A Fresh Start (Rules Thread)

[Kimimi]

Rule 1 - Basic Standards and Decency.
Anything from flaming and trolling to untagged spoilers and massive sigs - if it makes another users time here unpleasant then it's not cool.

Please note: disagreeing with your point of view, even if you really like your point of view, does not make someone a troll.

Rule 2 - Piracy.
Games: 16-bit era (SNES/MD etc) and under only please. For PC, arcade and anything else without a specific era - 1996 and earlier. Translation patches from any era are fine - but must not be prepatched to the game. In the case of 16-bit games with modern ports - the original is fine, the port is not.

Music: Game music rips only. A rip is the raw game music data either directly emulated through a special player (Foobar has some excellent plugins) or converted to MP3s. No copies of commercial albums (game or otherwise) are allowed.

In all cases please link directly to the file, not a website/post/blog, etc. No multiple ROM files or mass download links.

Rule 3 - Be excellent to each other.
You are the ALoY community, this place is what you make it. You are expected to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself. If you cannot think of a way to make a post without insulting another users mother, a cynical .gif or comparing them to Hitler - don't do it.

Mods, modding, and you -

• These rules will be applied with a *very* thick helping of common sense, but there will be no "blind eyes".
  
• If you don't wish to be modded don't breach the rules.
  
• Rules apply to all members equally - including staff.
  
• When moderators cannot reach an agreement on a decision they will err on the side of caution.
  
• Perhaps most importantly - moderation decisions are based on posts, not people - don't take it personally.
  

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The previous rules thread obviously had its issues, but we do feel that going forward ALoY does need some structure. These rules have been written to be both concise and practical, and we hope they help to make a good place great.

[Raison D'etritus]

disagreeing with your point of view, even if you really like your point of view, does not make someone a troll.

Safe!
*does Crash Bandicoot dance*

Not a criticism, but I do have an investigative query about the piracy rules. Specifically, the specifics therein. Wherefore the delineation? I assume the line has to do with abandonware laws, making 16 bit more legally acceptable than, say, PS1 ISOs, but I can only speculate.

--Damn, now I can't link PSX ISOs in every other post as I have heretofore been doing! Blast!

Also, am I to assume these rules apply only to actual sharing of pirated goods, or are we still under the guidelines that anybody who admits to piracy is a pariah? Considering you're you, I'm assuming the primary. (you know how I feel about chasing off new members after their first post)

Perhaps most importantly - moderation decisions are based on posts, not people - don't take it personally.

In summation: good rules, but more importantly, good Kimimi. (okay, that sounded like pet praise, and I apologize!) *throws apologetic treat*
The administration is more important than the amendments, and we all know you've a fair hand. 'Tween you, MP, and the occasional Maggot, I have every confidence in these rules' enforcement with reason.

Here's to making a good place great!

[Kimimi]

The line is drawn at 16-bit for two reasons - it's where we feel we will not personally come under any fire, and also it would not endanger the board (as mentioned elsewhere, Proboards reserve the right to delete whatever they don't like), and we aren't happy in risking all of ALoY over a few ISOs.

You are welcome to discuss fan hacks, translations, and more modern emulators provided you don't link to any content that would fall outside the rules, or tell people where to get it. So yes, talk all you like but if you want to get anything else go use Google

[Kimimi]

Wyrdwad, if they're asking for 16-bit or under Falcom games in their first post then you don't have the right to scold them, because they're allowed to do so. It may not be tactful of them, but you can't go scolding people who come in asking for X68000 disc images or MSX Sorcerian add on scenarios.

[Yakra]

Mar 28, 2011 11:04:14 GMT -5 Wyrdwad said:

Even if that's NOT against the rules, I reserve the right to scold the hell out of those people (in the most respectful way possible) (if they're admitting to *Falcom* piracy in their first post, anyway), which may have the same effect.

Because you have to admit, when joining a Falcom fan-board, admitting that you're STEALING from Falcom isn't exactly a good first impression. It says a lot about your common sense, and pretty much tells me that you don't belong here.

