TheGameChanger
Banned
This is a good change but we should have somethobg like POT like some have suggested.
|OT| topics will now go live on game launch date
- Thread starter charlequin
- Start date
flyinpiranha
Member
I don't see how pot would help. Usually makes time go slower.
Yeah. Basically this trades this scenario:
--
1 week before game release, massive hype and positivity in game OT
--
1 week before game release non-OT game information and hype thread then
day of release OT hype thread.
--
Unless you specifically ban hype and positivity (or negativity), all this really does is shuffle around the system.
This won't solve people who are "chased out" (how often does this even happen?). The same communities will form, just at different times.
This won't solve people jumping into the thread and asking questions which have been answered 1000 times and in the OT. In fact, by splitting up information threads you're encouraging more of it to happen.
This won't solve positive and negative hype overbearing discussion of the game, though I usually find that's not the case except for unusually popular games.
Like this is certainly a dreamland scenario. There is no way people are going to enter the thread on an equal basis. You'll have fans that have discovered every piece of information about the game prior to release and on the other end of the scale you'll have the guy who just realized the game exists.
The "solution" is based on a hugely optimistic view and doesn't actually solve anything.
flyinpiranha
Member
I'm just glad it will cull the first 10 pages that basically state nothing. Of course it will still exist, but not to the extent that it does now.
Yeah instead those 10 pages will be spread throughout the entire thread. It's a pointless change IMO in that regard and hurts more than it helps in other regards.
All it does is trade the first 10 pages of scattered hype and information to the first 10 pages of scattered hype and information and overhyped first impressions.
MikeE21286
Member
When's the Driveclub OT go up
ethomaz
Banned
That won't happen... to be fair when the OP opened it will be a sandstorm like the NPD thread for pages and pages... it will move even faster than the actual OT one week before release.
It will still have lots of that while people wait for the game to unlock, and then to install, and gen complain about grace Chen etc.
And you could surely accomplish the same thing by rebooting any OT on launch day. So let people enjoy the build up, but then close that thread and start a new one afresh when the game comes out?
I do think you need an outlet for people to enjoy the build up. It is a large part of any big release, whether games or other forms of entertainment.
EndlessSky
Member
I like this idea. With this new rule, people won't be aware of some titles until release day, where as with this, you can have the OTs created, but locked, and still have them easily findable with a sticked thread that links to each OT. This would allow for people to get information on new release before release day.
The only problem is that you will need a mod to take on the task of updating that thread with newly created OTs. Perhaps have the OPs of new OTs post a link to their OT in the stickied thread so that keeping track of new OTs will be simple.
MrChowderClams
Member
ooooooo
but it's out already, just not the PS+ edition
--
edit: on-topic:
This would be nice. +1 for having the OT with all the info, but locked until release day.
Steve Youngblood
Member
big as this one?
One of my ideas that has almost no chance of actually being implemented (at least site wide) is to explicitly forbid scores discussion in a review thread. And by that, I just mean that the OP would contain a link to the metacritic page, it would contain links to the reviews, it would contain noteworthy excerpts from better reviews, but absolutely no mention of any scores. People would be welcome to talk about any review they wanted, but only by responding to actual text contained in the review.
Further, any linking of a new review would require excerpts as well. Not just "here's so and so's review." The aim would again be to get past the hype cycle and weed out people that only want to cheer on scores that further the narrative about the game's quality that they already arrived at before playing it. You want to talk about reviews? Then actually talk about the substance of the reviews and not just the scores!
Again, though, I wouldn't be too worried that this would be something we'd actually try as an official, site-wide policy.
Devilgunman
Member
^
That's what I thought before. Review scores serve absolutely no purpose. How many people actually click the link to read the actual review before posting a comment?
That's what I thought before. Review scores serve absolutely no purpose. How many people actually click the link to read the actual review before posting a comment?
Some people do and some people don't. Some people don't bother reading past the thread title before posting. I don't know that there is anything you can do about that.
CrunchyFrog
Member
I dunno, I kind of liked the 1 week beforehand stuff. It was a great kind of one stop shop for early release impressions, reviews, info on release dates/regions/platforms/prices/etc., all stuff that can be easily missed in all the new threads for new news stuff when you aren't checking GAF as feverishly as some do.Maybe reduce it to 2 or 3 days or even day before, but I think this kind of scorched earth policy leaves out the really substantial stuff that can come out of OT's before release even if it is drowned out by a lot of empty hyping chaff. Most of that discussion will probably end up in review round up threads, I guess, they seem to already be kind of pre-OT's anyway.
MonsterHunter
Member
Speaking of glorified chat threads, please consider moving the obnoxious front page adware that are the "Giant Bomb" and "Super Best Friends" multi mega-threads to Gaming Community.
