Seasonal Writing Contest Final Round!

I'm not going to go so far as to call it a success, it depends on how far the writing section progressed for some time after the contest ends.

I don't know. Though my post count is low for how long I've been here, I've seen every breath of life the writing sub-forum has had. If we keep this trend (hopefully not) then we can expect this explosion to persist for a week or two and then things may taper off.

Pessimistic I know, but this is just an observation based on things like the writing school and such.

Pretty much sums up what I think, though I'm still a newfag on this section(I think). I've seen enough to know how dead this section could be.

Inb4 lol I had to edit my last post

No, I think unfair fits the bill. I don't want to come across as throwing my toys out of the pram here, it's just a difference of opinion. I've already expressed this in part, and while I recognise his reasoning, I personally believe that we need the attention a lot more than those larger updates, which have the 'recent uploads' sidebar and a place on their own blogs, and happen to be adorned with big pictures of delicious hentai.

But the issue is moot. I'd like it if we could refrain from discussing that and focus on the potential winners, please. :) As for the ongoing popularity of the forum, we have gained new users and some new commentators by my reckoning, and lots of people want more contests. It's always going to be difficult to maintain activity in a forum which isn't discussion-based, but I think we've made inroads here with the possibility of more such surges of activity. At the very least, it has produced a load of great content.

[font=Verdana][color=green]Well, we're going to have to agree to disagree on the the matter regarding what to label the same thing. But, and I do understand where you're coming from regarding the hentai, but we must all remember that this is a hentai site. If it isn't see to be having recent updates, it might make it look bad; which is something that I'm sure we all don't want.

But yes, let's focus on the actual competition than wasting time and effort discussing the above. We'll just have to hope that the current attention the writing forum is getting remains that way; my experience from other forums I've moderated dictates that it'll likely decrease if it isn't regularly attended to.

This contest was a fantastic experience for me, and I hope for all of the others involved as well. It has helped me tremendously with writing confidence, since before my entry to this contest, I had never written a story before ever, and it reminded me that writing could be fun, and relaxing, instead of something to be dreaded as a huge essay due date rolled around the corner at a breakneck pace. I can only offer my total gratitude to the organizers of the contest, and for every great writer in it, for this wonderful experience.

This is a hentai website, why even try to compare the attention given to the scan teams to a contest run by users on the forum? I wish my game got more updates, I'm sure TMS feels the same way. I don't understand why you think you/we deserve the same treatment as the scan teams? They are the reason fakku is popular and the reason anyone is even on these forums. I had to fight tooth and nail to get my game on the front page, it was also the 3rd running of the game, I would have killed to have it advertised the first time I ran it. Only 3 user run contests/games have ever made the front page. Don't look at it as unfair, consider it an amazing honor that it was given that chance in the first place.

So I am aware. I'm not seeking to downplay their efforts, but what you seem to be missing is that those games have always been in the most popular section of the forums, where this is one of the least popular; the whole point of this contest was to revive this entire section. The fact that you can get a reply from anyone within a day of posting something atm is almost miraculous in itself.

I am incredibly grateful that we've been given a good go at this but that doesn't stop me from feeling like we could have gotten/could get further, especially looking at the new users who signed up specifically for this, which you no doubt know is a great honour in itself. I am passionate about this just as you are very evidently passionate about the Waifu game, but you already had the leg-up of advertising. It's not an affront to your efforts for me, for us, to want the same thing.

Good perspective. I've always just said to read and vote...never bitched about the lack of popularity of the writing forum. The contest was fun and the various entries were of good quality. It'll end soon enough and be forgotten about within a month.

But seriously? Only three user run contest/games ever made the front page? This contest has made it twice; for the first user poll and the final user poll. There should be no bitching from those who want the forum advertised.

Good perspective there. Even though I am disappointed that the poll wasn't able to stay on the front page, (and felt a bit of anger and frustration at first as well), it at least was spotlighted for some time. I, and everyone else here who has poured their time and energy into this greatly appreciates it. I'm still slightly confused as to why they put it up and quickly took it back down again, however. Also, I would not say that the scan teams are the only reason why any one of us has decided to join Fakku. For me, it's always been about the community, first and foremost. Sure, it's nice to have easy access to doujinshi, and it's even better if they are translated, but I would be here regardless if any of that wasn't around. We have a great community, and I wouldn't want to see people not get involved in it and the contests that go on about it if they thought that it didn't matter. That's my main concern with the poll suddenly being taken back down.

