Shoutbox Sunday

[Guest]

From today the Shoutbox will only be fully available to VIP's. The only exceptions to this will be for special events (such as a draft or cup draw) and from September 9th until the end of the regular season it will be open to all for Shoutbox Sunday.

[HLR Milo]

Hmmmmm, I like the shoutbox.

[Sither03]

Hang on a minute, what happened to all members being treated the same whether you were a VIP or not? And now your saying that people that don't/can't donate money to the site can only see and use the shoutbox on a Sunday?

This seems very much like an us and them thing going on.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Sither03

[helimachoptor]

awww shoutbox is awesome but also agree with sither

[Goldenbeard]

The reason for it is a good one, mate.

The shoutbox is a very short term thing. If you're not online at the time, then you miss the conversation, especially with everyone having access. There are a lot of good conversations in there that would be better posted on the board for everybody to see when they log in - something that isn't happening at the moment.

It is being opened up for Sundays as that will obviously be the peak 'chat' period during the season, with people able to talk about the games etc.

[helimachoptor]

Beard i see your point, but there's also a lot of non Madden related chat in there, yesterday myself and future i think chatted for a couple of hours about spread betting, we wouldnt do that in a thread on the forum

[Goldenbeard]

Beard i see your point, but there's also a lot of non Madden related chat in there, yesterday myself and future i think chatted for a couple of hours about spread betting, we wouldnt do that in a thread on the forum

Why not? That's what the Sports Bar is there for?

It's the forum that keeps the site alive, not the shoutbox.

[Guest]

To re-enforce what Goldenbeard has said ...Shoutbox has nothing to do with if you're a VIP or not. Yes it's a good feature, but it's started to distract from the main content of the site.

There are more posts in the Shoutbox than in the forums. The forums aren't being used because people are using the Shoutbox. Discussion gets lost in there and when your forums go quiet, you start to lose the community aspect of the site. When that goes, it signals the death knell for the site as a whole.

There is so much more to offer here than just the shoutbox. Forums; blogs; news articles. How many times have I seen people asking where can I find whose coach of this team, where can I see the draft order; try the home page, there's plenty there.

If you've got something to say, post it, write about it, blog it - the more you do, the more interaction you'll get. The more active the site is, the better chances we have of keeping people interested and the better chances we have of attracting new users.

Forum content gets picked up in internet searches, shoutbox content doesn't

Beard i see your point, but there's also a lot of non Madden related chat in there, yesterday myself and future i think chatted for a couple of hours about spread betting, we wouldnt do that in a thread on the forum

As for this .. this could have been an thread that involved loads of people and not just a few

[helimachoptor]

The majority of topics there are NFL related, the shoutbox can go off on a tangents in a way a thread never will

[Sither03]

So basically what your saying is, if your a VIP your free to use the shoutbox and speak about what you want and, if it happens, go off on a tangent talking about other stuff non NFL related, but if your not a VIP you must use the forum/blog to talk about non NFL related stuff and for conversations to go off on a tangent talking about non NFL related stuff.

Still smacks of us and them.

[Guest]

Use the forums for whatever you like - post it, talk about it FFS. As long as it's not racist / offensive / pornographic etc, you're fine

The majority of topics there are NFL related, the shoutbox can go off on a tangents in a way a thread never will

Then start one, you might be surprised

[ThePacFish]

As long as it's pornographic you're fine

[Hey Mcfly]

Not that I want this but I understand why the decision has been made, but have the admin thought about removing the shoutbox completley?

Is there a way of removing it and just having a feature where you can have 1 to 1 chats with people, like a mini shoutbox?

I would love this feature as its so easy to use when your trying to sort out trades etc

[ThePacFish]

Is there a way of removing it and just having a feature where you can have 1 to 1 chats with people, like a mini shoutbox?

I would love this feature as its so easy to use when your trying to sort out trades etc

The PM system is a lot like what you're describing mate. Works like facebook messenger. (If I'm pointing out the obvious I apologise, don't know how much you've used the PM system since the move?

[Hey Mcfly]

Yes i think ive used it but if im remember correctly the Reaper website had a great feature were you could select a member and they will be asked if they want to live chat and a little box opened up at the bottom of the screen and you could chat away while looking around the website still.

All i remember was it was superb when talking about trades etc

[ThePacFish]

I'd imagine that would be a mod we'd need to install. Drop Davo a PM and ask about it mate. If anyone knows he will

[Guest]

Yes i think ive used it but if im remember correctly the Reaper website had a great feature were you could select a member and they will be asked if they want to live chat and a little box opened up at the bottom of the screen and you could chat away while looking around the website still.

