Resuming the Creator Spotlight

I tossed my hat in as well.. This was before Gravels post, but the thought of doing it as a team with Sara as well as a 3rd like either Gravel or Teebonesy would be pretty sweet.

However, I have to agree with Jack a bit. I enjoyed the surprise of who was next. When Lisa was doing these, at least towards the latter ones there was already a bit of nay saying of lesser known creators not getting a shot. I would hate to see what kind comments you would get even before it started. If it were simply members of good conscience, sure.. I can see what Gravel is going for, but I feel that could only work in a perfectly responsible group. Not in a group with 1400 some odd active members. Not saying how many of those are odd, actively odd, or excel in oddities. :rolleyes:

Considering the OC contest thread and now much drama played out in that, I can't see it happening nicely to be honest. Though maybe the crown frenzy was partly to blame.

I would like to see this to celibate the amazing talents of amazing creators regardless if anyone has heard of them or not. I think part of the issue with Lisa's was with starting something new, you almost HAVE to go with some known names just because they are so darn good. That and if you didn't interview for example Wex, Jaeyden or Kiminski well... you'd be considered kinda silly!!! :p

However, I think it would be cool to be able to submit names for consideration to the team or person that ends up doing the Creator's Spotlight. If it were me for example, I think for the most part the low lying fruit for this task would be delving through the spotlights as well as my hearted levels and creators looking for some interesting as well as entertaining folks to ask some questions. I think I would also ask for some recommendations from the Spotlight team, CC, the mods, as well as some folks here on LBPC that I value their opinion highly and that are really good at staying in touch with all the talent here in the community.

Absolutely agree with jack's post above. If your aproach the ths interview is "this creator makes fun levels, let's talk to them about it", then it's really gonna come up short. What makes the spotlight interesting and valuable is the added depth - MrsSB pushed people to genuinely tell us about themselves, so you got to see something you otherwise wouldn't. Ability to choose the correct questions for a given creator is just as important as writing style IMO

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Originally Posted by jackofcourse

I still want Ninja to do it. He has incredible insight and can get that insight across like no other!

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Ninja would actually be my favourite for this, all things considered.

I agree, rtm. Spooky got to know many things about the creators personally. That's very important here. You can't just pick someone like ... say teebonesy and say "hey, teebonesy, you make rad levels, discuss."

The questions would need to be a bit more indepth than that. :P

Hey ya know what? I'd like to see the Creator Spotlight start up again. I think Sara, Ninja and especially Jww would do a great job! You guys all get my votes. I know I would enjoy those posts immensely. I just posted some thoughts to show I was thinking seriously about the spotlight. They were just suggestions, as there was some gruff and scuttle-butt in the past... I'm all about more involvement and representation of the masses. I thought it would be neat if the community could post suggestions and questions-- fostering some much needed unity in this comm'unity'... If there was a suggestion pool you still wouldn't know who was coming up next-- it would be at the discretion of the crew. They were just some suggestions for me, I never sent the PM... (now the discussion my suggestions have generated leave me feeling a little [gulp] vulnerable...) I was just trying to be of some help. If it were a team effort I think it would have to be somewhat different, but a format would have to be established nevertheless. With that said, I think you are making too much of the questions. If you can't tailor-up five questions, write an intro, and incorporate some community interests and sew it up in a conclusion there's no need to even enter the Octagon! Even 5 tailored questions per spotlight would be an improvement over no tailored questions. Am I the only one to ever get to the 'digging deeper' and think, "oh, thank goodness!"

lol...

No worries Gravel! I for one am just happy to see you knocking about again! I've missed ya! I think you have some awesome suggestions as well as would be a fine candidate.

I agree. I think you'd also make a fine candidate, Gravel. It makes me very happy that so many people are interested in the return of the creator spotlights. I was starting to think I was the only one who missed them. ^_^

I'm not sure I like the idea of a group doing them, I'm not sure why. I think it may be that they might lose the personality and become a bit generic. While I definitely feel that having a handful of people who would help come up with questions and possible things about the creator that should be highlighted is a good idea, I do think that the same person should be the one who actually writes it up. Just to keep some consistency there.

