30 replies to this topic

[Dafortminor]

Sticky would be annoying due to the mix of genres and ideas that are duplicates of others and etc. 

 

A separate forum would also be annoying due to duplicate ideas and what the other staff mentioned before. 

 

A good idea but its just chaotic if you put it on paper.

[Seraphic Mist]

In theory I like this, but wouldn't it lead to too many people (read: Leechers) making requests, and then expecting (read: demanding) that Scanlation teams scan it for them?

 

There aren't that many Scanlators that like to be dictated.

 

Face it, a Scanlation-request forum is sort of like walking into a 5☆ restaurant, ordering the best meals over there, and walking away without paying the bill.

 

In my opinion, if someone is requesting a particular project to be scanned, they must at least show the Scanlator a source of raws and/or volunteer to help out the Scanlation team for that particular project in any way they can help. No ifs, buts, or ands. And this is assuming that the Scanlator is willing to take on the project.

 

Ask not what Scanlation Teams can do for you. Ask what you can do for Scanlation Teams. (Especially when "asking" them to scan so and so Manga.)

 

 

 

 

[Mystery]

Sticky would be annoying due to the mix of genres and ideas that are duplicates of others and etc. 
 
A separate forum would also be annoying due to duplicate ideas and what the other staff mentioned before. 
 
A good idea but its just chaotic if you put it on paper.

 

To keep things under control we can employ certain restrictions

Like allow only members older than 6-12 months to post requests.
Older members are, in general, more likely to follow rules.
They are also the ones more likely to do their research before they place a request.
While this may not eliminate the problem of duplicates but it will reduce it a great deal.
 
Also in the beginning we can have sub-forum solely English translation requests, to test feasibility.
Later we can open sub-sections for other language translations
 
Like

 

• Scanlator's corner
  • Scanlation requests 
    • English translations (sub-forum)

 

 

Having sub sections will help in management of requests

Edited by Mystery, 01 June 2013 - 05:21 AM.

[101010]

I'm am just saying it's not absolutely essential to have a sticky thread.
Can't inappropriate suggestions simply be deleted?

 
Any kind of management would require some work, might as well do it right and do all.
 

...

 
The sticky can easily be just sorted by (separated into) demographics - shounen, shoujo, etc. Most groups look at that first anyway.
 

...

 

I think you are looking too one-sided at this idea. For example, I've been asked numerous times by people for "interesting manga" that they may pick up scanlating. Or in other words, you do not look at the problem from the scanlators' POV who may use this theoretical list as well. Or even some English publisher may want to have a look, lol.

Edited by 101010, 01 June 2013 - 05:26 AM.

[Daktyl]

The more I think about this the more I think (read: know) that this will cause issues between scanlation groups. If some group subscribed to the forum picks up something that a group that isn't subscribed to the forum had picked up before it was suggested, the users/subscribed groups can't just go "oh well, you're not subscribed to the Batoto forum so it's your fault and/or you don't have the right to do it."

 

Also, it has another issue: slow releases. For instance, my group "Orinjido Scans" releases some series very slowly, but it's not because we want to: there are valid reasons. Reasons that we post on our site and tell people in IRC when the release gets delayed for a large amount of time. And we have no intention of dropping those series.

Alas, readers won't be so understanding when they have a central place to ask for series to be scanlated. Just ask Derek, he can probably tell you how many times a series from my group or another group that are still actively being done, just slowly, gets requested and how often they COMPLETELY IGNORE the reasons that we lay out for them.

 

So yeah, good idea on paper but too many problems with the actual implementation.

 

P.S. I'd like to make it known that some scanlation groups actually oppose Batoto (as they do other online readers), so making it a requirement to all scanlation groups to subscribe to a Batoto thread just to keep people from stealing your series is... not good...

[101010]

...

Incorrect, things can only improve.

With or without Batoto, groups still cannot read each other's mind. The scenario you described is not only not uncommon, but it will continue to happen while there is lacking a centralized body that co-ordinates scanlation groups. What we are striving for (or at least I am trying to support) is a simple list of series that people would like to see translated. No strings attached. I guarantee that your group, Orinjido Scans, or any other will not be forced to scanlate anything. It's just a list. A list. List.

