Forum for Members Only

[The Fugitive]

I'm still having trouble seeing what this would do for the community, AH, or HTC.  Do you or the OP have stats on non subscribers posting? Is there a pandemic going on that most of us seem to miss?

Do you feel like non subscribers are taking away from your chance to post? If its about showing you're "elite" because you pay, well you get to play the game, and in the past when HTC has had a vote on new aircraft, only subscribers have been able to vote.  

I think it would cut back on a lot of the "mis-information" spread around on the boards. Too many people posting that either never have played, or haven't play in years haven't a clue as to what is going on in the game and are basing their "information" on heresay, or "fond" memories.

A possible new player reading the boards now may read some mis-information and decide this isn't the game for him. Leave the "help" open for non-subsrcibers to ask those questions they  can't find by searching  the BBS, and leave the "Oclub" open so the "quitters"  can stay in touch. The rest of the boards be be open only to those paying for a subscription. Then it would be up to those posters to post responsibly  to keep the info honest and up to date.

Of course less than 5% of the subscribers to the game post here as it is. Are the boards really a place for players to get help, or just a place to "chat it up"?

[SIK1]

What would be gained would be a clearer voice for the subscribers, currently that voice is sometimes  drowned out, diminished by the non-subscribing public.
 

In what way is the subscribers voice drowned out by non subscribers, and who is it that is not able to hear the subscribers voice?

[Karnak]

I see a lot more wrong information posted by newer players than I do by former players.  Generally, if a former player cares enough to keep posting here they were at least moderately well informed to begin with and have at least paid some attention to changes since canceling their account.  The other kind of former player posts tend to be ones looking for old squadmates and friends, posts which are unlikely to contain misinformation.

On the other hand I see a lot of the same old misunderstandings posted by new players that older players have learned the correct answers to.  Things like the collision system stand out.

For the record, I am still a subscriber, though I rarely play now, and would not be directly affected by such a change.  I am not arguing to preserve my ability to post.

[Traveler]

I think it would cut back on a lot of the "mis-information" spread around on the boards. Too many people posting that either never have played, or haven't play in years haven't a clue as to what is going on in the game and are basing their "information" on heresay, or "fond" memories.

A possible new player reading the boards now may read some mis-information and decide this isn't the game for him. Leave the "help" open for non-subsrcibers to ask those questions they  can't find by searching  the BBS, and leave the "Oclub" open so the "quitters"  can stay in touch. The rest of the boards be be open only to those paying for a subscription. Then it would be up to those posters to post responsibly  to keep the info honest and up to date.

Of course less than 5% of the subscribers to the game post here as it is. Are the boards really a place for players to get help, or just a place to "chat it up"?

5%, Please where did you get that stat?

[Traveler]

I see a lot more wrong information posted by newer players than I do by former players.  Generally, if a former player cares enough to keep posting here they were at least moderately well informed to begin with and have at least paid some attention to changes since canceling their account.  The other kind of former player posts tend to be ones looking for old squadmates and friends, posts which are unlikely to contain misinformation.

On the other hand I see a lot of the same old misunderstandings posted by new players that older players have learned the correct answers to.  Things like the collision system stand out.

For the record, I am still a subscriber, though I rarely play now, and would not be directly affected by such a change.  I am not arguing to preserve my ability to post.

Just how do you determine if the poster is a current or former subscriber?

[Traveler]

In what way is the subscribers voice drowned out by non subscribers, and who is it that is not able to hear the subscribers voice?

I think Fugitive said it best:

I think it would cut back on a lot of the "mis-information" spread around on the boards. Too many people posting that either never have played, or haven't play in years haven't a clue as to what is going on in the game and are basing their "information" on heresay, or "fond" memories.

[The Fugitive]

5%, Please where did you get that stat?

I believe that someone from HTC posted 3% once, I was being generous.

Look at the stats, the most ever on line was 351 and that was 5 years ago. Normal for a day is around 100, and I'd bet most of those are the "same ol' boys". With over 3000 active subscribers to the game, you do the math.

[Traveler]

Currently anyone can get an BBS ID and have at it in the forums.  I'd like to limit the forum area to paying members.  Anyone could read the posts, but only paying members could post.

Have at it.

After discussions here and reflection I'd like to update my request that the Help and Training and O club forum remain as is, all other forum pages be open as read only to everyone and only current valid game ID's (paid subscribers and two week trial members) be able to post.

[Karnak]

Just how do you determine if the poster is a current or former subscriber?

I've been here a long time.  I see old names who used to play a long time ago, I see mentions of thinking of coming back and such.  Having the forums closed would make it less likely that they would come back.

[pembquist]

5%, Please where did you get that stat?

tell me what happens when you click on this link... http://members.iracing.com/jforum/forums/list.page

that company has 35,000+ registered paying members world wide...mostly due to the genre. and their main website has a ton of information as well as links to videos that are informative where access to the forums for information isn't really necessary. then again there is a big staff to field questions, maintain faq's and generally keep things up to date. if you can't log in to the main members page, you can't get to the forums. considering the amount of drama that is involved from active subscribers there, i couldn't imagine what would happen with non-subscribers having access to the forums. Skuzzy does a great job of cat herding here and in the short time i've been around here the number of grievers posting crap has been manageable for ah management, but imagine if the numbers were 10 times what exists now, would any of you nay sayers be objecting to the idea of "subscribing members only"?

Ok devil, you make an excellent point that if things were completely different then they are, changing something to solve a problem that would then exist would be a good idea. On the other hand, as things actually are, I think you could make the argument that AH has a tiny player base and so any way of maintaining a connection with people who have payed and might come back or are considering paying should probably be kept instead of broken to create a perk which I don't think would really induce anybody to pay. Of course I could be completely wrong, I don't understand how anybody puts up with those games where the game is free but you buy stuff so I admit I am completely out of touch, probably why I like AH.

[muzik]

I think... [I am the only one who really gets it.]

  Fugi

5%, Please where did you get that stat?

The same place he gets all his information, LaLa land.

[The Fugitive]

You are ignoring this user. Show me the post.

A prime reason for allowing the OP's wish. While I can add them to the ignore list others still get to read the stupidity some of these people post and could take it as "gospel". Does that help the game? 

[Karnak]

A prime reason for allowing the OP's wish. While I can add them to the ignore list others still get to read the stupidity some of these people post and could take it as "gospel". Does that help the game? 

That isn't an argument for the OP's wish, it is an argument for more aggressive policing and banning by HTC.  Throwing the baby out with the bathwater does more harm than good.

[Traveler]

I've been here a long time.  I see old names who used to play a long time ago, I see mentions of thinking of coming back and such.  Having the forums closed would make it less likely that they would come back.

  The forums would not be closed, They non-paying public would be able to read all the forum pages, but only post in the Help and Training and Oclub pages.

[Traveler]

That isn't an argument for the OP's wish, it is an argument for more aggressive policing and banning by HTC.  Throwing the baby out with the bathwater does more harm than good.

But as has been stated before, HTC doesn't have the resources to aggressive police the BBS.  For the most part the BBS is a non-revenue generating enterprise.
I think their time is better spent on real gaming issues.
 
Perhaps a solution a wish that the BBS ID, be linked to the  Active Member ID and provided somewhere identifying the status of the poster.  I'd like to know when I read a post if the person posting is a paying member.