General Forum |
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More CCSF 2014 Planning 1 | 2 | |
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KittyTikara
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8/29/2014 | 1 |
(Some links to the older CCSF planning:
Past planning thread
Past survey with long responses
Past survey with graph)
It's been a number of months since the initial planning thread, and there really hasn't been a lot of discussion about this years CCSF, outside of a few possible submissions. So I figured I'd get the planning started again by starting this thread. Currently, CCSF 2014 lacks a theme, a time, and a definite list of coordinators. To help with this a little, I made a poll to see when, where, and how long it should go on for. There's also a place for theme, contest, and activities suggestions, if I set the poll up right.
We didn't really choose the coordinators in the last thread, which is probably why most of this hasn't already been planned out yet. So we need volunteers to be a coordinator. We also need someone to make the website, if this years CCSF is going to be hosted on a different site.
We don't have a theme. To help start the brainstorming process, here's some of the past themes: nature, celebration, community, Creatures future, natural selection/ecology, "back to our roots," time, and new worlds. This year might also be the 10th CCSF, if the wiki has all of the CCSF dates. So does anyone have any suggestions for the theme?
We also haven't decided on a time. The preferred July/August months, voted for on the previous survey, have already zoomed by. So that leaves us with October, November and December, and maybe September. Then there's how long it should go on for. Two weeks is the most popular answer in the old survey, and it's the usual length. Then again last year was pretty quiet when it came to releases.
We also haven't decided where it could be hosted. The three main options here are hosting on it's own site, Blogger or on CCaves. Most CCSfs have been hosted on their own site, and it seems to always work well. Then there was the one host on Blogger that worked well enough. The last one was hosted on CCaves, and it worked well, but people seemed pretty mixed when it on the last survey. Perhaps a nice middle ground would be a CCaves host site closer to the stand alone sites. It would still be hosted on CCaves, but with a different "theme" from the usual beautiful blue. There would be links to individual categories, like agents, adoptions, artwork, and contests. That way we could have a different look from CCaves, but still have the convenient download links and newsfeed on CCaves.
Lastly, there is the fun part of a CCSF to consider, the releases and activities. There's the obvious releases like breeds, metarooms, and agents that make up the releases for each day. There there's the smaller releases like Creature packs, artwork, and stories also help make the CCSF as amazing as it is. There's the activities and contests to think about. I'd like to see the coloring pages make a comeback this year, and maybe the haiku and screenshot contests.
tl;dr In summary, we need ideas for the theme, need to decide on the time, how long it should run for, and for some people to volunteer to be a coordinator. Also vote for when, where, and how long the CCSF will be. Be sure to add some suggestions for a theme and a contest or another activity!
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Tea Queen
Laura
Manager
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8/30/2014 | |
I really hope this discussion kicks off. Time is ticking! Tick tock, tick tock. Let's get voting, everyone! Do we know how long the survey will be open for?
I figure it's probably not feasible for a number of reasons, but lately I've been pondering the idea of a Christmas-themed CCSF that could coincide with the Creatures Community Advent Calendar... |
KittyTikara
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8/30/2014 | 2 |
Oh yea, I knew I was forgetting something today... The poll closes September 12th. I figure that gives people enough time to answer the poll. The CCSF advent calender hybrid thing is a good idea, and I'll add it to the theme list. If anyone has some neat suggestions like that, feel free to post there here or the poll and I'll happily add them to the next poll. Also you don't have to worry about me not planning out this years CCSF. I would appreciate some help though, obviously.
Like for example, making a CCSF site. The main problem I see with this CCSF is where it's going to be hosted. I have a feeling it's going to be hosted on a standalone site, and I can't code a site and don't have a sever to host it on. So someone else is going to have to do that... I do have a backup plan though. Push come to shove, the CCSF can be hosted on Blogger.
