Multi-version releases

[Mikademus]

Recently several groups have started releasing in multiple formats. For some examples, SS are releasing Mai-Otome in LQ and HQ versions; Lunar is releasing Bleach in XviD/AVI and h.264/MKV versions; Eclipse is releasing Shakugan no Shana in XviD AVI and h.264 MKV versions; and Mahou and Eclipse are both releasing Fate/Stay Night in these two alternative versions. F.i. ASuki lists this, and is the only feature I'm lacking in BU, but since asuki is so lacking in ather ways, one cannot really use their service anyway.

The version listed here is princiaplly always the vanilla (lower-denominator) XviD/AVI version.

So, please integrate (allow?) multi-version release support!

[McDohl]

I'd have to agree, it would be nice if both were listed. Though they might not be listed at the same time, considering some groups release the h.264 episodes a day or more later than the XviD version.

[Mikademus]

This is important because it is actually becoming annoying and troublesome. I use BU as my primary source of anime release info and it has been several times not I've downloaded stuff and only later realised that there've been other versions I'd rather have got. Thus, it is comping to the point where anytime I download something I need to check another source also. Not really what the BU team envisioned, right?

The latest example is [gg]'s Ayakashi, which they release in XviD and h.264, but only the XviD version is reported on BU. Another example is Eclipse's Shakugan no Shana, which is only reported in XviD so I have to manually go to another site to download the proper version.

Given that perhaps between a forth to a third of all groups release in dual formats now I can't really understand why multi-version reports isn't a part of BU already, it is a critical feature and must basically already be supported in some way by the software.

[frumplstlskn]

I agree muti-format support!
/me gets most of his stuff from IRC anyway >.>

[Mikademus]

Since this thread seems to receive no attention from the staff I'm bumping it.

I'd just like to ask if there's a particular reason for multi-version releases not being included. Can't the software handle it? Has the update crew something against multi-format releases or fansubs in anything but hardsubbed AVIs?

[McDohl]

Considering that an admin posted yesterday in the suggestions forum, I'm pretty sure he saw this thread. As for what he thought... hell if I know.

[Mikademus]

Well, assuming the admin has seen this req, their replies are awfully quiet...

gg released "Ayakashi - Japanese Classic Horror" ep 2 today, but as usual only the XviD version appeared here, thus it was necessary to scout out the "proper" release elsewhere.

Anyway, I'm not certain how uploading works. Can I add torrents to BU? As far as I understand one submits things via IRC. Can it be that the system already works for multi-version releases and it is only a question of no-one having uploaded both versions here? Or if two versions are uploaded, is the first one overwritten?

[TiCaP]

I fully agree. This "unfeature" of BU is becoming a pain.
I already downloaded stuff like Shakugan no Shana twice because I just clicked the BU link as usual. While this isn't exactly a problem for me since it doesn't take me too long to download, it might be a real problem for lower-bandwth people.
And it is still annoying to the point that I start to like browsing tokoytosho's list instead.
So the question remains: What's the reason?

***Note: above post is not intended as a rant. Please inform me about harsh sounding phrases that might have been used. You'd greatly help a non-native speaker refine his language***

[Mikademus]

And as usual the silence is deafening... I can't shake the feeling that for some unfathomable reason this is a sensitive topic.

This is truly a shame since Baka-Updates, except for this glaring omission that is fast becoming increasingly more critical, is close to being the perfect system.

[frumplstlskn]

#baka-updates@irc.rizon.net

Go there to voice your complaints. Unlike here the people who run the site are always there. Start private chat with Manick or ask one of the other ops.

[Mikademus]

Reviving thread.

Have been unable to raise said persons. Must express immense frustration. I think BU is an extremely convenient source of information, very helpful. But it is sometimes VERY frustrating.

I just realised that I had yet again to download a series again since, going by BU, I had thought that the group only released AVI, but they had double-released in H264/MKV.

Is it only me that finds this annoying the the point of berserking?!

[Lynk Stryfe]

Groups could stop releasing dual versions. I'd support this. It's a waste of resources.


And yes, it's slightly annoying. Means I have to watch tosho or something, as well as B-U, just to make sure I don't miss a h264 release.

[KasugaSan]

Stop releasing dual versions?

That'd be bad, my computer can't even handle h.264 properly

[Lynk Stryfe]

Kill Katie, take his. Or reencode while you're at school?


Honestly enough, modern computers are all that's needed to run h264, just make sure you turn post-processing off. And do all the other stuff to free resources you'd normally do.

You got CoreAVC installed properly, didn't you?

[KunJinky]

Stop releasing dual versions?

That'd be bad, my computer can't even handle h.264 properly

Don't you have a new laptop?

[KasugaSan]

My brother stole my new laptop =_=

now I'm just using "government property," which is quite old

[KunJinky]

I'd say give vlc a try. It's not bad on older computers.
Hell, I'm stuck behind a 700 Mhz Pentium III now. T_T

[Lynk Stryfe]

CoreAVC instructions. Seriously, install it, then turn off h264 in ffdshow, (assuming you have cccp) is located at Start > All Programs > Combined Community Codec Pack > FFDShow Video Decoder Configuration. Then here.

[Mikademus]

Sorry to be interrupting in the ongoing thread hijack, but I'd like to ask you guys, who seem to be veterans here (based solely on that I've seen your avatars and sigs at elast once before) if you know if the admins have something personal against H264 or something since they seem to utterly refuse to include such releases if there are AVI or XviD versions.

[Lynk Stryfe]

Don't know them personally. Though I do know you, by repute.


I guess it's probably got more to do with which release the groups announce first? Or something? Since the releases are handled by a bot in the channel? I think? I don't go in the b-u channel, so I wouldn't know too much.


I'd like to see them add when groups do later HD versions, like Solar are doing with H&CII. Since now I have to chase down their site every so often to make sure I've not missed an ep.


But no, I don't know any of them personally. I don't believe I've ever spoken to them.

[Mikademus]

Don't know them personally. Though I do know you, by repute.

/me is intrigued - I thought I held a rather low profile... *skulks away to hide in the shadows*

I guess it's probably got more to do with which release the groups announce first?

Could be an explanation, but for that no non-AVI release is ever reported, consistently, when there are dual releases. If it was only a question of which release happened to be reported first then a few non-AVIs should rear their mutts in the lists.

[lambchopsil]

Dang...You guys are really adamant about this...

I usually only work for the manga side of B-U, but I'll contact Manick about this for you guys...

/me starts muttering how the manga side is more user friendly and easier to change...

[Manick]

Ok guys, here's the deal. I don't deal with the anime side, as I'm the manga site guy. The developer for the anime side has been missing for about a year, and all the main staff have been really busy with graduating from college and what not.

Because this seems to be a big thing I will try to contact some of the guys and ask them for permission to change the main code and add in this ability. (No guarantees though! I'm really swamped with the manga site as it is)

Now if I am correct about this, if we just added say, a little icon like the DVD logo that said h264, xvid, divx, whatever, and posted all of the different type of releases even tho there may be some duplicates (in different versions), you guys will be happy?

Again I'm sorry that we haven't checked here recently, but the only anime admin/founder still marginally active is Colje, who doesn't really know anything about coding.

[Lynk Stryfe]

Sounds completely fair to me, man.

[Mikademus]

Because this seems to be a big thing I will try to contact some of the guys and ask them for permission to change the main code and add in this ability.

Now if I am correct about this, if we just added say, a little icon like the DVD logo that said h264, xvid, divx, whatever, and posted all of the different type of releases even tho there may be some duplicates (in different versions), you guys will be happy?

Appreciate you going to the effort. Your suggestion seems like a good solution.