Simfile Database

[Rebirth0]

As many people have probably realized, both the FFR Simfile Database, and the Bemanistyle database have gone down and have been down for a while. There are no longer (that I am aware of) any websites to download simfiles for. This is obviously a pretty big deal as it could paralyze the ability for Stepmania to continue growth and have maintained interest in the game.

Yes we have mediafire and rapidshare and websites like those, but I think many of us would agree that an official website/database would be the ideal response to what has happened.

I had plans of taking care of this issue with Red Fraction but we all know that never happened. Moving on.

Tell me what you guys think about this. Would it be a good idea to make a website and give the community a real simfile database once again? Something we could upload singles and whole packs to. If this becomes a serious discussion, let it be known that I am willing to be part of the financial support for this database

[dragonmegaXX]

I would love this idea. Is there any reason that all the other ones have been shutting down? My first guess would be legal issues but Im not sure if it's anything more.

I didnt know the bemanistyle database was gone :'c

[Choofers]

I've been planing on making a weekly/semi-weekly StepMania blog about new single releases/packs/scores, etc. If I end up making this, hopefully I could implement your simfile database in it.

[Cold Kitten]

Assuming this was all handled correctly, I think this could be a great idea. I know there have been plenty of times when I KNOW there's a chart for something (had it previously, been told about it, etc), but haven't been able to find it anywhere.

I'm not sure how this could all be done, and I'm sure it wouldn't be easy, but if this could be put together, I know there's a lot of people that would enjoy it.

[Rebirth0]

I don't think it was ever a legal issue with simfile databases. I don't think people care THAT MUCH. Only Synth does/did and only about FFR itself.

My guess is that there was some financial obligation to it. Or they just decided to cut back due to a lack of activity. (at least for bemanistyle. We all know the FFR database just didn't get put back up when the website was revived)

[Ohaider]

No direct downloads from FFR itself, that's what caused trouble in the first place obv

But i like the idea of providing a database with file hosting Links like mediafire.
Pretty much just means we won't have to flood the forums with thread after thread of one individual file or pack.

+1

We could even have them sorted by popularity/date/etc

This could be a great idea!

[bob bob]

Bemanistyle is bringing there's back iirc, they just have to recover every file they had and other stuff

[Staiain]

I could also help out with financial stuff for this, but the real challenge is to find someone willing to code the db and the page...

[moches]

problem with Bemanistyle is that you have to be registered before downloading stuff, already cutting off newbies from taking interest in the game. putting up a new site would be great, I think, particularly if you were able to archive information for each file as well (so you could sort it by pack, artist, file author, era, etc.)

additional suggestion: could we also host reviews on that site? we could organize a project weeding through old pack threads and finding all the reviews so people could see the general consensus before making a decision. plus it would just look super cool and legit (like Stepmania's own Metacritic rofl)

I'm a total whore for reviews just saying :3

[dragonmegaXX]

I didnt like bemani's search engine for simfiles

[who_cares973]

Full support.and I would love to have a DB again

[FFR4EVA_00]

i'm gonna say this would be a useless venture except for old files because most people only do packs now

[moches]

there are plenty of packs with some good files, but I don't have all of them. (it's kind of like yhe difference between albums and singles.) I still think putting up sims for individual download will only add a level of freedom and convenience to Stepmania.

[DragonIIDX]

This sounds like a great idea. Since bemanistyle's went down I've been uploading to zenius -I- vanisher but... I don't think they really care for video game music. A new site for simfiles would be nice for FFR and new players.

[psychoangel691]

If you guys want you can use this temporarily or whatever http://keysmashingisawesome.com/foru...ction=tpmod;dl

We've had it for a while, but it doesn't get a whole lot of use.

[xVaLoRx]

I would like a new simfile database. If this ever gets made, you should make it so we can select our favorite artists and we get a notification to our email or something whenever they upload a new file

[who_cares973]

I just need a secure place to backup my files since media fire send space etc aren't very secure unless you pay for the premium account

[Gundam-Dude]

Creating a simfile database is a great start, just don't create a whole damn new community to go along with it as that will unnecessarily add onto the whole separation problem in SM where each community isolates themselves from the others. I've expressed countless times about how difficult it is to find an exact starting place for SM as there's so many different communities to choose from as opposed to the single, one place that has everything (re: other games).

[cedolad]

If you guys need someone to do the coding shit, I'm more than able to. I just need details, and probably someone to do the graphical part of it. I'm not artsy at all lol, I just know how to code.

[TC_Halogen]

There's no real intent on making another community for the sake of separating (hence the reason why guests of the forum can upload files as well); it's there just to host files for people to enjoy.

EDIT: p.s. read Kayla's post, we have a simfile storage/database on our forums as a temporary solution, and IF you decide that you want an account, you can have account based storage

we at least ask that you tag your name properly, lol