Problem with the Star Rating System

Kiyoshimiko · Post by **Kiyoshimiko** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 11:41 am

Hi all,

I noticed that I often am not able to view videos when I download them, even though I have most standard codecs installed (3vix, divx, etc.). Well, anyway, I notice that a-m-v.org makes you give a rating to every video that you download, regardless of whether or not you can VIEW the video.

Thus, just to be able to keep downloading videos, I sometimes have to give arbitrary ratings (most often a lame "3") to videos that my computer won't let me view. I don't have time to figure out what prevents me from viewing every single video, and yet I am bound by the AMV contract to leave a rating for every video downloaded.

I think this is (obviously) unfair to those whom created these videos and receive ratings that don't reflect anything at all. Also, I feel bad having to dish out random amounts of "3"s.

Anyone have any solutions to this? Even if I manage to overcome viewing problems, there will always be instances when I simply cannot get around an error and **must** eventually leave a rating anyway. I'm sure this has happened to many others.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

Crzy_Tetsuo · Post by **Crzy_Tetsuo** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 11:51 am

Not to sound like a shmuck, but maybe if a video doesn't work, you should figure out a way to watch it. You say its not fair to give them a 3, but its not the admins fault that the videos don't work. The star rating isn't very accurate i will say that. I mean there are videos that I downloaded like 4 months ago and still haven't given a star rating for. Now one day, I may have to give them a rating so that I can download more, and if i'd already deleted the video and don't remember it, then yeh most likely it will get a 3. I don't pay much attention to it anyway. Now if you were leaving op's that were like all 5's instead of a star ratings, then yes there would def. be something wrong. But since your not, I wouldn't worry about it. And about the vids not working, try updating your bio's etc. Maybe trying a new videp player. That might help.

Coffee 54 · Post by **Coffee 54** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 12:10 pm

Solution #1:
Assume the best, and give the creator a 5. Hey, at the very least your making some poor guys day.

Solution #2:
Assume the worst and give the creator a 1. Hey, he's a jerk for not using a standardize format to begin with.

Solution #3:
Just hold on to the video until you can figure out what's wrong. So long as you don't let ten local video downloads pile up you should be good. But there's no real way around the star system.

To solve some video not playing issues I use a program called AVIcodec, it scans video's, gives me all sorts of info on them, like codecs used, bit rate, that sort of stuff. You can get your own copy here: avicodec.

SSJVegita0609 · Post by **SSJVegita0609** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 12:46 pm

If you have the latest Xvid and DivX codecs then you should be able to view 90% of the site's videos without issue. What are you specs?

Corran · Post by **Corran** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:46 pm

What video is it? We can probably help you play it back it we knew...

Arigatomina · Post by **Arigatomina** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 4:44 pm

If it's an avi file, get ffdshow:
http://athos.leffe.dnsalias.com/
-you should be able to watch any divx/xvid/random avi file on Windows Media Player.

If it's an mpeg2 vid (look at the vid description to tell), get Winamp 1.87 or BSPlayer.

Anything else - QT needs the Quicktime Player, RM nees the Real Media Player - if it's an unknown codec outside of avi, mpg, qt, and rm, then give it a 1. They're obviously going to extreme measures to make sure no one can watch the vid.

Orwell · Post by **Orwell** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 7:51 pm

i found a player that will play rm files along with the common ones, and it says it plays quicktime, but i hate that program too much to bother downloading a video with it. at least ive never seen a video that was good and in quicktime, maybe im just being too narrow minded, but the point is, jet audio player works great. http://www.jetaudio.com or if that doesnt work, you might need a certain codec, ive been playing with that problem for a entire week, id get one to work and another would fail, it all worked out in the end though. just find out what the file type is like a mpeg, mpg, avi,wmv and then hunt down the codec you need on http://www.free-codecs.com the k-lite pack works fine, if you know what you need. also the all in 1 works if k-lite doesnt cover it. hope this helps, even if it is a bit off topic. if this is too much, just ruin the guys day and give it a 1. it'll make you feel better if you feel that he's at fault and not you, whatever the situation might be.

Voices_Of_Ryan · Post by **Voices_Of_Ryan** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:33 pm

FdShow + Klite + Cyberlink Power DVD = Never any problems.

godix · Post by **godix** » Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:37 pm

Just do what I do, give random ratings without having watched the video. I've read people in the forums claim star ratings mean absolutely nothing so often that I figured WTF, if the creators don't give a damn about their star rating then why should I? Besides, doing it sight unseen means you get to play around and do stuff like give every DBZ vid a 1 and other silent statements about AMVs in general.

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 12:02 am

godix wrote:I've read people in the forums claim star ratings mean absolutely nothing so often that I figured WTF, <b>if the creators don't give a damn about their star rating</b> then why should I?

I so want to respond to this, but there's no way I can do so that won't make me look bad.