Blitz Community Shrinking?

Hey everyone. I've only been with Blitz for about 3 years. Within those three years it seems that there has been a big drop in users. I say this because there aren't very many projects comming out or being finished as there used to be. Is this because everyone is starting bigger projects than they can handle? Where is everyone, and what are they doing?

Some people never seem to post and then release games or apps on the news page, maybe this tells us something!

I think there were more people around a year ago, I have seen people come and go and some come back, which is nice.

> maybe this tells us something!

WOW! You've finally realised the secret! Give that man a round of applause!

The question is will you stop posting and actually get on with some work.
Hmm no, don't answer that question because I already know the answer. ;)

That reminds me. I must stop posting - doh! gone and done it again!

What I've noticed is that Enay has been talking less about cheese and has been telling people off more.

:)

I used to post here alot! Then i got a job. HAHA! I still read the forums everyday though, just most of the time dont post replies.
I still tinker with stuff though, I am currently making a simple game :)

I would say that there has been alot of new visitors to the forums since blitzmax, but some of the older members have vanished.

I miss the off-topic forum!

I'm still here, but I hate the majority of you. ^_^

I sort of left, but now I'm back.

ENAY: I don't work on Sunday! well not at the moment.

Indie: At least most of your posts are sensible, well almost.

Mark said in his recent posting that past year was one of the best for them so perhaps many people buy the products but dont join the community. I know when i'm going to stop posting. Won't be long now.


Life is much better past teenagehood, trust me.

I just hang around the forums, never really code much in Blitz these days, unsure why, only language I've been programming in as of lately is Java (using it in Gr12 Computer Science class), and I'm unsure whether or not if I can get back to coding in a non OOP environment....currently awaiting the BMax 3d Module which will hopefully deliver before moving onto BMax itself.

I've mostly moved on to greener pastures... but I still lurk here on a sometimes hourly basis.

Orca, captain of the S.S. Emo!

Off Topic getting axed might have something to do with it.

People like ENAY who think they sit on a geek throne and can bark orders all day probably don't help either.

Meh, I post here when i'm bored. I use blitz for prototyping really now- though I wish some of the newer projects would start taking off a bit.

There's alot of decent libs for blitz getting released. Like the stencil shadows one. I'm still here!

I've been away for a while, though, it had more to do with money than anything else... Own house, car, being a smoker, wanting to eat! LOL

One of the cut backs was the internet, but I'm up and running again... and heck, I've missed it so much!!! It's actually true when they say you don't know what you've got till it's gone! :)

I'm still programming in BP, with a twinkle of C++ thrown in (My B3D disc is knackered...sob! :'( ),and I'm still glad to see the Blitz community is still going strong (I've been programming in this language for nearly 5 years now... whoosh!!!)

Has it actually been that long!?!

[edit]
And did Ant actually get that Vivid thing off the ground?
[/edit]

Cheers

;)

It's less fun, and I think people who were not actively coding have wandered off.

got a lot less interesting around here when the moderators went and got all nazi on everyone, took away the off-topic forum, and basically sucked the life out of the community like a great big ol' internet vampire.

Now... Blitz forum? eh... who cares?

And did Ant actually get that Vivid thing off the ground?

Answer: No, and by his own admission, he spent a period institutionalised after Vivid's 'release'. Methinks he overdid it on the drugs and late night programming.

He popped up for a time after that, released Vivid as open source (it doesn't work), made some more noises about creating a graphics engine and then disappeared again.

My theory is that everyone is waiting for Max3D before starting their projects.

My theory is that I licensed Truevision and am already started on my project.

LOL :))

I find it impossible to make games independently unless you're an artist. I'm a horrible artist and unless I find someone to work with, I doubt I will ever get a game out. Maybe I should start making applications...

I love being me. ^_^

Someone's gotta do it I suppose...

Five words : Off topic, umm... off topic.


Bingo. When people like sswifty can't post random crap (quality crap, mind) you just know there isn't long to go... I suppose BRL consider this better than the 100,000 religion/poltics based flame wars that were occurring every month so long as some dosh keeps splashing in their pockets.

Will it all change though when the 3D Module is released?

Yes, but it won't be as lively as before. The release of the 3D module won't change the fact that there's no more off-topic.


Conversely, it is nearly impossible for an artist to make games independently without also being a programmer. It's all about perspective, and who you hang out with.

Woof woof!

I don't know-

More chance that it'll get released after DX10 is and then we will all be waiting for the DX10 update,probrably due 3 months after the dx9 one, But, it wont come out till after DX11, etc.... :P

I think we all agree, we dont *need* all that power, just a 3D engine would be great :P

I'm surprised this topic is still here, considering other less controversial ones have been locked. I'm not saying I want it locked, just surprised is all. No consistency is a big problem with General Discussion / Off Topic.

