Social Swamp's Social Thread 3 - And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain...

[PushDustIn]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could provide me with some advice. I'm trying to revamp SG's publicity and get the word out...so I created a YouTube video to showcase the article's we've been publishing. I might do it weekly, so suggestions on the format would be appreciated. @Nirbion made the video!

Spoiler

So what do you guys think? Any suggestions on how to promote SG better? This month we've seen less overall views than the previous....so it's something that I'm really concerned about. I know that you guys are pretty familiar with the content we publish, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to promote it.

Some information:

As much as people want additional translations/ non-fluff pieces those articles tend to do worse in views than opinion articles, sadly. So I'm trying to achieve a balance because I feel that translations and stuff are important for the opinion articles (as they provide background).

Most of our traffic comes from reddit, in waves.

 

[Z25]

It's Yo-Kai Watch in Pokemon. It looked so real that I didn't know what to think, but looking at it is probably fake.

It's fake, there are plenty of fanmade creations like this:

Spoiler

Just one example( it was the only one I had off the top of my head).

Still not a bad job though.

 

[aldelaro5]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could provide me with some advice. I'm trying to revamp SG's publicity and get the word out...so I created a YouTube video to showcase the article's we've been publishing. I might do it weekly, so suggestions on the format would be appreciated. @Nirbion made the video!

Spoiler

So what do you guys think? Any suggestions on how to promote SG better? This month we've seen less overall views than the previous....so it's something that I'm really concerned about. I know that you guys are pretty familiar with the content we publish, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to promote it.

Some information:

As much as people want additional translations/ non-fluff pieces those articles tend to do worse in views than opinion articles, sadly. So I'm trying to achieve a balance because I feel that translations and stuff are important for the opinion articles (as they provide background).

Most of our traffic comes from reddit, in waves.

Well, i got as lot of followers from tumblr and they allow to choose a theme and mess with the CSS a bit, for instance, I loaded hey gorgeous ttf file from my dropbox so this:

http://paper-mario-for-ssb4.tumblr.com/

Always load the font.

Plus, I did got a lot of followers from posting stuff and jsut waiting.

The only downside.....is tumblr, it;s freaking weird place.

But I guess if you want visibility ideas....there you are

 

[Dravidian]

So what? Am I wrong in saying that RPGs aren't defined by RPing? I know the origins of the genre. It doesn't change my point.

Yes, I'm saying you're wrong, not because you're saying "role-playing" (that aspect is correct), but because your ignoring context and thus ignoring much of what RPG means. The role playing genre of games is defined by more than role playing. People played the roles of characters with stats. Those games, the table top games that predate video games, had people role-playing characters, but the success of everything they did was based off of their stats (stat sheet) and a random number generator (dice). Success in gaining a level let them distribute stats and learn new skills or use new equipment or use current equipment better or have a better RNG, etc.

If you were simply talking about what the the two words "role" and "playing" mean, then you're absolutely right and any thing that involves you playing the role of a character (a role in a film, mario, sarcasm) is role playing. But we're talking about role-playing in the context of a game genre.

Context and history makes all difference. It's like booty calls and butt dials. They are two different things due to context, but if you just look at the words they mean the same thing.

Other examples include the words Republicans, spiked, screwing; all of which mean different things depending on context.

• Republicans can be representatives of a Republic or a democratic party
• Spiked means different things in the context of sports, drinks, or smash bros
• And I'm sure you can think of different definitions of screwing that depend on context or perhaps you'd condemn a poor man for screwing his wife lol

Whether or not a definition of a word is right or wrong depends on the context in which it is used. In the context of games "Role Playing" is not the sole defining trait of an RPG, so defining it as such is wring. The term RPG is just an early name simplification of a game genre that includes much more.

 

[jahkzheng]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could provide me with some advice. I'm trying to revamp SG's publicity and get the word out...so I created a YouTube video to showcase the article's we've been publishing. I might do it weekly, so suggestions on the format would be appreciated. @Nirbion made the video!

