1433 réponses à ce sujet

[Fishy]

Post count !!!

Wait.. .That deja vue ?

[Liamv2]

The ability for forum members to make their own polls would be nice.......

[Dominus]

The ability for forum members to make their own polls would be nice.......

Taken from the BSN Read Only Thread via Jessica Merizan:

We are also working on a better system for polls and on our end we're already using surveymonkey to conduct polls (you might remember we did a DragonAge poll on gameplay a few weeks back). I also think that the way polls are used on BSN right now is not very scientific or representative. So we'll make polls more fun and less masked with a feeling of authority.

So they are coming back, though not in the original form you may remember.

[JerZey CJ]

I'd like to be able to change the email account associated with my profile here.

[Ziegrif]

JerZeyCJ2 wrote...

I'd like to be able to change the email account associated with my profile here.

I think you can do that Via Origin by contacting EA support.

[IllusiveManJr]

PM the writer of a thread when a mod deletes it.

[Raizo]

A multi-quote button. The ability to quote multiple posts from different posters would come in very handy. This is a feature I have come across on many other forums and miss it here on BSN.

[Dominus]

Also have it to where the quotes are automatically cut down to one instead of having a huge pyramid. That's a win-win proposal there.

If they ever decided to build an algorithm for that, I'd agree it would cut the pyramids out of the equation. The best we currently have is BBCode, so I'd suggest that unless something similar to the above is designed for the "New" BSN.

Modifié par DominusVita, 17 décembre 2013 - 07:40 .

[The Flying Grey Warden]

Repeal the one strike and your permabanned rule biowaremod1 brought up, and how the banning and removal of post are done without warning. Thst would be a place to start.

Modifié par The Flying Grey Warden, 17 décembre 2013 - 10:13 .

[Angrywolves]

Ovbviously the Bioware Mods# numbered mods need to be re-evaluated. I disagree that the thread #1 closed today violated the Tos.
Obviously there's a lot of disappointment still out there about certain games.I understand Bioware staff are tired of hearing it over and over again.
Success will make it all go away, imo.
Complaints are part of the business. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen is often said, less often followed. Do I want anyone to quit , no.But sometimes if it gets too onerous it's necessary. I've quit jobs when I feel things going south.A lot of people do.
I personally would like paid mods.I suspect the numbered mods actually work for other gaming companies based in Canada, Ubisoft and others.I don't know if that's true but I suspect it.Paid mods would improve confidence in the mod system imo.A supermod who could overrule mistakes made by the regular mods would be nice. There really needs to be someone who can do that.

[ruggly]

Be able to embed youtube videos.

[Dominus]

Be able to embed youtube videos.

When I first came to this message board, it was indeed available. Unclear why it got scrapped. 

Modifié par DominusVita, 19 décembre 2013 - 04:51 .

[Ninja Stan]

The Flying Grey Warden wrote...

Repeal the one strike and your permabanned rule biowaremod1 brought up, and how the banning and removal of post are done without warning. Thst would be a place to start.

We generally don't perma-ban after one strike. To get a perma-ban on your first offense, that offense would have to be so great and so contrary to our Site Rules that it's obvious you don't actually want to be a productive member of the BSN.

And as far as I know, all banned users are notified in PM whenever they are banned. I know this was an issue when the BioWareMods first came on the scene, but I think we're all on the same page now, if the chatter in the secret Mods Only Cave of Wonders is any indication.

[Ninja Stan]

Angrywolves wrote...

Ovbviously the Bioware Mods# numbered mods need to be re-evaluated. I disagree that the thread #1 closed today violated the Tos.

Disagreeing with a Mod's decision does not make them wrong or their process wrong, Angrywolves.

Obviously there's a lot of disappointment still out there about certain games.I understand Bioware staff are tired of hearing it over and over again.
Success will make it all go away, imo.

Nope. There will always be disappointed and upset fans, and fans will always want to share their ideas, opinions, suggestions, and preferences. There isn't a game out there that is a universal success, loved by all on their official forums. BioWare is less concerned with negative comments than they are about how those comments are presented. Certainly framing the discussion as though gamers speak with a singular voice and all like the same things presented the same way and that's why BioWare is wrong and needs to listen to what certain fans say, can be tiresome, there is absolutely nothing wrong with presenting a civil thread on why you didn't like a certain game or aspects of it.

