Ideas for 2012

It's been a while since I've talked about the development of the site, so here are a few things I've been thinking about, for things that MIGHT happen in 2012. =)

1) Community areas. The Competition sub-forum remains one of the most popular areas of the site, while other areas like Critique and the Tour either have little traction, or aren't really that compelling. Right now, the idea is to work on way of merging these.

Community-run competitions would be a bigger part of the site, but it would be up to the coordinators to give out critique. There would probably be more structure in how people enter shows, but can also win trophies and things for their micro-corps profiles. Hopefully this can be run in a way that avoids the kind of negative behavioral issues when people get too competitive.

I would also love for the idea of Design Challenges to live on somehow, without my direct involvement.

2) Graphics. I'd like to finally get multiple guard and prop styles into the show designer, before winter guard season hits. And maybe end zone facing. The problem is that I believe I lost the master sprite file in a hard drive crash last month, which will probably make things more difficult.

3) Judging. This most recent peak season made it clear that the queue doesn't scale too well. It always produces good results for the front page, but for everyone else, I feel the experience could be better. I will probably experiment with a couple ideas here, including a separate queue for new members.

4) Music. I like the drill-only approach of MML, but I know for a lot of people, support for music has always been the biggest missing piece. However, especially with copyright issues, there just is no good, obvious solution. I released a proof-of-concept a couple of months ago and showed it to a few people, but I don't know yet whether that is the direction I want to go.

5) Events. I will be looking into being an actual vendor at events this year, which means sitting at a table near the souvie stands and showing MML to people who might not have heard of it before. This might be a local DCI show, or Finals, or maybe BOA, I don't know yet. These things can be expensive, especially with travel, but it's also useful to get face-to-face feedback, plus maybe the chance to meet up with regular MMLers.

6) Technology. As you probably have noticed, technology has changed a LOT in the past 4 years. Right now everything is in flux, but I will keep evaluating new platforms for MML, especially phone/tablet devices.

7) Off-Topic. We used to have an off-topic forum, and while I'm not a fan of the immaturity that often ended up there, there is some benefit to having a common ground that isn't marching-related. Do we want this back?

8) Other Things. I love MML and am proud of the the positive influence its had on a lot of members, but working on the same thing for years now can be very taxing. So, as of last year, I have been working on other side projects. That means a slower development schedule for MML, but also means I can re-apply some of the things I've learned on those projects to MML. This shouldn't effect the day-to-day experience, as I am always checking in and making sure everything is running okay, but it does mean that updates will continue to be added about once every 3 months or so.I am open to any questions or comments you have, and suggestions for things that are at the top of your wishlist for 2012.

Thanks

With the off topic section, I think that some posts could go through a filter of some kind, or have an age limit to reduce the immaturity (which I think is kind of unfair, but whatever helps, helps). I think that if it is moderated well enough, we can kind of reduce some backlash from it.

Since we are a community, all "prayer/thoughts" related posts would have a home if we brought it back, rather than randomly placed throughout the sub-forums.

I would love mroe guard things, and with that, I think it would be cool to have Banner flags, the same thing that people do with the two guard members and spinning opposite sides only with one guard member.a backfeild turn for guard and maybe be able to paint the floor for indoor shows, even if it is just a single color, would be cool :) Thanks for the updates!

and the competition idea look great too :)

@madam- As captains, part of our job is to run through the threads and making sure the discussion is mature and civil. That said, obviously the same would apply for the new off-topic forum, so we wouldn’t need a “filter” per se, but it would mean that us captains would have more to moderate...which if it’s for the good of the community of the site, I don’t mind and I don’t think the other captains would either.

In any case, I think Joe would put a lot of thought into a good set of rules to make sure it works right, and I’m sure there would be a one-month “trial” phase to see if it’s something that can stick.

The off-topic thing would be a good thing to have.
It would also be nice to have music to drill to.
@madam-the "prayer/thoughts" thing is a good idea.

I have but one request... please more drumline animations. I was thinking maybe a "groove" animation or particularly a way to have a new bass drum animation.

The off-topic is a great idea, the competition and new queue sounds good too!

