip

2011-01-22 11:44:24 am

1-Up!

Quote from Rakuen:

Just don't act like a jerk about it, okay?

Quote from Rakuen:

Bitchwhinemoancomplain. Tongue

:/ Seriously? Also I saw your post before the edit, so I'm even more surprised at this. Btw putting a Tongue

in there doesn't all of a sudden make it not rude.

Mike is right, there are some good suggestions in here but they're horribly buried under the most obvious crap and a ton of gripes. Fact of the matter is that this thread shouldn't have been made 1 hour after the marathon when all of us were exhausted after working so hard and putting so much of ourselves into doing the best we could. Nearly everybody involved took offense and I don't blame them. I understand the mentality that it needs to be "fresh" but we're posting ALL of the videos AND the chat logs. Also the assumption in this thread that those at the marathon were completely disconnected from the viewer experience was really dumb.

I'm locking this thread, because it's not worth trying to save at this point. Here in about a week I'll probably make a new suggestions thread and I'll bring over the decent suggestions from this thread. That'll give people some time to cool down and hopefully we can have a more productive discussion.

[quote="Rakuen"]Just don't act like a jerk about it, okay?[/quote]
[quote="Rakuen"]Bitchwhinemoancomplain. :P[/quote]
:/ Seriously?  Also I saw your post before the edit, so I'm even more surprised at this.  Btw putting a :P in there doesn't all of a sudden make it not rude.

Mike is right, there are some good suggestions in here but they're horribly buried under the most obvious crap and a ton of gripes.  Fact of the matter is that this thread shouldn't have been made 1 hour after the marathon when all of us were exhausted after working so hard and putting so much of ourselves into doing the best we could.  Nearly everybody involved took offense and I don't blame them.  I understand the mentality that it needs to be "fresh" but we're posting ALL of the videos AND the chat logs.  Also the assumption in this thread that those at the marathon were completely disconnected from the viewer experience was really dumb.

I'm locking this thread, because it's not worth trying to save at this point.  Here in about a week I'll probably make a [i]new[/i] suggestions thread and I'll bring over the decent suggestions from this thread.  That'll give people some time to cool down and hopefully we can have a more productive discussion.