@GregoriusH: you win at life

greygecko

So who wants to form a commenting guild with me? Week 1 we all nominate one person, then the next week we all nominate someone else, and so on...We'll level up our stars so fast.

I mean, nothing, nothing at all.

Lono

I do believe that "Super Multi-tap Galaxy" would have been a more fitting name for this pointless quest for stars.

GregoriusH

You get a star for nominating one of the "winning" entries, because this will encourage more folks to nominate stuff. Honestly way too many awesome comments go un-hypergalactic-multi-tapped because people don't bother to nominate them.

(I've never nominated a comment.)

dowingba

@Mr. Fap☆Fap!: <3 Penis <3

Not a terrible idea, not my favorite idea. Now if this star's thing is Retroactive to comments. I'd be rather happy

huginn - So, what to do for tuesday.

@zanzibarlegend: Wrong. It's because knowing is half the battle.

Miksho

Look at that abusive post by Crecente. Would somebody ban him already? sheesh, nothing but trouble. Tsk tsk tsk. :P

K-Squad! (Badass Edition)

[INSERT WITTY COMME-

"Galactic Multi-Tap launches this Friday."

Oh. Well, then. I guess I'll have to dazzle you all with my witty and profound comments on Friday, in that case.


Until then, I'm going to dedicate this week to making crude, boorish penis jokes.

Mr. Fap☆Fap!

@Heartwork: because a takes a good reader, to recognize a good commenter ;)

zanzibarlegend

One of these days I'll say something so awesome and witty that'll make people want to give me a big ego.

One of these days....

:(

ManjiKengo

I'm all for giving people a voice (even if 90% of comments will be trash), yet... I'm not so sure about giving people a - competitive - voice. A sort of 'look at me! Look at me! Mom! Mom! Mom! Look at my gold star! Mom! Look at me! Mom, you're not looking!' thing going on. Just my humble opinion. This is the internet, after all. Good luck on finding "meaningful" and "discussion" spoken in the same breath. =)

Custom Reality

yay?

CruiseElroy

Where's this star?

elevenoverzero

Stars don't matter. Only achievement points!

dunetiger : apples are red

Hmm. Titillating...

I still think those with over *checks profile page* 47 followers should be awarded a star. But maybe that's just me.

InsidiousTuna

Nice!

JoBo

So bigotry and erstwhile factionalism get rewarded now?!

Hell in a handbag, I say. Hell in a handbag.

pylon_trooper

@Heartwork: Because by doing so, you display a sound sense of literary goodness.

MasterOfPastures

Well I suppose this is a good reason for me to start posting meaningful and interesting comments instead of my normal racist, homophobic, incomprehensible rants. Heheh.

Lono

If the comment section of Kotaku truly does become more educated and meaningful, or at least clever in their insults and less shouting of random bigotry takes place then i thank you sir, for you have finally given me a purpose to scroll down.

xxshogunxx

Oh how I would love the warm fuzzy feeling of having a colored in gif of a pentagram next to my name...

Byakko

How does nominating a good comment make you yourself a good commenter?

Heartwork

apple pie ;)

AntiZERO

Does this apply to past multi-taps?

Clarke

Interesting.

I do hope that this will raise the bar for comments that make it in then!

Witzbold

...and i'll bite you.

Bugged?

@Brian Ashcraft: Nobody REALLY wants a democracy. It's too much work.

Insomnia Bob

@Custom Reality:
Think about it this way. Before, Kotaku editors gave stars to comments they liked. Now, you also have the option of earning a star by nominating or being nominated. Don't see how this is a bad thing.

Brian Ashcraft

If this is anything like Galactic Bowling, I'm all for it. Even though the only requirements for Galactic Bowling were 1) disco lights and 2) a bad DJ, think of all the extra fun those two things could inject into commenting. Dance contests ftw! Adam Frucci from Giz as a guest judge, natch.

MisterSleep

Great idea! Now I can weep in a corner more because I hardly have time to post/read here! :-P

edb87

@Custom Reality: Couldn't agree more.

breakblossom

It's going to be like 1st grade all over again. I never got any stars back then either.

splines

@GregoriusH: STAR GET!

Touy

Multi-tap is going the way of Gurren Lagann. Just when you think they're done being rediculous, the moon turns into a giant robot. And just when you've finally gotten THAT handled, the last fight takes place on the ENTIRE GALAXY. Not IN. ON. Like it was a god damn wrestling ring floor.

Viva Galactic Multi-tap!

