My number one suggestion for a new RiffTrax Player feature...

[Steve-O]

...would be remote time synchronization.

The basic idea would be to allow multiple people to keep their players synchronized across the Internet.  One person's player acts as the host, and any number of remote client players could connect up to that host.  Then, every few seconds, the host sends out an update to each remote client, letting them know the current timecode of the host player.  If the clients' timecodes differ from the host by some threshold amount, they would automatically adjust their position in the movie and/or riff to match it.  If the host hits play or pause, that would be transmitted as well.

Given what's already in place, this seems like a pretty simple thing to implement.  And it would allow for some really cool applications, such as:

* Group viewing parties in the chat room.  If people join in late, they would automatically jump to the right spot in the film.  And folks who have to pee could ask for a point of personal privilege, and if the host is feeling nice, he can pause the show.

* Live riffing over Skype or some similar Internet broadcast medium

* Collaborative riff writing sessions (this would require that you be able to view a DVD without a riff file, of course)

Personally, I think it's a cool enough feature that it would even draw people who aren't familiar with RiffTrax to download the player.  And more site hits means more people who know about RiffTrax, and hopefully more revenue.

What do you think, sirs?

[Pak-Man]

That's an awesome idea. It reminds me a lot of how me and Tyrant would watch MST3K together back when we were cyber-dating in different states. Now that I think of it, it was my first time Syncing. I'd start up my tape, she'd start hers, we'd have our keyboards at the ready, and we'd push play at the same time via online countdown. I'd even throw out Sync lines now and then to make sure we were mostly on the same page. :^)

More to the point, I think it's a great idea. I know the Round Table can think of a kazillion uses for it. If they do that, they could even get Mike, Kevin, and Bill in the chatroom, pick a movie, and riff it in chat live. That could be awesome. :^)

[Steve-O]

If they do that, they could even get Mike, Kevin, and Bill in the chatroom, pick a movie, and riff it in chat live.

Yeah, I was thinking along those lines, too.  It might be tough to riff in the chat room, depending on how fast the guys can type.  But they could easily host a conference call on Skype or some other live streaming service where any number of people can listen in.

And it would be lots of fun to have a group chat room viewing of new riffs as they come out.  We did that for the Harry Potter fan riff, but it was logistically difficult to get people synced up, and people had to have been there right at the beginning to get involved.