How Do You Find New Threads On Giant Bomb?

Before ya'll start hollerin'

yes I know an iteration of this thread already exists but I wanted to create a more comprehensive poll, and a more recent set of results as well. Allow me to explain:

Recently there have been complaints from some users that any threads outside of general discussion or off-topic aren't going to get as many hits as they would do otherwise. Personally I doubt this is true, as many of the most popular threads exist outside General Discussion already. Hell, most of the super-popular threads are in the Hamburger forum. My own belief is that if a thread is worth finding then people will find it. But that's just me :D

So anyway I wanted to see how people actually use the various features of the Giant Bomb forums to locate the threads they use. Here are you options:

"Forums" with default settings - Newest topics.

"Topics From Your Favourite Forums" stuff on the frontpage.

Selecting which board you want from the "Main Boards".

"Popular Boards"

Using the forum preferences to filter out the forums you don't want.

Going to an individual wiki and then checking the threads tagged to that page.

Favourites, yo!

Or some other way. Please share!

I usually just browse the most recent topics on the forum page, it's only if I'm after something in particular that I will do a search or go to a specific game/concept/e.t.c page. and that is once in a blue moon at best. 

I look at the bottom of the home page @ www.giantbomb.com

I always use the default forums button.

I voted H., because I use both the topics from my favorites as well as just clicking on the "Forums" tab.

1. Click on Forums

Usually the front page, but I sometimes use the forum tab.  Also I go to a game's page and click the forum tab at the left if I want to talk about a specific game.

I look at the bottom of the home page @ www.giantbomb.com

Whatever is there that takes my fancy, I'll take a look at it. I never go look through a forum like General or off-topic. I do look through specific game forums, though.

So basically I see what's trending at the time on the front page otherwise I'll seek out a specific forum (ie. Super Street Fighter IV)

I rarely look beyond the front page, and when I do it's usually using the search function to see if a topic has already been created.

A is A-OK for me. 

I go down the main page, look at the topics and decide

Front page most of the time. Only go to specific game boards when I'm playing a newer release and interested to see the conversations going on about it.

I go down the main page, look at the topics and decide

"Where can I try to be the most helpful, but inevitably be misunderstood and hated"

B, mostly.

When I got more time then just a few minutes I just click on Forums and browse away.

Favs, yo!

@SlashseveN303 said:

I go down the main page, look at the topics and decide

"Where can I try to be the most helpful, but inevitably be misunderstood and hated"

agreed :Dyou suck. actually...i meant me also :(

I voted H. I check the "topics from your favourites" if there is nothing there that interests me i go a layer deeper into general discussion etc.

Usually through the Newest Topics on the main Forum page, but I like to check out the Starcraft II forums as well.

I just go to the forums main page to see the newest topics. Been doing the same since 2008, old habits die hard.

Mostly some of option A, teensy bit of B, and a good chunk of F.

I rarely look beyond the front page

I just use the main forums page normally. I'll occasionally use the favourite forums feed on the front page if I'm on the front page. But this poll isn't really targeted at me, so I'll just shut up.

I guess I always assumed that everybody mainly did what I did. Click on the 'forums' button and just start scrolling.

I occasionally use the Forums button but most of the time I just check the most interesting topics on the Front Page and go with that,

It's a mixture of the usual forum tabs and going to individual wiki forums to check out their wares for me. I agree that popularity is hardly dependent on where you stick your thread; I've written my fair share of fairly loony threads that have wound up in the netherworld and still get a healthy reception from them. It's all about being a good writer, knowing how to engage your audience, and for blog posts in particular, knowing how to market your work to your followers. People can and will notice your stuff if you're willing to spread the word. Same applies to most any other piece of content you can upload onto this site, too.

I have no idea how to forum other then looking at all newest topics.

Given the Forum-button a poke works like a charm :)

B, unless I want to look at the forums for a specific game.

Kind of a combination of A and E. I use the Forums tab and browse the recent threads, but I do have non-game-related boards (Off-Topic, Bug Reporting, Quests, etc.) turned off. That way my view of the forums is more streamlined towards game-related discussions. I've always meant to make more use of the Favourites function, but that would entail Favouriting all the boards for games, franchises, concepts, etc. that I'm interested in, and then keep it updated to reflect all the forthcoming releases I'm interested in. Given it's very rare that I'm deliberately active on the forums, that seems like a lot of effort for minimal returns.

Reccent topics, easy

I click "Newest Topics" but I also filter a lot of forums from the mix.  

Well, 2, but I don't have any forums actually selected as favourites, becuase that feature sucks when you do it.

I just hit the Forum button and see what's new. I'll occasionally go to a games wiki page and then to it's forum if I want to discuss a certain game.