I'm in favor of the new guard animations and thinking about new devices to use MML on. Awesome work, Joe! :)

I think it would be great to see new design challenges again. Perhaps you could get the community involved in creating the challenges similar to how you had us pick ideas for themes for the weekly tour in the past.

I agree with Will Panter i would like to see some new guard aimations.

The off topic forum sounds great too.

I really like the off-topic idea, new guard animations, and multiple guard styles. All of those would be awesome.

It would be really neat that for guard members, they could hold two flags, rather than one at any point of shows. That would be great for mainly guard-related shows and the like.

I really like your idea about the tablet/other device-playback notion, but I don't think creating shows would be that great with them. I don't know, though. Maybe just judging shows, the forum, and the Critique section?

I think the off-topic forum section idea would be fine.

Another thing - I just think that the Critique section doesn't get as much "love" as it used to. I don't know why, but before when I wanted feedback on my shows and posted in the critique section, I got lots more comments and suggestions. Now, it only seems like (whenever I post shows in the critique section, that is) there are only a couple comments or critiques, if that.

I loved the off-topic section.

Hm... I would suggest using mml member arrangements but I think that it might get old for people to write shows to all the same songs. Maybe you'd be able to contact corps and find ways to use cut versions of their recordings. I mean, its advertising on the website for free essentially, and it puts the corps name out there. I dunno how well that would work though.

I believe the off-topic forum should come back it was a way for MML members to connect with eachother. I also think a bigger field wouldn't be a bad idea. (I know you didn't have this listed but I thought I'd mention it) Call me crazy but sometimes I kinda wish the field was more accurate to a real-life field. In that it's easier to have 2-step spacing or have the divisions of the field to be able to create forms. That is just a thought to maybe make it more life like and give it more of a perspective into real drill writing.

I would love to see more guard animations and possibly flooring options. The ability to use more then one flag style in a show and to use more then one prop style in a show would be so useful too!

I'm seconding...or 5thing (I dunno) some of the guard stuff said above.

- More Guard Animations
- More than one flag style/uniform style
- New flag styles/uniforms (corps proper as well)

As well as what I think would be cool, colored rifles. I just think there could be some really cool but simple flag designs that would work well.

All of these sound incredible, but I'm particularly excited about the multiple guard uniforms and possible end zone facing. Also, I think the idea of an off-topic forum and the suggested flooring options would be incredible as well!

I love love love the colored rifles!

I agree with the guard stuff! That would be really cool!

There are 2 things that I would love to see.
1) Maybe 20 more marchers...I wanted to create a show, but I didn't want to sacrifice the guard or the percussion.
2) Colored Bass Drum Heads. I don't know, I always wanted to see a Black Bass Drum head MML.

Sorry, I accidentally made a suggestion box post.

I don't think we need any more marchers. For people with slow computers/connection, I can imagine too many little sprites moving around would be horribly slow.

Honestly, more marchers would make the current field too crowded. Having more marchers and/or a larger field would indeed slow things down.

I'm digging the future changes!

I think it would be neat to be able to change the angle of props (I.e. Props facing a few degrees into the 50 and vice versa). I think it would give more ways to portray theme as well as making it easier to integrate the props into the drill. And possibly some more cymbal animations (i.e. Visuals)?

Either way I'm liking the ideas you have, Joe! =)

Just remember a bigger field also means smaller members, making it harder to see the uniform detail.

I love the idea of end zone facing! One other thing you could maybe consider is shoulder accents for the uniforms? =)

Endzone facing is my favorite on this list.

The guard ideas are great! I think a cool idea would be to add colored rifles/sabers... its not too common in the real world, but I think it would add even more creative opportunity to the site.

Maybe top hats and feminine head dresses and hats for the guard? That'd be fun. And yes to the off topic forum, as long as some ground rules are set and it's monitored it could be great fun.

Another thing that would be neat is preset DCI uniforms? That would be awesome!

^ I second that! I try to make the uniforms from different Drum Corps but I could never get them right.

Could we possibly have different guard outfits for individual members? And maybe different equipment for guard? (double flag, swing flag, etc) Also, could we have moving props? That's what I'd like to see.

Thanks!

I was thinking like double batons or double rifles. That would look really cool.

so excited for new features! maybe new flag tosses/ swing flags would be cool. maybe a ranking system like legends could toss 6's, superstars 5's and then others could toss whats already there for the weapons. also drum body moves would be cool!

