Alrighty, I think this might've been suggested a while back, but I figure I'll start up the thought process again with some good arguments for it.

I'd really like to see a "Planned by" or "Future Project of" section on a series page. The idea here is that groups that are planning on doing the project can plop the info in right here. I in no way mean for this feature to allow groups to "claim" projects in advance ~~ the feature should be set up so multiple groups can write in their intent. Also, only groups in this database should be allowed to, so people can get info on them.

My arguments for:

1. There are a zillion groups out there, and I (as head of a group) have a crazy-hard time going to each site and looking to see what each group has planned. I'm sure I'm not alone. Since you have the largest database out there, it'd be perfect to centralize that data here. Likewise, you could link this info on the scanslation site's info page (in a Planned section, or whatnot). Saves everyone the time of going to a zillion sites to see who's doing what on a bi-weekly basis.
2. This would be extremely useful for users who are fans of a series that has been partially done and then dropped (or just a new series that they're fans of). They can periodically just check the series page, and can see if any group is planning on picking up the project to finish it. I've noticed on more than one occasion that people will be willing to help get projects started back up, if they just knew who wanted to start them. This would be an ideal way for those people to find groups to offer help to (kind of like passive recruiting...?).
3. Most nice scanslation groups out there don't like to tread on other group's toes by starting a project that's already being done. At the same time, we don't know what everyone's working on. With this, we could at least see who's planning what, so groups can get in contact with each other. Joints may ensue, or one group might drop the idea, or you can both come to the understanding that you'll do the projects separately. It's an option I'd like to have.
4. ...I doubt it'd be hard to program in 😀

Cons ~ and how to get around them:

1. The biggest con here is the idea that by doing this a group would "claim" a project. And, different groups have different standards for calling a project "planned" (some will only do so once they've begun scanslating it, others when they order the books but don't have staff for the rest, and some just when they hear the name and see the cover). There are various ways to get around this (from something simple to more complex). Keeping it simple, on the page where you'd fill out your intent to do the series, you could write a blurb about only groups who are at "such and such" a stage may place their intent. Alternately, you can have a dropdown: this group places their intent, and either "has full staff" or "needs staff" ~ or place it on a timetable dropdown "will start in 1 month" or "3 months" or the "distant future". The point is, if we make it clear that this is more a networking thing and less a "claiming" thing, I think it'll be much more help than anything else.
2. Also, timestamp when someone posts their intent. If it's 2 years old, everyone can safely ignore it.

Really, it's something I know groups would find extremely useful, and probably fans as well. It'd also save anyone the trouble of trying to start up a site just to list this info (which I would totally love, by the way).

In example, it might look something like this (if you toss in all the caveats against "claiming a project"...

Hot New Manga
Planned by:
(4/1/8) Group 1 [full staff]
(5/6/8) Group 2 [needs staff]

Thanks for considering the request!

I second this.
But I am curious about the "will start in 1 month" etc. thing. Do you mean will start scanlating it or plan to have it out? I prefer plan to have it out.

Personally, I find the idea of 'future projects' to be a little silly... I mean, I have a private list for the staff to see what I'm planning once we have room for it, but it's not like I'd be devestated if someone took them before I started. And I don't particularly see the moral dilemma of taking a project that someone else wants to do unless they're already working on it. And what I especially don't want is for someone to look at my future projects list and decide that they want to do what I want to do.

Anyway, there are people who would take advantage of the system for good, people who would use it for bad, and people who would ignore it (I'm the third).

Quote from ippy

I second this.
But I am curious about the "will start in 1 month" etc. thing. Do you mean will start scanlating it or plan to have it out? I prefer plan to have it out.

I'd say the latter, but again, that's just something extra to try to keep things in perspective. Just a section that lists groups intending to do it would be great.

Snoopy, the problem I come up with is buying a book, getting staff on it, and then happening to notice another group has it on their future project page. Email them, and they're just about ready to release it. And since I find it somewhat silly to do a series someone else is starting, I'd then have to tell my staffers that the game is off. While I agree with you that this isn't the end of the world, and sure, I've got other series I could start, I'd rather keep the surpise "Sorry! We're not doing this series!" emails down. This would just open up channels of communication --- personally, I'd just be happy letting people know what I'm working on, so if another group is planning it we can work it out. It goes both ways.

And what I especially don't want is for someone to look at my future projects list and decide that they want to do what I want to do.

Honestly, I find that whole idea paranoid. People don't go around looking at scanslation sites and go "Ohhhh, pretty cover! I don't know anything about this manga, and they're about to start it, but hey, I'm going to buy it and get it shipped to me and find a translator and editor and start it anyway!". I'm not talking about posting projects you have planned years in the future. The idea is to post stuff you're going to start soon --- in which case, even if you're worried about someone taking your idea (not that they couldn't just browse amazon.co.jp and find the book anyway...), they wouldn't have time to do so.

I realize lots of groups wouldn't use it, but I hope I'm right in thinking it'd be one less worry for a lot of us. I know there was a site where someone manually compiled yaoi/shounen-ai future projects a while back, but this would be eons better.

I believe we have considered this before. There is an internal conversation with other MU staff going on right now regarding this, but I'm willing to let this thread grow and see others' opinions on the matter.

I believe one of the biggest arguments against this is mis-use of the system. Who gets to update a groups future list? Do we start keeping track of who are the leaders of groups? (and thus putting a burden on MU because we keep track of contact information for our users?) Is it a system anyone can edit?

One of the reasons that group information is not editable by the public is because a lot of people have sometimes irrational ties to certain groups, which can cause them to vandalize opposing group pages. In addition, we have been force-fed disputes between groups disgruntled that other groups are doing the same projects that they are doing.

Out of everything I've said above though, I believe the thing I'm most interested in knowing is who gets to update the information, and how that is handled?

