TBT's website

[Mino]

Needs a content overhaul.... With the exception of some reviews and Bulerias' articles (except the one with his first reactions to the VC content, what was that? Anyways....) are the only things really worth reading, and these supposed writers for AC content haven't been doing anything, as I see little to no worthwhile content on a supposed AC fansite, other than news (provided by Bulerias). How long is this "coming soon" placeholder going to last?

I think what the staff needs to do is stop work on the website for a while, and get a member base that's much larger than what we have now. A nice-looking website is great, but some half-assed content and forums that are at best description slow. The fact that I've been effectively gone for 19 months and come back to find only about 4 new active members is not something to be proud of. I thought for sure after NSider was closed that TBT would be flooded with new members, and then some real and necessary expansion might occur. But as far as I can see, that didn't happen.

What I am trying to do here is invite the staff (Bulerias and Storm) to pay less attention to their website, which looks great (for what there is to see on it) and pay more attention to the forums, which is more than the heart of TBT, it really is everything from the neck down in the body of TBT. I know you may think that because you got press access because you knew someone who knew someone, that doesn't mean that your website is in the pantheon of the top Nintendo websites, it's not. I'm not expecting it to be, but if you want TBT to thrive and have Nintendo-related discussion on a daily level, there are several things that both the staff and members need to do.... I hate lists in paragraph form, so I'm going to make a bulleted list.

- Actively search for new members.
There are so many sites out there with people looking for a place to discuss and get help with Nintendo games and Animal Crossing, too (not so much the AC part, but....) There are so many forums out there with those "advertisements" sections, for whatever reason, which leads me to my next idea....
- Give TBT's forums a makeover.
I hate to say it, but TBT's forums may be suffering from an overload of forums. I suggest removing TBT Forum Store, merging the basement into Off-Topic, cleaning Bell Street (and possibly removing it, it isn't that useful to anyone). Advertisements should go, especially if you're trying to look like a professional (for lack of a better word) website. I may also rework the Animal Crossing section
- Start discussions and hold events.
Events that require high amounts of user participation are quite popular on internet forums. Start some interesting discussions yourselves (talking to the members here), and staff, hold some interesting (and new!) events.
- Be nice to new members.
I may be a bit of a hypocrite for saying this, but honestly we need to be a bit more supportive of new members.
- Once the forums are active(er).
Then, find some people who have good writing skills and start making content, perhaps the best place to start is Animal Crossing on the Wii. This may very well be a great MMO simulation game, and it may become massively popular among the large relatively softcore/younger Nintendo demographic.

I know that this website has potential, and I'm sure some of you have realized it. We've lasted this long, haven't we? I think it's time TBT really took off.

Please, please, for my sanity's sake, read this entire post before posting.

 

[Jeremy]

I know you haven't been around... but this has been discussed many times before. I can't go into much about the future of TBT without giving anything away that's not suppose to be public information, but you're also missing the fact that AC is at a dead point now, so it's not as simple as you make it sound. Also, the option that some people point out, turning TBT far away from AC, is not possible.

I hate to say it, but TBT's forums may be suffering from an overload of forums. I suggest removing TBT Forum Store, merging the basement into Off-Topic, cleaning Bell Street (and possibly removing it, it isn't that useful to anyone). Advertisements should go, especially if you're trying to look like a professional (for lack of a better word) website. I may also rework the Animal Crossing section

Removing TBT Store... yes, it's not doing so good... we're waiting for ZB though. You can say "oh, we've been waiting for a year." Well whatever... I'm not scrapping the whole thing for a date we don't even know about. Maybe if I knew it wasn't coming for another year it would be something to think about.
Mering Basement into Off Topic... it's something to consider, but it would probably make Off Topic more cluttered.
Cleaning Bell Street: probably, but that's not going to affect much. That's more of a project to be done in free time since it's not as important.
Advertisements... maybe, maybe not.
AC section... not until AC Wii is closer. It's OK for now.

- Be nice to new members.
I may be a bit of a hypocrite for saying this, but honestly we need to be a bit more supportive of new members.