All i remember was it was superb when talking about trades etc

Different forum software - we use IP Boards, he didnt

[Ben SFC]

Aw

[Sneddon11]

Im not too bothered although did like it. Out of interest do all Commisioners and Staff get to view it even if you don't pay? Not sure if you all pay anyway but would seem unfair if you dont...

Also, will it be open during Primetime games such as Thursday and Monday nights?

[DavoteK]

Lads, your community is non existant outside of the shoutbox and the league forums.

In a day, the FIFA forum will post more than you guys do in 2 or 3 weeks and they have less league members than you guys do.

No shoutbox at all over there.

Majority of posts on the FIFA forum will come from guys on their phones. No shoutbox access if you're on a phone, so even while they are out and about, they can keep up with whats going on.

On here, unless you're in front of a laptop or desktop, you are out of the loop and missing out on the alleged community which means being holed up in that shoutbox all day long.

You've got the numbers, you've got the personalities, but you've gotten lazy and reliant on a shout box to converse.

[helimachoptor]

Is this purely about getting more posts so google sees the site as bigger?

[Sneddon11]

I get shoutbox on my phone.... (well did anyway)

I do think more ramblings should be posted in blogs, read some great ones like Heli's and Rigglar's.

[helimachoptor]

I get shoutbox on my phone.... (well did anyway)

I do think more ramblings should be posted in blogs, read some great ones like Heli's and Rigglar's.

You can get it, if you choose the full version of the site.

I use the mobile version of this site and the irish franchise site (no shoutbox there)

[DavoteK]

Is this purely about getting more posts so google sees the site as bigger?

f**k google and any other search engine or ranking system.

This is a Community orientated website with leagues thrown in to facilitate it, but the community aspect has been ignored, this is a way of re-directing some of that shoutbox interaction to forum interaction.

I post a thread up, EVERYONE thats registered can read it. They can ALL reply to it, and I can get a few page discussion, which sometimes can go off on a tangent (best kinds of threads IMO, but I digress), but its interaction.

I post the exact same topic up in the shoutbox, only the people online in the next 5 to 10mins can read that and respond to it. Someone changes the subject a bit, my discussion is gone. Hell, if I'm after some advice on something, I go get a drink, someone answers it, then two people post like f**k in there, I come back, its gone. I can re-ask it, but the guy that originally answered it has gone for a s**t and likes to read for a good hour while doing so, so I'm s**t out of luck.

I do think more ramblings should be posted in blogs, read some great ones like Heli's and Rigglar's.

The blogs are always awesome from the Madden guys. More pls.

[helimachoptor]

Davo i see where you guys are coming from 100%, i just love the shoutbox.

Probably the reason why i prefer it and dont post a whole lot outside of my own league is that i post quite a bit on the Irish site and dont have the time to get into deep conversations on here, the shoutbox allows me to dip in and out

[Goldenbeard]

Im not too bothered although did like it. Out of interest do all Commisioners and Staff get to view it even if you don't pay? Not sure if you all pay anyway but would seem unfair if you dont...

Also, will it be open during Primetime games such as Thursday and Monday nights?

I'm pretty sure all staff are also vips, but even if not, we would need access to moderate it.

As has been said, the while point is that the stuff that goes on in the shoutbox is great, so we want everyone to be a part of it

[DavoteK]

Davo i see where you guys are coming from 100%, i just love the shoutbox.

Probably the reason why i prefer it and dont post a whole lot outside of my own league is that i post quite a bit on the Irish site and dont have the time to get into deep conversations on here, the shoutbox allows me to dip in and out

Cool, but then everyone else is doing the same, so there's no actual discussion on the forum because people look in the shoutbox first, like you. Not a bad thing, its what your used to.

Eventually, it'll be a case of jump on here, click View New Content, see a thread title that takes your fancy, see the ENTIRE discussion and throw a post in.

Everyone will start doing that and BOOM, interaction.

Then when Sunday comes around, something to look forward to, shoutbox open, banterfest over NFL. Its something we can promote as well.

[Sneddon11]

I guessed you'd all be VIP's but wanted to see. Agree that many a time i've posted something in shoutbox gone to check Ravens news come back and complete different subject.

[Guest]

Forums - Forums - Forums

They aren't just for gaming and sport and NFL chat. Post it. Whatever you want. Most will take off, some won't.

