Saturday with Sach: Defining Community
I've been involved in the Minecraft community for a very long time. Years, even. The game itself has grown and evolved in some fascinating and amazing ways, but the one thing that continues to amaze me even after all this time, is the Minecraft community.
Many talented people have made (and continue to make) incredible things within, and around, the game: complex mods which can add every conceivable customization, videos that range from hilarious musical parodies to in-depth play sessions and tutorials, adventure maps and texture packs which demonstrate mind-blowing levels of creativity, and so much more. People pour their hearts and souls into these projects, and the end-results show it. Many of them develop a fiercely loyal fan-base, eager to see their next big creation. My job has been - since August of 2011 - to bring these sorts of awesome creations to the attention of the community, so they can share in the experience, and maybe see something they might not have otherwise had the joy of knowing. Not every creation shown in this way has been popular, but for the most part, I've taken immense joy in seeing these amazing creations get an outpouring of support and praise from new and returning fans alike. Nothing brings a smile to my face quite like seeing all of you get excited at a community-made project, and getting involved with it.
There has always been one particularly sensitive topic over the years, despite my best efforts - multiplayer communities. In the past, it made more sense to me why that was the case; for the most part, multiplayer servers have spent years being tightly-knit groups of friends, and while the occasional server(s) would come by, luring in many new players with a neat new game mode idea, or creative building project, or even just as a hub for fans of a particular personality, they have changed a great deal over time. Many multiplayer communities have - much as every creative project in Minecraft - grown beyond their origins, into something much bigger.
THE COMMUNITY NEVER STOPS GROWING
The Minecraft community is an ever-growing body of people, from all walks of life, and from every corner of the planet. As that body of players grows, more and more of them begin congregating into sub-communities of their own, each with their own culture, likes, dislikes, and personality. Part of that growth has seen the rise of incredibly large multiplayer community servers, each with their own culture, activities, and themes. In the interest of representing the community as it grows, I feel it is important to take a look at these servers - all of them, not merely a select few - and show them to the community at large, much as I have with videos, mods, maps, and the like.
From my perspective, a massive and dedicated community of players centered around a particular style of play is no less remarkable than a highly polished animation, or a deeply engrossing mod. I'd like to show more of these servers in the future, hopefully for others to enjoy, but at the end of the day, that isn't my call to make - it is yours.
YOU DECIDE - A POLL
I have always done my best to bring the very best of the community to the community, because you are the lifeblood of Minecraft, and deserve both the recognition and attention that brings. Part of that responsibility is making sure the community spotlights I'm bringing you will be something you will enjoy, and that has not changed since I first came to the Minecraft Forum. Many people feel I am inaccessible, or do not listen to what the community wants. Quite the contrary - I spend a considerable amount of time reading your comments in every single article I've ever written - and many recent comments made me reconsider my stance on spotlighting servers of any kind, going forward. It isn't up to me to decide what you like, so I will now ask you directly.
I have posted a poll asking whether you would like to see multiplayer servers be added to Community Creations spotlights from here on. Please leave a vote on whether you would like that or not, and if you like, feel free to leave a comment in the article as well! I will read them all, and take your feedback into consideration.
The poll is at the top of this page (or, if you are reading this from the front page, can be seen by clicking here). Please leave a vote, make your voice heard, and I will move forward with your feedback as the deciding factor!
I will, within reason, attempt to answer questions in the comments section as well, if it helps to clarify something you might be wondering about. No one in this community deserves to feel as though they are unheard, or that they do not matter. Every single one of you matters!
Click here to vote and comment!
What I think is best for the site is no different than what I think is best for the community. Incidentally, that happens to be the community itself.
I can't think of much more to say on the matter except yes! This is a great idea, in my opinion.
now before you go getting your knickers in a knot , let me explain.
spotlights on the communities (servers as such) have many places already, there is the server subforum , server lists, and even on the home page a recent posts for in the servers area.
however, if there are creations, mods, minigames etc that are new and inspiring, they are worth spotlighting i'm all for them being spotlighted ,
but not like an advert for a server or server hosting company. it gives me a feeling that they are paying or in some way compensating the reviewers/spotlighters especially when other games are mentioned that they also host. this also includes the section about "Whats happening on the web" on the home page, no matter what you click on there it takes you to the same site/server/service , nothing really relating to minecraft as such (maybe one or 2 of their tags do mention minecraft .. link to those sure.. but no need to put like a link section that links to THEIR current articles about things that aren't related to minecraft.
this is a minecraft forum and is looked upon an an official minecraft forum, and as such should really only deal with minecraft, there are many sites out there that are multi gaming / news sites
To me this site is all about minecraft (yes i know servers are minecraft too.. but only a part there of.) how about adding a recent mods panel like there is about the servers on the main (home) page.
I hope you all understand my opinions and respect them, i'm not trying to flame or put anyone down. however i'm sure that i'm going to get a huge negative reaction to this reply
PS: i've also PM'd Sachs as he has requested (to better explain my thoughts, we are friends and know each other as i was a staff member here too. like i said this is nothing personal. so please don't think that i'm attacking Sachs because i'm not. he is doing a very big task and is a great asset to the community. it wouldn't be the same without him
I understand how it would use nice to see multiplayer servers spotlit on the front page. However, as was mentioned farther up in the thread, there's many many other places for that to happen. The server subforum, Planet Minecraft, and (unlike maps and mods) many many many websites that showcase servers.
It would also affect the servers themselves. Most big minigame servers have thousands of people on at a time anyway, and probably don't need a forum post to get more publicity. Any server that was a unique minigame its more like you're showcasing the minigame (which you do anyway). Lastly, any small amazing community, if given a spotlight, is suddenly flooded with too many players for it to handle.
Just by looking at it multiplayer server spotlights may seem like a good idea, but there are downsides for both viewers and the servers themselves.
As a further note, I don't think it is fair to exclude servers from the spotlight considering many admins put as much work into their servers as others might put into their animations, mini-games, or mods.
I think, though, the you get into shaky ground when you know some people are in the server business for profit, especially bigger servers, but smaller servers hardly ever are in it for the profit, as most of them require pocket money from those running it to stay awake. I mention this as those servers in it to win it might just be looking for more money as opposed to a more, shall we say, noble cause.
But that is just my two cents.
I choose.. Yes to spotlighting servers.
This is because many interesting small-playerbase servers are out there to woo players. Sadly, it's tough for any server to compete as financilly-driven servers and minigames server are looting many of the players. This would surely help them.
For a small server being crash by suddenly having too many players, I'm sure the server owner will increase the player quota limit or better-ping as who wouldn't want more players?
I'm having the same issue (if it is an issue).
If I could see it, I would vote yes.
Happy Sachurday!
I vote, why not?
I'm not a multiplayer type guy but there a ton of folks in the community that are. The only concern that I would have is those who wish to grief others might use the list of servers to troll.
That is all.