ZFGC

ZFGC.com => Feedback => Topic started by: Lunar on March 02, 2011, 11:12:04 am

Title: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 02, 2011, 11:12:04 am

Why is this place so dead? I've been looking at various dates and statistics regarding this forum, and it appears that around Mid-late 2010 posting activity greatly dropped. I've been visiting ZFGC off and on since it was first formed, and it's always been very active, with regular fluctuations. Did something happen in 2010 that made everybody leave? I've noticed a few people returning, such as myself and Porkchop, but we're going to need much more than that if we want to see ZFGC return to the glory days of old.

We need some kind of major project to bring the community together, and attract outside attention (or the attention of former members who have left). After all, "Zelda Fan Game" Central is hardly living up to its namesake if that isn't the primary focus. I'd suggest a name change, but what would we become? Just another generic Zelda Forum? That wouldn't do..

PS: I'm slowly delving into the world of Game Development, I might start working on a Zelda Game of my own. It would be fairly non-traditional as I'm not interested in just making the same old bland game that's been done in variations since Zelda Fan Game-making was popularized. Is there anyone who would be interested in working on a project with me, in any degree? It would happen in the future.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Mamoruanime on March 02, 2011, 11:35:52 am

I think a lot of it has to do with lack of promotion... Back in the day when someone was working on a game, they'd post it on all of the game dev communities they also visit, and link back to this place. Now people work on projects in silence (I'm guilty of this too) and don't care to promote it. We have a few projects that could be promoted on other forums but it's up to the creators of them to do it :\

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Dantztron 3030 on March 02, 2011, 03:28:22 pm

Honestly, I think a lot of us have just grown out of fangaming, at least those of us who actually produced games reliably and regularly instead of just walking demos. There's no real solution to that. Life goes on.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 02, 2011, 03:35:59 pm

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

RIP ZFGC
2001(?) - 2011

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Source on March 02, 2011, 05:49:47 pm

Quote from: Dantztron 3030 on March 02, 2011, 03:28:22 pm

Honestly, I think a lot of us have just grown out of fangaming, at least those of us who actually produced games reliably and regularly instead of just walking demos. There's no real solution to that. Life goes on.

Basically this. I most certainly haven't cared much for them recently. Really, I'm here for the memories.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Kleaver on March 02, 2011, 06:39:44 pm

Same here. I still have a project and a bunch of nice Zelda fangame !@#$% stored somewhere.

But yeah. I'm overall kind of done with Zelda and fangaming. But I still like visiting this place.  :)

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Martijn dh on March 02, 2011, 08:13:25 pm

Reasons for my own lowered activity: working lots, working late, studying and having fun with the girlfriend.
Haven't grown out of fangames too much because it's a hobby. My personal guilty pleasure.

As a response to the first post. I agree that a cooperative project might do the forum some good.
I have been pondering on this one idea for a number of months now, which may or may not spark some interest. I've got an engine with a decent amount of features in it. Gmare is just released and it helps people to work together on a single game (to an extend). How about combining the two? Maybe it'd be fun if I'd give a group the opportunity to build something in Gmare which I'd in turn convert to my engine, as a standalone game. All that is currently present in the engine would be the available as a buildingblock. Just a thought. It'd need a further introduction obviously.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Dumb_Ass on March 02, 2011, 09:06:55 pm

I was wondering when the annual "zfgc is dead/dying" topic would come again.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Porkchop on March 02, 2011, 10:38:22 pm

Quote from: Dantztron 3030 on March 02, 2011, 03:28:22 pm

Honestly, I think a lot of us have just grown out of fangaming, at least those of us who actually produced games reliably and regularly instead of just walking demos. There's no real solution to that. Life goes on.

Pretty much this. Along with this, a lot of people are growing out of fan gaming in general. More people are focusing on indie games now overall. Some places like Pokecommunity still seem alive and well (it's always been very well populated anyway), but not like it used to be. (nevermind that, it still seems to be more active than ever)

If there were a very decent fan game out there, I'd be more than interested, but (no offense to anyone), I just haven't seen anything that interesting, or anything that hasn't been done to death already. Shadowgazer looked amazing, but he turned to indie development instead, which further pushes my first point.

