Supporter Forum, Best of March 2016

[TomFulp]

Since the dawn of the Supporter Upgrade, the most suggested supporter feature has been a private forum. We've had concerns about how a forum like this would turn out but NOT doing it makes us look like we're not doing everything we can so it's time to give it a shot.

Presenting: The Supporter Forum!

Come join the party, maybe we can hit 1,300 active supporters today on the Wall of Honor! Cake will be served in the supporter forum if we do. If you are an artist on the site who doesn't post much in the forums, it would be extra cool to see you pop in.

Thank you, by the way, to everyone who has helped support Newgrounds. You make my heart smile. If you missed it, we launched another supporter feature on Monday.

Best of March

Your votes are in and the Best of March have been determined!

Top Five Movies

• 

  Eddsworld - The End

  by eddsworld

  The grand finale of Eddsworld Legacy

  Movie

  273,912 Views

  (Ages 13+)

• 

  A Prank Time

  by Jaime-R

  Kooky hijinks! Things will never be the same.

  Movie

  169,551 Views

  (Ages 17+)

• 

  THIS YEAR

  by HappyHarry

  Good things a' comin'

  Movie

  147,197 Views

  (Ages 17+)

• 

  Let's go Clubbing!

  by Sexual-Lobster

  Several horrific dramas play out in a club.

  Movie

  57,789 Views

  (Ages 13+)

• 

  Bowser's revenge (Mario Maker parody)

  by JoelG

  A parody of Mario Maker

  Movie

  14,980 Views

  (Ages 13+)

The top-ranked animation based on original material and winner of $250 is Eddsworld - The End!

Top Five Games

• 

  Zombidle

  by BerzerkStudio

  Idle villainy inside.

  Game

  3,773,549 Views

  (Everyone)

• 

  Punch The Trump

  by BrutalStudio

  Defeat Donald Trump

  Game

  124,240 Views

  (Ages 17+)

• 

  Whack Your Boss: Superhero Style

  by box10

  Have you ever dreamed of Whacking your Boss?

  Game

  342,755 Views

  (Ages 17+)

• 

  Adventure High Clean 0.21

  by HypnoChanger

  Use your power of Control Magic to become a Hero... or Villain!

  Game

  31,453 Views

  (Ages 13+)

• 

  Bond Breaker 2.0

  by TestTubeGames

  You gotta know when to make bonds, know when to break bonds.

  Game

  27,853 Views

  (Everyone)

Runner-up Movies

6. POKÉMANZ
7. Teaser: The Last of the Dashkin 2
8. 80 Robot Masters in 50 Seconds
9. Treasure Trouble
10. Orbit
11. Batman V Superman
12. Deadpool the Musical
13. How To Be An Animator
14. The Forgotten Toon
15. 6 Trillion Dollar Man
16. The Last Raindrop
17. Zootopia Shots: What do Predators eat?
18. Convergence at Gravity Falls! Part 2
19. HAPPINESS (Part 3)
20. Cubone - Origins (Pokemon Animation)
21. Doom-Nice Shot
22. NEW META
23. Donald 'n Gang
24. 2XXX A.A Trailer
25. Undertale: Dreemurr Reborn Sprite Animation - The Choice
26. The Illiterate Librarian
27. NWAR: Framing Story
28. Geek Culture
29. Distractions
30. "Is There Alcohol In This?" - 11 Second Club: March 2016
31. TD-The Clique
32. Persona In a Nutshell
33. Potty Meowth
34. Cemetery Flakes
35. The White Oak
36. #100DaysOfWalkcycles
37. One Punch Man Collab BR
38. Sublo & Tangy Mustard #3 - Inspirational Art
39. Lazy Sunday - Titmouse Five Second Day 2016
40. The Plastic Menace

I went a little long on the runner-up movies because there are some really good ones in there.

Runner-up Games

6. Wasteland Siege
7. Dead Detention 2; Episode 4
8. Farm Rush
9. CLONESPACE
10. The Case of Scary Shadows
11. BulletHell Adventure
12. Civilizations Wars 4 M
13. The Bar - Chapter 1
14. GCube
15. Idle City Builder
16. Cool Cat Story
17. Rody Fight!
18. Family Funday
19. Lampshade
20. Sinbad's Journey

The voter of the month and winner of an honorary year of supporter status is @iWalker!

Congrats and thank you everyone who participated in March! I still pop in on Zombidle daily to chip away at bosses and I have to re-watch A Prank Time occasionally because the animation is mind-blowing.

I'm gonna be spending most of my afternoon in the new Supporter Forum, trying to be sociable and stuff while we figure out what to do there.

