I cant see chat in the forums anymore, what happened? o.O
Yea same. It was a 500 before it vanished so I think they are changing it most likely (I wonder if they actually took my IRC suggestion). Or maybe its just broken.
I am curious as to this as well, what gives?
I don't know, it stinks. It will probably be back up soon, though. I (kinda) know this from the last time they moved it, it disappeared for a little while and came back, so I think they are just refining some things.
Remedy posted this http://forum.legendsofequestria.com/index.php?topic=13545.0
Wish there was more information.
I need to Tro... Err, help the new pones. :ajshifty:
New pones gonna have to wait until chatbox is back, from last time it shouldn't take too long.
Hmm, didn't notice that until I saw this.
"Chat is disabled cuz reasons"
Very informative :ajshifty:
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 23, 19:34:59
"Chat is disabled cuz reasons"
Very informative :ajshifty:
Agreed...
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 19:37:56
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 23, 19:34:59
"Chat is disabled cuz reasons"
Very informative :ajshifty:
Agreed...
Sometimes there is some information to what we will never have access, and if I remember it's called "Confidential and Top Secret".
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 23, 19:41:45
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 19:37:56
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 23, 19:34:59
"Chat is disabled cuz reasons"
Very informative :ajshifty:
Agreed...
Sometimes there is some information to what we will never have access, and if I remember it's called "Confidential and Top Secret".
True, but this sort of thing should be public information. It affects almost all of the people who come on here regularly.
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 19:47:25
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 23, 19:41:45
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 19:37:56
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 23, 19:34:59
"Chat is disabled cuz reasons"
Very informative :ajshifty:
Agreed...
Sometimes there is some information to what we will never have access, and if I remember it's called "Confidential and Top Secret".
True, but this sort of thing should be public information. It affects almost all of the people who come on here regularly.
Well agree or disagree but not every mod will have specifically detailed information of sudden events, and they just have to either improvise or make short thread.
Chat is gone for now yes, but we shall return more powerful than the mods can possibly imagine!
Quote from: Roots on 2014 Nov 23, 19:52:04
Chat is gone for now yes, but we shall return more powerful than the mods can possibly imagine!
Agreed! :nod:
We are currently evaluating the effectiveness and use of said chatbox. Upon completion of the research the chatbox may or may not come back.
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 23, 20:32:16
We are currently evaluating the effectiveness and use of said chatbox. Upon completion of the research the chatbox may or may not come back.
That's something new, but it's understandable since I have heard that chatbox uses most of resources, so apparently we'll gonna have to stick with Personal Messages.
The chatbox takes more then just forum resources, it takes people resources too. The face of the matter is the mod team has to watch the chatbox 24/7. During this time we also have to watch the forums and as the holiday season comes closer and closer with each day it is becoming difficult for the moderation team to keep tabs on it 24/7. Also the chatbox has been the source of some issues on the forums for some time now. We have to balance out the fact that the mod team just like other members of the team have personal lives and other things going on. So it may be in the best interest for us to remove the chatbox from the forum. Also the chatbox will be removed when the game is open for full time play, so it was going to be removed anyways.
I would like to hear the community thoughts on this topic since there seems to be interest.
Well I completely agree with the fact that moderators cannot offer full 24/7 staying up to guard forum and chatbox at the same time, while they have their own lives to deal with such as, Family, School or doing personal things which might have higher priority, so removing chatbox is resonable compensation, to team members and their personal life and the forum resources to make it more stable, reliable to offer best performance to all forum users, so in this case my opinion is on full agree of removing chatbox.
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 23, 20:40:55
I would like to hear the community thoughts on this topic since there seems to be interest.
Since there's no game yet.
Chat is practically the only reason I'm still here, but of course it can be just me :v
The chat is really the only reason I come here, its too difficult to run the game to chat, and all the people that I like to chat with aren't always here. If the chat was removed, I'd stop coming often, and it would negatively affect my experience here as well.
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 20:57:17
The chat is really the only reason I come here, its too difficult to run the game to chat, and all the people that I like to chat with aren't always here. If the chat was removed, I'd stop coming often, and it would negatively affect my experience here as well.
You know that you can stay in contact with all your friends outside forum via chat servers or sending actual PM's here on Forum which will be time consuming but at least you will stay in contact with your friends.
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 23, 21:05:32
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 20:57:17
The chat is really the only reason I come here, its too difficult to run the game to chat, and all the people that I like to chat with aren't always here. If the chat was removed, I'd stop coming often, and it would negatively affect my experience here as well.
You know that you can stay in contact with all your friends outside forum via chat servers or sending actual PM's here on Forum which will be time consuming but at least you will stay in contact with your friends.