Insomnia Bob

I feel like multi-tap is somehow going to lead to the untimely deaths of the kotaku writing staff... I mean... look at what Mario is willing to do for a few stars... I'd hate to see someone get thrown into a pit of fire.

K-Squad! (Badass Edition)

How about the people who get stars can only comment while the pitiful beings try and rise to the top in some other form. Probably a battle to death in some kind of witty off or something... sorry tired guys.

[KU]Shindokie: Hates The New Layout!

How can I just get a star. Can i save you from a burning ship? I think that will be much easier then having to dig deeply into my brain and try to use the correct and proper words to come up with something insightful, smart, funny, witty, or comprehendible.

[KU]Shindokie: Hates The New Layout!

@Custom Reality: Thats ok we can TAKE AWAY stars too you know. ;D

Witzbold

I will draw mine star on the screen with crayon, damnit!

tei

You ALWAYS win when there is a star next to your name.

Fyren

This kotaku schemu will never work on me. I received 4 gold stars in 2nd grade. I've never felt the need to prove myself by any means since that day.

Still, nominating others is tempting. In the 'giving = go to heaven' sort of way...

kcorbo

@Insomnia Bob:
I detest that statement! how dare yo..... Okay...... Yes...

K-Squad! (Badass Edition)

@Insomnia Bob: This isn't a Democratic nation. More like an internet video game blog with journalistic output. It would be more like Democracy if we could vote in and out editors and make or abolish certain rules. Not really the same, but you're close to being on the right track.

@Brian Ashcraft: I can see where you're coming from, when it's put like that. Still, I love Kotaku but I think I'll abstain from trying for a star all the same. The reason being I can't stop seeing it as the same as Microsoft Achievement Scores 2.0. Can't please everyone, so some people will undoubtedly love the new star system while others hate it.

Custom Reality

On a related note, I've never actually read how we're supposed to nominate people. Do we just email Crecente or something?

Heartwork

@Witzbold: I hereby petition that the ban hammer be henceforth paired with the ban sickle.

Insomnia Bob

@Custom Reality: Ohh, so you're trying to abstain from getting a star, are you? Well, just for that, I'm going to be a jerk and nominate you--

*gasp* ...r-reverse psychology! GET BACK!

Hmph! I nearly fell into your tuna net, Mr. Reality, but instead... I proudly remain dolphin safe.

exaggeration17a

@Insomnia Bob: Hearing Kotaku and Stars for some reason reminds me of the Soviet Union. :x

+ Watch video

Witzbold

@Witzbold: You better watch out. Now we get stars for doing good things. Next there will be a board with names and check marks on it, instead of the ban hammer :)

jjpember

@Witzbold: That's it, Witz! RULE WITH AN IRON FIST!

Insomnia Bob

@Witzbold: Your kindly provided video brought back memories so I took a picture of the new Kotaku Star design. Look what you have done.. I hope that you are now happy with your ban-hammer & ban-sickle as Insomnia Bob has suggested ;-)

Dekko

@Cathaoir: tips(atmark)kotaku.com

Witzbold

I feel ridiculous asking this, but a whole year after joining I still don't know somehow...

How do I nominate a comment?

Cathaoir

@kingofallcosmos: Quit your whining and get back in that locker. And give me your lunch money.

Captain Impulse

@Quine: No just a slightly miffed Fahey.

Witzbold

I still miss the days when Multi-Tap was editor's choice. Getting chosen by Bashcraft was an honor. Now it feels like that video yearbook that was made by the Media Club back in high school; it was supposed to represent the whole school, but the only people who were interviewed were friends of the Media Club people. (You would think that over a decade later I would have dropped this subject, but it would have been nice to have seen more than 5% of the class in the graduation video.) And I miss Florian Eckhardt.

kingofallcosmos

If you get 3 stars, do the police helicopters come after you?

Quine

@Captain Impulse:
The Media Club gang strikes again, leaving me without my money on pizza day. Someday we will all learn to use basic video equipment, possibly without having to use every available video effect in every video segment, and then we will see who has the last laugh.

kingofallcosmos

@Quine: No, in Communist Kotaku, helicopters are chased by YOU.

Insomnia Bob

Given that my new role appears to be naysayer, douchebag and/or insurgent, and the fact that this stuff has kind of become a popularity contest, i've kind of given up any hope of being nominated :P

Sunjammer

@Sunjammer: Insurgent eh? Thats a new one.

Witzbold

Cool that people who get nominated get a star... not too sure on the nominators though, I'm on the fence about that. Last thing I want is to take up the policy of fully reading all the star comments and have a lot of people who know good comments but can't write them.

