So I’m not the best at crafting a proper post, thus I’m just going to randomly type what is on my mind and hope that it flows smoothly. It appears there has been a lot of commotion going on between the readers of this site and staff. I’m not referring to the past post that was removed – this has been going on for some time. I’m usually turning the other way as I am not a fan of drama and really try to stay out of it, but I am going to put an end to it. I’m not going to go into discussion on who was right and who was wrong, rather, I want to discuss what this has been leading up to.
You see, we’re made up of a good size staff. Most in which if they have a few spare minutes of their day, they’ll come on and post a news tidbit. I thank them for that. However, the bulk of the posting has been up to TheBlackScorpion. Now, some folks may not happen to like this, may not like his views on EA or the games – that’s perfectly understandable. We’re all going to have opinions on one another. Some may say that some news stories are not worthy of being published – whether it’s incorrect information or a topic not related to the Sims. I hear you loud and clear on that. Best solution is, feel free to skip the post, or let us know which info is incorrect and we’ll correct it. Like I have stated, we’re a fansite. We’re by no means the best fansite out there – we don’t claim to be. Plenty of awesome Sim sites to check out, hence why we often post links to them and their works.
But jumping back…you see, even if some of you don’t like his posts/comments, TheBlackScorpion has been a huge, huge help on this site. See who does most of the updates these past couple of months? That’d be him. Without him, this site would go downhill fast – very fast. I just can’t keep up anymore….Work has increased since we had layoffs, I picked up new jobs around the workplace so I’ve been training and learning new things. My social life has also picked up a great deal, so I usually don’t find myself on the computer much anymore, thus leaving little time to update. Heck, I don’t even remember the last time I played The Sims 3 – in fact, I can’t even remember when I last played a video game. Been reading about all of the site closures recently? Yeah, I had thought about closing this site…Still thinking about it too…
So all that’s left that I can say is be thankful that he’s around to help post – along with the rest of the staff. You may find his posts to be not up to par with what you expect, but if there is something you see wrong, be a kind folk and please point it out in a non-hostile manner. I would really, really appreciate that.
-Jud
It’s sad, that many sites about The Sims are closed. But now The Sims 3 is different game, which no similar with original The Sims. Now The Sims 3 is game, when EA suck our money, not more.
I hope you will not close that site because it’s one of my favs ^^
And I understand what you want to say ^^
BlackScorpion is a great help for your staff ^^
And I find every post of this site – from BlackScorpion or another – really interesting ^^
So don’t change anything ^^
Okay….Not funny, we cant just because of theblackscorpion’s post then close the whole site. It’s natural for human to complain.
And the reason if you’re closing due to busy work…I cant stop you from closing if you really decide to close, because to be honest, this is life. The true life.
The idea of closing the site isn’t really due from the complaints on his posts, I’ve been kicking around the idea of shutting it down for much longer than that. I just don’t really have the time to fully dedicate to it anymore. Personal life has finally caught up to me and I’m spending more and more time away from the computer and gaming in general. It’s just seeing the comments/complaints that furthers my thoughts of the process. When all said and done, we do this for free. Not a dime is made from this site – sure, we got ads, but any funds from that goes to the hosting provider. Same goes with any fansite really. We all use our spare time to try and help out in the community – for example, the guides by SimsVIP. Putting those together takes a tremendous amount of time – and they turn out better than the Prima Guides that cost $15-20…all for free.
Please dont close this site. This one and simsvip are the best ones.
I like Black Scorpions post. Sorry about the punctuation but I’m on a touch screen cell phone.
I would so cry bitter tears if this site closed!
Don’t ever think of shutting this site down 🙁 I check this site a few times a day.
TheBlackScorpion is awesome. 🙂
It seems to me that it takes more time to type out a complaint than it does to use the scroll button.
Jud, if people insist on being that bothered by what they consider to be irrelevant content, then you really need to create a disclaimer stating exactly what this site is (a blog of many interesting topics, but primarily (if not always) Sim Stuff), and make sure to plaster it on top of EVERY PAGE.
Then TheBlackScorpion and the rest of the Fellowship of the Ring can moderate with pre-typed warnings and explanations for certain posts being deleted. If the messages are pre-typed and less personal, then there will not be so much fuel for the fire (so to speak).
As for the possible closing of the site: If you only knew how many times I have said to myself: “I wish I had known about SimPrograms sooner.” As it stands, I only found my way here in 2009. Was I ever impressed by the constant stream of news and info! Furthermore, this site is safe. Do you understand the magnitude of what you have created? This is a safe site, Jud. I trust it. I know I can depend on it to host patches and links to information that is no longer hosted in official circles. It is practically a living monument to TS1, and it is sure to be the same for TS2 in the future.
However, if you decide that you do indeed want to shutdown the site, I will respect that decision. But please do not allow yourself to sign the site’s death warrant just because of ill-tempered people.
Also,
@ orangecake
Take a good look at past news posts. This has been going for quite some time. It is escalating and verging on troll behavior. We must nuke it before it gets worse.
This had to be said twice >.>
And a thousand more times.
I love the site and appreciate the updates. I mostly view the content through an RSS reader, so I rarely visit/see the comments. I’m sorry to hear that trolls have been at it again.
Jud, I’m glad to hear that your personal and professional life is so busy that closing down the site is a natural concern. I too can’t remember the last time I played TS3 or another video game. Still, I enjoy reading Sims related news, so I appreciate the work of the SimPrograms staff!
