Reporter Investigations and Other Stuff

[Kevred 1,586]

I'll keep it brief

 

It has occurred to me that the Tanki Reporters are swaying further and further from what real-life reporters do. To explain, I'll quote what Miss (Mrs.?) Bukina said:

 

"Reporters reveal secrets, conduct investigations and share the latest news. If something interesting, unusual or important happens, you will always know about it from these guys. And if you've found something worth mentioning, tell a reporter about it as soon as possible!"

 

In my opinion there's not much investigations, secrets or news in the Press these days. Also, aside from a specific article written by Rem for issue 30 that I'm not mentioning for spoiler potential, hardly any players tell the Reporters about anything worth mentioning. 

 

For example, many of you have probably noticed the fact that issue 29 was delayed. But no one decided to contact a Reporter and ask him to conduct an investigation! (Well, there wasn't much to investigate anyways, but it's an example). 

 

So I've decided to create this topic, where people can tell us reporters about any strange, unusual, or amusing events in the community. And if one seems worthy of an in-depth look, then an in-depth look it will get ;)

 

Reporter's promise,

Kev

Edited December 17, 2014 by Kevred

[canadarules 1,938]

aren't u guys suppose to come up with creative stories .-.

also go interview hazel rah :D

[trombone_ftw 734]

Nice to see the youngest (in both age and rank!) reporter taking initiative like this... kudos to you!

[lukey0 27,543]

The Unity version on Tanki Online? I know its been said in the V-Log a bit but maybe interview a developer about it? Something new about it? How much longer will it be till released? The detail of the new looks of guns and hulls?

[canadarules 1,938]

The Unity version on Tanki Online? I know its been said in the V-Log a bit but maybe interview a developer about it? Something new about it? How much longer will it be till released? The detail of the new looks of guns and hulls?

look unity they just got a demo version done to test stuff.. coding will take around 8-9 months i guess plus designing so about 1 more year i guess

[BlitzPanzer12345 241]

Plz investigate Godmode_ON's existance and also devs addiction to vodka [ i heard it somewhere ]

[canadarules 1,938]

Lol the second one I made a joke about in an entry I made for something

[Kevred 1,586]

Hmm..the Unity version sounds interesting. Also an investigation on how GodMode_On appeared would be entertaining too.

[Promissory 569]

Ask devs who murdered crystal boxes

[jazz20 1,181]

You should contact/pm major EN community members about their opinions on Tanki's newest updates including the issues with making battles, absence of crystal boxes, gold box changes, opinions on new turrets and if there are any future issues, etc. Don't ask mods who in most cases are going to talk softer than the actual players. Dive directly to the sources. That's what I would do if I were a reporter.......

[theflyingchicken 88]

For a reporter, the word "Stuff" is too simple and not detailed enough

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

1st off, I have to hand it out to you for being better than the RL reporters I face off up here in RL for coming to realise the lacunae of reporters on your own .. for that you got my full respect 

 

2nd , great initiative, and shame that it hasn't been done before in a more efficient manner.  And i'm talking about giving the readership a say in what type of articles and topics should come out in the coming editions.  I suggest while its still fresh off to make a pinned topic somewhere in news section about it, and lay out a template of how readers should propose / make requests, and may be even if an idea got accepted inform them that someone is covering it and its coming in this next edition, kinda make you a little bit impatient for the next release :D

 

---

 

And now for the tragic part, which is about:

It has occurred to me that the Tanki Reporters are swaying further and further from what real-life reporters do. To explain, I'll quote what Miss (Mrs.?) Bukina said:

 

In my opinion there's not much investigations, secrets or news in the Press these days. Also, aside from a specific article written by Rem for issue 30 that I'm not mentioning for spoiler potential, hardly any players tell the Reporters about anything worth mentioning. 

Sorry mate, but I've been around for 3 years, early avid reader of the tanki press who later went on to be a casual reader who just hand-pick articles he reads and barely interact on the topics, and from experience, sorry to bash, but tanki press has mostly been about pretty stories, narrative stuff, making novels and nice plots etc, guides, comparative opinions of the writer on game objects and mechanics, interviews, contests, quizzes, etc, and and only very few actual factual reports.

