FFR Suggestions

[rayword45]

Re: FFR Suggestions

- The Simfile Database has been disabled and will not be brought back at any time in the future. We don’t have the time nor patience to deal with a huge DMCA liability. We are considering bringing it online in the future so that users can access their own files for archival.

IIRC, this was suggested before, but how about the site bring the Simfile DB back with downloads only available without audio files? As in, .sm/.dwi/.ssc files only (and possible artwork)

TBH, I still don't understand the removal. The DB was a huge attraction for the site's popularity, and AFAIK, this site (along with others such as Bemanistyle, ZiV, and Stepmania.com) never got into much major trouble.

[qqwref]

Re: FFR Suggestions

TBH, I still don't understand the removal. The DB was a huge attraction for the site's popularity, and AFAIK, this site (along with others such as Bemanistyle, ZiV, and Stepmania.com) never got into much major trouble.

I heard someone contacted Synthlight while the site was down and demanded permission for all the music we had been hosting. Not sure on the details, though.

[Netjet!]

Re: FFR Suggestions

Unfortunately as your quote states it's a huge risk for us because most of the music featured isn't technically *allowed* to be used since we do not have permission from the artists. If we were caught / if someone came along and noticed this, it could spell a lot of trouble.I liked the simdb, and I hope we can work something out, but I don't see it coming back in the near future I'm afraid.

[rayword45]

Re: FFR Suggestions

Like I said, we wouldn't host the music. The users would be able to upload .sm/.ssc/artwork files only, and the description would state where to get the music.

Also, Bemanistyle, ZiV, and Stepmania.com are all still alive.

[Netjet!]

Re: FFR Suggestions

For some reason I misinterpreted your post and see what you mean now. It could work but I'm not sure how people would feel about having to download the music and navigate to the SM folder for each song and place it in there, if you know what I mean. I think it is possible though.

[Emithith]

Re: FFR Suggestions

Or just have new mods for the SM Database to regulate the database so no files we don't have permission for distribution get in there.
But we could also just have a queue/batch thread for the Simfile DB too. But then it's more stressful for the user to freely upload their files, which was mainly why people uploaded to the DB, ease of use.

[Netjet!]

Re: FFR Suggestions

Yeah exactly. A problem is that at least 50% (probably way more) of the songs uploaded weren't covered by a permission, which is why it'd probably be difficult to regulate it. Free uploading by users would be heavily restricted as you said because of the limited number of permissions that we have compared to the number of submissions to the DB.

[bmah]

Re: FFR Suggestions

IIRC, this was suggested before, but how about the site bring the Simfile DB back with downloads only available without audio files? As in, .sm/.dwi/.ssc files only (and possible artwork)

TBH, I still don't understand the removal. The DB was a huge attraction for the site's popularity, and AFAIK, this site (along with others such as Bemanistyle, ZiV, and Stepmania.com) never got into much major trouble.

My guess is that FFR has more of a focus on its own game, whereas sites like bemanistyle or zenius-I-vanisher are more or less informational sites on music games in general. It was probably decided that the simfile database would not only cause potential legal hassle, but also would deviate from the site's main focus. The legality of a simfile database was far from the only "issue".

The flash game, R2, that the simfile database used for instant playing, never was completed, and it'd look better if that was removed altogether. Finally, the simfile database was a hefty load for the servers I'd imagine. Overall, the database, and the game associated with it, was probably too much and too incomplete, as well as lying in a legal grey zone.

[iironiic]

Re: FFR Suggestions

I think it would be neat to implement a rating scale from 1-10 whether people enjoyed playing the file or not in everyone's individual level ranks and then average those ratings and put it on the high score table with the song length, # of AAAs, etc. Seems like I'm asking for much, but I think it would be nice to have (:

[Velocity]

Re: FFR Suggestions

The site doesn't have space for the simfile DB. It barely has enough to keep the site alive as it is. Also the legal issues behind it along with other things.

[bmah]

Re: FFR Suggestions

I think it would be neat to implement a rating scale from 1-10 whether people enjoyed playing the file or not in everyone's individual level ranks and then average those ratings and put it on the high score table with the song length, # of AAAs, etc. Seems like I'm asking for much, but I think it would be nice to have (:

I could see that getting abused and then the values getting skewed as a result. It's as practical as votes - not very.

[Emithith]

Re: FFR Suggestions

New suggestion then:
Donations for a new server, that way we can get more space.

edit: bmah, on FunnyJunk (yeah, yeah, what ever) the rating system is one per IP, so unless you have a IP Spoofer/Dynamic IP it probably wont be a problem if you make the votes like that.

[Netjet!]

Re: FFR Suggestions

I could see that getting abused and then the values getting skewed as a result. It's as practical as votes - not very.

It'd be cool just to see the rating of the song (if people liked it) - even if it didn't affect the difficulty of the song

[00Razor00]

Re: FFR Suggestions

New suggestion then:
Donations for a new server, that way we can get more space.

admins have said they're against donations countless times already, so no.

[rayword45]

Re: FFR Suggestions

Why are they against donations? I'd love to donate, and the old days featured Subscribers and whatnot. No donations sounds like a way to slow potential site growth.