Ideas on the official BAT request and poll threads

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Hello, I've been noticing a lot of poll and request threads popping up in this forum. With that, there have been polls where people end up requesting things as well. Many people consider the official BAT Request Thread cumbersom and not user-friendly. Perhaps we ought to look into some solutions to this problem?

Some things that could help would be:

A BAT polling/request forum- A place for BAT teams to poll where their BAT projects should go to next and a place where the request thread can be found.

Organizing the Official BAT Wishlist: It would help a lot if the requests filled and the BAT Request List were merged and organized. Things requested should be listed in alphbetical order by continent>Country>State/Province/District>City. Requests filled should be struck out.

I know that it would take a lot of effort to do this, while also keeping up with new requests. However it would pay off in an easier-to utilize BAT Request list, and confine BAT project direction polls in an easy-to-find, one-stop voting forum.

[zmveliger 16]

My opinion has already been given in my end-october poll. Obviously, I really like that idea. It would probably help to get BATer/LOTers and the community closer.

[Jasoncw 11,949]

That's not a bad idea.

and if people don't like it, they can always hide it.

[Lord_Bertrum 3]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

[SYM Productions 7]

Me too... if I ever requested anything, I would sort of feel lost in the crowd...  There's what, exactly 1800 requests by now?  And no way to know, for BATters, to know if it's been done, unless they go all the way to the Filled Requests thread and search every post until they see that it has or hasn't been done.

- CDI_spy

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Just getting the Request thread cleaned up would go a very long way. I'd volunteer to do it, but BATing keeps me busy enuf as it is. Maybe if we all collaborate and compile everything (preferably where it wouldn't clog up forum space on Simtropolis), this can be done!

An example of a good listing would be something like this (I'll use a few off the top of my head that I know of, I don't mean to leave anyone out):

1. Asia

A. China, people's Republic of

I. Hong Kong S.A.R.:
a. HSBC Building

II. Shanghai City
a. Jin Mao Tower
b. Oriental Pearl Tower
c. Shanghai World Finanace Center

China, Republic of (Taiwan):

I. Taipei
a. Taipei 101

II. Kaoshuing

Something formatted like that... We could also add in buildings that Maxis made (growable or landmarks) so that people know that they've been done.

Maybe we can break it all up in threads by continent? Something like BAT Requests and filled requests: Asia, etc..? Also the main threads with the lists should be stickies... Maybe they should be locked and only the person/persons keeping track allowed to edit?

[DuskTrooper 316]

The thing is, no matter what, you cannot force people to make anything. Thus, it will be useless, once again, and lead to the cluttering up of the forums. So, once again, Please place ALL building requests into the official BAT request thread! Thank you!

[SYM Productions 7]

Dusk, we didn't request anything nor did we talk about forcing ppl to do anything... I don't really see what you mean...

In this thread, Sparky here is trying to the give administration ideas on how we can encourage people to post in a new, organized BAT request thread where they think they'll at least be heard, instead of you having to tell someone every once in a while where their request should be.  It would also encourage BATters without a project to search there...

 

- CDI_spy

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Nobody's said anything here about forcing anyone to do anything. I can definetly see how that could be seen, as BATers, we're bombarded with PM's, posts, and threads asking for stuff. It can seem an awful lot of pressure is put on us to perform, almost borderlining on feeling like we're forced to do something. I get that feeling sometimes, but just go on and do the best that I can.

As BATers, we make the decisions, and can oblige, deny, or even ignore requests if we like. It falls upon us to make that call, so you can't really be forced to BAT anything, but you can allow yourself to feel as if you are.

Therefor I think that this isn't a way to force anyone to do anything. We can just leave it all as-is, I'm not loosing any sleep over this. But I think the community really can benefit by having a much more highly organized database for those wishing to see certain things, and those BATers looking for their next project. It'd be a ton easier than sifting through 1000's of posts. This way, all you'd have to know is the location and alphabetical order to find out if something's done, just requested, etc..

Additionally, it would be upon the requestors to read the fine print:

By no means does the listing of any item here guarantee that it will be BATed. Please do not post additional requests after it is listed here.

Just an idea, by no means a done deal. It's the Arena of Ideas and if nobody wants this, then OK. But it is definetly not a mechanism to force anyone to do or make anything.

[SYM Productions 7]

I don't know if you know this, Dusk, but both me and Sparky are BATters... we're not some requesters trying to force other people to make the things we want...

 

And I'm not being sarcastic, I'm totally serious.

 

- CDI_spy

[DuskTrooper 316]

I know this, and I read about this. Essentially, you are asking for a reform of the BAT request system, which would organize it. However, IMO, it would be useless, as stated above, as there are few, if any BATters that look at or take requests. As for ideas, yes, this system may be helpful, but, overall, it would simply be a waste.

Addendum: Additionally, it would be upon the requestors to read the fine print:

Requestors usually do NOT even read the fine print. Hence, even those who get what they want, don't even read the readmes attached to the files on the STEX.

[MayorTim 16]

I agree with dusk. No BATers actually look at the BAT request thread, and that won't change if we devote a whole forum to it.

The way I see it, the BAT request thread is just a way of hiding all the requests that would otherwise spam the BAT forums, even if no one takes requests anyway.

