Sunday, February 1st, 2009
Issue: 111   Editor: NyxxieIn3D


Bootleggers Forum Revamp Mikamon
Early this week, the Forums of Bootleggers were updated. The layout received a change and the whole set-up of the forums was altered. The update caused quite a stir. Some people liked it and others didn't like it at all. Quotes such as “don't fix it if it ain't broke” flew over the forums, of course those were compensated by those who did actually like the update. After the initial update, several smaller ones were put in to enhance the forums even further.

The initial Forum update meant a change in layout. After a long time, the frames are back into Bootleggers. Additionally, the options to start a dice game in topics you made yourself and the YouTube bb-code tag were added. The last option now makes it possible to post YouTube movies on the forums and on profiles. A how to of both of these features can be found in a Game Forum Sticky. Also, all forums were now merged together into a large all-in-one forum. When creating a topic, one needed to select a category for the topic. Players could then filter these categories so they would only see certain types of topics.

This update was met with mixed feelings by the players. Some approved the update of the layout and most concluded that “it took some time getting used to.” Nyxxie, later supported by others, said, “you'll hate it at first. But if you give it time, you'll start to love it.” To some people's surprise, this turned out to be the case. However, despite the time that was needed to get used to it, some players still felt the forums should be separated into the three forums Bootleggers used to have.

Eventually, the suggested change was implemented. The Forums now showed three sub options: Game , Classifieds and Off Topic. When clicking one of these, the filter will simply filter out all other categories. In order to find out more about the why of the update, the Buzz contacted Sabin and asked him several things about the new forum layout.

“The old forums, although they weren't bad, did not have the flexibility and depth that we wanted to add to the forums,” Sabin said. By commenting, he responded to the players that claimed that something that wasn't broken doesn't need fixing either. Sabin further added, “The new layout includes options that could not have been possible with the old layout. The main new options are the filters, which allow people to find the sort of topic they're looking for, eliminating the things they don't really care to read.”

He also gave out the main reasons for updating the forums into their current form. According to Sabin there were four main reasons, which he all named and explained to us. “Primarily, the decision to recode the forums was a combination of a few popular suggestions that were submitted by a lot of users,” he said. “First, a lot of people missed the old frames, and wanted that to return. Second, people asked why the other forums couldn't have the same filtering options that the Classifieds had. Third, people wants to be able to Watch topics, so they don't lose them. Fourth, people wanted a new Mute system that was more fair and less-subjective, and which resulted in fewer bans.”

According to the Elite Guard, the new forum layout “makes the best of all these suggestions, resulting in a robust and easy-to-use forum where the Players have most of the control.” Sabin further added that the Elite Guard “hopes that the new Forum Rules will allow players to express themselves and communicate openly, without causing too much havoc.” In addition, the Help Desk Operators have received new instructions on how to moderate the forums. Now, they aren't expected to police the forums but to simply alter a topic's filter when they see a topic that has an incorrect one. This new way of moderating is expected to cause fewer mutes as players are only muted when they push it too far.

So far, everything seems to work “pretty well” according to Sabin. Some players still dislike the new layout, while others can appreciate it. All in all, players will just have to make the best out of it. Give the forums a new chance. Like Nyxxie said, “maybe you'll hate it at first, but if given a chance, you'll love it.”