Well, the only reason that I suggested the group thing is that there is definitely more than one person around here that really cares about these spotlights, but it can be overwhelming for one person to do alone. The way I see it, if there were a team of 3 people, it would take the pressure off of any one individual. It would also reduce the angry emails that any one member would get for not spotlighting someone. :P

Also, by group thing, I didn't mean three people writing one. I meant 3 people rotating. Writer 1 would write the first one, Writer 2 would write the second one, Writer 3 would write the third one, then repeat cycle. That way, all the writers would be able to take a break between them.

Honestly, though, it was just a suggestion. Whether or not I'm a part of this is immaterial as long as it gets put into the hands of a person or people who care. That's really all I care about. I just don't want to see it handed off to someone who doesn't give a flying eff about the creator.

Personally, I could definitely easily write up a few spotlights, but I don't have the time to do as many as I'd like to. People have busy lives. If you've got two or three people working on it, each person could put forth more time and effort on the individuals they are assigned. Those are just my two cents, though. And I'm no one. ^_^

I will say this, though: I will definitely help if I am needed.

Well I definitely don't have a chance now! ;)

The creator spotlight team sounds interesting, that also would benefit those who are busy doing work etc and won't be able to fully commit. :)

I don't think this is off-topic just increasing the scope.

Back before there was a Creator Spotlight, back before he took over the Caption Contest, back before he left... A good Belgian friend of mine asked me if I wouldn't mind playing second banana to a certain Sir Sack in a parody of sorts of the Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. I was as honoured then, as I am now recalling the moment. Although I'm sure our ideas were worlds apart on the project... he saw it as a caption/Carnac thing... I saw it as... I always secretly believed that 'our' Tonight Show morphed into what absently became the Creator Spotlight. I say that with no mal-intent or accusation in my heart. The Tonight Show to me simply became... redundant and Zwol as he was apt to do, moved on.

With that said, my mind now wanders back to those waters and wonders if in-fact the written word is the most entertaining medium for a Creator Spotlight. Could you imagine Teebonesy, Ninja, Jww, Sara, or Me (or You)... Sitting behind a s****y (why on Earth is S W YANKEES censored?) set design guest hosting the Creator Spotlight... There is something magical about the moving image. Something captivating about 'live' entertainment... It actually represents LBP better... anyway, maybe it's something different... maybe not... Just thought I'd drop some names and toss some ideas into the air as we seem to be entering uncharted waters. I mean wouldn't it be interesting interviewing Jagrevi on the set of his soon to be released mammoth project Barbara Walters-style. For all I know somebody could already be doing it... for all I know your jotting it down right now!

Just seems like it be a less than 10 minute investment for the viewer and be 10x more insightful. Seeing is believing! Show don't tell! Print is dead!

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Originally Posted by jackofcourse

I'm not sure I like the idea of a group doing them, I'm not sure why. I think it may be that they might lose the personality and become a bit generic.

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Originally Posted by xkappax

Well, the only reason that I suggested the group thing is that there is definitely more than one person around here that really cares about these spotlights, but it can be overwhelming for one person to do alone. The way I see it, if there were a team of 3 people, it would take the pressure off of any one individual. It would also reduce the angry emails that any one member would get for not spotlighting someone. :P

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I though the team would actually be a good idea, as it widens the scope of candidates somewhat. If you have a broader viewpoint on the community then it's likely that we will see more of the "less obvious, but totally deserving" creators spotlighted and that to me would be a good thing. Also, if you ran with the system that the person who's the biggest fan of the creator in question actually ran the interview, you'd get the enthusiasm that is required too :) It could work, with the right people in the team.

The team idea's fantastic, and even opens the doors to even the "guest host", someone outside of the regular team that could just do one or two and then move on.

It also might foster a tidbit of competition, each host hoping to one-up the last and adding in that extra feature or idea, keeping the spotlights always fresh. For example, seeing, perhaps not as a replacement, but an additional feature, something like Gravel's idea of poking around a creator's latest level with the creator giving a bit of commentary on the way.

