This is a question that tends to get a very strong reaction either way. People seem to either visit their favorite game's official
forums (and quite possibly a range of unofficial ones too) quite often, or they very rarely feel the need to. For a lot of folks, the forums are an excellent way to stay involved in their MMO while they are unable to log in; for instance, at work. Or at least while pretending to work. Others might have the forums up as they are playing, tabbing back and forth between the game and their internet browser. If the game is actually
in the browser this is even easier. We know some people who spend a great deal more time romping in the forums than actually playing the MMO they love reading/posting about.
So, do you visit any game's forums on a regular basis? If you've been involved in a number of different forums over the years, are there any that really stand out as better or worse than others? When you visit, is it to look up things and find out answers for questions you have, or do you engage in the social side of forums and do a bit of posting yourself?
Sep 24th 2009 at 8:00AM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GRT said on 8:05AM 9-24-2009
Hell no, not if I can possibly help it.
The fastest way to be turned off to an MMO is to spend time in a forum and listen to the haters rambling on and on and on...
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tanek said on 8:31AM 9-24-2009
The upside to forums is that you can also help the game by encouraging new players (there is usually a trial or new player section) answering their questions, and trying to make sure that the haters you mention don't ruin the game for them before they even get to experience it.
So yes, I do visit the forums of games I play. Lord of the Rings Online stands out a bit for me as one particularly well managed by both the players and the Turbine representatives, but there are others not too far behind. In general, developers and community reps seem to be more visible on forums these days. It has been a good move, I think.
Myria said on 11:18AM 9-24-2009
Actually I think the lovers can be just as problematic as the haters.
The LoTRO forums were a good example of this for me. Mind you, this was over a year ago, so things may have changed, but when I first tried the game I found the LoTRO forums very off putting. The place practically glowed with a radioactive fanboy/girl-ism and level of vapidity that was worrisome. Any suggestion that all was not perfect was met with a vehement denial that even the possibility of anything being off was impossible and clearly there was something wrong with anyone who thought there was -- inevitably ending with the usual "Go back to WoW" idiocy.
Someday MMO players will realize that insulting WoW is not an "I Win!" button and dismissing literally millions of people with mindless stereotypes is neither wise from a business standpoint nor indicative of an ability to reason above the kindergarten level.
In any event I've yet to see game forums that weren't problematic.
The GW forums, well there weren't any officially and the unofficial ones were rather tightly controlled. I always figured that was the whole point, the unofficial forums could, and did, kill any unhappy discussion and Anet's hands were clean. As such, Anet not having the testicular fortitude to set up official forums was always a black mark against them in my book and frankly if they think they'll get away with that with GW2 they're nuts.
The WoW forums are pretty much a joke. There's much amusement to be found, even some really good information if you dig, but most of it is blather by functional illiterates -- and that's just Greg Street's contribution (my god, that ad hominem spewing moron was a professor?!?)
The Eve forums are near literally, and depressingly proudly, a sea of rotting fecal matter where even the devs gleefully troll. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it and I felt like I needed a shower after the few times I visited.
The LoTRO forums I've already mentioned. Civil, and for the most part relatively literate, but off-putting in that "Way too many people drank way too much of the Kool Aid" way.
The CoX forums were such a mess to navigate that I never bothered with them long enough to get a feel. Maybe that's the secret to game forums, make them like one of those infinite loop voice menus some companies seem to have.
The War forums are just depressing. Surprisingly civil (especially compared to Eve, where it being a PvP game is used as an excuse for spewing bile all over the screen 24/7) and generally reasonably readable, but, as in-game, there's a general feeling of dread. A pervasive malaise caused by the feeling that the death of a loved one is nigh unto inevitable and all there is to do is wait around for it to happen.
It's really a good thing I tried War before visiting the forums, but cause honestly I've got more than enough of that in my life as it is.
Sunspots said on 8:16AM 9-24-2009
I tend to spend more time on the forums or modding my UI or other rather pointless things than I actually play the game.
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DrewIW said on 8:37AM 9-24-2009
I don't really play EVE, I play the forums :D
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MCRaider said on 8:52AM 9-24-2009
It depends, once I start playing said MMO I hardly visit the forums. Before the game is launched, and if it is a game I am interested in I will read the forums.
Though the closer the game gets to release the more annoying it gets, the only reason I ever went on the WoW forums back in the day was to look at class specs.
Other then that I would go to elitist jerks for my theroycrafting.
