The Purpose of the QC (and thereby, our resources)

[Pedigree]

This is an unresolved suggestion thread from phpBB started by @HylianDev that I have reposted here because I feel like it is an important one. To read the full thread (and please do so before you reply), please visit it at https://forums.mfgg.net/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=20852.

What should the purpose of the resources be?
AKA how should the QC choose submissions?

There have been complaints about the QC probably since the beginning of time. But over the last couple years, they seem to have gotten more serious. It mostly seems to be about inconsistency, and low standards. Bad stuff gets by, while better stuff can sometimes get declined.

So, what should the purpose of the QC be? Here's my proposal:

Games:

• Does it work?
  
• Is it more than just an engine clone or a game made from a tutorial without any significant modifications?
  
• Does it meet content standards? (at the very least, no porn games)
  
• Is it about Mario in some way?
  

Sprites, sound effects, etc

• Is it useful?
  

Yeah that's it; useful. Not even necessary high quality, just "could this be used to make a fangame".

What do you think?

 

[Parakarry]

I picked things based on if they were good looking or could be used in a game pretty easily. (talking about custom things)
Game rsprites feom real games are pretty much always fair game.

[The Dark Warrior]

At the bare minimum for games, it should be where Spoopy Maryo draws the line, being in which it is technically playable, barring any game-breaking bugs that warrants removal.

Anything more than that...for MFGG3 ill reiterate my older post here: My stance is in line with Pedigree since I did suggest the idea of QC taking a role of content curators on the official MFGG Discord, which i will add on to the idea that curated content should be front page on either a per-monthly basis decided amongst the QC themselves or alternatively you could have users nominate content for the QC to consider for curation like what SMWC does for its SMW hacks which im hoping that the curated content be at the front page for everyone to see assuming the mainsite becomes more like NCFC...being a gallery to showcase what you do.

[Pedigree]

My opinion on what the criteria should be, reiterated from that thread:

The criteria for games should be:
-Running on most computers with minimum outside downloads required.
-Virus, adware, spyware and phishing scam free. Important, can't just be lumped into the rules.
-Rule abiding (no pornography or other forbidden content)
-Contains at least one level at least two minutes long with a functional goal.

The criteria for sprites should be:
-Uploaded in a format that is not excessive in filesize (like .BMP) and does not contain any artifacts that render the graphics useless.
-Does not contain a credit request stamp that exceeds the size of the resource content.
-Does not beg for credit on ripped graphics.
-Is not stolen.
-No watermarks plastered onto the graphics themselves.
-Contains enough frames of animation to be usable without much alteration if a character sprite. If a font, it must contain at least the alphabet, numbers and basic punctuation. If a tileset, should be broken up into tiles and not submitted as giant unbroken pieces. Tiles when placed together should flow correctly without obvious borders or patterns.
-etc. Add on from there.

Reviews should be:
-Free of one liners, explaining the specific issues in each category.
-Free of flaming, harassment and rude remarks.

I've no opinion really on what the criteria for romhacks should be when we add them because I know nothing about them except:
-Must be a patch, must not contain the source ROM or instructions on how to obtain one.

---

To be honest, the OP's stance that sprites should just be useful is pretty vague. I think sprite resources are the area where we should be more clear and strict on what is acceptable, in my opinion.

 

[VinnyVideo]

One more thing for games: It shouldn't end in an error message. I've encountered a handful of demos that end in one of GM's built-in error messages, usually the "trying to move to a nonexistent room" error. That looks really sloppy, and it's easy to fix - just add a "Thanks for playing" room at the end, or even a function to close/restart the game.

Also, we understand that some people are better writers than others, and not everyone is a native English speaker, but we sometimes decline reviews that have so many grammatical errors that it's impossible to understand what the writer is trying to communicate.

[Cap'n Coconuts]

Games should be possible to complete. That is, if the game has an unavoidable glitch that makes it unwinnable or some main content is so blatantly unfair that it isn't feasible to complete it, it shouldn't be on the mainsite. There is no reason why any fan game should be unwinnable.

Speaking of which, this game should be removed for this exact reason.

[Pedigree]

I don't agree with that at all. Rage games exist and are enjoyable to some people. Not allowing a game on the site because you couldn't beat it is a way too subjective a reason.

If the game crashes consistently on the final boss, maybe I can see it but if the rest of the game is good then I'm not sure declining it is a good move.

 

[Cap'n Coconuts]

Rage games exist and are enjoyable to some people.

I'm not talking about "rage games" like Super Mario Dynamo. Let's be clear: I personally hated that game, but I recognize there were people with the skill to complete it.

Not allowing a game on the site because you couldn't beat it is a way too subjective a reason.

Clearly, that is the only reason I could possibly have for bringing this up, and having that motive makes me wrong.

[Pedigree]

Take your "Ad Hominem" and sarcasm out of the thread and never bring them back into the thread.

My point is "the game is unwinnable" isn't a very good submission guideline because it could be implemented in that way. It wasn't a personal attack or a criticism of your gaming skills, and I think you know that.

 

[VinnyVideo]

Keep your cool, y'all. If you've actually played Super Paper Mario World, you'd find out that the final boss may well be impossible to beat. It shoots an endless quantity of projectiles that cover most of the screen, and your attacks only do a tiny amount of damage on it.

I accepted SPMW because I felt it meets the current standards for accepting games on the mainsite. It's not a good game - it's an unofficial sequel to one of the worst games on the site, and it removes a lot of the things that gave the original PMW its corny charm - but it is playable.

Course clear! You got a card.