I guess my fear is that it could become a mess by the end summer. Figure 14 or so stars per week over a few months and we could end up seeing stars through the whole section. If the point was to highlight the best commentary, having 360+ stars per year just for folks that nominate comments changes the landscape and meaning a bit. Then the star is more about participation than necessarily about the quality of that participation.

But then, I'm an elitist cynic, so screw what I think. I was Mr. Cool in Mr. Cool's Club for Exclusive People for a whole week, so what do I know? I'm probably just bitter about having to share the club house. Maybe having friends in the star club is a good thing, maybe having it mean something different is good too.

It's an interesting experiment, of course, though I'd have probably started off giving the stars for "commentors only" policy a bit longer than a week to see how it worked first... seems a bit early in the test to shift direction.

dv8godd

@MaoChan: It wouldnt be the internet any other way!

Witzbold

Another e-penis for people to show off and fight who is bigger.

MaoChan

@Witzbold:

BA DUM PISSH!!!!

Dauragon C. Mikado

At your command, PapaBear. What you first order?

tei

So when the stars fill up do we go into "Prestige" mode? ;D

Witzbold

No? Screw you! I have lots of followers!

MINIONS! ATTACK! Siege Kotaku tower and bring down our oppressors!

PapaBear434

Do I have any stars yet?

PapaBear434

Just because it's a gaming blog doesn't mean the blog has to be a game... Or, conversely, get a cute little clicky-type game like the header of Jayisgames.com, there to play with but also easy to ignore if you'd just rather know what Itagaki's doing. All these stars are doing is creating a competitive environment.

Marion517

I don't suppose you could clarify this whole "multi-tap" thing with a chart, could you? You see, a) I really like charts and, b) this whole thing doesn't make any honking sense.

Woland

I bet stars are shared trough the gawker network. So, If you get a starred in io9.com or jezebel.com, you will be starred here. No idea about Gizmodo, cause looks like use a different software.

My * guy will kill your spy! muahahahahaa...

tei

I wanna star...GALATIC...MULTI-TAPS...ARE...GO!!

excel_excel

@pylon_trooper: BTW... I'd like to believe that no one currently possessing a star is that much of a dick.

Well, maybe I am... but Crecente and DaiMacculate are swell guys.

dv8godd

@Marion517: If the way you "win" is by not being a jackass to other commentors and by creating intelligent and thought-provoking discourse, how is a "competitive environment" a necessarily bad thing?

I mean, to use the jargon of the subject matter, this seems more co-op than PvP. You don't succeed at the expense of other commentors, but by being a part of the community.

The downside that I see is the potential in elitism, not necessarily that users try to be the best they can be in their comments.

dv8godd

@Marion517: Actually, I figured they were letting us know who's comments might actually be worth reading as opposed to... uh, well, I don't want to name any names here, but we all know who I'm talking about.

Insomnia Bob

@dv8godd: Yeah, I'm hoping I don't fall into that "dick" category, either ^_^;

In fact, I'm not even sure how I got a star ... but, ever since I've gotten one, I've actually thought twice about every post I make. It's really weird, but it makes me feel like I need to be more responsible when I speak. It's also possible that it's because it would be really embarassing to lose a star, too :P

jayntampa

WOW, hello edit button and no coffee...it's a fucking STAR!

God, Ban me, no wonder I don't have a STAR, I can't even spell. ;)

-EDGE-

@jayntampa: I wasn't sure if Witz gave you one yet or not... welcome to the group. I do know how you got one... by having insightful commentary worth reading. Pretty simple. :)

Yeah, I can see how it would make you think twice about commenting... but I kinda got to that point myself anyway over the last few months. It is strange though: you'd think it would be a license to let your mouth do stupid things, but it's so far the opposite... like everyone is watching me now so I better not trip over my own feet.

It'll be curious to see if everyone else has the same reaction over time, but being this early in the system makes you very self-conscious.

dv8godd

I'm a dick, can I get a fucking start already!

Anyhow, sounds like an interesting new format the will encourage and inspire the community...

Can I get a start now?

-EDGE-

I'd multi-tap that ass.