I don't think ZFGC will get much more attention even with advertising, and if it does, because of some big project, it'll be a bunch of kids coming and saying "WHEN WILL THIS GAME BE OUT?" "DOES IT COME OUT ON DS?" "IS IT BEING MADE BY NINTENDO?" "WILL NINTENDO PICK THIS UP?".

As for a community project, it won't work, and probably at this point, never will work. For reasons listed above mostly. It's already been attempted as well, and didn't turn out well.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: MG-Zero on March 02, 2011, 11:03:46 pm

My project is still going, I'm on C++ now though, so the engine is the primary project.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Aero88 on March 03, 2011, 12:01:31 am

It is very sad that ZFGC is suffering this "depression".  The sad fact is that most of us still here have many responsibilities in life that make it difficult to keep the forum as active as it was in the past.  I know that for me at least I barely have time to work on the projects that I have here...  Though Ironically none of my current projects are zelda fan games anyway.  ***Sits on soap Box*** I think most of the modern gamers are heading in a different direction than what ZFGC has to offer...  It makes me feel old to say this, but modern games don't go very well with zelda games.  Think about it.  Even TP was an extremely watered down version of zelda.  Don't get me wrong.  I loved it graphically and it was still fun, but they took all of the thought out of playing it...  As long as you went to the crystal ball lady, and read text you could get everything without having to figure anything out yourself.  It is almost like watching a movie rather than thinking your way through a complex game... ***Gets off soap box***

     In the end I too wish ZFGC was still active, but I just don't see a way to revitalize it with the modern society of gamers.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Colbydude on March 03, 2011, 01:07:21 am

Quote from: Martijn dh on March 02, 2011, 08:13:25 pm

Reasons for my own lowered activity: working lots, working late, studying and having fun with the girlfriend.
Haven't grown out of fangames too much because it's a hobby. My personal guilty pleasure.

Also this, except replace working with SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL AND MORE SCHOOL. I'm keepin that god damn 4.2GPA though.

Anyways, hopefully I'll be able to start working on a project again soon. I've been really craving it.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: skully on March 03, 2011, 01:25:24 am

Quote from: Reo on March 02, 2011, 09:06:55 pm

I was wondering when the annual "zfgc is dead/dying" topic would come again.

Hmm, I feel like I should say more but....

This. XD

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: AoDC on March 04, 2011, 10:10:54 am

People have grown up. People got over developing, playing, and waiting for fan games.

Or I did, at least. I'm sure I speak for many, though.

I only come for mammy every now and then. Still think of him after all these years...

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: TheDarkJay on March 04, 2011, 10:44:29 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs

Seems pretty relevant :)

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Mamoruanime on March 04, 2011, 11:34:06 am

Quote from: AoDC on March 04, 2011, 10:10:54 am

I only come for mammy every now and then. Still think of him after all these years...

Everyone I sex up comes for me. That's how it works.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: TomPel on March 04, 2011, 02:21:23 pm

Wow, a drama topic.
I don't know, everytime ZFGC has had a silent phase things have always turned out good one way or another. I wouldn't worry too much. We just need a boost of somekind :P

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Theforeshadower on March 04, 2011, 03:51:56 pm

Quote from: TomPel on March 04, 2011, 02:21:23 pm

Wow, a drama topic.
I don't know, everytime ZFGC has had a silent phase things have always turned out good one way or another. I wouldn't worry too much. We just need a boost of somekind :P

We need a huge fan game again...or just a huge project in general.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: MG-Zero on March 04, 2011, 05:01:07 pm

We should totally bring back King of Thieves.  !@#$% was awesome.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 04, 2011, 05:09:00 pm

Quote from: TomPel on March 04, 2011, 02:21:23 pm

Wow, a drama topic.
I don't know, everytime ZFGC has had a silent phase things have always turned out good one way or another. I wouldn't worry too much. We just need a boost of somekind :P

Well, if you look at the statistics on the front page you can see an undeniable, unprecedented drop in forum activity. Perhaps the lowest it has ever been.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Theforeshadower on March 04, 2011, 05:14:17 pm

Quote from: MG-Zero on March 04, 2011, 05:01:07 pm

We should totally bring back King of Thieves.  !@#$% was awesome.

