Creation Forum Traffic

[livid imp]

Originally posted by Lord_Icewind from this thread
I've already sent this post on the AC: Creation forums, but it seems no help can be given there. Can anyone here help me?

This is the problem with the Creation forum. There just isn't enough traffic through there. I know some of you have experience with map making, and could have helped out. We simply forget to stop by the creation forum, and/or the little 'new post' graphics just don't last long enough to let us know. Since the amount of posts in that forum come in at a trickle, we simply don't notice the new ones.

So my proposal is to lock up the creation forums (leaving the current threads where they are) and post all new threads in the General forums, so at least they'll get noticed by the right people. Additionally, we may get lucky and this may spark interest in mods/factions/etc. in those that previously had not cared about them. For now, there just isn't enough traffic to warrant a separate forum for creation.

I am fully expect a negative reaction to the idea, so let me have it. All I ask is a reason for your argument.

[Lord_Icewind]

Actually, I think youre right...little else I can say.
BTW...help!

[binTravkin]

Not a bad idea, just such threads should have some remark that they're going on about creation.

Fiction forum is quite silent as well.

[Alex]

I support the idea of merging both forums.

[dacole]

wish the fiction forum would be a little more active but seeing as how it isn't I agree merging them sounds like a good idea though it might make the game seem less popular than it is. (I mean I at least hope more people play this game than CTP)

[livid imp]

Originally posted by dacole
though it might make the game seem less popular than it is.

Considering this is a what? 6 or 7 year old TBS game that still has many frothing-at-the-mouth fans posting on a daily basis speaks volumes. The fan base is there, but given the time we have all been playing, the idea traffic is going to slow down. This is normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

So if general consensious is positive I'll post an unoffical "offical" poll to take a vote on the matter. If the vote succeeds, who do we bring this up to? Anyone have any idea how this would work out?

[Illuminatus]

I prefer merging Creation and Fiction into a single Creative forum than merging it with General-Strategy forum.

[livid imp]

On a traffic level I agree with Fiction being included, but on an organizational level it doesn't really make sense.

Creation is still ultimately about gameplay. If you make a mod, or a new faction, it is used directly in the game. Fan fiction otho does not directly effect gameplay.

I would rather keep them separate than only merging Creation and Fiction together. That would leave them just as ignored, and all the more disorganized.

I wouldn't be against mixing General/Fiction/Creation, as long as we set a convention of prefixing the subject with a "Creation: " or "Fiction: " so that those folks not interested can just skip over it.

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by livid imp

I wouldn't be against mixing General/Fiction/Creation, as long as we set a convention of prefixing the subject with a "Creation: " or "Fiction: " so that those folks not interested can just skip over it.

Thinking about the problems people have to figure out the simple rules in FAQ, I don't think these conventions will survive for long.

There has been 7 posts in Crea and 2 in Fic the last 30 days and 45 in General - I think I can live with opening 9 extra threads a month - it might even make me interested in the content

[livid imp]

Point well taken Cat, it is hard to argue with numbers.

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by binTravkin
Fiction forum is quite silent as well.

Fiction Forum is emptied now.
And Creation reduced to three topics.

[#endgame]

At least we kept Aldebaran2 alive during Smacksim's absence. Your idea makes sense, and there's not really a need to "brace for flaming" around here, I think.

But perhaps custom thread icons for different types of thread? People will get lazy and forget the convention, but I don't think it'll matter longterm.

[Illuminatus]

Mixing all three forums will cause great confusion. People can't find or read FAQ, don't notice the Multiplaying forum etc. I am against. This forums should spring back to life as soon within a month or two - I remember a episode much like this one before. We are probably overreacting - if this persists for a month or two, we should act.

[livid imp]

Originally posted by Illuminatus
Mixing all three forums will cause great confusion. People can't find or read FAQ, don't notice the Multiplaying forum etc. I am against.

Nonsense. If you go to most niche forums they will only have one forum for everything including off topic chat. People stay aware in these other forums where folks are not as intelligent as SMAC fans

Originally posted by Illuminatus
This forums should spring back to life as soon within a month or two - I remember a episode much like this one before. We are probably overreacting - if this persists for a month or two, we should act.

I can't say much for Fiction since I rarely go in there, but Creation has been at best a slow trickle of traffic for the entire year I have been visiting these forums. We have waited.

These forums will probably always have some traffic. As old fans come back after their current gaming obessions become novel, the numbers will expand and then contract again as new games hit the market. But there will be no sudden explosion of hits unless SMAC2 or another expansion is released.....and we all know how likely that is.

The point to all this is that it is better we have a place where those that are visiting Poly can post their Fan Fiction with a resonable expectation that more than two or three passerby will see it.

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by livid imp


Nonsense. If you go to most niche forums they will only have one forum for everything including off topic chat. People stay aware in these other forums where folks are not as intelligent as SMAC fans.

At least ten percent of threads created here are questions answered in FAQ and/or questions about finding SMAC. We even have people asking if anyone is interested in multiplay games, despite the fact there is multiplaying forum.
Skimming through Apolyton I noticed a lot of forums that have low traffic, but nobody wants to merge them. :P
Fiction should stay where it is, as it is easy to find all fiction there, and so is creation. They do have low traffic compared to this one, but keeping them separate makes sense. All other games have separate forums for creation as well.