City of IF

Thunderbird · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 9:32 pm Post subject: New Districts

You may notice some posts announcing some new districts, Creepy Cave, Lover's Lane, Raceway Road, a returning Jester's Park and our two new game forums.

These names were come up with a bit on the fly and I would love some discussion on them. Do you like the names or would you like to suggest something else for any of these new districts?

Also, if you're wondering where the icons are for them up on the top bar, that's going to be installed later this week. Takes a bit more effort than a mere mayor can manage alone apparently ;) (Java stuff)

I'd like to explain my thinking in opening these new forums up. I feel that nature hates a void and by their existence, I'm hoping they will invite authors into posting new storygames in those forums. They may help to present the city to a wider audience as well, something more than our usual Sci-fi/Fantasy crowd, even though that is probably always going to be our strongest suit.

The Raceway, in particular, is very much a 'test' district. Check out the announcement there and let's see how many of us can step up to the plate on that challenge!

Anyhow, I'm starting this thread to get feedback from any and all IFians on each of these new sections. New icon art proposals are also welcome. Bear in mind, if you don't like any of these genre sections, I can respect that and would like to hear your opinion expressed, but we'll be trying them for a bit either way to see if they help the site or harm it.

Chinaren · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 10:51 pm Post subject:

I like!

The only thing I'd like slighly more is going straight into the forum. At the moment (it seems, I could be wrong) you click on, say, Racey road and then have to click on 'another' Racey road to get to the stories (or where they will be).

Easy is Good, so an extra click is Bad.

I could be in total error here of course, so ignore me if I am.

Thunderbird · Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject:

If we get enough activity, we can bring back the regular SGOTMs so we can have more running SGs right there. As it is, that first segment is a repository for Showcase/SGOTM winners, but we don't have any for the new forums yet of course. It really can't be opened up for general posting so easily, and that's what the Storygame forum in the district is for.

It will look more natural once we have some showcase SGs in there.

Even the games may get some popular highlights coming too! Popular word games and RPs will eventually be given a means to gain showcase status but we've got to test these as they are for a little bit at first.

Smee · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 5215 Location: UK

Busy boy! :D

I'm liking the new look. Only thing that jarred a little bit on the home page was the 'Laughter Lane', and 'Lovers Lane'... the same repetition I get from reading it in a chapter.

If you're wanting the alliteration perhaps Humour house, Chuckle Corner, Sexy Street? :lol:

Thunderbird · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 12:01 am Post subject:

I like Humor House... that's cool!

Funny... hadn't even realized I'd done that... lol.

EDIT: Ok, we have Lover's Court and Humor House (I noticed we also had Linear Lane already and figured I wouldn't change that...)

Shillelagh · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 398 Location: Kansas

Oh, good, you nixed "Lover's Lane" That was my thought too. Otherwise, you could come up with something around 'romance' to alliterate with.

My other thought... Raceway makes it sound like a racing genre, as if the only stories that can go there are about Mario Kart, NASCAR, the Kentucky Derby and the like. I'd rather see something like "Speedwriter's Square", which emphasises that speediness is a quality, not a genre.

Thunderbird · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 8:29 pm Post subject:

hmm... I think that might be a good idea. Anyone else second that motion?

Smee · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 5215 Location: UK

Seconded. :lol:

Thunderbird · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 10:52 pm Post subject:

How about the Storygame Speedway? Its set to this since my memory sucks... from the time I read this to the time I updated it I'd forgotten what was suggested already... lol... but then I kinda liked what I put so before changing it again I wondered if you all like it.

HalfEmptyHero · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 11:10 pm Post subject:

I still prefer Shillelagh's suggestion.

Shillelagh · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 398 Location: Kansas

Speedwriter's Square sounds like a place where people who write quickly gather to discuss and share their work. The writing happens fast, but it's still a relaxing place where you can stop and browse. Storygame Speedway sounds like a place where you make bets on whose SG can complete the circuit the fastest. If you happen to step onto the track, you will get run over.

That's just me. XD

Crunchyfrog · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 3998

Speedwriter's Square rings well with me. *nods*

Thunderbird · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 7:22 pm Post subject:

:) Even when y'all disagree with me, I appreciate the emergence of opinions! Very well then... it has been changed and shall remain 'Speedwriter's Square'.

