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Officers Journal Poll
I have it on good authority that Officers Journal readership is substantially down from last year, and the trend is downward.
Is this because readers prefer blow-by-blow, in-the-cockpit action sequences, rather than more story-intensive installments?
Is this because the format (journal entries) doesn’t make for a good read?
Is this because the story is boring?
Is this because there is too much time in-between installments?
A combination of these reasons?
Some other reason?
Is this because readers prefer blow-by-blow, in-the-cockpit action sequences, rather than more story-intensive installments?
Is this because the format (journal entries) doesn’t make for a good read?
Is this because the story is boring?
Is this because there is too much time in-between installments?
A combination of these reasons?
Some other reason?
Comments
i will read it more time in the future [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
i think the " in-cockpit-stoys " were better to read in my opinion
greets
[This message has been edited by Alpha-1 (edited 04-21-2002).]
I suspect part of the problem is people not getting the news that the story is updated. Perhaps something more than a post in the forum is required.
Personally, I find the length of the instalments a bit long. I think I would prefer shorter/more often with lots of cliff hangers to remind me to "tune in next week"...
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Babylon6 in orbit @ [url="http://www.nomad-jedi.com"]http://www.nomad-jedi.com/[/url]
[b]Check out this author: [url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/[/url][/b]
I also think the time between installments is the major impact. If they came at regular intervals, or with more fanfare, perhaps the readership would pick-up.
Randy, please thank the author for me. Please also relay that I understand there are other priorities he/she/it must attend to, so I appreciate any time he/she/it puts into the story.
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bobo
<*>
B5:ITF
[b]Is it because I don't know what it is????[/b][/quote]
i seem to be lost on this one too.
[b]Is this because there is too much time in-between installments?
[/b][/quote]
I vote for this one [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
[b]
Is this because there is too much time in-between installments?
[/b][/quote]
This plus the fact that it is in installments (I always hated reading individual chapters/installments, I always prefer reading the whole thing from start to finish).
Oh, and I can't forget that everytime I read it I get all depressed thinking about what the game could have been [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/frown.gif[/img]
Though it is a great story, the author must keep it up [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
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[i]This Forum has warped my fragile little mind!
[/i]
[This message has been edited by Primarch (edited 04-22-2002).]
'Is this because readers prefer blow-by-blow, in-the-cockpit action sequences, rather than more story-intensive installments?'
I have found all installments to be very exciting reads, and have been on the edge of my computer chair many times afterwards.
'Is this because the format (journal entries) doesn’t make for a good read?'
I think its a fantastic read. Its has depth, and a real sense that its building towards something. Sometimes the installments are short, but it goes for everything, if its good you want more!
'Is this because the story is boring?'
Hell no!
'Is this because there is too much time in-between installments?'
Hmm, maybe....
'A combination of these reasons?'
Nope.
'Some other reason?'
Nope
Well thats my 2p worth... I think the Journal forms an integral part of this website and this community. Long may it continue!
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://www.nialb5.com"]www.NialB5.com[/url].
I will admit that because the updates are very intermittant, it is hard to get into the habit of regularly checking it. However, I am aware that the author is an extremely busy person with other, money-making commitments so I live with this. As a result I usually go and read it when Randy conveys the news that an update has been posted. Not the system I would prefer, obviously.
Now then, on to the suddenly apparent issue of not everyone being aware of the Officer's Journal: I shall make sure a news post is made on the front page every time a new update is posted when I become aware of it. The link is spread all over the forums now, thanks to my sig. [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img] I think an important notice pointing out the existance of the Officer's Journal is probably in order. I shall make one momentarily.
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[b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
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[b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
[b]I have it on good authority that Officers Journal readership is substantially down from last year, and the trend is downward.
[/b][/quote]
[img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/frown.gif[/img]
[quote][b]Is this because readers prefer blow-by-blow, in-the-cockpit action sequences, rather than more story-intensive installments?[/b][/quote]
I feel both sides are integral parts leading to a story that is far from boring plus giving the aothor the opportunity to vary in style, velocity etc. Which is important to every good read, I think.
[quote][b]Is this because the format (journal entries) doesn’t make for a good read?[/b][/quote]
Hm, no.
But: I feel it would be easier both to come back to older parts and to find yourself at home in the journal if it was easier to navigate. Would it be possible to have each entry on its own page with chapter pages linking to the entries?
If the author finds that a good idea, it would be best to email me as I would love to contribute with HTML and the like [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img].
[quote][b]Is this because the story is boring?[/b][/quote]
Hm, could you please repeat that? Static on this channel, I fear [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/tongue.gif[/img].
[quote][b]Is this because there is too much time in-between installments?[/b][/quote]
It isn't a big problem for me, and would be even lessened with the above mentioned navigational improvement.
[quote][b]Some other reason?[/b][/quote]
Yes, I was dumped under work for months now, and have finally come to see daylight, again [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/tongue.gif[/img]. I haven't even read the latest installment which I am keen to do after those good reviews I noticed.
As an addition: After all I *have read* I have to thank the author for pursueing this project. It has been an exciting trip back to the universe of B5, and I wouldn't want to live without it.
The other thing:
[quote]Originally posted by Alpha-1:
[b]the problem for me is that i am come from germany and english is not the language i am spoken and reading perfectly, so i reading the journal from time to time when i have nothing to do and its fine to read these storries [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/smile.gif[/img]
[/b][/quote]
There is a finnish version of the journal... and if I had more time, I would contribute to a german translation. Maybe there's something I *can* do... let's see. I'll have a look.