Its the same way with the Official SC5 wishlist thread. No one really cares any more, but to keep all the junk out of the general forum, we funnel it there.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

First off, Mayor Tim: Domo-Kun rules! Love your avantar! (*stops being an avantar freak*)

Sym_Productions: Thanks for your support, but I guess that we are out of steam. Its time to let others discuss this.

In the realm of ideas, it is good that we have had this discussion. It's healthy and good for an on-line, world-wide democracy. I think that I have presented a good point, and there's just so far that you can take it without being redundant. I consider my point made, and if there are any further comments, both pro and anti, that's good.

Without anyone willing to take on this daunting task, its pretty hard to implent anything anyway, regardless if it is on ST or not. NOOBs probably won't know and those who don't care anyway would probably disregard the effort- a very good point that has been made. However some may find this idea useful. We just don't know or can guarantee how many would benefit from this, and that's a legitimate argument when dealing with bandwith and server space.

I'm glad that my comments were responded to as a matter of debate, not as anything personal. I hope that that was thought of as such, and hopefully the effort showed. I wasn't mad writing this or the last post, and I really like reading opposing points. Sometimes something isn't as good of an idea as when you posted it.

It is the popular momentum that turns ideas into action. If my arguments aren't compelling enough to win popular support, then that is OK. It is the will of those who have a say in these matters: you!

We have made a good argument in favor, and Dusk and Mayor Tim have made really good points against this. If anyone else has anything to say about it, then please speak up. Otherwise, I consider this a dead topic if there is no interest in pursuing this further.

[pnorrell 4]

Date: 10/30/2005 9:40:33 PM Author: MayorTim I agree with dusk. No BATers actually look at the BAT request thread, and that won't change if we devote a whole forum to it. The way I see it, the BAT request thread is just a way of hiding all the requests that would otherwise spam the BAT forums, even if no one takes requests anyway. Its the same way with the Official SC5 wishlist thread. No one really cares any more, but to keep all the junk out of the general forum, we funnel it there.

quote>

No BAT-ers actually look at the BAT request thread - now that's a funny one. There are constant reminders on the forums to put it in the official BAT request thread but this is the first open acknowledgement I've ever seen that the request thread is a black hole. Understandable, of course, with so many diverse requests being thrown at the handful of people who actually make BATs, but more than a little disingenuous. Might as well just say please stick all requests you-know-where.

 

If the real purpose of the request thread is to be a magnet for unwanted spam from the rest of the forums, re-organizing it does indeed seem a little like the post office going through all the letters to Santa Claus to figure out which kids got what they wanted and which ones didn't.

[rp2005 165]

I don't think it's fair to say that 'no BATters look at the request thread'.  Certainly a few people do dip into it from time to time,; Simgoober has posted a few times that inspiration for some BAT or other has come from 'something posted in the requests thread'.

However, I don't think trying to impose a form of organisation onto requests would work very well.  Although it would be nice to be able to look at a requests area split by continent and country, or by SC4 category, and therefore possibly find something inspiring rather than endless requests for identikit bank towers and retail outlets - I don't think people would have the discipline to put things in the right categories.

 

So, I wish sparkythepenguin luck in trying to get things more organised, but I'm not optimistic.

 

[lrfox 2]

You all know the expression, give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a life time.  This is how I feel about the BAT request thread. Sure, check it, and i've posted there, but it was simply because i felt like, hey, if someone might do this, why not? 

 

That's all it should be there for, to post ideas. The focus should be on giving people the incentive to build themselves (hence the give a man a fish/ teach a man to fish line). I am currently messing w/ my BAT, because i doubt my requested buildings are going to be built. So, let's leave it as is, it's there if builders want to check it, and it's there if anyone needs to post in it, but that's all we need it for. and if you check it frequently, you won't get lost in the clutter.

 

Final note: how can it be said that BATters don't check the request thread? If sparkythepenguin, one of the premier BATters on Simtrop started this thread, isn't that proof enough? Just because they don't do YOUR project doesn't mean it isn't looked at.

[Jasoncw 11,949]

The small train station I uploaded a week or two ago (https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?mode=files&filetype=BAT&Str=small%20train%20station go download it! ) was the result of looking at the BAT request thread. a small train terminal (i think it was in boston or something) was posted a few times, and I liked the design, but it was too detailed and I wanted a simple project.

I think a seperate forum would be better than a single thread. I'm kinda sick of all of the 'what should I do next!' type threads

And if BAT - Request is just clutter, then why does NDEX have it's own forum? It's just a special BAT open discussion forum for a few members. Only 4 or 5 of the threads are even active.

The BAT request thread has more/about the same amount of posts as: The Sims 2, The Sims 2 Modifications, The sims 2: Sims Diaries, Sim Mars the Game, and the Lot Editor and Plugin Manager.

Plus if it was it's own forum it would be harder for the newbies to miss.

But if it was still a single thread, Sparky has a good idea. I think having one member running the locked thread and the requesters need to send a pm request is good. And if they need to be by pm, people would be more likely to only send requests that they really want, not a huge list of every building they think is pretty. The list could be updated once a week, since doing it everyday would be a lot.

I like Domo too, he's my avatar on aim. Unfortunalty most people don't know who he even is, they just think he's some goofy japanese thing.