Why let ideas die?(Creature Suggestion Discussion)

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 9:46 AM

When I found this site, I liked it. When I found the section for Fanart and Creature Suggestions, I was sold.

But it seems most creature suggestion pets were made before 2013. Aside from that, it seems user-made creatures are increasingly rare. I've been on for a pretty short time, and I've already seen some wonderful ideas disappear, lost into the dusty corners of the forums.

I love this site, I love the staff, and all the work they do. I get that this process must be ridiculously more complicated than it seems. But when a popular suggestion with over 90 votes in approval manages to disappear, I simply don't understand. I'm not doing this to throw a fit, or to annoy anyone.



Imagination is amazing, it should be used. And for a site supporting user recommendations, I simply don't see much usage/acknowledgement of these ideas. Maybe users or the staff can explain this to me. But I really just want to know- why?
--------
Note: I do have a creature suggestion, but I honestly don't care too much about it. I just hate when I see people feeling desperate to at least get recognized. Please don't take this as me just whining.

(I am tagging people who I know, and who I feel would be interested, therefore not violating pointless ping rules as far as I can tell.)
@raitonchidori @webkinzer @ami_utsukushii @spiritkoi

raitonchidori • 7 September 2015 at 9:58 AM

@lenamilove Exactly. When I joined the site in 2012, I was totally charmed. I don't know to draw (I know that I don't), but I used to make lots of creature suggestion in short periods of time, until I started to think none would be picked up. Then came Cetopia, but I was already unmotivated. I tried to continue, but I didn't see any results anymore.

I never wanted all my suggestions to be choosen, but at least I wanted a site's return, so then I would know why not, and what should I improve. And after a player started to complain about plagiarism, the site stopped to look at users suggestion like 90%.

I would really like if the site at least keep some contact with users from time to time. I know it's a bigger site now, and can't give every attention needed, but at least a bit..

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 10:02 AM

@raitonchidori Just a little bit of feedback would let the users feel lIke their ideas aren't being ignored.

I suppose the thought of plagiarism would stop them from viewing many to see the same thing, but wouldn't that make them pay more attention to catch it and stop it?

netherling • 7 September 2015 at 10:07 AM

@lenamilove
I had asked about how creatures suggestions were chosen a while back, and got an answer, but I don't see how at least one creature suggestion couldn't fit perfectly to every thing one has to meet. If I can find it I'll post the answer I got, it gave me a better understanding




Edit: Found it. Orderedchaos said "User suggested creatures are chosen by both the artists (if they have an Egg Cave account) and by the staff. It has nothing to do with post count, popularity, ect. Its just what we feel would fit in best with the site.

There will be user suggested creatures released again at some point. Releasing users suggested creatures less often makes those creatures more special when they are created."

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 10:31 AM

@ami_utsukushii I understand that the rarity makes them special, that's all well and good. But it wouldn't hurt to make other users feel recognized. I'm not saying one should be made every month, I'm only saying that I feel like the staff doesn't really say much about them, much less release them.

Also, I'm sure there must be something on here that would at least pique their interest.. There's definitely an abundance of ideas, sometimes over ten for one user.

ida92 • 7 September 2015 at 10:59 AM

@lenamilove I made a similar topic a few months ago. ☹️ There has been no user creature suggestion made for a very long time now. ☹️ I hate how all the wonderful user suggested creatures just go to waste. ☹️

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 11:06 AM

@ida92 I just feel like there's a lot of work going into it, and that the site should at least give feedback on a few of them.. it's sad that so few are even given the time of day.

ida92 • 7 September 2015 at 11:26 AM

@lenamilove yeah, I totally agree. It's over a year now that a user made creature has been released.

elf • 7 September 2015 at 11:30 AM

@lenamilove
I think user suggestions are great, but whether they are made or not doesn't really have to do with the popularity or how well they are drawn. If the site feels like the creature would go well with the site, then it's created ^^ While I personally would love to see some of them made, in the end, they are just suggestions and their creation doesn't really lie in our hands.
I've thought about this before, and I've seen other sites have "contests" each month or so for designing creatures. Perhaps that could be integrated? 😊 So it would ensure the creation of at least some user suggestions

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 11:38 AM

@leonx I think that would really help, something like the CDWC. At least let people feel that there's a chance 😊 Plus that would help get rid of clutter on the forums I suppose.