Spoiler

So what do you guys think? Any suggestions on how to promote SG better? This month we've seen less overall views than the previous....so it's something that I'm really concerned about. I know that you guys are pretty familiar with the content we publish, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to promote it.

Some information:

As much as people want additional translations/ non-fluff pieces those articles tend to do worse in views than opinion articles, sadly. So I'm trying to achieve a balance because I feel that translations and stuff are important for the opinion articles (as they provide background).

Most of our traffic comes from reddit, in waves.

You guys have a bit of a niche in that you dedicate your time to Smash speculation and specialize in translations for the most part. Perhaps venturing into other Smash news could be a thing though it's quite "competitive" in comparison, pun intended I guess.

Maybe you're not interested in moving away from your niche though and just want a better way to do your news. Not sure what I'd change there other than making sure your site runs nice and smooth on mobile as well as computers. Also, YouTube is a pretty huge resource and a great way to get your name out there and play with richer media that can potentially draw in more "readers/subscribers". I kind of see a similarity in approach to GameXplain with you guys if you went that route since you both prefer an emphasis on detail analysis, just dedicated to Smash stuff.

Truth is however, that Smash speculation will only take you so far and you'll have to more heavily rely on opinion articles about existing stuff. More "trivia" articles too perhaps. Smash news wont be like it has been. Pretty soon news will be who's winning what where and potential AT discoveries and silly little detail trivia. The heavy hitter of "DLC news" will dry up.

...

Edit:
Speaking of "detail trivia", a fun thing that could always be relevant is if you somehow kept tabs on what's trending in Smash via community and gameplay analysis. For instance, what character community was most active this week or a spotlight on a character picked by readers. If there was a way to track online play trends outside of "conquest", that could be something to talk about too potentially, though I'm not sure how that would work.

You can even instigate news by creating challenges. Do pieces where you find some fun thing for your readers to try and write back to you about. Interaction with your readers is key obviously and fun stuff like this could really be pretty cool. Since you're attached to Smashboards, you can use that to drop into a community and ask questions or present your challenges. I don't know what your resources are or even how these ideas would be implemented but media logic leads me to these suggestions.

Basically, interact with your readers.

 

[[Obnoxshush/Dasshizer]]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you could provide me with some advice. I'm trying to revamp SG's publicity and get the word out...so I created a YouTube video to showcase the article's we've been publishing. I might do it weekly, so suggestions on the format would be appreciated. @Nirbion made the video!

Spoiler

So what do you guys think? Any suggestions on how to promote SG better? This month we've seen less overall views than the previous....so it's something that I'm really concerned about. I know that you guys are pretty familiar with the content we publish, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to promote it.

Some information:

As much as people want additional translations/ non-fluff pieces those articles tend to do worse in views than opinion articles, sadly. So I'm trying to achieve a balance because I feel that translations and stuff are important for the opinion articles (as they provide background).

Most of our traffic comes from reddit, in waves.

Well it won't be easy, but I do have a few ways you could get more publicity.

1. Get endorsement from a big name.
For this I'd say find big names that are into smash like ZeRo, Etika, or Rogersbase.
They have fans of their own and if they like Source gaming, they'll tell their friends about it.

2. Get famous from memes.
Remember this?

If you did comedy pieces like this as a side thing, you could get some more views, and attract more people that are into smash. Or you could make smash montage videos like Little Z and Alpharad.

3. Make a video that gets you a bunch of views.
This can be harder, as you don't know what this video could be, but I'd say go with a smash montage video. All it will take is for a big name to notice it and send all his little followers to check it out.

4. Put more Wolf fan art on the cite.
Well, more fanart in general. Feature fanart from other smash fans on your cite. It would attract more artists, and smash fans, not to mention look visually cool, though that all depends on how you arrange the artwork.