This is something the members have to worry about, not the staff (staff aren't mean to new members). I can name a bunch of individuals who need to work on this... ( but won't


)
edit: ok, you are a hypocrite here




Anyway - to sum things up... Work was being done until school started. It went down to almost nothing. It has started again (slowly) about a week ago.

edit: You also exaggerated a lot in this thread. "one for 19 months and come back to find only about 4 new active members" Oh, and TBT was "flooded" when NSider was closed. However, it was only by people who knew about TBT at the time (obviously... can't come here if you don't know about). And that was only NSiders from the VC board who knew bul (which didn't last long once NSider2 and other boards opened). Unlike the Crossing Guardian days, the AC people at NSider didn't know about TBT... none of us were there.

 

[Mino]

I know you haven't been around... but this has been discussed many times before. I can't go into much about the future of TBT without giving anything away that's not suppose to be public information, but you're also missing the fact that AC is at a dead point now, so it's not as simple as you make it sound. Also, the option that some people point out, turning TBT far away from AC, is not possible.

I know it's been discussed, I even brought it up a long ways back. But, you say it isn't supposed to be public information, that makes me think you don't even know where you're headed and have no plan for the future. I see you've admitted that AC is at a dead point, so my question is this: why is it impossible to steer away from being an Animal Crossing website?

Removing TBT Store... yes, it's not doing so good... we're waiting for ZB though. You can say "oh, we've been waiting for a year." Well whatever... I'm not scrapping the whole thing for a date we don't even know about. Maybe if I knew it wasn't coming for another year it would be something to think about.

I don't care if ZB will come out with a more convenient store system, the reality is that the whole concept isn't realistic. Electronic money for electronic items... there isn't any real reason to bother with fake money, is there? It is essentially just play money. The only thing that really gets sold often is graphics, and that's done virtually for free. So why not scrap the pointless system and just add a requests section? The graphics request threads can all be moved. We've already discussed this in another thread.

Mering Basement into Off Topic... it's something to consider, but it would probably make Off Topic more cluttered.

Besides merging it, I recommend decreasing the boards in both. There is no need for any more than three forums. One for Off-Topic, one for Wishing Well (chat and forum games) and one for the arcade and live chat (if the live chat is even worth keeping, it's clumsy and there are faster ways to chat, more convenient ones, too).

Cleaning Bell Street: probably, but that's not going to affect much. That's more of a project to be done in free time since it's not as important.

I'm sure you've had some free time, virtually all boards there are inactive.

Advertisements... maybe, maybe not.

That's your choice, but it doesn't really do you or most members any service.

AC section... not until AC Wii is closer. It's OK for now.

But it's ambiguous. At the very least have one for each game and get rid of the general board....

This is something the members have to worry about, not the staff (staff aren't mean to new members). I can name a bunch of individuals who need to work on this... ( but won't


)
edit: ok, you are a hypocrite here

That wasn't directed at you, this whole thing was directed at everyone. If this was only for the staff, I'd PM it. And to be honest, I don't actually think I'm a dick to new members, but in case someone thought I was I said I might be to avoid confrontation (even though I enjoy it so much).

Anyway - to sum things up... Work was being done until school started. It went down to almost nothing. It has started again (slowly) about a week ago.

That's good, if it is really true. But I also want to say, it's the little things that are important, too. But, a forum overhaul is long overdue, as you've had about the exact same layout for a year now.

edit: You also exaggerated a lot in this thread. "one for 19 months and come back to find only about 4 new active members" Oh, and TBT was "flooded" when NSider was closed. However, it was only by people who knew about TBT at the time (obviously... can't come here if you don't know about). And that was only NSiders from the VC board who knew bul (which didn't last long once NSider2 and other boards opened). Unlike the Crossing Guardian days, the AC people at NSider didn't know about TBT... none of us were there.

