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View Poll Results: Should the Arena be closed?

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  • Yes, put it out of its misery.

    12 35.29%
  • No, it'll crank back up again soon.

    7 20.59%
  • I'll battle any comers... BRING IT ON!

    10 29.41%
  • No comment.

    5 14.71%
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Thread: Commentary: Arena is dead.

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  1. #1
    supervillain gerbick's Avatar
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    Commentary: Arena is dead.

    Let's face it...

    From May 17th to June 14th, absolutely nothing was posted in the Arena.

    The Arena is dead. And I'm very close to shuttering close this area. Voice your opinions with your votes.

    As the person that fought for this area in the first place - back when FK battled against Were-Here, DQS, Ultrashock, Twelve Stone, Design Phorum, and countless others, as well as very active internal battles where people actually learned from each other and not offered snarky, one-sided commentary out to belittle or make harmful remarks about one another - this place has become a very pale shadow of what it once was.

    Glory years be behind us, or in front of us. But the shift from seeking entertainment and information to better oneself to just simply seeking praise or something else self-serving; whatever it is... something is just plain missing.

    So do we bury this part of the site, or do we reinvigorate it?

    [ Hello ] | [ gerbick ] | [ Ω ]

  2. #2
    file not found Captain_404's Avatar
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    This place is probably dead. Yeah.

    I will say though, in the small amount of time I spent here watching the (few) images you guys produced and occasionally popping in one of my own I've learned a lot about making these kinds of things.

    So hey, whether or not this place dies, I just want to say thanks to you all for providing me with an interesting challenge.

  3. #3
    He has risen! lefteyewilly's Avatar
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    where's the option of "yeah, its dead, but why shut it down?"

    honestly, there's no incentive to post in the arena anymore. no one really gives a s*** to give a real critique. Battles consist of IMAGE -> "nice image" -> IMAGE -> "cool image" -> IMAGE -> "nice". However, I'm as guilty of not giving critiques as the next guy.

    And without naming names, there's been some really s***ty images being put up here in the past year. If those who post images can't even take the time to come with quality, then what's the f'ing point. It's one thing if your'e learning, but to see some real talented people disgrace themselves with haphazard crap images is very shameful to see.

    And for the record, i left the arena as a moderator because of the pussies and sh**head a-holes that had to **** up march madness with their own egos, cheating, and forcing agendas when rules were clearly spelled out. GTH.

    So f*** it. Dump this s***.

  4. #4
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    I'll battle any comers... BRING IT ON!

  5. #5
    Senior Member Dricciotti's Avatar
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    Thumbs down

    I haven't been able to come here and spend any time on the forums for the past 2 years. I feel guilty that my name is listed as a moderator because I really have not done that job in a long time (I even forgot the secret location of the Big Red Button). My life has become very busy and I know that there will never be time for the Arena again. I have loved this forum and the creativity that has come out of it. Some of you guys are incredibly remarkable artists and I was constantly humbled by the images that you produce.

    I'll vote yes for closing it. I am finished with it. But I would ask that we keep the old posts available for a while because there are a few battles that stand out in my mind as incredible.

  6. #6
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    Bring it Juju.

  7. #7
    Senior Member littleMatt's Avatar
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    I spent lots of time lurking through the Arena before I ever posted or even had a battle. I gotta say watching some of the work done in here inspired me massively – and actually rolling my sleeves up and having my first battle (cheers pea) was exactly what I needed to dust off some cob webs and feel better about the fact my job at the time was pants. I’d even go as far as to say some of the battles I’ve had in here put me in the right mind-set for getting my career back on track!

    It would be a damn shame to see to see this place close, even with its lack of activity at the moment.

    I’ve been craving a battle myself lately but after leaving wannabe hanging for so long on our last I need to wait until I know I have the free time before I can expect someone else to commit.

  8. #8
    Chaos silverx2's Avatar
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    iv discussed with Gerbick and Lefteye weeks ago about my thoughts here, but in a nutshell i think the arena as it currently is has run its course.

