5692 réponses à ce sujet

[Hainkpe]

As an oldtimer... there are too many people i've known and lost from this forum. Suffice to say, Thank you Bioware for uplifting and messing with my life. I appreciate all you did for me. 

[prosthetic soul]

This was largely the case for me as well, although Twitter instead of Reddit.  I was starting to feel some fatigue as well and then ended up acting as an interim community manager for a few months post launch which was a whole other beast.  It was an interesting experience but it's definitely a lot more difficult than I imagined.

 

That said I am sorry for all of those that are hit hard by this news

So, both you and Bryan admit to giving up on the fanbase?

[malloc]

Also here is one thing you guys have glossed over. Twitter has a ridiculously bad harassment/moderation system because of the shear number of users. BSN would address an issue much quicker than twitter. This will be a problem

[JWvonGoethe]

I must admit, it is rather nice to see so many long-time lurkers and BioWare employees coming out of the woodwork. Ironically, this thread makes it really apparent how strong the sense of community is here. I'll be sad to see this place go.

[Nette]

One can't help but feel they were really not looking forward to fan reactions about their upcoming games, so they silenced us in advance.

This is certainly what it looks like to me too.

[Hainkpe]

Aight so... where are we supposed to talk, now?

I don't mean to the devs. I mean to each other. You know, fan discourse? Speculation and squealing? Honestly.

Do you talk first? Do I talk first? 

[raynebc]

Disappointing. At least leave it read only on a more permanent basis or turn over the forum database(s) to a third party so they can run it at no cost to you.

[Mlady]

I must admit, it is rather nice to see so many long-time lurkers and BioWare employees coming out of the woodwork. Ironically, this thread makes it really apparent how strong the sense of community is here. I'll be sad to see this place go.

 

This actually makes it feel like today is the day it's all going even though we have 4 weeks.

[Masque]

As someone who isn't plugged into social media, I depended on this forum to keep me up to date on all things BW related. It was part of daily relax-after-work ritual to come here and get my BW fix. I lack the time and the interest to follow various devs and writers on Twitter but I didn't have to worry because the awesome people in the Twitter thread here combed through all the random tweets to pluck out game related tidbits. The same goes for fanart and lore. Everything was right here - there was no need to wander the internet looking for crumbs.

 

This sucks.

[Ashevajak]

You know, if Bioware had come out and said they were shutting down the forums because of the financial cost, or the cost in time/interaction with fans and managing a community, I could accept that.  I don't think they'd be great reasons for doing so, but at least they'd make sense.

 

The reasoning presented here though is risible, to the point of insulting the intelligence of the people reading it.  That's what really galls me, beyond the loss of the forums itself.  It's that we were not even worth giving a proper explanation too, and trying to put a positive spin on the whole thing.

This is probably the worst piece of creative writing I've seen from Bioware since the "Aerie's baby" monstrosity in Baldur's Gate: Throne of Bhaal, and that's only just barely.

[Addictress]

I love Tumblr and there have been amazing discussions on Tumblr but it's still not the same. Except for the occasional lengthy multi-reblog discussion posts, Tumblr is designed as one-way soap box communication, not back-and-forth, archived discourse we have here. The discussions we do have on tumblr 1. Eventually fade into the pits of the dashboard, not easily able to be reviewed unless specifically tagged uniquely, 2. Causes an eyesore since it's forced to cascade in front of everyone's eyes on their dashboards, so convos are kept short if possible, using cuts, etc which further obscure the discussion in general.

It's really not the same. I guess Reddit is the closest thing.

[PunchFaceReporter]

Hey guys, imagine ...
 
...a theater without audience
 
...a football stadium without fans
 
I can't help, but that's what I see right now.

They're just being cheap and hoping a devoted fan will make a site for them, saving them money.

[DextroDNA]

Don't post here that often anymore, but I do lurk a lot. Gonna miss everyone and everything.