I was gone essentially for 19 months, and I really only see 4 (possibly less, you all changed your names on me) new people. I realize the place was "flooded" (your words) with NSider people, I can see it, as I see the threads they've made (they're still only on the second page, even at this point). But I think it was possible to retain them, and the AC theme might have been the problem. I may be wrong, but an active Nintendo forum was what they were looking for. I understand that we weren't active in the AC:WW forum so those from there must have missed our site (I don't blame you, the magic [lame, I know] of the Crossing Guardian wasn't transferred there).

 

[Jeremy]

So according to you, if I say something is a secret I must by lying or confused? And once again, I can't say anymore on a lot of these things (and I'm not confused here... or lying...). Wait a month or so.

I was gone essentially for 19 months, and I really only see 4 (possibly less, you all changed your names on me) new people. I realize the place was "flooded" (your words) with NSider people, I can see it, as I see the threads they've made (they're still only on the second page, even at this point). But I think it was possible to retain them, and the AC theme might have been the problem. I may be wrong, but an active Nintendo forum was what they were looking for. I understand that we weren't active in the AC:WW forum so those from there must have missed our site (I don't blame you, the magic [lame, I know] of the Crossing Guardian wasn't transferred there).

This was similar to an MSN conversation we had where I gave you a long list of members you never heard of. And actually "flooded" was your words. And if they were looking for a plain Nintendo forum... sorry but TBT was not founded as NF/TNZ. NSider was going to be a big place for TBT, like it was back in the day... but I obviously had no idea it was going to be closed. One of the projects (that I've now been sitting on since school started) would have done wonders for TBT at NSider as well. But we probably shouldn't worry about that because according to several rumors there will be a replacement early next year.

Another thing you should remember is that we don't have all the time in the world: we work around our schedules, not around TBT (not such thing as paid staff here...). And for those "events" you were talking about... If staff don't currently have time to start one, anyone else can talk to an admin about doing their own.

 

[Justin]

IF never said they would make a money and shop mod for ZB, your just guessing.

I'll lol if it comes out and there's no money thing.

 

[Jeremy]

IF never said they would make a money and shop mod for ZB, your just guessing.

I'll lol if it comes out and there's no money thing.

No, it's official. It has been confirmed by the owner and creator, his brother, the two other admins, as well as the support and community staff. Wow were you wrong <.<

However, they said it's not coming at the same time ZB is released because it'll be an optional modification. (which is why you didnt see it in the beta and thought it didn't exist)

 

[Mino]

So according to you, if I say something is a secret I must by lying or confused? And once again, I can't say anymore on a lot of these things (and I'm not confused here... or lying...). Wait a month or so.

OK, I'll wait, but here's the thing: you're talking the public, but the public is really only about 15 people, so why bother? I'm glad you have things in the works, but don't pretend that we're some underlings happily waiting for the next great thing to come out of your brain. Let's be honest here, we're not big enough that you should be keeping massive secrets, but whatever, moving on....

This was similar to an MSN conversation we had where I gave you a long list of members you never heard of. And actually "flooded" was your words. And if they were looking for a plain Nintendo forum... sorry but TBT was not founded as NF/TNZ. NSider was going to be a big place for TBT, like it was back in the day... but I obviously had no idea it was going to be closed. One of the projects (that I've now been sitting on since school started) would have done wonders for TBT at NSider as well. But we probably shouldn't worry about that because according to several rumors there will be a replacement early next year.

Yeah, that list contained 4 people I hadn't heard of before, so why even bother referencing that? You are right, I did say flooded and forgot I did, but I meant flooded in the present sense, not the past. TBT may not have been founded as NF (I won't comment on TNZ, that was founded for other reasons), but that doesn't mean we can't change. And don't rely on internet rumors that NSider will come back, that's just irresponsible to your member base. It's your job to help TBT to expand. I understand that you're busy, but that doesn't mean we can't do things now to expand TBT....

Another thing you should remember is that we don't have all the time in the world: we work around our schedules, not around TBT (not such thing as paid staff here...). And for those "events" you were talking about... If staff don't currently have time to start one, anyone else can talk to an admin about doing their own.

