The Great Big 2600 Forum FAQ

[NovaXpress]

This is collection of all the questions, ideas, and fantasies that regulars heard enough of. If you post threads on the following topics you will probably get a roesponse but it may be a rude one. Sometimes a regular has just had a bad game of Donkey Kong Jr (and is there really such a thing as a GOOD game of 2600 Donkey Knog Jr? Now you know there isn't). Sometimes a regular has just missed out on a Quadrun mint-in-box and is ready to lash out (now you know that Quadrun is, indeed, worth a couple of bucks). So once you've gotten a grip on the following, you'll be able to post like a true fanboy. Let's kick this off . . .

 

* We all think 2600 Pac-Man pretty much sucks

* Combat is not a rare game

* We all have ideas for new games, the elite make them reality. the rest of us suck eggs

* You can't get Supercharger ROMs around here. Figure it out for yourself

* We don't know where Airworld is or if it is

* We spend too much time on this hobby but so what?

* Again, we all think 2600 Pac-Man pretty much sucks

 

next . . .

[Ehrbad]

I would add appraisal-type questions.....you can always check the item in question on Ebay, take an average of all listed prices, and compare them

to what you paid for it. If you paid less, you got a deal; if you paid more, you got hosed. The End.

[Inky]

I actually started a FAQ a while back...

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13367

[Lost Monkey]

Uh... does this place have a FAQ? Or should I use the search function?

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I actually started a FAQ a while back...[/url]

Yup, though this one might get a bit too "overwhelming" for newbies. What we need is a special chapter especially for newbies.

[Room 34]

I would add to what has been said, just a general comment:

 

EXPLORE THIS SITE.

 

Almost every "newbie" question that comes up is answered in the extensive archives available on AtariAge. I think a lot of people just come straight to the forums without bothering to delve into the wealth of information that has already been compiled here thanks to the time and effort of the Als and other contributors.

[jetset]

If you post threads on the following topics you will probably get a roesponse but it may be a rude one.  

 

Why? I mean...what is the big deal if someone posts or asks a question about something that has already been posted about? Is it that much hassle to think to yourself "that was just posted six months ago...damn him for not searching first" and move on???

 

I don't know...never bothered me in the least. I'm here over a year, so I'm not new, but when I was I know I probably posted stuff that had been covered. Everyone here has always been polite, and that's why I keep coming back. It actually makes me feel good to help out someone when I'm able to.....

 

Maybe I'm just taking your post to literally....if so my apologies.

 

PS - I don't know either why you can't get supercharger roms here. If I wanted to know though, I'd feel comfortable asking about it, But since I have them all, it doesn't per se matter, but if a "newbie" were to post asking for them, I wouldn't mind pointing them out to the website that does, or even offer to send them via email....

[Paul Slocum]

I think we should have a sticky FAQ where the first post is edited by a moderator like in the programming forum. A few I have:

 

What is the 2600's power supply rating?

Officially, 9v, 500ma, tip positive. Any supply with a positive tip that's 9v-12v with at least 500ma should work.

 

I found a cartridge in the U.S. that's not in the rarity guide?

Try simplifying your search (use just one word) and make sure it's not a Colecovision cartridge:

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~awwatkin/ATARI/LISTS/Coleco.html

 

What's the value of this cartridge?

Search on ebay under completed items to get an idea of value.

 

What 2600 games should I get?

(maybe we could have a formal poll to decide this)

[devils advocate]

If you post threads on the following topics you will probably get a roesponse but it may be a rude one.  

 

Why? I mean...what is the big deal if someone posts or asks a question about something that has already been posted about? Is it that much hassle to think to yourself "that was just posted six months ago...damn him for not searching first" and move on???

 

I don't know...never bothered me in the least. I'm here over a year, so I'm not new, but when I was I know I probably posted stuff that had been covered. Everyone here has always been polite, and that's why I keep coming back. It actually makes me feel good to help out someone when I'm able to.....

