Tmx downtime, again sadly…

As you may have noticed, TMX is down for about 3 days now. Again because of hosting problems. As MrA states on the official TM forums:

Yep, the host wants TMX to pay for a dedicated bandwidth due to what they are calling a high level of ‘acculated traffic’ … In other words we are busy…
However, we are not anywhere near our month limit (or close to it) from our own measurements and so at the moment we dispute this…
I’m quite annoyed that they choose to suspend the site, I don’t think its correct behaviour from them, but we will not be bullied by that…

As MrA states in an additional post, they hope to get access today. When they do get it, the site needs to be taken offline.

We wish the TMX-staff good luck in getting tmx back online.

Read more here

Screenshots

We have plenty of screenshots laying around, but I’m not publishing any So, got any suggestions/thoughts about what do to with these? All in one post? A contest using these screenshots? Anything?

I’d love to hear your ideas on what we should do with the yet to be published screenshots

Holiday

I’ll be off skiing until Sunday. There probably won’t be any posting until then (in other words, not much different than the last few weeks ).

However, in the mean time, don’t forget the following:

• 8th Question Quest - The quiz ends on Sunday! Make sure you’ve entered before then.
• Coppers Donation Contest - I still haven’t posted any results. That means the contest is still open for entries. Now that the blog doesn’t have any income from Track Reviews, a few donations are always welcome.
• Traveling TM Journal - Sign up for the Traveling Journal project! The idea is for TM Players to fill a few pages in a blank book, then pass the journal on to the next TM player in line. We need participants!

You’ve got enough to keep you busy, so see you next week

Posting…

…to let you know I’m still around!

You knew it already, so no point explaining again why posting is so slow However, I’d like to point out that there are still things to be posted, so stick around In fact, here are a few things I wanted to post this weekend, but never got around to (meaning they will appear later instead):

• The next Screenshot of the Week
• A new Question Quest
• A general article on the future of games
• The results of the donation minicontest

Soon, I promise!

TMX, Blog & Stuff

I’m pleased to see that there’s been quite a support from readers, at least mentally - many have e-mailed me about the blog, most feeling sad about the way things are looking.

However, not that many have actually offered their help, except for those who have written articles (to be posted later - you know who you are) and sent screenshots. But, neither of those two things is enough.

BCS Santino, though, have come up with a suggestion about reviews and screenshots - a sort of mix between JAG Media and The TMU Blog. His suggestion involves getting about 8-10 steady reviewers who will review tracks, in a slightly more simple manner than the current system, based on certain environments and styles.

This would allow things to keep going, but the problems are: 1) Still requires a lot of work, 2) getting the 8-10 reviewers (who should be skilled in organizing and writing in English, plus have the time and devotion to keep reviewing) would be challenging, and 3) would turn the blog more into a review-portal than anything else (even though articles could still be submitted).

I’ve basically turned Santino down already, as I’ve also been offered a staff position at TMX (and the original problem of lack of time still remains, so doing both would be even more challenging).

I’m telling you this to get a final idea about where the blog readers stand. There’s no way the blog is going back to normal, but what do you think of the idea of having more reviews and a cooperative connection to JAG Media instead? Are you able to help (”I like the idea, but I don’t want to/can’t help you with, for example, reviews” doesn’t really make things easier for me)? Would you rather see me organizing “official” contests/events at TMX (I know many of you guys are active TMX members) on a semi-regular basis, than continue my work here at the blog?

In my point of view, the blog could still keep going as long as Alcator, Djoszee and “guest writers” submit something once in a while, and as long as screenshots keep coming in. The idea about reviews, an aspect that will otherwise most likely be very slow or disappear completely, might be a bit too much, but could also be exactly what you guys want - what do I know? And the postition at TMX - it would basically mean more MTC’s and other contests from me at TMX, with the difference that it’s official TMX events!

I’m interested in your opinion, so start commenting or send me an e-mail: Jozii@pp.inet.fi!

Screenshots…?

As you may have noticed, there’s basically no posting activity anymore. That’s what I was talking about weeks ago would happen, and here we are now.

I cant really say I will be doing more for this blog in the future, although there is one thing: I still have a lot of screenshots, and people keep sending more. So, perhaps there will be more frequent screenshot posts, and a Screenshot of the Week every week.

Other than that, don’t hope for much

Back!

I’m back from my holidays (so now I need some rest). This means that I’ll be answering your e-mails and in-game PM’s again Sorry for those who’ve had to wait.

I’m still interested in material to post, if any of you can provide some!

Christmas Holiday

Today I’ll be off on another vacation, meaning posting is - once again - uncertain. We pulled through last Christmas, and even the summer holidays were pretty stable. However, both those times I had planned ahead, gathering enough material to pre-post. This time is different.

I’d like to wish you a very marry Christmas and a happy new year. Whether I’ll find the time and material to post something during the holidays is uncertain (although not completely unlikely), as is the position of this blog for 2008.

We’ll see how things turn out, but I can tell you one thing: should it be decided that the TMU Blog will be closed for good, we’ve got close to 100 000 coppers to hand out. Got any suggestions on how that could be done in an interesting way? A racing contest sounds to me too standard, but then agin, TMU is a racing game. Another way would be to add the coppers to the TMU Lottery (which I apologize for not having updated in a long time, by the way), which could be more suited for the blog, but perhaps also not as related to the game. Any ideas are welcome!

Also, I won’t be able to answer my e-mail or in-game messages until January 3rd.

So for now, enjoy the holidays

Dwelling Stats

Reader ratings are falling, which is quite understandable. I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, partly to let you know I’m still here: Posting has been slower than usual lately, and to be honest it doesn’t look like it will improve any time soon. With Christmas around the corner and school still a high priority time is of the essence.

I’d like to remind you once again that you can send in your own “stuff” and I’ll have it published (unless it sucks). Anything goes, basically. Look at it as something that will improve your English writing skills, or something that will help you help the TM community.

You’ve probably guessed that you won’t get anything particular today besides this post, and tomorrow is uncertain. I’m not ready to let this blog retire - if I can’t write now I know for sure I will be able to in February and for at leeast the following four months after that, and I’d like to atill have that possibility open. However, with no audience to write for the motivation just wouldn’t be the same.

I guess what I’m really trying to say is that the TMU Blog is likely to be having a break for an unknown period of time (perhaps not starting today, but maybe after Christmas anyway), and that I really hope than when/if the blog returns, I hope you’ll still be there to read it

XSTC Delay

The results of the Xtreme Short Track Contest, due to today, are being slightly delayed. Hopefully they’ll be ready tomorrow