My Thoughts on GT 4 Forums - In need of makeover

[ActiveMatx]

I think this forums has great potential to be a fun place to talk about Gran Turismo.

However, it is not. Most topics over here are boring, and go on for over 6 or 7 pages long. Most people here want to talk about Gran Turismo 4 but the only topics available have been milked out to the fullest. When new people come to the site with questions, their questions often go un-answered.

Another issue that makes this site rather boring is the fact that all topics need to be approved before posting one. Although this sounds good in writing it acutally isn't a good idea. It's not a good idea because:

#1. It discourges people to post new topics

#2. It makes the current topics stay on the forum for too long (current topics are boring after you read them over and over again)

#3. It doesn't add much new content to the site.

I think the administrator here should disable this feature. Give it a try. If it doesn't work out for the better, go back to the old ways. A lot of us here are regulars and coming to this site isn't as fun as it could be.

I am a active member on many different forums, and this is the only site which has this sort of policy. I would like to have an abundant amount of topics to choose from. Not the same old topics which we have seen over and over again.

If a topic sucks, and no one likes it, it will die out on it's own momentum. While the good topics will continue. We all will benefit from this and gain useful information.

So here it is mods, please let this topic stay. I would like to here anothers opinions on things.

On closing, I would just like to say that I hope in the future we can have a GTPLANET community that we have always wished for. Active topics changing on a daily basis, where we can all fun and sit back and talk about the game we all love.

 

[lifechooser]

It would be interesting to know what percentage of new threads get through. There might be literally thousands of "What car for this race" threads from noobs (ahem) that would flood and kill the board, never allowing the real threads to stay near the top, and possibly overwhelming the website (which seems pretty slow sometimes as it is).

--
Richard

 

[slowman]

Even in its current state, GTPlanet is one of the most informative and helpful GT-oriented forums on the net right now. It's fine like it is. I think there's nothing wrong with the moderators filtering posts, although some of the posts they've let through lately are kinda questionable.

 

[smellysocks12]

THe approval has got to go, I have seen so many retarded topics rehashing what has been said before, or asking things I knew already before I owned the game, yet none of my posts ever passed it. I gave up on typing posts which I figured are interesting. I'll just let all those so called "GT4 pro's" whine about whether their car should be 110mm high and not 111mm

 

[Zardoz]

...Another issue that makes this site rather boring is the fact that all topics need to be approved before posting one. Although this sounds good in writing it acutally isn't a good idea...

Oh, yes it is. Wanna see what happens when a GT site is wide-open to any thread being started? Check out the chaotic silliness of the IGN forum:

http://boards.ign.com/Gran_Turismo/b5208/


That board is virtually useless. The GTP board, getting way more visits, will get far worse if the mods don't control the introduction of new threads.

 

[NoQuarter]

Since the World Wide release, there has been a complete inundation of this, and indeed all, the GT4 sub forums. People have come out of the woodwork to post questions and comments, many of them forum registrants in the last 2 or 3 months (not pointing fingers at any the previous posters, just a fact that I've noticed in my travels around the major GT forums)

Here at the GTP, undoubtably the biggest GT forum in terms of active membership, the issue got so out of hand, with new people posting the same topics/questions/comments over and over, ad nauseum, that the site began to experience some serious server issues.

Jordan and the superb Staff here decided the only workable solution was to to queue new threads for review, so as to cull out the redundant and/or ridiculous threads, and reduces the strain on the server. This will most likely remain in effect until the traffic slows down considerably from the high 200-600 average folks viewing this subforum that it's experienced since late December.

 

[Phil McCavity]

gtplanet is a fantastic resource.... and it has a search facility, even if (like me hehe) u dont pay to be a part of it

but

if there were folders for all the types of questions asked, it would be better.... but this needs lots of moderation

just use the search function!! even i'm having to get used to this idea hehe

 

[s2000lover]

only when ur a new member does your new topics have to be approved

 

[Vulcan]

Oh, yes it is. Wanna see what happens when a GT site is wide-open to any thread being started? Check out the chaotic silliness of the IGN forum:

http://boards.ign.com/Gran_Turismo/b5208/


That board is virtually useless. The GTP board, getting way more visits, will get far worse if the mods don't control the introduction of new threads.

I think the aproval is stupid... sure it may prevent some of the junk from getting through (while also preventing some valid posts...), but aren't their better ways? Instead of a limit for everyone, why not allow someone with more then say 5-10 posts to start a thread without aproval? The point is, look at any other forum out there. None of them use an aproval system like this, sure its fine in theory.. but how practicle can it be for mods to accuratly allow/dissallow every new thread? I say let the users do the work of pressuring the use of the search.