SteveWinwood
Member
I was wondering when this was going to happen. Getting to OT2 before games even came out was asinine.
flyinpiranha
Member
Eh, you gotta try, if not it goes back to the way it was and no harm, no foul. It's not like this is serious business. Even now with the "new news, new thread" approach info is spread out among a lot of different posts.
I think a Pre-OT and an OT would be great ideas. Like just a hype thread or even the same OT and then just gets culled and trimmed starting on the 'day of' with a reference in the OT once it "launches". I mean, a lot of games have differing levels of "excitement" and information given. One rule to rule them all might be a bit much but I think if the OT gets to be 35-40 pages before the game even launches you might as well cull it and turn it into a hype thread and then a launch thread.
Questions and such can actually be answered so the first few pages should be more helpful instead "nobody knows yet, embargo's up in 3 days".
Just sayin' ... could work, might not. I'm in the 'could work' camp. We'll know when they flip the switch.
I've often wondered why these threads are kept on gaming side.
DarkoMaledictus
Tier Whore
I agree, once the game is released personally I rarely check the OT. Most often than not the OT tells me the game exist a bit before so I can check things out and see if the game will be for me... personally I prefer when it goes live before the game is released.
SteveWinwood
Member
They probably should both be in community.
Along with steam, pc, and gog threads.
but really please dont group those two threads together
the giant bomb thread is always actually about giant bomb
the super best friends thread is an irc, i just clicked on it and it took me 48 posts before there was one on topic
I think this decision is way too harsh, collective punishment, and already stated why in thread. With this change, I can see GAF becoming less of a community where gamers with similar interests in the game can come together, meet, and socialize on the most popular section of the site to more of a news outlet which is lame. I think 3 days before release at least is more appropriate.
lastplayed
Member
So when I'm playing a game that's released in NZ nearly 24 hours before the US, where do I post? Can I create the OT? 
SlipperyMoose
Member
I can kind of see where this is going but overall it just seems like a change not really needed. All well not like it matters much.
KuwabaraTheMan
Banned
This change makes sense, and I think the reasons outlined are pretty good.
I do agree, though, that seeing an OT live can often either remind me that a game is almost out or attract my attention to a lesser known title. I think something should be done to balance this out if OTs will only go live on release day.
I do agree, though, that seeing an OT live can often either remind me that a game is almost out or attract my attention to a lesser known title. I think something should be done to balance this out if OTs will only go live on release day.
First, there was no restriction.
Then, it was two weeks before launch.
Then, one week before launch.
Now, it's launch day.
Next year, we'll be getting delayed OTs.
I'm okay-ish with this decision. Chatting up with the hype and anticipation can be pretty fun too, but I guess we have those hype-threads already. I imagine it was Destiny that prompted this movie, we went into OT2 on launch day.
Then, it was two weeks before launch.
Then, one week before launch.
Now, it's launch day.
Next year, we'll be getting delayed OTs.
I'm okay-ish with this decision. Chatting up with the hype and anticipation can be pretty fun too, but I guess we have those hype-threads already. I imagine it was Destiny that prompted this movie, we went into OT2 on launch day.
It makes zero sense that this doesn't happen already.
The Albatross
Member
I'm okay with this though would prefer 1 day early to give me something to look forward to that Monday before release. Also would help cut down on pressure to get the post out before people start playing it. There will be s lot of pressure to get that ot out right at midnight otherwise people will be playing the game and not have a thread to post in
charlequin
Banned
What do you want to talk about about the game? If it's how it's reviewing, there can be a review thread. If it's about technical details, a thread can be started based on whatever site did a technical analysis or report on the game. If it's details of how the multiplayer will work or what characters are playable or whatever, there should be a news thread for that exact topic. It won't be about actually playing the game, since it's not out yet.
If it's literally just how "OMG HYPED!!!" you are for the game, then yes, there is not going to be a place for that. But any type of focused discussion for a game is going to have a place.
It's not a punishment. If you guys think you're being punished every time we tweak policy, you are almost guaranteed to have a bad time on NeoGAF because we tweak our policy pretty frequently, and we generally stick out any of our changes for long enough to get a really clear picture of whether they're having the effect we want.
flyinpiranha
Member
SO HYPED FOR THIS. I KNOW I SAID IT A PAGE OR TWO BACK BUT OMFG SO HYPED
Steve Youngblood
Member
I'm trying to think of how we can turn this new OT policy into an avatar trend.
SteveWinwood
Member
SteveWinwood said:
Well?
Messofanego
Banned
I have done that excerpt and others have done that method, too. It cuts out the drive-by "wooh 9.2!!!" posts which add nothing. Honestly, it's the best way, at least you have to read a little blurb and the OP has to make some effort to actually read the review or look at provided blurbs.