    The strive to get better is the thing missing most here. There is no point in battling because the arena's once barbed walls and bottomless pits have been covered over by nerf and filled with shipping peanuts. We have had some amazing artists come through here but as with all things Art is a very Judgemental thing to rate, Without a clearcut way of judging images people either became offended that they were not given more respect, or Were given to much respect based on mostly inconsitent imagery and false praise. This leads to snide remarks and return images that to be completely honest would fit fine in the coffee lounge but not here in the arena.

    Without having other forums to battle this place died down. March madness died a horrible death where great images took a backseat to Reality show like drama. RollCanvases take to long for some of the more antsy pantsy member to be able to handle, And in general we are all growing up and becoming more busy.

    Are there things that could turn this around? Absolutely. Are there enough people currently willing and able to try and make it work? i dont think so.
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  9. #9
    Senior Member realMakc's Avatar
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    The shift is in user heads, imho. For many years, I tried to post "for kicks" coding challenges here and there, and - guess what - it always ended up with near-0 result, with most people preferring to spend their time coding for cash. Arguably - which is teh last thing I would like to do here, but - drawing is easier than coding, and that's why photoshop tennis survived for a while, but in the end same "why waste my time when I can go make some cash" attitude finds its way in artist heads, too.
    I haven't been able to come here and spend any time on the forums for the past 2 years.
    Yes, exactly.
    who is this? a word of friendly advice: FFS stop using AS2

  10. #10
    supervillain gerbick's Avatar
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    It never was about cash.

    Most, if not all, of the stuff in the Arena was a style or look or something you couldn't get away with in your daily operations if you wanted to. The limitations of professional designer due to client needs/wants/limited scope meant that some skills were rarely used. Thus the Arena was filled with artists that did stuff here that they couldn't do at the office.

    [ Hello ] | [ gerbick ] | [ Ω ]

  11. #11
    Senior Member realMakc's Avatar
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    you sort of missing the point but whatever. I remember you love to argue for the sake of it, so I'll be better shutting up.
    who is this? a word of friendly advice: FFS stop using AS2

  12. #12
    abirduphigh Zacaboo288's Avatar
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    I think it might be time for a new saga. If The Arena was generally an output for styles and ideas that weren't appropriate for the office or other ventures, a sort of open forum for personal exploration, then perhaps a new section of the forum should succeed this one that is more geared around this behavior, without any prerequisites for competition or glory.

    I never cared much for battling here. I have been more interested in sharing my reach towards full potential and receiving support from fellow members to make that reach even further. I love contributing that support as well. IMO, "The Arena" somewhat eludes to this prospect of community effort but, far too often, results in just the opposite: egoism, banter and often disrespect. I say we close this chapter and be done with it.

  13. #13
    He has risen! lefteyewilly's Avatar
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    well, i feel like i have to come back and defend the Kit after my little tirade.

    Rollcanvas
    March Madness
    Pixel Town
    Interforum Battles
    Ondreadon vs Fearless

    ...just to name a few.

    These were some AMAZING community oriented events. Not only were these heavily participated in, but comments regarding images were just outstanding in quality and number. I had a friggin blast watching all those events and seeing progress. Most of you people shaped my career today.

    And RealMac...you have no clue what the arena is about. Coding battles? seriously? who wants to do that? "oooh, nice array you coded there, really makes the code clean"...get over it. This has always been a graphics area. never coding.

    And zac, there are other non-competitive forums right here in this section that is for graphics/arts. Some AMAZING classical artists (no photo manips) post in hte graphics forums....and they rarely venture into the arena...which is slightly sad, but, meh, i can understand.

    Let's all be honest here...the arena has lapsed in the last two years...less normal battles, less participation in events, and it all culminated with last year's March Madness. All of us who were the ones who kept this going got pissed at eachother, and the arena imploded on itself. We've been in postwar recovery for more than a year, yet there's no-one to help the process...

    let it die.

  14. #14
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    i think ppl have too high expectations of what arena should be for them. There arent really newcomers to the arena and regulars are bitter about their past experiences further downgrade the arena even more.

    ppl shouldnt be too serious about it and should post pictures for the love of it.

