Summer 72hr planning thread

[Fruity Snacks]

Yooooooooo

>>>VOTE FOR THE BEST TIME PERIOD FOR YOU HERE<<<

Alright, so these types of threads are starting to become really bare, we don't really need to do them, since I think we're starting to get a good system down. But, here's a few questions that I'd like to sort out with folks before we get a date settled.


First question:
When do we want to have the contest.
Please give me an idea of when there isn't any finals or vacation times or obscure European Holidays. I don't need specific times, but a general idea would be schweet.

Second Question:
Hows everyone liking the idea of using a google poll to vote? Did you like the older way where you had to type everything out? Did you have enough time to vote (probably not). How can we improve on this, if possible.

Third question:
Whats your favourite cookie.


Okay, thats it for now. Let me know here, and not in steam chat. I'll forget. I forget things.

 

[Kube]

First question:
For me personally, early July. I will be busy in early June (as I know many others will be), and occupied for personal reasons mid-to-late July.

Second question:
I certainly like the accessibility and reliability of a Google Poll.

Third question:
Ooh, this one's difficult! I would have to go with either chocolate chip or Oreo. Mmm...

 

[phi]

Late June through the first half of August I'm available. Should be able to set aside a weekend somewhere in that range. July would be nice.

I don't know about google poll, I feel like there would be some susceptibility to rigging and/or cheating the system to vote twice or more. Eh, who knows. I really like having people type their votes out because it encourages more in-depth consideration/deliberation than just "click button submit votes". I don't know /too/ much on that though, I just feel like the method (and being able to see other people's votes) kind of just has a much better vibe than google poll voting. Just my two cents.

My favorite cookie would have to be oatmeal-raisin or peanut butter. I hate confectionary-cakey-sweet things.

 

[HQDefault]

I'm going to yellowstone late june to early july. By estimate... the 27th of June through the 8th of july (tops)

So middish june or middish july would be fine. August works too.

 

[RubbishyUser]

After early June is good for me. Exams, etc. Google polls were great, but I personally recommend not recording the names of how people voted. I feel like when people don't get to hear why you voted "no" for them, because instead their name is recorded next to a cross under your map when they voted "yes" for such-and-such a map that was CLEARLY WORSE IN EVERY WAY GOD DAMN IT PHIL. I'm just saying anonymity might be fairer and less likely to make people sour. The real useful stuff came from the kind souls who provided long-form feedback, so it's not like we lose anything by not knowing exactly who voted what ways.

And Oreos are the correct answer. I weep that I only discovered then a year ago or so.

Hey look, 500 "thanks" given. YOU'RE WELCOME.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

I'm going to yellowstone late june to early july. By estimate... the 27th of June through the 8th of july (tops)

So middish june or middish july would be fine. August works too.

Incomplete response, whats your favorite cookie.

 

[Kube]

I don't know about google poll, I feel like there would be some susceptibility to rigging and/or cheating the system to vote twice or more. Eh, who knows. I really like having people type their votes out because it encourages more in-depth consideration/deliberation than just "click button submit votes". I don't know /too/ much on that though, I just feel like the method (and being able to see other people's votes) kind of just has a much better vibe than google poll voting. Just my two cents.

Oh yeah, you make a good point. The voting could be arranged that providing your TF2Maps username is required in a Google Poll, as well as a corresponding post on a TF2Maps thread detailing why the votes were given. That way, real-time results could be gathered easily, while mappers still get are sure to get a heaping dose of helpful advice. This system, however, might be a bit too complicated.

In regards to the dates of the event, I have already accepted the fact that we will never reach a full consensus. Still, it's best that we at least try... (here's a blue sky idea- two 72-hour Contest dates?)

I'd also really enjoy seeing TF2Maps partnering up with a charity, especially with all the streams. I'm not exactly sure how this would work, but we do have a lot of people doing something that merits a reasonable viewership from Twitch streams, so this idea seems like a logical next-step, albeit it's once again blue sky nature.

This is the point in the thread where I remind myself that I am taking this way too far...

Edit:

look, 500 "thanks" given. YOU'RE WELCOME.

Just reached 400. So, ditto.

