Pack ratings

[moches]

Re: Pack ratings

Since I don't feel that just numbers are enough to convey my thoughts on any pack, you get to read long, rambly reviews instead.

FFRCP – In retrospect, a lot of these files are solid, but nothing stands out as a keeper really. Still a few files worth playing, otherwise fairly bleh. C
FFRCP2 – Small pack with only a few mediocre files. Most of these files are a ton of fun. A-
FFRCP3 – A grab-bag of stuff. Some really good files, some trainwrecks. Quality control is still pretty good, though, and there are plenty of replayable files. B-
FFRCP - Summer 2011 – Basically the same as FFRCP3. A few gems and the rest are mostly decent. B
FFRCP - Autumn 2011 – Despite the incredible amounts of wap found in this pack (this ain’t Otaku’s Dream newb) most of the files are quite enjoyable. B

ODIpack – I’m going to have to play the devil’s advocate here and say that this pack never really grabbed me at all. I play a few files from this regularly, but it’s not an absolute must. B-
ODIpack2 – This pack is great. Great song choice, great files. A

RFpack – Easy files for the most part, but they’re pretty fun. A very consistent pack if nothing else. B+
DCP – Regardless of what your thoughts on ‘leetism and all that jazz are, everybody has one file from this they whore all the time. Pretty good stuff. B+

LCP – Good pack that wasn’t very polished. B-
LCP2 – I’m always torn between this and LCP3 when it comes to which one is my favorite LCP. This has an incredibly diverse palette of files and 99% of them are quality. A-
LCP3 – Same as LCP2. I feel like we let a few files in that could have used a little more work, but it’s still a great pack. B+

Mystery Pack 1 – Interesting concept with good files to back it up. A lot of new tricks found here would later become widespread in later eras. B+
Mystery Pack 2 – I enjoy this pack about as much as I do the first. B+

UEMP – Most of these files are quite replayable. B
UEMP2 – Sadly, none of the files here strike me as keepers. Sorry.. C
UEMP3 – A step up from 2, that’s for sure. Nice mix of files. B-

Subjectivemaniers I – There are some stone-cold classics in here, that’s for sure. The rest are hit-and-miss, but I’ll take hit-and-miss over 100% bland any day of the week. B-
Subjectivemaniers II – Quality deviation is a little tighter compared to the first one, not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. B-

Xoon 3 – Unpolished but loads of fun. This pack has tons of sentimental value, so don’t trust the rating. It’s still a good pack, though! A++++
Xoon 4 – Proved that a pack centered around the community didn’t need to have strict quality control to work, and in that aspect it’s almost revolutionary. File quality is all across-the-board, but I can’t help but think that maybe that’s the point. B+
Xoon 5 – The best Xoon pack by a country mile. A nice throwback to ODIpack2 and days past. A

[masuat]

Re: Pack ratings

I'm not mad about the reviews. I'm mad that people are throwing bullshitted numbers on a number scale that means absolutely nothing and is totally irrelevant. Yet people will look at this rating and go "oh this pack got a 1/10 it must be really bad" without any real reason or logic to come down to a conclusion of WHY.


Yes, you can sum up your overall impression. But the fact you sum up an overall impression using the aforementioned bullshit rating is absolutely ludicrous. By slapping ratings to packs using a number, you're dividing the packs into hierarchies and tiers. For example, It's quite evident from the people that actually posted serious ratings in here is that they prefer the elitism time period where it was basically impossible for non-veteran simfile authors to make a file without being highly criticized and bashed. Look at Alex's post and you'll see he segregated his ratings from the most elitist down until the most lenient, modern day laxness.


Keyword here being "rough score". If you can explain to me an entire objective system and/or formula to use to actually come down and rate a file out of a scale of 10, then I'll be able to understand this concept. How I see it, you either like a file or you don't like a file. Slapping bullshitted fantasy numbers is completely vague and doesn't even tell you much other than show the public that "oh this file/pack got a 1/10 I shouldn't play it".


I'm not mad at the fact packs got bad scores.

I'm mad at the fact that these ratings are suggesting that elitism was the way to go when back in the day you had to step to appeal to an inner circle of elitists as opposed to the community. I thought elitism had died but the actual ratings posted in here makes it evident that it's still around if you're still segregating packs into different tiers and hierarchies, all of which go from the most elitist pack down to modern day, actual community-based.

Everyone has their taste, yes, but all these ratings are basically implying that SM in general has taken a wrong turn by turning away from elitism as opposed to actually sticking with it. If we all kept the established "elitist standard" of what makes a good file to appeal to the small inner circle instead of the broad community, what do you think happens when all the elite-clique simfile authors all of a sudden stop playing? I'll leave that question for you to think about, if we had not abandoned the elitism shenanigans.

Sorry if I'm taking this too seriously. This topic really grinds my gears because you're all ignoring the broader picture here of what exactly is SM's current status. I don't have anymore to say here but I just had to rant.

Nice post, bro. It's sort of what I thought back when I was still involved in the community.

I think it's ok to post a 9/10 5/10 whatever number rating for a pack or song, as long as you also included an explanation for that rating... I don't like ratings out of 10 in general though because they're generally retarded (mostly due to the skewed way we see it in school marks etc.)

I'm actually really glad you're promoting a change in view GD, you of all people have been very significant to stepmania over the years and it sets a good example. Elitism has always run high throughout and I know it sounds bad because I never got real good at stepping or playing. It certainly was (is) toxic because of how small and discerning the community is. It's just a fact of the nature of the game we're playing that determines who rules at the top (skill-based, and like all things, seniority-based).

Indeed the thread can make you want to think of some serious business but I think because this a thread idea with no real thought put to it (let's see what everyone else posts and have a laugh) some dudes just wrote whatever x pack is 3/10 to be Ironic or something.