Rock Band Community: Deep Thoughts (your feedback please!)

[HMXJohnlok]

I would like to see some form of seperation between PS3 & xbox, well, & wii too I guess, I don't like having to decipher if what I am reading regarding (insert issue here) is about PS3 or xbox, I also don't like wasting my time reading through the flames that happen because of it. On forums similar to this one with cars for example, they have them broken down by models or years of the same car so that people with very similar situations can congregate without weeding through the chaff that doesn't apply to them... Along that same line, I would like to see the Console under the persons name as well, like right under where it says member, senior member etc? You can still of course have wide open areas for all, like band discussions, dlc etc....

Also a way to pick which forums you want to read when you hit "new posts", again a way to filter out what I am not interested in, like I would want to see "announcements" & "PS3 Issues (if it existed, hint hint)", but I have no interest in "album reviews" or "xbox issues", does that make sense?

I would also like a more visual, open process of some sort for suggesting DLC and seeing what is actually on the drawing board/being considered in real time...

Delineating posters/posts/forums between consoles is interesting but also a bit dangerous I think. Segregating the versions of the game might actually serve to alienate people.

Basically, more efficiency in what I come here for, I hate to burst your bubble, but this site is not the ONLY thing I do all day, I want to come here for information, I DON'T want to read, whining, flaming, console issues that don't relate to what I own, and the same old thread about the same old thing named something else (dlc for example).

Yep! I'm thinking that making this information as accessible as possible, as well as filtering the tripe is beneficial to everyone - the forum enthusiasts and those who come checking for updates.

[Apples]

It's just my two cents, but maybe some more community events. Like that one to send stuff over to Harmonix. I really dig that and I think more things like that would increase the closeness of the community. Also, maybe a sorta rival thing to go on. I don't know how it would work or how to explain it.

Either way, I'm loving the game and the community!

Not to derail this thread too much, but I have a thread planned for early next week (between Monday and Wednesday depending on mail speed) to reveal the results of Community Fan Project #2.

I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it included user submissions from well over 100 individuals here and should highlight some of the best and most creative works within this forum.

In fact, some forum users here will be surprised to find out they played major parts in the final product.

[dady5000]

It would be nice to have a bit more of a chance to talk with developers, maybe a way that we could ask a certain developer some questions, weekly, or just talk to them.

Also,

Delineating posters/posts/forums between consoles is interesting but also a bit dangerous I think. Segregating the versions of the game might actually serve to alienate people.

I agree with this. Generally I'm finding that in most cases when you talk about the game your talking about both versions of the game. In the other side of things, I'm thinking maybe you should have seperate parts of the fourm for the "Seeking a Band" portion of the site, but that's it. Say PS3 Seeking Band, 360 Seeking Band, etc.

[Tender-Surrender]

Look this week is a perfect example. They select the B-52's but pick one of the more obscure songs. Roam is not bad but when the could have chose any of the more popular B-52 songs they dont.

Kiss, god how I love kiss. But of multitude of Kiss songs they could have chosen, they chose Dr Love. Again not one of the more popular songs. I think Harmonix can't get the rights to the more popular songs that the Guitar Hero series has got.

I mean it is a crime that Guns and Roses is not in the game at all. Anyways I am only defending my position that Harmonix is either unable to or is not giving us the best song selections on purpose. Take your pick.

I can go on and on about what has been put up for DLC so far and even the bands I do not like, the songs that were selected for DLC were not even there most popular. There are a few exceptions but not many.

Best song is a subjective topic. Maybe I think Roam is the b-52s best song? Also Roam is a very popular song.

But enough of hi-jacking this thread, it is about feedback on what people think would improve the forums, not what you want for DLC. There is a Ultimate Setlist section for that.

[Froggy]

I think organizing the ultimate setlist forum would help but is definitely not a negative thing here on the forums.

The biggest thing in my mind is having the dev's educate the community on how things work. My opinion is that MOST of the arguing and hostility in this community (as in most) happen because people just don't KNOW enough of the facts about what they are complaining/arguing about. Obviously HMX can't control all of this but if you could explain the process of how a song goes from an idea to appearing as a DLC it may shed some light on just why you are choosing certain songs and why we haven't seen other bands as of right now. And if you could explain why some songs are Master tracks and some are covers this would help curb some of that hostility as well. Also if you could keep us informed about what bands MAY appear or ones that have atleast signed and are "a work in Progress". people keep complaining about the DLC's, but maybe they wouldn't complain so much if we had an idea of what bands were in the pipeline or when the albums are going to be available (which you guys have dug your own grave on to this point). I for one wouldn't be as dissappointed getting a "THrash Pack" if I knew that at some point I may see some Journey, GnR, Pearl Jam, etc. I'm sure this is a tough balance between keeping us in the dark so there is less complaining or telling us TOO much and get complaining when something falls through and you can't deliver (ala the Albums as of today). anyway, that's my 2 cents, keep up the good work!

[Quastor]

Guess I'll chime in here and put my Vet 2 cents in...

First, the question, "Why did the forums work pre-11/20?"

As bad as it might sounds, it's because there was a clique here. There was, at least to me, a feeling that if you wanted your voice to be heard in a conversation, you needed to get on the good side of the regulars. If you were posting things that weren't adding the conversation at hand, you were ignored, and if you were being a troll, you were called out on it. The regulars were all really cool people, so it was more motivation to obey the unspoken rules and gain acceptance into the group.