5. Expand into other Nintendo franchises.
This will attract more Nintendo fans, (please do an article on Eternal Darkness).

Well hope these help.

 

[NintenZ]

It's fake, there are plenty of fanmade creations like this:

Spoiler

Just one example( it was the only one I had off the top of my head).

Still not a bad job though.

Aww well, guess you could say I got caught in the hype.

 

[---]

Fire Emblem doesn't have Dungeon Crawling, and it doesn't really have questing (especially the earlier games in the series).

It's okay Gaiden, I still remember you...

Mixing genres is fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IPItnXU5BQ

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

Anyone notice they are selling gen 1 power ranger toys for kids recently

Yeah, adults might think that's cool and nostalgic...

But how would kids be exposed to them

 

[Verde Coeden Scalesworth]

Anyone notice they are selling gen 1 power ranger toys for kids recently

Yeah, adults might think that's cool and nostalgic...

But how would kids be exposed to them

Netflix/Hulu etc. Classic Power Rangers, as well as the new Mighty Morphing Power Rangers movie coming out. It makes sense to promote it heavily right now.

 

[jahkzheng]

Anyone notice they are selling gen 1 power ranger toys for kids recently

Yeah, adults might think that's cool and nostalgic...

But how would kids be exposed to them

From their parents, obviously~

 

[Guybrush20X6]

What Genre mix ups do you think work and what ones just left you baffled.

Undertale has it's bullet hell damage dodge mechanic and The Phantom Pain mixes base building and stealth pretty well.

As for bad... there's Smash Tour's Mario Party and Smash Bros mix

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

T Rex zord. So weird

They also had a megazord play set with tiny power ranger figures

 

[Guybrush20X6]

Netflix/Hulu etc. Classic Power Rangers, as well as the new Mighty Morphing Power Rangers movie coming out. It makes sense to promote it heavily right now.

Yeah, I remember when I was a kid Channel 4 in the UK re-ran Thunderbirds from that era with the terrible haircuts and it re-birthed the series mechanising. I think that's what lead to that awful movie.

 

[Morbi]

What Genre mix ups do you think work and what ones just left you baffled.

Undertale has it's bullet hell damage dodge mechanic and The Phantom Pain mixes base building and stealth pretty well.

As for bad... there's Smash Tour's Mario Party and Smash Bros mix

Obviously I believe that party-games mixed with fighting-games work particularly well. Other than that, I never understood Resident Evil's shift to "action" horror. The two are inherently contradicting. The controls negatively impact the action and the action attenuates the horror and atmosphere. It baffles me.

 

[ChikoLad]

I seriously don't get why people dislike Smash Tour so much. It actually works quite well. My only real problem with it is that it's not online so I don't get to actually play it with anyone. :V

I can understand that people might have the mindset of "well I just want to do regular Smash matches", but that doesn't mean the mode itself is bad, it's just an alternative set up.

 

[NintenZ]

I seriously don't get why people dislike Smash Tour so much. It actually works quite well. My only real problem with it is that it's not online so I don't get to actually play it with anyone. :V

I can understand that people might have the mindset of "well I just want to do regular Smash matches", but that doesn't mean the mode itself is bad, it's just an alternative set up.

It's kinda low for Smash though, it's not really as high quality as the other modes in the series.

 

[Swamp Sensei]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.

Now this roster has the following rules.

• The order is still determined by the debut of the series and whether the series has multiple characters
• Within each series, I have ordered characters in the order of their first appearance. If they made their first appearances in the same game, it would be in the order of which one you encountered first.
• DLC and Clone sections are thrown out.
• Third Party Row still kept
• Miis remain in the same spot
• Yoshi was moved out of the Super Mario characters
• Iggy is meant to mean Random. I chose Iggy because I like Iggy.

Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

 

[Solfiner]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.

Now this roster has the following rules.