[Boss]

The supporter forum is really life changing. I have rejected my alcoholism with their support, much more efficiently than the rigged systems of AA. I feel like a new man, and I personally recommend supporting at least 4 dollars to this grand establishment to enter this grand new forum. These are revolutionary times, secret forums, cool new features, what more could a man ask of the Internet in this bleak post apocalyptic modern age?

[ChazDude]

At 4/8/16 12:10 PM, LuckyLightTitan wrote: Next thing to do : Make content submissions only for supporters

Better yet, how about certain bonus levels in a game only playable by supporters? Or something similar?

[TomFulp]

At 4/8/16 12:11 PM, ChazDude wrote:

At 4/8/16 12:10 PM, LuckyLightTitan wrote: Next thing to do : Make content submissions only for supporters

Better yet, how about certain bonus levels in a game only playable by supporters? Or something similar?

We did update the API to be able to check for supporter status (like in Zombidle when you can skip watching videos)... Features like that are possible / hoped for but likely wouldn't happen until we can get back into game sponsorships.

[Viper]

At 4/8/16 12:00 PM, TomFulp wrote: Since the dawn of the Supporter Upgrade, the most suggested supporter feature has been a private forum. We've had concerns about how a forum like this would turn out but NOT doing it makes us look like we're not doing everything we can so it's time to give it a shot.

I really don't see why Supporters need their own forum. It's just going to be like General except only supporters can use it.

[Dynoxter]

Just looking at the top 5, this was one of the best month for animations.

[Boss]

At 4/8/16 12:47 PM, Viper wrote:

At 4/8/16 12:00 PM, TomFulp wrote: Since the dawn of the Supporter Upgrade, the most suggested supporter feature has been a private forum. We've had concerns about how a forum like this would turn out but NOT doing it makes us look like we're not doing everything we can so it's time to give it a shot.

I really don't see why Supporters need their own forum. It's just going to be like General except only supporters can use it.

I think it's actually a great idea, although like you said--essentially the same thing.

This filters out people less dedicated to Newgrounds, and potentially younger and newer people to the website. I think this opens up a ground for a more stable construction of discussions and is a very good step in the path of Newground's livelihood. Think of the myths about a ten thousand post forum--this is essentially it!

Once you know enough about Newgrounds to understand why supporting them with a donation is good, and do such, I think you are at a level where you and your cohorts will be able to create discussions that are on a plane that is a different kind of unique than the specific unique attributes that the general forum has.

Wish list: ten thousand post forum for post spammers. :P :P :P :P Just kidding. : P : P :P :P

[TomFulp]

At 4/8/16 12:51 PM, PlayStationPortable wrote: Just looking at the top 5, this was one of the best month for animations.

Really was a great month.

[StickmanMarkinson]

Congrats to the winners of March 2016. I guess it's great that Supporters have their own forums now..

[Plebs]

Past months submissions were crazy, so much quality material. If only all the months were that packed.

Also, I was curious if you could still see the posts on the supporter forum via a users profile and apparently you can't. Well, not unless you're a supporter yourself. I think it's great supporters are offered all these little extra's, but i hope it's not going to segregate users. I feel like his perk is coming close to that border.

[Neoslayre]

At 4/8/16 12:10 PM, LuckyLightTitan wrote: Next thing to do : Make content submissions only for supporters

Become supporter

[14hourlunchbreak]

For only $25, the supporter upgrade cured my polio! Thanks Newgrounds!

[Intrapath]

Oooh, a neat, secret forum for supporters! Second only to the secret 10,000 posts forum. I see you chugging along Tom, you're almost at 10K!

[genevrarose]

Does the top game for the month also receive prize money?

[Gagsy]

smh

Tom, I understand you have a site to run and support these days is vital to the continuation of this site but it does feel like Newgrounds is slowly but surely turning into the net equivalent of one of those crafty free gaming apps with the in app purchase options. You start the game off the same as everyone else but with purchasing comes (what you believe to be) much needed upgrades and bonuses to help you in the never ending game that just eats your wallet and your soul.

Where does it end? Because a Supporter only forum feels like a low blow and nothing else, and yes I say this feverishly as someone who has hated the 'in joke' about a 10k posts user only forum. I never wanted or needed a reward for all my posting, the content I got and the friendships forged from this very forum were all I needed.

I couldn't think of a worse forum experience then reading a bunch of people feeling smug about being supporters. After the excitement of it dies down what will the topics there be? And can you be sure it'll be any sort of upgrade to General and the other free forums here? The only one it makes sense for is you to keep your supporters updated on whatever sweeties you've got them - but then surely you want those to be public knowledge to entice more people into supporting this website anyway?

Yes, you should offer your paying supporters extras that the ungiving users do not receive but that shouldn't go beyond flash/gaming content and ads. When you start wanting to segregate your dwindling userbase then you have a problem, one that you won't solve with ploys like this.

Give supporters something WORTH paying for.