If you go through the trouble of actually reading the thread, you will notice that the slow releases have been addressed previously. As a person in the scanlation scene, I expect you to know that every group keeps track of the series they are doing. If anything is dropped it will be noted on the site or you can ask them directly. This is common knowledge and very far from a real issue. I personally went though some of the suggestions directed at Derek, and in the same way as described two sentences ago I managed to find a couple of series that are being scanlated albeit slow. Took some seconds.

Regarding that some groups oppose Batoto, that would be no problem at all. I don't know why you are left with the impression that every group out there needs to be subscribed to the theoretical forum, but that's false impression. Participation would be completely voluntary, it's just a list of series that people would like to read someday. Nothing more. You are acting as if we are trying to create another MU. No, just a list. A list.

[Mystery]

The more I think about this the more I think (read: know) that this will cause issues between scanlation groups. If some group subscribed to the forum picks up something that a group that isn't subscribed to the forum had picked up before it was suggested, the users/subscribed groups can't just go "oh well, you're not subscribed to the Batoto forum so it's your fault and/or you don't have the right to do it."
 
Also, it has another issue: slow releases. For instance, my group "Orinjido Scans" releases some series very slowly, but it's not because we want to: there are valid reasons. Reasons that we post on our site and tell people in IRC when the release gets delayed for a large amount of time. And we have no intention of dropping those series.
Alas, readers won't be so understanding when they have a central place to ask for series to be scanlated. Just ask Derek, he can probably tell you how many times a series from my group or another group that are still actively being done, just slowly, gets requested and how often they COMPLETELY IGNORE the reasons that we lay out for them.

We can have members check MangaUpdates for scanlating groups before placing a request. In fact, make it mandatory to link to MangaUpdates info page so we know that they "at least tried" looking for groups scanlating the series.

 

If are already working on the series, you just mention it-no need to give reasons. Then the thread gets locked.

Members will be (hopefully) checking for previous requests so when they see the thread, they know that it just a "slow release" and not dropped.

If it gets requested again, it will be considered a duplicate and deleted.

Groups don't have to entertain any further similar threads.

So yeah, good idea on paper but too many problems with the actual implementation.
 
P.S. I'd like to make it known that some scanlation groups actually oppose Batoto (as they do other online readers), so making it a requirement to all scanlation groups to subscribe to a Batoto thread just to keep people from stealing your series is... not good...

Like 101010 said, participation is completely voluntary. It would help that all groups participate-but that's the ideal scenario.

[OchaMeido❣]

*nods* I approve~

 

 

 but  many group already lack translators. There isn't much translators.......

 or the groups who are still active is too busy with their own projects (either translators done their job , they need more editors or they have editors, and lack translators).........

 

Just hope it works somehow ~ though it does give attention to series that has been dropped which are good reads. 

[Mystery]

but  many group already lack translators. There isn't much translators.......

 or the groups who are still active is too busy with their own projects (either translators done their job , they need more editors or they have editors, and lack translators)......... 

Which is the motivation behind this suggestion.

Readers have trouble finding scanlators for reasons you mentioned.

So it's good to to have place where readers can make their requests known to all the groups.

If there is a group looking for a new series(groups that are too busy won't be looking for new series) and they visit this forum, the readers request may catch their attention and they might consider picking it up!

[Dafortminor]

Most readers dont really care about the scanlating actually doing the series, they cannot even wait 2 days at most, they would just make a request for a group to do it, and some aggressive groups would take the project thus causing friction among other scanalation groups. 

[Viscoun]

a requests thread would only create a safe haven for "guerilla" scan groups like assassin scans and others. there's no honor in scanlation but there should be a bit of respect and courtesy within the community, at least. (not going to continue the argument, but that's my voice in the matter.)

 

it does sound like a fairly good idea, though. many groups have request threads in their own forums, but these are largely ignored unless the group is dedicated to picking up un-scanlated or dropped projects, like renzokusei scans. by putting such a thread on batoto, readers would be able to at least see some of the manga they want to read get scanlated.

 

there will be a ton of clutter, but if several threads dedicated to different genres are created, then it could work out. and as for any "bogey" requests, like requests made for series that are already scanlated... those can be dealt with with a swift check-up in mangaupdates. in fact, making it mandatory to post links to mangaupdates, like mystery said, would be a very good idea.