Author Topic: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.  (Read 6665 times)

superaielman

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Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« on: December 19, 2007, 09:20:32 PM »
There was some talk in the other thread about this, but it deserves it's own topic. Niu's information from countless guidebooks and god knows what else is certainly interesting, and it strikes at the heart of what the DL is about- information about RPG's, be it plot or gameplay.  Expanding it into a couple of pages of information or more per game could be a very good draw. Much like the DL, it could be done with one game a week, and information could be added as need be.

The problems here are Niu's inability to be reliably coherent in English, Chinese, OR Japanese, and finding a way to present it in a viable, stable format.

Have a sage/wiseman character of Niu's choice be the avatar for the information? We could also use new games for this and add some art values if anyone's up for that, as that could generate a lot of hits for newer titles.
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Xeroma

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2007, 03:55:30 PM »
I wouldn't mind being an editor for Niu at all, but it ultimately comes down to whether or not Niu wants to do this.


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Dark Holy Elf

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2007, 07:50:02 PM »
One random concern with this: If we're going to make this an "official" feature of the site in any way, then we have to make sure any guidebooks Niu gets his info from are given proper credit.

I'd be happy to help with editing on a rotating basis if we go with that, though full-time would probably be biting off more than I can chew so I won't do that.

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Meeplelard

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2007, 08:51:46 PM »
This sounds like a neat idea, however, a few things that should be done at very least involve:
A. Indicate *WHERE* the info comes from.  In the last topic, when I would reference Niu in random discussions with others, I'd say "From those Japanese Guide Books that give you secret info, like Ultimania, except not." It'd be nice to have an actual name of these books.
B. Similar, give proper credit to these things.
C. Some attempt at consistency in the format?  Its weird when he gives out random info for one game, then goes into character Vital Statistics for another.  Not sure how feasible an idea this is, but some sort of consistent format would be nice.
D. Probably best we take priority in facts about well known games.  His first post in that old topic being about FF Characters was good cause its something most people will recognize.  But later on, I seem to recall he just started going off onto random games, which while it isn't bad on the boards, where its purely internal and such, if its going public, we PROBABLY should have him post info on more popular, well played games (and localized ones to boot.)

All in all, something that would probably be a good idea, though definitly needs work in terms of panning the idea out, rather than Niu just posting random info.

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2007, 10:37:18 PM »
Leave the information in pure unadulterated Niu.

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Niu

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2007, 03:33:15 AM »
My main problem is, well, definitly not grammar nor the information of the book used (I can write a list of bibliography if needed). As I can trust the editors here.
The thing is, if it is going to be a stand alone project in itself, it must have a constant flow of information.
And guide books are not cheap or the fact that Game Walker ceased publication in 2000 and finding old copies of them are god danm impossible.

So my point? Meep's point C. How much info should be distributed at once if the Fact Center is meant to be a lasting column so it can stay consistent? I buy only so much guide books and stuff a month. And only so much info in them are worth mentioning. And those info can range from something liek huge long plot analysis Xenosaga style to something purely statsical like character age and heights which aren't very important. Imporatnt information aren't always guranteed, and some info I have are for games that were never released here. How to not run out of reosurce to write is my biggest problem.

So, what do I want? I need a scale on how much info should be used per week and what type of info is best used. And I hope this would eb a public decision. After all, this is going to be aproject for public appeal. I want to known what type of info pople want here, and how much they are different from the actual info I have in hand.

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2007, 03:42:35 AM »
Or here is another plan.
Instead of just doing secret facts and all, which may not be always avaliable. Let's go for something inbtween.
Aka, imported games. They are almost completly unknown to most on this side of pacific, and I an do some use to introduce games they ahve never heard of to increase the reader's awarness of the genre.
But no, it'll not be in forms of preview, review, news or anything. Games sites like IGN or RPGamer cover those already. And individual importer fandoms have their own game news blog they follow for the latest imported news. So no, I'll not do something that is redundant. I'll do the samething like I did to other game in the fact center, hardcore info only. As, well, other source of importing news etc. stops before becoming too indepth or sometime just shallow. I want to fill the gap that other sources of info don't fill.

superaielman

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2007, 04:28:04 AM »
A fact center can be anything you want it to be. Sometimes the irrevelant like ages, sometimes something major like plot stuff. The second part sounds cool as well.
"Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself"- Count Aral Vorkosigan, A Civil Campaign
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<Ciato> he would be so kawaii as a chibi...

