The forum.

[ismellicecream]

Wasnt sure whether to post this here or Q+A, so feel free to move it.

I have noticed how the off-topic board seems to be the most popular, which is cool its probably the best place to get to know everyone, but I find the actual games content a bit lacking. We have the games forum which is pretty much a free for all, I think maybe people struggle for ideas of stuff to post at times.

I was thinking would the forum be better if the games forum is broke down into sub-forums of general discussion and then platform specific forums. That way people can chat about their favourite games and their favourite gaming platform.

(if thats too much maybe even a bit more generic 8bit computer, 8bit console, 16bit...etc).

[Elgin_McQueen]

Even Retro and New could work. Won't happen though.

[jdanddiet]

i would like to see discussions on old and new games separated, but that would be an acknowledgement that a lot of the gaming discussion on a retro gaming forum is about latest games.

[Greyfox]

yes, I agree..there should be sections broken down..to where you can pin point the exact thread your looking for...8-bit etc.. or even by a software companies name..e.g. "Ocean Games", but as "Elgin_McQueen" quoted "Won't happen though."..it's a huge undertaking...and your all right..there spending too much time talking about new games rather than old ones..in which this site is all about..isn't it?

[SirClive]

The forum has been going for what, 3 years now? So it is definitely time for change.

If I were god...

Get rid of the stupid 'New launch! SFicons.com' (or put it in Off Topic)
'Q&A' should be merged with 'feedback'
'Podcast' as a sub forum of 'feedback'
'Blast from the Past' merged with 'Off Topic'
'High Score' made a subforum (or just a sticky) in 'All About The Games'
'All About The Games' to have subforums for 'Modern Gaming' and 'Retro Gaming'
New forum for 'Buy/Sell/Trade'
New Forum for 'Gaming Events and Shows'

Now we are on phpbb3 it is really easy to set up the forum in multiple ways, so I don't see why it couldn't happen.

[oli_lar]

Creating new catagories wouldn't encourage people to talk about retro more often - the forum is the way it is and a different catagory isn't going to change that. I wouldn't be against new/old being in seperate catagories though. Not that it really matters as I use the 'show new posts' button regardless.

[TwoHeadedBoy]

I'm with Oli on this one, I like the open nature of it all. Be good to see a Buying, Selling and Trading section though.

[harlequ1n]

I think it will be much easier for new members to find and participate in discussions on their favourite generation or console if the forum was separated into different categories.
My case for example, I've just acquired a Saturn and it would be so much easier for me to have some sticky threads on Saturn 101 for new retro gamers, or at least a SEGA subforum that made the information more accessible. I think it will also encourage more retro discussion if the information was better organised. The RG staff could even recruit new moderators should this subdivision succeded.

[TwoHeadedBoy]

I think it will be much easier for new members to find and participate in discussions on their favourite generation or console if the forum was separated into different categories.
My case for example, I've just acquired a Saturn and it would be so much easier for me to have some sticky threads on Saturn 101 for new retro gamers, or at least a SEGA subforum that made the information more accessible. I think it will also encourage more retro discussion if the information was better organised. The RG staff could even recruit new moderators should this subdivision succeded.

Try this site right here: Racketboy!
Great stuff, tells you all the best games for each system, as well as the cheapest, the most expensive, the rarest, and the best undiscovered ones. Essential stuff right here.

[harlequ1n]

I think it will be much easier for new members to find and participate in discussions on their favourite generation or console if the forum was separated into different categories.
My case for example, I've just acquired a Saturn and it would be so much easier for me to have some sticky threads on Saturn 101 for new retro gamers, or at least a SEGA subforum that made the information more accessible. I think it will also encourage more retro discussion if the information was better organised. The RG staff could even recruit new moderators should this subdivision succeded.

Try this site right here: Racketboy!
Great stuff, tells you all the best games for each system, as well as the cheapest, the most expensive, the rarest, and the best undiscovered ones. Essential stuff right here.

Yeah Racketboy is a great retro site, I recommended it myself to jdanddiet for his GameCube thread. The only catch is it's all based on American prices, etc. The information however is priceless.

[Antiriad2097]

Subdividing the forum will create less discussion, as many people will only visit the bit they think interestes them (like you'd focus on the Saturn area).

Keep the 'Games' area on its own, a 'Mag' area for feedback etc and an 'Off Topic' for anything else.

But I'm another who just hits the 'show new posts'' link when I visit, so it doesn't really effect me.

[oli_lar]

Subdividing the forum will create less discussion, as many people will only visit the bit they think interestes them (like you'd focus on the Saturn area).
.

Good point - back before I used the 'new posts' button I never visited the blast from the past section as the majority of the time there was nothing interesting there as I'm too young for that section really.

[djcarlos]

We fear change round here remember.....

Look what happened when the colours changed



No seriously, I don't mind either way cos I use the magic button too.

[Elgin_McQueen]

I'm the same, just hit the new posts button now so wouldn't bother me. Although subdivisions do seem to make sense, when they're actually used on a forum it just looks messy and complicates things.

[PanzerGeneral]

I used to live not far from Elgin - It was censored,but not as censored as Forres!