The Hack off is a nice concept, but the problem most of the teams seem to be having is the lack of experienced participants and the number of users that become inactive once it gets going. I feel like something like the Hack off should be a way to get groups of members to work together, but the way it is now, it feels more a like a few core members are there to do the work while the rest are just along for the ride. I think, instead of making the Hack off a long, drawn out process, it would work better as a speed-hacking competition. Members would have one or two weeks to make as complete a hack as they can (which is fun in and of itself), and it would be quick enough to maintain the interest of the participants too.
I feel like I would probably participate in the Hack Off if there were entry requirements for signing up in the form of a test or proof of work, otherwise you're left with the problem that
slashtiki describes where people
misrepresent their skills or just lie. Under the current system we have people claiming to know "2/10 ASM" when in fact they can't even say what ASM is short for, or mappers who are blind to tile errors, and so on.
The Hack Off's original purpose was to put beginner ROM hackers in teams so they can work together, since what usually happens is people post in the Help Recruitment thread because they want help with their idea (or want the whole thing done for them) and then just do nothing. Teams rarely work well, but perhaps if a group of people agree on a hack idea and start working on it together, they could be motivated to get it done. Now, beginners did join and experienced ones as well to guide them, but a lot of people usually lose interest or disappear, and it comes down to a few people having to do the whole thing by themselves, usually the experienced ones.
The Hack Off could work if only experienced hackers who frequent the ROM hacking sections, and I'm sure something nice would come in the end, even though this isn't what I was aiming for at all. There could be three teams, and experienced hackers can be encouraged to join so there's more in each team, and perhaps beginners can also join , who won't be expected to do much, and hopefully stay until the end.
How about next time for the hack off, you guys give us like 5 stories to choose from? I think I'll be fun to see people's interpretations.
I think the starting days that are used for brainstorming for the story and features help get the team together and know each other, and at the end you have a few different stories anyway. Perhaps only one story can be given, to see each team's interpretation of it, or a general setting or features.
Hack-Off should really be a Speed-Hack like Competition.
The problem with Hack-Off now is that too many of the hackers come into Hack-Off feeling that they are going to have a pseudo-team of inexperienced to experienced hackers to work on their idea for them. Once they figure out that isn't the case, most tend to go inactive. And as a team effort, this sort of thing tends to drown the moral of the team a bit.
Like Lost Heart said, there will be a couple core members working whilst the others are hitching the ride. Since this was my first Hack-Off, I will say that it was pretty fun for a while. I got to know a few more hackers on my team, and it turns out, they are really cool people. But time zones and scheduling were a big problem in my team. Oftentimes, the core members of our team couldn't have the time to put in the work to brainstorm or hack. When a team loses their crutch for their hack to be made, it falls.
And I will add that the method for team building is weird. Most of the time, hackers will say that they have experience in some field, but as it turns out, they don't have a clue. It ends up becoming lopesided if two "mappers" end up on a team with no mappers to begin with, but they really don't know how to map. Now that hypothetical team has no mappers. Am I making sense at all? I feel like I'm not.
Speed-Hacking however is quick! One week to make the best hack that you can! Interest is strong from beginning to end. If it's a solo-effort, then it will filter the ones who just want to do nothing to the other hackers who want to actually hack something. When the week is over, judging happens, a victor is crowned, award some emblems! Then, if the hacker wants to, they can continue their hack and take it further.
See?! It can be a platform for hackers to use to get their hack off the ground. Use themes to make sure we are all on the same page. Every Hack-Off has a different theme and it prevents some hackers from just editing the Pokemon Stats Table and typings, and call it a hack.
Boddaboom. Boddabing. You have yourself an exciting competition that isn't slow and humdrum like the current method of Hack-Off. Not only is it engaging, but the crutch for being in a team is lost. If you are lazy, then you don't get a hack made for you. It's your hack, so you feel obligated to complete it. Eh? Eh?
No. Fine. I'm going to cry now. :(
I'm personally not a fan of speedhacking events, they aren't the kind of events that can keep running every few months, though I'm sure some people would be interested in only making small hacks. There wasn't one this year, but there used to be a speedhacking event for the Get-Together every year. I recall someone wanting to host one but it never happened, not sure why. ROM Hacking staff could host one every Get-Together if no other members wants to host it. We can try and host one this winter or spring break as well and see how it goes.
Speedhacking is also better done solo usually, or perhaps with a team of people who could sign up together. It can't replace the Hack Off as it's much different, but if people show more interest for it I don't mind it being a regular thing.
A speed hacking thing sounds nice! Especially if there was some sort of challenge, like "Use X as a base" or "Have Y features" and maybe have like "a Z type of feeling to the hack". Also, what caught my eye in the scripting discussion, was the mention of a minigame. Maybe like a minigame hack off, or like a minigame speed hack thing. What I'd also like to see is an "experienced hacker" hack off.
A mini-game/scripting/ASM looks like the best suggestion yet, so we'll be planning one soon!
Hmmm, maybe a sprite/tiles competition, is the only things that not require make a hack.
Can I suggest a Scans competition?
We can try one in the next months, which I'm guessing would work similarly to Map of the Month, and see how it goes. There used to be a Screenshot Showcase thread but was never really active. Perhaps the fact that it'll be a contest would get more people posting. But hackers on PC don't usually focus as much as Spanish hackers on the visuals and graphics, from what I've seen.
I mean like, not having to make something like we're doing for the hack offs. Making completed (2-3 gyms) hacks and working in groups to try and do it is a little hard. Making a community hack can be fun, but I feel like it should be a much much more long term thing :)
Anyone interested in managing a community hack, or any other event, is free to, as long as they get in contact with the ROM hacking staff first. I'd like to see a community hack here but it needs at least one or two dedicated people to keep it going.