• The order is still determined by the debut of the series and whether the series has multiple characters
• Within each series, I have ordered characters in the order of their first appearance. If they made their first appearances in the same game, it would be in the order of which one you encountered first.
• DLC and Clone sections are thrown out.
• Third Party Row still kept
• Miis remain in the same spot
• Yoshi was moved out of the other Super Mario characters
• Iggy is meant to mean Random. I chose Iggy because I like Iggy.

Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

A lot better, Shulk is now finally with the other third parties.

 

[NintenZ]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.

Now this roster has the following rules.

• The order is still determined by the debut of the series and whether the series has multiple characters
• Within each series, I have ordered characters in the order of their first appearance. If they made their first appearances in the same game, it would be in the order of which one you encountered first.
• DLC and Clone sections are thrown out.
• Third Party Row still kept
• Miis remain in the same spot
• Yoshi was moved out of the other Super Mario characters
• Iggy is meant to mean Random. I chose Iggy because I like Iggy.

Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

is bae.

But yeah, I really like it a lot, good job Swampy. :3

 

[Substitution]

I seriously don't get why people dislike Smash Tour so much. It actually works quite well. My only real problem with it is that it's not online so I don't get to actually play it with anyone. :V

I can understand that people might have the mindset of "well I just want to do regular Smash matches", but that doesn't mean the mode itself is bad, it's just an alternative set up.

I think the problem many have is that compared to Smash Run it was kinda underwhelming. And while it did work, it could've been better.

 

[Parallel_Falchion]

Yes, I'm saying you're wrong, not because you're saying "role-playing" (that aspect is correct), but because your ignoring context and thus ignoring much of what RPG means. The role playing genre of games is defined by more than role playing. People played the roles of characters with stats. Those games, the table top games that predate video games, had people role-playing characters, but the success of everything they did was based off of their stats (stat sheet) and a random number generator (dice). Success in gaining a level let them distribute stats and learn new skills or use new equipment or use current equipment better or have a better RNG, etc.

If you were simply talking about what the the two words "role" and "playing" mean, then you're absolutely right and any thing that involves you playing the role of a character (a role in a film, mario, sarcasm) is role playing. But we're talking about role-playing in the context of a game genre.

Context and history makes all difference. It's like booty calls and butt dials. They are two different things due to context, but if you just look at the words they mean the same thing.

Other examples include the words Republicans, spiked, screwing; all of which mean different things depending on context.

• Republicans can be representatives of a Republic or a democratic party
• Spiked means different things in the context of sports, drinks, or smash bros
• And I'm sure you can think of different definitions of screwing that depend on context or perhaps you'd condemn a poor man for screwing his wife lol

Whether or not a definition of a word is right or wrong depends on the context in which it is used. In the context of games "Role Playing" is not the sole defining trait of an RPG, so defining it as such is wring. The term RPG is just an early name simplification of a game genre that includes much more.

...You said I'm wrong, then basically said I'm right. Role-playing games aren't defined by role-playing. That's what I said, and then you made this huge rebuttal post that basically reiterates it. Role-playing is a part of it, occasionally, but not what defines it. What defines these games has nothing to do with what the term "role-playing" would suggest. I'm not saying this is bad or that I disagree with it or something, just that it is what it is and it can easily cause confusion as a result.

The whole "but then Mario/Metroid/Frogger could be considered an RPG!" thing is kind of dumb, also. Yeah, at its broadest, you're always "playing a role" simply by holding the controller, but the difference between those and Zelda is that Mario and Samus are their own characters while Link is meant to be an avatar for the player. In that sense it makes it more like you are playing the role in this story rather than interacting in what is otherwise a defined character's story. That's why the Zelda series is sometimes considered an RPG series.

Your "other examples" are examples of homonyms. Those are just two or more words that have the same spelling but different meanings. It has nothing to do with the discussion of what defines a role-playing game. A better example would be the word "carpet," a floor covering that inherently has nothing to do with cars or pets as its spelling might suggest (origins of the word might ruin this example, I haven't researched that far, but I'm sure you get the picture).