I agree.  I would some of the time I spent on it back in the day to be shown in the form of at least a demo.
I'll be gone without internet for about a week or so.  After that, I am down for going through all the old files and restructuring King of Thieves so we can take a look at what we have and what needs work.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Dantztron 3030 on March 04, 2011, 05:16:03 pm

Quote from: MG-Zero on March 04, 2011, 05:01:07 pm

We should totally bring back King of Thieves.  !@#$% was awesome.

I agree. I'd love to write for it.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Zaeranos on March 04, 2011, 06:03:05 pm

Quote from: Theforeshadower on March 04, 2011, 05:14:17 pm

Quote from: MG-Zero on March 04, 2011, 05:01:07 pm

We should totally bring back King of Thieves.  !@#$% was awesome.

I agree.  I would some of the time I spent on it back in the day to be shown in the form of at least a demo.
I'll be gone without internet for about a week or so.  After that, I am down for going through all the old files and restructuring King of Thieves so we can take a look at what we have and what needs work.

Sorry to be the voice of cynicism on this but I forsee another fail on this. I love to see it back as well, but it is just that we have members here on both ends of the programming skills. The really good ones want refuse to work with a language other than C#, C++ or on that level and the lesser skilled only have the ability to work with GML. Leaving you with only graphics, sounds and story but no game. And of what I have seen of the previous King of Thieves project there were a few people working on the engine, but the source was never released. Or I must have missed something.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: MG-Zero on March 04, 2011, 08:14:42 pm

If anyone has a problem with using GM, C# is a perfectly good alternative.  I'm currently in an Advanced Game Programming Class and we've been able to whip out a functioning game very quickly.  I'd offer Harvest as a C++ alternative, but it's undergoing major revisions right now.  GM is alright as well if we have a lot of newbies.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Theforeshadower on March 04, 2011, 08:23:59 pm

I'd love to dive into C#.  I wonder if we could use XNA 3 or 4 and write an engine with that.
Then again, C++ with SDL wouldn't be too bad either.

Hell, if there was really enough skill members in on it, I'd even go OpenGL or DX.  Course, I would learning as I went but it would give me something to do while I work on UN Squadron.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: MG-Zero on March 04, 2011, 08:25:58 pm

yes, xna 4.0 would suffice for this

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Zhello on March 04, 2011, 08:29:24 pm

Quote from: Theforeshadower on March 04, 2011, 08:23:59 pm

I'd love to dive into C#.  I wonder if we could use XNA 3 or 4 and write an engine with that.
Then again, C++ with SDL wouldn't be too bad either.

Hell, if there was really enough skill members in on it, I'd even go OpenGL or DX.  Course, I would learning as I went but it would give me something to do while I work on UN Squadron.

Well we have a lot of people, we can start a project lol.  You guys started out well with the KoT project,  not sure what happened after that.

I'm just getting use to GM,  I looked into C# a long time ago but never did anything nor learned anything about it.

I had an idea for a community project we all can do together, but that was before, waaaay before I started working on Fusion Gate.
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/suncrop15/shadowbattle.jpg)


link to thread:
http://www.zfgc.com/forum/index.php?topic=33734.msg376707#msg376707

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: MG-Zero on March 04, 2011, 08:55:16 pm

I'm also going to suggest not jumping straight into code and going through parts of the SDLC to gather requirements and prototype classes and such.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Zaeranos on March 04, 2011, 10:00:20 pm

Personally I prefer to finish the GM MCS Engine first then build King of Thieves on top of that to show of the engine. However, I have had way to much stress lately, with the Master Thesis, Government assholes and finding out that I haven't had a good night sleep since I was about 10 years old, due to a sleeping disorder. BUt I'll get to work on it some more this week. Maybe I'll finally get around to starting a GDD I had in my head all the time for it.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: 4Sword on March 04, 2011, 10:06:09 pm

Quote from: Niek on March 04, 2011, 10:00:20 pm

Personally I prefer to finish the GM MCS Engine first then build King of Thieves on top of that to show of the engine. However, I have had way to much stress lately, with the Master Thesis, Government assholes and finding out that I haven't had a good night sleep since I was about 10 years old, due to a sleeping disorder. BUt I'll get to work on it some more this week. Maybe I'll finally get around to starting a GDD I had in my head all the time for it.