...Unless you're humble enough to realize your mistake, take your lickings, and move on, anyway. Which was always an option before, too, and some people DID stick around after they got reprimanded, and now post on the board semi-regularly.

-Tom

..... X'D

Totally not relevant to this topic at all, but wyrdwad's post brought back a few memories. X'''D

I don't know if anybody's noticed, but in all the time I have been with you guys, I have only made/started a total of.... I think 3 or 4 topics. Three of those were immidiately were upon joining. Do ye all remember.... I actually joined up asking 'em...! I just jolly rogered Ys I and II Complete but for some reason le opening videos don't play~! T__T~!'. X'''D

*thrown into the deepest darkest abysses of hellfires*
X'D
:'D

I'm... really grateful though, for how nicely ye all responded to all back then. (Because otherwise, knowing me, I really truly would have run away. :'D) I think more than half of you all tried to help me run that piratey version somehow, and ye (wyrdwad) and gamemusicfreak even directed me towards Play-Asia, to be able to connect my controller and all, and perhaps grab a legit copy. I think though, between that and adoru's little shop, that was how I actually got started on actually buying the games.

*kicked and told to take one's piracy nostalgia elsewhere*



Don't worry! I'm abiding by the rules now! They sound super nice and I hope they all go well!
*lawful citizen now~! ♩*
*...sort of*



[By the way, this post was in no way meant to undermine any of the rules, if it is giving off any vibes of that! I was just getting amused at my own stupidity of... literally making a first post like so. :'D (And grateful that you all were so nice!)

[Kimimi]

I wouldn't want to be responsible for chasing away another Yakra, though, so I'll make an effort not to be rude if this happens again. It may be hard for me to control myself if people show up in the next week talking about their Legend of Heroes ISOs not working -- but I think I can deal with just sending them links to Amazon and giving them the written equivalent of a finger waggle.

Got no issues with that at all, your initial post sounded much harsher about it and that's why I responded.

[Yakra]

Mar 28, 2011 12:13:30 GMT -5 Wyrdwad said:

I wouldn't want to be responsible for chasing away another Yakra, though, so I'll make an effort not to be rude if this happens again. It may be hard for me to control myself if people show up in the next week talking about their Legend of Heroes ISOs not working -- but I think I can deal with just sending them links to Amazon and giving them the written equivalent of a finger waggle.

-Tom

You could also tell them that by buying from amazon, they'd get that amazing Bracer (did I get the name right?!) badge~! I mean, that was literally the very thing (or the equivalent of!) that got me to immediately buy Ys I and II for the DS. X'D And one no get no super amazing extra goodie like so, when making off with a bare-bones ROM/ISO~!

[Rhyanna]

I approve

You have to draw the line somewhere, and I think the rules more clearly stating "there are some forms which are acceptable - esp when its old" is cool. No one should feel bad for going to abandonia and downloading Ys 1. They should feel bad because if they bought XSeed's great PSP rerelease of Ys I and II in Chronicles, they would support a great game series and a great localization company!

Especially since I know its doable, but anyone who thinks me saying I played Ys 4 and 5 who even imagined I imported the famicom carts... You're a lot nicer to me than I am!

That said, I would LOVE to buy an enhanced remake of either or both.

HINT HINT.

[Aa Wat Kay]

So 99% of my activity is on the spam forum, and usually posting links to mp3s from my webspace or embedded youtube music videos. Is this now forbidden?

[Ascended Mermaid]

I don't see why not -- your written music are your property, and you have a right to have them heard. The spam topic is just as good as your own topic for posting such, as well as making your own topic for it in Chaotic Chat. It would be absurd if I'd composed a song (which actually, I did...) and couldn't post it. It's another form of art, just like everyone's drawing, etc.! So why not, I say feel free!

[Ascended Mermaid]

Besides, with music 'piracy', rips are okay -- as long as they're songs you can't get by purchasing an OST that is currently in print. (In other words, if you can't buy an official rip). For example, a lot of the Ys VI PS2/PSP exclusive content that ParanoiaDragon (I think) and myself have released were not released for purchase anywhere.