Edit: Before I forget another thing, there's also a small question I have. Would anyone mind the CCSF releases being hosted here on CCaves? It would make it easier to upload them, and it would make it easier to find them after the CCSF. Obviously it would only be the downloads hosted here, and not the whole CCSF. Decided to host downloads here anyway.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Wee Scrivener
Trell
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8/30/2014 | 1 |
Psst... Creature mascots!
Trell
"Holy crap in a casket!" |
Siinamon
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8/30/2014 | |
I think it should be at least partially hosted here, since this is a hub of Creatures community. |
Prodigal Sock
Ghosthande
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9/1/2014 | |
Why not host it here? We've already had the whole CCSF hosted here... wasn't it last year? I doubt Rascii would mind having it here again, after he already did the legwork to make it happen the first time.
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Sanely Insane
RisenAngel
Manager
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9/1/2014 | 1 |
The last time we hosted a CCSF here was also really lacking, at least in presentation. Pretty much the only thing differentiating the CCSF stuff from the rest was being marked as being for the CCSF; otherwise it was all the same as an average news post or download/art/etc. It just didn't feel special at all, at least in my opinion.
~ The Realm ~
Risen Angel's Creatures Blog
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Tea Queen
Laura
Manager
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9/1/2014 | 1 |
I think it would be a real shame not to host the CCSF 2014 here, for the reasons that cptmashek and Ghosthande mentioned. However, I also have to agree with Grendel Man: Last year's festival seemed a bit overshadowed by the rest of this website's news and features. Even though we had a dedicated CCSF 2013 section, I thought that it was a bit too tucked away, instead of being the main attraction and more in people's faces.
Is there any way we could still host the CCSF 2014 here, but make it a stronger focal point, because that would be ideal! |
KittyTikara
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9/1/2014 | |
@ Darby, do you mean having a Creature of some sort host the event, or a creature like Chester last year? I'm sort of confused. Both would be pretty neat.
@ Cptmashek The downloads are going to be hosted here at CCaves because hosting them somewhere else would be pretty silly. So part will be hosted here anyway.
@ Laura I er have to go back on my promise that the CCSF might possible run along side the advent calender. It'd be a huge headache for me and one event might over shadow the other.
I also felt that last year's CCSF lacked a certain "spirit" even though it was a pretty good year. There is a nice middle ground I've been thinking about (I was going to add it to the first poll, but I couldn't think of how to explain it in one sentence.) Anyway, we could host the CCSF here on CCaves like last year, but the CCSF section could have it's own "theme" with links to different sections like previous years.
It would function sort of like CCSF 2011's site just without the separate forums, and maybe a few less links. It would have the presentation of a CCSF website, but still have the nice features CCaves brings to the table, most importantly the forums and newsfeed and basically everything else. Someone else would still have to make the theme, though I will most likely make the images.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Wee Scrivener
Trell
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9/1/2014 | 1 |
Oh, I meant a creature like Chester from last year. Or two, or three!
Trell
"Holy crap in a casket!" |
Tea Queen
Laura
Manager
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9/1/2014 | 2 |
Just for the sake of clarifying: My idea was to actually hold the CCSF 2014 in December and in the style of an advent calendar, with releases for each of the 25 days. Sorry for not making that clearer! I didn't mean that we should have the CCSF AND the Creatures Community Advent Calendar running simultaneously. That would indeed be a bit insane! Haha!
It was only a little thought that I've been pondering on though, so I won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen. |
KittyTikara
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9/1/2014 | |
@ Darby Feel free to suggest some mascots and I'll add them to the next poll. I was wanting a mascot like last year anyway! Chester was pretty adorable. <3
@ Laura It could possibly happen, if the CCSF would take place in December; tt doesn't look very likely at all though. So far the majority of the votes are for a one or two week event in November. After this round of voting, there's going to be another poll, open for a week, to decide the theme, the most popular contests, and other details. CCSF submissions will be open a month or so before the CCSF, whenever it is.