Examples...
http://forums.mtbr.com/
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/index.php?

 

[Driftster]

But you have to admit, when you started out at this forum there were particular threads that might have been started months ago and have since died out or have been discussed, that you just wern't around for. Saying that you shouldn't rehash old topics might aswell just deny new members from coining in any debate that they havn't originally been included in. For all we know joe schmo who once in a while says immature things might have a wealth of knowledge on the Ford motor company, or Honda engines. I don't know about the rest of you, but I usually don't bother reading topics that have 200 odd pages but havn't been posted in for 5-6 months.

 

[CrackHoor]

Another issue that makes this site rather boring is the fact that all topics need to be approved before posting one. Although this sounds good in writing it acutally isn't a good idea. It's not a good idea because:

#1. It discourges people to post new topics

#2. It makes the current topics stay on the forum for too long (current topics are boring after you read them over and over again)

#3. It doesn't add much new content to the site.

I think the administrator here should disable this feature. Give it a try. If it doesn't work out for the better, go back to the old ways.

The old way didn't require any thread approval, and I'm sure it'll be back that way eventually. But I'd argue that it is a good idea right now because:

#1 - It encourages people to search for their topic (which has probably been discussed) before creating a duplicate thread.

#2 - It keeps the current topics from falling to page 10, buried under the pages of "What car should I use for this race?" and "Where do I win the F1 car?" topics that aren't being approved.

#3 - It leads to less (but more useful) content being posted. Would you rather try to find useful info from one 100-post topic, or from 50 two-post topics?

I've seen a handful of strange threads get through, but I can't imagine all the stuff the mods have rejected in the last month. I'd guess it's like a traffic wreck, I'm naturally curious but I don't think I really want to know about it!

 

[Zardoz]

Here's another uncontrolled GT4 board:

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board?board.id=granturismo

It's brain-dead and should be taken off life support. This and the IGN board are all the proof we need that the GTP board should stay exactly as it is.

 

[Minnesota01R6]

1st off, this belongs in the site feedback forum

2nd off, only new members are complaining about the approval process. Old members have seen what it was like before the approval process was implimented

3rd, I'm surprised a mod hasn't chimed in yet.

4th I'm surprised this thread was approved. The staff here is open to criticism, but reasons 1 and 2 above would lead me to think this belongs in the circular file.

 

[Div is back]

That's called flooding... It would be a complete mess. We are proud of our forum, it's one of the most mature video gaming oriented forum on the internet, period.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Right now this forum is the way it should be. The staff have come up with the proper solution to the problems that were starting to infest themselves here. It ain't perfect, but nothing is. It's great the way it is now, so why screw with it?

 

[xcsti]

I don't think the approval process discourages you from creating new threads, what it does do is encourage you to come up with new ideas and usefull info. You don't want to look through 200 pages to find your info? Alot of info ends up in one specific place ex. famine's used car lists, prize car lists which are on the first page of what may be a long thread but their on the first page. The mods here are good and I have very suprised how sparingly Poor grammer and leet have been used these days.

 

[Thirdeye]

I would personally think searching a forum would put more strain on a forum than creating a thread, but I wouldn't know.

 

[Minnesota01R6]

I would personally think searching a forum would put more strain on a forum than creating a thread, but I wouldn't know.

It's the difference between bandwidth and server load.

 

[pt1]

1st off, this belongs in the site feedback forum

2nd off, only new members are complaining about the approval process. Old members have seen what it was like before the approval process was implimented

3rd, I'm surprised a mod hasn't chimed in yet.

4th I'm surprised this thread was approved. The staff here is open to criticism, but reasons 1 and 2 above would lead me to think this belongs in the circular file.

Why you not ask to admin for include you as moderator? You are good!!!

Old members don't like the new members. Why not close this board for new registrations if it is these the problem?

Your problems about the members asking always the same thing is because there are no FAQ about common questions.How about create it?

Post new threads is only for old members, for me no problem.
I will never create here a new thread for aproval because I will not took the risk for my work go to trash.

About my English I'm very sorry but is not my language.

 

[sUn]

Even in its current state, GTPlanet is one of the most informative and helpful GT-oriented forums on the net right now. It's fine like it is. I think there's nothing wrong with the moderators filtering posts, although some of the posts they've let through lately are kinda questionable.

End of story. 👍

 

[Div is back]

Why you not ask to admin for include you as moderator? You are good!!!

Old members don't like the new members. Why not close this board for new registrations if it is these the problem?

Your problems about the members asking always the same thing is because there are no FAQ about common questions.How about create it?