 

Not saying there wasn't any, just saying that it didn't look like the main business was about to constantly bring that news scoop which no one knew nothing about until it got published.  I've also noticed that over time there has been a greater and greater disconnect from reporters and the news source like the devs and other admins and key figures, something which the first generations of reporters had more than today's ones I got to painfully admit.  So please, fix it :(

 

---

 

Another lacking thing, and this one has truly been lacking all the way for the most part of the press history, is analytical reports and predictions (based on sound facts of course).  No tanki doesn't has to be an economic marketplace to write analytically!  It doesn't need to be about over complicated stuff, e.g. just get in touch with some devs, get some numbers, draw a simple graph and discuss about how we came from having barely 40k players online at peak time to over 130k in just that short time, where are we heading, what does it mean in terms of server capacity and technology, how does that trend compare to others in the industry, and what does it mean for us tankers.  All that can be achieved in simple terms in a short but meaningful articles.

 

And if the above example is too complex, then why not speculate about the new objects being introduced in the game, like hammer, and the up-coming machine gun and the paints that will go with these, and speculate about how this will affect the tankmen community and the in-game balances, the in-game economy, perhaps clans and their clan wars, etc etc etc...  oh and btw, know who would be a great guy to interview about that?  Well nutty  is by nature always open to talk about stuff, so just knock on his door and bribe him with some nuts or something and you get your great news scoop ;)

[snipe3000 678]

I have a good story...

 

the chats we had in the club page :D

[Kevred 1,586]

1st off, I have to hand it out to you for being better than the RL reporters I face off up here in RL for coming to realise the lacunae of reporters on your own .. for that you got my full respect 

 

*bows*

 

2nd , great initiative, and shame that it hasn't been done before in a more efficient manner.  And i'm talking about giving the readership a say in what type of articles and topics should come out in the coming editions.  I suggest while its still fresh off to make a pinned topic somewhere in news section about it, and lay out a template of how readers should propose / make requests, and may be even if an idea got accepted inform them that someone is covering it and its coming in this next edition, kinda make you a little bit impatient for the next release :D

 

Isn't that the Newspaper Requests topic? Because I have no idea what you're trying to say here :P

 

---

 

And now for the tragic part, which is about:

Sorry mate, but I've been around for 3 years, early avid reader of the tanki press who later went on to be a casual reader who just hand-pick articles he reads and barely interact on the topics, and from experience, sorry to bash, but tanki press has mostly been about pretty stories, narrative stuff, making novels and nice plots etc, guides, comparative opinions of the writer on game objects and mechanics, interviews, contests, quizzes, etc, and and only very few actual factual reports.

 

Yeah, no news for the newspaper. Williew did plan an article that'll cover events in the community, but the article isn't advancing.

 

Not saying there wasn't any, just saying that it didn't look like the main business was about to constantly bring that news scoop which no one knew nothing about until it got published.  I've also noticed that over time there has been a greater and greater disconnect from reporters and the news source like the devs and other admins and key figures, something which the first generations of reporters had more than today's ones I got to painfully admit.  So please, fix it :(

 

Not so easy to get an interview with the devs anymore, you're right. Nothing much we can do about it

 

---

 

Another lacking thing, and this one has truly been lacking all the way for the most part of the press history, is analytical reports and predictions (based on sound facts of course).  No tanki doesn't has to be an economic marketplace to write analytically!  It doesn't need to be about over complicated stuff, e.g. just get in touch with some devs, get some numbers, draw a simple graph and discuss about how we came from having barely 40k players online at peak time to over 130k in just that short time, where are we heading, what does it mean in terms of server capacity and technology, how does that trend compare to others in the industry, and what does it mean for us tankers.  All that can be achieved in simple terms in a short but meaningful articles.

