Warmonger - the Obama of abandonware?

So the results for 'Best Abandonware Ring' are out and TOAR won in a land-slide victory. Suprised? Not me.

Warmonger is the Obama of Abandonware - simple as. He's pushing for change - and he's getting it. He updates his ring every day (bar one or two missed update - no biggy compared to the AR) and his member count is rising. He is actually listening to visitors and members about design modifications and keeps on implementing things at the ring. He takes time to list the updates properly - which is nice to see.

Okay, so he emailed or posted in a few forums about the opening of TOAR - big fucking deal: go cry me a river. In a scene which is as dead as this - thank god he did. Thank god he notified people that there is someone out there willing to dedicate time and effort to create an Abandonware ring and regardless of what people think about him - to push onwards with it.

In my opinion, not joining TOAR because you have a complex that you are some bigshot behind a computer screen whilst your mother puts cookies and milk on your desk - is a joke. Logically think about it - by not joining TOAR if you have a website, is a vote against progress and the abandonware concept. You don't want to join because you have an issue with something on his ring? Tell him about it for godsake - lets start helping people who are willing to put in the effort - instead of sitting back and criticizing like a bunch of whining bitches.

I have an issue against the way AR is conducted - but I was willing to update before I made my complaints, when the ring was left un-updated for weeks at a time: my application to update at the ring for a second time fell on deaf ears because the crew was to lazy to respond.

I've had my issues with Warmonger in the past - but we've decided to let sleeping dogs lay. I'm not asking for everyone to hold hands and dance in a circle - but if you see someone trying to make an effort, be it a download/ring/review or whatever site - at least help encourage their efforts and help point them in the right direction - it's quite sad how many great websites or dedicated webbies have 'gone' just because they didn't make it under the radar, just because they wasen't a well-known figure in the Abandonware scene.

"And for better or for worse, history defines us by what we do, and what we choose not to do. Hopefully, what will survive of us is love. So, until the next time, take care of yourselves and most importantly - each other."

New Poll

As the title suggests - check it out.

TOAR back in town

After an eight year hiatus, Warmonger of (Abandonwar & previous TOAR fame) has decided to resurrect one of the most controversial rings that the Abandonware scene has came across. The new design, whilst not glitzy as some - is a basic and colourful website which serves it's main purpose. Updates so far have been consistently regular and although the member count isn't that impressive at the momment, that is bound to change. In light of the current state of affairs which the 'scene' is going through now - a new addition to the rings could just be what we have been waiting for, especially from someone like Warmonger who has a such a large character.

I managed to catch up with Warmonger and asked him why he decided to re-open after eight years and this is what he had to say "I have noticed the scene declining in activity and, thought it needed a fresh breath of air, from an old sod from the past and, also noticed the other rings sucked balls"

Whether or not he can reach the heights of 70 members this time around is yet to be seen, but knowing Warmonger, we can definitely expect him to have a good crack at it. AWGaz throws it's support behind this blast from the past.

Visit: TOAR @ http://toar.cz.cc

Why the scene can't work.

So DFL came back, EchoRing came back. They're both gone now. Voh booted out knyght and bunny from AP and made a return whilst deciding to 'steal' a feature from EchoRing (the newest updated site goes on top of the listing) without asking a member of EchoRing if this would be fine. Not that this bothers me in the slightest, but I always considered Vohaul to be the creative one in the scene and if imitation of EchoRing is needed then I'm happy to help (lets face it - a plethora of other rings in the past have done so) - but what gets me, is that the logo imagery on the listing is something I've always admired at AP, but never contemplated using for EchoRing - because quite frankly, it wouldn't be right.

Back to the actual subject at hand though - we've lost. We're fighting a loosing battle now. We are VCR's in a time DVD players are popular. Bit torrents are the norm now, even more-so then Napster was. We've got wikipedia even more popular as google. What does this mean? People are downloading games from bit torrents and reading reviews from wikipedia - simple as. People don't care anymore about that 'warm feeling' they get from going to websites - we're living in a more fast-paced society, then ever before - faster internet connections, bigger hard-drives and bigger rams and torrents that cut the shit and give you exactly what you need - with the help of wikipedia to help do so. We're living in a dream world, if we think that everyone from ten years ago or so, is going to come back to the scene and we will all join hands and dance and relive the oldtimes - it's not going to happen. It's down hill from here.

"I'm not here for the games you idiot, I'm here for the scene"

What scene though? There is nothing left. No vibrant point of discussion. The newspapers could care less about interviewing anybody about the subject anymore. Website hits are falling and people are (with exceptions) loosing the will to update anymore. From time to time, myself included - you will get people back in the scene who make these big announcements that they are 'back' and things are going to change and they will make sure they do - it just simply never works out. Once I/they see how increasingly quite the 'scene' is - it just works as a motivation deterant.

Don't cry for it: it's already dead.

Shame @ the AR.

An update yesterday saw fans of AbandonwareRing a litte lost for words when the (apparent) head of AR saw him not only embarrasses himself and his fellow updater, but left visitors peeved off with a certain update made here. Co-webmaster Bakkelun quickly apologized on the embarrassment of his leader at the AR and tried to brush it under the rug, by making a statement of "You'll have to excuse Lee, he's not had his usual medication today ;)". One stunned Czech webmaster (and member of the AR) told AwGaz "How can he think this is acceptable ? I personally feel insulted, what if I was to poke fun out of a Brazilian review or a Norwegian review like that ? they'd probably kick me off or something...." whilst another webmaster said "Is this supposed to be a joke? Because it's not funny! Perhaps ring-updaters should think about what they're going to post in future and how people might perceive what they say!".

