¯\(º_o)/¯ I think this forum needs more...

[Xantar]

Trying to recruit new members isn't going to do anything for this forum because, frankly, there's nothing here that a new member would want. You guys may think that you're a nice tight little community, but that also means you're a bit insular. Not that I blame you. When people have been around each other online for this long, they can't help but keep talking to each other in inside jokes all the time.

Being confrontational and argumentative isn't going to do anything either. I'll put down Jerry Falwell and Typhoid to the end of days if you want me to, and I'm sure the one formerly known as Indigo Montoya will be happy to do the same for nearly everybody else. It's not going to pull in new members, though. And whenever Ursinus-boy and I get into a real discussion (which I personally think are the best parts of this forum when they happen), everybody else just steps aside instead of participating. As far as we can tell, we two are the only ones who even bother to read each other's posts at that point.

This forum discourages people from spamming and mouthing off whatever pops into their heads. It looks down on the kind type-first-and-think-later posting that you find at all the bloated forums like IGN. But if you're not going to have that, you have to have a level of depth and intelligence in your posting that will hold the attention of those newcomers who appreciate that sort of thing. And before you protest that this forum has that, I suggest you go look at the forums of N-sider.com or TelevisionWithoutPity.com. Or even better, post the same thread topic at those forums and then post it here as well and read the response. People there really talk to each other instead of basically skimming a thread, posting their own half-baked opinion once and then pretty much not responding to others (except when they get really directly challenged or insulted). Frankly, the discussion at this forum is mostly the pits. This thread has gotten to the second page and people are still barely even acknowledging each other's posts.

Oh, and by the way, arcade games, buying imaginary gifts for people and checking the weather on a front page that's updated mostly by a robot isn't going to hold a newbie's long-term interest any more than the reputation system did.

What you have here is a website that doesn't even know what it wants to be. If GameTavern is just about being one big happy family, that's great. But don't expect anybody else to care about it. And if GameTavern is supposed to offer something to outsiders that they can't get from most other sites, you'd better decide on what that is and start offering it.

[Dyne]

We're forgetting the definition of fanboys here.

They only spawn inside the hearts of people at the beginning of generations. Of course everything seems more "stable" right now - because there's only one next-gen console out so far. If I remember correctly, the quarrel between the Dreamcast buyers and the PS2 buyers far outweighed the quarrel between Dreamcast buyers and people who owned N64 or Playstation.

One of the main fanboy spawning culprits was Super Smash Brothers Melee. It turned any casual player who owned a Nintendo in the past into this super "know-it-all" nerd who, if he played for a while, would know the main history of Nintendo, cover-to-cover.

But the real annoying ones are the ones who are the ones who try to justify their purchase because they feel insecure. Xbox 360 owners don't have anything to feel insecure about right now, but you bet **** is going to start flying once the PS3 and Revolution come out.

[Typhoid]

The only reason there hasnt been fanboy chatter is because the Revolution isnt out yet.

And lets be honest, the vast majority of people here are Nintendo Fanboys.

Followed closely behind by Playstation.

And MS, well, nobody really cares about them except the people who are in love with computers.


So I say by the time Rev and PS3 come out, most of us shall revert to the 13 year old selves, and flame wars shall begin again.

EDIT: Jesus Christ Phil. Damnit.

[Dyne]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

The only reason there hasnt been fanboy chatter is because the Revolution isnt out yet.

And lets be honest, the vast majority of people here are Nintendo Fanboys.

Followed closely behind by Playstation.

And MS, well, nobody really cares about them except the people who are in love with computers.


So I say by the time Rev and PS3 come out, most of us shall revert to the 13 year old selves, and flame wars shall begin again.

EDIT: Jesus Christ Phil. Damnit.

I had a HUGE head start on you, Sean. I started the first two paragraphs, went and had lunch, then came back at about 12:45. Then I posted it eight minutes later.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Dyne

I had a HUGE head start on you, Sean. I started the first two paragraphs, went and had lunch, then came back at about 12:45. Then I posted it eight minutes later.

I just woke up, and I'm posting talking to Ashley on the phone.

My concentration level is dang low.


And coffee at some point early in the afternoon today?

Like, 2 or 3?

[Dyne]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

I just woke up, and I'm posting talking to Ashley on the phone.

My concentration level is dang low.


And coffee at some point early in the afternoon today?

Like, 2 or 3?

I have to be at Becky's by three. D:

I'll run all my errands and see then.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Dyne

I have to be at Becky's by three. D:

I'll run all my errands and see then.

Ack.

Thats whY I said so soon, I have to be at my grandpa's tonight.

Which is a whole like, 10 second jog from your house.

And Murph dawg.

And if you cant go, dont worry about it.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Xantar

Trying to recruit new members isn't going to do anything for this forum because, frankly, there's nothing here that a new member would want. You guys may think that you're a nice tight little community, but that also means you're a bit insular. Not that I blame you. When people have been around each other online for this long, they can't help but keep talking to each other in inside jokes all the time.

Being confrontational and argumentative isn't going to do anything either. I'll put down Jerry Falwell and Typhoid to the end of days if you want me to, and I'm sure the one formerly known as Indigo Montoya will be happy to do the same for nearly everybody else. It's not going to pull in new members, though. And whenever Ursinus-boy and I get into a real discussion (which I personally think are the best parts of this forum when they happen), everybody else just steps aside instead of participating. As far as we can tell, we two are the only ones who even bother to read each other's posts at that point.