  15. #15
    Senior Member zakp0's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jujumon View Post
    i think ppl have too high expectations of what arena should be for them. There arent really newcomers to the arena and regulars are bitter about their past experiences further downgrade the arena even more.

    ppl shouldnt be too serious about it and should post pictures for the love of it.
    I agree with the above person. I'm too afraid to post anything in the Arena, always thought you'd get judged too damn hard for it.

  16. #16
    Bearded (M|G)od MyFriendIsATaco's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by zakp0 View Post
    I agree with the above person. I'm too afraid to post anything in the Arena, always thought you'd get judged too damn hard for it.
    I agree. I like poking around in Photoshop every once in a while, but when it comes down to it, I'm just not creative. Creativity comes in random spurts for me, so either my work can be really good, or just really terrible.

    Maybe that's because I'm a programmer and not a designer. But hell, if someone wants to go for a volley, I'll take them on!

  17. #17
    Senior Member nepzap2's Avatar
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    I agree with creativeinsomnia

    Maybe I was one of the whiners, complainers, competitors... etc.

    Anyways, I owe a lot to this place. Where I've gotten in terms of skill I would not have gotten there had it not been for the crazy inspirations I got from here.

    I suggest: if I may...

    Not closing this place but rather have moderators be more engaging. Maybe create threads that attract and inspire if time permits. I know we have busy schedules.

    Peace!

  18. #18
    anyone else hear that? flashpipe1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MyFriendIsATaco View Post
    Maybe that's because I'm a programmer and not a designer. But hell, if someone wants to go for a volley, I'll take them on!
    Oh, really?? Well, I'm a programmer too, but I learned lots in my first attempt in the arena and in this years MM, so, what do ya say??? Want me to volley first??

    ...and WannaBe_80z, I love spending time in the Photography forum, but my artistic eye (or lack thereof) doesn't lend itself to the sort of shots I'm used to seeing in there from you guys (and gals)...

    Maybe I need to spend some more time "composing" pics instead of just grabbing the camera when the kids are beating on each other...I'll try to make a point of it over the next week or so...

    Love like you've never been hurt, live like there's no tomorrow and dance like nobody's watching.

  19. #19
    Senior Member nepzap2's Avatar
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    lefteyewilly

    Don't get me wrong bud... I did not mean to sound like the Mods are the one's who should be responsible for the arena's emptiness as of late.

    IN DECEMBER IT'LL BE 9 YEARS SINCE I JOINED THIS THING...

    The fact that this thread has gotten so many responses just tells us there are people out there... still looking... still lurking...

    Now we have to figure out how to get them involved again...

    Things are also dynamic... life is dynamic... maybe a makeover for Flashkit is in order? Who knows...

    But

    So do we bury this part of the site, or do we reinvigorate it?
    I say we reinvigorate it.

    I mean this with such sincerity... That I'm Willing to invest time in undertaking the re-design of this forum's shell... I'm well versed enough with php/MySQL to do so... let's XHTML/CSS validate this mother... let's Flash-E-fy sections of our community.

    Maybe ajaxify Flashkit all together...

    That's a great way to re-invigorate it. Let's all work together like the developers of "Firefox" and all the open source communities. Let's all contribute.

    I work full time 40 hrs...

    168 hrs in a 7 day week minus 40 hrs for work minus 56 hrs for sleep leaves 72 hrs minus maybe 2 to 4 hrs invested for this project leaves 70 to 68 hrs free take care of what our busy lives may require of us.

    I will invest some of my time to accomplish this...

    Who else is with me???

  20. #20
    Bearded (M|G)od MyFriendIsATaco's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by flashpipe1 View Post
    Oh, really?? Well, I'm a programmer too, but I learned lots in my first attempt in the arena and in this years MM, so, what do ya say??? Want me to volley first??

    ...and WannaBe_80z, I love spending time in the Photography forum, but my artistic eye (or lack thereof) doesn't lend itself to the sort of shots I'm used to seeing in there from you guys (and gals)...

    Maybe I need to spend some more time "composing" pics instead of just grabbing the camera when the kids are beating on each other...I'll try to make a point of it over the next week or so...

    Bring it on! Just as long as it's nothing time time pushing, I'll be fine. I've been real busy as of lately, but who isn't?

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