 

[ChikoLad]

I think the problem many have is that compared to Smash Run it was kinda underwhelming. And while it did work, it could've been better.

I prefer Smash Run too, easily more my kinda thing, but that's because Smash Run is actually a great single player mode. Smash Tour isn't, but it's a great multiplayer mode, while Smash Run disappointed as a multiplayer mode.

Smash Tour could have been better, there is always room for improvement with new modes, but it's the only good new mode besides 8-Player Smash to begin with, in Smash Wii U.

Unless you really, really like Angry Birds that is.

 

[Guybrush20X6]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.

Now this roster has the following rules.

• The order is still determined by the debut of the series and whether the series has multiple characters
• Within each series, I have ordered characters in the order of their first appearance. If they made their first appearances in the same game, it would be in the order of which one you encountered first.
• DLC and Clone sections are thrown out.
• Third Party Row still kept
• Miis remain in the same spot
• Yoshi was moved out of the Super Mario characters
• Iggy is meant to mean Random. I chose Iggy because I like Iggy.

Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

Works for me, only problem is where the final 2 will go.

 

[NintenZ]

I prefer Smash Run too, easily more my kinda thing, but that's because Smash Run is actually a great single player mode. Smash Tour isn't, but it's a great multiplayer mode, while Smash Run disappointed as a multiplayer mode.

Smash Tour could have been better, there is always room for improvement with new modes, but it's the only good new mode besides 8-Player Smash to begin with, in Smash Wii U.

Unless you really, really like Angry Birds that is.

Smash Tour was extremely confusing, but actually I forgot about Angry Birds. You win this time.

 

[JamesDNaux]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.
Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

G&W and Mac have odd placement, though you probably did it like that for the sake of keeping the rows even...

Still looks better than the actual Wii U roster at the moment.


Also, has anyone else been getting these weird lines under the emotes?

Haven't seen it mentioned before and it's bugging the hell out of me.

 

[Scamper52596]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.

Now this roster has the following rules.

• The order is still determined by the debut of the series and whether the series has multiple characters
• Within each series, I have ordered characters in the order of their first appearance. If they made their first appearances in the same game, it would be in the order of which one you encountered first.
• DLC and Clone sections are thrown out.
• Third Party Row still kept
• Miis remain in the same spot
• Yoshi was moved out of the Super Mario characters
• Iggy is meant to mean Random. I chose Iggy because I like Iggy.

Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

If you want to get really technical, both Sheik and Toon Link made appearances in the Zelda series before the Twilight Princess variations of the characters. I wonder if that means that Link is actually the clone of Toon Link...

 

[ChikoLad]

Smash Tour was extremely confusing, but actually I forgot about Angry Birds. You win this time.

It's really simple though.

Run around collecting stat boosts (which are identical to the ones in Smash Run) and fighters, steal fighters from opponents when you KO them in battles, trophies are just items that aid you either on the board or in battles, deal with board events on occasion which always tell you what they do...then after the full amount of turns has passed by, participate in a final battle with whatever fighters and stat boosts you have at this point.

That's literally the entire mode like there. Stuff like individual trophy effects, board events, and battle events, are explained every time you play anyway.

 

[Con0rrrr]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.

Now this roster has the following rules.

• The order is still determined by the debut of the series and whether the series has multiple characters
• Within each series, I have ordered characters in the order of their first appearance. If they made their first appearances in the same game, it would be in the order of which one you encountered first.
• DLC and Clone sections are thrown out.
• Third Party Row still kept
• Miis remain in the same spot
• Yoshi was moved out of the Super Mario characters
• Iggy is meant to mean Random. I chose Iggy because I like Iggy.

Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

Sometimes I think a 5 year old with a basic understanding of dates and times could organize a CSS better than Sakurai

 

[AreJay25]

I'm gonna change the roster around a bit.