Not many here will know what I am referring to here, but what we need is another Igor Stravinsky

[DavoteK]

IIIIIIIIIIIIIGOORRRRRRRR

And a Chris Coughlin, although we argued with him

You'll unearth your own Igor in here I'm sure.............God help you

[Guest]

IIIIIIIIIIIIIGOORRRRRRRR

And a Chris Coughlin, although we argued with him

You'll unearth your own Igor in here I'm sure.............God help you

f**k me, Davo, we do have limits you know.

p.s. just sent WWW my old copy of Madden

[DavoteK]

I love Chris. He is awesome. But he does love a bit of drama.

White WeeWee would cause chaos on here

[DeadPoetUS]

Now I can't post random comments about f**k all without starting a thread?!

Sounds like a solid idea dudes

[Sither03]

I guess no one bothered to think that maybe the forums are quiet because it's the offseason.

And in my opinion, this absolutely smacks of an us and them mentality working it's way through the site and I don't like it!

[Ben SFC]

I think it's a good decision to be honest. As much as some off topic stuff does get spoken in it, there was a hell of a lot talked about the new Madden game and connected careers in the past day on it. I think it needed to be shut. I don't know of still giving it to VIPs is right when you say that they wouldn't get special treatment but the closing of it is proper order imo.

[DeadPoetUS]

I guess no one bothered to think that maybe the forums are quiet because it's the offseason.

And in my opinion, this absolutely smacks of an us and them mentality working it's way through the site and I don't like it!

[Guest Futureheads]

Think your reading to much into tbh, i use the chatbox and post im VIP so I maybe biased. When we were on Immature Gamers this was the case I wasn't VIP there so never got access to the chatbox. TBH it didnt affect me then, mainly as there were tons of posts to catch up on when u popped on. As a VIP i certainly dont look down at any non VIPs we choose to donate or not, if the chatbox was removed for us it wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

I do think and im sure admin will the chatbox should be open for key days like say NFL sunday or when Madden 13 is released as it allows all to discuss. But i think by posting in the forum it allows you to learn what people are like maybe more, as sometimes stuff can be taking out of context in there.

[DavoteK]

I guess no one bothered to think that maybe the forums are quiet because it's the offseason.

Incorrect.

I brought this up about a week ago and the guys deliberated over it for a while before coming to this, the correct decision IMO.

My reasoning was based on facts. One of the admins claimed it was off season and that was why there was a lull, to which I showed him some stats.

Shoutbox, 20K+ shouts in there, since the last update I did when I cleared the shoutbox posts table.

Forum, since April, 15k posts, when you take in to account that accompanies 3 leagues, thats quite pitiful.

Your post stats are pretty much flat since May/June, so if you've been in a lull, its been nearly 3 months worth of lull.

In contrast, sibling site, FIFA League Manager, less managers than coaches on here, been running 2 weeks, 15k posts already.

And in my opinion, this absolutely smacks of an us and them mentality working it's way through the site and I don't like it!

Are you for real?

If it was us and them there'd be special perks for drafts, team selections, rule exemptions etc etc etc.

As it stands, they are purely getting access to a tumbleweed shoutbox (and trust me, it will be dead, except for a few staff discussions and a few pleasantries, but they all know how important the forum is) for ensuring this site stays running, because 90% of the people ain't in there anymore and will be posting on the forum, or like you, shouting from your soapbox

[helimachoptor]

Davo, I wouldn't bee too keen on comparing us to Fifa, Madden is a niche game Fifa is not.

[DavoteK]

Davo, I wouldn't bee too keen on comparing us to Fifa, Madden is a niche game Fifa is not.

You have more coaches than they do, you have a longer established community than they do, you have more leagues and you guys are bat s**t crazy about the game you play.

The game is irrelevant.

I'd use the same comparison if it was the other way around.

[Hulldolfan]

It seems like the plan is working by the amount of posts in this thread

[DavoteK]

It seems like the plan is working by the amount of posts in this thread

[helimachoptor]

You have more coaches than they do, you have a longer established community than they do, you have more leagues and you guys are bat s**t crazy about the game you play.

The game is irrelevant.

I'd use the same comparison if it was the other way around.

Agreed, the game is irrelevant, but i am very surprised we have more members than a Fifa league!

[DavoteK]

Agreed, the game is irrelevant, but i am very surprised we have more members than a Fifa league!

Kept it small league sizes over there, because of the league structure we use. Its worked well.

Thing is, I throw out comments like they are doing this and this and this better, I'm doing the same with them with regards to getting their games played on time, commitment to the leagues and so on, which they could learn a lot from this place, which is because of the two boss men on here, Riggs and Berty and what they've instilled into the PFL and MaddenPFL over the years.