 

Bioware are spinning some real **** with the "you can keep connected through other social networks" - no, we can't. Do they honestly think anyone used these forums to keep connected with the devs? No, we stopped doing that even before ME3 came out. Even more annoying is that they have the cheek to say something like "you can still go to conventions", erm, no I can't; I live in England and can't afford to go to any big cons to meet devs and other fans.

 

This forum is literally the only place on the internet where all Bioware fans know they can go to discuss Bioware games. This shutdown is going to massively splinter the entire community, everyone will go to different forums or websites and so the level of discussion is going to be minuscule on each site compared to what it is here, now. Reddit is no place for the kind of discussion we have here, either. There isn't anywhere where hundreds of people can go to discuss a new trailer or new information together other than right here.

 

So thanks, Bioware. Thanks for this. How about you cut the **** and stop saying how there are other ways to keep the discussion going and keep in contact with the devs, because there isn't really. How about you give us a real reason for shutting these forums down? You've already said cost/maintenance isn't an issue so why is this actually happening?

[Cheviot]

As someone who isn't plugged into social media, I depended on this forum to keep me up to date on all things BW related. It was part of daily relax-after-work ritual to come here and get my BW fix. I lack the time and the interest to follow various devs and writers on Twitter but I didn't have to worry because the awesome people in the Twitter thread here combed through all the random tweets to pluck out game related tidbits. The same goes for fanart and lore. Everything was right here - there was no need to wander the internet looking for crumbs.

 

This sucks.

Bioware will still have a blog, as far as I know, so you'll be able to keep up that way.

[Addictress]

You know, if Bioware had come out and said they were shutting down the forums because of the financial cost, or the cost in time/interaction with fans and managing a community, I could accept that. I don't think they'd be great reasons for doing so, but at least they'd make sense.

The reasoning presented here though is risible, to the point of insulting the intelligence of the people reading it. That's what really galls me, beyond the loss of the forums itself. It's that we were not even worth giving a proper explanation too, and trying to put a positive spin on the whole thing.

This is probably the worst piece of creative writing I've seen from Bioware since the "Aerie's baby" monstrosity in Baldur's Gate: Throne of Bhaal, and that's only just barely.

The more I think about it, the more insulting it feels.

[Isichar]

This was largely the case for me as well, although Twitter instead of Reddit.  I was starting to feel some fatigue as well and then ended up acting as an interim community manager for a few months post launch which was a whole other beast.  It was an interesting experience but it's definitely a lot more difficult than I imagined.

 

That said I am sorry for all of those that are hit hard by this news

 

Allan, back during the ME3 ending fiasco you're one of the few Bioware people I knew even trying to engage in conversation, which I know wasn't easy at the time when emotions were running hard and despite the fact you weren't even on the ME team. For that I just wanted to say thank you.

 

Even if we were a pain in the ass I did respect you for whatever it's worth

[Mlady]

Bioware will still have a blog, as far as I know, so you'll be able to keep up that way.

 

I'm glad for that but I always rely on players pov and what they exp over updates. I get a update on the blog and come here to see what the real gamers are saying/feeling and that helps me a lot.

[Rifneno]

I don't think Bioware ever really understood the community that was build. How lives were changed and altered because of this forum. I hate to see it disappear. 

Well said.  These forums have been home to a lot of good communities.  I remember back in the DA2 days being part of a small clique of anti-templar posters.  It was a great experience even if the forum did have a lot of trolling.  And the IT community, good god.  Bioware kicked us to the curb years ago, but that's the best community I've ever been a part of.  Made some of the best friends I've had in my life.  I ended up buying one of those $400 Reaper statuettes as a memento (and I am NOT a wealthy man) just because I want something to look at 20 years down the line and remember the awesome community and the impact it had on my life.  And I'm sure I'm not alone.  Hell, I remember a couple of people who were part of the original thread ended up getting married.  Spouses met each other in the community.