 

Maybe I'm just taking your post to literally....if so my apologies.

 

PS - I don't know either why you can't get supercharger roms here. If I wanted to know though, I'd feel comfortable asking about it, But since I have them all, it doesn't per se matter, but if a "newbie" were to post asking for them, I wouldn't mind pointing them out to the website that does, or even offer to send them via email....

 

 

I totally agree with this......I think some of the upper echelon around here are getting to big for their britches. If you have a post count of 6 trillion or whatever, you probably have seen ten thousand "why does pac man suck" threads.......So what? Ignore it. Heres a brainflash. Don't even open up that thread at all!!! Oh wait. .......I understand! If you do look at it, not only can you pad your posts by leaving a retarded emoticon in THAT thread, you can also start a ridiculous "Here's a list of dumb things Newbies can't post about...As it has been decreed by the cool Upper echelon Atari posters".

 

 

As for using the search function? Bah. I've been around here for a while and have maybe used it twice..........

 

And if it's a lack of server space for the site (the "Be a hero" thing), why don't we let the Als decide if they need more, and therefore eliminating people doing STUPID posts..

 

 

By the way, who gets to play god, and decide what should and should not be posted, for fear of someone making a nasty comment about it?

 

If you let me, I'll vote for the 3 topics or so RIGHT NOW that pertain to a NEWBIE FAQ.

 

So please, add to your newbie FAQ that you should not have multiple threads regarding Newbie FAQS.

[Paul Slocum]

Why?  I mean...what is the big deal if someone posts or asks a question about something that has already been posted about?  

 

I believe the membership here has tripled since I joined. Although there are certainly plenty of discussions that I don't want to have again, the new people may want to discuss them.

 

The FAQ should cover frequently asked questions that have a somewhat simple answer -- not just tell people to avoid discussing topics that have already been discussed. It's kinda fun to rag on Atari about how much Pac-Man sucked.

 

-Paul

[Room 34]

I have no problem with people rehashing discussion topics. What bothers me is that people often come right to the forums and ask a question that is readily answered within the extensive archives on the site. It seems to suggest that they are not bothering to look at what already exists here OUTSIDE of the forums. I know a lot of work went into these archives, and this is one of the best resources for this kind of information on the Internet. It's just kind of a shame that people are -- apparently -- overlooking so much of what is right under their noses.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I agree that we should not stop discussions, but find a way for those repeated simple questions Paul mentioned (9V, 500mA). And show every newbie an (optional!) way into the extensive archive.

 

Maybe newbies find it entertaining to read those old threads, so pointing them at those threads is IMO not a negative thing at all. And nobody would stop them from bumping those threads if they want to continue the discussion.

 

Only starting the same discussions over and over again is really getting boring. And another problem is, that a newbie might think that we are arrogant, because we don't reply to his repeated topic.

[Pitfall Harry]

I have no problem with people rehashing discussion topics.  What bothers me is that people often come right to the forums and ask a question that is readily answered within the extensive archives on the site.  It seems to suggest that they are not bothering to look at what already exists here OUTSIDE of the forums.  I know a lot of work went into these archives, and this is one of the best resources for this kind of information on the Internet.  It's just kind of a shame that people are -- apparently -- overlooking so much of what is right under their noses.

 

Every question is readily answered within the extensive knowledgebase that is the written word. You could just as easily lament the fact that any referenceable question wasn't referenced. Some people are inclined to look things up, some are not. There are endless male-bashing jokes about how women easily drive from point A to point B because they have the resourcefulness to roll down a window and ask a local for directions -- even though they have a well researched, highly accurate, authoritative road atlas on the car seat right beside them. These same shameful, annoying women drivers make their appointments, get to work on time, get the groceries home before dinnertime and leave smiles on the faces of the gentlemen who they asked for help. Meanwhile, male drivers everywhere are thumbing through exhaustive, authoritative road atlases. Some find their route home right away, others are never seen or heard from again.

