Scratch

That video clip is old I think they should make a new one

Added another feature I missed: the video only shows pre-made sprites! There's nothing about making your own sprites?

I'll have to look at it, though it certainly does sound somewhat faulty. I say the funnest thing in scratch is programming, they should show a lot of that. 

Andres, I would love to do a video! I'd like to highlight Scratch's usability on different platforms; I can do Windows and Ubuntu (1.4 on Wine...shhh!) but I'd need some video of Scratch being used on OS X.

illusionist wrote:

Agreed, except about your opinion that it needs to say "program".

The video is old. Things were very different when it was taken.

I have seen many changes to Scratch, don't be fooled when it says that I "registered: 7-2-2008". I really had an old account, called "prairie" that was created on 4-10-2008. 

He (I) speak(s) the truth! 

andresmh wrote:

Jonathanpb: thanks for the observations! The video is indeed somewhat old. Also, trying to capture what we like about Scratch in 30 seconds will leave things out.

As for the lack of "programs", I would say "stories, games, music, and art" are programs.

Maybe some of you could try to make a newer version of it?!

All you need is to create a 30 sec high resolution video that includes all we put in the video, put some music on the background, it has to be under a free license (no commercial music) or even better, with your voice in it.

I wonder if we should have a couple of 30 sec videos generated by the community and show a random one every time someone comes to the website.

Thanks.

For the bit about programs, I think you're right. I may be picky though, but it seems to have a gap... after all, plenty (though not many) of projects on Scratch aren't any of those. It just seems to be missing something to me. Hmmmmm...

It'd be great to try to make a video, but I don't have the software...

The idea about random videos is great! I'm just worried that some of the videos won't be good (ie. a video with bad picture quality and nothing really shown in it). Maybe the Scratch Team could sort through the videos and choose the ones that are good? Then those videos can go on the front page.

I think the Scratch Team should make the video... at the MIT lab you'll probably have plenty of software, and you know more about Scratch than most of us.

Maybe some Scratch users could check the video first? We can think about when we joined, and what video would have been nice for us at the time. If the majority of the 'beta testers' think the video is great, then you can put it on (and it'll probably appeal to new users, judging from the users' opinions)!

Thanks for your ideas! 

Maybe someone should download the video, investigate how it was made, remix and reimagine the video, and then sail it with the world!!!!

I'm on it! I have all the footage thanks to CamStudio and I'm working on the image/program/share animations in Flash. I should have it done by the end of the week.

Scratch 1.1? Wow!

Well, as they still haven't done anything yet (and they've had plenty of time), I suppose it's good that you bumped this up, as it'll remind them... if they bother to take a look, of course.

Please do something, Scratch Team! Actually have some action, instead of simply admitting that it's an old video and there should be a new one, and doing nothing. It makes me sad to see lazyness; why can't we have an active Scratch Team?. 

I hate doing these outrages; I feel really guilty and evil, but I have to do something or nothing will change.

Jonathanpb wrote:

Scratch 1.1? Wow!

Well, as they still haven't done anything yet (and they've had plenty of time), I suppose it's good that you bumped this up, as it'll remind them... if they bother to take a look, of course.

Please do something, Scratch Team! Actually have some action, instead of simply admitting that it's an old video and there should be a new one, and doing nothing. It makes me sad to see lazyness; why can't we have an active Scratch Team?. 

I hate doing these outrages; I feel really guilty and evil, but I have to do something or nothing will change.

Lazy?! They aren't! They're just extremely limited on resources. Scratch was a research project. It still is, but because andres made this whole site,Scratch has been brought to the whole world, resulting in the current 600.000 projects on this website. The Scratch team does a wonderful thing, and the only thing we (the community) can do to keep Scratch alive is supporting it with suggestions, bug reports, moderating/reporting posts, ... - and donating but that doesn't apply to me being a minor.

Scratch is all bout collaboration and Scratch itself is a collaborative project too - so is this website. If you want something to be changed, don't blame the Scratch team. Create a video yourself and they'll be glad to post it.

Jonathanpb wrote:

If you logout, you'll see a nice big box at the top of the front page, with a message saying "Create and share your own interactive stories, games, music, and art", and a link to download Scratch. There's a video also.

The message and video have problems... especially the video.

The message: It says "Create and share your own interactive stories, games, music, and art". In other words, it's saying that you make on Scratch the following - stories, games, music, and art. Where's the word "programs"? Where does it mention programming? I might be picky, but I thought I'd put it in along in this topic.


The video: This is where it gets weird. First, I'll put a synopsis down.

A quick view of the front page.
A view of projects.
A view of visiting a project, downloading it, remixing it and sharing it.
Another view of the front page.

There are many problems.

1. In both views of the front page, you see the old webpage. It has the "Snap together blocks to create stories, games and animations and share your creations on the web" and the spot where you download Scratch. That doesn't exist any more!
2. In both views of the front page, it says Scratch Club instead of Scratch Design Studio.
3. The view with projects is wrong. You don't get a view like that anywhere on the website.
4. The third bit of the synopsis is worrying. It looks like all you do on Scratch is remix projects! No!
5. There's nothing about making your own sprites. All it shows is using pre-made sprites.
6. The second view of the front page has the words Imagine • Program • Sail instead of Imagine • Program • Share. What?

This is rather annoying. I may be picky, but I thought it good to mention these things so they may be corrected.

Andres has a point that those are programs. Although I'd appreciate having "simulations" added to that list...

I do have to say the video of itself is lame. First of all it is very very old. Scratch Club? Imagine Program Sail? Get real...

So basically without doing any changes, first make it, just with a new front page.

Nethertheless, there are many problems. It definately should show more of the scripts, and costumes, and how you can draw what you want.

In addition, it advertises the front page too much. Although at the same time, people who just start won't neccecarily recognize the front page as signs for popularity and jealousy... so it's not all that bad. But they should put some of the other website. Maybe have something like "Participate in Contests", and mention the kinds that people create, and the scratch design studio.

Anyway, having the remix project thing isn't all that bad...

Other than that it's fine.

And Chrischb I agree with you mostly, although maybe people your age, and your programming friends might not find the video appealing, but younger kids do :)

I'm not quoting you two, Paddle and JSO, because it'd get hard to read.


Maybe I should put it differently. Often I see something that the Scratch Team notices and mentions about fixing/improving/something it, but I only can think of one time (the Text-Based Games stuff, but they admittably passed their deadline by about a week) that something actually happened.

I just feel that things should be done quicker. If you notice something and say you'll do something, shouldn't you make sure you take care of it quickly, instead of taking a long time and making people think you've forgotten?

Yes, I know Andrés said that he wanted the opputunity for other people to create a video. But I've seen nothing, and it's been a month. Shouldn't something have been done by now? I'd think someone would have made a new video by now, at least. And... according to what fullmoon said, he should have been done by the end of November.

JSO: As stated in an earlier post, I don't have the software stuff to make a video.

I suppose "lazyness" isn't a good way to put it... I think more of "delaying/not bothering".