Zenius -I- vanisher.com -5th style-

I could do that I think. I probably haven't updated the links relating to the banner yet. I'll do it tomorrow when the site is less busy.

That is a bad idea because the person's computer has to download the music for them to listen to it anyway. Putting a media player plugin in the site doesn't magically change this fact. It only encourages people to waste more bandwidth that the site obviously doesn't have.

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Oh it does have bandwidth, a few TB spare in fact, the host put a limit on the number of concurrent connections we have, cos APPARENTLY we're causing a problem to their "precious" servers...

Okay, whether it's bandwidth or concurrent connections doesn't change the fact that it would increase the current problem. Thus, it would not be good for the site.

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Best to put that on hold then. Trouble is, I don't see what else I can do. I blocked the official simfile directory listings, the official simfile listings itself and converted them into packs. What more do they want? They're gonna start telling me to get less visitors or what I bet.

That wouldn't be a bad idea.....

......

I am against the idea of listening to the song on the site before downloading. Although this may be most useful for the User categories, it would only add more to the problem - as Kyzentun previously mentioned.

The 503 errors are probably because of the hype over the new BEMANI games. I'm pretty sure that it'll die out after the release. But I predict that it will become worse when you upload the simfiles from DDRX.

If we're not able to upload CD titles, Read-me's, or lyrics file separately, then it would just as good to also have an option to upload the entire archive like we have previously been doing to include other files.

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Oh, one thing I thought of on the subject of your "blocking" official simfile directory listings. Make sure they can't be accessed by simple URL hacking the way private user categories can.

Also, since the main problem is simfiles, maybe you should look into how feasible it would be to switch to just running a biHorrent tracker, and not offer direct downloads at all. Probably most feasible for the official simfiles, which tons of people already have, and thus could in theory already seed.

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I personally feel that other methods of restricting access to simfiles should be considered before requiring users to download via (insert name of P2P protocol here). We need to have respect for ISPs and university networks that throttle (insert name of P2P protocol here) traffic and/or regard all such traffic with suspicion. Also, some users might not want to download a complete simfile pack (e.g., I haven't downloaded the MAX2 oni remixes since it will be many years before I am skilled enough to play them on pad), and for the newer games, people need to have a way of downloading updates to individual simfiles.

I do favor the option of making simfile downloads available via (insert name of P2P protocol here), but if it is the only option, then there should possibly be a message directing users to consider alternate simfile download sites from the Links section.

P.S. The P2P protocol I am talking about is obviously "Bit..." If Kyzentun is self-censoring the name, then I probably should too, right?

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I can't view the individual simfile and there's no update simfiles' section?

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QFT, don't try it. If you misuse it any way, you can't use it at all.

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Right, disabled the simfile section outright in both v4 and v5 which actually helped believe it or not, I was getting 503s 80% of the time before I replaced the code.

Obviously it will get enabled back when they remove the throttle. For people that desperately need simfiles, PM me and I can still provide links provided you have a valid reason to, as the 503s are pissing everyone off.

Does the colour of the text highlight change? Since it's now black for me, meaning I can't see what I'm highlighting. And for a while, I thought my mouse was not working right.
And I noticed that the text for replying is now normal size, is that gonna stay? I thought having it big was quite helpful

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Big was helpful? I might change that again then. XD

I can't change the text highlight thing, it depends on your browser I think.

Minor clarification:I wasn't talking about using the protocol; I was only talking about its name. Of course, I am fully aware of the legal problems associated with the most common uses of that protocol, so your point stands. It does however have some legitimate uses (such as downloading certain Linux distros and other large pieces of open-source software, as well as ElectricSheep, etc.) I have never had any general-purpose P2P client software on any of my computers, only the component of ElectricSheep (which cannot practically be exploited to work as a general-purpose P2P client).

Anyway, I realize I'm getting off-topic here. I will try the 5th style beta and report back here ASAP.

EDIT: Okay, I'm looking at the 5th style beta now, so back on topic:
1. There seems to be a little too much white in the site's background, although I'm probably not used to this idea just because of the way the last few versions of the site were designed. Will any of the theme options affect the background color? Do any theme options even exist?
2. What does "Site Agent" mean? (I thought about searching the forums, but the search form seems to allow only searching in thread titles.)
3. The message that appears to confirm the successful saving of an edited post still has the misspelling "Post Editted."

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1. You can change the background to black through the theme options. The Theme options is under the Homes tab
2. "Site Agent" is for the thread, simfiles, and other subscriptions
3. I never caught this one! Good job!

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Thanks for spotting that. Fixed the typo now.

Just wanted to say that I think it looks really good

How long will it be like that?

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Until I figure out a way so that the simfile section won't be abused like it used to.

I have an idea.

From what I can see, User ratings are to show that the person is (dis)liked within this site's community... and that's it. Why not put it to use? Here's what I thought out so far:

Allow the simfiles to be viewed only by members. I know this will create a problem as people will just create an account and spam the boards while downloading the simfiles, so this is where the User ratings kick in.

If at 0 or below, the member is not allowed access to the official and User simfiles

..... and that's all I got so far. I'm well aware of problems that this could bring such as multiple accounts and "Rate me" threads. If such a thread pops up, it will have the opposite effect. The multiple accounts can also be sorted out with the method that Al has been using so far.

Anybody agree/disagree?

(yeah, that's all I have so far, but if much thought was put into the rating system, I'm pretty sure that we can figure something out if we take this approach)

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