[OPEN] What Could Make This Site Better?

[Sweey]

I mean mini status' such as 'Retired' or 'Benchwarmer' because the members only have 'registered user' or 'newbie'. Just make 10 status' and say if a person hasn't posted in a while such as this Greenegg guy, name him retired. If a person's new, like you do now you call him a 'newbie'. If a person starts to post in the general section, call him a 'Benchwarmer'. If its a person that gets booked, his status could be 'troll' etc. Its a minor suggestion that wouldn't matter if its ignored. It just adds pizzaz to a user

Does it really matter? The problem this forum faces is new regulars. It would be folly to suggest that the above is the reason we don't have new regulars. An updated version of vBulletin would be nice as I've said before but that too would not mean new users. The interface is acceptable just nothing flashy. Even updating vBulletin would cause other headaches with potential incompatibility as Matt Holme said a while ago.

But then perhaps we're all wrong - if the PES sections are thriving then what does the rest of it even matter?

 

[Joel]

Sweey.

What features do you want Sweey to implement, Sminky?

 

[Sminky]

What features do you want Sweey implement, Sminky?

Now, there's the question. Personally, tweaks to vBulletin, although not to the point of compromising the site, simply improvements to the current interface.

Also, user groups adjustments, new joiners are placed into a quarantine group for the first 20 posts - with an automated block on hot linking within that period.

 

[Bammers05]

Sminky, the Hall of Fame for threads and the PESGaming Twitter account are examples of suggestions made in this thread (by me :smug, which have become parts of the site.

The site needs for people to love PES again.

Amen to that.

new joiners are placed into a quarantine group for the first 20 posts - with an automated block on hot linking within that period.

This is actually a fucking good idea, as it would theoretically cut down on spambots. Don't know if it's possible to implement, but if it is, then it's certainly something to be considered.

 

[IronCity]

would enabling HTML allow items such as embedded live scoring in fantasy football a possibility here? I remember thinking during the fantasy season that a blogspot with an embedded google docs spreadsheet (the method we used to track scoring) could be embedded in a post if html was enabled.

don't know why I am even posting this, but this thread seemed hot today.

 

[Sweey]

This is actually a fucking good idea, as it would theoretically cut down on spambots. Don't know if it's possible to implement, but if it is, then it's certainly something to be considered.

I'm sure this was discussed in the past when I was an admin. It can be done and certain restrictions are/were already in place for users with less than 10 and/or 25 posts - mainly avatars and signatures plus possibly one or two more specialist sections.

However, the risk you run here is that if they don't have access to the PES areas, they will ask duplicate questions.

If they have access to those but not others, how many will want to make 10/25/whatever PES-related posts for the chance to get to the rest of the forum? I explicitly would not have wanted to and would therefore have never become a regular here.

Also, as they don't have access to a particular area, will they post a thread that belongs in said area in the PES section instead citing "because I can't post in that section yet"?

Sounds like an increase in staff work to me without necessarily increasing the number of regular posters. Are users more likely to be put off? Does PESFan operate in this way? Do the others? What about FIFA forums?

 

[Sminky]

I'm sure this was discussed in the past when I was an admin. It can be done and certain restrictions are/were already in place for users with less than 10 and/or 25 posts - mainly avatars and signatures plus possibly one or two more specialist sections.

However, the risk you run here is that if they don't have access to the PES areas, they will ask duplicate questions.

If they have access to those but not others, how many will want to make 10/25/whatever PES-related posts for the chance to get to the rest of the forum? I explicitly would not have wanted to and would therefore have never become a regular here.

Also, as they don't have access to a particular area, will they post a thread that belongs in said area in the PES section instead citing "because I can't post in that section yet"?

Sounds like an increase in staff work to me.

Is it not possible to allow full access *but* their user profile does not allow for embedding or hot linking for the 1st 20 posts? In terms of vBulletin functionality, is it not possible to create a user group that allows full visual access to the forum but applies restrictions on specific content?

EDIT: TFF operates a 'quarantine zone', with restricted access.

 

[Sweey]

Is it not possible to allow full access *but* their user profile does not allow for embedding or hot linking for the 1st 20 posts? In terms of vBulletin functionality, is it not possible to create a user group that allows full visual access to the forum but applies restrictions on specific content?

