If you want to post game announcements... (Full Version)

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Paul Vebber -> If you want to post game announcements... (8/24/2001 11:21:00 PM)

...please do it over at www.militarygameronline.com Warning: Now man your rant stations... as I have said many times, substantive discussion of other games in relation to Matrix products is fine. But we don't go and post Matrix "ads" at other company's websites (and request you don't either) such as "X is great - check it out (link)" Companies pay for bandwidth for company forums to support their games. We actively support www.militarygameronline.com as the place to engage in discussion and share news about wargaming in general. Unfortunately sites like www.wargamer.com amd www.militarygameronline.com don't seem to have much traffic, and the general wargaming content they support is in jeopardy. The Military Gamer print magazine is in limbo, and www.wargamer.com is actively seeking conributions to stay afloat. THESE SORT OF SITES NEED YOUR SUPPORT!! So instead of spending your time complaining about "censorship" that arises everytime I delete a post, spend your time and effort at general wargaming sites like those supporting the hobby in general!!! The wargame hobby has several centers of high activity is is very fractured and needs very badly to grow a unified sense of community. We have been marginally successful, here at Matrix, and are encouraged by the increasing number of registered forum members. But the disparity between the members (and page views) here and at the at the more general sites is stark and the lack of forum activity at the more general sites alarming and doesn't bode well for the future of the hobby. Secure fom rant stations [ August 24, 2001: Message edited by: Paul Vebber ]



Larry Holt -> (8/24/2001 11:45:00 PM)

Well spoken. Very positive side shown for your stance.



Charles2222 -> (8/25/2001 12:03:00 AM)

Is the Age of Lurkers upon us? I ask this because though I'm not a heavy email user, I just leave my email address when registering, with just one or two places, and suddenly I fairly beseiged by junk mail. I block those senders and they just seem to shift to another address the next time they come around (stupid things like get your PHD. now, etc). This is a problem, because it seems more and more that websites are requiring email addresses as mandatory to register, and frankly I'm sick of garbage email. Unfortunately it seems Wargamer has email address as part of the mandatory requirement, which interestingly enough I was actually going to register with them today, because I did have something of a somewhat different angle I wanted considered. I'd also like to point out the Wargamer went belly up to an extent when they changed their web design the last, or next-to-the-last time. I frequently go there to get news on RGW and a few other things, but unfortunately the members dropping off the face of the earth, and the email address requirement have left me shying away.



Tomanbeg -> (8/25/2001 2:49:00 AM)

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_22:
Is the Age of Lurkers upon us? I ask this because though I'm not a heavy email user, I just leave my email address when registering, with just one or two places, and suddenly I fairly beseiged by junk mail. I block those senders and they just seem to shift to another address the next time they come around (stupid things like get your PHD. now, etc). This is a problem, because it seems more and more that websites are requiring email addresses as mandatory to register, and frankly I'm sick of garbage email. Unfortunately it seems Wargamer has email address as part of the mandatory requirement, which interestingly enough I was actually going to register with them today, because I did have something of a somewhat different angle I wanted considered. I'd also like to point out the Wargamer went belly up to an extent when they changed their web design the last, or next-to-the-last time. I frequently go there to get news on RGW and a few other things, but unfortunately the members dropping off the face of the earth, and the email address requirement have left me shying away.
You need what I call an registeration account. Being a certified Microsoft basher. I use hotmail.com. It's cheap(free), and if Microsoft can't afford the bandwidth, good. I'm encouraging registration under the name Jean Theurel. He was a french soldier who joined up in 1699 at the age of 15 and retired in 1802. He fought in over 100 battles and I keep looking for his name on my roster every time I play the french. As long as the zip code matches the state you are registered. I use the address of what ever bill has just arrived. This way everybody is happy, the spamers have an address to send to, Hotmail gets hits and you don't have your e-mail box cluttered up with junk. If we can get enough people using Jean's name he can be immortalized.
T.