 

My point here isn't to male or female bash. It's to underscore the fact that ALL people are different. Everyone searches for their answers in a manner which best suits them. Some enjoy the satisfaction that comes from bookwork, others prefer to be sociable and ask their questions straight out -- even though they KNOW where to find the FAQ.

 

Who knows? Maybe the majority of newbies already are looking things up in the well documented archives of Atari Age. Maybe most of them do know about the Search Feature and use it. You don't hear about it, because they get their answers and that's the end of it. You only hear and gripe about those newbies that prefer to roll down the window and ask a stranger for directions. That type of human being will always be with us. When they come along and ask us for help, is it really cause to lament their arrival and curse the fact that NOBODY uses the highly researched archives?

 

Don't kid yourself about a comprehensive Newbie Faq sweeping away all the niggling questions newbies bring to the forums every day. Cram as many condescending questions and answers into a newbie FAQ as you can dream up in a lifetime, and you will STILL get, "Why isn't my label variation of Combat in the Rarity Guide?"

 

Maybe you've already read and answered a question 100 times. Why get angry? Just let it go. There's bound to be dozens of members freshly emerging from the stigma of "newbie" who'd be thrilled to share their knowledge with the latest crop of newcomers. Let them have their fun and the opportunity to make the newcomers feel welcome. Or maybe you could answer the question AND point them to the Newbie FAQ so that they may go there for later questions if they so prefer. A simple "go to the Newbie Faq" or "use the search feature" is tantamount to saying, "I'm too damn busy and knowledgable to be bothered with your trifilings."

 

Should we sticky an announcement for the Newbie FAQ at the top of every message board forum on the site, or is the FAQ intended only for newbies to the Atari 2600 Forum? Lord knows the AA website isn't busy enough already. What would really help the site out is more visual clutter. As an added bonus, all those stickies will relieve us the burden of being polite to all newcomers who prefer to be sociable.

 

 

Ben

[Artlover]

I've seen this on many a system.

 

There are many reasons at work here.

 

Why are dupe topics bad?

Duplicate posts are a waste of space, litterly. Why does there need to be 1050 identical threads on why Pac-Man for the 2600 sucks? It's easy to say "it doesn't bother me", or "just don't read it" when it isn't your space being taken up by the stuff. (How many pac-man sucks" threads have we had just this month. 3 or something?) Sure, it's small. And with compression is even smaller. But then this BBS also has to store, log, and track it. So it's making info a data files and/or making existing ones larger. And it all adds up after awhile. Just getting more space ultimatly isn't the answer.

 

Who creates them?

Lasy people who simply can not be bothered to do a "search".

 

People who don't pay attention and don't even notice there is a search option.

 

People who know there is a search, but can't figure out how to use it.

 

 

I propose a solution, I don't think has been seen anywhere, at least I haven't. Create a mod or patch or something so that when a user hits "submit" on their new subject, that the system automaticly does a quick title search, and if it finds any matches, prompt the user. Say, "x many simmilar topics already exist. Submit any way? (y/n)".

 

I'm sure that will stop at least a few duplicated topics.

[devils advocate]

Well..... I just started a thread about pac man, and it's now had 13 replies in just a very short time!!!

 

 

Case closed. No Newbie FAQ from the arrogant. All topics have equal rights, and the only people to say otherwise would be the Als.

 

 

Now, why IS pac man so bad?

[sku_u]

I've probably answered the same five-ten questions many times. It doesn't bother me. I was new here once as well and had the same questions. If I know the answer to a question, I'll gladly present it in a nice way. As for the thread search option, it can get very bothersome and tedious to comb through the topics to find a specific answer.

[Atari Rescue Group]

Duplicating topics is going to happen though no matter what. When new members join they have questions, and Pitfall Harry is right about everyone being different about how they go about things.

