Subject: Enquirer's front page

Heya,

One thing has been bothering me since some time. However I've stopped paying attention to it, until recently when I asked a friend if he would consider joining II. He looked at the site, then at the enquirer's front page and blatantly answered: "Why would I join a game with almost no visible updates?"

I tried to convince him that the game has incredibly updates, a very dynamic developer and quite a lively user crowd... And I'm still trying...

His main objection (the same as mine at some point) is the 1st page of the enquirer which is terribly (by lack of a better word) outdated.
Currently the last 3 announcements are:

• Introducing Improbable Labs (Dec 09)
  
• Season Two Announced (June 09 (sic!))
  
• Winners of the Drunken Karaoke contest announced! (Jan 09)

Re: Enquirer's front page

There's a rather good reason for that... CMJ hates Twitter with a burning passion of magnitudes usually found only at the heart of the sun, or your local nuclear fission plant.

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• If you have low level MySQL access: copy and paste the settings of a new account.
  
• If you don't: beg your friendly sysadmin to do this as a personal favour!

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Or, just put the MOtDs where the announcements are. Quick twitter free fix?

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I must say that MadMad's friend isn't the only one to have had second thoughts because of that. I looked at the lack of updates and was Most Alarmed, but decided to give it a shot anyway (thank goodness). It wouldn't surprise me at all if it had turned rather a lot of people off.

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Ditto everything Syd said.

I really think this is important to fix. We point new people at the Enquirer all the time, and this is where they land... definitely a turn-off.

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I agree with Yrk's idea ... and even better, how about having the MoTDs update more often? If I hadn't been reading the Enquirer, I would have had no clue there were Titans coming out, or that the commentary system was going to change, or that there were suddenly lions, or or or anything like that ... it'd be nice to have some sort of heads-up immediately visible on big changes like that, especially before they come out! Sorry if that makes me seem fussy or something.

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Chiming in on this:

The Enquirer was originally meant to be a sort of in-character Island newspaper, with dev news released in the MotD. This was back before I realised a couple of things:

1) These days I code far more than I write,
2) If I stopped to talk about everything I was coding, I'd only get half as much coding done.

So yes, it's a problem, and no, I'm not sure what to do about it.

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So. Should we:

1) Turn the Enquirer into an in-character newspaper, complete with interviews, articles, letters pages and so on;
->For which we'll need an editor or two, and I'll need to reinstate the link to submit articles (which is all of two minutes' work);
2) Create a new newspaper with a different name, which will be in-character, and keep the Enquirer for game-related updates and chat;
3) Other.

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Quote by: tehdave

Quote by: CavemanJoe

1) These days I code far more than I write,
2) If I stopped to talk about everything I was coding, I'd only get half as much coding done.

1) Speaking of writing, are we ever going to get a part 2 of the "I am the Watcher" story? PLEEEEEEEEEASE? (Imagine those are puppydog eyes)

2) And don't think we don't appreciate it. But I know a lot of people that don't read the enquirer, that get sudden cases of "WHAT'S GOING ON!?!?!" when something suddenly appears. Like the new commentary system. Maybe have an "Upcoming Stuff" portion of the MoTD? A quick rundown of "what may or may not be about to happen tomorrow, or within the next few weeks"?

C) I like the idea of putting the MOTD on the Enquirer Front Page. At least have relatively recent postdates, so the latest thing on the Front Page isn't the Contest from 12/09.

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Sir, if you are looking for an editor, I would like to apply for the job.

I am a highly qualified news reporter looking to move into an editorial position. My current employer, the Improbable News Network, can attest that I will stop at nothing to get at the truth. I was the one who scooped the world on those scandalous goings-on in the dojo that recently led to a complete turnover of staff!

My motto: The people have a right to know!

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I thought about applying, and then realized CMJ would probably start recruiting if he went with that option...

but since Junebug set the standard, consider this post my official application (until a more official option becomes available, at least).

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I would also be intensely honored to be an Enquirer editor, soo... what the other two said.

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Ah, I have something else to add. I've seen the monthly bit before, in other games, which was why I thought it might be suited here; It was generally accepted. Hell, one took it away and people got pissed. It might be welcome. Yes, no? *looks around*

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Would like to see MoTD as front page of forum. (Though I hate how forums in general are organized, and find them off-putting to newbies by default.)

Would like to see character-edited periodical of some kind. There is some room for a Basic-Training-esque column on updates to the interface. Colonel's Corner, or something. Can put a newspaper stand in each outpost, with "column submissions here" slot. Recommend multi-level editorship, to allow sufficiently dynamic personnel turnover (can make lowest level positively chaotic, for fun). Maybe make newspaper a physical object you can carry into the jungle for personal hygiene purposes. (Which reminds me, why are Danquest items not physical?)