I've mentioned before my irk about getting a special badge by supporting a site with $25 when I've spent thousands of dollars through supporting this site with purchases - t-shirts, plushies, figurines, posters, mystery box, mystery box, mystery box..

And the sad part is, most of the things you offer supporters (animated sigs, name changes, level icon changes) should just be for regular users and this is why it is starting to feel like segregation.

You need better rewards, because loyalty won't last forever on its own.

Good luck.

[TomFulp]

At 4/8/16 05:20 PM, GMR516 wrote: Does the top game for the month also receive prize money?

We used to have prize money for the game of the month but as the top games were getting good sponsorships and the budget was tightening years ago, we stopped doing it. It might make a return down the road if things get better, though.

[Heretic-Anchorite]

I've been coming here for 10+ years, yet because I don't have much cash to spare, newgrounds is starting to filter me out with "Newgrounds Premium" and tell me to sod off?

I liked that better when it was just a joke.

[TomFulp]

At 4/8/16 06:08 PM, Heretic-Anchorite wrote: I've been coming here for 10+ years, yet because I don't have much cash to spare, newgrounds is starting to filter me out with "Newgrounds Premium" and tell me to sod off?

Not asking anyone to sod off. There is still plenty here outside of one forum.

[TurkeyOnAStick]

At 4/8/16 05:20 PM, Gagsy wrote: I couldn't think of a worse forum experience then reading a bunch of people feeling smug about being supporters.

I don't think anybody in that forum is smug about being a supporter.

I find the whole segregation thing goes against my principles and I think the whole things an experiment, but honestly there are times when I can't bear to be in the General Forum because it's either incredibly nasty and negative, or simply braindead. I hope the Supporter Forum can be some kind of light relief to that, and be a forum to have fun in.

[FoAngel]

Jesus people up in arms about a new Supporter forum. Did anyone consider its probably experimental to see how something like this would do. If it fails it fails I'd it succeeds it succeeds. At least they're coming up with ideas for people to buy Supporter.

It's getting tiresome watching some people complain yet they don't come with any alternatives. You're already segregated now the Mod's have their own forum so instead of complaining about the change get together and make suggestions for changes. It's not that hard

[Zhon]

At 4/8/16 08:21 PM, FoAngel wrote: Did anyone consider its probably experimental to see how something like this would do.

I like the part where Tom actually said in the first post that this was an experimental idea (implicitly).

[genevrarose]

At 4/8/16 06:05 PM, TomFulp wrote:

At 4/8/16 05:20 PM, GMR516 wrote: Does the top game for the month also receive prize money?

We used to have prize money for the game of the month but as the top games were getting good sponsorships and the budget was tightening years ago, we stopped doing it. It might make a return down the road if things get better, though.

Mmm, I see. Ya, you should bring that back. That would be motivation for me if you guys had that. Just make sure you announce it so that I see it. ;)

@TomFulp

[Shikamarana]

supporter only forum oh thats a slippery slope i bet next they'll probably start ww3

[Gobblemeister]

At 4/8/16 09:16 PM, Shikamarana wrote: supporter only forum oh thats a slippery slope i bet next they'll probably start ww3

I also don't like the supporter forum!

Just kidding i'm too busy having SEX to give a shit about the fucking forums you fucking nerd ass loser bitch homo

[Lionelion]

At 4/8/16 02:16 PM, Hoodie wrote:
Let's not make Newgrounds Orange or something similar to YouTube Red with this supporter stuff. That would kind of ruin newgrounds forever.

My thoughts exactly

[SolarFoxProductions]

Disappointing to see my movie isn't even in the top 40, considering what's up there, but oh well.

[liljim]

At 4/8/16 05:20 PM, Gagsy wrote:
Yes, you should offer your paying supporters extras that the ungiving users do not receive but that shouldn't go beyond flash/gaming content and ads. When you start wanting to segregate your dwindling userbase then you have a problem, one that you won't solve with ploys like this.

Give supporters something WORTH paying for.

Okay, like what? Given that you've limited our choices to not displaying ads, which is something they will already get, or content related only to 'flash/gaming content' (thus alienating any of our audio or art contributors), I can't think of a great deal of things that we could offer without spending money we haven't got on exclusives etc. And any plans we have for content providers will be available for all content providers because content is ultimately what brings people to the site and limiting what people providing content can do based on whether or not they have paid for it doesn't make any sense.

I've mentioned before my irk about getting a special badge by supporting a site with $25 when I've spent thousands of dollars through supporting this site with purchases - t-shirts, plushies, figurines, posters, mystery box, mystery box, mystery box..

You purchased goods and you received goods. I find it really unfair and illogical to expect long term support (which incidentally, the store purchases HAVE had on at least two occasions - the most recent of which after we migrated data facilities in January) for something that closed down over 2 years ago.