Anyways, I believe this was a great idea, and it certainly stirred my creativity back up. I'm grateful for that.

[font=Verdana][color=green]Here's the perspective that I wanted to see; I did believe that you would say something like that. But you are right; it is an amazing honour to even have a competition posted on the front page at all. I still fail to see why this is being argued over, however.

But, I'm just going to play Devil's Advocate for a while. Perhaps the reason that you had to fight really hard to get the game on the front page was because it had already been proven a success? I mean, the IB sub-forums get a huge amount of attention compared to the then dead Writing sub-forum. I believe that this is the main basis of Dos's argument. Of course, it goes unsaid that he feels that the final should have more attention.

But anyway. Enough about this. The argument has been tossed over more times than a picture of, to quote Dos; "delicious hentai".

I will address each post now.

@dos: You can't expect one contest to revive a low traffic section on the forum, why would you think you could? Things grow in popularity, as did my waifu game; there were 250 contestants after the first game and 400 after the second, it's just how things progress. Why get upset after the first didn't accomplish your final goal, this gives you the opportunity to keep going and to try new ideas.

Why do you seek to compare our games? I got the same treatment as you and I'm not competing with you, we're competing against the scan teams who get updates every day. So yes, my game got a leg up on your competition, but what does that matter? Do you think this deserves more time then I do? Remember it's not the waifu game that made you lose your posts, it's the scan team updates. Plus honestly, the front page posts were taken down less than 24 hours ago, after the contest was finished, you had full time on all 3 of your previous front page updates, and how many more users could have joined at this point? All you can get now are voters and I don't believe many of them will stay now that the contest is over... What are you complaining about? In the end it's not about your contest vs my game, it's about: you did what you could and now it's time to move on to another idea.

@beeza: this contest had 4 updates, and the final one caused 2 others to be removed (after they were off the main page).

@TwilightEngel: The updates were taken down when Jacob got home from his trip. Another moderator had been placing them on the front page and Jacob had not been clear about his wishes beforehand so they were removed. It's no one's fault really, it's simply the first time something like this has happened and so a rule had to be created. You're right, the scan teams aren't the reason people join fakku, but they are the reason people find this website. I'm here because I googled hentai and found this place, can anyone say they found fakku because of the forums? Did anyone search "writing forum"? I think the vast majority of users are here because of hentai, we need to recognize that and remember it when we ask for the spotlight. I don't think anyone thought this contest didn't matter because the notice was taken down... that would be a bit of a stretch.

@Sam: The reason I had to fight to get my updates on the front page was because I was the first user (before I was a mod) to ever get a front page update for his game, Jacob didn't like the idea of taking away from scan team updates and so I had to have 2-3 hour+ long conversations explaining the benefits and why he should let me do this. In the end i was given the okay but left with very strict rules to follow when making it (Could not be more than a few lines and I could only play a horizontal image that wasn't bigger than a specific resolution). Those guidelines don't even exist anymore, the writing contest had full page updates, with personal messages and jokes (yes i mean the strawberry milk thing). It's not a bad thing that you guys were able to, I'm not complaining, I am simply saying you are very lucky, and it was partly due to the efforts of those who came before you (myself, TMS) that Jacob even allowed it to happen(not the contest, but the front page updates). I'm not asking for thanks, just telling you it's always an uphill battle and people should be happy with any form of victory when they first start.

@Everyone: Everyone is acting (or playing) the role of the defeatist, when in reality this contest was a rousing success. It may not have risen this section to the top in terms of traffic but it did help fakku, and it did spread awareness. As a moderator I thank those of you who helped run this thing, you have been good examples of users who really care about our forums and this site, dont spoil that feeling by acting hurt, or ungrateful.