Any view is an important view, and even if you disagree with it, it’s interesting.
Another thing I’ve noticed is TheBlackScorpion writing about things like Zynga – some people are/were complaining at that (“unrelated”) but I think that all of his posts are interesting. And he does post A LOT.
THANKS TBS 🙂
I agree with Irana!
Jud ignore the complainers there not even worth bothering about unless its formatted in a socially acceptable way.
A video game is meant to be fun and not a chore so of course its up to you to do what you like with the site. Just consider this though, generally things slow down a bit or circumstances change so many you’ll rekindle your interest in the sims.
I know I still love the game and check this site almost everyday but I have a social life and work and MANY other comittments too so I don’t spend every waking hour playing it out.
If you were to leave the site and shutdown simprograms then fair enough but if you decide that you once again want to play the sims and help the community or the like then you wont find it as easy just to ‘open it up again’.
Its your choice, i’ve just given my personal view on this choice after joining/playing/enjoying/leaving many games, I don’t ever ‘sell up or shutdown’ because I know at some point i’ll be back.
Eitherway I wish you luck in what ever you do and i’ve enjoyed and will continue to enjoy if you decide to leave simprograms up.
Ah, real life. The ultimate gaming killer.
No but seriously, don’t shut down the site. I really don’t understand why people are making such a big fuss because something is mentioned as news. Notice how there are hundreds of other different news stories? And yet somehow mentioning one that you consider not news-worthy is the apocalypse.
Just to clarify, the last part was directed towards the complainers 😛
I can echo the comments made above. I come to this site daily to check to see what’s new and I have found BlackScorpion’s posts to be pertinent and newsworthy in the world of sims. Those who complain are not worthy of my typing…they’re just a waste of time.
I can understand about your personal life Jud, and I know how important rl is in comparison to video games, they are, after all games.
Whatever you decide we will abide by that as it’s your site afterall. Just know that you, BlackScorpion, Simillion (sp) will be missed, and yes, the sun will come up in the morning. Lol.
Second post regarding the trolls. Remember, when you start giving the trolls attention, they win.
don’t close this site – its very good site so only needs a rules changes to stop the problems
Dont close this site. I check here daily for any news or updates for the sims!
Well, we have emailed a few times, and have known each other – not closely, but knew each other nonetheless- for a few years… and as I’ve said before, you are one of the nicest people I have met in the Sims community. If you think the time has come for you to have a life outside the site, or even gaming, I support you on that. That being said though, I have to chime in too, and say Don’t close the site! At least find someone else to run it, in the manner we are accustomed. It has been a fount of INVALUABLE information for me and others, and I stop in at least twice a day to see what’s new! I’d hate to lose that!
All those mouthy complainers who have nothing better to do with their troll-like existence except come onto this site and piss and moan, need to realise exactly what the site is about – yes, it’s a Sims site (and a damn good one at that), but anything that’s related to The Sims will get posted too. If they don’t like it, they should not even bother coming here or just ignore the post and move on. TBS has been brilliant in posting information and news, and has done so IMO in a light-hearted and comical way; some of his comments make me laugh – and it’s nice to come here and have a giggle.
Here’s to fingers crossing that the site doesn’t close down due to real life, but if it does I’ll have some great memories of the site and the awesome staff that run it.
Cheers to you all!
*dramatically falls to the floor and clings to your legs* please don’t close this site. I only check it like 3 times every day for news and you have the best resources for tutorials D:
😐 you have a lot more people who love you than hate you. I have several sites of my own, including some pretty popular ones, and even I get some trolls who do nothing but complain, so I feel your pain..but..dear friend, Rise Above!!
x
I was stunned about this post, but I totally understand. Even I received hell just for having posted my self Sim on here. I really hope the site doesn’t close, but I will respect whatever decision is made. It’s tough to find a very welcoming and respectful site that offers enough Sims information. It’s unfortunate that drama will always exist within The Sims community, a community that seems to be lessening as the days go by. 🙁
I love this site, screw all that haters and above all don’t close it update when you can I check it all the time for news, it’s easy to follow and read not like other sites with all there long ass loading pages and ridiculous design layout, I like it more then any other sims site and I’ve been coming here since Sims 1 days so yeah there is my 2 cents.
So let whoever post what they want if you don’t like it just keep scrolling to the next post
How much hate do you think everyone here has for the stoopid people that caused this post in the first place? I hope you mean people can read all this posts and feel bad, cause there is so much love and respect for this site both from the creators and the readers, that you obviously dont deserve to even type in the address.
Don’t shut down the site, don’t let mean people win, this is really frustrating, there is so much love for this site x
Too bad that you feel that way. 🙁
This is the only Sims site I bother to check almost daily: To me, this site seems like the “centre of everything”. If there’s new stuff about the Sims somewhere over the Internet, this place directs that way. One doesen’t need a thousand bookmarks to check out everything that goes on in the Sim community, because this here site keeps us informed about it all. I really love that about this site.
But I think I know how you feel: It’s not fun, when something you loved starts to feel like a burden. So, if you decide to shut this down, I guess I’ll just have to start collecting those thousand bookmarks. 😀
every site needs a “TheBlackScorpion” I have never thought anything here was irrelevant and have always valued this site.
wish mine could be 1/2 of what this site it 🙂