Also I made an image to hopefully make my CCaves theme idea a little more clear. The real site would have colors and images that match the theme, obviously. I had planned on announcing that day's CCSF releases on a CCaves anyway, and hosting in on CCaves would make that slightly easier, with only one site to post the releases to instead of two.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Wee Scrivener
Trell
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9/1/2014 | |
I guess a mascot would depend on the theme...
Trell
"Holy crap in a casket!" |
Malkin
Manager
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9/3/2014 | 1 |
One of my concerns with the CCSF (in general) is the issue of 'what are people willing to give?' Also - the gap between 'what people want to get from the CCSF' and 'what people are willing to give to the CCSF'. I really think this should be examined a bit more in the pre-CCSF polling.
My TCR Norns |
KittyTikara
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9/3/2014 | |
That's been floating around in the back of my head, but I can't really control the releases. So I've just been ignoring that for the most part, which probably isn't wise. I have a bad feeling that this year is going to be a quiet one, if the lack of interest in coordinating is any indication.
How can I add it to the polls though? I can't think of anything.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Malkin
Manager
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9/3/2014 | |
There's 'what do you want to see included in the CCSF' - which, if I remember right, has been included on these preliminary polls before... perhaps 'what kind of content do you want to create for the CCSF?' (Perhaps with a caveat that this is non-binding, hypothetical, etc.)
While, of course, you can't control the releases, just asking the question of 'what do you think you might want to make for the CCSF?' might help stimulate people's thoughts in that direction, and help create more investment and involvement.
My TCR Norns |
KittyTikara
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9/3/2014 | |
Thank you, I'll definitely be adding one or both of them to the next poll. Can you think of any other ways to help drive some interest, or any other nice questions to ask?
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Caves Dweller
Rascii
Administrator
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9/4/2014 | 7 |
Grendel_Man wrote: The last time we hosted a CCSF here was also really lacking, at least in presentation. Pretty much the only thing differentiating the CCSF stuff from the rest was being marked as being for the CCSF; otherwise it was all the same as an average news post or download/art/etc. It just didn't feel special at all, at least in my opinion. I'd have to agree with GM on this one. If it's decided that CCSF will be hosted here again, I'd be happy to work with the coordinators to give the CCSF section it's own special feel, while still having it functionally integrated into the rest of the site. It could also be located at cc.com/ccsf, to further make it feel like it's own website rather than a subsection of the overall site.
- Rascii |
Tea Queen
Laura
Manager
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9/4/2014 | |
I like that thought. |
TehSamm
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9/4/2014 | |
Rascii wrote: If it's decided that CCSF will be hosted here again, I'd be happy to work with the coordinators to give the CCSF section it's own special feel, while still having it functionally integrated into the rest of the site. It could also be located at cc.com/ccsf, to further make it feel like it's own website rather than a subsection of the overall site.
That idea sounds great!
TehSamm |
KittyTikara
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9/5/2014 | |
No one else has stepped up as coordinator, so I guess you mean me? I'd be willing to work with you. Speaking of where to host it, the poll is largely split down the middle, with 1 more person preferring the standalone site to CCaves. 8 people voted for CCaves to be the host and 9 people voted for a standalone site.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Caves Dweller
Rascii
Administrator
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9/5/2014 | |
Well perhaps they were thinking like Grendel Man when they voted, in which case they may be more open to the idea after reading my post here. All of this is obviously speculation though.
- Rascii |
SpaceShipRat
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9/6/2014 | |
there, I've evened it up |
gusmat10
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9/7/2014 | 1 |
What if... Bear with me... The theme is "science fiction: Cthulhu creatures"
- I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Jim Harkins
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Malkin
Manager
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9/8/2014 | |
So, where should we send our submissions to? I know it's early days to think about it yet, but I've found that it helps me to know where to send stuff off to as early as possible.
My TCR Norns |
KittyTikara
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9/8/2014 | |
Thanks for the reminder. >.<; I'll have another email set up by the time the next poll goes up.
Edit: The CCSF email is set up now.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Malkin
Manager
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9/8/2014 | |
Has this new poll been crossposted to the Creatures Online forums?
