I'm posting this here because I don't have a blog (though I am going to get a membership soon), but it is about the community.
I'm not sure why so many people jump to leaving BYOND. I don't know if it's just me, but I've actually founda significant amount of friends on the site that have supported my choice to become a programmer. I like the anonymity of the site - you can really be who you are online, or you can be who you wish you were. I personally choose to be myself, and online I tend to have more success - I suppose the feeling that nothing is truly personal helps me feel that I can gain friends without the fear of losing them - and yet over time, I have actually gained some good friends that I wouldn't mind hanging out with in real life because I know we'd get along fine. I consider two members in particular rather good friends, and just recently I have actually re-met some oldbies I knew from way back when (on a key I'm sure none of you remember).
I too left BYOND for years on end (Calus CoRPS can attest to that the best), and would come back, do a bit of programming, play a game, and then leave again. I never knew why - I always credited BYOND for being the start of my programming career, but never stuck with it as much as I am attached now. But this was my start - I've been around longer than most of you probably think, and while there were a significant bunch that were here before me, I've seen BYOND grow as I grew as well.
I'm not sure why so many people are here to jump the gun and leave. The site is called BYOND (Build Your Own Net Dream), and yet I haven't seen many dreams floating around here. I've seen many anime creators' dreams being reincarnated, but we all know none of us have created Naruto, Bleach, DBZ, Pokemon, etc. The game I'm working on is the 2d version of my dream. I too haven't created my dream game - I thought I was for a long time, but it wasn't working out. I honed my programming skills, and while I have a lot to learn, I feel I am competent enough to get the job done. 6 years later after I made that first "Hello world." verb, I am ready to take what I know and make something. Make something that hopefully can get some kind of community - that won't be stolen or taken over by trolls. Something that is defining of my personality - and whether it is successful or not, at least I made something. And I'll be proud. And yet so many people on BYOND make something that is sub-par; a rip or a lousy game where there isn't even any proper AI done.
I don't care about how the site looks, I don't care about Tom's attitude towards people - he has done so much for us and none of us recognize it. Well, I'm here to say thank you Tom, and Dan (even though you are long gone), and Lummox JR, and everyone that has contributed. You have provided us a gateway to really create what we want. Sure, it's 2d, but in a previous post I made about the SNES in the gaming section, I sure have a lot more fun with a majority of 2d games then I do with these (somewhat too realistic) 3d games out and about now. This is a great place to reincarnate the true meaning of gameplay ~ creating really fun games where you don't have to focus on realism, just beauty in art and programming that anyone can do.
Nobody appreciates that, and everyone just focuses on the "Oh, the forums look archaic" (which I personally think is wrong - I think this is one of the best forum structures I've ever seen), or "the website design is horrible." Sure, the colors might be off, but nobody will come here anyways if nobody makes any good games.
There are good people here. If you feel lonely, you can easily hit up Chatters and meet some people I have no problem calling a friend. Or really any game with a decent community. And this is a great place to start your programming career ~ but please start and finish. I've failed at this concept and 6 years later am making up for it. And if I can, then so can you.
I don't get this deep normally, but the end of the year and several events happening to me... it aggravates me what BYOND is coming to, compared to what it used to be (especially pre-4.0). It's not the engine, it's the people. I grew up too. I know what you might be thinking. But at least go out with a big shi-BANG if you are going to leave. Don't just give up because "BYOND is shit." It's not. It's just what you make of it. Make friends. Make games. Stop complaining and learn to be thankful that what you are given (for free mind you) is an opening to the wonderful world of game development, computer programming, and a great community that is more supportive than my own group of friends in the real world.
Thank you BYOND Staff, and the great community (well, the great ones of the community) that have flocked to help shape me into the programmer I am today, and that will continue to help me become the best I can be.
ID:181296
 Dec 30 2010, 8:39 am
|
|
|
Dec 30 2010, 9:06 am (Edited on Dec 30 2010, 9:35 am)
|
|
Jlxati
 |
Good luck, with your project.
|
Wow.
