What makes a stepfile fun?

**Garquillex** · 01-4-2009, 04:51 PM

What is it that makes a particular favorite song of yours fun to play even after your skill makes it easy to play? I'm sure everyone has had favorite songs during the growth of your skill, but do you still play any of them? Or does their relative easyness make it not particularly fun anymore? The music is probably a big factor, but I can't really stand playing old favorites that are just too easy now, even from 1 or 2 difficulty levels ago.

I want to know how some of you think about this. I'm about to start making a stepfile so I'm looking for some keypoints in what makes a stepfile fun even after you surpass it.

**Patashu** · 01-4-2009, 04:59 PM

it's subjective

okay but seriously, if I had to guess...
interesting patterns that aren't too repetitive but mixed up and exemplify the underlying music in both rhythm usage, chord usage and column/pattern usage
and a good song obviously

you want something that feels natural to tap out and read

I'm just guessing tho, this is something you ought to be doing anyway

alexdestructions · 01-4-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patashu

it's subjective

okay but seriously, if I had to guess...
interesting patterns that aren't too repetitive but mixed up and exemplify the underlying music in both rhythm usage, chord usage and column/pattern usage
and a good song obviously

you want something that feels natural to tap out and read

I'm just guessing tho, this is something you ought to be doing anyway

I knew pat was gonna post in here.

There are a lot of unoriginal songs in FFR, some fun files though.

**8 Hour Whore** · 01-4-2009, 05:02 PM

Music is a definite but I'd have to say the things that make a fun stepfile would be the trickyness around your weakness. I have plenty of songs that I still play even though they've become easy and I play them because even though they are drop dead easy they are also amazing to know that we had that.

**Adamaja456** · 01-4-2009, 05:03 PM

i like chains and streams. songs with lots of those two features are fun to play for me

**Bluearrowll** · 01-4-2009, 05:16 PM

Aesthetics is a key for me, like if the keytaps flow nicely I'll like it. One of my fav songs is 3020.

**dore** · 01-4-2009, 05:22 PM

A fun file has enjoyable music mixed with well-thought-out patterns that flow naturally with the music and accurately represent the music without going overboard.

Syhto · 01-4-2009, 06:23 PM

I like it when it feels like I'm playing it or something. It makes me like piano files especially, but then there are the ones that are just really energetic and fun to do. I like jumps.

One of my favorite files to play is SYNiC, or something.. Whatever it's called. I think it's because of the energy, but the way everything is mapped does a lot. It's an easy file though. So it doesn't have to be difficult.

Fr0st2k · 01-7-2009, 10:10 AM

I like songs, as others have mentioned, that flow. Also, as something that wasnt mentioned (although touched on), is that everyone hears specific songs in their own way. If i would load up (stepmania-? is that still around), and strum out my own stepfile while the song is playing....would I be following the same beat as the stepfile creator? If so, I like the song, because it fits really well with my mentality and becomes fun and natural.

MrRubix · 01-7-2009, 10:30 AM

The most natural ones are the most fun for me. Songs with extremely awkward patterns are not files I usually come back to play again. Fun music with well-planned steps are great. If the way I am tapping on the keyboard feels natural to me, it's all the better.

Imagine yourself naturally tapping out to the rhythm of a given song while at a desk or something -- or the way people tap their foot when listening. I think if you can sync the stepcharts with the flow of that natural tapping, you're set. People tend to have a natural "tap reaction" to certain parts of certain songs, and it's good to capture that.

**Bolth mannn** · 01-7-2009, 01:11 PM

check out the song 'Hybrid'

as well as being a fun song to listen to, its got lots of jumps in it that seem like you are playing the guitar thats playing in it. its definately my favourite stepfile.

**xingyguy** · 01-7-2009, 01:54 PM

I like basic, well planned out files. Files that have a good flow. If you put in a bunch of jumpstreams, sure, it's hard, but it's just not fun.

Gameo · 01-7-2009, 02:34 PM

Well it all comes down to what the individual person thinks.

Though I believe we can all agree that a simfile which is 100% synced = A good imfile.

A simfile which matches your interests (Jumpsteam, Mash etc.) = A fun simfile.

A simfile that has both of the above things = A fun, good simfile which will be played again, loads of times.

01-4-2009, 04:51 PM	#1
Garquillex FFR Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Massachusetts Age: 33 Posts: 965	What makes a stepfile fun? What is it that makes a particular favorite song of yours fun to play even after your skill makes it easy to play? I'm sure everyone has had favorite songs during the growth of your skill, but do you still play any of them? Or does their relative easyness make it not particularly fun anymore? The music is probably a big factor, but I can't really stand playing old favorites that are just too easy now, even from 1 or 2 difficulty levels ago. I want to know how some of you think about this. I'm about to start making a stepfile so I'm looking for some keypoints in what makes a stepfile fun even after you surpass it. __________________