Charles2222 -> (8/25/2001 5:11:00 AM)

Tomanbeg: While it's possibly less of a hassle for one's self, you still retain the original problem, that being that a bunch of junk is going to where you still need to use the account. The prior words may have you baffled, but I too would've been baffled before I registered with Matrix. Not too long ago I had to re-register with Matrix due to new software, which then required email, but before had not. Well, when creating a new account under the same old logonid, I decided to give the none@none account to bypass giving out my email address. Only problem was that Matrix, unknowingly beforehand to myself, had their program route, via email, to that account, my new password. I noticed when I just got on now, that there are 4,076 users, well two of them are me, because I can never use the old account again for the password being in oblivion. If all websites start using this manner of registration, then it becomes apparent that the semi-bogus account becomes necessary to sift through all the garbage again in order to figure out passwords sent to it (but of course this would be of minimal hassle, due to the hopes that one could pinpoint the date that the password was sent). [ August 24, 2001: Message edited by: Charles_22 ]



KG Erwin -> (8/25/2001 10:27:00 AM)

Ok, Paul,rant in respond: if you simply want to encourage more participation in the other forums, then I'm with you. I signed in to militarygameronline, and I'm already in the wargamer forums. I've been a big advocate of "cross-pollination" when it comes to the wargaming community, but you have implied that this forum is driving the others into the ground. There's a good reason for that, but I also understand that for the community as a whole, diversity in forum locations equals more exposure, so what's good for all IS good for all. I'm more than happy to take my opinions on other wargames elsewhere, and it's only appropriate. Do I take that to mean that the Art of Wargaming forum will be discontinued at the Matrix game site? After all, it originally concerned Talonsoft expatriates, so that particular forum is better hosted elsewhere. I'm all for it. Send it in its entirety to miltarygameronline. That's where it belongs. No offense to Vince and Colin and the rest, BUT what's their forum got to do with Matrix' products? I'll gladly give my 2 cents worth in their forum no matter who hosts it. That seems to be a logical move, and would save this forum for topics directly related to Matrix products. Any objections to that? [ August 24, 2001: Message edited by: KG Erwin ]



Paul Vebber -> (8/26/2001 8:28:00 AM)

Art of wargaming is labeled an 'anything goes' forum. Vinny moderates it as he sees fit. I was talking about the fourums labeled for Matrix's products. My point is that company Forums serve a purpose to serve customers of that company - if that includes something like Art of Wargaming, what's wrong with that - but that places like wargamer and militarygameronline and others are the best places for "cross pollination". Yes everybody can post everything everywhere, but that is not very efficient and tends to be seen as high noise level by those who come to a site for a specific reason. The idea is that keeping the game specific forums game specific, while using the "meeting place" sites to "get the word out" is the best for all concerned. If we are going to stem the ebb of wargamers, we can;t be seen as standing all streetcornes with cardboard "Wargamer - Ask me how!" signs, but to expose them to the wargaming community at sites like Wargamer, militarygameronline, consimworld, cgonline etc...then provide them focused,compny sponsored support for the indivdual games that one doesn;t need to wade through high noise levels to find important info. That's my "perfect world"...admittedly we are a long way from it, but we are working at it...



Larry Holt -> (8/27/2001 9:35:00 PM)

Paul, I am aware of Matrix's feelings about posting of other companies products but to be fair nothing is really clear on the Matrix site about this. The FAQ does not address this issue. The General Forum abstract says. "... Gamers can also use this forum to chat about a recent press release, industry news or rumors. ...you have an idea you want to share this is your forum." It would seem that the original post would have been welcome on the general forum. If I was a newbie here, I would not see anything to guide me about your policy concerning postings of other companies. Perhaps it should be common sense but the Matrix community is so open that it could be misconstrued that anything is welcome. Thanks



Paul Vebber -> (8/27/2001 10:58:00 PM)

