Is it just me?

[Apollo]

Is it just me or did project announcements used to be for announcing the completion of a project?
When did project announcements become about announcing that you have a really cool idea for making a cabinet or control panel (that may never be completed) or announcing that you are starting your project (which might take months to finish)?

Bah, cough, grumble, mutter...kids these days etc.

[somunny]

It's just you.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=13118.0

[mountain]

(which might take months to finish)?

It's just you.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=13118.0

...or longer..

[Zero_Hour]

Yup. Just you. Completed project announcements seem to be the exception rather than the rule.

[leapinlew]

Is it just me or did project announcements used to be for announcing the completion of a project?
When did project announcements become about announcing that you have a really cool idea for making a cabinet or control panel (that may never be completed) or announcing that you are starting your project (which might take months to finish)?

Bah, cough, grumble, mutter...kids these days etc.

I announce all my projects and then document as I go. Posting a project that takes time to finish is the point of project announcements to me. People follow other peoples projects and are there to offer suggestions when needed. On all my projects I've asked for some form of help, and I've usually done it within my project announcement. I enjoy watching other people build there cabinets and read how they resolve issues as they come.

As for people not finishing their projects... yeah, that sucks. Especially if your following it. But if you ask me, people posting non-project related items in the project announcements thread... well... that really irks me. 

[theCoder]

I love the initial posts that start out something like: 

"iv ben thinkin about building one of these cab things for days now.  Its gonna have 6 players, 8 buttons each, 4 track bals, a rotating 27 tv, and a rotating CP (that stands for control panel).  My dad said he will help help will me on the weakends.  Solid oak, man!  Nun of that partical bord crap.  iv got 109 dolars to spend and save money where i can.  You guys ROCK.  i know most of this stuf, but you guys can help me."

[Zero_Hour]

Hey,

A kid's got to dream, right?

[TheDriver]

My understanding of this section was so you could document the project as it is built. 

Regards.

[Malenko]

My understanding of this section was so you could document the project as it is built. 

me too

[TOK]

I didn't think there was any rule, but it does seem that most of the Big On Paper projects wind up going nowhere... The two I think of when I see this thread are one that was going to have some kind of Mechwarrior type robot as a side profile, and another one that was going to look like the front end of a truck smashing through the wall of the house. I didn't even get the whole concept of that one, but there were concept drawings and everything and I don't remember it going anywhere.

I remember posting a reply after about 15 concept drawings on one of them to "just go cut some wood", then felt like an a-hole for taking a poop on someones dream.

I decided that I'd never post anything until some substantial part of it was at least physically real, but I also prefer very traditional machines. I can see someone wanting to bounce a concept idea off some of the experienced builders here.

[shardian]

I think you shouldn't start a project thread until you have started the physical work. Theoretical stuff is for the main, art, software, monitor, etc. forums. If you want, you can then include the theoretical stuff into the project thread to have a complete log of your work.

Personally, I don't really like the announcements that only come after the job is completely done. Feels like reading the last page of a book. I'd rather watch a good project unfold over a few weeks.

[ChadTower]

I think you shouldn't start a project thread until you have started the physical work. Theoretical stuff is for the main, art, software, monitor, etc. forums. If you want, you can then include the theoretical stuff into the project thread to have a complete log of your work.

Depends on the project.  For many, since it's not any different than many others, that's fine.  Things that are being done for the first time, or things that involve a real deviation from the norm, the input from people following the thread can be invaluable.  My horror bartop project is like that (though it did get shelved for the time being) because of the different nature of the software.  Requirements gathering sometimes is absolutely essential to have nailed down before you even bother cutting a piece of wood. 

[saint]

Officially there is no rule

[javeryh]

I love reading the process other people go through to build a cabinet.  I also like to document my own builds so others can learn.  I do try and have construction pictures available (or at least some kind of picture - plans, drawings, etc.) with the first post in an announcement thread because I don't really pay attention to someone else's thread until I actually see some progress...