Complaints are part of the business. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen is often said, less often followed. Do I want anyone to quit , no.But sometimes if it gets too onerous it's necessary. I've quit jobs when I feel things going south.A lot of people do.

By the same token, games not ending up exactly the way gamers think they will is also part of the business, yet very few are arguing that disappointed gamers should give up gaming as a hobby. Similarly, there's nothing wrong with disliking a game, but please don't excuse rudeness and childishness towards developers is a valid way of critique or feedback.

I personally would like paid mods.I suspect the numbered mods actually work for other gaming companies based in Canada, Ubisoft and others.I don't know if that's true but I suspect it.Paid mods would improve confidence in the mod system imo.A supermod who could overrule mistakes made by the regular mods would be nice. There really needs to be someone who can do that.

As far as I know, the numbered Mods are paid to do their job. It is also likely that the BSN is one of several online communities they oversee, though I don't know for certain. They may not even be based in Canada. But from what I can see, I think they're doing just fine.

As for the supermod, they exist. Jessica Merizan and Jesse Reid are two such community admins. You'd just need to convince them that the Moderator  actually made a serious mistake as opposed to simply doing something you don't like or don't agree with.

[Angrywolves]

And who is Jesse Reid ?
Missing in action I presume.And Jessica rarely comes to the forum or so it seems.
I think you're a good person Stan, I really do, but you're so misguided.
I thought YOU would make a good supermod. But I guess I was wrong to consider you as someone whom would be interested in the position.

[Ninja Stan]

Jesse, like Jessica, work largely behind the scenes, leaving the bulk of the day-to-day moderation to us Moderators. It would have to be a pretty serious issue for them to get personally involved. If BioWare had a "supermod" type position available, I'd take them up on it. But they don't.

[Angrywolves]

But they should have a supermod.They obviously need one badly.
But you and I disagree.
I hope you will consider giving up moderating this thread.
You're not objective.
Not intended to be as an insult but you're not objective.
So Jesse needs to come from behind the scene and talk to us.

[Fast Jimmy]

Angrywolves wrote...

So Jesse needs to come from behind the scene and talk to us.

I guess my response to that would be... "or what?"

If the Numbered Mods make people unsatisfied or there is no supermod swooping in to play forum cop... what happens? Certain forumites will leave? I'm not sure that Bioware has any real vested interest in keeping people around a site that doesn't generate them a dime in revenue, especially if they aren't saying good things about their games, their site or their company.

I do think it would be a little better if there was more of a presence of authority on the boards, personally. Mayeb more along the lines of frequent posts that steer the conversations away from trouble or lock threads quickly that are just asking for trouble. And I also think it would be great if there was a more formalized way for the devs to share things with the community and not show up in random threads that turn into weird arguments, or post things elsewhere, like Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, instead of the company social site, where you'd think naturally things would happen.

But if none of the above happen, I wouldn't expect anyone at Bioware to lose any sleep. They realize the benefits to having an online commuinty, but they are also well aware of the drawbacks, as well. A couple dozen regulars (myself included) complaining about the day-to-day slag that can be less than ideal is not any skin of anyone's noses but our own, trust me.

[Angrywolves]

or what nothing.
There's nothing else to add on to that.

As I told Stan in a pm, he and I have been arguing about the numbered mods, I'm giving up caring about what happens to the forum.
When the game comes out there will be plenty of other forums to discuss the game. Anyone can go to those who feels the forum isn't properly moderated.
But that is along time away.

But I don't care anymore.

As for the forum ,Bioware can get rid of it.Court tv got rid of theirs a few years back, only have their facebook page and the crime library left and I survived without it.I use to be a big fan of their forum as well.

If the forum is no skin off their nose, then Bioware can get rid of it and focus on their facebook page. Get rid of the mods and everything else.Would save the cost of keeping the forum,, the acrimony would die down, these constant debates would be a thing of the past I would think.
So let them do it.

I'm through with coming to this thread.Like I said, I don't care.
I will continue to post about games for the time being.

shrugs and walks away.

[Ninja Stan]

Fast Jimmy wrote...