My TCR Norns |
KittyTikara
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9/8/2014 | |
I don't think it has? I'm don't think I'm signed up there, but I'll post it to the CO forums tomorrow. I keep forgetting the CO forums even exist.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
gusmat10
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9/9/2014 | 1 |
For activities think. What makes tf2 the all powerful game juggernaut is today. Is not gameplay . Not storyline.
Is hats. People love hats and virtual hats for our creatchis would make us feel like really cool dudes and dudettes.
Think about it,
-Dave the "idea guy" Shepard
- I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Jim Harkins
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daz
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9/9/2014 | |
I support this fully and will be willing to sprite 10,000 hats. |
KittyTikara
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9/12/2014 | 1 |
@ Gusmat10 and Nev, I don't really know what to say? It does give me a terrible idea for an activity though. Creatchi hat drive! Protect our poor Creatchis from the sun and rain. Can't promise they'll have any real use for Creatchi, though it would be cool.
So the first poll has closed and I've tallied up the votes. The results were for a two week CCSF held in November here at CCaves. The next poll will either go up tomorrow and it will be to decide on a theme, some contest and activities, and some other details. The old poll results with fancy graphs can be found can be found here and the spreadsheet one can be found here.
Since hosting is,thankfully, no longer an issue, my biggest concern is now releases/submissions. So I'd like to open up early submissions for anyone who's finished theirs already, and to maybe get people thinking about what they'd like to submit. Some ideas for submissions are agents, breeds, sprites, art, and adoptions.) So if you have one already, feel free to send it to ccsf.2014@yahoo.com with your username, what it is, what game it's for(if any), and a small description. I'll have a more official thread for it later.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Malkin
Manager
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9/15/2014 | |
How many answers did you get for the last survey?
My TCR Norns |
KittyTikara
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9/15/2014 | |
It had around 31 responses, which is about 5 less then the one Jessica had. The new poll already has 25 responses though, so that's pretty encouraging.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
Malkin
Manager
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9/24/2014 | |
How is the 'daily creature feature' different to an adoptions showcase?
My TCR Norns |
Air Guitarist
kezune
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9/24/2014 | |
The way I run the DCF is as a livestream. I can feature wolfling runs, test breeds, etc. I rarely make the creatures in the stream available for download, but I'm interested to see what anyone else could have meant by "Daily Creature Feature".
I think an adoptions showcase might be geared more towards featuring downloadable adoptions? I'm not sure.
Updated Rehosting Policy[/title] |
KittyTikara
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9/25/2014 | 3 |
So the last poll is over and a few more people responded on this one compared to the last one, which is always nice to see. The themes are Evolution and Natural Selection, which are closely related enough that I feel they can be added together. The top five contests chosen were: Best agent idea, cutest and weirdest Creatures, Creature breed evolution, metaroom decoration, and a tie between Creatchi patterns, Grendel beauty contest, and short story. The top five activities chosen were: metaroom showcase, Daily Creature Feature, forum wolfling runs for each game, wolfling run livestream for the whole CCSF, and conspiracy/treasure hunt. There were also questions answered like yes it's okay if there aren't agent rewards for contests, and that yes a plot would be welcome. Also not all of the contests/activities will be in the CCSF. The forum wolfling runs are most certainly going to have to be run by someone or some other people. I can run wolfling runs, but not forum runs. I just don't have the patience. (The poll results page with graphs can be found here and the spreadsheet page can be found here.)
In summary, the CCSF will: be run from November 1-14, be hosted here at CCaves, has the themes Evolution and Natural Selection, has some contests and activities already selected. Submissions will officially open a few days from now with links to tutorials to hopefully inspire some people.
@ Malkin and Kezune, the DCF would show off that day's adoptions, but the adoptions would get their own section on the CCSF site/section/thing. Or at least that's how I figure it would work. It depends on how many adoptions are sent into the CCSf. If there weren't a lot of adoptions sent in, then it wouldn't be worth it having it's own page.
The Mobula Ray - My Creatures blog |
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