Gandalf Parker and the SEIV Forum

[Ruatha]

I must say that this forum has changed my view on many things, mainly becouse of OT threads.
I try to get input from the vast experiance that exists in this forum.
If I ever get to the US again I hope I'll be able to look up some of you in RL.
If it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't still be playing SE4, let alone make a side program to it!

[geoschmo]

This is my own opinion. In no way am I speaking as a forum moderator here.

Personally, instead of trying to discourage OT conversations on the SEIV forum, I think Shrapnel needs to figure out ways to generate more conversation, OT or otherwise, on the other game forums.

SEIV is by far the most vibrant, active forum at Shrapnel, and according to Shrapnel SEIV and SEIV Gold has shattered all their sales records. Is that a coincindence? I don't think so.

The forum generates interest. Interest generates sales. Sales are the reason Shrapnel exsists.

The forum is a lot cheaper, and much more effective, then conventional advertising.

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Bandwidth is extremely cheap. A few extra gigabytes a month would cost maybe a dollar or two more a month. This would easily cover any useage that OT threads generate, and I have extreme difficulty imagining that Shrapnel Games could not afford an extra 2 dollars a month. It would not cut into profits in any significant manner.

Required space to store a post is very little, though it can add up over the long term. Space would be better freed by deleting old, obselete Posts (such as 4 year old Posts that nobody cares about), rather than new ones.

What you say is of course true. But then when it comes time to upgrade bandwidth, CPU, harddrive space, and software; in a business there will always be an "audit" of what those things are going toward, whether that what was in mind when it started, and whether its worthwhile to upgrade for it. The fact that its "very little" would be a better point for fan sites than for business sites. Now dont jump to interpret some gloom and doom from that. Im just making a point to your point. Of course its obvious that the SEIV forum does a wonderful job of supporting the SEIV game.

[ May 29, 2004, 21:36: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Ed Kolis:
Thanks for clarifying, Gandalf. I'm glad to hear your side of the story; it makes a lot more sense now - Last night was pretty hectic and I completely missed your original Posts! It just still makes me a bit wary to have someone constantly hovering over my head ready to delete any of my Posts, but I guess I've just been spoiled by the lax moderation around here in the past.

Ahhh I take it then that you used the search button at the top and looked at what all the fuss was about? The topics in question and how horribly threatending the Posts were that caused the reactions? Thank you for that.

Of course if anyone wants to do it now its going to be cluttered if you look for any of the various spellings of Gandalf, so using the member number field and putting 4424 works better.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Well, if the only problem is scaring newbie's and upgrade costs...

1: Do what Baen books does. Make a seperate forum for heated discussion. They call their's blazes.

2: I'm a welfare bum living at home with two major psychiatric disorders in Canada. How much money for bandwidth and storage are we talking about? Anyone else want to volenteer?

There, problem solved. see?

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
Well, if the only problem is scaring newbie's and upgrade costs...

1: Do what Baen books does. Make a seperate forum for heated discussion. They call their's blazes.

Actually they did that the first time. Its called Shrapnel General and has a description of "Stop in for a beer and a conversation or two... ". It was considered that it would be easy for Moderators to move strongly OT threads there for everyone to participate in.

2: I'm a welfare bum living at home with two major psychiatric disorders in Canada. How much money for bandwidth and storage are we talking about? Anyone else want to volenteer?

Sounds good. What good SEIV domain names are available? Looks like SEIV.net and SEIV.org are up for grabs.

[Atrocities]

I have a suggestion, why don't we take a break from this discussion for a few days to let everyone absorb what has been said. Lets lock the thread for 48 hours and then resume discussion. This is just a suggestion to keep everyone from becoming over heated about something that we all value as important.

__________________
Creator of the Star Trek Mod - AST Mod - 78 Ship Sets - Conquest Mod - Atrocities Star Wars Mod - Galaxy Reborn Mod - and Subterfuge Mod.

[Mephisto]

*Moderator mode /on*
Hi all!
There is some concern from Shrapnel that to many OT topics will drive away newcomers to the extend that they will not join the community.

To this end I would like to ask all of you to maybe cut the amount of OT threads present on the top of the board down a bit - just post your OT question in one of the other OT thread. Since we all read all the threads (aren't we?) your question will find an answer in short time without creating another OT thread of it's on.
Please don't see this as a harsh rule and don't be afraid to create an OT topic if you have the urge to, just keep an eye out that the forum is not swarmed with OT so the newcomer won't find a SE4 topic.

I hope the message will be taken by you as I intended it to be - friendly and only a beg, no threat and no "I will come down on you if you don't comply!".

Thanks for your attention!

*Moderator mode /off*

[Richard]

Guys,

I haven't read this topic yet but the title disturbs me. I am going to lock this for now so I can read it and absorb the info. After I get a chance to wade into this I will probably unlock it.

Please feel free to PM me immediately with any concerns.

Thanks.