Ah, apologies. I did a search, and the only thing I found close to this was in a post over a year ago, so I thought it safe to bring it up again. If I missed something more recently, whoopsies.

Honestly, I hadn't even considered the "who can edit the information" angle... mostly because I don't think it'd be a problem having it open to the public. It makes sense that only people affiliated with the groups (staffers) would know what projects are planned, so only said staffers would edit them in.

As for the problem of someone randomly adding someone to a page (out of spite...?), I mean, anyone else can edit it back if they notice it. I'd like to think most scanslation groups use this site, and might notice something weird like that. It's the same as someone randomly (improperly) editing a summary, picture, etc... I'd hope that it just doesn't happen that often.

I'd just put in a line or two on the page where you edit it (with the form). Something like "Please only add a group/alter their status with the group's permission or if you're affiliated with the group." Not a failsafe, sure, but I'd like to have some faith in humanity.

I dunno, I think the whole spiteful flaming business is a rather small percentage of the community, and a rare event overall. I've been doing this a while, and I haven't heard of more than a few cases where it got really ugly.

The one thing I might see, which has nothing to do with spite and flaming, if it were open for anyone to edit, is some random dude saying "Oh, they planned this project 8 months ago and haven't started it, so I'll just take them off." Again, I'd just recommend the line on the page asking only people affiliated with the group/staffers to edit it, and everyone else to back off.

I wouldn't necessarily say you'd have to go through all the trouble to get groups to sign up. Plus, that'd be a roadblock, since I bet there are some groups who might do it if it were easy, but would be less inclined if they had to verify who they are.

I'd assume that each group would need to have a designated update person... most group leaders are easy enough to contact for verification, but I agree that it would certainly be a hassle, and the chance of mis-use would be high without some kind of identity check.

As for paranoia, I admit to being highly paranoid about the current state of the community. Sure, I generally believe that 95% of the groups are honest and all that, but there are lots of people that are looking for a quick boost in hits and willing to do anything to get it. Let's say I have something that I really want to translate and I pawn off what I'm currently doing on another translator and just then someone does it before me, I'll probably assume that they saw it on my future projects page... especially with the stuff that I normally handle, there really aren't that many people who will randomly come across it, ya know? That, and I've been around long enough to have experienced everything from site hacking to mole staff members stealing scans and trans, so I can tell you with all honesty that if there is a way to manipulate the system, it will be manipulated.

And I highly recommend buying the manga before you decide to work on it anyway~ the more you buy, the less you pay per book in shipping. And it's just good for the industry. I've got a bookshelf full of crap and a box full of future projects. 😁

...case and point, yesterday a group released a manga that's in the editing stage at my group, and now I'm stuck with the dilemma of "duplicating the work" versus "wasting what we've done". Gahhhhhhh. Wish I'd had some idea in advance.

Snoopy... honestly, as sexist as this sounds, maybe that more applies to shounen groups? As far as I've noticed, there's less one-upmanship in groups that're female dominated. Or maybe it's better to say, you see that crap when you do popular projects that attract an audience of hacker-wannabe 12 year olds who can't type correctly. All I know is I've never come across anyone who did crap like that, and I've worked in groups that're bigger than my own one. (Not to discount your experience, but thought I'd add in that the whole world isn't like that 🙂 ).

We (and a few of my friends) like the idea enough to take on the challenge of creating this site ourselves. We'd like to create a site that lists future projects by scanlation groups. We welcome your input and concerns, so please feel free to post your ideas and comments.

[img]http://img.userbars.pl/69/13603.gif[/img]

Razril, cool 🙂 But really, it'd be better to have it integrated here, since everyone already uses this site and the database is huge. It's more likely people would use it if it were a part of this site (it'd have a bigger impact).

But if this site decides against it, I'd be happy to help you out. I know some limited php/mySQL and have some ideas on how it could be done...

Maybe a toned down version of the first suggestion, such as if a series has not been scanlated and thus has nothing in the group field, instead of showing
Groups Scanlating:
N/A

You could have
Groups that have shown an interest:
xxxxxx
xxxxxx

(basically more casual wording, so that it's not so much of a 'claim', but to make fans aware that it's worth following and might not remain untranslated.)

The same problems occur though, I could only think that accounts that represent whole scanlation groups could be upgraded to scanlator/group status and be able to add manga as future prospects, and have an admin take the time to doublecheck their email with the groups official email.

I believe that's the best suggestion relating to this that I've seen yet, Juneau.

Quote from Manick

I believe that's the best suggestion relating to this that I've seen yet, Juneau.

The one problem with that is if someone wants to pick up a dropped project... 😉

so then we impose a time limit. a certain group can only claim interest in doing a series once, and it is a 1 month (or some other period) time frame which will automatically expire (and is not visible to viewers). This means that the group must start the series within that time frame or we don't keep that information anymore. (and they cannot re-place their interest using the system).

Another issue with this is that while a ton of users do use this website, and alot of them do work for groups, not everyone does.

The main issue with this is setting up a fair and balanced system, while also maintaining updates from individual groups on what series' they interested in doing.

While I agree that having this system would help out, especially with the groups side of things, maintaining it would require that each group have someone on the forums that maintains their group page showing which series' they have in the planning stages.

This means we have to know who members are, and give them access to their own pages. Verification of this can be done relatively easy with IRC (As I am sure most of us use IRC, especially on either IRChighway.net or Rizon.net), but getting most groups to adopt the idea of doing this is another exercise entirely.

Then theres the fact that alot of groups may not agree to do it.

However, I believe the more groups adopt it, the more will realize its usefullness.

Overall, this idea can only be good for the community, in general.

Welcome to Manga-Updates!
If you're new, please read the rules.
If you're returning, please follow them.