The loss of the Off Topic forum has certainly reduced traffic around here. Ironically, it was all the flamewars in the old Off Topic that caused several people to leave the community. Anyone remember all those "I've had enough, I'm leaving!" posts? :P

I've had enough of your attitude big10p, I'm leaving!

lol - those topics were hilarious, if pointless.

Topics like that were lively even though they turned in to flamewars.

When you look at it for what it is a modertors job is to moderate. It's as if the moderators have said sod this I can't be bothered and killed off a whole forum just to make their job easier.

I've got a funny feeling that the 3D module won't be what everyone is expecting just like the 2D module wasn't what everyone was expecting.

Bah, I feel like starting a genocide thread. :)

You can start those genocide threads as much as you like, they'll all get killed off.

Not if he disguises the topic title with something like "Problem with ATI 800XL drivers" and then inside the thread rants on about politics and how Blitz Research are planning to take over the world! ;)

Don't ask for consitancy otherwise the only way to do it will be to be mega harsh on every non-relevant thread and pst.

Don't worry Polygoon, I got the joke. :)

I kind of understand what you are getting at Grey, but why "mega harsh"? They could be consistently strict, but fair.

For example - why were so many "Happy Christmas" threads deleted before just one (IPete2's) was allowed? Religion isn't allowed to be discussed - the strict part, but wishing seasons greetings could be an exception - the fair part.

[EDIT] lol, I totally missed polygoon's joke...

http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/index.php/Those_who_must_leave_long_diatribes_explaing_WHY_they_are_unjoining_a_community

Despite all your whinging, the fact is you're all still here watching the threads.

I must admit I don't post very often, but I'm still here every day reading what's going on, and I suspect that's the case with a lot of people.

I'm just not as desperate for answers as I used to be - some of you may remember that all my posts started with "AARRGGHH!...". I seem to have learned quite a lot since then - but only due to these forums and the very kind people on them.

And of course there's always Puki's wicked sense of humour.

Except even more ironically, very few of those people actually left.

I think the ratio of people who left because of No Off-Topic versus the number of people who left because of Off-Topic is > 1. Just my opinion tho' although I can see others agree with it, even if there aren't any statistially valid numbers to back either claim up.

I vote that we have a dedicated "puki" forum, where he can large it up to the (Blitz)max! That would beat the old Off Topic anyday. :)

Dude, look at his sig.

Who's sig?

[edit] So many sigs, :)

Puki's sig. It's still not HIS forum though. Plus it's on Coders Workshop (bleh).

lol - top left of that forum: "- Oct 24th 2005 - Latest News - Calling all web designers". Wow... current.

I still read the forums each day but now program in PureBASIC.

I say we don't buy another BRL product until we get the forum back the way we want it. No Max3D for me until it happens. So :P moderators!!!

As a moderator I think the moderation has worked. People don't post about how they went to the toilet and their poo didn't flush properly anymore or indeed go on drunken rants about how the world is against them and they're going to kill themselves.

Infact the forum has become more programming orientated and the signal to noise ratio has dropped.

I think a few of the rules are maybe a little strict, however, I don't make the rules, the reason why one of the Merry Christmas posts stayed I think was partly down to me saying if there's going to be a merry christmas post lets keep it in one post as opposed to having 200 of them.

Anyway, the bulk of the moderators are like myself, unpaid and casual. So telling us that you're not going to buy blitzmax3d makes no difference what so ever. You need to speak to the people with @blitzbasic.com at the end of their email address.

I have @blitzbasic.com at the end of my address and I'd prefer to have an Off Topic forum for logged in users. I'm woefully outnumbered though!

If I started a vote thread on who thinks Off-Topic should be allowed back what are the chances of the thread remaining?

Both fair points. Thinking about it clearly, I do remember there was an awful lot of trash on Off Topic, so the moderation is justified.

This is something I didn't take into account, and is a very good point. Makes me feel guilty for having a slight dig at the moderators. I wouldn't give up my free time to weed out nonsense posts, so have no right to criticize those that do. Sorry guys.

A big fat zero!.

Mmm, what about a hidden one that has a small, nominal, membership fee?

Let's big it up for the procrastination paaaruuuttiiiiie! :)

Everyone can put subliminal offtopic messages in his signature :D

Come on. That was just Dave going all postal. Besides, he left more or less on his own accord if memory serves, and way before Off-Topic was scrapped and/or regulators brought in, for sure. So that's probably not something you should be taking credit for.

Being a moderator is like having a bullseye tattooed on your forehead. Goes with the teritory.

I just got sick of you people really fast... Seriously... you all make me want to vomit in my speakers and then listen to Iron Maiden....

Iron Maiden were good in the 80s.

I miss the political discussion etc... I don't even use the programming forums at all anymore ... that stopped maybe a year or less into using Blitz.

What about helping others out with their coding?