This guy is preaching the truth right now. Thats just about exactly how I feel and more! | |
"I've seen many anime creators' dreams being reincarnated, but we all know none of us have created Naruto, Bleach, DBZ, Pokemon"
Last time when i said something about RIPs(on byond forum)....well , let just say i was a little too fierce combatted. Hope you won`t have the same problem ! :) "I'm not sure why so many people jump to leaving BYOND" Probably they can`t get accustomed with DM language.... It`s a great language , but a bit.....unorthodox !:D "Oh, the forums look archaic" Well if they`re not creative.... then need a reason....lo leave... "I don't care about how the site looks, I don't care about Tom's attitude towards people - he has done so much for us and none of us recognize it. " What`s new ? Jesus was crucified too !!! Let`s skin TOM (we don`t want a Jesus RIP) :D Seriously , when someone offer something free , usually lots of people say : it`s not enought ! ("WTF ? Give us more ! IDIOT"-or something like) "Thank you BYOND Staff, and the great community (well, the great ones of the community)" Even if 6 weeks ago i discovered BYOND - i`m with you..... PS : Hope i`ll finish before you ! :P Besides that , good luck ! | |
<O_o> <o_o> <o_O>
<o_o> <O_O> <0_o> <?_?> <-_-> ,X_x^ HUh ? <E_X> _____ /-----\ [ X . X ] \__U__/\ __/ \_// O- / / /V\ \ -- * -- *** | |
Ha, well it isn't exactly a race - but I hope whatever you come up with is done well and is quite fun. ;)
| |
Because BYOND has decided it will force us to play the games it wants us to play, instead of letting us play the games we want to play.
Majority has already decided what games we want to play, thats why those games have 100s of players. Yet they're being swept out of sight and no new player will find them. BYOND will be dead from this if it keeps up. | |
Dragonn wrote:
Because BYOND has decided it will force us to play the games it wants us to play, instead of letting us play the games we want to play. BYOND isn't forcing you to play anything. The games you've always played still have a hub, quit whining about it. | |
Incorrect on nearly every point. BYOND has decided to keep up with what it's initial intention was, which was to create original games. Now, let's just say the anime games were original: The ones that are original should be the only ones up. I like the current search results...
For example, the search results for Naruto games shows up with a few, not hundreds of Naruto games, and these ones are more likely acclaimed to at least have an original source code. The problem is moreso with rips than anime - I dislike the idea of anime games, but I'll tolerate their existence. But it's the mere fact that game after game is all the same, and nothing was being done to stop it. The new system merely got rid of the crappy copies people made of a crappy original game. And thus, we have less crappy games to advertise, finally shining on some of the gems that actually can be found in BYOND. Yet they're being swept out of sight and no new player will find them. Sure they will. If the player honestly wants to play a Naruto, Dragonball, Bleach, etc. game, there is something called a Search bar, and it's in the top right corner. And honestly, if you were to tell me that that is too difficult or inconvenient then consider this: Do you really want someone so technologically inept that does not even know how to use a search bar, to play a game on BYOND? I personally wouldn't. It'd become a hassle. BYOND will be dead from this if it keeps up. BYOND will not be dead. Have you seen the current player count? It's still pretty strong. | |
I love you, CauTi0n.
Not just because you seem like a pretty awesome guy, but also for the fact that you have exact mindset as I with BYOND's remodeling. Some people aren't going to like it but that's too bad. It's for the better and BYOND will definitely get more attention for this. -Kumorii | |
I'm willing to bet half the people who leave come back six months later and the other half do so with new accounts.
| |
Dragonn wrote:
Because BYOND has decided it will force us to play the games it wants us to play, instead of letting us play the games we want to play. I don't think so. Majority has already decided what games we want to play, thats why those games have 100s of players. Yet they're being swept out of sight and no new player will find them. There's a pretty big link on the front page, but if you're not feeling up to glancing at the side menus, allow me to publish it here for you. Anime. There's quite a few games there, with hundreds of players. The games certainly aren't hidden. And these are typically the games you want the masses of newcomer anime fans to play. As they're established and can be considered the best of the best in the anime genre. Hell, you can limit a Google Search to just byond.com easily enough. BYOND will be dead from this if it keeps up. Very much doubt it. | |