Hello Everyone.

[Gydian]

Hi.

My name is Ben, and I'm a friend/business acquaintance of Donny's.

Anyway, I've had a long discussion with Donny, and we've agreed that this place needs some work to make it much better. I know, I know. It's already great, but everything can use some form of improvement.

Anyway, before I start doing anything, I figured I'd do two things:

1. Introduce myself.
2. Gain input about the community.

So, first off, I'm not some young buck with no knowledge in the gaming industry. I'm actually a frequent player of most Blizzard games, and I've worked in the online gaming and MMO industry for nearly 7 years now. I'm married, and I'm 23. I'm also Canadian much like Donny is. (Again, I know, blame Canada, right? Haha.)

SO, now that that it out of the way, I'd love to gain some input.

First and foremost, what do you hate about the site/community?
What do you feel could be improved?
What should not change?

I'm one for listening to the people, and I really love members that actively participate and give their input. I'm capable of doing pretty much anything when it comes to online stuff, so the sky is the limit when it comes to new additions/modifications. So please, post your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, criticism, etc. That's the only way this community can continue to grow.

Thanks!

Ben

 

[Renzokuken]

The staff motivation could be improved. We're all pretty blase about what we do, that doesn't help. I hate that this site is content-lacking, no one wants to join this site, and when people do the trolls jump at them (We've cracked down recently on douchebags).

I also really hate that this site is Blizzard-focused. It's like there's no room for any other game to be discussed, and when they are, it barely gets any posts. We need this forum to be open to all gametype discussion and cater for just about anyone so our pool of potential members is greatly increased. Then we just have to entice that pool to join our site (Something i have no idea on which to do, i just work here ).

What shouldn't change? Heh, i couldn't care less. Everything we try doesn't seem to work so i'm open to just about anything. Change is good, change is what this site needs.

 

[Barney Stinson]

Staff makeup shouldn't change, and anyone who says otherwise should be considered as members who are only against the bettering of this site.

 

[Gydian]

The staff motivation could be improved. We're all pretty blase about what we do, that doesn't help. I hate that this site is content-lacking, no one wants to join this site, and when people do the trolls jump at them (We've cracked down recently on douchebags).

I also really hate that this site is Blizzard-focused. It's like there's no room for any other game to be discussed, and when they are, it barely gets any posts. We need this forum to be open to all gametype discussion and cater for just about anyone so our pool of potential members is greatly increased. Then we just have to entice that pool to join our site (Something i have no idea on which to do, i just work here ).

What shouldn't change? Heh, i couldn't care less. Everything we try doesn't seem to work so i'm open to just about anything. Change is good, change is what this site needs.

Appreciate the input. Definitely want to continue to smite the trolls. They're a pain on any forum, and it really does take motivated/dedicated staff to ensure that things are kept in order. So first off, I'll make all you existing staff members a deal. If you continue to keep this community clean, and get motivated about doing it, I'll do my best to see that things get changed to make it worth continuing to do so.

Now, as for the discussion of other games, I agree, and feel that more topics do need to be added here, and I'll do my best to do so. The larger the variety of games to discuss, the bigger the pool of members, and potential members we'll direct towards the site. As for enticing them to join, that's easy. Content building is the hard part, and it'll take quite a bit of work from the masses here. So if they're up to doing it, I'm up to building the framework for it to happen.

So, on that topic, where do we start with the content additions? What do you want added? Aside from more forums in here for other game discussions, what else really needs to be added?

 

[Gydian]

Staff makeup shouldn't change, and anyone who says otherwise should be considered as members who are only against the bettering of this site.

I can agree with that within reason. If there's existing staff that really don't better the community, or aren't active, then that needs to change. I'm all for keeping the staffing structure the same provided those staff members are capable and continue to be productive and helpful with the site.

 

[concrete_sox]

hello gydian you need an avatar

 

[Renzokuken]

Appreciate the input. Definitely want to continue to smite the trolls. They're a pain on any forum, and it really does take motivated/dedicated staff to ensure that things are kept in order. So first off, I'll make all you existing staff members a deal. If you continue to keep this community clean, and get motivated about doing it, I'll do my best to see that things get changed to make it worth continuing to do so.

Roger.

So, on that topic, where do we start with the content additions? What do you want added? Aside from more forums in here for other game discussions, what else really needs to be added?

Nothing really needs to be added, i think we just need to take the focus away from Blizzard games. I know it's a radical decision, but i'd personally just condense all the Blizzard games into one forum for each game, rather than like four for each. Then rename General Gaming to Gaming Discussion (And merge the console gaming into it) and chuck it at the top of the list. That's a start, but it's just my opinion, we should definitely discuss this at length in the staff forum.

 

[Gydian]

Roger.