Now this roster has the following rules.

• The order is still determined by the debut of the series and whether the series has multiple characters
• Within each series, I have ordered characters in the order of their first appearance. If they made their first appearances in the same game, it would be in the order of which one you encountered first.
• DLC and Clone sections are thrown out.
• Third Party Row still kept
• Miis remain in the same spot
• Yoshi was moved out of the Super Mario characters
• Iggy is meant to mean Random. I chose Iggy because I like Iggy.

Without further ado.







What do you think guys?

Sakurai should hire you.

Why aren't you hired.

 

[Shroob]

I still wish we could re-organize it ourselves in the 3DS version. Wouldn't even affect anything, just be cosmetic is all.

Granted, I have a feeling that with the next patch, we're going to have the main CSS look like it was pre-DLC and have a seperate DLC menu, as much as I hate that.

 

[N3ON]

Mod edit: Image removed for censor dodging.

Me in 15 years. xD

 

[NintenZ]

It's really simple though.

Run around collecting stat boosts (which are identical to the ones in Smash Run) and fighters, steal fighters from opponents when you KO them in battles, trophies are just items that aid you either on the board or in battles, deal with board events on occasion which always tell you what they do...then after the full amount of turns has passed by, participate in a final battle with whatever fighters and stat boosts you have at this point.

That's literally the entire mode like there. Stuff like individual trophy effects, board events, and battle events, are explained every time you play anyway.

That's about as easy to follow with four people as this...

(R. I. P. Incredible Crew)

 

[wedl!!]

tfw you feel great anxiety talking to someone, but you feel sympathy for them because their quirks are the butt of a lot of jokes

tfw you really like them and they seem great but you don't know how to really talk to them extensively

Sucks, man.

 

[Z25]

Me in 15 years. xD

I'd edit it before you get a warning....

And Really Nintendo:

Who’s that wild cat tagging along for a ride? #YOKAIWATCH https://t.co/y9YoQOlp2f

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) November 23, 2015

 

[Parallel_Falchion]

Me in 15 years. xD

What a terrible mother. The way he's holding the stick makes it clear he's acting out Zelda with her rapier in Hyrule Warriors.

 

[Verde Coeden Scalesworth]

Spoiler

Me in 15 years. xD

You're going to beat your own kid...?

Sometimes I think a 5 year old with a basic understanding of dates and times could organize a CSS better than Sakurai

Didn't Sakurai's wife make the CSS?

 

[Fenriraga]

I still admire your reserve. If more people that felt the same actively demonstrated that they felt that way, obviously change would come much more easily. I need to do a little bit of research on what Sony did in regard to the Skullgirls debacle to form an opinion for myself, but it sounds bad.

Oh. Allow me to correct myself, because I misremembered.
It was KONAMI that screwed the dev team over, not Sony. Konami had originally published the game for them, but when they tried to go their own way and be full-indie, well... Konami had a fit.

http://www.destructoid.com/konami-is-demanding-that-lab-zero-games-remove-skullgirls-267082.phtml

Basically, they wanted them to remove the game. Legally, the didn't have the power to remove it themselves, and Lab Zero wasn't going to remove it either, since they of course MADE the game.

So here's the absolutely dirty part. Konami of course sued them. Thing is... they KNEW they couldn't win the suit. But they also knew they, as a company, had a lot of money, whereas Lab Zero didn't. So they literally kept slapping law suit after lawsuit on them, until Lab Zero literally could not afford to keep fighting it. As in LITERALLY afford, they lost so much money.

Skullgirls Encore edition and such helped keep them alive, but if Indivisible fails, that's the end of Lab Zero. They'll have to disband.

So yeah... As if we didn't have enough reasons to hate Konami, right?

 

[AreJay25]

Didn't Sakurai's wife make the CSS?

AFAIK she only made the menus. Not sure about the CSS.

 

[wedl!!]

Skullgirls pachinko machine when????