This forum discourages people from spamming and mouthing off whatever pops into their heads. It looks down on the kind type-first-and-think-later posting that you find at all the bloated forums like IGN. But if you're not going to have that, you have to have a level of depth and intelligence in your posting that will hold the attention of those newcomers who appreciate that sort of thing. And before you protest that this forum has that, I suggest you go look at the forums of N-sider.com or TelevisionWithoutPity.com. Or even better, post the same thread topic at those forums and then post it here as well and read the response. People there really talk to each other instead of basically skimming a thread, posting their own half-baked opinion once and then pretty much not responding to others (except when they get really directly challenged or insulted). Frankly, the discussion at this forum is mostly the pits. This thread has gotten to the second page and people are still barely even acknowledging each other's posts.

Oh, and by the way, arcade games, buying imaginary gifts for people and checking the weather on a front page that's updated mostly by a robot isn't going to hold a newbie's long-term interest any more than the reputation system did.

What you have here is a website that doesn't even know what it wants to be. If GameTavern is just about being one big happy family, that's great. But don't expect anybody else to care about it. And if GameTavern is supposed to offer something to outsiders that they can't get from most other sites, you'd better decide on what that is and start offering it.

I think you're being a little harsh. There's barely a post in this thread that doesn't acknowledge something of what someone else wrote. A person shouldn't have to completely disect someone's post before posting their own opinion.

The feedback I've gotten from features like the gifts and arcade games has been overwhelmingly positive. It's the little things that add character and personality to a site. And good luck trying to find a Survivor-style contest at another site that doesn't degenerate into chaos and die after a few days.

What else is it you think we should offer? There's nothing we can do in the way of regular original content without having a paid staff or industry contacts. GameTavern is one of the few places that is large enough for you to have on-going discussions but small enough that you can maintain some kind of identity. None of us are trying to be intellectual giants here, we just want to have a little fun.

[Xantar]

Originally Posted by Neo

I think you're being a little harsh. There's barely a post in this thread that doesn't acknowledge something of what someone else wrote. A person shouldn't have to completely disect someone's post before posting their own opinion.

Acknowledging someone else's post and responding to it are two different things. So far, I think you're the only person who has actually responded instead of just quoting someone and then running off on what you personally think. Just seriously read through this thread for a second. It's gone to three pages now, and how useful has it been? Do you see any discussion or posts where anybody's making any real progress?

Better yet, make a list of the people who have replied to this thread and then seriously ask yourself how many of them you think are going to make more than one post. That's not discussion. That's spouting.

The feedback I've gotten from features like the gifts and arcade games has been overwhelmingly positive. It's the little things that add character and personality to a site. And good luck trying to find a Survivor-style contest at another site that doesn't degenerate into chaos and die after a few days.

I'm sure the feedback for every new smiley you install is also overwhelmingly positive. That doesn't mean it's worth a hill of beans to you. What counts is what people pay attention to and use, particularly several months after you've installed it. People will not come to GameTavern for the gifts. They will not come to GameTavern or the arcades. And if you got rid of both of them, you would not find your membership changing one way or another.

You will note, by the way, that I never said anything bad about Survivor.

What else is it you think we should offer? There's nothing we can do in the way of regular original content without having a paid staff or industry contacts. GameTavern is one of the few places that is large enough for you to have on-going discussions but small enough that you can maintain some kind of identity. None of us are trying to be intellectual giants here, we just want to have a little fun.

Have regularly updated blogs. Do a comic strip. Write stories. Make up jokes. Post all the silliest Top 10 lists you can think of. Make weekly betting pools based on the videogame industry (e.g. "Place your wagers on whether Nintendo is going to reveal anything about the Revolution this week"). You'd be surprised how popular GameTavern would become if it had a well-functioning and dedicated gambling arena for anybody to come in and play, even if it was for fake money. Post periodic lists of your favorite videogame remixes. Anything. You've got a front page there. Use it or don't even bother.

If all you want is to have a nice little place where people can hang out and have fun and get to know each other, then that's fine too. Just don't be surprised when nobody new shows any interest.

[Dylflon]

My main goal in starting this thread wasn't so much to brainstorm getting new members despite me mentioning it in the first post.

Surprisingly, it was actually more to get ideas like Xantar just posted. Let's get some ideas out here for fun things we can have/do.

Let's get some games up and running.

I'm considering making another GT survival story but this time, the premise would be one of my own.

Would anyone be interested in that?

[Neo]

Funny you should mention gambling. I installed a casino hack a while back but never made it live because I thought people would find it too confusing. We do have vBookie which gives us a convenient way of placing bets, but only one or two persons have taken advantage of that since its inception.

We've setup regular activities in the past but people never stick with them. They invariably become bored or get caught up in real-life activities. It's hard to generate interest around a gaming clan since most of us are nintendo fans and nintendo online isn't exactly xbox live.

I could write more stories but that's not going to attract anyone. I can't picture a new user hanging around just so he/she can read the next exciting installment of "GameTavern 24." We had blogs for awhile but they weren't active enough to justify keeping.

I like the idea of regular wagers. Maybe if a few of us get it started then it will catch on with others. Top 10 lists might be fun too. I used to post regular silly polls for the front page but that kinda dropped off.

[Dylflon]

I still move for more arcade games.

It may not attract members, but they'll be fun for us.

I pine for pinball.

[Neo]

Ask and ye shall receive. I just checked and it looks like v3arcade has been revived as there is a new version out for vB 3.5. There should be additional games out now as well. I'll take a look if I ever figure out how to get registered.

[Neo]

Those of you who want arcade games do me a favor and track them down for me. You're looking for free games for v3arcade for vB 3.0.*. They should be zip files containing a php file and a couple images.

Btw, we are aware of the problem with the quick reply function.