This is the first step, don't lose hope that this section will one day be popular, you all simply have to keep working. It's going to be annoying, and a pain in the ass but if you really want it you have to go out and do it yourself. Don't expect special treatment, don't ask for handouts from the staff, they wont give you more than anyone else. Earn you goal, accomplish your task with hard work. This section may not be popular yet, but many more users know if it's existence now; it can only get better from this point on.

Nobody is acting like a victim sir. I don't really want to discuss this anymore as it isn't an issue. There only two things that bother me. There are still valid points that that should be noted.



If the objective of this contest was to give this section some attention, it seems odd to not give it some support.

Still, nobody is calling for any action. They are just voicing their opinions. Also, the point is moot. People are voting, the stories were read and are being read still, and I still get to announce the winner on the front page. So yippe~

Over two more days of voting everyone ^__^. Tell your friends!

[font=Verdana][color=green]I've been chewing over your response for quite some time; just thinking how best to engage it. Well, I'll leave the others to address their own respective posts.

I don't where you as such in read my post, but I didn't disagree with you. In this circling debate, I'm actually of the same opinion as yourself. But yes, I sense a slight bit of pride in your post to me; pride which I feel is justified.

But yes, I do think that this competition has had a bit too much advertisement. There's bringing people in to cast votes, then there's ruining the delicate equilibrium between quality of story/favourite user voting. It's been said time and time again, but being on the front page at all is more than enough.

However, if there is something that I don't agree with in your post is that you called everyone a defeatist. If we were defeatist, we wouldn't be discussing this now. In fact, we are discussing having more competitions in the future, so really it is a polar opposite.

@Neko. Only one of those is a valid point; IB is different. Granted, you did this to raise awareness; but claiming it to be "counter intuitive" insinuates that it's getting no attention at all if you don't post it on the front page. Very dicey term.

"If the objective of this contest was to give this section some attention, it seems odd to not give it some support"

That's what Waar is saying; it has already had support in the past. I'm even more confused by the fact that you get to announce the winner on the front page. That goes against everything else discussed above.

Besides; I'm spreading the contest and entrants around my friends. They thought that the entries I showed them were very good. May the best entry win.

I got the impression Dos felt slighted by the removal (he did say he was... I might be misinterpreting that but it seems fairly clear cut.)



Sorry but I don't see why that has anything to do with this, IB is different, why does that matter? You have less traffic, but why are you trying to compete with a game in IB? You're comparing apples to rocket ships.



I didn't make the rules either, Jacob doesn't want it eating up the front page and it's his site, why would you argue what the "smarter" idea would be with me?



You got support, why complain that it's not as much support as you had wished for?



Right, and I'm responding with my opinion, not sure why you need to be hostile.

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I was speaking with your devil's advocate comments, I understood we were on the same page but wanted to reply to your points in case anyone else wanted a reply. Yes I have pride in my game but that has nothing to do with this contest, I'm simply using it as an example due to similarities.



Those comments were more targeted at users who said this wasn't a resounding success and those who felt slighted by the removal of the front page posts. I should have been more specific, my apologies.

All in all I'm in full support of this contest, and I don't understand why any of you believe me or my replies to be hostile. I also believe it to be a tab bit unfair that I'm being questioned about the site creators motives. I hold no grudges or ill will when others wish to debate, I hope that is universally understood.

WAIT HOLD THE FUCK UP.

When was there a writing contest? I would have joined, I'm really mad at all of you right now.

[font=Verdana][color=green]Ah yes, I knew that it would be my devil advocacy that you were engaging. I apologise for my comment. I don't think you're being hostile at all; you're just giving your perspective from another competition/game holders point of view. You saved me the trouble of having to ask you personally for your point of view.

Well, now that that discussion is at last over, lets get back to the discussion that took place before the last one(aka opinion givings) about holding this game more than once every year.

I think it should be twice or trice if people wants it to be hold more than once a year, how about at summer and Christmas only an year? Or spring, summer and Christmas writing contests? lol I'm just spewing nonsense.

[font=Verdana][color=green]How about seasonal; spring, summer, autumn and winter?

I thought that too many contests may bore the users out you know like "Oh its another one of those contests meh I don't care anymore" that's why I didn't suggests that, but I did had that in mind.

Of course I don't know if something like that will actually happen. Oh and I still want prizes to be offered.