Post new threads is only for old members, for me no problem.
I will never create here a new thread for aproval because I will not took the risk for my work go to trash.

About my English I'm very sorry but is not my language.

No FAQ, you are kidding me right?

Even if english is not your first language, its not mine too by the way and it shows but I can still understand what LOOK HERE BEFORE YOU ASK means!

Go see that thread, no FAQ huh?...yeah right.

 

[dbartucci]

Here's another uncontrolled GT4 board:

http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board?board.id=granturismo

It's brain-dead and should be taken off life support. This and the IGN board are all the proof we need that the GTP board should stay exactly as it is.

I like the "What drink do you drink when playing GT4" thread on that board

I think this forum is good the way it is, I'm a new member (only been around just under 2 months) and I haven't had any issues with thread creation. It seems to me that already there are repeated threads (esp. about the black LMP cars, "I can't win series x what car should I use?", "Mission 23 is impossible...", "what car should I buy?"). Useful threads as obviously others are having the same problem, and sharing info is what this forum is all about, but it seems silly to me to have a new thread every time someone new comes along and doesn't bother to look in the Look before you ask thread and wants to start a new thread when they could have easily posted a question in a dormant thread rather than starting a new one.

I promise it takes longer to start a new thread and wait for replies than it does to search a topic. If you display your search results as posts rather than threads, as is suggested in Duke's sig you'll have better results.

I say keep the format.

 

[pt1]

No FAQ, you are kidding me right?

Even if english is not your first language, its not mine too by the way and it shows but I can still understand what LOOK HERE BEFORE YOU ASK means!

Go see that thread, no FAQ huh?...yeah right.

I don't see in FAQ the answers for most common questions in this forum!!!

 

[Div is back]

So you are blind..?

LOOK HERE BEFORE YOU ASK - many FAQs

 

[NoQuarter]

Old members don't like the new members.

Completely untrue, pt1. Veteran members like having new blood in, for fresh perspective. What Vets don't like is new members (affectionately - and sometimes not - referred to as "noobs") who join and start posting questions or comments that have been covered countless times, without having searched through the forums. Or come in like God's Gift to GT and start spouting tidbits and info like it's the first time anyone has discovered such facts.

As a long time active member at nearly all the major (and some minor) GT forums, one of the best pieces of advice I can give new members is to spend a day or two reading threads, getting a feel for the place, seeing which members are knowledable and helpful, and which ones are just post whores and trolls. Then offer a comment in an existing thread, or ask a pertinent question. If you have a question that you've searched dilegently for, and been unable to find an answer, then post a new thread, and see if it makes it through the Moderators queue. If you mention that you've searched, someone will come along and help you out, either with a link to a thread that provides your answer, or with a direct answer.

About my English I'm very sorry but is not my language.

Absolutely no problem understanding you, mate. You'd be suprised at how many English-as-a-first-language "noobs" pop in and start posting in chat/messanger shorthand (wut cr do u rec i shud by 1st; do u like 2 drift), which really annoys us old timers.

 

[Gen.]

The second example by NoQuarter is sad but true..

But I think the Gt4 Drift Forum is about 50 times better than the Gt3 forum.

 

[Minnesota01R6]

Why you not ask to admin for include you as moderator? You are good!!!

Old members don't like the new members. Why not close this board for new registrations if it is these the problem?

Your problems about the members asking always the same thing is because there are no FAQ about common questions.How about create it?

Post new threads is only for old members, for me no problem.
I will never create here a new thread for aproval because I will not took the risk for my work go to trash.

About my English I'm very sorry but is not my language.

I don't see in FAQ the answers for most common questions in this forum!!!

Now that's really funny because I HAVE MADE A FAQ about most common questions - 4th one down on the "look here before you ask" stickied post at the top of this forum: https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56674

 

[Der Alta]

I think this forums has great potential to be a fun place to talk about Gran Turismo.

For those of us that have been here more than 6 months, we know this better than you realize. In fact, if you venture outside the GT4 forum, you'll find so much more to be interested in.

However, it is not. Most topics over here are boring, and go on for over 6 or 7 pages long. Most people here want to talk about Gran Turismo 4 but the only topics available have been milked out to the fullest. When new people come to the site with questions, their questions often go un-answered.

If that new person had performed a search, they would have found one of the threads you noted as "milked to it's fullest" When reviewing it, they could have resurrected it and further discussed it.

Another issue that makes this site rather boring is the fact that all topics need to be approved before posting one. Although this sounds good in writing it acutally isn't a good idea. It's not a good idea because:

#1. It discourges people to post new topics

Now in all seriousness, would how many "Dude, I just scored 123 A-spec points" threads could you deal with? Currently, there are none, as they get a bullet to the brain pan before they are hatched.

