New Forum Likes and Dislikes: Redux

Virtuality

As I asked over in the general section here before these posts went up, when you (Walrus) were talking about a new site going up with the transfer, was it these new forums you were talking about or was it a replacement for DN1 (which btw really needs a major update - like the server tracker which is still showing the servers as under scheduled maintenance).

BTW, staying true to the purpose of this thread, I really like these new forums. I was never really a fan of the layout of the previous ones having been far to used to the beta forums and the layout on these seems to be a modified version of the beta ones, which I liked.

Have to agree with folks about the post ranking system though, to easy to get frustrated with a low rating, or none at all, when your trying to be helpful.

Khr0n1k

Make it were admins/devs/customer support people stick out more. I mean I have to look hard to see where Walrus, or Brenlo posted. Make them have the Agent avaies back, so I can pick them out better.

**Fragzzt**

I like them, but then again, I've been a long time SOE customer, so I'm very used to them.

Just ignore the rating thing. If you make a big deal out of it, people will be jerks. Once people realize they arent getting the attention anymore they'll move on and bug other people.

I personally didnt like the old ones at all, or maybe just how they were laid out.

Nanashiko

As with anything it's going to take some getting used to. I agree with
some of the above comments about how easy it is to mess with the rating
system.

I also tested something earlier and was surprised to find that we can
post a new thread and check the box to "Keep this message at the top of
the board list" and it'll do so. I don't see a point in even having the
feature there seeing as once everyone figures it out every single
thread will be "doubled" by being placed both above and below the
"green line" as it were. I tested it with my faction recruiting post
and was amazed to see it worked.

**sospechoso_1**

I like the new forums because they load much faster . :smileyvery-happy:

I use my PII notebook for forum browsing and only turn on the P4 for the game.

I don't like the rating system because of the potential abuse issues.

Sospechoso

**weaselgrrl**

I like that they are more concise. Though the thing I miss most
is what the old Beta Boards had. Just a page where ALL the most
recent posts were.

I like the HTML Inclusion.

Rating System? Whatever.

Wish there was a straight black and white skin rather then the high vis black/green.

LOVE dev tracker...

Virtuality

I would just like to add to my previous post by saying that the [ NEW ] in the title bar of all the new posts since your last visit is a definate plus, so much easier to get up to speed on a thread.

Edited for late night typos.

Message Edited by Virtuality on 08-16-2005 08:54 PM
Message edited by Virtuality on 08/16/2005 11:55:00.

Globin

I love the layout of these forums, just things which have been implemented still puzzle me. Namely the ranking system.

SWG used the post ranking feature, after months of use the development
team decided it was pointless and exploited so they dumped it. I am
just wondering, but why are we stuck with it? SMILEY

As a replacement I suggest a system which ranks users on Time
Subscribed to the Game, and Post Count. I don't like refering to SWG
often, but well.. their system is pretty neat, and a nice example.

______________________________________________________________

Required for rank 1 (Member same as current) 1 month minimum
Required for rank 2 (Community Member same as current) 1 month minimum 50 post (Edit Granted)
Required for rank 3 (Sr. Member) 2 month minimum (Edit Granted)
Required for rank 4 (Sr. Community Member) 2 month minimum 75 post
Required for rank 5 (Contributor) 4 month minimum
Required for rank 6 (Community Contributor) 4 month minimum 100 post ----New Icons Granted-----
Required for rank 7 (Veteran) 6 month minimum
Required for rank 8 (Community Veteran same as current) 6 month minimum 125 post
Required for rank 9 (Guide) 8 month minimum
Required for rank 10 (Community Guide) 8 month minimum 175 post

----New Icons Granted-----
Required for rank 11 (Elder same as current) 9 month minimum
Required for rank 12 (Community Elder same as current) 9 month minimum 250 post
Required for rank 13 (Advisor) 10 month minimum
Required for rank 14 (Community Advisor) 10 month minimum 300 post

----New Icons Granted-----
Required for rank 15 (Leader) 12 month minimum
Required for rank 16 (Community Leader same as current) 12 month minimum 325 post
Required for rank 17 (Advocate) 14 month minimum
Required for rank 18 (Community Advocate) 12 month minimum 350 post
Required for rank 19 SWG Crewman 16 month minimum (Officer insignia appears)
Required for rank 20 SWG Petty Officer 18 month minimum
Required for rank 21 (Pilot) 12 month minimum 400 post

----New Icons Granted----- (planned)
Required for rank 22 SWG Chief Petty Officer 24 month minimum
Required for rank 23 SWG Ensign 28 month minimum
Required for rank 24 (Squadron Leader) 16 month minimum 425 post
Required for rank 25 SWG Second Lieutenant 30 month minimum

----New Icons Granted----- (planned)
Required for rank 26 SWG Lieutenant 36 month minimum
Required for rank 27 (Wing Commander) 20 month minimum 450 post
Required for rank 28 SWG Commander 40 month minimum
Required for rank 29 (Jedi) 32 month minimum 500 post

----New Icons Granted----- (planned)

Required for rank 30 SWG Captain 48 month minimum

----New Icons Granted----- (planned)
Required for rank 31 (Master Jedi) 48 month minimum 1000 post

__________________________________________________

You can see that inorder to 'rank up' on the forums a user needs to
have subscribed for a certain amount of time, but ALSO be active on the
forums (measured using the post count). There isn't much room for
exploitation, if any at all, and seriously a system like that would be
a very nice change to the current.