Any other districts we'd like to suggest new names for?

HalfEmptyHero · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 9:16 pm Post subject:

I think something needs to be done about General Fiction and Experimental, but don't have any ideas. I'll keep thinking though.

Thunderbird · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 9:24 pm Post subject:

As I was going about this, I had the same thought, and it ended the same too.

We need a catchy name for the forum. The Idea Lab?

HalfEmptyHero · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 9:31 pm Post subject:

That's a good name, but I don't think it represents the forum well enough. The Idea Lab sounds like a place to discuss ideas, not a place to write storygames. But this brings us to another issue: Do we represent that forum as experimental or as general fiction; the two ideas are almost polar opposites. I'm not sure there is enough activity in it to warrant two forums though.

Thunderbird · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject:

I don't think general fiction fits as much in there now since there shouldn't really be an unrepresented genre. Experimental is the most valid purpose for it.

Thunderbird · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 7:33 pm Post subject:

OK, so the idea has been tossed around and some seem very for it while others against it.

I've been thinking of offering a district for Poetry and Art posts.

Call it Artistic Alley or somesuch.

I'd like to hear some feedback on the idea, along with suggestions for whether fables, stratagems or neither should be offered there and whether it should go in the Storygames header or Other games header. Or do you think we already have the right district but just need to place it within that one we already have?

I'm somewhat of the opinion that these topics should be a bit more 'highlighted than that' though - as they can be quite a draw in and of themselves (pun intended.)

Anyhow - your thoughts?

HalfEmptyHero · Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 12:12 am Post subject:

Thunderbird wrote: OK, so the idea has been tossed around and some seem very for it while others against it.

I've been thinking of offering a district for Poetry and Art posts.

Call it Artistic Alley or somesuch.

I'd like to hear some feedback on the idea, along with suggestions for whether fables, stratagems or neither should be offered there and whether it should go in the Storygames header or Other games header. Or do you think we already have the right district but just need to place it within that one we already have?

I'm somewhat of the opinion that these topics should be a bit more 'highlighted than that' though - as they can be quite a draw in and of themselves (pun intended.)

Anyhow - your thoughts?

A simple word to say to thee,
A simple word shall set me free,
But simple sounds so simple.

I write this now, a message to read,
I write this now, so you might heed
My words that with care I write

A place of poetry, of promise and lore
A place with not a lock on any a door
Where, oh where, should I find such a place?

I know for certain, if I were you
I know I would create a place so true
To sing and chant all that I know.

There it is, that's what I desire
There it is, burning like a fire
And I hope I soon will see you there.

Andolyn · Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 12:16 am Post subject:

LOVE this. XD what a creative way to answer! haha!

D-Lotus · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 4123 Location: Hollywood, USA

Ok, I know I just wrote in some other thread that I was too busy to take a Mod position, but if there's a Poetry section, I will definitely offer myself for that. I'm willing to make a commitment to Poetry, even at the cost of other things. :-)

Vishal Muralidharan · Joined: 24 Aug 2010 Posts: 868 Location: City Of IF!

Still waiting for Icons.. It would make navigation easier ;)

Thunderbird · Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 2:19 pm Post subject:

Their comin' V... outta my hands - Key's on it.

Ok, so we're holding a quick and immediate vote right now on what to name the Experimental Forum.

Thunderbird · Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 2:27 pm Post subject:

Innovation Isle it is then :)

Crunchyfrog · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 3998

I see the flash icons are now up - and very good they look indeed.

A suggestion - it's rather a long line there, under Storygames now. Can Info Street and City Central be moved to the Info group?

Neither of them contain storygames, and both contain some level of info. It might help balance things out a bit. :)

Crunchyfrog · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 3998

Just a quick announcement - Now that we have new districts open for poetry and art, some of the more relevant threads that have been hanging around in Linear and the Open Forum are gradually making their way over there. So if you can't find your poetry or artwork thread, you'll know where to look!

Cheers
:)

Thunderbird · Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 12:59 am Post subject:

And there will be a LOT of moving material from the open forum and games forums to the appropriate rp or wordgame forums too. Pope... get 'em!

Crunchy: Lets let some cleanup there take place first then revisit that point. I'm thinking you may be right that we should do that but I'm wanting to see how well the acadamy takes off with some of its new projects as well to see if it warrants a full district.