Could make only posting the scores bannable, like using stock pictures of products in pickup threads are bannable. It might cut down the post count of the thread, but you'll actually get discussion of text which is more representative of a review than discussing just arbitrary numbers. There is ZERO meaningful discussion to get from review numbers because we aren't shareholders interested in whether the publisher/developer gets their 85+ quality bonus. It helps people who actually read reviews stick to their guns, and others can always go to the metacritic page to check the score themselves. It would actually give people incentive to read the rest of the review if the excerpt is interesting, and so giving clicks to reviews which can only be a good thing.
There have been plenty of widely infamous review threads that have gone to absolute embarrassing shit which gives the worst impression of users on this website, so such a big change could curtail kneejerk freaking out. Do we really need 30-page threads with majority of posts fighting over arbitrary shit?
It's been noted and agreed to for the most part. Don't assume that because we haven't responded that we haven't discussed it.
timetokill
Banned
I like this idea for the most part. I rarely go into OTs anymore because they get too wildly big and the echo chamber is too much. Anything to limit that is good.
That said, the one thing I DO like about OTs is that the first post usually details the different versions, recommended specs, trailers, etc and I find that having that all in one place is useful when deciding on a purchase. But I find myself buying fewer and fewer games "day one" or preordering in general so I guess it's not a big deal.
That said, the one thing I DO like about OTs is that the first post usually details the different versions, recommended specs, trailers, etc and I find that having that all in one place is useful when deciding on a purchase. But I find myself buying fewer and fewer games "day one" or preordering in general so I guess it's not a big deal.
Marty Chinn
Member
I find now that I'm a bit busier, I find reading up on the OT before a game is released gets me more informed on a game that I haven't kept up on but have some interest. Even asking questions for more information about the game ahead of time before the floodgates open about people playing it on release. Where would that type of discussion and information exchange take place now?
charlequin
Banned
Typically for major AAA type games there are multiple threads about different aspects of the game going in the weeks before the game launches; for many things there are also digital-community threads like the PSN, XBLA, Steam, etc. threads. I don't think this will be a huge problem practically but we'll watch it as this change rolls out.
No, none that at all - I am referring to the community aspects. A lot of OTs is where like minded people who are interested in that same type of game come together, often exchanging private messages, meeting new friends, and on before the game releases, so we have that contact when the game is out, and just being excited about the game together. This change will certainly take away from the game's community by creating more disorganization.
Not just that but also discussing the game before it's out and talking about all the new information as it steadily releases rather than having a new thread for every single detail disorganizing these forums and cluttering it with a new post for every single little thing. It's more of the one stop shop or "go-to" for all discussion about that game e.g., if I want to discuss something about The Evil Within, I'll go to that OT, and discuss with other like minded people with same interests in survival horror and of that specific game, who is knowledgeable about it, before release, rather than creating a new thread of every little thing, where every member of NeoGAF is posting and that necessarily is not people with same interests, who do not care for survival horror, or even care about that game, who just want to comment because it's a thread listed in the gaming community and they want to add their 2 cents adding more fluff to genuine fans. The OT is where people who are genuinely interested in the game more or less who actually bother to click "The Evil Within OT" rather than reading a new thread. It serves as the game's gathering point for us members who are interested before the game is out. Having the OT at release I think will hurt this.
Now I understand the purpose of the change. Some OTs were a bit too much for mediocre games
cough Destiny
If more people agree, speak your mind.
Yoshichan
And they made him a Lord of Cinder. Not for virtue, but for might. Such is a lord, I suppose. But here I ask. Do we have a sodding chance?
What does this mean?!
I coded the words and got:
Pastrami (+3) melt (-2) sandwich (+2) and a (,5 + ,5) small sallad (+1)
3 -2 +2 + 1 + 1 = 5 days
OT RELEASE FIVE DAYS BEFORE GAME RELEASE
HYPE!!!!
ethomaz
Banned
Even after release the OT3 moved to OT4 in one weekend... Destiny should have OT2 in the same day than OT1 even if the OT1 was opened on launch day.I imagine it was Destiny that prompted this movie, we went into OT2 on launch day.
The OT7 was created few days ago and it is moving to OT8 already.
I want to know this for the Comics OT in off-topic.
Coreda
Member
Two OTs to read through instead of four - progress! If a game so widely criticized as Destiny can still keep up that pace after release it shows some OTs won't be affected by the change. An OP will continue to have the relevant info, and questions from newcomers continue to be asked throughout. Disappointing OTs can no longer be umbrella pre-release threads they were often earlier, as has been pointed out.
Pretty sure the OT can go up based on the region that releases first, and one of the mods mentioned it won't be a strict midnight time rule either, a few hours before is fine.
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