Yes, ths is true Larry, but I guess my point is not so much about establishing rules, as it is trying to ask folks to think in broad terms about the wargaming community. Many wargamers I don't think are aware of the full range of resources out there and Its frustrating to see good sites with valuable content languish. I guess there are two ways to deal with geting the word out, broadcast every notice of every new happening to every forum, or have "central locations" were such news can be found. I want to make sure the purpose of this thread is not misconstrued as a bout making people scared to post for fear of "breaking the rules" but to suggest that folks frequent "general" wargaming sites and talk up the games they like. LIke I said the 4 big ones I've found are Consimworld.com, cgonline.com, wargamer.com and militarygameronline.com. Visit them regularly and use them for cross fertilization. Worst thing that happens if you post something here I think no appropriate is it goes away and I let you know, or post something in general about it. No one has every gotten "kicked off" for such posts and never will. I'm just trying to use my bully pulpit here to "shape the battlespace" a bit



mcbradley -> (8/31/2001 5:13:00 AM)

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned . . . At the risk of becoming a target, I shall confess to delivering such a post on the Matrix Games General Discussion Forum back in June. I was a newbee at the time and was unaware of the ramifications of my post. I just got all a twitter about this new combat flight sim that is coming out and wanted to share it with the wargamming community. I was so new in fact that I was unfamiliar with these other sites you mentioned. However, now that you have explained the nuances of bandwidth and whatnot, your view makes perfect sense to me. Forgive me, I shall sin no more . For the benefit of newbees everywhere, would it be possible to add a little disclaimer to the forum home page to warn about contributing such posts? If you read the statement under the Matrix Games General Discussion header, it can be interpreted to welcome news about other companies products:

“This forum will help us promote our general ideas and plans. Gamers can also use this forum to chat about a RECENT PRESS RELEASE, INDUSTRY NEWS or RUMORS. We also want to hear what the public has to say so if you have an idea you want to share this is your forum.” Regards, O. Bradley



Paul Vebber -> (9/1/2001 2:25:00 AM)

You are forgiven...though Forums for that purpose are provided at www.militarygameronline.com we provide server space for that forum, so the best thing to do is do general "industry wide" game discussion there, and come here to discuss specific Matrix Stuff!



pops -> (9/1/2001 7:20:00 AM)

Since it was my post that started this thread maybe I'll add my two cents....first sorry if it offended you, but posting here is like coming home and saying.."hey guess what I saw today....". Posting elsewhere on a board where one is not familiar with the other posters doesn't seem important...kind of like telling the neighbours about my day instead of my wife..oh well...
I think you must realize that people who love SPWAW will always do so and mention of another game will not diminish that....quite a few people here play other games as well and are interested in each others likes and dislikes.....I am not so familiar with the diverging histories of SPWAW and SPWW2 and sense that there may be a raw nerve there so 'nuff said I will refrain from mentioning SPWW2 except for this last time to say I play it about 1/32 of the amount I play SPWAW but I enjoy it mostly for it's Canadian long WW2 campaign (and other countries)....so keep on keepin' on...loose lips sink ships and all that...



Paul Vebber -> (9/1/2001 8:27:00 AM)

THis is not an SPww2 thing - I deleted posts about other games as well! ITs about trying to help the faltering communities that support gaming in general. We support MilitarygamerOnline.com, I've plugged others repeatedly here too. Consimworld seems the only one that is flourishing, mostly because it is the default for most boardgame and miniature players. Its PC forums are not exactly burning... IF we are going to attract new blood to the wargaming communities, we need to have several "portals" to inform people about whats going on in general, and point them to the specific games they are interested in. Potential new gamers that find a site that talks about ALL the games form ALL the companies, and can then follow their interests to the games and companies that interest them is far more inviting that a rats nest of embedded threads point this way and that to who knows where deep in forums atthe individual company websites.



KG Erwin -> (9/1/2001 8:52:00 AM)

I'm with you 100% on this, Paul. Not to take anything away from the focus on this forum, or on Matrix' fine games, but it serves the wargaming community as a whole if you visit some of the other forums, and weigh in on the other noteworthy product that is available now. I'd like to see more of the familiar names at wargamer or militarygamer. I use the same name on both of these, and I'd like to see some of you guys get out a little more, so to speak. It helps everyone in the long run.



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