Don't care which one is called Enquirer. On the other hand, I suggest "Improbable Islander" as the name for the in-game paper.

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As I imagine it, the Enquirer's highly active forums would stay exactly the same as they are now. We also have the Wiki, full of great in-character creativity. Ain't broke, don't fix 'em. Certainly don't split the energy by starting up some other newspaper site.

All we really need to do is supply some additional content for the poor, lonesome middle column that's been static for so long (because CMJ has been spending his time adding awesome features to the game -- and yes, we want him to keep on doing that, please! so that's why there'd have to be an editor or so, to organize it all and keep it coming.)

I'm thinking a mix of player-submitted stories, copy-and-paste of selected MoTDs, informational articles, and staff-written feature announcements. Just a flow of good stuff, to keep that part of the page as dynamic as the rest of the site.

Plus, of course -- anything CMJ has the time to write!

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Oh, yes please, Sessine. That'd be great! I was rather confused when I first found the Enquirer, until I noticed the Wiki and Forum links.

(Incidently, case in point about only finding things out in-game as they happen: all the outposts except Newbhome seem to have suddenly gone under attack. Did CMJ turn Onslaught back up to eleven?)

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Sessine makes a good point about splitting existing creativity.

I guess what I'm interested in is some way to make that creativity more accessible to newbies. I'm approaching my fourth DK -- compared to most people I see actually using the forums, I'm very much a newbie, but compared to a Day-One New Arrival, I'm a veteran -- I'm just beginning to know enough to find my way around in the forum and wiki. Which makes either one less of a guide, and more of a set of inside jokes. Even if an I.I. newspaper were merely a digest of the best new content of the Enquirer and the Wiki of Lies, available for in-game reading, that would be avast improvement.

On the other hand, I think a newspaper could be done in a way to harness creativity and broader community-building. Some new creativity may be found by the addition of article and column formats. Someone might enjoy putting together summaries of the day's activities in the Outposts and popular hangouts, combing through the automated news for more-interesting-than-usual information.

Another idea: Edition stratification: A free edition, "supported" by advertisments of Island businesses. A platinum edition, with fewer, "classier" ads, more inside jokes. Silver, Gold, Titanium, Uranium, Unobtanium; each more exclusive than the last.

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I want to clarify: I do not support a character-edited paper if it is outside the game.

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I've read lots of stuff and ideas, some good, some quite bad.

And almost all seen to miss the point that the Enquirer's front page is the best suited place to attract and keep new players in the game.

An in-character newspaper would just confuse most people into thinking/believing this game is for an inner crowd only, discouraging newbies to stick around. And the lesser number of players who stick around, the smaller the collective sum of donations will be. Go around and have a look at some other LoGD so you won't be surprise to notice that most of them are being "ruled" by an in-crowd...

The more attractive/interesting the enquirer is to newcomers, the better chance that II will profit from it (and CMJ at the same time)! Basic Marketing 101 - if you don't know the principles, don't ask me to explain...

So please STOP thinking about what you would like to see, and start coming up with ideas that are beneficial for the game!

Re: Enquirer's front page

**raised eyebrow**

An in-character newspaper might be something that was roleplayed, or found in the jungle, or handed out as a quest item. Amusing, interesting, perhaps coded in Improbable Labs to be a little mini-story. Like the Island's Library, it could be considerable fun for a while.

Indeed, people who were around in Season One will remember CTP's Improbable News Network (INN), which came out with, um, was it one or two issues? I don't think it would be terribly sustainable in the long term, though; after playing with the toy, people will quite naturally want to move on to other things. Putting out a newspaper on a regular basis is work. Not play. Trust me on this, I've done it.

You're quite right that it would not be a useful substitute for a flow of fresh content on the front page of the Enquirer.

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PS: Does Z really eat bugs?

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Pesonally, I would love the idea of an RP driven newspaper, and would be happy to help with it in any way possible mind you, but that's not what I posted to say, actually. Well, it partially is, but nevermind that.

Actually, I wanted to pose a suggestion for the middle collumn: why does it have to be either In Character or out of it? What's wrong with a little of both? Personally, I would be delighted if what came out of this thread was a combination of the two. Basically, what I'm proposing is this: have stories in regards to both programming and recent events in regards to RP. This would require player submissions, of course, but I think it's reasonable to expect that people, excited about their writing, would put up articles telling others about it.

An example of what I'm describing would be, perhaps, the first article on the middle collumn tells us about, perhaps, the newest updates in the chat system, while right below it is an article detailing a particularly entertaining discussion, or even review, of the exploits of Eben and Skidge, for instance, with a link to a transcript at the end. Heck, if people would send me transcripts, I'd be doing it now.