It seems all agreed to me that this team idea would be grand. Maybe we should re-send applications to be part of a team and let Confused Cartman do the honors, or just figure it all out here. There's already a fine group of people who would be willing to do it as part of a team, doing one spotlight a month or maybe two every other other month, or some such business. They could even work in tandem, generating a good thick pile of spotlights in case someone's late on deadlines.

I like the team concept as well. Hmm, maybe we could even slip a PSP Creator Spotlight in there from time to timel. ;)

If we do the team thing I'd be interested in helping out. I don't have boat loads of spare time but I do love LBP and I enjoy writing.

I like that idea, Taffey, because there are many creators that only create on the psp, but still turn out brilliant levels.

The team thing would also nicely eliminate the need for a thread like this. Nothing against Lisa at all, she had her reasons she had to leave, and I respect and understand that completely, but since she was doing them on her own, they ceased to be once she was gone.

If there were three people doing them, four people, whatever... Then if one person dropped out, the site wouldn't take as big of a hit.

My turn for a Really Really Really Long post like everybody else!

So as everbody.... Ah GRR :grr: I spelt something wrong already. I don't belong here! Screw it...

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Originally Posted by killzonequinn07

My turn for a Really Really Really Long post like everybody else!

So as everbody.... Ah GRR :grr: I spelt something wrong already. I don't belong here! Screw it...

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Uh oh!! Use the backspace key! THE BAACKSPAAACE KEEEY!!

Alright, I've been following along, intently, blow by blow... and how's this for an idea...?

We set up a sort of Creator Spotlight team. Say 3-4 people. It wouldn't be a problem setting up private forums for such a team... it could very much parallel what the site has done for the community spotlight and the logic pack (while it was under construction) for quite some time. The teams are "responsible" for putting together a Creator Spotlight once every two weeks (or 4 weeks, if it takes too much effort). The team, then, can decide how they want to format the spotlight... whether it be an over-the-top game-show format, a more laid back delve into a creator's head, or whatever.

The team, then, can decide on how it wants to handle who gets to interview. Perhaps it can be a group effort to review the creator's levels and discuss how they should approach the spotlight. Then, perhaps there can be a rotation of actual interviewer... maybe 1 or 2 at time. This way, nobody should feel super-pressured to crank out a spotlight every fortnight.

It might also be interesting to nab someone who is capable of doing video. Maybe an insider's look into the creator's levels... maybe just a recap of some of their levels. Whatever... this would be at the discretion of the Creator Spotlight team.

Then, more important, on the issue of choosing who to spotlight. I'm fairly certain we can set up some sort of nomination process. This way, we can get feedback from the community as to who they would like to see spotlighted, but it would remain a surprise to all those not directly involved. The process for nomination can be handled either through PMing a Creator Spotlight username... or via a nominations thread.

Also, not to mention the added benefit of 3-4 minds working together to provide an array of perspectives. Thoughts on that?

I have sent an application, I am all up for this, and if there is talk about a group, I will cooperate happily. The more the merrier, right?

I'd just think I would post my application here, and please post your opinions about it, I love feedback:

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Hello ConfusedCartman!

Here is my application for the resuming of the creator spotlight, I hope this will catch your attention.

Even though I do not origin from an English speaking country, my written (and oral, if it will sometime come to that point) is excellent. Being THE interviewer might be a tough challenge, but I will be able-bodied. Or maybe it should be able-minded? I am both, luckily, do if one of the tests later on involves fighting a dragon, I will have a chance.

Anyway, I am fit for this job, and I would really like to contribute to this forum as much as I can, because of all it contributes to me.

I also get these thoughts about different setups for the each interviews, maybe one could be formed something like this:

1 ft (foot): Scratching the surface

2 ft: Digging deeper
...
6 ft: The downside


I have also got ideas involved planets, or bugs, if you are interested!

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Yes, it might be a little short, but I hope it is good. If your eyeballs have fallen out (because my application was either good or horrible) I suggest you go to the doctor... But if you can't see this post and read this, why am I writing any of this?Never mind.

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Originally Posted by xkappax

I'm wondering if a Creator Spotlight Crew should be instated rather than just one person.

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I think it's pretty obvious that I agree with this. ^_^
it all sounds good to me, compher. Sign me up.