If the Numbered Mods make people unsatisfied or there is no supermod swooping in to play forum cop... what happens? Certain forumites will leave? I'm not sure that Bioware has any real vested interest in keeping people around a site that doesn't generate them a dime in revenue, especially if they aren't saying good things about their games, their site or their company.

The Moderators are the forum cops. Sure, some might consider it a "who watched the watchmen?" type situation, but even with the forum admins, one can wonder who oversees their behaviour. At some point, users have to decide for themselves whether they trust in an organization to police itself effectively. Obviously, Angrywolves believes the Mods aren't doing their jobs effectively and would like to see more explicit evidence of the "supermod" level of BSN. Others may chafe at the way the Mods do things, but can tolerate it with a bit of grumbling. Still others may like the way things work.

The one alternative many people don't even talk about is encouraging individual users to take responsibility for their own actions and be somewhat invested in maintaining the community themselves. This can take the form of stepping in when a thread starts getting out of hand, helping out newbies by providing useful links and reminders, reporting bad behaviour, and generally being a positive influence on newcomers and oldbies alike. I can name a few users whose posts are always helpful, always mature and civil, and always posted with a great attitude. These are the ones at the top of my list should BSN admin have openings for new Mods. Sadly, that list is perhaps 1/10th of the size it would have been under the old forums, when gamers more actively took a hand in making this community a great one, one different than other forums of its kind. Taking personal responsibility meant a greater sense of pride and accomplishment.

I do think it would be a little better if there was more of a presence of authority on the boards, personally. Mayeb more along the lines of frequent posts that steer the conversations away from trouble or lock threads quickly that are just asking for trouble. And I also think it would be great if there was a more formalized way for the devs to share things with the community and not show up in random threads that turn into weird arguments, or post things elsewhere, like Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, instead of the company social site, where you'd think naturally things would happen.

Due to the proliferation of social media, BioWare tries to use as many different outlets as they can to spread the word to as large an audience as possible. They post to the BioWare blog, Twitter, Facebook, and individual devs even use their personal Twitter and Tumblr accounts to share news, engage with the fans, and gain greater exposure for the game. In my very humble opinion, those outlets can be far more effective at getting the word out because gamers are less likely to act as a sitting council of critics than on a discussion forum. Twitter has a character limit, BioWare's Facebook is more easily monitored, devs' individual accounts can also be easily controlled, for example.

The BSN has a group of Moderators who have no real emotional connection to the community, regardless of their enthusiasm and professionaliem and love ot BioWare and/or its games. We named Mods do have that connection, but due to changes to the way in which BioWare can interact with us, our role has also been diminished over the last few years to the point where there are only a handful of us active compared to 5 years ago. And now we're being criticized for being overly harsh to a community that, by and large, hasn't really held up their end of the bargain to keep the community helpful, fun, and friendly.

But if none of the above happen, I wouldn't expect anyone at Bioware to lose any sleep. They realize the benefits to having an online commuinty, but they are also well aware of the drawbacks, as well. A couple dozen regulars (myself included) complaining about the day-to-day slag that can be less than ideal is not any skin of anyone's noses but our own, trust me.

Precisely. I don't know if there is a "best" solution, or if there's a solution at all. Jessica and the Community Team are trying out new things that may help to transform BSN to a more modern experience, but there are going to be obstacles and speed bumps along the way. It may end up being nothing like the old BSN or the current BSN, or it might be very similar. Regardless, I would encourage everyone--as I have been the last 12 years--to make the most of your BSN experience if you have any kind of love for it. Be helpful, be civil, and be responsible, productive community members. That would help us a lot and, heck, maybe it'll make you feel better about the community as a whole.

Thanks.

[Fast Jimmy]

Due to the proliferation of social media, BioWare tries to use as many different outlets as they can to spread the word to as large an audience as possible. They post to the BioWare blog, Twitter, Facebook, and individual devs even use their personal Twitter and Tumblr accounts to share news, engage with the fans, and gain greater exposure for the game. In my very humble opinion, those outlets can be far more effective at getting the word out because gamers are less likely to act as a sitting council of critics than on a discussion forum. Twitter has a character limit, BioWare's Facebook is more easily monitored, devs' individual accounts can also be easily controlled, for example.