[Pun]

I concur with Javery, especially if it wasn't for his pink wonder, there is no way I would have ever known where to begin on my own. Seeing the projects progress has taught me much about what the entire process. So yes, it is just you.

Also, gives me something to look forward to each day when I get into the office.  So please don't change it.

[csa3d]

if it wasn't for his pink wonder

  I wouldn't Google Image search that phrase..

[Apollo]

Good points re the documentation of projects and I agree.
I guess I was really meaning the whole 'w00t guyz dis hobby rox, I got an awesome idea for dis arcade it is going to fully pwn' etc etc and then nothing.

[shardian]

if it wasn't for his pink wonder

  I wouldn't Google Image search that phrase..

Click me! Click me!

[Pun]

Thought you hip cats would dig that phrase. 

[ARTIFACT]

"iv ben thinkin about building one of these cab things for days now.  Its gonna have 6 players, 8 buttons each, 4 track bals, a rotating 27 tv, and a rotating CP (that stands for control panel).  My dad said he will help help will me on the weakends.  Solid oak, man!  Nun of that partical bord crap.  iv got 109 dolars to spend and save money where i can.  You guys ROCK.  i know most of this stuf, but you guys can help me."

LOL that's too funny...

I *love* documenting as I go... folks can comment and ask questions, and it pushes me to make progress. I also learn a TON from reading people's progress.
It's fun to "wait" for people to post new updates, etc.. suspense!

[TheDriver]

if it wasn't for his pink wonder

  I wouldn't Google Image search that phrase..

Click me! Click me!

  The result's are soooooo random, wonder how many followed your link?!?!?!?!

Regards.

[danny_galaga]

which reminds me, i have a cab i announced here just sitting around waiting to be finished. since it hasn't seemed to finish itself i guess i should get back into it...

[shock_]

Project progress threads have been fantastically useful to me.  It's the little obscure details that people go into like sandpaper grit, or bezel attachments, or whatever little construction technique or choice agonised over that makes the forum search that much more effective.  Imagine how many newbie questions there would be without the minutiae documented like this, all available for digestion. It has also helped me to remember we're all human, when I feel stuck on some detail.

Except Knievel of course.  He's more like a Chuck Norris than a human.

Besides, when projects run out of momentum, their threads disappear below the fold within a few days.  No biggie.

[DjinniMan]

Here's a question.  I announced my MAME project in Jan. last year, and linked to a blog detailing my progress.  No responses, at all.  This may have been because it was awful, or whatever, but I still found it odd that no one responded, good or bad.  I'm thinking about making a new thread detailing my work, and copying over the main points of the 7 or 8 blog posts I have, to bring it up to date, and so I can get input on the last few pieces of the puzzle.  Would this be a good idea, or should I let my blog-linked announcement thread serve as my only communication with this awesome community?

[Dmod]

should I let my blog-linked announcement thread serve as my only communication with this awesome community?

Call me lazy but I tend to avoid links to project blogs.  I think it's a pain to have to hop to another site to look at pics and then discuss them here.

[Kaytrim]

Yea forget the blog and post your progress here.  You will get more responses that way.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[leapinlew]

Yea forget the blog and post your progress here.  You will get more responses that way.

TTFN
Kaytrim

I agree. I don't go to blog sites.

[DjinniMan]

Ok, it's done, go check it out!

[ARTIFACT]

should I let my blog-linked announcement thread serve as my only communication with this awesome community?

EXACTLY. BYOAC is the PERFECT BLOG system for projects, PERIOD.

The people are there, ready to comment, etc... hopping to external sites is not optimal to me. I love this forum as it is, how it is used

Call me lazy but I tend to avoid links to project blogs.  I think it's a pain to have to hop to another site to look at pics and then discuss them here.

[BobA]

I'm not keen on blogs (just too old I guess) but I have really gotten into some of the project threads in the Project Announcements area.    It is interesting to see how some evolve and become even better then the original announcement.   New ideas are poping up constantly and that is what makes the area interesting;