@sweep: You’re right Sweep. My main point was the social features that have been left or forgotten over time. Then I was waiting for my dinner and kind of rambled and started making points in ways I didn’t intend.
There definitely is a validity to how the Giant Bomb system is set up. And I think the mods do a great job here at keeping things civil and productive (and I was SO glad when Hizang was banned, lol). But I think without the social features, the forum system kind of feels like the comments on AV Club or something, more than a living discussion. One they broke the social aspects it kind of lost what I liked about the GB community. I still like and care about the users I know and recognize, and that’s not to be dismissive of the users I don’t - just that as you said you get out what you put in, and I don’t put in as much any more.
I’m just trying to articulate why I kind of transitioned elsewhere. I still pop in every now and then out of nostalgia and cuz I love the site and it’s community for the most part. But there is clearly something missing for me with the forums. Sorry if I came off as too harsh. Appreciate what you and the others do around here and I’ll always be around to dip my toe in, but I think some kind of change or overhaul will be required for me to get as invested as I once was. Plus I’m in my 30s now, so I may just be an old man yelling at clouds, who can say?
@mezza: Ah yeah. That was probably her. That was her first time in America actually, and she blogged about it. Way back in... 2012 I guess.
Then the next summer we did a road trip to San Fran and met up with the Giant Bomb crew... the first day they went back to the office after Ryan’s death. It was a bizarre and horrible time. We left some flowers on Ryan’s desk. Had some drinks with @rorie.
A year after that we were engaged, and got married last summer. I’ll always be a paid supporter of this site because it played a large part in the amazing life I have now. Plus, Vinny.
I don’t think moderators are the problem. There just isn’t much in the way of “community” features on the boards. This place was way more active and had “personalities” and “characters” (good and bad) back when you could friend or follow other users. I think the buttons are still here but the utility has changed. I think when hey changed the boards?
Now I don’t say, “Oh, there is Hizang with another annoying non-sequitor poll” or “Hey, what is Hampst3r doing”, I go into a topic and just see individual comments on that topic from names I don’t recognize either shouting into the void or arguing/insulting each other.
There isn’t much flow to the conversation, it’s like comments on an article. And most people aren’t memorable or consistent enough to be familiar to other users.
Due to these facts, I think the level of discourse is naturally lowered.
Less sense of community here. Years ago they had a “follow” or friend system that helped (I even met my now-wife on these boards!), but now there just aren’t many active users and when there are (aside from a few that post prolifically), I never get to “know” any of them or remember their past posts/opinions.
I don’t think board community is a priority for the site any more. They haven’t added new features or updates to the boards in years.
I also feel like Era tends to have a wider range of people and an older, more-educated average user.
Listen, I know that apps are not a priority for Giant Bomb. I'm aware that most of the ones that do exist are fan-made.
I like using my Roku to fall asleep to Giant Bomb. The app had a big update a while ago, but that update was never really "complete" and it's been pretty broken and in shambles ever since. At this point, I don't expect much from it but one thing could make these apps instantly better:
Giant Bomb Infinite.
Anyone know who works on these apps, and if they have any plans to support GB Infinite? Or (long shot here) any chance that GB or CBS will create one of their own? I have a Steam Link in my bedroom, so I guess long term I could just that to watch GB content in my bedroom, but it's less than ideal.
Anyone else use these apps and GB Infinite winds up being supported?
@the_greg: They fixed almost all of the jank and frustration that were the cause of people’s ire in Far Cry 2. The systems in the game weren’t the problem. The constant relentless enemies, being unable to ever set foot on a trail without being attacked, and the glitches were the problem. It just wasn’t fun traveling anywhere in the game. Everything else was great.
But if it makes you feel better by calling them Nintendo fanboys, by all means. Traveling in Zelda was fun. Traveling in FC2 was a nightmare.
@panfoot: Kim Jong Un has been receiving his daily reports from sleeper-cell Drew anyway, so he’s DEFINITELY seen Metal Gear Scanlon and is aware of Dan.
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