I understand that popularity doesn't matter, I get it. But that tends to make a lot of people feel like it's hopeless, which really is what makes me sad. :/

ida92 • 7 September 2015 at 12:42 PM

@lenamilove Yeah, I got that feeling some time ago...That makijg creature suggestions has become hopeless....

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 12:49 PM

@ida92 and that's what I hope this site can avoid.. I've seen a lot of people seem to just give up and stop really caring. If there's any way this site can avoid that via contest or whatever, I hope it comes around. I hate to see people lose hope..
Many people lost hope that they could get old rare pets, and now they're thinking about a creature re-release.. I hope they take a little bit of action on this too.

scorch_cloud222 • 7 September 2015 at 12:52 PM

@lenamilove

I've drawn about a few creature suggestions, and the threads have all died. At this point, I don't bother with it anymore. It's really frustrating when we have a month with three rats, then a month with three fish, when there are so many creative ideas that are simply ignored. They just use the same ideas over and over again instead of using new user suggestions. It happens all the time.

ida92 • 7 September 2015 at 1:05 PM

@lenamilove I hope so too.. I recently had a few creature ideas, but decided not to post them because it seemed hopeless.

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 1:09 PM

@scorch_cloud222 I've been thinking about that too. And if they really want to stick to aquatic themes for a month, it's not like there aren't any of those ideas. I want to let staff and artists design their own, but it wouldn't hurt to do a user's once every couple months.

@ida92 I just wish that it didn't have to be like that.

iceiceice • 7 September 2015 at 6:00 PM

i think they should "open/clos" creature suggestion things like how they did with the writing contest. That way I know that they're actively seeking out ideas.

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 7:05 PM

@iceiceice I think that would also be a good solution. Some way people know that they're able to help or at least able to try.

raitonchidori • 7 September 2015 at 8:21 PM

@lenamilove just when the CDWC came out I said it would be awesome to have a creature suggestion contest too. Then users would send their ideas and the most voted would be selected. Ian actually saw that and agreed it was a great idea too, but nothing yet...

Edit:

Me: "I also hope Ian creates a creature suggestion contest. One user suggestion creature per month and everybody can vote"

Ian: "@raitonchidori loving that idea too 😊"

lenamilove • 7 September 2015 at 8:34 PM

@raitonchidori Oh, that's wonderful! If that gets created, I don't think there'd be reason to be upset anymore 😊

I'm glad that Ian supports it!

spiritkoi • 8 September 2015 at 3:04 PM

@lenamilove I remember creature suggestions being made, then periods of times where there weren't any. Daguu brought back some creature suggestions in 2014, but it seems that since she sort of disappeared from the site there hasn't been as many creature suggestions again.

I know that many of my suggestions start to get settled into the deep parts of the forum where no one looks.

The problem with voting for suggestions is that it's more often times a popularity contest than not. I know that the two creatures that I suggested and were made weren't as popular as some suggestions I've seen last for months.

Perhaps doing two separate parts, one for description and one for art and then the votes combine? I know the concept can be better than the art, but sometimes people overlook it because the art isn't considered as good as other people's. Make everything anonymous.

Or do like what another user said, have the open/close like the CDWC, except all of them stay open until they reach a certain point before the staff/artist chooses. Eventually most the suggestions would be used.

But there still really isn't way to do voting without it being biased. I do think it's fairer for the artist and staff to choose. But I think they should choose more often. I don't understand this:

"There will be user suggested creatures released again at some point. Releasing users suggested creatures less often makes those creatures more special when they are created."

Before I came here I heard that user suggestion creatures were churned out like chocolate from a factory. These creatures are not any less special. It gives users the chance to become part of the site. It's not like all creature suggestions steam from one person. Each creature made is usually from many different, creative people, and I know when the Khione and Fiamma were released I was in ecstasy. Around the time, I think, the Fiamma was released there were a number of suggestions being made. All of the creatures were special, and I didn't feel as if mine wasn't any less special because there were other suggestions released.

lenamilove • 8 September 2015 at 3:25 PM

@spiritkoi

I do agree that the multitude of creatures doesn't make them any less special. I think it would excite people even more to see the possibility for success.