 

Perhaps some of the duplicating can be cut off by:

 

1) Have a Search function fill-in box appear at the top of each forum and thread above the title....Maybe it can only pull subjects from the particular base forum the user is in (i.e. 2600 Forum).

 

2) At the top of every page here it has the 2600, 5200, 7800, Lynx, etc...

Maybe a couple words like "Learn About:" up there as well may get more people to go into those areas.

[rockman_x_2002]

I propose a solution, I don't think has been seen anywhere, at least I haven't. Create a mod or patch or something so that when a user hits "submit" on their new subject, that the system automaticly does a quick title search, and if it finds any matches, prompt the user. Say, "x many simmilar topics already exist. Submit any way? (y/n)".  

 

I'm sure that will stop at least a few duplicated topics.

 

It's not a bad idea, really. By time standards, I'm a newbie to the forum also. (Note my joysticks, or lack thereof). And so, I understand that newbies have questions that need answering, and their time searching is equally as precious as our time answering their sometimes "repetitous" questions.

 

Now, I like your idea about the search thing before a forum post, but lets make it a little bit more friendly. Give a friendly message... let them know that they are welcomed to the site, but that similar topics have been listed. But let's not stop there. Don't just tell the person that similar topics are posted and leave them hanging, but go the extra mile and actually show the search results so that the poster can possibly find the answers that they are looking for.

 

This way, the forum would sound a bit more inviting to newcomers. Of course, all n00b posts won't be stopped, and for those, just have patience, answer their question quickly, simply, and plainly, and leave it there.

 

I second this vote.

[panamajoe]

Well..... I just started a thread about pac man, and it's now had 13 replies in just a very short time!!!      

 

 

 Case closed.  No Newbie FAQ from the arrogant. All topics have equal rights, and the only people to say otherwise would be the Als.

 

 

Now, why IS pac man so bad?

 

I don´t get why an FAQ is arrogant. Newbies could use that or they choose to simply post their questions... and i don´t think that newbies get arrogant answers to their newbie questions here. You can have an FAQ AND answer newbie questions. I really don´t see the problem offering both possibilities.

[Ehrbad]

All topics have equal rights, and the only people to say otherwise would be the Als.

 

...and i don´t think that newbies get arrogant answers to their newbie questions here. You can have an FAQ AND answer newbie questions. I really don´t see the problem offering both possibilities.

 

As another newbie to this forum, I have to say that everyone has been quite friendly and welcoming thus far. But then, I don't think that I've had any Pac-Man/Combat related posts, either!

 

I have used the search function quite a bit, actually, mostly for looking up technical info on heavy sixers, serial number info, stuff like that. But as everyone knows, threads can quickly fly off on tangents, so some search results will be a waste of time to read (not that your posts are garbage or anything, just that some posts will be unlrelated to the topic, and will get you sidetracked).

 

The search is a useful feature, but not a cure-all for newbie-related questions. The database is just so damn big that you spend all day in there looking up a topic. Mind you, the more common posts will, or course, be relatively easy to find, but if you're new to AA, you won't necessarily know which topics are common, and which are not!

[Keir]

...a bunch of stuff...

Well said Ben!

 

If the "problem" is that people are too lazy to look for the information they need before posting, why would they read an FAQ?

[heavy-sixer]

I think people should feel free to post whatever question they want without feeling like it's something they should have known. Who wants to do research before posting a question? The boards should be a social place not a study hall. That's just my opinion. Those regulars who don't want to rehash the same old stuff shouldn't respond to the thread.

[NE146]

Yeah.. I've seen almost all the questions asked dozens of times for years and years whether it was Usenet, various websites, or even this place before it was even known as "Atariage".. and it don't bother me. Ask away! It's all good Keep the conversation flowing, even though it may be rehashed to some of us, you figure the Atari's been around for 20+ years, so it's all about rehashing anyway

[sku_u]

Keep the conversation flowing, even though it may be rehashed to some of us, you figure the Atari's been around for 20+ years, so it's all about rehashing anyway

 

How true