#2. It makes the current topics stay on the forum for too long (current topics are boring after you read them over and over again)

So you'd rather have 100 threads a day about "Dude, I just scored 234 B-spec points" or "Dude, I gots 1000hp in my R34, wat U got?"? Lock and reload for that one. Excessive force prescription to cure what ails it.

#3. It doesn't add much new content to the site.

Have you bothered to read all the threads, all the posts and add (clearly and precisely) your thoughts and comments?

I think the administrator here should disable this feature. Give it a try. If it doesn't work out for the better, go back to the old ways. A lot of us here are regulars and coming to this site isn't as fun as it could be.

You want to talk about fun? I've banned three people today for AUP violations, fired off nearly 25 PMs for similar offenses, posted 21 times (Two of which were for my enjoyment) and as a final coup de grace, I get you telling me about improving the site. Of which you've made 14 posts and been a member for 8 friggin days.

On top of that, this is the only forum that we have thread approval for. We didn't used to, it was only instated when teh forum began to get overrun and the moderator were spending massive amounts of time house cleaning.

I am a active member on many different forums, and this is the only site which has this sort of policy. I would like to have an abundant amount of topics to choose from. Not the same old topics which we have seen over and over again.

Have you toured through the opinions forum, or visited the Funny Pic thread? How about a discussion on the oldest working computer you have? Camera Settings, Flash coding, or checked out the benefits of GTPremium? Tested your merit against some of the best OLR racers available? Same old topics, I think not.

If a topic sucks, and no one likes it, it will die out on it's own momentum. While the good topics will continue. We all will benefit from this and gain useful information.

If a topic sucks, and no one likes it, the moderators coax it slowly to it's knees and quietly put it out of it's misery before it even gets out in public view. Actully, no, they slam it face first into the ground and execute it.

So here it is mods, please let this topic stay. I would like to here anothers opinions on things.

On closing, I would just like to say that I hope in the future we can have a GTPLANET community that we have always wished for. Active topics changing on a daily basis, where we can all fun and sit back and talk about the game we all love.

Ummm... We already have that. You need to open your eyes and look around the site. At this point, you're in the minority when you say GTPlanet could be the community we all wish for.

Welcome aboard, and enjoy your stay.

AO

 

[Iceman]

#1. It discourges people to post new topics

#2. It makes the current topics stay on the forum for too long (current topics are boring after you read them over and over again)

#3. It doesn't add much new content to the site.

1. Yes it does, and I think this is a great advantage of this system. It stops people (at least some) from posting thread upon thread about nonsense. A person with a useful topic will take the time to post the thread. Also, isn't it faster to ask a quick question in an existing thread rather than make a whole new thread?

2. First off, there is no way that you could have possibly read all the threads on this site. Whats great about this system is that it allows the best and most useful threads to be seen by more people, which again discourages threads asking simple questions. Secondly, the GT4 subforum is only a small portion of GTPlanet. Have you checked out the Rumble Strip or the Online Racing Forums? Probably not seeing as you have only been here a week. Give it some time before complaining.

3. What more content could you possibly need? Another thread asking where to win a car? Everything we need is here for us, or WILL be accepted by the mods. Surely you can wait a day for your thread to get posted if it is really that important and full of "content".

 

[Duke]

only when ur a new member does your new topics have to be approved

No, all members need to have their threads approved on this board, new or old. On every other board in this forum, new members may post without restriction as well.

I think the aproval is stupid... Instead of a limit for everyone, why not allow someone with more then say 5-10 posts to start a thread without aproval?

Because there are idiots who have been around here for several years as well as new idiots. Also, think what would happen if a person knew they could have new-thread priveleges after, say, 50 posts. How fast do you think they would post any old crap just to make that 50?

Old members don't like the new members. Why not close this board for new registrations if it is these the problem?

This is NOT true at all. Take a look in the Is suspension tuning backwards? thread. There are at least 8 new members in there I like very much. They have only been here a few days or a few weeks. In fact, I only have any history at all with 2 other members in that thread, but I read it several times a day.

What old members DON'T like are new people who either come in and act like they know everything (when they clearly don't), or new people who come in and ask questions they could answer themselves with just a small amount of work... lazy new members who expect to get everything they demand right away.

Your problems about the members asking always the same thing is because there are no FAQ about common questions.How about create it?

There are several. Besides, the search function works great if you spend any thought on using it correctly. The problem members who always ask the same thing will never find the information themselves becasue they will never look for it.

About my English I'm very sorry but is not my language.

Your English is fine. What is important is that you are doing your best with it.
👍