Parallax Scroll
Banned
This too. Release dates as plain text pls.Sixfortyfive said:
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Bloated, PR paste-bin |OT|s are a plague on these boards
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Parallax Scroll said:
Duly noted. I even realized myself before putting it up image-as-text was probably what people would complain about most, and I see people prefer the whole bullet-pointed breakdown of the factoids instead of an image.Sixfortyfive said:
And yeah, some of the sizing is a bit questionable, I might work on that later. See originally the "Marvel" and "Capcom" headers felt too big, but they were only so big to compensate for the character images and not get dwarfed by them, even though the character images kind of dwarf the banners themselves. I do not disagree with any of these criticisms. I may still tweak stuff, but therein lies the issue of whether the text in the images will be still readable if made smaller. Again, I appreciate the replies.
I disagree, way too many images.SykoTech said:
Let the publishers do all the PR jazz, they do not deserve getting shit handed to them for free as they are already making money from you.
All those character images in the marvel vs capcom thread could be condensed to one-two paragraphs of text.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
Honestly, having to exercise my scroll wheel from the very start because all I see is (half of) the title image already puts it off on the wrong foot.enzo_gt said:
Aselith said:
So an |OT| should just be straight text of all the game's info before a single image or any sign of creativity is made? That sounds extremely dull.
Really hope that the people who actually make these threads aren't taking everything to heart. Some of the suggestions are nice and I would agree that the Revelations thread is a bit cluttered. But others make it seem like you guys want to turn the place into a no fun zone. Save the extreme restrictions on images and expression for GameFAQs.
Sixfortyfive
He who pursues two rabbits gets two rabbits.
I'd prefer this over the standard industry review links and excerpts, which I often wonder why they've been put there in the first place. Who goes out of their way to read those?Detox said:
Awesome Animals
Member
This may be a controversial opinion, but I like them 
fernoca said:
If you are making a thread that presents one person's argument for a game then that is fine by me. If you are making an OT that presents its argument in the same way advertising does then its not so okay.
The issue here is cohesive. The amount of and type of OPs in these threads turns the Gaming Forum into a billboard. OT after OT, with images and hype and a basic sell job are the issue. This problem influences further consumerist behavior and lessens the quality of discussion on the board. It's not just an issue that stays within the OTs. This behavior feeds into the binary way of thinking that makes discussion aggravating to partake in. Consumerism is very love it/hate it and proudly show it.
Jive Turkey
Unconfirmed Member
I love how these OTs now need an entire post just for avatars. So pointless.
If you want short and concise OTs then I suggest you look at some of the OTs on the Off-topic side of NeoGAF.
Look at the following threads as an example:
Relatively picture heavy one, but still fits into one OT and pictures only there to make each section much more clearer.
Very light on the pictures and some text, with no need for scrolling.
Or look at the film/music threads for some inspiration.
Look at the following threads as an example:
Relatively picture heavy one, but still fits into one OT and pictures only there to make each section much more clearer.
Very light on the pictures and some text, with no need for scrolling.
Or look at the film/music threads for some inspiration.
Review links usually end up being kind of auto fellatio in the thread, and are mostly very selective. I dislike that. I disregarded review links period, I don't care for them, and I care even less for fighting game reviews where the reviewers have no clue what they're talking about.Sixfortyfive said:
dr3upmushroom
Banned
Pretty odd issue. On one hand, if people really feel the need to make them, it doesn't feel right to tell them they can't.
On the other hand, starting the thread with this huge, designed love letter to the game isn't exactly the best way to invite open discussion of it. It's hard enough to criticize anything on GAF without someone saying a "Haters gonna hate" equivalent or asking why you're even in the thread if you're not there to love every aspect of the game, and the OTs like the AssCreed one just scream "I FUCKING LOVE THIS GAME!"
But, like tons of other people mentioned, I feel like hardly anyone actually reads them anyway, so in the end at best they're a waste of time. I've always wondered why exactly people make them. The average GAF user isn't going to learn much they didn't already know about a game they're interested in from the OT OP anyway, and especially when they're as long as that AssCreed one there's no way more than a handful of people are actually going through and reading all that.
Someone mentioned early in the thread that sometimes people who make the lovey-dovey OTs get gifts from the game's PR team. I'm not sure how legit that is and I've never heard of it, but if that's true that's enough to shut them down as far as I'm concerned. The thread is supposed to be to discuss the game, not advertise it.
On the other hand, starting the thread with this huge, designed love letter to the game isn't exactly the best way to invite open discussion of it. It's hard enough to criticize anything on GAF without someone saying a "Haters gonna hate" equivalent or asking why you're even in the thread if you're not there to love every aspect of the game, and the OTs like the AssCreed one just scream "I FUCKING LOVE THIS GAME!"
But, like tons of other people mentioned, I feel like hardly anyone actually reads them anyway, so in the end at best they're a waste of time. I've always wondered why exactly people make them. The average GAF user isn't going to learn much they didn't already know about a game they're interested in from the OT OP anyway, and especially when they're as long as that AssCreed one there's no way more than a handful of people are actually going through and reading all that.
Someone mentioned early in the thread that sometimes people who make the lovey-dovey OTs get gifts from the game's PR team. I'm not sure how legit that is and I've never heard of it, but if that's true that's enough to shut them down as far as I'm concerned. The thread is supposed to be to discuss the game, not advertise it.