01-4-2009, 04:59 PM	#2
Patashu FFR Simfile Author Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: we traced the call...it's coming from inside the house Age: 33 Posts: 8,609	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? it's subjective okay but seriously, if I had to guess... interesting patterns that aren't too repetitive but mixed up and exemplify the underlying music in both rhythm usage, chord usage and column/pattern usage and a good song obviously you want something that feels natural to tap out and read I'm just guessing tho, this is something you ought to be doing anyway __________________ Patashu makes Chiptunes in Famitracker: http://soundcloud.com/patashu/8bit-progressive-metal-fading-world http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/Mechadragon/smallpackbanner.png Best non-AAAs: ERx8 v2 (14-1-0-4), Hajnal (3-0-0-0), RunnyMorning (8-0-0-4), Xeno-Flow (1-0-0-3), Blue Rose (35-2-0-20), Ketsarku (14-0-0-0), Silence (1-0-0-0), Lolo (14-1-0-1) http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee301/xiaoven/solorulzsig.png

01-4-2009, 05:02 PM	#4
8 Hour Whore ←↓↑→ Lets Bang? ←↓↑→ Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 32 Posts: 2,324	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? Music is a definite but I'd have to say the things that make a fun stepfile would be the trickyness around your weakness. I have plenty of songs that I still play even though they've become easy and I play them because even though they are drop dead easy they are also amazing to know that we had that. __________________ R.I.P JellyGod <333 Best AAA: Banned Forever BlackFlags: 49

01-4-2009, 05:03 PM	#5
Adamaja456 Absurd Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 31 Billion Club, WA Age: 34 Posts: 6,433	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? i like chains and streams. songs with lots of those two features are fun to play for me __________________ 582 Tier Points(Tier 3) 602 AAAs(517+23+62) People who bought me subscriptions/tokens: DrugstoreCowboy(1 month) ELRayford(3 months) ~GJampa(3 months) Jerry DB(3 months) 4th place in Gamewhore Competition(3 months) Phynx(FGJ album and Dendrite V2) dragon890x(1 year) Slide(1 year)

01-4-2009, 05:16 PM	#6
Bluearrowll ⊙▃⊙ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: I live in the last place where you Look. Age: 31 Posts: 7,376	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? Aesthetics is a key for me, like if the keytaps flow nicely I'll like it. One of my fav songs is 3020. __________________ 1st in Kommisar's 2009 SM Tournament 1st in I Love You`s 2009 New Year`s Tournament 3rd in EnR's Mashfest '08 tournament 5th in Phynx's Unofficial FFR Tournament 9th in D3 of the 2008-2009 4th Official FFR Tournament 10th in D5 of the 2010 5th Official FFR Tournament 10th in D6 of the 2011-2012 6th Official FFR Tournament FMO AAA Count: 71 FGO AAA Count: 10 Bluearrowll = The Canadian player who can not detect awkward patterns. If it's awkward for most people, it's normal for Terry. If the file is difficult but super straight forward, he has issues. If he's AAAing a FGO but then heard that his favorite Hockey team was losing by a point, Hockey > FFR PS: Cool AAA's Terry - I Love You An Alarm Clock's Haiku beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep - ieatyourlvllol

01-4-2009, 05:22 PM	#7
dore caveman pornstar Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: ridin on a unicorn Age: 33 Posts: 6,317	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? A fun file has enjoyable music mixed with well-thought-out patterns that flow naturally with the music and accurately represent the music without going overboard. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IREnpHco9mw

01-7-2009, 10:10 AM	#9
Fr0st2k FFR Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 13	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? I like songs, as others have mentioned, that flow. Also, as something that wasnt mentioned (although touched on), is that everyone hears specific songs in their own way. If i would load up (stepmania-? is that still around), and strum out my own stepfile while the song is playing....would I be following the same beat as the stepfile creator? If so, I like the song, because it fits really well with my mentality and becomes fun and natural.

01-7-2009, 10:30 AM	#10
MrRubix FFR Player Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: New York City, New York Posts: 8,340	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? The most natural ones are the most fun for me. Songs with extremely awkward patterns are not files I usually come back to play again. Fun music with well-planned steps are great. If the way I am tapping on the keyboard feels natural to me, it's all the better. Imagine yourself naturally tapping out to the rhythm of a given song while at a desk or something -- or the way people tap their foot when listening. I think if you can sync the stepcharts with the flow of that natural tapping, you're set. People tend to have a natural "tap reaction" to certain parts of certain songs, and it's good to capture that. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0es0Mip1jWY

01-7-2009, 01:11 PM	#11
Bolth mannn FFR Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008 Age: 29 Posts: 2,228	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? check out the song 'Hybrid' as well as being a fun song to listen to, its got lots of jumps in it that seem like you are playing the guitar thats playing in it. its definately my favourite stepfile. __________________

01-7-2009, 01:54 PM	#12
xingyguy Bagel Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: california Posts: 266	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? I like basic, well planned out files. Files that have a good flow. If you put in a bunch of jumpstreams, sure, it's hard, but it's just not fun. __________________ My latest simfiles: Xenobius: http://www.stepmania.com/download.ph...Xenobius.smzip Coward Killing Time: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...p?songid=38838 Minute: http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/...p?songid=35958 Chaoz Impact: http://www.stepmania.com/download.ph...ozImpact.smzip

01-7-2009, 02:34 PM	#13
Gameo FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: I see a white light =O Age: 29 Posts: 437	Re: What makes a stepfile fun? Well it all comes down to what the individual person thinks. Though I believe we can all agree that a simfile which is 100% synced = A good imfile. A simfile which matches your interests (Jumpsteam, Mash etc.) = A fun simfile. A simfile that has both of the above things = A fun, good simfile which will be played again, loads of times. __________________ .

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