You should put your life first, especially if any code I sent your way earlier is giving you a headache due to its complexity and/or redundancy.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Infinitus on March 04, 2011, 10:53:41 pm

"20 Guests, 8 Users"
Thats more than the "0" I normally see!

I wonder why this site only gets activity when topics like this are posted. Are ZFGC'iens just to addicted to drama? Does the site die without it?

Tune in next week to find out!

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Mamoruanime on March 04, 2011, 11:07:42 pm

Quote from: Infini on March 04, 2011, 10:53:41 pm

"20 Guests, 8 Users"
Thats more than the "0" I normally see!

I wonder why this site only gets activity when topics like this are posted. Are ZFGC'iens just to addicted to drama? Does the site die without it?

Pretty much. Honestly you could make a thread that says "ZFGC is closing", and we'll have a tremendous spike of activity.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 04, 2011, 11:29:59 pm

Quote from: Infini on March 04, 2011, 10:53:41 pm

"20 Guests, 8 Users"
Thats more than the "0" I normally see!

I wonder why this site only gets activity when topics like this are posted. Are ZFGC'iens just to addicted to drama? Does the site die without it?

Tune in next week to find out!

This is drama? That wasn't the intention.. I think of drama threads as being specifically ones with raging emotions and / or name-calling.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Porkchop on March 05, 2011, 12:17:50 am

ZFGC is !@#$%.
Drama go.

In all seriousness though, there's really no drama in here, just discussion.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: शेफाली on March 05, 2011, 12:23:55 am

Quote from: Lunar on March 02, 2011, 03:35:59 pm

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

RIP ZFGC
2001(?) - 2011

Maybe melodrama is a better word to use.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 05, 2011, 12:32:02 am

Quote from: शेफाली on March 05, 2011, 12:23:55 am

Quote from: Lunar on March 02, 2011, 03:35:59 pm

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

RIP ZFGC
2001(?) - 2011

Maybe melodrama is a better word to use.

Or "humor"!

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: 4Sword on March 05, 2011, 01:21:07 am

It only bothers me when people who complain about the state of the forum aren't doing anything to make it better; examples of how to do that would be to post in project/resource topics or to make your own. And yeah, I know I haven't posted some code stuff in a while I too have been busy but really if anyone wants to help make this place better then be proactive and be the change you want to see in this place.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: rivexco on March 05, 2011, 01:36:32 am

I'll start going all over the web (especially DA) and try to get more members. (for a cost, see below). meanwhile why dont a couple of you programmers started making engines/workin on tem. I'll get my old graphics project going again. IF neik (since ur the boss now) allows Zeemo71 and hikolol35 back on the forum (there friends of mine on DA and they would really love to come back) but i have my way around DA and maybe KnowKname would want to come on, i'll ask him

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Mamoruanime on March 05, 2011, 01:50:35 am

Quote from: rivexco on March 05, 2011, 01:36:32 am

I'll start going all over the web (especially DA) and try to get more members. (for a cost, see below). meanwhile why dont a couple of you programmers started making engines/workin on tem. I'll get my old graphics project going again. IF neik (since ur the boss now) allows Zeemo71 and hikolol35 back on the forum (there friends of mine on DA and they would really love to come back) but i have my way around DA and maybe KnowKname would want to come on, i'll ask him

I'm pretty sure everyone here is as capable if not more to get more pull :P Nobody really wants to do it though. Throwing out "terms and conditions" of your services is a bit pretentious though.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Zhello on March 05, 2011, 03:06:06 am

Drama lol, if there is no drama we show up as guest users only, other then that offline until another nice topic like this comes up.
lol went from0 users to 2 users now. :D

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 05, 2011, 05:14:48 am

Quote from: 4Sword on March 05, 2011, 01:21:07 am

It only bothers me when people who complain about the state of the forum aren't doing anything to make it better; examples of how to do that would be to post in project/resource topics or to make your own. And yeah, I know I haven't posted some code stuff in a while I too have been busy but really if anyone wants to help make this place better then be proactive and be the change you want to see in this place.