One thing I thought I might kick around here... I understand the value of other venues/social media sites. The audience is often wider and the comments are usually pretty self contained, unlike the diatribes that can happen here. So I can definitely see why Bioware doesn't constrain themselves to the BSN alone.

I guess I would have expected more posts by the devs/mods to be made here, with links at other social media directing them there for more info.Maybe like a Tweet where Mark Darrah (or whoever) answers a fan question about the new hat design, then points to a thread Mark started showcasing some of the hat screenshots that have been revealed and asking for feedback. Sure, there winds up being a thread here a forumite starts, either directly or in a round-about way, but you see very few threads STARTED by the Bioware team... and it's almost a complete unheard of to have anyone from outside the BSN link to a thread here (unless its with negative connotation).

Back in Summer 2012, Chris and Jessica started up a BSN Question of the Month. It only lasted two questions over the course of three months (to the best of my recollection, at least) and the topics were not at all specific to any future product, but were more general questions about being a fan or about their video game preferences.

I thought this idea was really great. And I think it would have been incredibly easy for the Aaryn Flynn's of the world to post on Twitter about the thread topic and get some interaction from the outside world, as it were. In fact, I thought that a few of the devs could put together some questions, about general gameplay ideas or mechanics and see what people thoguht of them. Not in a "here's what we're thinking about for DA:I/MENext," but rather "here's how some games have done it, what are your personal preferences?"


I have, in the past, been somewhat infamous for my "Bioware/BSN, Let's Talk About..." threads. Some people loved them, many people hated them... if only for the number of copy cat threads (not to mention the audacious tone that I would be addressing Bioware directly). But my entire drive to create those threads were, outside of good conversation, to show how such a system might work. All of those topics, for the most part, mentioned gameplay elements common to all games, especially RPGs (Gold, Enemies, Death/0 HP, etc.) and I didn't take much of a stance in the OP, such that I was really just bringing forth ideas about how these elements are incorporated in the gaming world at large, and how people would feel about these different options if they were incorporated into a Bioware/DA:I game in the future.

I really could see such a process work for, say, Mike Laidlaw, or Seb, or David, with various topics. There wouldn't even have to be one person on point - the dev poster could rotate with different topics, such as art design, or soundtrack, or combat/encounter philosophy, etc. It could really open up dialogue between the BSN and different Bioware devs themselves, many whom likely have no desire to just wade into a standard conversation on the BSN and try and do anything.

A sister version of that idea is something you actually helped foster, Stan, in the "Ask-A-Bioware" thread that is still going strong today, mostly from responses coming from yourself and from Lukas. No spoliers about future products are given and no plans are being revealed/given up... it simply is an open area where fans can truly talk about the game making process. I haven't seen Lukas post anywhere else on the forums (at least not any time recently), but the rather structured and open way that thread is handled has kept it going now for years.

Threads like that, where fans aren't just picking apart words for confirmation of new features or characters or locations or whatever, but are actually just TALKING with the devs... THAT'S what I think would completely turn the forum around. To your (and, I would mention, Allan's) credit, you've tried to have discussions and dialogue on the forums, but without some form of structure or serialized method of introducing topics, it winds up resulting in just more of the same ole' BSN more times than not.

I'd like to see that change. And I think the best way to do that is to give the devs a "safe zone" kind of experience with the BSN. No Mage/Templar, IT or LI demand threads, but rather a very innocuous and open exchange of ideas, ideas that may or may not pertain to upcoming titles at all.

Anyway, I've ranted long enough (and on one small quote line, to boot), but it's something I've been contemplating for a while. I'd like to see Bioware take back its own forums... not with more mod police, but with its own devs feeling its safe and, to be frank, WORTH IT to come back. A lot of that is on the fans, to be sure... but I also think there needs to be some orchestration and planning by the powers that be, as well, to have a shot of that working. After all... the definition of insanity is doing things the same way and expecting a different result.

[zMataxa]

@ninja stan
as a relative noobie here, I just wanted to say "Thank you" for that elaborate well-thought out explanation. I really was curious about all that.
I think that should be stickied somewhere as an essential introduction to the BSN experience.
To me it's way more important than the TOS that most people skim over anyway.
Cheers!
z

[Ninja Stan]

Fast Jimmy wrote...