Oops I voted wrong - I meant to vote B - front page, which is what I mostly use.

And I can tell you what I don't use: Individual forums for 2 year old games, AKA the graveyard. When you make a thread about a 2 year old game, you just have to pray a mod doesn't move it there, where it will die in less than 5 minutes. Sweep does this a lot and it's a real kick in the balls when it happens.

Front page, just see what's new. Haven't even selected any "Favourite Forums" cause I'm scared it'll mess up that feed, so I just get everything new there.

@Grissefar said:

Oops I voted wrong - I meant to vote B - front page, which is what I mostly use.And I can tell you what I don't use: Individual forums for 2 year old games, AKA the graveyard. When you make a thread about a 2 year old game, you just have to pray a mod doesn't move it there, where it will die in less than 5 minutes. Sweep does this a lot and it's a real kick in the balls when it happens.

Dude, this whole poll proves that the vast majority of users (over 80%) search for threads directly through the frontpage or newest topic boards, which work regardless of the wiki each thread is associated with. So your beef with threads being sent to "The graveyard" is completely unfounded.

B. I know I'm missing a lot of content, but man, Whiskey Media forums are hard to browse sometimes.

Honestly I click on the top right forum button instead, since it tends to bring up new threads compared to general discussion which does not.

@Grissefar said:

Oops I voted wrong - I meant to vote B - front page, which is what I mostly use.And I can tell you what I don't use: Individual forums for 2 year old games, AKA the graveyard. When you make a thread about a 2 year old game, you just have to pray a mod doesn't move it there, where it will die in less than 5 minutes. Sweep does this a lot and it's a real kick in the balls when it happens.

Dude, this whole poll proves that the vast majority of users (over 80%) search for threads directly through the frontpage or newest topic boards, which work regardless of the wiki each thread is associated with. So your beef with threads being sent to "The graveyard" is completely unfounded.

I just sorta' stumble upon them *chuckles*

@Grissefar said:

@Sweep said:

@Grissefar said:

Oops I voted wrong - I meant to vote B - front page, which is what I mostly use.And I can tell you what I don't use: Individual forums for 2 year old games, AKA the graveyard. When you make a thread about a 2 year old game, you just have to pray a mod doesn't move it there, where it will die in less than 5 minutes. Sweep does this a lot and it's a real kick in the balls when it happens.

Dude, this whole poll proves that the vast majority of users (over 80%) search for threads directly through the frontpage or newest topic boards, which work regardless of the wiki each thread is associated with. So your beef with threads being sent to "The graveyard" is completely unfounded.

Yes that's what I say. After 5 minutes, it if off the front page and way down the Latest Video Game Topics and it will never be seen again. Unless it is on the General Discussion or Off Topic or LA Noire, where it will be bumped again in an hour.Anyways, just be more sensitive when you move peoples threads. It hurts real bad when you do it.

But it's only a relatively small amount of people browsing General or Off-Topic individually, as this poll proves?! All threads have an equal chance of being bumped when they are in the Newest Topics board, which is where the vast majority of people browse for new threads.

You think it hurts real bad when I move your threads, wait till you see what happens when I have to start repeating myself...

I clicked B but I meant to click A.

I almosty exclusively stick to what is on the front page. I don't spend a huge amount of time seeking out threads. It's whatever is going on at the time.

@Grissefar said:

@Sweep said:

@Grissefar said:

Oops I voted wrong - I meant to vote B - front page, which is what I mostly use.And I can tell you what I don't use: Individual forums for 2 year old games, AKA the graveyard. When you make a thread about a 2 year old game, you just have to pray a mod doesn't move it there, where it will die in less than 5 minutes. Sweep does this a lot and it's a real kick in the balls when it happens.

Dude, this whole poll proves that the vast majority of users (over 80%) search for threads directly through the frontpage or newest topic boards, which work regardless of the wiki each thread is associated with. So your beef with threads being sent to "The graveyard" is completely unfounded.

Yes that's what I say. After 5 minutes, it if off the front page and way down the Latest Video Game Topics and it will never be seen again. Unless it is on the General Discussion or Off Topic or LA Noire, where it will be bumped again in an hour.Anyways, just be more sensitive when you move peoples threads. It hurts real bad when you do it.

But it's only a relatively small amount of people browsing General or Off-Topic individually, as this poll proves?! All threads have an equal chance of being bumped when they are in the Newest Topics board, which is where the vast majority of people browse for new threads.

You think it hurts real bad when I move your threads, wait till you see what happens when I have to start repeating myself...

H is the classiest option.

Scroll to bottom of front-page; click on interesting and/or controversial topics.