 

This is the first time I've actually been back on here since Priestly banned the topic, and I don't have much love for the community that mostly spat at us as we got the treatment everyone is getting now, but I'm still sad to see this happen.  This is a place with a rich history where a lot of bonds were formed and a lot of great discussion was had.  Such a senseless end is unbefitting.

[AlanC9]

So, both you and Bryan admit to giving up on the fanbase?

Giving up on the BSN isn't quite the same as giving up on the fanbase.

[Gannayev of Dreams]

Here's my guesstimate of what happened:


1) Analyst in EA says, "BioWare needs more visibility. Social network is the main venue of marketing, have them concentrate 100% on there. Do they still have the forum? Close it as redundant."

2) Message gets transferred to Bioware

3) BioWare decision makers give the message to community PR manager, say "Put a nice spin on it."

4) PR manager decides to use a common spin, "We're doing this for you."
 

 

This was precisely my thought. If people are going to talk about their games, they want them to talk about it in the most public spaces possible. Maximize that advertising potential.

[vertigomez]

Do you talk first? Do I talk first?

No talking, just crying into my booze.

As someone who isn't plugged into social media, I depended on this forum to keep me up to date on all things BW related. It was part of daily relax-after-work ritual to come here and get my BW fix. I lack the time and the interest to follow various devs and writers on Twitter but I didn't have to worry because the awesome people in the Twitter thread here combed through all the random tweets to pluck out game related tidbits. The same goes for fanart and lore. Everything was right here - there was no need to wander the internet looking for crumbs.
 
This sucks.

Same. I'm sorry, but you can't have a decent discussion about the lore or what other fans think on twitter or tumblr or reddit. They're not designed that way. They're designed for brief remarks, upvoted comments getting more attention regardless of content, and - for the most part - one on one discussions. There's no GROUP atmosphere. What's the solution? There is NOWHERE like the BSN for fans to gather in one place to discuss DA.

Why can't you just rebrand the forums and bump them off to someone else? Please, please, please?

[wright1978]

Disappointing. At least leave it read only on a more permanent basis or turn over the forum database(s) to a third party so they can run it at no cost to you.

I assume the fact they are so keen to delete everything shows the real reason behinds this move.

[prosthetic soul]

Giving up on the BSN isn't quite the same as giving up on the fanbase.

They're being defeatist and painting themselves as the stressed out victims, when in reality they're just giving up while simultaneously screwing over their own fans.  Giving up is giving up.  It's pathetic.

 

P.S. Thank you for solidifying my choice to not support Andromeda, Bioware.  I cleanse my hands of this filth for good. 

[Dr. Rush]

It feels really weird that Bioware is telling us how much they value our feedback while simultaneously pushing us away.

 

It partly feels like a business move, like this is some how going to empower Bioware to have better control on the feedback and narrative of their games launching. I'm not sure if that adds up, but it seems like in the wake of the DA2/ME3 catastrophes, BSN was ground-zero for negativity, and I get the impression that they don't ever want to risk being a toxic cesspool like that again.

 

I also get the impression that many Bioware devs are genuinely disgusted with these forums. Its weird, because we're basically being told, take your suggestions and posts to Reddit/Twitter. Why are our ideas or posts any inherently more readable for the devs on another site? Has this forum community really become so repulsive to devs that my opinions here are unreadable,  but the very same opinions posted on reddit are more palatable?

 

Lastly, maybe this is an effort to purge or rebuild the Bioware fan base. That probably sounds drastic. But wiping out a community so that a new one can replace it is a pretty good way to get rid of all the old and crochety users (like me) who only stick around to be critical of Bioware.

[Cheviot]

I'm glad for that but I always rely on players pov and what they exp over updates. I get a update on the blog and come here to see what the real gamers are saying/feeling and that helps me a lot.

It's easy to guess BSN's response to any Bioware-related update: it's negative.  After you've read a blog post, think of the worst possible spin that could be put on the contents, and you've got the basics of BSN's feelings on it.