But, that's aside the point. The point I was making is that it could be both, which would appeal to the gamers, and RPers. And that's about all I have to say for now...

Yep!

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As excited as I am by the idea of an in-game newspaper, I would absolutely give up the idea to get some way to get/keep the Forum front page up to date.

I disagree that the forum front page is the main draw for new players: For me it was the main reason I considered not playing. I hate forums, and this one had horribly outdated content. The realization that the forum is not essential to game play is what made me comfortable continuing to play. If not for CMJ MoTD polls, I would have happily never given the forum another glance.

How can we get relative newbies (people for whom newbiedom is still fresh memory, I count myself in this group) involved, with old-timer supervision, in keeping the forum newbie-friendly? (not a rhetorical question)

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Terminology: Where you are right now...? Where we're having this conversation? That's the Forum. It's lively and current, full of teasing and news announcements and opinions and arguments, and it's the go-to place for anyone who wants to tune into real discussions about the game. There's nothing at all wrong with the Forum. It's good!

The Wiki probably gets fewer readers, but it too is perfectly healthy and full of wonderful stuff. The Gallery has tended to be kind of... off in the corner... except for when there's been a contest going on, when it suddenly turned into a hive of activity.

The Home page provides access to all of the above. Unfortunately, it also very prominently shows that center column of "stories" which have not been updated since last December, making the whole site look misleadingly dead! That's what we want to fix.

Re: Enquirer's front page

I'd vote for the second option. It doesn't need to be a massive newspaper. Perhaps on the lines of once per fortnight, and it has perhaps 1 article that's based on Labs, one on the latest updates, 2-3 on in-game non-roleplay news (i.e. the results of the experiments on imp bombs), 3-5 articles on recent roleplay events (i.e., Kittania's Hunter's Lodge now has a hole in the roof. See here) and one interview with a well-known island personality. This sort of thing I think would be easy to do, and keep doing. A regular organised thing can happen, see the Weathervane Players, who have managed to keep on going for quite a while now.

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Hmm... we have to keep in mind something about the crowd we're talking about here. Remember that if true newbies check out the Enquirer, it'll be before they read the whole intro to the island. Some will go through the first page of reading where they give their name, but I'd assume that most will not. We need to pick something to mesh with that first and foremost.

If done well, I think a sort of 'incharacter' newspaper page would work very well, so long as we do things that won't scare away potential rookies. It would need criteria for the articles, kinda like so:
Articles about new game features are a must, even if they are a little hard to keep exactly incharacter (ie the new commentary system would have to bring up afk, saying that the characters that say that and only that suddenly go into a trance or something. That's still in spirit of being incharacter while still explaining the feature so all understand).
An article about jokers in general, citing some of the more famous ones for their opinions (Namely NPCs ala Cake or Death Man & Elias, but maybe players like Z & Sessine) sounds like it would really draw interest from all crowds.
An article specifically about a dwelling will depend on the dwelling's importance:
Once the Train Stations are fully running (ie out of Labs), an article about them is basically an article about game features (so, a must).
An article stating the various soup kitchens/rookie hostels would be nice and get the word out about them.
An article about one place like Dunbernarding is a little more shaky, though. Some toes might end up stepped on if one big place is deemed 'worthy' of an article, but someone else's isn't though they feel like it is. And would a big scary place like KK's compound help to draw newbies in?

I'm starting to ramble a little, so I'll stop here with the examples. The main thing is just that whatever is decided upon needs to be extremely newbie friendly.

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Didn't Z do a cover for an II tabloid once?

I'm not sure how this is related to the topic, but i'm su... ooh.. shiny!

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I guess I was thinking of 'in caharcter' as more 'in character with the Island' rather than the individual. And I would hope that the editor/s wouldn't be expected to write all or even most of the content. A cuisine aticle by (cooking person*)? Interviews with Island personalities. Island Health and Medical issues by (medical person)? Theatre News and Reviews by ... one of the Island Players. A crime bustin' multi part expose on the Skronky's. Yelling at Clarke Kent to get a scoop or he's fired. The possibilities! All placed in interesting and engaging ways around the tekko and Motd type stuff. You know you want to.

Re: Enquirer's front page

So... this is still relevant. Or it's just relevant again. Pick one.

What was the objection to putting the MoTD on the front page, again?

P.S. Turns out you *can* do a column in the Wiki. I empirically tested it.
Though I'm not saying it was a great column.

The Improbable Island Enquirer - Forum
http://enquirer.improbableisland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=14717