The hilarity of this major cock-up comes at a time that *I* was, yes me - accused of neglecting to care about foreign speaking sites, whilst an 'Anonymous' commentor on AWGaz accused me by saying "I guess someone just ignores everything if it's not written in english...". What can I say to that? Except... AWGaz 2 - AR 0?

Not all is at loss over at AR though; Bakkelun the saviour of AR has had a "Spring cleaning" after realizing a few years later, that he has admin rights to remove sites. I must say he did a splendid job removing those suspended sites, although still 18 sites remain on the listing that are either dead or breaking rules.

With all AR updaters having rated their sites '5 stars' (because apparently Girls Of Abandonware has a design worthy of a full star, not to mention reviews aswell) although I guess having a star for a nice big pair of juicy tits is enough; here (don't bother checking the rules page - because porn is allowed - even Oldwarez - see: CDos Abandonware).

With the recent critique of AR and it's operations there, Lone Lee seems determined to defy all calls for change and is still persistent on his "Just eat an apple and watched porn - feeling tired... check the fucking updates yourselves, loosers" mentality - whilst Bakkelun is trying his hardest to change things there.

In conclusion; can any site which is self-respecting still maintain a healthy relationship with such a backwards ring? I for one cannot and it would be hypocritical to say the least - therefore my fairytale relationship with AR has came to an abrupt end.

New poll added.

With the recent uproar regarding the current state of Abandonware rings, I've added a new poll. Please vote if this subject is of any interest to you. I've seriously been thinking about bringing back EchoRing or starting a completely new ring.

Your input is appreciated as always - that is, if anyone is out there.

AR - a brand beyond repair?

So DFL re-opended - and you've got no need to come and spend time with your old pal Vinny, ey? Not jumping on the bandwagon (although it might seem so) but if we're going to start bashing the rings (something I previously said I would not do) then lets look at the core of the problem.

AbandonwareRing.com - a few years back was getting 6000+ uniques a day. I've updated there three times in total (one of those times I ran it for Swizzle). Various people in the scene have always had it's issues with it , but after so long - it becomes hard to defend (or support) something that is in an absolute state. I'm not expecting much from the scene nowadays in terms of productivity or earth-shattering events; because quite frankly those days are long gone. What I do have a problem with though is a ring as big as AR (Oh here he goes -first TUOL now AR - when is this guy gonna learn?) carrying on as it does.

Every update I see (and it must be noted, that I admire Bakkelun at the AR for his consistent dedication - he quite reminds me of Jante before he jumped ship to AP) is a fucking plug for their site - this is first page text-book no-no for every ring-news-update - I mean, seriously guys? Can I get a job at AR aswell and plug this piece of shit site, so it increases my hits - because the other 123 websites that aren't your sites, don't seem to get that much attention.

Secondly this "just had a wank and a hot coco.. feeling tired.. check sites yourself..." culture that we are getting into is a fucking joke, literally. I mean, why bother posting anything, next time?

Thirdly to run a ring as we all know, can cost a lot right? I mean we're probably talking $100's a month? Wrong. Love the pay-per-click banner, hate the colour scheme of it though. I quite admire the google links though, they blend into the design. Hey guys, any chance of getting some porn-banners up aswell? Better yet, lets get some embedded roulette tables up there, that'll keep the punters coming.

You've got 28 suspended sites (!!) and around about on average 10 dead sites on the listing (keeping figures conservative here!) that's 38 sites altogether Incorporated into the 126 sites - take that away and your left with 88 sites - that's a massive 30.2% drop in members! I had a look at the 'Suspended List' and there are sites which are suspended since 2005 - four years ago! I miss those sites too guys - but come on, it's time to let go, isn't it?

Lets delve deeper into the problem though. I had a talk with Swizzle back in mid-2008, of which I offered my help as the ring back then was going to pot - I was told he doesn't have anything to do with the ring anymore and he gave it to LoneLee (fair enough - but how comes your still updating mate?) I contacted LoneLee twice and waited three weeks - I got nothing back.

A few last points - I tried to update this site via AR the other day, but my attempts failed miserably - so I came up with the solution of putting a number in each field (E.g. - apps, games, etc) and it updated successfully. What is quite disappointing was that this was not questioned and the listing shows that I have 9 games on this site.

I have to commend Swizzle by giving the updating procedures to young-turks, who have no history of flame wars in the scene (unlike previous updaters - myself included) but this arrangement just hasn't worked out. I refuse to take a ring that accepts other rings and sites like 'Free Abandonware' 100% seriously.

My stance on the matter is not an ultimatum, but I'll be considering my position at AR. I joined rings not for the visitors (because quite frankly I don't get much input here from newbies - big shock there) but because I want to support these rings. Rings don't hold the importance of what they once did anymore, so I think it's more of a nostalgia thing for me. But if the AR is offended by my post, please remove me if at least 95% of what is stated here; is not true. I'm a AR veteran and will always hold esteem for it, but I can't see my post making any sort of significant impact, unfortunately

On a side note: I support Abandon-Places (AP) although I must say I'm disappointed because it's the better out of the two.