And as long as I'm not doing this every day, which if there is a team, i wouldn't be, I can record videos of the levels if need be. I may be an old fart, but I still know how to use the youtubes.

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Originally Posted by xkappax

I think it's pretty obvious that I agree with this. ^_^
it all sounds good to me, compher. Sign me up.

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Sara... I think compher was spying on our PM's!! lol

..no no no.. just kidding I know better! In all honesty that is pretty much what we have been discussing. Like minded crazies think alike? What am I thinking? Birds?? Correct!! Oh wait.. you said airplanes!? Close enough!

Sorry that was me spying....O_o

Spies don't usually admit they were spying or apologize for it. :P

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Originally Posted by comphermc

private forums for ... the logic pack (while it was under construction) for quite some time.

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LBPC Boys club forum is still there, y'know. It's just that no-one ever goes there anymore *sniffle*


On topic, I'm not keen on the wider community having much say in who gets he spotlight. I don't think it's necessary, or at least it shouldn't be.

Yeah more secrets = more fun. Adds an extra bit of anticipation as the spotlight approaches.

I agree that it should be a surprise. More fun that way! ^_^

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Originally Posted by rtm223

On topic, I'm not keen on the wider community having much say in who gets he spotlight. I don't think it's necessary, or at least it shouldn't be.

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True, but I don't think it would hurt to entertain some PM'd suggestions. Not so much of a "to do" list, but maybe just to insure the team is aware of more than their particular scope and perspective at the time.

I think what Comph said sounds good.

I think my issue with the group doing it is is merely because it felt like some people wouldn't be able to do yhe full job due to real life, but was willing to do 'a bit' where they could. Which obviously doesn't sound very committed. That's not their fault exactly, but I was just going off the assumption that it's better to have one person fully committed than a group of people that's not as interested.

But when you word it like Comph has, and if the group are all up for it as much as he has put forward there...then it sounds like a winner.

[This is worded really badly, but I've just had a full day in the library and I've had enough of typing! Hope you all get my point :)]

I understand your concerns about that sort of thing, jack, but know that if I were chosen, I'd give my absolute best to each and every creator I spotlight. I came from humble beginnings where I had to beg people for plays, so doing this sort of thing, and doing it right, is very important to me. I want to help people get the recognition they deserve. ^_^

If you want an opinion from someone in 'the wider community' who has no interest in putting their name up for consideration (i.e., me!), then here it is:

I think the group idea is the way to go. It makes sense and to me it doesn't give the impression that people aren't committed, it's just wise sharing of the load. I'm sure the team would be very committed to the edition or area they were responsible for. Putting these things out once a fortnight is a massive undertaking and, as experienced when Lisa departed, if life steps in and the one person can no longer do it, you're back to no spotlight, whereas a team would keep functioning even if somewhat depleted, PLUS it has the added bonus of new, really enthusiastic people potentially joining the team as they come to LBPC. Win/win, imho.

I don't think we need to decide or vote on who we'd like to be interviewed as that could get messy, but I would welcome the outlet for PMing questions for certain creators in the event that they are interviewed at some time. Plus, I think Gravel's suggestion of taking it an audio visual level is a terrific one. I'd love personal tours through some of these creators levels - like a director's commentary. Woo!

All this sounds promising...I'll chuck another two cents in.

I agree with rtm and babydoll, an open nomination thread or suchlike for choosing the spotlightees (?) might bring a competitive vibe to it that i think needs to be avoided. Choose the Crew, and let them run with it, they're the ones doing the hard work.

Also, can the interviews potentially be a tad longer? I usually finished the old ones wishing for a lot more...

Wow teebonesy... "Hilarious" just doesn't do you justice.

Post of the day is an understatement too. Post of the forum. Honestly, you should be writing novels!

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Originally Posted by julesyjules

All this sounds promising...I'll chuck another two cents in.

I agree with rtm and babydoll, an open nomination thread or suchlike for choosing the spotlightees (?) might bring a competitive vibe to it that i think needs to be avoided. Choose the Crew, and let them run with it, they're the ones doing the hard work.

Also, can the interviews potentially be a tad longer? I usually finished the old ones wishing for a lot more...