 

Tell that to another reporter, I hate math and boring graphs k

 

And if the above example is too complex, then why not speculate about the new objects being introduced in the game, like hammer, and the up-coming machine gun and the paints that will go with these, and speculate about how this will affect the tankmen community and the in-game balances, the in-game economy, perhaps clans and their clan wars, etc etc etc...  oh and btw, know who would be a great guy to interview about that?  Well nutty  is by nature always open to talk about stuff, so just knock on his door and bribe him with some nuts or something and you get your great news scoop ;)

Well thing is, hard to do an investigation on "interesting" stuff without somehow breaking the rules  :ph34r: You know what Im saying

So yeah, IMO Hog and Gold decided to do a news section, but seeing the facts, they just turned it into a humorour "Dictator".

 

The problem is, when you do a news coverage on something, you will always be offending someone. And no one wants to do that.

Edited January 11, 2015 by Kevred

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

Isn't that the Newspaper Requests topic? Because I have no idea what you're trying to say here  :P

 

yup, you got me on that one, shows how much I don't venture out in general section.  but having seen it now, i think its still pretty basic

 

Not so easy to get an interview with the devs anymore, you're right. Nothing much we can do about it

 

Au contraire.  I think you guys should push for that.

 

Tell that to another reporter, I hate math and boring graphs k

 

Tell them yourself, idk which one loves maths and isn't afraid of drawings k

 

Well thing is, hard to do an investigation on "interesting" stuff without somehow breaking the rules  :ph34r: You know what Im saying

 

Absolutely do not know what you're saying there at all !!  If you're implying that for you to bring great news material you need to break some rules, then oh mon dieu, have mercy on us !!!

 

So yeah, IMO Hog and Gold decided to do a news section, but seeing the facts, they just turned it into a humorour "Dictator".

 

yeah, but, no!  its not news if it involves that much chicken

 

 

 

The problem is, when you do a news coverage on something, you will always be offending someone. And no one wants to do that.

 

 again, read what you wrote before you hit post please.  That sentence implies that a news coverage = offending people ! 

 

multiple 

[hogree 4,179]

I must admit, I side with DS here. Interesting suggestions with the Analytical reports. Possible.

 

Also, Kev, I don't think it's fair for you to say that about news reports - and the fact is, as Tanki staff, we are integrated as part of the developer's team. And thus, it's not a problem to gain information from those higher-up. Honestly, it is very viable. There's no need to write it off. "Not so easy to get an interview with the devs anymore, you're right. Nothing much we can do about it" - Must admit, this was a very disappointing quote to read. There is a lot we can do about it. 

 

As for this topic, I feel it would be most useful integrated into Newspaper Requests - or perhaps directed at your PM box. 

 

DS, as for News in the newspaper, we have thought of integrating it over time, but the V-Log has taken over that respects of things. We have, in a sense, decided to keep the "news" over there in many respects - while we use this as more of an entertaining and useful platform. That's my view on it. 

[Kevred 1,586]

Well there are things the devs don't want to reveal, and the things they do are already revealed in the V-logs. But in any case, I'll take your suggestion and interview hazy on...something. (any suggestions?)

 

Also , there are 2 kind of news that interest people:

 

1. Big announcements like Tanki Online Unity, or a new turret.

Unfortunately those don't come by often.

 

2. Fights, disputes, and related.

In this case, if you have a news coverage on something like this, it's possible that the players implicated would be offended.

 

 dang I suck for discussions I always end up losing I should avoid those in the future. No wait actually I shouldn't, orelese I wouldn't be able to get better.

 

 

Oh and DS can I copy your awesome facepalming emo?

Edited January 12, 2015 by Kevred

[jokersus.cava 1,503]

Investigate me...

[beaku 2,656]

Investigate stats. Like how many players actually leave tanki after a "bad update" and threatening on forum to leave.

[SpreadLoveNotHate 374]

I think this is important enough to have this pinned. I'm not sure why moderators would think otherwise, or at least it hasn't been done. 

