r2112 was meant to be a stepfile revolution. Up until that point, most files created for r21 use were stamina charts or DDR/ITG-esque stuff. r2112 was meant to take tradition, murder it, and then eat the dead body and throw it up. And it was, to at least some extent, successful. Unfortunately, aside from being a shocker, most of the files were not timeless, and a lot of the charts were just downright un-fun on the pad. This was mostly due to our not-yet-matured stepfile making abilities, and our desire to create cool and original stuff over straight-up fun stuff.
A year later, r21twins came out. As r2112 had already created the revolution, there was no need to try and create anything extreme anymore. Our goal was to take the cool stuff that we had done in r2112 (and in other files) and use them in non-revolutionary, fun ways. Again, we succeeded for the most part, but the pack suffered from a ridiculous lack of playtesting, due to r21freak's machine being gone for the entire time the pack was being worked on. Small errors that wrecked a lot of the fun of files abounded, and most players were turned off before even playing everything in the pack.
This time around, however, we have learned and matured a lot, and the criticisms that have been given about both packs in the past have not fallen on deaf ears. Essentially, there are two major changes from this pack compared to r2112 and r21twins:
1) Non-staff Expert charts and
2) Concentration on fun over coolness/technical accuracy/difficulty
In this pack, the sheer fun level of a chart takes precedence over everything else. If a chart is not fun, no matter how cool or how accurate it is, it will not be accepted in this pack. Of course, "fun" is subjective and what is a blast for one person might be terribly boring for someone else. As such, our goal is not to have everyone involved in the pack's creation loving every chart, but rather to have it average out so that everyone loves some of the files, likes most of them, and hates one or two. Any other spread would just turn off more players than it would bring. Gimmicks lovers, stream lovers, crossover haters and everyone else in between will have something to enjoy. An even spread of difficulties is also not a concern this time around. Having all 11's is just as good as having an even spread of 10's, 11's, 12's and above, so long as they are fun.
Of course, if a chart is hated by the vast majority, then it will not be accepted either. For this pack, charts that are only enjoyed by their creator and no one else will not be accepted. There is no point in keeping charts in the pack that only those who made them will play.
In order to achieve such a variety, the method of picking the songs for this pack is different than the others. In the past, people suggested songs and then a staff member took up the skeleton work and the Expert chart. That worked all right, but we ended up with a lot of the same style of Expert charts, which successfully turned off a lot of players who didn't like certain steppers' styles. This time around, I've asked 10 to 15 amazing step artists from this site to each choose a song of their own and then step it in a way that they absolutely love. Once they've done that, the other members working on the pack will take over for the Novice to Hard difficulties on both Singles and Doubles. Those who make the Expert charts are also obviously welcome to fill in other difficulties if they want.
In the past, the other members who work on other difficulties on songs have been discouraged from looking at the difficulties that have already been stepped for it. This makes sense in one respect, to ensure that each difficulty has its own personality. However, it also discourages playtesting, which is a terrible idea, and some cool things done in one difficulty should be used on other difficulties as well. Why mess with perfection? As such, members working on this pack are encouraged to play everything and let them influence their own charts however they want.
Even though only the few that were invited to make Expert charts can make Expert charts, that doesn't mean that everyone else involved in the pack sucks. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Without everyone's help, this pack will not be a success. All opinions count, and every one chart finished brings us one chart closer to completion. There is absolutely no shame in making a Hard, Medium, Easy or even a Novice chart. The only shame is if they are made poorly, and the player does not enjoy playing it.
As for the name of the pack itself, I think it perfectly symbolizes the "theme" for this pack. Not only are we bringing it back to straight up fun-on-the-pad files that we all love, but we're also departing from the alliteration usage in r2112 and r21twins, showing that while we respect them for where they've brought us today, it's time to move on. There's also another reason why it makes sense and is awesome, but that's for when the pack comes out....
So yeah, we have a dozen unbelievably awesome step artists, two new staff members, tons of other new members that are rising artists, and a great community that should be able to pump this thing out in no time and make it amazing in the process. PM me or hit me up on AIM if you're interested in helping out, and I'll add you to the group so that you can see the forum it's being worked on in. I might restrict you to only stepping one difficulty for a while, but like I said above that's not a bad thing, since every chart is just as important as any other in this pack. Also, you can gain experience in stepping and work your way up to stepping Hard charts in this pack and Expert charts in the next one. We need experienced syncers/graphics makers/song suggesters/playtesters as well, so almost anyone can help!
Anyway, I can't wait to work on this thing with all of you guys. It's going to be a blast
PM/AIM me soon!