The issue with the PM system is that often I don't have the time to spend ten minutes typing out a message. With the chat one can reply quickly to a query or otherwise message without the fuss of the PM system.
I completely understand why the chat was removed and will be fine no matter what the decision is. While the chat box did have its ups and downs, I enjoyed the interactions between myself and others. I know that the forums can replicate this, but there's just something about instant-messaging that makes the conversations in there feel more... well as if I was actually there myself. I just don't get the same feeling of interactiveness when replying on forums, but then again that's just me. I liked being able to talk to the team members as well and check out their work, as well as all the other content provided by other users. Although I never talked or contributed much, I found it overall to be a friendly and playful environment most of the time. The chat box was also a wonderful way of making friends. I know that there are many other ways of communicating out there, whether it be other instant-messaging chat boxes, Skype, or otherwise, but I personally enjoyed this one. Thank you so much for the amount of work you've all put into this, and if there's one thing I know, it's that I'll be around here still whether the chat goes away for good or not, hopefully still meeting new users.
Tl;dr I'm fine with the chat box being removed, although I'll miss the interactiveness it provided. A big thank you to the whole team for the amount of work and effort that goes into maintaining the site and creating the game.
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 21:16:15
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 23, 21:05:32
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 20:57:17
The chat is really the only reason I come here, its too difficult to run the game to chat, and all the people that I like to chat with aren't always here. If the chat was removed, I'd stop coming often, and it would negatively affect my experience here as well.
You know that you can stay in contact with all your friends outside forum via chat servers or sending actual PM's here on Forum which will be time consuming but at least you will stay in contact with your friends.
The issue with the PM system is that often I don't have the time to spend ten minutes typing out a message. With the chat one can reply quickly to a query or otherwise message without the fuss of the PM system.
I'm sure that we as elite users will be able to come up with something to keep connected with other people via instant messaging.
I understand it, but it was a fun way to meet new friends. Hopefully some compromise is made, but it's fine either way.
Bummer. I realize you cant make everyone happy and I can relate to the fact that the mods need their personal space away from the forum, especially around the holidays. Its just not that fun for the regular derps that abide by the rules and just want to chat with friends.
So my thought, when mods need a break or if there is not enough man/woman power to mod everything, is there away to make some kind of private chat for regular non-trouble makers? and I do realize that alone wound make some problems in itself... just brain stormin i guess.
Another issue I have (and it may just be me) but whenever I send a PM to someone I always feel as if I am bothering them. With the chat though I am fully aware that they are not otherwise occupied and I am not inconveniencing them in any way. I have also found that the way I type when communicating through PMs changes, I become more formal and it can lead to unnecessary awkwardness between my friend and I.
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 21:28:54
Another issue I have (and it may just be me) but whenever I send a PM to someone I always feel as if I am bothering them. With the chat though I am fully aware that they are not otherwise occupied and I am not inconveniencing them in any way. I have also found that the way I type when communicating through PMs changes, I become more formal and it can lead to unnecessary awkwardness between my friend and I.
This is very typical it happens to most of us, so it's nothing to worry about, but as I said there are chat servers around internet for our reach.
We will look into other methods of chat if the chatbox is not to return.
Post Merge
Also, we do not permit linking to other chat sites outside of LoE.
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 23, 21:30:55
Quote from: Greyscaleisme on 2014 Nov 23, 21:28:54
Another issue I have (and it may just be me) but whenever I send a PM to someone I always feel as if I am bothering them. With the chat though I am fully aware that they are not otherwise occupied and I am not inconveniencing them in any way. I have also found that the way I type when communicating through PMs changes, I become more formal and it can lead to unnecessary awkwardness between my friend and I.
This is very typical it happens to most of us, so it's nothing to worry about, but as I said there are chat servers around internet for our reach.
True, but what and where? I am not allowed to use Skype, and from what I know there really aren't any other chat forums that I am aware of.
There is one chat server made by some other forum users, it's usually brought up once chatbox on server is down due to OSW but it can be brought up 24/7 to use and it also has fairly big number of user limitation.
Sweet!
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 23, 21:36:22
There is one chat server made by some other forum users, it's usually brought up once chatbox on server is down due to OSW but it can be brought up 24/7 to use and it also has fairly big number of user limitation.
It should never be linked here since we do not allow the outside linking of chats by forum members. If it is not supported by LoE then do not link it.
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 23, 21:48:23
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 23, 21:36:22
There is one chat server made by some other forum users, it's usually brought up once chatbox on server is down due to OSW but it can be brought up 24/7 to use and it also has fairly big number of user limitation.
It should never be linked here since we do not allow the outside linking of chats by forum members. If it is not supported by LoE then do not link it.
What about chat pages between friends? Like someone creates a chat room and sends the invite link to only a few people?