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We are one. No matter the blood, no matter the skin, no matter the world, no matter the star. .. We are one.
No matter the pain, no matter the darkness, no matter the loss, no matter the fear. .. We are one.
- Alliance Preamble to the Declaration of Principles, The Paragon of Animals
Webmaster [url="http://www.Sprungtor.de"]www.Sprungtor.de[/url]
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[IFH team]
Oleg from Space Dream Factory
- Quod licet Draal, non licet Zathras -
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We are here to place President Grenewetzki under arrest!
The story that you've been reading is as close as is possible to a single play-through of ITF in terms of story. I can vouch for the accuracy, although there is some poetic license used in the process of interpreting something that was intended to be interactive and making it linear entries in a journal.
Because it is a faithful simulation of one play-through of ITF, the 'levels' become more difficult and more complex as Max gets further into the game. Right now, if this were ITF we'd be maybe a little bit less than half-way through the game, and at this point the missions are massive. If I were doing it, I don't know where I'd come up with the time.
First there would be a lot of editing. Then some creative thinking about how to make non-linear interactive story elements flow as a non-interactive, linear journal entry. Once a clean document has been created, more time would be needed to add the HTML. I would imagine that this is why the entry updates are slowing down.
In the email the author said that the plan has always been to simulate a play-through of ITF because the fans deserved it, and because it was a gigantic waste to not have the story out there. The author doesn’t care about attracting a wider audience or anything. It’s just for the fans. So that’s why there’s interest in whether or not the fans are reading Officers Journal, and in trying to figure out why the readership is down.
[This message has been edited by Randy (edited 04-22-2002).]
[b]I've made a post to the front page. If the author is OK, I can modify it to point out that it uses the story from B5:ITF. I wasn't sure if having that on the front page was a good idea or not though.
[/b][/quote]
Speaking for the author here, although I don't know for sure how the author feels, I'd say that that if you are going to mention anything about ITF on the front page, I'd state that [i]it's a 'simulation' of what the story would have been like in one play-through of the game.[/i]
This is just to let anal legal types know that it's not really the ITF material, which must be in a vault under a mountain somewhere, or flushed into Puget Sound (off of Seattle), or buried under toxic waste.
~r.
I think the biggest problem with readership numbers is lack of awareness. Not everyone reads the front page (though they should) and not everyone reads every thread in the forums.
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[b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
The Journal is a great read...the only problem is the time between postings..not that the time is too long...it's just random, as Biggles pointed out it's hard to get into a regular cycle of looking for new posts. I will say this as soon as Randy let's us know the author has posted I go right to the site to read it.
To the author: Keep up the great work, and many thanks.
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"And there is nothing more dangerous then a man with nothing to lose. Nothing to live for and nothing to prove."
[i]Brendan Perry, Dead Can Dance[/i]
I'll fix that though, if the author wouldn't mine having it posted on the main Firstones page every time a new instalment came out... [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
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[b]whitestar90: [/b]"it would give the computer a heartattack just looking at it" -
[b]Sanfam: [/b]"And Drazi didn't like it one bit.-
[b]Mr.Bungle: [/b][i]"So that's where the forum went..."[/i]-
---
[b][i]ahhh, the good old days of HTML.[/i][/b]
[b]Maybe this thread will help. [/b][/quote]
I'm hoping so.
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[b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
Freeze: "it eat's a man"? Is that actually the expression? Cause it sounds odd!
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[b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
Is this because there is too much time in-between installments?
[/quote]
This is partially my vote. I realize the author is busy and that is not a problem. I have enough trouble regularly checking into FO lately because of work, family, etc. I absolutly love the story and think the author is doing a fantastic job. I check when ever I have the time and think of it, but it is not something I regularly do because there is no regular updates.
I would like to see the formating change to have each installment on it's own page however. I think that would make for an easier read with simple controlls to go from page to page.
My $.02
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Dedicated to all the people who predicted that the Babylon Project would fail in its mission. Faith Manages.
G'Quon wrote, 'There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.'
And since the entries are all in chronological order, the next newest one is just right above it.
I hope that this is workable, because I suspect that if there’s going to be another revamp of the site, I’ll be awhile – maybe if Max gets promoted again.
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[b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
Glad to hear that the author has decided to continue! We really appreciate the authors efforts! [img]http://216.15.145.59/mainforums/wink.gif[/img]
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'The future is all around us' G'kar
'I have no surviving enemies! None what so ever!' Galen
Visit my B5 site at: [url="http://www.nialb5.com"]www.NialB5.com[/url].
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[b][url="http://www.minbari.co.uk/log12.2263/"]Required reading[/url][/b]
Never eat anything bigger than your own head.
The Balance provides. The Balance protects.
"Nonono...Is not [i]Great[/i] Machine. Is...[i]Not[/i]-so-Great Machine. It make good snow cone though." - Zathras
Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but are you aware that the 'New' button takes you directly to the newest entry?
[/quote]
Yeah, I know it does, but only the newest entry. It would be nice to know where the entry before that started and ended so I could review before reading the newest entry.
The author is doing an awesome job though, keep it up.
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Dedicated to all the people who predicted that the Babylon Project would fail in its mission. Faith Manages.
G'Quon wrote, 'There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain.'