But yeah, I just like playing sibling sites against each other

[Sovoth]

*runs outside to see if the sky is falling... Disappointed to see it isn't!*

[Sither03]

Incorrect.

I brought this up about a week ago and the guys deliberated over it for a while before coming to this, the correct decision IMO.

My reasoning was based on facts. One of the admins claimed it was off season and that was why there was a lull, to which I showed him some stats.

Shoutbox, 20K+ shouts in there, since the last update I did when I cleared the shoutbox posts table.

Forum, since April, 15k posts, when you take in to account that accompanies 3 leagues, thats quite pitiful.

Your post stats are pretty much flat since May/June, so if you've been in a lull, its been nearly 3 months worth of lull.

In contrast, sibling site, FIFA League Manager, less managers than coaches on here, been running 2 weeks, 15k posts already.

Are you for real?

If it was us and them there'd be special perks for drafts, team selections, rule exemptions etc etc etc.

As it stands, they are purely getting access to a tumbleweed shoutbox (and trust me, it will be dead, except for a few staff discussions and a few pleasantries, but they all know how important the forum is) for ensuring this site stays running, because 90% of the people ain't in there anymore and will be posting on the forum, or like you, shouting from your soapbox

I'm not on a damn soapbox! I'm just giving you MY opinion. I'm not asking you to agree with it just listen to it and give me an answer which you have just done.

I just think that it would have been nice (since it effects everybody on the site) if you would have gotten everyone's opinion on what they thought about getting rid of the shoutbox, if the reasons for it had been outlined beforehand rather than just getting rid of it and then saying "it's gone now and tough! but you can still use it on what we (the admins) deem a special occasion, then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Oh and my posts have been low because 1 - I've been busy working and 2 - most of what I have to say doesn't need a whole forum post!

and (again this is just my opinion) FIFA league manager is a new site (I'm assuming) so new posts are always going to be higher because it's new and shiny.

Listen, I'm not trying to p**s people off. I just think you could have gone about this a better way rather than saying we're admins so f**k the rest of you which is the way it's come across to me. (again, just my opinion)

Anyway rant over, must get back to work. Now lets forget this and move on.

[trooper uk]

ALOT HERE LIKED THE SHOUT BOX I DID WHEN NOT BANNED

[DavoteK]

I'm not on a damn soapbox! I'm just giving you MY opinion.

Careful you don't get a nosebleed up there fella

I'm not asking you to agree with it just listen to it and give me an answer which you have just done.

You didn't ask for an answer, you made a completely horse-s**t accusation (MY opinion that its horse s**t btw ) and tried to drum up a rabble and go around with pitchforks and torches and lynch an admin or three.

I responded to that and shot it down. Simples.

I just think that it would have been nice (since it effects everybody on the site) if you would have gotten everyone's opinion on what they thought about getting rid of the shoutbox, if the reasons for it had been outlined beforehand rather than just getting rid of it and then saying "it's gone now and tough! but you can still use it on what we (the admins) deem a special occasion, then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

If I had my way, it would been removed completely, but the admins made a judgement call to keep it for things like gameday. Good shout by them IMO.

While they will try and get you involved on decisions, if they did it for every single thing they did that effects the community, they'd get nowhere. Thats why they are the guys running it and make those decisions. Sometimes unpopular, but the s**t you were throwing about "us and them", utter bollox of the highest order. Pure sensationalism and completely unnecessary.

Oh and my posts have been low because 1 - I've been busy working and 2 - most of what I have to say doesn't need a whole forum post!

No worries, we all have commitments.

Whole forum posts? Doesn't have to be war and peace each time

and (again this is just my opinion) FIFA league manager is a new site (I'm assuming) so new posts are always going to be higher because it's new and shiny.

This site is not even half a year old, so when it was new and shiny, what happened? Oh, thats right, shoutbox open from day one

Listen, I'm not trying to p**s people off.

Well, you did, so I'll probably p**s you off with my responses. Go about your responses/opinions a bit better, and I'll tread on egg shells a bit more, but you give it the big 'un, so will I

I just think you could have gone about this a better way rather than saying we're admins so f**k the rest of you which is the way it's come across to me. (again, just my opinion)

Again, thats why they are admins. They are steering the ship, responsible for 5 leagues, a large community and will do whats best to ensure its longevity. They are looking at the bigger picture, when you posted your responses, you weren't, which is why they are the admins, and you aren't.

Now lets forget this and move on.

Works for me.

[Burnzee Boyee]

Your all lucky I stepped down

[Sneddon11]

If you want less posts in the shoutbox, ban Pacfish, he had like 2500 before it was removed...