Jive Turkey
Unconfirmed Member
In an OT they're completely pointless. You want an avatar? Bust out Gimp and crop an image.Willy105 said:
KuwabaraTheMan
Banned
I have to agree. The bloated OTs which feel like little more than PR pieces have become worse and worse over the years, and they detract from discussion of the game. There's no need for so much extraneous information. If a person wants to read up on what happened in previous games, there are much better places to get that information.
A good OT should have, in my opinion, release date and platform information (with spec requirements for PC games), a brief description of game play and perhaps some story/setting information (nothing too extravagant though), staff listings, and ideally some links to reviews and feedback from GAF posters. Other information may be pertinent for certain games (patch/updates, multiplayer information, etc), but there's really no need for long plot summaries, character bios, information on every other game in the series, etc. That stuff is just meaningless bloat.
These ultra long OTs try to provide so much information that it's often difficult to find the most pertinent information, because it's buried underneath a wall of images, PR quotes, and summaries of every single area in the game. It's completely counter productive.
A good OT should have, in my opinion, release date and platform information (with spec requirements for PC games), a brief description of game play and perhaps some story/setting information (nothing too extravagant though), staff listings, and ideally some links to reviews and feedback from GAF posters. Other information may be pertinent for certain games (patch/updates, multiplayer information, etc), but there's really no need for long plot summaries, character bios, information on every other game in the series, etc. That stuff is just meaningless bloat.
These ultra long OTs try to provide so much information that it's often difficult to find the most pertinent information, because it's buried underneath a wall of images, PR quotes, and summaries of every single area in the game. It's completely counter productive.
Awesome Animals
Member
Full Recovery said:
If you want this goto gamespot.com
Jamesways
Member
Artanisix said:
Yeah! It should only be one post, no, only one sentence. This game is out, discuss here. And no images! You want to know what a game looks like, you fucking play it. Or look on the internet.
Including information is for suckers and chumps. You want release dates? System specs? That's what google is for!
N
NinjaFridge
Unconfirmed Member
I don't mind if they get something by the dev's after the thread is made but it bBranduil said:
ecomes a problem when the threads are made because they have received something in return.
blame space
Banned
this board is too serious
EmCeeGramr
Member
Congrats at completely missing the point and accidentally agreeing with the anti-hugeass-OP crowd.Jamesways said:
MessieurCouchon
Member
For me, OT's like that AC one are a bit too much. They take up too much space, they have too much irrelevant information, and the opening topic doesn't really help me decide if I'm interested or not in the game, since there's no specific place in it too look for the info that I'm after. I couldn't care less about top view plans of some game areas. Not to mention they look like something out of a messy magazine advertisement.
EDIT: Ideally, an OT would look like what BFI's magazine Sight & Sound does for movies. Precise, professional, and to the point, with synoptic, relevant information.
EDIT: Ideally, an OT would look like what BFI's magazine Sight & Sound does for movies. Precise, professional, and to the point, with synoptic, relevant information.
Kuro Madoushi
Unconfirmed Member
I was about to say you're bad and you should feel bad.
Then I saw the AC:R thread.
Hold me :'(
Then I saw the AC:R thread.
Hold me :'(
Aselith said:
A sarcastic and unfunny repsonse with no kind of substance behind it at all, eh? That's a shame. And your first post made it seem like you were actually worth replying to.
Shanadeus said:
Now this is fine. No lame "no images until every bit of text/info is filled" setup, but it doesn't go too overboard. I'd be good with that.
Sickboy007
Member
blame space said:
Truly the champion of the people.
jim-jam bongs
Member
It's not really cool to suggest that people are getting incentives to create advertorial OTs on GAF without proof imo, kind of promotes a Salem-esque mood. I don't like the threads but unless we know that's happening you're slagging a lot of people off by implication.
I'm an expert
Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
I appreciate the effort of the OPs,(though I don't know how they find the time to collect all that information and make those giant images..I mean..seriously..that's a lot of free time for a message board post..) but I CAN'T STAND the text-as-images thing. I don't want images period minus some thumbnails and boxart. And I have blazing fast internet, so that's not the issue. The AC:R thread looks great and informative but man..those images... I think my favorite OT lately is Ratchet and Clank All Four One. To the point.
Togglesworlh
Banned
Obviously, because I am a sane and reasonable human being, I fucking hate them. It took me 30 seconds to mousewheel past that monstrosity that I'll never read.
Now, what I find especially hilarious about these OPs, is you have people who in one thread will mock some random dude on YouTube for "spending too much time" on a hobby, and in another thread, praise whoever spent hours putting together a monstrous OT for a game they like.
Now, what I find especially hilarious about these OPs, is you have people who in one thread will mock some random dude on YouTube for "spending too much time" on a hobby, and in another thread, praise whoever spent hours putting together a monstrous OT for a game they like.
jim-jam bongs
Member
Shanadeus said:
Well, in my opinion the former would be unethical, the latter just rather tragic.
jim-jam bongs said:
If they are not getting compensated then it's rather sad. The forum makes money through traffic generated, the game producer gets copy written for them and the benefit of whatever interest it generates, the same with any store offering pre-order bonuses getting more traffic, but the person doing all the work gets nothing?
Sickboy007
Member
Willy105 said:
We all know the machinations of the Man.
I actually forgot to vote, making me a perfect representative of the will of the common people.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
I know the difference between criticism and whining. I would love to see more thoughtful criticism. But most of what I see is, "This one minor detail isn't exactly the way I want therefore the whole thing is dogshit." The key to good criticism is balance and accuracy.stupei said:
Togglesworlh
Banned
I also wonder how many people who praise these abominations actually read them.
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