The Blockland Bulletin

[cucumberdude]

Allright. Will do.

[Ad Bot]

[Tom]

I was thinking, no matter how "journalistic" the style of wirting is, it's style a blog. Why you ask? Well, you and your writers can just get on and type up an article, probably without much reviewing before it is posted.

What I think you need to do is set up a structured system where you have a couple members of your team be focused on researching and finding stuff to write about. Sure, comming up with one article might be a little more of a tedious process, but the end results will be much more journalistic, and probably more informative too. Right now it's just a blog trying to pass as a news source. Not like it matter's a whole bunch, it's just about an online building game.

Edit: I am hopeless without spell check D:

[Donro98]

Again, Icy, I would strongly suggest releasing the full content that I sent you - people will be able to see what's going on here, and, very likely find themselves agreeing with the article.

I think Ephi did the right thing.

[Ladios]

snip

I like this suggestion.

[cucumberdude]

I think Ephi did the right thing.

I didn't say everyone would side with him - anyways, my point was that facts usually help people be more cool headed and logical.

[Sheath]

Having a team of people researching is impractical. No offense to people here, but many I have dealt with in the past commit to such a thing for a week before giving up. Its hard enough to co-ordinate a small team of authors.

The news source is fine, and is of a higher quality than any news blog before it. You can say its "still a blog" but you could say that about anything. Blockland is "just a Torque game".

[Tom]

I can understand how it would be hard to co-ordinate everyone. But if your true goal is to have a very journlistic news source, you should attempt some kind of system. Maybe something as simple as the doing research on their own time and sending you their reports so you can write the article. There would be nothing stopping you from writing an article without them.

[Sheath]

Our authors are competent to research the information. In this case, it was reporting quoted information. We can only do so much to ensure the authenticity of what is said by people.

[cucumberdude]

http://sterlingvitcov.com/rbl.php

Plain old facts detailing the whole thing.

Unfortunately, some of my PMs to Ephialtes are missing due to me forgetting to check 'save a copy'. Oh well.

[Tom]

An author might research just to find what they need to prove their points in the article. In this case, you only quoted Ephi and Cucumber. You could have tried asking some third party who knew a little but about web security like Kalphiter. You could have asked some people who used RateBlocklanders what they thought about the topic for the site getting deleted.

A researcher who is just trying to find information and does not have to worry about writing an article can focus on presenting all the info they can find and quotes from everybody involved. So hopefully the writers first impression on the issue will be balanced.

I'm tired of hearing "We can only do so much..." I understand that this is mostly a hobby in your spare time, but if you are trying to make this very journlatistic you should try harder. In order to be truly journalistic you should try to get as many people to come to this source as possible, because real life reporters have to keep a good audience for sponsors. You have to listen to our feedback, you can't just blow it off and say we don't have to read it if we don't agree with it.

[Sheath]

An author might research just to find what they need to prove their points in the article. In this case, you only quoted Ephi and Cucumber. You could have tried asking some third party who knew a little but about web security like Kalphiter.

You just suggested using Kalphiter to gage an opinion on Ephi's actions. Thats why I stopped reading there.

[cucumberdude]

You just suggested using Kalphiter to gage an opinion on Ephi's actions. Thats why I stopped reading there.

Well he's somewhat got a point.

The article is fine as is, but it would be even better if you managed to get interviews from Kalphiter, Ephialtes, some RBL users... Just to put it in perspective.

Again, I understand that you have limited time/resources - obviously, you can always improve an article. I'm just saying that what he's asking for is a logical demand; it's always good to get all sides of the story.

I'm awaiting the conclusion to the article with excitement. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

[Sheath]

I could also have written from Ephi's perspective, or just posted raw messages. But I did it the way I saw fit.

[Ladios]

You have to listen to our feedback, you can't just blow it off and say we don't have to read it if we don't agree with it.

No he doesn't, and yes he can.
However, it would not be wise to do so.
The #1 principle behind successful game design by most good designers is to get feedback and iterate.
This carries over to most products aimed towards interacting with a general audience.

[cucumberdude]

I could also have written from Ephi's perspective, or just posted raw messages. But I did it the way I saw fit.

True.

Just givin' you my two cents :)