Helping restore Apolyton

[FrostyBoy]

My opinion:

Total revamp of website: more fluidity, more accessible, more intuitive, more friendly, less cluttered, new logo.

Cover more games: I've been coming to Apolyton since I first knew the Internet (1997). I can see that the reason this website is declining is because of PURPOSE. Apolyton is like a beehive when there is a new game in production. No game = no purpose. We can probably generate the same kind of atmosphere we once had if we cover more games. Perhaps to deal with the work, DanQ will have to start "hiring" assistance, 1 or 2 people per game.

The problem is NOT the community, as Asher said. We need loud people (Asher), we need negativity (remember yin26), we need insults (Asher), we need dumbasses (Ben, DD, etc), this drives interest, if everyone were nice to each other, Apolyton would die very quickly (sorry GT, but it's true). A troll or an insult now and then is a good thing, but too many will tip the boat.


So, in conclusion:

1. Revamp website
2. Cover more games (that includes starting an "ideas list" for SMAC2 and Civ5).

[Lancer]

Frosty

I don't know about the on topic portion but you've got a recipe for success off topic certainly, one they've just never understood. If you have all the different personalities posting within carefully set guidelines that eliminate disruption in any form that gets in the way of the flow of ideas but does not itself impede that flow well then you've got a healthy OT. I'm not talking about deleteing BS threads, I'm talking about deleteing posts and posters who write the same word a million times, that sort of thing. Sometimes its nice to just BS about nothing with ones friends.

What we once had during the Stories/Diplomacy&Off Topic days was like a nuc furnace with all the rods down too far. The reaction was huge, but out of control. So, they gave us Ming and he was ok in the begining, then they cut new threads to two per person per day, and then they started yanking out rods. Stories and Diplomacy, that was taken out and the reaction died away in it. History, same deal. The sports and tech forums still have reaction but they don't lend that reaction to the greater OT. So the OT just putters along slowly losing strength and certainly losing the attraction it once had for new posters. Few new posters means what feeds the sports and tech new blood will eventually stop as well.

Also, with no discussion about S&D, history, sports or tech in the OT just wtf are you supposed to discuss? Oh yeah, BS. So don't complain if all you got left are those of us that like to BS, you big wheels made this site what it is today.

So, the on topic having died or gone to CivFanatics they promptly turned their attentions to killing off the OT and this can be viewed as a success, or a work in progress that is going very well.

As I predicted in the Poly forum all those years ago and was laughed at.

I'd like to add that I predict they will "fold" sports and tech back into the OT after nobody posts in them anymore. Much like adding or 'folding' 0 back into 1. Like the huge discussion about folding the history forum back into the OT. "Folding it" Like you would get back what you threw away, a bunch of posters interested in posting about history supported by the comments drawn from the masses of tech, sports and S&D etc guys who would talk about an interesting history discussion if they saw it and got drawn in but not be bothered or interested enough or drawn enough by 'History Forum' to bother to go there. There are a few left, but they have lost that critical mass. I could make a new 'What is the Best MBT' thread and it just wouldn't have the foundation of interest anymore, imo. Its been deleted, destroyed, 'folded' out of existance, lost, w a s t e d, f l u s h e d by a meddleing few with a will to fix things.

Ahem, sorry, I get a little irked when I think of what has been lost, so many friends.

So put the tech and sports forums back in the OT before they are 'folded'.

[DaShi]

My advice: cover less games. Many businesses fail because they try to do too much at once rather than focus on what they are good at. Apolyton used to just be about Civilization. Now there are forums for non-Civ games like Colonization, Rise of Nations, and Civilization III. This forum should discard those other games and focus solely on Civilization, with heavy emphasis on Civ IV. Take Civ IV coverage to the next level. Make this site the most comprehensive Civilization site in he long troubled history of Civilization sites.

[DaShi]

I propose a similar solution for the Off-topic forum. Having all these people with different points of view just creates conflict and a mixed message to visitors. I suggest choosing one poster to be the face of Apolyton. This person will set the standard for which all other posts will be judged, and failure to meet that standard will mean deletion and possibly banning. This person must be someone who exemplifies the Apolyton Off-topic community. Someone who when you think Apolyton Off-topic, you think of him. The only person I can imagine with enough name recognition with Apolyton is Asher.

[Maniac]

Have they ever talked about remaking SMAC? Poly should grab the lead on that. SMAC was cool. Much better than civ3 and even civ4

Are you aware of Planetfall?

It's kinda strange. Despite Apolyton being the biggest SMAC site, there is no interest whatsoever here in Planetfall, and on the CFC Planetfall forum I see none of the old familiar Apolyton faces.

[Maniac]

successful podcasts

You mean it ISN'T a joke no one actually listens to them??

[FrostyBoy]

The more I think about it, the more I think this problem can't be fixed unless a Civ5 or SMAC2 were in production.

Colonization could actually have stirred things up a bit, but it didn't and that's probably because it was more of the same (civ4).

If Firaxis, or even BHG, don't do something big in the next 2 years, Apolyton could fall.

I propose
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Civilization: MMO!