Nope.
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 23, 22:01:52
Nope.
I'm not talking about something directly corresponding to the Forum, basically like a Skype group.
You are not allowed to share personal information publicly on the forums
How is that sharing personal information?
Skype and other accounts are classified as personal information and will not be shared on the forum
Ooh, okay.
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 23, 20:48:37
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 23, 20:40:55
I would like to hear the community thoughts on this topic since there seems to be interest.
Since there's no game yet.
Chat is practically the only reason I'm still here, but of course it can be just me :v
Nah, that's why I'm here. To chat with a fistful of people that I'd like to not lose touch with who likely wouldn't be able to join my gaming group for one reason or another.
It is true that chat is harder to monitor 24/7 around the holidays, this is only natural. Removing it permanently is a good option if you have something better to replace it with (in this case the LoE game). However, without a replacement for chat people have lost a huge incentive to come to the LoE site. I often find myself going through the LoE main site to get to the chatbox and checking for new news on my way. While this will not personally be a problem, others might find themselves stopping by less frequently. Also, while 24/7 safeguarding of the chat is a good idea, I have witnessed on multiple occasions that the community self polices itself. Multiple times it has been the people in chat that tell themselves and others to abstain from talking about a particular activity. Though to be fair, and knowing that chances are chat won't return at all, I did witness once a half-hour conversation on ebola take place.
I can understand your position. I still would miss chatting with everyone though >.<
I've had a bit of time to think about this, and is it too much of a leap to interpret this as the final curtain for any real hopes for this game? No chat? Just a forum? No gameplay? It seems odd. I understand wanting to be able to spend time with family. I really do get it, and I also understand that you're volunteers.
RIP chatbox
(ah dunno) - 23/11/2014
The chat absence will not affect me in any way, shape or form. It was amusing distraction when I was bored but that was it.
Me: Chat, can I go on you? Chat: Sure! Me: Have a hotdog and let me type here. Chat: Nope. *RIP Chat*
If chat goes I`ll probably be gone all the time except for when the game is up. Chat and the people who go on the chat are the only thing really here for me.
I think it will kill off the user base for the forum, as if people aren`t hanging around in the chat they probably won`t have a reason to look around the site, and will find other sites to talk to people on.
Log on to check PMs and get this...wow... :'(
Well, I'll be blunt, if you take it off you'll basically confirm my ''never coming back''.
Of course it's not about me...but many others will be dissapointed with the absence of a live chat. :s
I would just get more mods that have the time, I'd have been more then welcome to do so before but, eh...lost interest to me. :/
The main reason i'm still here is because of the chat.
And probably the reason most people is still here as well.
Although I do recall there's an LoE skype for players somewhere, that's an alternative.
(but here's hoping the chat will be back.)
Ehh. Don't really mind that the chatbox is gone. Doesn't matter much because it was going to be removed eventually. And the constant moderation must have been draining. Imo, the chatbox isn't what's keeping the attention on LoE. It's just the constant excitement for the game, not knowing when it'll be released and not knowing if something major is gonna happen. Surprises. Aaah, surprises.
And the fact that I've made so many amazing friends from LoE is another reason why it doesn't matter much. I have those ties outside of talking to people on the chatbox. Plus, all the cons that LoE goes to. I loved the panel I watched at BronyCon. That was wonderful.
In conclusion, I don't think anyone should lose interest in the forums just because the chatbox is gone. Stay in touch with all the ponies you made friends with! Even if you just send a little "boop" every once in a while. It helps, seriously.
Bye bye, Chatty Box!
Well then I have quite enjoyed reading your thoughts on the disappearance of the chatbox, and do note the LoE team end of the day is human. As was said before the chatbox had issues it was the largest cause for site bugs and moderation.
However as said also this is partial research to see how the site will function without it for a while. So my suggestion to you all rather than quoting lines such as "This will kill the site", "everyone abandon ship" and "RIP Chat" I would like to see some good reasons as to why the chatbox should stay, including and considering some of the Cons to the chatbox
An even and constructive comment will affect decisions far more than complaining (and no im not getting at anyone as I said at the beginning there are some good points being made I just feel the comments are a tad one sided)
So to summarise write down your full thoughts on the chatbox, what was good about it, what was bad, why did it affect your forum experience those types of things and I look forward to looking at your comments later
Ryo D Disk
Hmm, some leaving just because the chatbox is gone...I don't know what to say about that seeing how its not like the other threads are not taken down as well.