I guess I would have expected more posts by the devs/mods to be made here, with links at other social media directing them there for more info.

The BSN is primarily a place for gamers and fans to share discussion and ideas. The devs are kdept far busier these days than in the freewheeling independent days when having a direct line to fans was new to most of us. The control of the flow of information is far more prevalent these days.

Back in Summer 2012, Chris and Jessica started up a BSN Question of the Month. It only lasted two questions over the course of three months (to the best of my recollection, at least) and the topics were not at all specific to any future product, but were more general questions about being a fan or about their video game preferences.

I thought this idea was really great. And I think it would have been incredibly easy for the Aaryn Flynn's of the world to post on Twitter about the thread topic and get some interaction from the outside world, as it were. In fact, I thought that a few of the devs could put together some questions, about general gameplay ideas or mechanics and see what people thoguht of them. Not in a "here's what we're thinking about for DA:I/MENext," but rather "here's how some games have done it, what are your personal preferences?"

Not everyone wants to add "community liaison" to their list of tasks. Some devs are content just to do their jobs. Others, like the DA writing team, like to interact with the community. And still others, like me when I was still with the company, really liked the community and felt there was value in hanging out here. Most of us community-lovers have left the company since, and some dislike interacting with the fans due to the all the negativity and juvenile whinging, but there are some who have stepped up and started chatting with all y'all.

I have, in the past, been somewhat infamous for my "Bioware/BSN, Let's Talk About..." threads. Some people loved them, many people hated them... if only for the number of copy cat threads (not to mention the audacious tone that I would be addressing Bioware directly). But my entire drive to create those threads were, outside of good conversation, to show how such a system might work. All of those topics, for the most part, mentioned gameplay elements common to all games, especially RPGs (Gold, Enemies, Death/0 HP, etc.) and I didn't take much of a stance in the OP, such that I was really just bringing forth ideas about how these elements are incorporated in the gaming world at large, and how people would feel about these different options if they were incorporated into a Bioware/DA:I game in the future.

That's something that is far more common in the early stages of a game, when BioWare hasn't announced very much and the community is left to speculate and discuss lots of different ideas.

I really could see such a process work for, say, Mike Laidlaw, or Seb, or David, with various topics. There wouldn't even have to be one person on point - the dev poster could rotate with different topics, such as art design, or soundtrack, or combat/encounter philosophy, etc. It could really open up dialogue between the BSN and different Bioware devs themselves, many whom likely have no desire to just wade into a standard conversation on the BSN and try and do anything.

John Winski used to do that when he was still with the company. And other devs have done it since. But I think it's something the fans are already doing to a lesser extent in the DAI forum. Occasionally, devs will weigh in. But I get it. It's always the same handful of devs who do it, and usually it's the writers or QA.

A sister version of that idea is something you actually helped foster, Stan, in the "Ask-A-Bioware" thread that is still going strong today, mostly from responses coming from yourself and from Lukas. No spoliers about future products are given and no plans are being revealed/given up... it simply is an open area where fans can truly talk about the game making process. I haven't seen Lukas post anywhere else on the forums (at least not any time recently), but the rather structured and open way that thread is handled has kept it going now for years.

I've always enjoyed interacting with the community, and have always tried to do so while respecting the company's rules and the fans' desire for information. Mostly, I post to give people a glimpse into what the devs' job is like, to act as a devil's advocate for business decisions or fan misinformation. I've been coming online a lot less these days, though.

Threads like that, where fans aren't just picking apart words for confirmation of new features or characters or locations or whatever, but are actually just TALKING with the devs... THAT'S what I think would completely turn the forum around. To your (and, I would mention, Allan's) credit, you've tried to have discussions and dialogue on the forums, but without some form of structure or serialized method of introducing topics, it winds up resulting in just more of the same ole' BSN more times than not.

The difficulty in having those kinds of threads is that posting in the forums and having discussions has to be done in whatever free time/spare time/compiling time is available, and that can't be scheduled. I mean, can you imagine taking a break from work only to do work-related things? That takes a toll on people. It might be something Jessica Merizan can set up in the future, but it would have to be planned well in advance and whatever devs are involved would have to have the time available and the wherewithal to deal with the community on a more regular basis. Those things aren't easy to get.

Thanks for the comments, Fast Jimmy.