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Arnie said on 8:55AM 9-24-2009
I used to for Guild Wars to learn about the various builds people were trying out (this was before PvX) & a also read up on guides and things. Lore was another thing worth exploring and was the least likely to end up in a bitching match between two or three posters.
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Venekor said on 8:55AM 9-24-2009
Nope every game forum is full of complete idiots whining about the game being too hard or their class not being overpowered. Games like Star Wars Galaxies got ruined from the developers listening to whiners and tbh if I was running an MMO I'd not have any. Just design the game how I want it and not anyone else because when you start listneing to the forums it becomes a bloated mess.
Everyone I knew in SWG that were in my guild (pre cu) were happy with the game and just wanted new content and stuff. However if you went to the forums you'd have thought everyone hated it and fact is like 5% of the people who played the game visited them. Noone in my guild back then ever went to them because they couldn't be bothered to deal with all the griefers.
*wahh get rid of TEF"
So they did and ruined the game.
*wah I can't be bothered to wait at a Starport"
So they let you isntant travel with JTLS and ruined the social aspect of the game.
*wah Jedi is too hard*
So they kept making them easier and easier to get ruining the game and the lore.
The best thing anyone can do for an MMO is have no forums.
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Aquai said on 8:02PM 9-24-2009
Sound like Wow as well but in different way like Dual Spec, easy way to get higher tier of gear without endless grind in endgame instances, many other things. Wow is making thing too easy. I often wonder if Blizzard is making a new MMO, this is their way to wash out WOW to attempt to get player to move to a new MMO?
Now i heard they make crossfaction on the same server, i just gave up instantly and quit WoW forever, now i heard they making class for other race that never part in the lore before like Undead doing hunter class.
it just Blizzard making wow way too easy, thanks to those whiny 10 years old (no offense to you guys) want a easy mode
kasapina said on 9:16AM 9-24-2009
Alas, I play a lot of F2P MMOs (that's how it is to be a kind in eastern europe :D), and the fastest way for me to turn a game down is by reading its forums. I can't help it either, since I usually go there to read a guide or two while the game downloads, and distract myself with some of the rants (sometimes, there are such even inside the guide..). That is how I decided not to even try rappelz, that is how I delayed playing runes of magic with 6 months, and so on..
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snowleopard233 said on 9:48AM 9-24-2009
I’m on the wow forums everyday. Though, it’s probably not healthy for my physical or mental health. I cling to the RP forums in hopes of some semblance of proper grammar and civil discussion.
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Plastic Rat said on 10:50PM 9-27-2009
I find the only refuge of sanity and literacy in most WoW discussions is RP, if you can manage to ignore the RP griefers.
The rest of the forums have such a negative effect on me that I've found the easiest way to get the most enjoyment out of the game is to stay far, far away from the forums.
Every time I get curious or bored and start reading the forums I end up regretting it immensely and end up wanting to just cancel my account.
Ashre said on 10:36AM 9-24-2009
I'm usually on the fanmade GW2 forums. I just go there for tiny bits of new info and speculation. I used to go on the GW forums but good lord they are whiny. I haven't ventured onto the champs forums much, don't plan on it.
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Lagwolf said on 10:50AM 9-24-2009
I confess I tend to go the forums when I have a problem and or am confused about something. Then again why else would you go and read the ramblings of some of the fools that inhabit most forums.
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Magnet-Head said on 10:57AM 9-24-2009
I used to, back when WoW wasn't even a year old in Europe. Now it's mostly GamerDNA, but not MMO-specific forums.
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Sniggab Odorf said on 10:52AM 9-24-2009
No, not regularly. I'll only visit them if I have a question or want to know more about a game mechanic.
I've always suspected that a majority of MMO players do NOT visit the forums regularly. I hate it when game companies post important or semi-important info on their web site, then post a note on the forums directing people to this post, but DON'T put anything on the launcher window.
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k.geoboy said on 11:13AM 9-24-2009
I'm a forum regular at the Warden section of LoTRo. It's an excellent community and resource, and sufficiently warped for entertainment value.
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Infliction said on 12:04PM 9-24-2009
I will for awhile but generally I get restless listening to all the idiots and end up leaving. If a forum has seperate server boards when the game launches then I'll spend time on those. Otherwise not really.
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Infliction said on 12:07PM 9-24-2009
Oh, and forgot to mention. Once a game goes live only paying subscribers should be allowed access to the forums. Maybe a few boards for those who aren't.
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Mitch said on 12:59PM 9-24-2009
FYI, Fallen Earth does just this. There are generic forums, but there is a whole load of forums exclusive to subscribers that no one else can use or even see.