 

[killohurtz]

I'll be working all summer, but I should have Fridays off so that hopefully won't be an issue. Any time between late May and mid August would work for me if that's the case.

I also think that voting directly on a thread would be best, because I feel like people would be more likely/easily encouraged to include their commentary if they had to type stuff out anyway. Requiring it would probably force people to think their votes through, too.

As for the cookies...I'd have to go with chocolate cherry. They are a true gift to this world.

 

[HQDefault]

Incomplete response, whats your favorite cookie.

Double.
Chocolate.
Chip.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

Double.
Chocolate.
Chip.

Good man.

 

[Zed]

White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut.

 

[Egan]

For the date:
I'm fine with anything probably.

About voting:
I liked the google poll because it kept everything together, also showed me just how much I didn't do. I think letting people know that they can go back and edit it afterwards would let them start it and see that information earlier in the voting period.

I feel like I probably had enough time to vote, and I did try to put the testing above a lot of other things mostly out of obligation, and that ended up being fine for the first part of the voting section. When it hit the second section, I almost felt like it was unnecessary, like we already had a really clear list of who had the most votes, and all their feedback was pooled. I actually felt like it would just be a repeat, except I think some people who voted on the first part didn't vote on the second part, which might have been the only thing that changed results.

Cookie:
Favourite cookie is oatmeal raisin.

 

[LeSwordfish]

I doubt i'll enter this one, but july-august is a good time i think.

I actually really liked the google poll system- i think, putting it bluntly, there's no way on god's earth we'd have got that many votes if people had had to consider them. For the early stages there's no way enough people will go to enough effort for that many maps.

And my favourite cookie is this one.

 

[iiboharz]

Any time in the summer is fine for me as long as it doesn't run over a Tuesday (though I'm sure it will be during a weekend, yes?)

In terms of voting I don't really have a preference, though I feel like as a few others have said in this thread that perhaps a combination of the Google poll thing and a corresponding post in a thread would work well.

I literally have no cookie preference but if I had to choose a favourite cookie it'd have to be probably like those all chocolate ones with white chocolate chips. Mmmm...

 

[Clone5184]

As far as I'm aware of, most of this summer should be alright with me, aside from on a Sunday. For those of you who go to church, I assume you understand why.

As for voting via Google Polls, maybe a system where you need to log in to do it, but it doesn't display your name. That way people don't get mad at you if you didn't vote for their map.

Cookie? I'd have to choose between sugar, snickerdoodle, or gingersnap.

 

[Muddy]

Anything from Millie's Cookies is okay in my book.

 

[Fruity Snacks]

The google poll, at least the one I did, was always anonymous.

 

[YM]

1. Don't mind the date as long as it's >2 weeks notice I can book time off work
2a. Google poll was good. Better than relying on forum posts, especially as you could do half then come back later
2b. Too much time/not enough interest/too many maps. There were about 5 maps that had gamebreaking problems, yet remained in the main rotation for the first period, we need a way of weeding those out. Perhaps before main testing starts, a handful of people lock the server and go through all the maps at rocket speed and remove any that fail simple tests like getting stuck in spawn, or pitch black interiors etc.
Then after that major burnout of having to play 40+ maps, it felt like playing the final 15 was impossible due to lack of interest. I'm begining to think we either need super harsh quickfire voting or judging rounds to get through the volume quickly. or we should ditch "winners" completly and simply have "you worked hard, good job, now keep your momentum going!" And have it as a personal challenge. I've said several times before, it's a real flow killer to have to wait 3+ weeks to put out the next version after doing 4-5 versions over 2 days

3. Let's not go down this road, Oreos are NOT cookies, they have the word "biscuit" printed on them.

 

[Kube]

3. Let's not go down this road, Oreos are NOT cookies, they have the word "biscuit" printed on them.

Ahem, let me direct you to oreo.com. I'm giving you this one chance to recognize your mistake and move on without any friction.

 

[Crash]

1. End of July, early August works best for me.

2. Voting was fine. I had a hard time playing many of the maps, but that's more of a problem of myself than the way it was run.

3. Oreos, suck it, YM.

Edit: Updated my time-frame