I'm convinced users with low post counts couldn't hotlink (images) during my time. Not sure about the famous pure text links of spambots though, presumably there's a way to ignore all URL attempts.

I've amended my post slightly since you quoted it by the way.

 

[Lörd TH]

The site needs for people to love PES again.

PES needs to be good again for that to happen.

 

[Sminky]

I'm convinced users with low post counts couldn't hotlink (images) during my time. Not sure about the famous pure text links of spambots though, presumably there's a way to ignore all URL attempts.

I've amended my post slightly since you quoted it by the way.

I too.

Indeed, specifically I'm curious as to the filtration of Spambots, newer ones re-post old material with an embed. Simple but effective spam. It would not be possible to list all the potential spam links, but I imagine it is possible to seek out links or any common denominators and block them. Or raise an instant flag for deletion.

 

[Bammers05]

Just to clarify: I was referring to only restricting new members from posting links, not stopping them from seeing certain parts of the site.

 

[Sweey]

I am convinced - rightly or wrongly - that this can be done for users with less than x posts who would be in a specific base usergroup prior to being automatically promoted to a more bog-standard usergroup which can post links once that minimum post requirement (10?) has been reached.

As I said, I may be mistaken but it sounds feasible based on the settings available.

 

[abu97]

PES needs to be good again for that to happen.

PES 2012 destroyed the heck out of most fans and not even the hardcore bunch are playing it anymore. If PES 2013 is a dissappointment too, more people will register then leave the forums after a month.

 

[Jonno394]

Lets just have a big PESGaming meet up with big meat

 

[jMz]

I'm still playing it abu. Just because my team doesn't perform well I don't stop supporting them. If everyone stopped playing it, one day they might stop making it. Then we'd have to go and play FIFA and after all my rants to friends over the years about not playing FIFA, I can't have that. So all of you get PES2012 out, stop complaining, and play it! Then post here about it!

The thing is, people will come here for PES info, and once they have it they'll probably not come back til they need something else. If we all want people to stay, we'll have to make more of an effort to make them feel like it's their site too, not just owned by the regulars. The chatbox stops a lot of people posting in the forums, maybe have everything in the chat box go into a thread in the spam maybe? Like still have the chatbox, but auto post it to a thread so others can read it. If you's are that bothered about regularly chatting with each other, cos it is always the same group, you could use Facebook or MSN or whatever the kids are using these days. Or even better, put it in a thread.

 

[Sweey]

I'm still playing it abu. Just because my team doesn't perform well I don't stop supporting them. If everyone stopped playing it, one day they might stop making it. Then we'd have to go and play FIFA and after all my rants to friends over the years about not playing FIFA, I can't have that. So all of you get PES2012 out, stop complaining, and play it! Then post here about it!

The thing is, people will come here for PES info, and once they have it they'll probably not come back til they need something else. If we all want people to stay, we'll have to make more of an effort to make them feel like it's their site too, not just owned by the regulars. The chatbox stops a lot of people posting in the forums, maybe have everything in the chat box go into a thread in the spam maybe? Like still have the chatbox, but auto post it to a thread so others can read it. If you's are that bothered about regularly chatting with each other, cos it is always the same group, you could use Facebook or MSN or whatever the kids are using these days. Or even better, put it in a thread.

This will double the server overhead and, in any case, may not be possible without someone who can alter the coding of the existing mod and test it. Its a nice idea but we need to be thought about rather carefully.

 

[jMz]

Fair enough, just get rid of the chatbox, or like it was mentioned earlier, just make it for mods and admins?

 

[Sminky]

Fair enough, just get rid of the chatbox, or like it was mentioned earlier, just make it for mods and admins?

I have to admit, Chatbox is handy to have on match days.

 

[Bammers05]

If it was available just for admins and mods, it would allow us to stay in constant communication while patrolling the forums - which would hopefully speed things up, in terms of the decisions we need to make (bannings etc.). It could also be temporarily opened for matches, when requested.

 

[abu97]

If it was available just for admins and mods, it would allow us to stay in constant communication while patrolling the forums - which would hopefully speed things up, in terms of the decisions we need to make (bannings etc.). It could also be temporarily opened for matches, when requested.

Please don't do that, I beg you.