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Rating System for Intros?
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Brasco De Gama
Brasco De Gama
Old Shoe

Aug-26-2007 12:49

What does everyone think about the idea of being able to rate intros on cases?

The reason I ask is that I generally don't bother to read intros... it's hard enough to get the time to finish 12 cases a day, BUT having written a few myself, I now appreciate that people take a lot of time and effort writing them and generally get no feedback. It would be kinda cool if people would be given the chance to rate an intro they've read, and perhaps that would a) encourage more people to read one if it's been highly rated b) let the writer know when they've hit on something, or are firing blanks.

I guess added to this, maybe it would be worth considering a comments section that would be sent to the author's Slueth Mail.

Maybe you could have a league table for intros, with highest rated etc. to give some kudos to the people who have spent so much time and effort on their intros? I may also help inprove the quality of the writing, I know I've rattled out a few recently of varying quality by my own admission, but maybe I would be more inclinded to spend more time on them if I knew I was going to be rated on it.

Replies

Lady Jas
Lady Jas
The Chosen One

Aug-29-2007 06:50

I sai dit because as an editor I'm sure she knows what will work and what will not.

I support her 100%

Reese Withers
Reese Withers
Well-Connected

Aug-29-2007 12:16

Understand, but still..if people find it necessary to RATE intros, they can PM them. Ratings are just popularity contests, and in my opinion, it would take away from the realistic atmosphere of this game. Personally, I could care less how my intro would be rated if I made one. they are all great to me.....and all Im focusing on any way, is solving the dang thing, not how good it is. lol :) Guess we're all different on what we look at.

Anikka
Anikka
Babelfish

Aug-29-2007 15:07

Brasco, while I totally understand your points, I still am iffy about a ratings system. Yes, ratings are quicker and easier than sending a PM with feedback, but I still don't see how a general rating is helpful.

Perhaps I've written an intro and the ratings building up are all low. Great. So now I know people don't like my intro, but I don't know WHY. And that's the important thing - how can you improve your writing if you don't know what's wrong with it? Wonderful, my other intro has all top ratings, but what is it about that intro that people like that I should do again?

As far as how much time is too much... well, Ben gives a guideline of his own that a good intro should take about 20 minutes to write. I think that, between writing and reviewing your own work, 20 minutes on an intro sounds about right. Even better, if you're not sure about what you've got written, put it away and go back to it a little later with fresh eyes.

Another thing to remember is that your intros are meant to be part of the case, a way to give people "atmosphere". I'm sorry, I just think a big old "Review this Intro" button and some stars (numbers, or whatever) underneath is a big detraction from that "atmosphere".

While I would dearly love a way to encourage people to give feedback to Intro and SM authors, adding a rating to the person's work is not the way to do it (in my own opinion). I understand that you feel differently, Brasco, and if this were a writing-based site, I would agree with you. But it's not - it's a game site, and the emphasis should be on the game.

Perhaps you could use the Writer's Workshop board to solicit feedback? You could post your intro there and see what people have to say. Just a thought.

Brasco De Gama
Brasco De Gama
Old Shoe

Aug-29-2007 16:16

@ Reese... any poll is a popularity contest. If you want to put it that way, democracy is just a popularity contest! The point is any unfair votes would be levelled out over time, the more votes were collected... as far as I know, most people don't bother to read the intros. I'm trying to find a way to encourage people to read them.

@ Jas... no.... I still don't get your point... and I still feel like you are condescending me. Sorry to be so abrupt, but that's how I feel.
If you knew me or knew my background, maybe you'd be able to make an informed and reasonable point there, but you don't and you haven't. You are entitled to your opinion of course, but it would have been nice if you had bothered to ask my background instead of just assuming I know nothing.

As for Ani, I support her 200% (:P) because she has had some great ideas for the game (and is getting me a subscription to SoM ;) )

Lady Jas
Lady Jas
The Chosen One

Aug-29-2007 16:27

did I say you didnt know "nothing" as you put it? I dont think in any of my other 2 posts I said that or assumed that. I stated that I support anikka's coments and reasons. And that she is an editor and knows what its like, and has written a few which ive had in my cases.

And now I'm done arguing with you over somethign I didnt say.

And Reese, you are right, most of us don't bother to read the intros, because we are all busy with real life, and we want to get our cases done as quickly as possible because cases take long enough as it is, to read an intro, in my opinion, would take even longer to do a case.

Secret_Squirrel
Secret_Squirrel
Safety Officer

Aug-29-2007 17:03

anyyyyyway...

I like your idea Brasco, it comes from the right 'place', so to speak. Encouraging players to read the Intros that other players, in most cases, have put a lot of work into; encouraging players to take and interest in their fellow players; maybe gain some insight; and heck maybe even literary enjoyment, can only be a good thing.

However (yeah 'however' is just a polite persons 'but'), I fall in line with the idea that *it just becomes a popularity contest*, and yes OK if Sleuth had a broader base and, as you rightly point out, results would 'even out' over time, that would be great.

However (yeah again) taking into consideration how many people would participate and/or usually participate in these types of things here, and given that Sleuth probably doesn't have the kind of 'base' you need to make things 'even out', I don' think it would actually work very well.

It's a great idea in theory, and I appreciate the motivation and intent, btu I just don't see it working fairly or equably.

Sorry mate.

Brasco De Gama
Brasco De Gama
Old Shoe

Aug-29-2007 17:33

@ Jas, you said it by implication - "...as an editor I'm sure she knows what will work and what will not." implying, because I'm not an editor, I don't. I've said my piece, you know how I felt, I don't bear grudges, I'm over it. End of.

@ Everyone on the thread - OK, I concede that the ratings idea is not going to take off. It's fair enough, apart from the if's and however's ( ;-) ) it's gonna slow things down inevitably (and incidentally, I don't want that either! ;) ) but as SS says, I was trying to raise an issue about getting people to read intros... maybe a thread getting feedback about intros in general might be a good place to start with this issue. I will do that... when I've got time! lol
Cheers.
BdG

ctown28
ctown28
Huntsman

Aug-29-2007 20:04

I know I came in late on this thread but would like to offer my 2 cents.

Brasco, this was a decent idea of yours, I admit fully that I seldom do read the intros but have to concur with most of the posters here that it would just turn into a popularity contest.

Anikka made some very good points and I have to agree that the fact of her being an Editor does give her more knowledge and a better opinion of the subject at hand. That does not take away from any of the people that are not editors.

One of the great things about this game is that Ben pretty much listens to what people ask for.

The main thing to remember about being an author is that you are leaving yourself open to criticism, both good and bad. You have to be able to take constructive criticism well and not be offended by it. Now unfortunately there will always be idiots that would just say something like "you suck", those are the ones that you just throw out.

I do like the idea of having a seperate thread where people can discuss the pros and cons of each intro, it may even get me interested in starting to read them and who knows, maybe even get my creative juices flowing enough to write one myself.

Lady Zeugirdor
Lady Zeugirdor
Pinball Amateur

Aug-29-2007 22:36

Ok, ok, ... I'm guilty. I read intros. I figured that with all the confessions of non-intro readers here I would at least let all the hard working writers know that someone does read them. Now, sometimes I skim through them when I'm in a rush. On the whole I do read them. Honestly, I never gave much thought to giving the writers feedback .

Stooby
Stooby
Well-Connected

Aug-30-2007 00:27

One sure fire way to get people to read intro's is to run an annual "what happened in the intro by .... contest with a prize. It'd only slow down those who wanted to take part, avoid the popularity contest, still allow those in a hurry to dash along...

Only an idea...

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