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2007, 04:51:36 AM »
Then in what format we'll carry this out?
A topic on the main page, update every week?
Or use wiki and amke it into a database?

If in the form of a wiki database, an editior wouldn't even be necessary, as everyone can just coem in to fix the grammar, and the only thing I need is to just fill the info in.

If it'll be a coulmn on the top page, Xer would be a fine editor. I trades info with him on a common bases, so I believe he is best to do this. And as long as I kep the resources abundant, I can write an article a week without problem. I just need soem suggestion on the form of presentation.

superaielman

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2007, 06:09:10 AM »
I think a weekly column would be best, if you can manage that much production. You can also do it twice a season or something if that's too much.
"Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself"- Count Aral Vorkosigan, A Civil Campaign
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<Meeple> knownig Square-enix, they'll just give us a 2nd Kain
<Ciato> he would be so kawaii as a chibi...

Mad Fnorder

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2007, 07:08:03 AM »
I think focusing on a single game at a time, with occasional return visits to games that have a bunch of content, would be cool. Then a single straightforward archive can serve for people looking for info on a particular series or characters.

Oh my goodness, we can draw the fanfic writer audience.

Niu

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2007, 12:39:19 AM »
I think a weekly column would be best, if you can manage that much production. You can also do it twice a season or something if that's too much.

This works, starting off twice a season sounds fine.
I can start writing one break is done.

superaielman

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #12 on: December 22, 2007, 12:46:14 AM »
You'll want to be a season ahead so we have time to edit and prepare in case something happens. What weeks sound good, week 3 and 6?
"Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself"- Count Aral Vorkosigan, A Civil Campaign
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<Meeple> knownig Square-enix, they'll just give us a 2nd Kain
<Ciato> he would be so kawaii as a chibi...

Niu

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #13 on: December 22, 2007, 12:59:11 AM »
Sounds good

superaielman

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #14 on: December 22, 2007, 01:01:19 AM »
Then pick two games and get researching. Figure out what you want for an avatar for this, find an editor, and we'll have it ready when week 3 of season 41 rolls around.
"Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself"- Count Aral Vorkosigan, A Civil Campaign
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<Meeple> knownig Square-enix, they'll just give us a 2nd Kain
<Ciato> he would be so kawaii as a chibi...

Captain K.

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2007, 01:11:06 AM »
Just chiming in that I like Niu's fact center very much.  Probably best to do it on the wiki, so that you (and others) can go back and add info to games without it getting lost in a topic.

Niu

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #16 on: December 22, 2007, 01:57:10 AM »
Hmmm, That can do.
I can update on the main page first, and save the info into wiki and slowly cumilate information.

And the avatar....
The Minstrel from RS1.
Xer would be a fine editor.
The games... FF and WA.

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #17 on: December 22, 2007, 07:48:32 AM »
I can add it to the Wiki after it gets edited by Xer, no prob. That was we can keep/accumulate the info without risk of thread drownage.

Niu

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #18 on: February 09, 2008, 04:48:58 AM »
Super, when does the seasons restart and on which week you want the fact center?
I am sorting a few things out in advance.

superaielman

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #19 on: February 09, 2008, 10:13:47 AM »
Weeks 3 and 6 were the weeks we selected.  And we restart in two weeks from now.
"Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself"- Count Aral Vorkosigan, A Civil Campaign
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<Ciato> he would be so kawaii as a chibi...

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #20 on: February 28, 2008, 08:10:21 AM »
Where do I post the finished articles? A new sub forum?

superaielman

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Re: Niu's fact center: Expanding it.
« Reply #21 on: February 28, 2008, 04:58:07 PM »
Post em in the bulliten board. Make a topic for it.
"Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself"- Count Aral Vorkosigan, A Civil Campaign
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<Meeple> knownig Square-enix, they'll just give us a 2nd Kain
<Ciato> he would be so kawaii as a chibi...