Asynchronous and synchronous communication are two different ways to communicate. The chatbox and livestream (when it is live) are the two different LoE related ways that you could synchronously communicate. Without the chatbox, the only source of synchronous communication is the livestream (every saturday). The experience of the LoE community has now shifted because of the removal of the chatbox. This change does not effect everyone. It effects the community as a whole. The negatives of the chatbox could all be found on the server side of things. The server and human resources required to maintain it and manage the bugs was extensive to say the least. The disappearance of the chatbox means that moderators can go spend the holidays home without having to worry about managing the chatbox. However, after the holidays end moderators will have very little to moderate. All other current resources don't take up that many moderation considering that you have so many moderators. In effect, your putting 16 moderators on standby until the game comes out. The moderators might or might not mind that they are on standby until the game comes out. We'll find out soon enough.
I like how most people jump on the "no chatbox - no site" wagon and don't realize that the chat was just a feature of the forum. The forum was here long before the chat and I doubt it's going anywhere. We had IRC before and it was removed, we had a chat and it's removed. The only ones affected are the ones that remained for the chat, not for the forum.
Pros of the chatbox (from a guy who's been in the service industry for about 15 years):
1. It's the only active communication you guys really have with your player base. Forums don't cut it. Playerbase has to have some way to kill time.
2. No communication means that we will eventually stop visiting the website. This isn't a chatbox killed the website bit. What it does mean is that there's less reason for us to check as meaningful updates become few and far between. Eventually, like an unused toy, it is forgotten.
3. Chat allows a quick method for players to entertain other players while waiting on pins and needles for the next open server. (seriously, we're chomping at the bit here)
Both these items are a natural expression of progression. Even live games have this issue. They constantly have to deliver new content.
Negatives of the chatbox:
1. Mod time.
2. Coding issues-though I don't really have sympathy on that front. That's exactly what programmers are for, no?
2a. Yep, debugging is a pain, but once you really have it streamlined and working correctly, it "just works".
Closing: While the chatbox was annoying from a development and moderation standpoint, it is currently about the only reason people come back (Literally in my case. I came back specifically to chat with people like WindSong, Ging, MrEmu, etc.) day after day. When a customer has little reason to look for news or updates, they stop paying attention, and they do go away. I appreciate that the entire team is doing this out of the goodness of their heart, and I know that this is draining. Like Mr. Emu said, have ya'll actively asked for help?
I think the issue is really the strictness of the rules around here. A self moderated irc chat by the community itself wouldn't require such huge amounts of moderation by the actual staff but the need to control everything related to this game (officially) is causing the issues. Irc is also better in a lot of ways than whatever crazy ajax system that was using (repeated post request and xml data output) and would allow not only better bandwidth usage (assuming its even hosted here) but also people to use their own clients and such rather than the crappy in browser one.
Cons:
- Needs 24/7 moderation which is impossible and rule braking is occurred. No easy way to report said rule breakers.
- Promotes short, quick responses (flooding) to keep with the topic and not be left behind.
- Keeps players that are not interested in the game/forum but only in real-time chatting.
- Restricted to only people on the chat page on the certain time.
Pros:
- Instant messaging people that are on the chat page.
The team made the forum to inform and keep the contact with the community. Everytime something new comes up, popular websites (EQD) post and the forum instantly fills with people. The forum also has an easy way to mod that provides proof to the rule breaking. That gives the mod team more free time and who doesn't like free time?
Plus the chat is the favourite place for new registered members to spam and ask some FAQs and Luna knows we can do without seeing "How can I play?" a dozen times a day.
People also can use messaging system that gives time to make a thought out message with everything you want to discuss with video, pictures and etc. Plus you're not limited to people that are online at your time and can get a message when the people are in a whole different time zone and hence not making you stay up so you can say a few things. Messages can be recored and you can easily bring up the past of the conversation.
You seem REALLY anti-chatbox o_O
I`ll try to do what Ryo Said then.
The main reason I am here on the site originally is for the game, but then I realised that it isn't out and I have to wait, I searched around the forum a bit then found the chatbox. It was nice talking to actual people instead of the forum posts, getting instant responses and the feel of taking to an actual person. Soon after the chat was the only real reason I came here, it was where I heard the news, met new people and got to know them. (Also got my OC drawn a few times but hey. :p)
Cons:
- Resource Intensive for both the site itself and the staff.
- Can be misused - bullying, misuse of rules, ect.
- Can not be monitored 24/7 - Everypony knows that Corgepones don`t need to sleep.
- Buggy - Sometimes stops updating and requires refresh to make it work again, also double posts.
Pros.
- Allows users to communicate with each other instantly instead of constantly refreshing for a reply.
- Allows a more personal feel to the site, instead of staring at forum posts.
- It lets people make friends and possibly help them deal with their own issues, as the chat is generally helpful and kind except for a few odd evil people.