 

Investigating trends, math, and other statistics in the game: Sounds like a lot of fun...though numbers are hard to collect. And for that to be made into a full blown article would be rather wordy. It could be nice some stats and graphs of the month are put into the MT though? *double checks to make sure MT's are still being made* haha

 

In the end, as many critiques are there are and will be in this topic, creativity is limitless. It is yours to discover : )

 

 

I've also been around for 3 years and even though Damn's right, the readers are always changing. Stories and other stuff could be fascinating for new players, while old players retire. Of course a balance is ideal, but hard to achieve. A suggestion would be maybe a poll in seeing what the audience of the Press is, and target particular audiences based on the results of such a poll? 

[duck100101 965]

Wow this topic is very intriguing and  "Damn_slow" quote is very true in many ways.

 

Kevred this topic is cool

It tells you more about the staff of tanki, or at-least the reporter part.

 

But I guess your like reporter's, but damn_slow post is true and not true, like this quote, "hand-pick articles he reads and barely interact on the topics" this sentence is true, it is also true in the main and real life media, people in real life just read the head lines and go on with there day.

 

So I guess you are like real life reporter's..

 

~Duck100101

Edited January 13, 2015 by duck100101

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

DS, as for News in the newspaper, we have thought of integrating it over time, but the V-Log has taken over that respects of things. We have, in a sense, decided to keep the "news" over there in many respects - while we use this as more of an entertaining and useful platform. That's my view on it.

I still believe there's stuff which the vlog doesn't cover which you guys can.  

 

There's one thing I pointed out to el ham, conan and goldie some 2 months ago though.  News have an expiry date, some closer than others, and with monthly editions some of those might get old by the time they're published.  Besides a month is about 4 weeks and in the MMO business that's a long time  

... and interview hazy on...something. (any suggestions?)

 

idk, anything, flame him up by saying cashews are better than hazels and lets see how he responds to that :P  but anything related to tanki would work great too

Also , there are 2 kind of news that interest people:

 

1. Big announcements like Tanki Online Unity, or a new turret.

Unfortunately those don't come by often.

 

There's the problem right there, the waiting!  No devs aren't gonna release big info to you as an exclusivity a few days before the next edition comes out.  And that kind of announcement is handled by community managers as the company's official PR.

 

On the other hand if instead of waiting you go fish for other stuff that are unconventional, I'm sure you'll find something every now and then.  May be ask the graphics designers about their choice of choosing that layout for the hammer, and to complement remaine's ugliness in tanki, ask them what they as designers find ugly in the game and wish they'd change, perhaps get a sketch of how they think it should be

 

Or may be ask devs about how they see the game getting affected with the ever increasing numbers of players joining everyday, and what kind of troubles they might face in future, what kind of remedies they're thinking about .... there's lots of stuff to find out.

 

Oh and, my old friend @Issho_Fujitora started a series of Interviews with History,  

2. Fights, disputes, and related.seeing someone take over from where he left would be awesome :)

In this case, if you have a news coverage on something like this, it's possible that the players implicated would be offended.

That's Gossip and Drama !!!   Thinking about making news pieces around this kind of stuff is just  ..................   

 

Besides, if you think you'd get a sizeable portion of readers who'd love this kind of stuff then let me spare you the trouble and direct them to the cybersport section of the forum, more specifically the clan pages.  Its always full of that kind of stuff 

 dang I suck for discussions I always end up losing I should avoid those in the future. No wait actually I shouldn't, orelese I wouldn't be able to get better.

uh ?   :blink:

 

Oh and DS can I copy your awesome facepalming emo?

knock yourself out buddy ;)  its my favourite .gif btw :D

[Truthteller 4,204]

If theres one thing I learned from this topic it is that Damn_slow has the coolest emoticons and (forgot how to spell it)     :P

Edited January 18, 2015 by Truthteller

[r_Damn_Slow0 12,476]

A friend of mine just saw this topic and was discussing it over with me on skype, and I think he made a really sound argument there.

 

Just a heads-up : its very quite very critical !

 

 

 

 

[MarineMan2 1,164]

 

Isn't that the Newspaper Requests topic? Because I have no idea what you're trying to say here   :P

Saw this just as I was about to ask it myself... so what's the deal?