The current system seems random to be honest, I'm sure that we could
get official word on how it works, but I'd prefer it to be
replaced.

Just my thoughts, no hard feelings SMILEY

But to generalize, I really like the new forums we have here. They are
neat looking and easy to browse through. However, is there a single
link taking people to The Matrix Online homesite? I've yet to find one,
so if there is one I think it should be made more obvious.

Perhaps have the header link there? I don't know, I'm just speculating. But anyway, nice job guys!

:smileyvery-happy:

DolalrBill

I love the new forums.

* It's easier to get around.

* The WYSIWYG editor is good.

* And now you have and OFF-TOPIC SECTION!!! w00t! Yes, I know it may be hard to grasp, but there are people that play this game and want to talk about something else for a change.

* We have avatars now.

* We can have text sigs now.

The only things that need improvement:

* Loose the rating system. IMHO, it's kinda pointless.

* Custom avatars, or at least a "Matrix" avatar section in addition to everything else.

* Have the forum handles tied directly to toon names like in WoW to eliminate "my name is taken" drama.

* A WYSIWYG editor that works for browser that Internet Exploiter. I use Opera and Firefox mostly and have had no luck.

Message Edited by DolalrBill on 08-16-2005 02:58 PM
Message edited by DolalrBill on 08/16/2005 11:58:29.

**[FA]Tbone**

I like that they are all in one spot and easy to access.

I dislike that the forum wipe destroyed half of our forum handles.

eroz

Like: That all forums are (mostly, see below) all on one page.

DEV TRACKER.

Dislike: That you have to go to a second page for the server pages. why
not just include the list automatically on the first page, or make it
so I can drop down my server?

QforQ-MxO

I actually think the forums are pretty good. They look kinda dull and
kinda boring. But for the most part I like all the features. One thing
I have noticed is that you arent able to add people to your friends
list. Ive been trying to add walrus and other devs to my friend list
and it doesnt work.

Chahk

The Good:

WYSIWYG works in FireFox! Woot!

Loving the Dev Tracker.

No longer need to log in every time I close the browser window like on the old WB boards.

Dashboard. Nice feature.

"Insert Image" button is awesome.

Centralized forums.

The Bad:

Ranking system. That's just asking people to spam.

Color-coded names. Too confusing. There should only
be two colors: Green for regular folks and Red for Admins/CSR's.
Besides, I thought the devs swore that there would never be anything
blue in the Matrix.

Threaded view... /puke. Back to Linear for me.

Skin. Not very Matrixy.

remmeh

good: color and interface, awesome job Lithium... lol

bad: taken forum handles, etc (even though it didn't affect me)

**Byte_Crawler**

Being from the Beta days and I absolutely loved the old Beta boards, I basically stayed clear of the last version of the forums except for the Announcements and occassional Development Roundtable.

The old forums was terrible, this version is great. I see myself visiting the official forums regularly again. Well organized and easy to look at. And the DEV Tracker is the best thing ever. Now we can check up on you guys to see if you hear us. SMILEY

The whole posting interface is absolutely great to work with and being able to use HTML is A++.

As for gripes (which are pretty minor). Of course the ranking system. Although I love the idea of being able to rank people, as it has numerously been stated its too easily abused (in both senses of trashing someones rating and boosting it). Plus, it would be nice to know what the break down is. What exactly each moniker stands for (I'm currently rated Controller, yet I have no clue how that ranks against every other moniker) would be great to know.

The avatar selection is just gross. There is not one thing relating to our Matrix universe. The best additions would be the Discipline icons (I'm working for Kung Fu Master, so to be able to choose that as my avatar can give people a better idea as to who I am, instead of a nuke cloud). Of course, the ultimate option would be to have us choose personal avatars, but I know thats a stretch. You can also go the simple route. A Matrix code icon, an Agent icon, Sentinel, etc... Hell, Neo and Smith's face, just throwing ideas out.

Other than that, I'm loving these new forums and see myself visiting frequently once again (like back in the Beta). Great to still have you Walrus, you're the man! Keep up the great work and good luck at SoE!