Firaxis will make BILLIONS!!!!!!!
Apolyton will be FLOODED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ZEE]

No.

and Apolyton would survive Firaxis falling. Ironically might be good for us oldtimers because then we could be a Civ 2/SMAC site again forever. Maybe even offer up the games as freeware, like Firaxis should have done years ago.

[Docfeelgood]

Frosty

I don't know about the on topic portion but you've got a recipe for success off topic certainly, one they've just never understood. If you have all the different personalities posting within carefully set guidelines that eliminate disruption in any form that gets in the way of the flow of ideas but does not itself impede that flow well then you've got a healthy OT. I'm not talking about deleteing BS threads, I'm talking about deleteing posts and posters who write the same word a million times, that sort of thing. Sometimes its nice to just BS about nothing with ones friends.

What we once had during the Stories/Diplomacy&Off Topic days was like a nuc furnace with all the rods down too far. The reaction was huge, but out of control. So, they gave us Ming and he was ok in the begining, then they cut new threads to two per person per day, and then they started yanking out rods. Stories and Diplomacy, that was taken out and the reaction died away in it. History, same deal. The sports and tech forums still have reaction but they don't lend that reaction to the greater OT. So the OT just putters along slowly losing strength and certainly losing the attraction it once had for new posters. Few new posters means what feeds the sports and tech new blood will eventually stop as well.

Also, with no discussion about S&D, history, sports or tech in the OT just wtf are you supposed to discuss? Oh yeah, BS. So don't complain if all you got left are those of us that like to BS, you big wheels made this site what it is today.

So, the on topic having died or gone to CivFanatics they promptly turned their attentions to killing off the OT and this can be viewed as a success, or a work in progress that is going very well.

As I predicted in the Poly forum all those years ago and was laughed at.

I'd like to add that I predict they will "fold" sports and tech back into the OT after nobody posts in them anymore. Much like adding or 'folding' 0 back into 1. Like the huge discussion about folding the history forum back into the OT. "Folding it" Like you would get back what you threw away, a bunch of posters interested in posting about history supported by the comments drawn from the masses of tech, sports and S&D etc guys who would talk about an interesting history discussion if they saw it and got drawn in but not be bothered or interested enough or drawn enough by 'History Forum' to bother to go there. There are a few left, but they have lost that critical mass. I could make a new 'What is the Best MBT' thread and it just wouldn't have the foundation of interest anymore, imo. Its been deleted, destroyed, 'folded' out of existance, lost, w a s t e d, f l u s h e d by a meddleing few with a will to fix things.

Ahem, sorry, I get a little irked when I think of what has been lost, so many friends.

So put the tech and sports forums back in the OT before they are 'folded'.

[Dinner]

How can we make Apolyton succeed and restore to its former Glory?

More longcats!

[Docfeelgood]

I propose a similar solution for the Off-topic forum. Having all these people with different points of view just creates conflict and a mixed message to visitors. I suggest choosing one poster to be the face of Apolyton. This person will set the standard for which all other posts will be judged, and failure to meet that standard will mean deletion and possibly banning. This person must be someone who exemplifies the Apolyton Off-topic community. Someone who when you think Apolyton Off-topic, you think of him. The only person I can imagine with enough name recognition with Apolyton is Asher.

You got me good on that one.

[El_Cid]

http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?t=51850

I now come here(edit for clarity: to poly) despite certain posters. I first came here in about 2001(ish) due to poly's super Call to Power coverage compared to other sites and a lot has been achieved with that game(in terms of mods/source code etc).

I dont come here to F**k people off or massage my ego at others expense, but then i'm a grown up professional man.

I still come here because of that bond that developed over in the CTP forums, then as my interests(work and otherwise) is in games I gravitated to the Other Games forums where for many years it was just a cool place to hang out and post stuff, play great fun games like 'name the game' etc and generaly had fun improving my own and our collective gaming knowledge.

In recent times even that place has started to slow down as OT(people and style of posting) has crept into it.

Still i'm a stubborn arse and if i have to come here and put up with erm....supposidly 'entertaining' posters then so be it. I'm passionate about games and gaming and that comes first.

I'm not a perfect poster, but I always try to treat people with respect and common courtesy. OT has always been it's own place and rightly so imho.

[Dinner]

The site's problem was chronic technical issues, hideous home page and news page designs, lack of news content, excessive forum fragmentation, and lack of vision.

The OTF is actually one of the only active parts of the site. A lot of people blame the DL dance (which AFAIK only is done in the OTF) and abrasive posters in the OTF for the decline, but that's demonstrably not true.

The behaviour of posters in the OTF doesn't impact the fact that the Civ4 forums are dead. People who want to Civ go to CivFanatics -- simple as that...

Oh, I don't know. Your abrasiveness just chased off the only real modder for the latest civ game.

[FrostyBoy]

Oh, I don't know. Your abrasiveness just chased off the only real modder for the latest civ game.

Only on Apolyton

[Asher]

Oh, I don't know. Your abrasiveness just chased off the only real modder for the latest civ game.

Two things:
1) He was already hosting his mod and discussion for it at CFC, not Poly
2) He was and is bat**** crazy and made his own bed