Trust me, I understand that. The only reason that I have time to get 200 posts or whatever crazy amount in the past week is because I've had pink eye, which happened to reinfect my eye for the second time this morning. But remember I'm not only talking to you, right? The members should do those things, a good recent example being Justin's AC trivia.

 

[Jeremy]

See this is where you make no sense and why it's hard for me to simply take you serious in these sorts of discussions...

For whatever reason, no matter what someone says about TBT's future (specifically the staff), you think they are overreacting, or exaggerating, or making something up, or making a big deal out of nothing. For example, I say I can't tell "the public", meaning everyone else who is not a part of the private things (staff), and you say, "don't pretend that we're some underlings happily waiting for the next great thing to come out of your brain". Where are... what? What? Or out of no where the other day on MSN... you say that TBT is not a huge website and that we think it is. As if we think it is the next IGN or something. Which was later funny because you then changed your mind? I'm not sure what you were doing actually...

Let me remind you that 1) You haven't been here for a while. 2) You don't know what's going on behind the scenes (oh, but please don't call me Sergey Brin for saying "behind the scenes"... is that too much as well?) 3) Some of these topics are old 4) We might just know what we're doing here

 

[Justin]

I see you've admitted that AC is at a dead point, so my question is this: why is it impossible to steer away from being an Animal Crossing website?

Answer.

 

[Jeremy]

I see you've admitted that AC is at a dead point, so my question is this: why is it impossible to steer away from being an Animal Crossing website?

Answer.

I already answered that, please don't skim if you're looking for something specific...

 

[Justin]

I see you've admitted that AC is at a dead point, so my question is this: why is it impossible to steer away from being an Animal Crossing website?

Answer.

I already answered that, please don't skim if you're looking for something specific...

I'm not skimming. I do not see it.

 

[Jeremy]

I see you've admitted that AC is at a dead point, so my question is this: why is it impossible to steer away from being an Animal Crossing website?

Answer.

I already answered that, please don't skim if you're looking for something specific...

I'm not skimming. I do not see it.

... sorry but TBT was not founded as NF/TNZ.

You can wish you joined TBT as a generic Nintendo forum all you want... but guess what. I can also wish that Nintendo makes telephones, but that doesn't mean they'll do it.

 

[Justin]

I see you've admitted that AC is at a dead point, so my question is this: why is it impossible to steer away from being an Animal Crossing website?

Answer.

I already answered that, please don't skim if you're looking for something specific...

I'm not skimming. I do not see it.

... sorry but TBT was not founded as NF/TNZ.

You can wish you joined TBT as a generic Nintendo forum all you want... but guess what. I can also wish that Nintendo makes telephones, but that doesn't mean they'll do it.

How is that an answer to the question?

 

[Mino]

I'm going to agree with Justin, you really never answered the question.

Why can't we steer away from Animal Crossing? Saying because that's not how we started is no reason at all.

 

[Tyler]

I think we should focus on both, as the site is a gateway to members for the forum. IMO, it shouldn't be up to the staff to advertise, but the members if we really wanted new members. And we don't want to go out advertising everywhere to make our selves look like a bunch of morons.

And for steering away from AC would be a moronic move IMO. I've said this more than once, but it's nice to stay with your roots. If we get rid of AC, and ACWii comes out we'll be taking a massive hit, and the staff would be kicking them self in the *CEN-1.01-SORD*.

I have to leave for school in a minute, so I'll post my thoughts in depth when I get home.

 

[Mino]

If AC for the Wii is a big hit, so what? It won't be popular enough. And why bank TBT's future success on a game that doesn't even have a release date?

 

[Micah]

Mino has a point.

 

[Justin]

Exactly, we don't even have a 08 date even confirmed and absolutely no info on it besides MMO and a few tidbits.

 

[Bulerias]

I already made my opinion clear about the shift to a more general Nintendo focus, but for SOME reason, I've been keeping awfully quiet lately.....

 

[Mino]

I already made my opinion clear about the shift to a more general Nintendo focus, but for SOME reason, I've been keeping awfully quiet lately.....

Is it Mario Galaxy?