Woodwater

Wow, this has really got me excited for some reason. Maybe cos' I didn't get any of that gold star stuff in kindergarten :(

rudyism

@dv8godd: I appreciate that, and disagree that you're more of a dick than me, you just seem to get provoked a bit more often than I do ;)

@jayntampa: Yeah I kind of see your point, it does make you feel an extra layer of caution in posting things, but I feel like I already did a quick "BanHammer edit" on my posts before this star thing came out, so its just another small item compared to that. I'd much rather lose or just not have the star than lose my ability to comment under this account entirely, given the choice ;)

Everybody don't forget you can get them from other gawker sites as well, while I don't make a ton of comments on the other sites I do occasionally read them, and plenty of people have the same stars there as well who I never see here. So if you really, really desire one you can up your chances by posting to other facets of the Gawker Empire as well..;)

@PapaBear434: See above, and don't worry, you'll get one eventually. It seems to my lazy, haphazard eyes you haven't been posting as much lately as you used to (not IrishNinja level dropoff, but still), thats possibly most of it. If they had done this 12 months ago I'm sure you'd have one already ;)

DaiMacculate

@Woodwater: On your way to many stars I see.

Majorasblaze likes to dance dance dance yeah

@DaiMacculate: Yeah, I'm still hoping...and wishing upon a star...

Spoony Bard

I hear people with a star don't have to wait in line anywhere at all.

Now if only we had lines on the Internet.

Candlejack

first "hot tears of shame" goes away and now "hyper multi-tap" is "galactic multi-tap"?

things are moving too fast around here kotaku... too fast

rawg

@Candlejack: They also get free hot coffee.

Spoony Bard

@Marion517: I liked it better when there weren't nominations. I'd rather have some secret silent COURT of journalists making the picks rather than just random gamer dudes. Somehow i just don't trust random internet men to make good choices.

So yeah i agree, making the comments a contest bugs me. Mostly becuse i am now destined to never win at it ;P I don't actually LIKE losing, no matter how often i do it.

Sunjammer

@Witzbold: Insurgent just sounds more neat-o than "dude that fights back against hopeless odds just out of spite".

Sunjammer

@Sunjammer: Actually the editors do look over the comments and decide if it goes in or not. So its not like just what is submitted by users magically will appear without any checks / balances if you know what I mean.

Witzbold

@Spoony Bard: OH SHI-

Where do I get one of those star thingies again? Ah, yes, $5000 on Witzbold's bank account.....Free coffee, here I come!

Candlejack

Heh... i'll never get a comment and yet all my posts are intelligent and thoughtful.

Well, mostly :)

Duoae

It's my belief that every single person on Kotaku will have a star within a year if this stays in effect.

Then we'll all be special stars, though!
And nobody will have to worry about public attention, because everybody is on equal ground.

Polywhirl

@Polywhirl: Thats beautiful man, thats beautiful

excel_excel

Why not make them gold and complete the elementary school mentality.

calnick0

@Witzbold: Yeah i know.. I guess i just don't have a lot of faith in how the nomination system works now. It's not exactly a flick of the wrist kind of thing to do, which means it's not really going to be like any kind of statistic.

I guess i'd like to see a thumbs up/thumbs down button instead like on youtube. Trolling and other meanness gets downprioritized, better comments simply get a nudge up. Then once a message gets enough individual thumbs down it simply gets hidden from the list. Double whammy; nominations for radness AND lameness.

Sunjammer

Oh hell, now I'm never going to get a star.

ceilingfanboy

Obituary time:

Hyper Multi-Tap was born in mid-late 2007, descendant of Mutli-Tap. It was flushed down the internet tubes, much like a goldfish, by Brian Ashcraft after all of its 1s became 0s, in the first-ever case of Sudden Article Death Syndrome (SADS). As a showcase of the best of the best, Hyper Multi-Tap, like its parent, gained the respect of much of the community. Its progeny, Galactic Multi-Tap, was quoted as saying, "WTF, HAX!" before assuming the role left by Hyper Multi-Tap, though Galactic Multi-Tap will be more discretionary in its requirements to qualify.

A memorial fund for Hyper Multi-Tap has been set up. You can donate money, old games, cell phones, beer, or other goods commonly used by men in their mid 20s to early 30s to:

Kotaku Tower
1 Bird Shirt Road
Denver, CO, 80241

Zero_Beat

@Custom Reality: 90 percent of the comments are trash? That's ironic.

I don't think it'll take any extra effort from you to avoid getting a star. Now, back under the bridge!

Are all of my comments literary works of art or thought-provoking treatises of bewonderment? Not at all.

However, I write what I write. Only a ban will change that. I've made it into the Week in Comments before and it didn't change my commenting habits, nor will the potential for a "star".

People like that will weed themselves out.

Billkwando