- While it will be removed during OSWs and when the game is finally realised, it is a key feature of the site and it has most likely left many users without means of contacting their friends on the site.
4-4
I want it to stay. Mostly because it is the only real reason I come on this site, I rarely ever browse the actual forums unless directed by someone else, in the chat.
If the problem is staff shortages, get more mods. This may be an easy one to fight against, but considering the staff already on the site I would say that the application methods are working well. It may take up some time in the short run but will prevent more users reporting users or posts if a mod has already seen it and dealt with it.
Being physically resource intensive in ways such as the site's usage, can be easily dealt with by outsourcing the chat to other places, for example Chatzy or DeviantArt, which using the DA group can create a chatroom for users, if they have an account, which could cause issues with Chatzy due to it not requiring a user to have an account. There are also many other free alternatives to chat.
Being buggy is generally just SMFpacks actually chat being not that good, which can be easily fixed by once again going to an alternate. Also, some chats allow auto-warns, kicks and bans to users who repeatedly break the rules or try to enter filtered words which will relieve some of the pressure on the staff who have to deal with this sort of behaviour.
So... Yeah, with chat gone I would spend little to no time on the actual forum only coming on a couple days a week to check any news, which may be reduced to zero depending on who I talk to on other sites or places.
I also notice below that it is said to be "Restricted" and that it keeps people that are not interested in the game. I could say something about friendship or Love and tolerate but, if it keeps people that are not interested they may become interested, slowly converting them to followers.
And for the restricted thing, personally I have only ever seen one other chat that shows previous messages, and this is a general flaw of I.M as a whole, it keeps moving removing old messages from view, but if someone comes in and talks about something from a few hours ago, it would be a real sidetrack to any conversations going on and may confuse people. It`s more of a keep people "in the now" type of thing.
Some users have also commented on saying that they are never coming back, this may be true, the chatbox for them may be the only real communication they have with real people or any friendly interaction. Removal of the chat = Removal of people.
Also want to add:
The people in a chat are 'faceless'. As in they are just a line of text and some short message while a forum you can see how they've developed their profile and it makes them more memorable.
I enjoyed reading all of your comments and opinions on the chatbox.
We appreciate that even those of you who are very fond of the chatbox are trying to look at the good and the bad with the chatbox, and that most of you are considering all aspects, not just your personal enjoyment or un-enjoyment of the chat.
I have always believed roleplay keeps people attention more than chatbox or at least its roleplay that going to keep the attention in the forums until the game is up, too bad that I'm not in rp :v
The chatbox on the website will be replaced with the chatbox in the game (when the game comes out). Until then that area will simply be left alone.
Quote from: Unstoppable on 2014 Nov 24, 17:02:10
The chatbox on the website will be replaced with the chatbox in the game (when the game comes out). Until then that area will simply be left alone.
I can already notice less user activity here.
I do have to say that while the forum will still be online for everyone along with all the same features, the chatbox really connected us together. It really did start a lot of new friendships and strengthen a lot of old ones too.
Pros:
Helps new players find info or make friends. (I have a very hard time PMing someone I don't really know) and it can also help people with social issues come out of their shell a bit.
Lets those who just want to talk with others send short or funny messages to fellow players.
Creates friendship and (with the exception of a few) helps to make harmonious communication between members.
Cons:
Requires lots of moderators.
Is sometimes buggy.
Can make it easier for spammers.
Basically, it is just about even, and from a personal standpoint, I wouldn't have made any friends and probably would have left the site soon if there was no chat page.
Reasons to keep the chatpod, eh?
I know it takes a lot of mod time, but it's built so many friendships...and that is kinda what the whole brony fandom stands up for...right? Losing the chatpod would stop many friendships from ever even coming, and many from continuing.
Also it stopped people form starting their "How to play Legend of Equestia? :s" or "Can not play game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:O" posts, instead they merely spammed in the chatpod, not the forums.
And no, PMs and stuff won't replace it because the chatpod forces people to interact with others they might not have noticed before. Simple posts don't do this half as well.
For the most part, there's a lot of good friendships there that will be put to an end, especially with your "No trading Skype and other personal info" rule, the single and only rule I will willingly break, I'm sorry but that rule is against all that bronies stand up for because it forces friendships to squeeze their big hearts through a tiny forum, and posts lack a lot of heart to them...
All in all, I know you mods have lives of your own, but if you don't want to mod it...don't...
There's still plenty of mods that enjoy watching the chatpod. (Or so they've said...)
Taking the chatpod down for the Christmas season would suck, but I'd understand it, but forever???
I just see it has turning many peoples home into a simple forum...
Oy, reading these responses I really shouldn't have to make the connection to Neopets...But alas I just did.