When the release occured, that core group got overwhelmed. The insightful discussions turned into multiple complaint threads, and the same topics over and over again created by the multitude of new users. A large majority of the regulars, while initially trying to help and keep that friendly tone to the forums, got frusterated. Many of them have since disappeared, and there really hasn't been a core group to help set the tone and regulate the forums anymore. Rather than being a place where people are excited about the game and all the possibilities it could hold, it's turned into a place where people want to voice their opinions on how it isn't meeting their expectations. There's just so many people now, all that threads aren't about having a discussion concerning the pros and cons of a song choice, or a feature, but rather a place to state your opinion of a "yay" or "nay" to a particular song choice or try to sell your mod.

So this has been a lot of pretty much whining and *****ing about the way things are and reminiscing about the good old days. Do I have anything constructive to add? I think so. Whether this forums flourishes or sinks deeper into the depths of chaos, it's ultimately not going to be decided by the mods. There really needs to be a core group of people that want to see things get better around here and band together to encourage it. The change is going to have to come from the community. The only question is, can we really achieve that with such a large group of posters?

Another thing to note, the forums aren't necessarily the only place the community can thrive...

[PunkJr]

I really like the idea of hearing the story behind why each DLC song was picked. It's a small thing, but I find it fascinating to be able to get a little behind the scenes action...

Another thing I really miss are the Rock Blogs from the developers. I saw Sean's from the other day, and that was cool, but I want to know more!!! *laugh*

[JIrish780]

Remember licensing music and all that is not always, or ever, a simple process.

Music rights are indeed an insanely tricky matter. Take WKRP in Cincinatti, for instance. On television, there's a ton of then-current (or at least not all that old) rock songs in the background, since the show was set at a radio station. They needed to get the rights to use those songs in the broadcast, which presumably covered syndication and possibly VHS releases, too (but don't quote me on that one). What it didn't cover, though, was DVD, so when the series was put onto that format, they had to try and secure all those rights for the new digital media, rights in many cases they could not get. Hence, DVD releases of WKRP are fairly different from what was originally televised. Even covers of songs are subject to this; just ask Disney when they tried to get music rights to songs in the first season of the Muppet Show.

What does this have to do with Harmonix and Rock Band? Simply that the legal hurdles when it comes to acquiring the rights to intellectual properties, namely music, are varried, often complex, and never the same with each deal.

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Back on topic, I have to agree with the sentiment that Ultimate Setlist needs a lot of work. I'd be happy with any of the solutions put forth so far.

And also, more announcements! The whole Stage Kit thing suddenly appeared out of nowhere without so much as a peep out of you guys! Let's hear more direct from the primary source instead of having to rely on secondary sources. Heck, lettingknow when interviews with those secondary sources go up would be nice, too!

[PunkJr]

Guess I'll chime in here and put my Vet 2 cents in...

First, the question, "Why did the forums work pre-11/20?"

As bad as it might sounds, it's because there was a clique here. There was, at least to me, a feeling that if you wanted your voice to be heard in a conversation, you needed to get on the good side of the regulars. If you were posting things that weren't adding the conversation at hand, you were ignored, and if you were being a troll, you were called out on it. The regulars were all really cool people, so it was more motivation to obey the unspoken rules and gain acceptance into the group.

When the release occured, that core group got overwhelmed. The insightful discussions turned into multiple complaint threads, and the same topics over and over again created by the multitude of new users. A large majority of the regulars, while initially trying to help and keep that friendly tone to the forums, got frusterated. Many of them have since disappeared, and there really hasn't been a core group to help set the tone and regulate the forums anymore. Rather than being a place where people are excited about the game and all the possibilities it could hold, it's turned into a place where people want to voice their opinions on how it isn't meeting their expectations. There's just so many people now, all that threads aren't about having a discussion concerning the pros and cons of a song choice, or a feature, but rather a place to state your opinion of a "yay" or "nay" to a particular song choice or try to sell your mod.

So this has been a lot of pretty much whining and *****ing about the way things are and reminiscing about the good old days. Do I have anything constructive to add? I think so. Whether this forums flourishes or sinks deeper into the depths of chaos, it's ultimately not going to be decided by the mods. There really needs to be a core group of people that want to see things get better around here and band together to encourage it. The change is going to have to come from the community. The only question is, can we really achieve that with such a large group of posters?

Another thing to note, the forums aren't necessarily the only place the community can thrive...

I couldn't agree more... When I joined as TK-757 back in September, the community was tiny, and I felt like I got to know almost everyone. It was fun to come and join in on conversations... Now, I see a few of the older group in the General forum, but rarely elsewhere.

[Joatmon]

[QUOTE=HMXJohnlok;306467]Delineating posters/posts/forums between consoles is interesting but also a bit dangerous I think. Segregating the versions of the game might actually serve to alienate people.


Or from another angle, it could be that it would tightly knit the groups with the most in common into a much tighter group and they would be happier talking with people that were on the same page...

As an example,
(I am assuming that your name is John, so you are a man)
How about at lunch tomorrow you go to a beauty shop where 50 year old women go to get their hair done, go sit in the middle of the group and chat...