If the rules have otherwise changed in my absence, the changes will be applied retroactively -- in other words, the rips will be removed.

[Aa Wat Kay]

No it's stuff like non-videogame music CDs I just bought and wanna show off the best tracks of, or similar.

[Ascended Mermaid]

Ah, then it's better to leave that to YouTube videos. commercial CDs and their individual tracks shouldn't be posted for download here. Individual tracks can legally be purchased for download via Amazon and other services.

[Rhyanna]

Playing devil's advocate for a moment (as said earlier, I like these rules, but I'm also all for fleshing out obvious stuff that occurs now - don't take this as a brat trying to wiggle through the bars please ) if the music suggested could be imbedded in a format that would require more than a right click save as, such as youtube, that'd be cool too, right?

So you could sample said music, for example.

In less subtle terms, anything on the net can be downloaded, hacked, cracked ect, but displaying something in a way obviously not intended to get around purchasing the content, just showing it off, is different than a link to

www.DOWNLOADTHIS.co.uk/music/newreleases/bandyouveheardtoomuchof/newestcd/joyofcookingonashingle.mp3

[Rhyanna]

Which is really cool of Falcom Their music is epic, so being so free with it is encouraging, ya know?

What I mean is, lets say youtube gets something pulled, if you can embed something in say, cheap flash, put it on your website, and link it here, theoretically, what would that be thought of as?

[Kimimi]

Mar 28, 2011 20:18:02 GMT -5 Rhyanna said:

Which is really cool of Falcom Their music is epic, so being so free with it is encouraging, ya know?

What I mean is, lets say YouTube gets something pulled, if you can embed something in say, cheap flash, put it on your website, and link it here, theoretically, what would that be thought of as?

I would for the sake of simplicity just say "Stick to Youtube"; makes it easier for mods, and makes it clearer for members.

(If any other mods want to chip in on this - be my guest!)

[Ascended Mermaid]

Yeah, just stick to YouTube.

[Rhyanna]

Kay! Probably wouldn't be me doing it anyway, was mostly a curiosity because the whole reason youtube's cool is the way the content is kinda stuck to it.

I have no problem with that answer, and nothing else to add really, but felt the response deserved one...

LOOK OVER THERE, A ROO!

[schlagwerk]

Mar 29, 2011 2:48:54 GMT -5 Rhyanna said:

LOOK OVER THERE, A ROO!

I'm gonna offer it a Roda Fruit and see if I can get some kinda upgrade

.....


......



.......


It upgraded my waistline ;A;

[Red Hairdo]

Obs.: Eh, somehow google Chrome decided to switch pages when I was nearly done with this post... I guess I'll leave a summarized post.

Mar 28, 2011 1:49:00 GMT -5 @ALoY said:

Rule 2 - Piracy.
Games: 16-bit era (SNES/MD etc) and under only please. For PC, arcade and anything else without a specific era - 1996 and earlier. Translation patches from any era are fine - but must not be prepatched to the game. In the case of 16-bit games with modern ports - the original is fine, the port is not.

Music: Game music rips only. A rip is the raw game music data either directly emulated through a special player (Foobar has some excellent plugins) or converted to MP3s. No copies of commercial albums (game or otherwise) are allowed.

In all cases please link directly to the file, not a website/post/blog, etc. No multiple ROM files or mass download links.

Couldn't the borders extend from "16-bit games and under only" to "dead systems"? This basically would include the Saturn, Dreamcast, PC-FX and others, and I really don't see how discussing/linking/emulating those guys would be different from, say, doing the same with the SNES. (Unlike the PS2, PSP, DS etc..)

And... it's a pity pre-patched files can't be distributed around ALoY now... Patching up every single patchable Ys game can be a real pain in the... rear. Especially with the likes of the Ys III Famicom english patch.
Basically, I intended to share an Ys Game Library ranging from the first Ys incarnations until... The border I established above. All official releases and english patches, when appliable.
=/
Guess I'll just have to kick the patched guys out before sharing.