Nothing really needs to be added, i think we just need to take the focus away from Blizzard games. I know it's a radical decision, but i'd personally just condense all the Blizzard games into one forum for each game, rather than like four for each. Then rename General Gaming to Gaming Discussion (And merge the console gaming into it) and chuck it at the top of the list. That's a start, but it's just my opinion, we should definitely discuss this at length in the staff forum.

Agreed. Lets chat there.

 

[Gydian]

hello gydian you need an avatar

Hello. And yes. yes I do. Any suggestions?

 

[concrete_sox]

something totally awesome

 

[Whaturmuva]

I think one of the biggest problem here is that the staff can not be regarded as leaders or role models that the members can follow. When I visit a forum I want to look at the staff and think "wow I want to post like them". You really don't get that here, most of the long informative posts are when a staff member is trying to protect their own reputation in the asylum. By the staff even feeling the need to post a rebuttal makes an outside viewer think there is some truth to what the original poster wrote about them. And worse many times the staff will take shots back at the poster in order to win some sort of "e-battle". In my opinion it shows a complete lack of maturity and really makes the staff look bad.

I think the staff needs to work things out maturely. They try, I'm not saying they don't. But in the end it usually ends as a flame war which no staff member should ever be involved in. One staff member posting that way and it makes the entire team look bad (the staff member for posting it, the other staff for backing them, and the administration for not putting a stop to it).

I offer my opinion as a forum administrator and member of multiple forums. I think if the staff posted more maturely and worked harder to be role models, this place could really have a nice turn around.

 

[Gydian]

I think one of the biggest problem here is that the staff can not be regarded as leaders or role models that the members can follow. When I visit a forum I want to look at the staff and think "wow I want to post like them". You really don't get that here, most of the long informative posts are when a staff member is trying to protect their own reputation in the asylum. By the staff even feeling the need to post a rebuttal makes an outside viewer think there is some truth to what the original poster wrote about them. And worse many times the staff will take shots back at the poster in order to win some sort of "e-battle". In my opinion it shows a complete lack of maturity and really makes the staff look bad.

I think the staff needs to work things out maturely. They try, I'm not saying they don't. But in the end it usually ends as a flame war which no staff member should ever be involved in. One staff member posting that way and it makes the entire team look bad (the staff member for posting it, the other staff for backing them, and the administration for not putting a stop to it).

I offer my opinion as a forum administrator and member of multiple forums. I think if the staff posted more maturely and worked harder to be role models, this place could really have a nice turn around.

I agree, and this is something I have already started working on. If you have any other input, I'd love to hear it as well.

 

[Krovvy]

OMG Hai 2 U!

First and foremost, what do you hate about the site/community?

The portal, it's just too bloated! I know the current owner worked hard on it, but I can't help seeing it as a negative. Currently websites are moving to more cleaner, simple looking portals, and we're going the opposite direction. For all the information on the portal, I don't think I can find any of it. It's just too easy to get lost! Other than that, the theme, possibly use any of the old ones? Also, the fact we're not establishing ourselves as a Blizzard gaming community. We have the Chit-Chat and general forums dominating the rest, maybe rearranging them would help? Then we have the hemorrhoids, herpes, yeast infection and other advertisements? Seriously, just sell the forum to someone who cares. Who wants to post on a forum with more advertisements than members?

WE SHOULD NUKE THE HACKS / BOTTING. We'll never be seen as a legitimate gaming community if we continue to allow this discussion. In the past it has generated traffic, but when is the last time we've seen positive traffic from it?

What do you feel could be improved?

Staff structure, rules, advertisements, whatever else that could be done by one person, but just hasn't been. Oh, and our reputation with other websites, and the current Blizzard gaming community.

What should not change?

The Blizzard community concept must stay. We've tried other forums and they've all failed. I still think it's possible to create a viable niche if the right things were done to generate traffic. Currently for the last five years the traffic has been cut almost in half every year, while other communities have grown (DiabloII dot net). If you want to look at a failure, try the Counter-Strike forum. We had everything a person could possibly want for the game, including getting server sponsorships for both Counter-Strike, and Counter-Strike: Source when it came out. The forum failed still, even though at the time it was the most popular online FPS.

---------------------------------

Also, you can search for past threads about forum changes. We've done one for every year we've been here, at least. Some of them are filled with suggestions, and I think the one from 2005 was filled with many "content" suggestions or at least I remembered it being the focus then.

 

[Galatia]

Welcome to BF, mr. Gydian. Why did you get married so early?

 

[feenux258]

im new and i havently looked around this site too much since its my first day here but i noticed u had a photoshop section and i was possibly thinking of friendly competitions maybe like a sig of the week or maybe larger pieces of artwork that can run every month and the community can vote on winners