My take is that from all the forums I've lurked on in the fandom is that the chatbox is essentially a "General Chat thread" in disguise. I personally liked the chatbox in the sense the forums do not presently have a 7,500+ page 'General Chat' thread that both MLPForums and its derivatives have. There are also many things that users may post that are well within the rules but don't necessarily want it in stone so the chatbox has its uses.
Either way resources are going to be spent in an equal manner for a similar amount of activity whether it be forums or a chatbox.
Quote from: Prismatic on 2014 Nov 24, 20:36:33
Oy, reading these responses I really shouldn't have to make the connection to Neopets...But alas I just did.
My take is that from all the forums I've lurked on in the fandom is that the chatbox is essentially a "General Chat thread" in disguise. I personally liked the chatbox in the sense the forums do not presently have a 7,500+ page 'General Chat' thread that both MLPForums and its derivatives have. There are also many things that users may post that are well within the rules but don't necessarily want it in stone so the chatbox has its uses.
Either way resources are going to be spent in an equal manner for a similar amount of activity whether it be forums or a chatbox.
And for this equaling matter many users will leave cause chatbox was the only thing that was holding most of users here active.
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 24, 20:47:06
And for this equaling matter many users will leave cause chatbox was the only thing that was holding most of users here active.
Most people treat these forums similar to how I treat my MMO/RPGs. The forums are a nice place to find information if I need something to find otherwise I've got other communities (like social media) that are easier to get into than forums.
I want to address some things people have been bringing up:
1. "A community run chat that is not run and moderated by the LoE team."
The big issue with this is that if we are promoting it, we can become liable for any personal or legal issues that can come of it. If we promote it and we put our name behind it that means we are attached to it.
2. "Just hire more mods."
This is easier said then done. The LoE moderation team has strict standards to ensure the quality of moderation, along with covering the legality of moderation. While LoE is a volunteer project we all do in our spare time, we still have to follow some rules set forth by various agencies, governments, and other legal bodies that help protect ourselves and you as the forum community.
3. "The chatbox is not a drain of resources or should be fixed so these issues do not happen."
The code we use for the chatbox is provided as a feature by the forum system we use. We use their code and their tools to fix issues so thus we are limited by what they offer.
4. "That's what programmers are for."
The programming team is currently working on the game itself. All teams are constantly busy with other projects to help create the game you are all waiting to patiently to play.
5. "No chatbox will mean the death of the site and community as a whole."
The chatbox is a form of instant communication between members of the site. You can also communicate with people using the other functions of the forum such as creating a thread, or using the PM system. We offered the three means of communication to provide different options for you the forum community.
6. "The no sharing of Skype names or other personal information on the forums rule is too strict and is not what the brony community or this community is about."
This rule was put in place to protect members of the forum and community. Some people do not want their person information put on the forum or in a public place, while it is their choice to put it there some don't want it at all. This rule was put in place to protect members of the community from harassment, bullying, and threats. This was also put in place to help protect members of the project from the same thing. There was a case recently about a member of the community harassing and attacking members of the development team. The issue has been handled and resolved but that possibility remains. Thus to prevent these issues from becoming more and more constant and more damaging to the project or personal life of one of the team members or forum community we will continue to enforce this rule to the fullest extent of the capabilities of the moderation team.
7. "It makes it easier for spammers and other people to attack the site."
This is a true fact, while the moderation team does its best to provide coverage to all functions offered by the LoE team it is hard to catch everything. If the situation every was bad enough we would remove the chatbox to prevent further abuse of the feature.
Please bear in mind we made this decision through a cost/benefit break down of the current systems we have in place. This was done to better manage our resources so we are able to deliver a game to the fans and the community. Your continued support, questions, comments, and concerns are all being taken into consideration for the final decision.
Then why even have forums?
I've taken the time to go and count up all of the "votes" so far. Up to this post, 19 individuals have expressed an interest in the chatbox and having it come back. Of the 23 people that had expressed an opinion, 4 of them expressed that they didn't care for the chatbox. Staff members had not been counted in this study. No posts after this post have been counted in this study. Roughly 82.6% of individuals in this study have expressed an interest in the forums. While in a normal study this sample size would not be large enough to be an accurate depiction, due to the size of this community, this sample size is large enough to give an accurate prediction.
Not every person has voiced their opinion on the matter.
I ask you not to speculate or guess the out come of the investigation being done by myself.
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 24, 21:47:51
Not every person has voiced their opinion on the matter.
I ask you not to speculate or guess the out come of the investigation being done by myself.
Maybe a poll about it would help? :v
There is no need for a poll. A poll does not properly convey the opinions of others. I want to hear just and informed opinions of the community before a final decision is made.