I'm learning GML at the moment. I am also thinking of learning how to compose music for games. Along with that, I am a fairly decent pixel artist at times. As soon as I can contribute useful content to the site, I will.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: MG-Zero on March 05, 2011, 05:26:03 am

Quote from: rivexco on March 05, 2011, 01:36:32 am

I'll start going all over the web (especially DA) and try to get more members. (for a cost, see below). meanwhile why dont a couple of you programmers started making engines/workin on tem. I'll get my old graphics project going again. IF neik (since ur the boss now) allows Zeemo71 and hikolol35 back on the forum (there friends of mine on DA and they would really love to come back) but i have my way around DA and maybe KnowKname would want to come on, i'll ask him

Wait...wat?

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Zaeranos on March 05, 2011, 06:51:10 am

Quote from: MG-Zero on March 05, 2011, 05:26:03 am

Quote from: rivexco on March 05, 2011, 01:36:32 am

I'll start going all over the web (especially DA) and try to get more members. (for a cost, see below). meanwhile why dont a couple of you programmers started making engines/workin on tem. I'll get my old graphics project going again. IF neik (since ur the boss now) allows Zeemo71 and hikolol35 back on the forum (there friends of mine on DA and they would really love to come back) but i have my way around DA and maybe KnowKname would want to come on, i'll ask him

Wait...wat?

Yeah, I had the same reaction. Since when am I the boss? The only thing I am doing is work on the MCS Engine.

Quote from: 4Sword on March 04, 2011, 10:06:09 pm

You should put your life first, especially if any code I sent your way earlier is giving you a headache due to its complexity and/or redundancy.

Heh, your code was the easiest of things to do. Try to get OpenNI to work with Qt, when you know very little about the both of them.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: FISSURE on March 05, 2011, 07:10:11 am

W00t another drama topic. We can do it guys,

Save ZFGC 2011!

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: MG-Zero on March 05, 2011, 07:12:15 am

Fissure, ilu.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 05, 2011, 07:16:05 am

Let's just lie down and accept it. That is a much better idea, right?

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: FISSURE on March 05, 2011, 07:20:15 am

Quote from: MG-Zero on March 05, 2011, 07:12:15 am

Fissure, ilu.

ilu2 MG :D :D

Quote from: Lunar on March 05, 2011, 07:16:05 am

Let's just lie down and accept it. That is a much better idea, right?

Pretty much my dawg. Heck, i made my own Save ZFGC topic awhile back, but i eventually forgot about it, and i'm pretty much too lazy to even try anything to help ZFGC anyway. Bump on a log as they say. I'm sure you guys could help save it :D

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: Lunar on March 05, 2011, 07:27:08 am

It could all be in vain, but I have an optimistic feeling regarding the possible future of ZFGC. That's kind of a big deal for somebody as generally negative and cynical as me.

More than anything it's nostalgia. A longing for the ZFGC that I remember fondly, years ago. We'll never be there again, but you can't blame me for wanting to give it a shot.

Title: Re: Death of ZFGC
Post by: FISSURE on March 05, 2011, 07:30:43 am

Quote from: Lunar on March 05, 2011, 07:27:08 am

It could all be in vain, but I have an optimistic feeling regarding the possible future of ZFGC. That's kind of a big deal for somebody as generally negative and cynical as me.

More than anything it's nostalgia. A longing for the ZFGC that I remember fondly, years ago. We'll never be there again, but you can't blame me for wanting to give it a shot.

Hit me with your best shot, Fire Awayyyyyyyy
If you want something, you gotta try and get it, No harm in trying to revive ZFGC.

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