Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!scea!peter_alau@playstation.sony.com From: "Ed Federmeyer" Newsgroups: scea.yaroze.freetalk,scee.yaroze.freetalk Subject: Re: *ping* Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 12:18:26 -0500 Organization: Ed Federmeyer Lines: 168 Message-ID: <70ait8$alr9@scea> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: charlie.cns.iit.edu X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 Sean Kennedy wrote in message ... >This is a RANT! >The North American arena of the Net Yaroze members has trickled to a >stand-still. >Since Bill Rehbock left for the VM Labs project; taking most of the vital >organs of the Net Yaroze program along with him, the North American sector >of Net Yaroze has been hit with the largest case of Membership Lethargy >That I have seen. This is *my* rant. What do you expect Sony to do about it? This is supposed to be a *member supported* goup. In other words, Sony gave us the tools, and it's up to us to do stuff with them. Yeah, maybe they'll have updates once in a while, but the original stuff was much much better than what you'd get on those "console hacker dude" web sites. Look at the stuff I've done, with the same Sony tools as everyone else got. I get so tired of people complaining about the state of SCEA Net Yaroze, but very little being *produced* by our membership. I also get so tire of people touting thier super-graphics web pages or lamenting there terrible HTML skills. Get over it, Net Yaroze isn't about a great personal web page. I'd rather check out plain text (fast loading) web pages with CONTENT that pages that take forever to load because they have tons of logos and stuff, and then just say "check back often for updates!!!". You spent $750 for the priveledge of programming a Playstation, not creating a web page!!! You can get web page space for FREE!!! You'll make alot more money as a good programmer than as a good web page designer. Put your time where it is best spent! Start small, and work your way up. Check out my member web page to see a great progression. I would not have been able to make "Haunted Maze" without making "ballpad" first! Sean, I just checked out your web page, and it's all very nice to see all kinds of links to outside "rocketry" sites, and all that other stuff you're interested in. Now, how about putting some YAROZE related content up? Other than "Big news, Sean is back in the Yaroze world!!! Check back often!!!" There are some other cases of this also. Why do some people insist on mixing all your hobbies. How about Yaroze related stuff on your YAROZE site, and maybe a nice pointer to your other stuff for people who are really interested? I humbly suggest my member page for an example. Heck, even the SCEE membership activity largely consists of DEnnis posting in thier freetalk group, and flamewars. Jeeze, I have like 500 unread scee freetalk messages related to the DEnnis/Tanvir debacle. Sheesh, I really don't need that here on the SCEA sites too!!! The big difference between SCEE and us is that they find the time to sit down and program something inbetween thier freetalk noise. Rather than just complain though, here are some suggestions: 1) Net Yaroze price. I know at least 5 people at work who are awsome software engineers, who also like videogames. They would *love* to get into the Yaroze program, but it's hard to justify $750 to the wife. (in general). Our SCEE friends have had two price drops already, and I think they are currently the quivelent of about $250??? Jeeze, I'd really like to get my friends in, and $250 would easily bring an influx of new members. I've already written to the SCEA honchos, and the response was "no". So much for that. 2) Net Yaroze get-together Admittedly, I dropped the ball on this one. I was going to have one at my place in August, but due to many many things, I let it slide. However, I'm here to atone! Anyone who can get to the Chicago area is welcome to attend a Net Yaroze get-together at my house. we'll have it in early January, when the snow is deep, and the weather is otherwise terrible, perfect for staying inside and concentrating on making games! Send me email if you are interested: fedeedw@charlie.cns.iit.edu We'll pick the exact weekend in the next few weeks. People are welcome to come over on Friday evening, and all day Satuday and Sunday, some of the times, or all of the times! Sorry, if you coming from out of town, you'll need to find a place to stay at night, but there are several hotels in the nearby area. Contact me if you need and I'll make up a list for you to check with. Sorry, I can't extend it into the weekdays, I do have to work. 3) Group project. Anyone interested in making a side-scrolling action adventure? I still want to make one. I need a graphics artist and a musician and sound effect person. I think I can program it alone, what I need is art and music. Play the shareware "Hocus Pocus" PC game to get an idea of what I'm thinking. Then Email me if you're into that sort of game. 4) Minor web page change I'd like to have an option to list the member pages in the order that they have been updated. How about getting to a small (fast) page that says "Member pages alphabetically or by date", then taking you to the pages (sorted as requested). NOT like the SCEE wait for one sorted listing before you can choose to wait for the OTHER sorted listing. People really need to be more sensitive of how long people need to wait, and what they are waiting for, when they design web pages. >This is an important factor here. The yaroze program is for hobbyists who >will praise the virtues of the platform to their friends, and indirectly >stimulate the development of budding persons who wish to grow up to be >Game Developers of Intereactive Computer Entertainment. Like I mentioned, I tried, but $750 is a big chunk of money. Even for well paid engineers. I'm very fortunate that my wife is so understanding about my hobbies. >Why is it that the program that was so successful here, is left to rot, >while the Yaroze Team in England at Waverly House are putting us to shame >with their innovative look and feel, and savvy when it comes to a really >pretty web-site. Again, WHO CARES what the web site LOOKS like, thats B.S. I don't have a problem with the look or organazation of our SCEA web site framework. The action is *supposed* to be on the member web pages. As long as the "official" website framework directs you to the web pages, thats all we really need. >Web-site maintenance is one thing, but come on! >It IS really nice to know about the last On-line conference of SURVIVAL >that took place last August, in 1997! It is So Nice that I'd rather go to >the local cemetery and stare at monuments or something! >And Java bits and ActiveX containers that are broken? Why do we want to >see the broken bits. Its like being forced to drive in a Rusted/ dented >rental car. What is broken? The only problem I've encounted is Greg LaBrec's web page description. No big deal. Did anyone mention it to Sony? Now I have. Can someone fix that? >The real question that I am asking here is: Where are the Sony people? >Specifically, where is J. Patton?? > >I met J. At the E3 meet in Atlanta last May, and my impression of J. Was >that he was a really decent fellow. But decent or not he should be putting >press releases on the Yaroze site at least once every Quarter! >If J. Is going to be the Leader of the Net Yaroze program here in North >America, I'd like to keep up with what is happening. Even if it is a "The >Weather Here in San Fransisco is Just Fine Thank You" kind of Press >release. > >We Need Something! I hardly think a "weather" press release is the answer. What we need are programs/games/demos from ourselves, the members. >Al I am doing is rattling the cage a bit. I think that there would be some >benefits to stirring up the web-site a bit. Making some "R-ah R-ah R-ah" >noises and getting some activity together. Otherwise, dust is going to >gather on the black Playstations, and then where will we be? Okay, your rattling got me to post the Chicago Net Yaroze get-together. :-) EdF