How about close up's on the field to see the detail of what we designed on the uniform's. Drum Major's and maybe creating some prop's to look like shield's carried in Parades, to spell out a name like ANOKA, adding the school's color's. Thanks! For All that you have done Joe.

I imagine its been suggested in the box several times, but having two uniforms in a show (like the cadets) would be really neat.

I'm always fond of having an off-topic forum within any community based site, and as a forum administrator on several other sites, I also know how taxing such a forum can be. Supplying an area that can be used to discuss just about anything has the potential to cause much trouble. We have great moderators here though, and I offer my services to help out if you need any additional people.

I'm eager to see what comes of a new community setup.

guard facing back field and and everyone being able to face the in-zones would make me happy :)

What would also be cool would be a backfield kneel, because a lot of bands I have seen use that.

While I don't have a problem with suggestions here, I want to make sure these are your absolute top priorities, and not just random ideas that you think are neat. Again, if I only have a limited time that I can spend on new features, I want to make sure I'm working on the right ones.

Thanks

I like The Ideas So Far I The The idea of sugar plum pixie about the floor painting hope fully we can have like design your own floor kinda thing and able to use it when were creating indoor shows or at least able to change the color of the floor cause the grey floor is ok but more variety of floor would be great =]

If we do have the off-topic. Can we make a chat system where its on one of the tabs with the 4 other tabs (ex: Design a Show; Judging Show). Yes, there is likely immaturity but if off-topic is going to be added as one of the ideas maybe chat can as well.

Chat has been offered as a feature in the past, but it doesn’t work too well. Surprisingly, the room was never too active and the busiest I ever saw it at one time was only 6 or 7 people. And from a moderation standpoint, yes everything people write will be logged, but it’s really difficult to moderate it real-time.

Maybe, Joe, you could have additional "loyal" moderators that you know and trust if you add the "Off-Topic" section.

Oh, with the graphics thing. You should add backfield horns down for the tubas.

And backfield sticks down for drums.

<3 Trophies for competitions and more guard stuff.

I would like to see the chat re-added, likely for the same XP level, which I believe was 10,000 before.

I would also like to see a push, as Dave has already started, for some external exposure. I feel like the site has been a bit dead lately.

Overall, which I think is my most important statement, I think we need to be looking big picture in terms of the community and content, with a few key designer elements thrown in.

^I agree. I would love the chat to re-open even though maybe not many people were on at certain times, etc. It would be a great touch again.

I think we should dig a moat!

More marchers is one thing that really needs to be added. Currently, you cant make a full corps-sized show. Recently I have had to sacrifice the guard completely in order to get a 72-member brass on the field. A drum corps's field doesn't get crowded with the amount of people they have on the field so I doubt more marchers would overcrowd an MML field. I think we definitely need more marchers. Thanks

I second Vincent's motion! A moat would be a nice touch. And also a suggestion that fits with my first comment and with the new uniforms idea is multi-colored sashes? Take the Cavaliers' sash for example. Thanks again! =)

@Kyle. It's not a matter of overcrowding. It's a matter of visual representation. Corps can fit 150 people on the field because they have a full field. If we have to zoom out from our current design window of 20-20, those marchers get a lot smaller, and a lot harder to design with. It's not a problem for some people, who have browsers with zoom capabilities and large monitors, but some have 12-14" laptop monitors which is really only big enough to design with current dimensions effectively. However, I am not disagreeing with you, I think it would be cool, but it's just not feasible from an effective design standpoint.

You also have to take into consideration that with each additional marcher you put on the field, you slow down the rate at which the show can run (if I remember correctly). There's a balance that has been established that I feel works pretty well.

I think we van expect great things from you, mr. Lesko! =) Just one question: assuming that events would be realised, should that mean that it would continue in following years? (I won't be in the States this year but I'm planning to march DCI in 2013 and I still haven't met you yet!)

I would love double flags and multiple uniforms! Also end zone facing would be pretty neat!

What about moving props?

i think that you should allow regular accounts to gain SOME premium access included with the regular account

^ I don't think this is the proper place to ask for more free stuff.