Big10p; thank your deity of choice someone's awake! ;O)

Avon; I don't bury them all THAT deep! ;O)

You do? I miss Off-Topic despite that crap. Note that I do like political discussions IRL, but "discussion" is a pretty charitable description for political threads on the internet.


Don't worry, that's what I'm here for.[/boast]

> Come on. That was just Dave going all postal.

Subtle, And he REALLY was a postman too. :)

You are definitely in the minority it seems...

As for not purchasing until we get it... Well, that would only work if we could do it as one. It wouldn't matter to the moderators, but it would to Mark and co. Who would then, in turn, hopefully make the change happen.

But most of us are fans and I'm sure we'll fork out cash when max3d comes out irregardless. :/

Since no-one was able to explain to me how to get lua to work for me .. in fact I didnt get a single response to any of my posts I moved over to C++. As I dont use BMax at the moment I dont look in these forums much anymore.

I help in the Plus forums (occasionally) because I got lots of help when I started, it's only fair.

Bringing off topic back would be a bad idea.
Anyhow, it's here anyway in general discussion.

I don't think anyone can disagree with the 'signal to noise ratio' point.
General Discussion is now worth reading.

If I want to rant, or read rants, about Tony Blair I'll go elsewhere.

I waste less time now, still too much. I like silly threads though, they don't waste as much time as political/religious threads etc Actually self-control is actually whats needed so you don't have to tell someone waht a twit they are being.

Hello.

Wish I had the time to peruse and talk nonsense more often. Also, wish I had more time to program in anything. The past 6 months have been tumultuous for me: doing a masters part time, working full time, being in a couple of plays, leaving my wife...it's all been a bit much trying to combine all that with fun :o)

Hopefully, it'll all calm down come June so I'll be coming back to play more often.

Goodbye.

quote]If I want to rant, or read rants, about Tony Blair I'll go elsewhere.[/quote]
You know, the rest of the forum (particularly General Discussion) would have a lot less ranty crap in it if there was an Off Topic (which you are of course not forced to read).

And since my last post was deleted for no real reason, here it is in basic form again:


James was always one of the few good ones =]


Well, I'd join Kanati on this since I don't need Max3D except I'm sure if I did he and I would be the only ones anyway and I don't see the point in punishing myself for no reason ;]

'People don't post about how they went to the toilet and their poo didn't flush'

was that a sly attempt at starting a discusion on poo? I am game

I've noticed if you diet badly and get no fibre then you don't have that problem. =]

On the other hand, you have other, more important problems.

Like what the hell should I have for lunch.

I seem to grow by about 1 stone (14 pounds) every decade... In my teens I was 11.5 stones. In my twenties I was 12.5 stones. Now, in my thirties I am 13.5 stones.

... I'm guessing this phenomenon is fairly universal (the actual poundage may differ)... so I say the Blitz Community is actually growing.

All I know is earlier I had 5 pounds and now I don't have 5 pounds. Who wants to figure out what I did?

Did you dump a log?

hahahaahaha

I almost post something then reconsider it and just go somewhere else :P

Hmm, is there an active members list? Like who has been on in the last hour?

That would fix a lot of this up

So when do you think you'll collapse on yourself and nova?

I think the community is being diluted, but not shrinking so much. I know at least 5 people here that are looking elsewhere, some are using other game dev solutions as well as blitz. Some feel that things aren't moving along in blitz land but havent jumped ship yet :)

Yeah I that's it. 4 years ago Blitz3D offered something amazing and it's still nice but nothing else back then had what Blitz3D had for the most part. Blitz3D wasn't buggy, it was well organaized, and you could definitely make a whole complete game with it. Back then nothing else offered as complete of a package. Now though a lot of things have come a long way ... many looking at Blitz's strengths and utilizing them also.

I think that BlitzMax could possibly tump everything ... although it might be almost too ambitious for such a small team to move properly. I'm looking at Torque and DarkBASIC and both have grown their team sizes temendously ... Blitz might have the smartest guy out there developing it but that can only go so far. We'll probably see DarkBASIC games on Xbox 360 as well as the Torque games already going on there before we see a Blitz game on the system ... especially since both of those tools have C++ SDK's avaiable. Blitz3D could really prosper with one of those!

Apparently a star goes nova if it's in a white dwarf phase, and exceeds 1.4 solarmass. That's about 6.13874524 × 10^30 pounds, or 4.38481803 × 10^29 stone.

Gaining 1 stone a decade, it would take him about 43,848,180,300,000,000,000,000,000,000 years stuffing himself with cheeseburgers at his current rate before he'll be in danger of going nova.

I think that some time over the next 43.8 septillion years we'll think of a fix to prevent it from happening. ;-)

I'm here because bc.com has gone.

But when you don't have that much free time, it's difficult to code and read here daily.

If it was not for Blitz3d I'd still be selling software for IBM. Big up the BRL boys and Girls, may we all prosper.

Shagwanalockathread will lock this soon.

I'll save him the trouble.