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Agreed, I don't think anything to do with the Creator Spotlight should be open for discussion really. Like it was, if you want to recommend a creator to be spotlighted just PM CC or whoever gets the position of chief interviewer! :)

Teebonesy, would you actually be up for it or were you having some fun?

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Originally Posted by Incinerator22

Teebonesy, would you actually be up for it or were you having some fun?

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Believe me, I was definitely having some fun! I'd certainly be up for this on an occasional basis. Basically an occasional contributor, a spotlight every two months-like would be ideal for me because it gives me breathing room for my constant disappearing acts. There's no way I'd be able to muscle the kind of passion spookybuz put into the regular feature, but to be able to look forward to that ONE spotlight you get every once in a while, that's an exciting idea. You could put extra time into it, even while another writer is simultaneously working on theirs. There's the potential for spotlights with much greater scope.

And certainly don't expect anything that comes from me to even REMOTELY resemble that surreal piece of work I laid out earlier in the thread. I'd certainly have a bit of fun with the interviews, but it is called "Creator Spotlight" - the best interviewer is going to make the feature about the creator, not about the style of the article or some such. So mine may end up being quite straight-forward if I actually got around to doing it! But it is an exciting thought, just to be a part of shining a spotlight on all you talented jerks doing your thing.

It'll be interesting to see what happens soon, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing juices begin to be squeezed out.

juice... squeezed... out... (ah, time for bed).

What!?! oh, this isn't the private forum? blame the guy above me...

Much like Teebonesy, as much as anyone is like Teebonesy...
Being responsible for a spotlight ever 2 months or so, 1/4 say? Is very appealing to me... I'll keep my ear to the ground. Also happy to see a positive vibe surrounding the idea of introducing some form of video... I myself don't have the capability but think it could only serve to enrich the depth of the experience. Well, this train seems ready to leave the station. I have every reason to believe this feature will be far greater than before-- Congratulations on getting it rolling again.

SITE UPDATE LOG: Mods pls note, above title would not allow me to capitalize... it automatically reverted to lower case letters upon previewing posts.

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Originally Posted by Gravel

SITE UPDATE LOG: Mods pls note, above title would not allow me to capitalize... it automatically reverted to lower case letters upon previewing posts.

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If you try to post in all-caps, it will auto-revert it to lowercase. Basically, this is to prevent those annoying posts where the person's Billy Mays button appears to be stuck.

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Originally Posted by BabyDoll1970

I don't think we need to decide or vote on who we'd like to be interviewed as that could get messy, but I would welcome the outlet for PMing questions for certain creators in the event that they are interviewed at some time.

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I think messy is the best way to describe my fears as well. Seeing as each month we will get 2 creators spotlighted, and 50-odd that could have been but weren't, then we already run the risk of people being negative about the spotlight because of what it isn't, rather than what it is. If you have an "official" means of recommendation, people will expect their recommendations to be carried out and people will start getting annoyed that their recommendations are being ignored, assume it's personal, etc. etc. At the end of the day, the choice of interviewee will always be a judgment call by the interviewer(s), so why pretend it is anything else?

I'm not really sure how the format for the suggested questions should be, as it kind of implies that you are recommending a creator if you recommend a question for a specific creator. I'm certainly not against the idea, but there's that implication in there that could lead to the messiness of an explicit creator nomination. What might work is that we have a thread where people suggest generic questions that could be asked of any creators so these can be pulled into the interview regardless of who gets picked next.

I nominate Stephen Fry! Not just for this, but for everything really.. :)

Agreed.

I do like the idea of the team idea. We could even have guest interviewers!

...I feel a little ignored... :(

Anyway, how come Teebonesey says and plays with him being unable to read all the time, while he answers perfectly (more than perfect, his answers are ingenious most of the time), every time? I think either:

a) He (or you, if you read this, teebonesey) can actually read (busted),

b) he has got some application that reads text for him, on his PC
or
c) He is controlled by an evil, super intelligent monkey that has escaped from a mad scientist's lab, and is now planning for world domination, using a baloon, some floss and nuke...

I would go for a), but I find c) more likely.
:p