2012’s 2011 TFF Awards (Under new management)

[Dodie16]

How do we keep the TFF awards fresh?

I think changing up the categories every year was a pretty good idea. Makes 'em less predictable that way, ergo more fun.

How do we get people active in them? Also, how do we get newer members to be active in them?

I think this forum is pretty "new-user friendly", so it's up to the person themselves if they want to participate or not. That goes for vets as well. I don't really see a very viable way of making a person be active in something like this. If some genius idea hits me, I'll edit it in, but for now...I got nothin'.

How do we keep it from getting too cliquey, so that only a couple of people win all of the awards?

Keep the number of categories that a person can be qualified to be voted for to just a few, pretty much like what was done in the past: They can be nominated for however many there are, but the categories where they had the most nominations should qualify. As for the magic number, Idk, I guess it depends on just how many categories wind up making it in. If you're shooting for 2 dozen, then I suppose 3 or 4 max would be okay.

What do you want to see out of the TFF awards?

I just wanna see people enjoying it again.

Do you like the idea of combining traditional awards with the bogus awards? If so, what should be the ratio of serious to bogus awards?

Yeah, I think the bogus awards are really entertaining. More fun to fill out too. I wouldn't mind seeing the two consolidated into just one mega awards thread thing. I think making the awards ratio half and half would be fine.

Suggestions for actual rewards?

Award banners are always fun and nice to stick in a sig, so I'm all for seeing those again for the winners. I am still not very great at making banners, but if no one else wants to, I wouldn't mind trying my hand at making 'em for the winners. ^^

I like the idea of combining the gender-specific awards into just a general thing, so I third that idea (or fourth it...or whatever it).

I think there should be at least one Final Fantasy-related award... We are a FF-based site, ya know? Like "Most Knowledgeable" or "Biggest Fan".

TFF's "Best Lurker" could be changed to "Most Missed". That makes more sense to me, or it can be totally dropped.

“The Meier Link Memorial Award for Exceptional Spelling.”

^ I lol'ed. I think it's great to have a title of an award be named after one/some of the more notorious members here.

[Yoko]

I like the idea of FF based awards. This is a Final Fantasy Forum after all.

I also like the idea of the Bogus awards. We all want to know what everyone thinks of each other but we also like to joke around. If we didn't have the bogus awards in here, not everyone WOULD get an award. They aren't meant to be taken seriously anyway.

All that being said, here is my answer to the questions:

How do we keep the TFF awards fresh?

CHANGE IT UP!! Things change every year. Not only the bogus awards, but the actual awards as well. Originality is appreciated. I have participated in awards in other forums (Which didn't happen this year ) But the award categories always change over the years because of forum activity and willingness to participate. In case you're wondering, I have gotten biggest spammer and most annoying. I worked hard to get those awards, believe me . I think those should be categories as well.

How do we get people active in them? Also, how do we get newer members to be active in them?

Have awards that focus more on new members. Also make them aware of them somehow. I know how forums can be and it can be rather confusing when one joins a new forum. I'm not sure how to make it easier for them to stay around. That basically relies on their interest in the forum and their willingness to spend time on here. There are plenty of other things to do on the internet as well as in real life. I know how easy it can be to just drop the internet life and get consumed by real life. I was lucky enough to still have a friend who randomly messaged me to come back. Now I'm back on forums trying to be as active as possible. It also helps to have people with a common interest. Not many young people are all that interested in Final Fantasy anymore. The games now have gone downhill, and there are other games that catch the attention of the younger ones (I mean 12-14). People like me who are 22 and have played the older games are more willing to stick around. I'm not sure how exactly to keep the newer members around. It's really up to them. You can't force them to do what they really don't want to do. Incentives can be nice though.

If you’re someone who doesn’t participate, why? What would make you change your mind, and think about being active in the awards?

Funny story. I caused drama during the last awards (I do it a lot in case you haven't noticed, but hey, it works...for someone who doesn't like drama, I cause a lot).
I don't want to repeat others, but you need to make categories that are focused on the majority of members and create some competition. That gets more people involved and makes it fun. There might be some butt hurt people in the end, but that's what competition is about. Healthy competition never did anyone harm.

How do we keep it from getting too cliquey, so that only a couple of people win all of the awards?

This forum is full of cliques/clubs/groups/friends. You really can't avoid it. There should be a limit of how many times a person can be voted for, but with so many people participating in the awards, it's really hard to judge. You could make it like the Oscars where you have nominated people and that's the set of people that you get to vote for in that category. I'm still not really sure how that all would work. That might need some work.

What do you want to see out of the TFF awards?

All I want out of the awards is FUN! Some cold hard fun. That's what they're meant to be right?

Do you like the idea of combining traditional awards with the bogus awards? If so, what should be the ratio of serious to bogus awards?

As stated above, I love the idea. I was leaning toward 50:50, but 60:40 seems good. The bogus ones being more favorable. It's a good idea.

In years past we’ve just had little banners and stuff people have put in their sigs.

This seems to be the most common among forums. It's a tradition really. Plus it makes the sig look good. It also shows the person's reputation for being (in my example) Most Annoying or Biggest spammer. For someone who is the nicest member, it would (hopefully) attract the newer members to that person and make them feel more welcome.

As for the awards themselves. Cutting the gender specific seems most logical and most popular. It makes people work harder to be the best of the best.

That's about all I got here. I'm looking forward to these awards.