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 24, 21:52:35
There is no need for a poll. A poll does not properly convey the opinions of others. I want to hear just and informed opinions of the community before a final decision is made.
Ok then, I guess I can just wait for the decision :v
I'll try to put this politely, but even at my job, it's not something that we water down.
In regards to staffing, when understaffed, the answer is to staff. It's a volunteer group. Unpaid! Okay. That tells me ( I've been in management for a LONG time now) that you don't have to worry about overhead in terms of your personnel budget. You theoretically have an infinite supply of personnel at your potential disposal according to the math.
The player base here is small, but the brony community is HUGE. Surely there's somebody, at least a few, who are capable mods. Many of us here WANT to help, and we want this game to happen in a bad way. Has there been consideration towards moving to a more open source to try and get things completed quickly? Are there plans to monetize the game that make open source impossible?
eat popcorn and lurk
(http://th08.deviantart.net/fs70/200H/f/2014/316/7/b/happy_popcorn_eating_pinkie_pie_by_dulcepanque-d866ycr.png)
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 24, 22:01:20
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 24, 21:52:35
There is no need for a poll. A poll does not properly convey the opinions of others. I want to hear just and informed opinions of the community before a final decision is made.
Ok then, I guess I can just wait for the decision :v
Once that
decision will be made I will be already far away, Ryo you were wrong that people will return, and I will proof you wrong.
It has been a good times here spending with friends and finding new ones, but 99% of the times there is always and ending to a good things and loss of friendships.
Delete my account, if you don't know how to find a way how to, because I'm not coming back.
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 24, 22:20:39
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 24, 22:01:20
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 24, 21:52:35
There is no need for a poll. A poll does not properly convey the opinions of others. I want to hear just and informed opinions of the community before a final decision is made.
Ok then, I guess I can just wait for the decision :v
Once that decision will be made I will be already far away, Ryo you were wrong that people will return, and I will proof you wrong.
It has been a good times here spending with friends and finding new ones, but 99% of the times there is always and ending to a good things and loss of friendships.
Delete my account, if you don't know how to find a way how to, because I'm not coming back.
I am sorry you feel that way, we do not delete accounts.
I assure you all a final choice will be made by the end of business tomorrow evening.
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 24, 22:26:27
Quote from: blackhawk on 2014 Nov 24, 22:20:39
Quote from: wingedpineapple on 2014 Nov 24, 22:01:20
Quote from: Perry The Pony on 2014 Nov 24, 21:52:35
There is no need for a poll. A poll does not properly convey the opinions of others. I want to hear just and informed opinions of the community before a final decision is made.
Ok then, I guess I can just wait for the decision :v
Once that decision will be made I will be already far away, Ryo you were wrong that people will return, and I will proof you wrong.
It has been a good times here spending with friends and finding new ones, but 99% of the times there is always and ending to a good things and loss of friendships.
Delete my account, if you don't know how to find a way how to, because I'm not coming back.
I am sorry you feel that way, we do not delete accounts.
I assure you all a final choice will be made by the end of business tomorrow evening.
I appreciate your concerns, but that wont get me back here, I wish you best luck to flow as the river goes further, I hope that you will succeed your project and launch it up, but it will have to go without me
.
No chatbox is very disappointing. Its the only thing that kept me here. Without it this place is just another boring forum place I'll never visit. Very disappointing for a guy like me who almost never posts anything in forums. I find forums so outdated and boring.
I made some nice friends because of the chatbox too. Something that will never happen in a form thread for me.
I hope to see/hear that the chatbox will return at some point. I would hate to see this forum fallow the path of a different one that also took out its instant chat function.
Guess It's back to just looking at the main site for news updates.
The chatbox is back for now.
This would explain why I logged in and saw the homepage start out with the chatbox. It was a great surprise.
To be honest I think that the chat is not that essential to the forum as some make it to be, it's true that a few months back i used to be more in the chatpod that in the treads but now I barely use it and I'm still as active as before in the forum, I use to frequent another SMF and in the 3 years that i have been on there they never put the chatbox and it never changed the amount of users, but what happens here is that ppl got used to the chatpod here and now most see it essential.
My thoughts...
Pros
-As many ppl said in the chatbox is easier to meet New people randomly without having to bombard them with PM's
-It keeps the forum from flooding with the usual "when is the game gonna come out!!??"
-Real-time chatting is a pro on itself since you don't have to wait until a post reply to keep chatting and if that were made on a thread it will flood real fast.
Cons
-27/7 Moderating, this is time and human resources consuming at the same time, having to watch over the chatbox to avoid rule-breaking behavior is stressful and time-consuming, since the ppl behind this project are volunteers they have their own lives too and I seriously doubt that they want to spend all their time watching over the chat box.