I've repeatedly thought about the art and popularity aspect of it too- it's sad so many turn away from/don't see an idea because of that. I like the idea of two separate categories, but it would be a little hard to match ideas with creatures- it would have to be more like a creature design contest paired with the CDWC. I also think it would be quite hard to make sure people keep it anonymous... Especially if people who have previously submitted creatures on the forums tried to bring their creature to life via the contest.

iceiceice • 8 September 2015 at 3:57 PM

(I'm kind of just reading bits and pieces so sorry if there's any repeats)

Yeaah, so suuure releasing them less can make them special, but at this point I just feel demoralized ;A; (It's been over a year since the last suggestion. I don't even know if they read our suggestions anymore @n@) Maybe they do, but I don't feel it D:

They're not "obligated" to have to make our suggestion. Yet, there's no incentive because I don't feel like I have a chance ;A;

I'm not too big on the idea of one vote on description and another vote on art (because we already of the creature writing description contest) and I think the creature suggestion is mostly for the design idea. It just seems odd to me.

Also I'm not very good at writing XD Pluuuss, I think that suggestions should mostly be chosen by the staff, but I think if the community can "support" it.

(On a semi-separate note)

Sometimes I feel as though the staff/community are separate/not a lot of communication going on.

spiritkoi • 8 September 2015 at 4:25 PM

@lenamilove Hmm, ya, I see.

(side note: the last suggestion I can remember was the Bufalus, from January... so nearly a year if I'm correct that that was the last suggestion made)

ida92 • 8 September 2015 at 4:34 PM

@lenamilove Yeah, I wish so to (sorrry for the late responce).

I agree with @iceiceice . There should be some kind of solution to give users an idea whether to post creature suggestions or not. It could be like the CDCW or maybe something else. I also remember some user ( I can't remember who it was, sorry ) that posted an idea that I really liked. Which was to make an user-suggested creature release week. There are many ways in which user suggeestion could get a chance...

lenamilove • 8 September 2015 at 4:39 PM

@iceiceice yeah, I don't have a problem with it if the staff wants to control suggestions, it's their site. I just feel like if they're going to offer you to try, they should at least let players feel they have a chance or are being seen, whether via a creature design contest or occasional staff comments.

I just want some comments and a creature at least twice a year. I'm sure there's got to be a couple near-perfect ideas in a whole 364 days..

@spiritkoi That long? Geez..

netherling • 8 September 2015 at 4:39 PM

@ida92 @lenamilove

I think it would be cool if it there was a contest like....people submit creature suggestions, and users vote on them, the suggestions with the most votes are brought into another round of voting, and this continues until there are two suggestions left. Then either both can be made or only one with the top votes. If your creature didn't get the most votes you can enter it again the next time the contest comes around. To keep it special, the contest wouldn't be a monthly thing, it would happen every few months. And if your suggestion is for a certain month, if yours is the one with the most votes it can be held off until that month/holiday/event happens and then its released. Or something like this.



Edit: I just saw what @spiritkoi said. Then yeah, they shouldn't put the user's name up with the suggestion until one's art it chosen. Or something like that. Keep it anonymous.

ida92 • 8 September 2015 at 4:43 PM

@lenamilove Yeah, exactly, I totally agree. There are so many suggestions posted every yeat, that there MUST be at least one or two that can be released..

@ami_utsukushii And here we have an other great idea. There is just so much stuff that could be done to give user suggestions more sense.

lenamilove • 8 September 2015 at 4:44 PM

@ami_utsukushii I like that idea, but as spiritkoi said, it would still be used more like a popularity/art contest... And then you may have to delve into preventing bribes, if it became that competitive.

@ida92 I actually thought of that while I was riding home on the bus today. After all, that's quite a way to make suggestions special.

(Wow, this thread got more attention than I had thought it would. Hopefully it pays off. )

netherling • 8 September 2015 at 4:49 PM

@lenamilove
From all the stuff the site admins have caught I think they'll find a way to prevent bribes hopefully >.< that would suck.

@ida92
I think it would be something to do during the months there are no holidays and all that lol it would be fun

ida92 • 8 September 2015 at 4:52 PM

@lenamilove I hope it pays off too 😊