I think that's what you're suggesting... that we somehow retrofit a badge of support for you because you bought a lot of items. At the point of sale, nothing more was being offered than the goods and the items shown as badges on your userpage, the latter of which you definitely still have.

You need better rewards, because loyalty won't last forever on its own.

Again, like what? I have a feeling you are going to suggest bringing back the store here, but that closed for a reason (it was barely turning over any profit) and there's no reason to think that it would perform any better if it were reopened. Which would be more of a gamble than flicking a switch anyway, it'd require man hours to get it running again (integrating new merchant services one immediate thing that springs to mind).

Finally, you say we should be giving people "something WORTH paying for" - Tom emailed over a thousand former supporters ASKING them what they'd like to see or pay for and a supporter forum was something that they consistently came back with and until we got that out of the way, it would keep coming up.

[yetanotherjohn]

I don't know, I don't like the idea of the supporter forum being completely locked away from regular users. Maybe if it was read only for non supporters. I mean with the ten-k forum I get it, you've "earned" it, but I do agree with others about the segregation issue.

but it's only an online forum that i don't contribute much to so whatever

[Heretic-Anchorite]

At 4/9/16 03:15 AM, yetanotherjohn wrote: Maybe if it was read only for non supporters. I mean with the ten-k forum I get it, you've "earned" it,

I'm on my phone and can't type much, but this idea does feel like a better comformize.

Also, the 10k forum is different, it's mainly used for organizing orgies; I've been there as a guest once.

Also, I would like to clarify; although I stand by what I said before, I didn't mean to sound so bitter. This site just means a lot to me; growing up I had very few friends, but I've always had the bbs. This place is a part of me; I like to think of it as one of the better parts.

[Gagsy]

At 4/9/16 01:47 AM, liljim wrote:

Okay, like what? Given that you've limited our choices to not displaying ads, which is something they will already get, or content related only to 'flash/gaming content' (thus alienating any of our audio or art contributors), I can't think of a great deal of things that we could offer without spending money we haven't got on exclusives etc. And any plans we have for content providers will be available for all content providers because content is ultimately what brings people to the site and limiting what people providing content can do based on whether or not they have paid for it doesn't make any sense.

Of course audio and art should be included too.. Flash and games must just make up the most amount of traffic which is why I went to them by default. My bad.

Just off my head now, you could offer supporters a free print (photo sized to keep costs down) of their favourite featured art on the site - community radio in the background of the site (for all users) but featuring playlists made by supporters. This hour playing 10 songs chosen by user liljim. If these ideas have already been discussed and rejected then excuse me, I don't know more then what the supporter page tells me they get.

You purchased goods and you received goods. I find it really unfair and illogical to expect long term support (which incidentally, the store purchases HAVE had on at least two occasions - the most recent of which after we migrated data facilities in January) for something that closed down over 2 years ago.

I think that's what you're suggesting... that we somehow retrofit a badge of support for you because you bought a lot of items. At the point of sale, nothing more was being offered than the goods and the items shown as badges on your userpage, the latter of which you definitely still have.

No no, please understand that this is NOT what I'm suggesting and that idea is the only reason I had to reply to you now. Please do not misunderstand that. I want no special treatment at all for being a user - like I said in regards to my hefty amount of posts - the reward was always the content here - not a special forum where I could lord it up.

Again, like what? I have a feeling you are going to suggest bringing back the store here, but that closed for a reason (it was barely turning over any profit) and there's no reason to think that it would perform any better if it were reopened. Which would be more of a gamble than flicking a switch anyway, it'd require man hours to get it running again (integrating new merchant services one immediate thing that springs to mind).

A store would be great but I imagine hard lessons were learnt with the thousands of unsold tankmen and lets not forget Snow Snow for Lucy.

Beta roles for supporters? Especially if Tom and Behemoth are involved. I think people would gladly pay for that. Demos from NG developers/programmers on how they got to where they are - better yet a basics video set to get new kids programming, to help them be the next generation of uploaders.

Again, just ideas. I don't know the practicality of ANY of these but I do feel strongly that you need to offer something more. Not just things users did have, that got taken away and now you have to pay to get them again. Surely you can admit just a little jim (liljim haha. come on) that that one is slightly unjust.

Finally, you say we should be giving people "something WORTH paying for" - Tom emailed over a thousand former supporters ASKING them what they'd like to see or pay for and a supporter forum was something that they consistently came back with and until we got that out of the way, it would keep coming up.

Again, I just don't see what the content could be - yes if it is asked for then I do not blame Tom for giving in - but after 2 weeks of "supporters r us" topics, what do the supporters hope that forum will be? Besides just being 'full' of people too afraid to speak up when they see things on their beloved site not going so well.

Jim I respect you a lot, I just hope you can respect what I am saying in return.