-is usually attacked by spammers and trolls, some ppl that come to break the rules just for the fun of it, they come to harass other chatbox users, ask ages, email address, etc.
-having to watch over dangerous links to other pages, vids, imgs, songs, etc that can easily be removed on a thread.
But at the end that's just my opinion same as many others that may share or negate my point of view. But there's something I'm sure of, removing the chat will not mean the end of the forum activity, just of some of their members.
Got told by a friend that the chatbox is back, and I replied him honestly, that wont change my mind.
Only miracle can change my mind, but I doubt that it will happen.
The chatbox is only back temp.
If I am informed by any team member that the behavior of the chatbox is nothing less then excellent then it will be removed.
Well, lost another friend. Good going. :l
Quote from: Invultrois on 2014 Nov 25, 08:56:44
Well, lost another friend. Good going. :l
IF only there was a way to help and give every pony what they want
Ok guys Listen up because serious Ryo moment
The chatbox is back on the front page for now
However do still voice your opinons on the matter, because all the info we can gather helps
So Good things, Bad things, experiances, Unbiasd reviews
What can be done to inprove, what should be left alone you get the gist
Just a quick update for everyone.
We moderators have had a discussion about this issue, and that the consensus is that while we continue to consider possible updates to the way the chatbox works, however, unless general behavior on the chatbox improves it will be removed permanently.
Quote from: Racquel SilverSpirit on 2014 Nov 25, 09:10:01
Quote from: Invultrois on 2014 Nov 25, 08:56:44
Well, lost another friend. Good going. :l
IF only there was a way to help and give every pony what they want
Burnout is a sad thing, no?
It seems chat is becoming a bit more edgy then usual (at least the usual I'm used to). Even if chat gets approved to stay, the kind of behavior on chat would need to simmer down a bit for the staff not to take it off for a different reason.
As Remedy stated above the chatbox's remaining on the forums is subject to the behavior of the users on it.
however, unless general behavior on the chatbox improves it will be removed permanently.
I wasn't aware that it had been bad o.O As far as I know, people have behaved
The behavior problem I've detect is limited to just one or two individuals and has only popped up after the chatbox was added again. Now that I think about it, part of the reason the disappearance of the chatbox was such a problem for me was because it was sudden. It would be the same if you started an open server weekend and didn't tell anyone and people missed it. It was a shock and because it was a shock people didn't take it as well as they would have done if you had given advanced warning. Of course, I still don't want to have the chatbox go away, but atleast I'm a bit more calm about it now that I have a warning as to it's next disappearance.
Just a little addition to the numerous opinions and voices in wake of the recent knowledge that the chatbox could very likely be shut down.
When I began making friends in LoE, I eventually discovered the chatbox. I thought it was a very nice addition; a place where people could go to make new riends and discuss whatever they wanted (within reason of course). I could go there to talk with friends, and I know a certain someone who I know would more or less visit often to talk and socialize. I've witnessed some interesting topics, I've witnessed periods of dreadful inactivity. But when it's full it sparks with life. I've seen a large group of friends forged from the chatbox up, for which I was briefely a part of; People who could very well not be together if it weren't for the chatbox. However, I know it's dificult to do even the smallest of things on this site. A game, of such quality that is completely free and funded either out of pocket, by donations, or both, cannot be easy to maintain. Yes, the chatbox requires resources to keep up. time and money. And I know, for I have seen, that there are people who will not obey the rules, who will defy the peace, and must be taken care of, and that doing so requires more time and money I'm sure. I understand you are very hesitant to keep it up, and that it is both expensive and tedious to care for. But I know just how much this chat must mean to some people. Even for me, someone who rarely visits it nowadays, I am saddened to see it go. I can't stop you from removing it, it's the team's decision. I simply wish to be heard, to make any attempt I can to keep that which has done so much, even i it might not seem like it. From what I understand, you may keep it up if behavior in the chat is extremely... well, behaved. However I'm honestly not sure whether or not it can be accomplished. So, whatever you choose, know this above all: this chat means something to some people. So, if you disable it permanently anyway, I understand. Costs are high, and manpower isn't unlimited. But should you choose to keep it, then you will have my thanks, along with the thanks of the chatbox community. Thank you for your time, moderators...
~5th Shadow
I just wish to point out cost/money has nothing to do with the decisions we are making, but thank you for your input! :D
Quote from: LaptopBrony on 2014 Dec 01, 00:27:29
I just wish to point out cost/money has nothing to do with the decisions we are making, but thank you for your input! :D
Actually it does a little, chat service runs, it uses RAM and CPU so which means it makes RAM and CPU power which is reproduced into heat and there is goes, it burns a little electricity, it could be like 5 dollars a month or less lol, but still it's a good point.
locking this up