Why are newcomers not "sticking"?

[SchaffinOSX]

You know, this forum doesn't have enough thread makers. We need to encourage people to make threads and others to reply to the threads.

Also, this site needs something more . . . interactive. The giveaways, contests and things like PSU Write army are good, but it needs something else. The old forum I was at had a BIG RPG game and whenever members posted, they got money. It needs something big and fun.

I have a question: is it wise to add new things to a site as it becomes more active, or do you add things to make it more active? I have an idea, and I guess you could say it's shooting in the dark.

Why not have a gamer profile like some other sites? It could list all the games, systems, and etc a person has.

I am, and always have been, wary of adding new things to a site in order to increase activity. In my opinion, adding things such as games takes the focus away from the discussion and towards the game. I realize that such games would be fueled by the discussion, but more and more often such things seem like a shift away from a discussion to something else. We're on this forum because we want to discuss games. We don't come here to play games. I don't, at least.

I'm not saying the idea is a bad one. In terms of increasing activity, it's a damn good one. But I'm wary of the forum moving in that direction, a concern I tend to be alone on.

As for your second idea, I like it. We don't want to become too much like Playfire, though, unless we're sure that we can outdo them in terms of what we do. We would need to make sure that the transition is smooth, though. We don't want another catastrophic vB4 upgrade-like situation.

[The Black Wolf]

I agree with you about adding a game to the forum. I wasn't really suggesting doing that, but using the game as an example.

I am glad you like the gamer profile idea.

[hood]

I just don't think there is enough content to keep new users busy. This forum is kind of boring I'm only entertained when I argue with fear. I think it would be cool to start a psu clan something like gtplanet has. Car forums like my8thgen vwvortex ect they have a communtiy vibe I think that if we start from there you will see more people who join stay. Then naturally content will flow into this site because it will give gamers a home no matter what games they play. I don't think we get as much coverage for specific games like other sites do, we only section off the most popular games.

[reasonable_doubt]

I see newcomers come and go on this site and forums. They register, post a bit, and then don't blossom into active members. Why is this?

because more than half of those members account are from engage.

[The Black Wolf]

I just don't think there is enough content to keep new users busy. This forum is kind of boring I'm only entertained when I argue with fear. I think it would be cool to start a psu clan something like gtplanet has. Car forums like my8thgen vwvortex ect they have a communtiy vibe I think that if we start from there you will see more people who join stay. Then naturally content will flow into this site because it will give gamers a home no matter what games they play. I don't think we get as much coverage for specific games like other sites do, we only section off the most popular games.

I definitely agree with this post. That's the reason why I made a thread about making a newbie section where they could post intro threads and read important stickies.

[tigerty2]

i work 5 days a week kids/wife sometimes you have so much going on you forget .the one thing i don't like is when you start your own question every time you respond it counts so when you look at responces you may go back and forth with one person and it will say you have 20 replies you will think you have 20 different responces from people but its only you and one other person. is there a way that you can be alerted by email or text when some one respond to your questions it keeps you involved, interested more traffic and faster responce to questions

[AnimeMario]

I've been visiting this site and forum for a couple years now, and even though I made an account like a year ago I haven't got round to posting much. I can't speak for every newcomer like me but I think it's due to lack of familiarity to the whole thing. This is the first forum I've signed up to with the intention of posting and having discussions, but I just don't know where to start.
Do I introduce myself?
Do I make a thread about something?
Or do I just jump straight into a discussion?
I don't think the existing members are a problem, no one is rude or anything but to newcomers like me it still feels a bit intimidating.

[F34R]

I've been visiting this site and forum for a couple years now, and even though I made an account like a year ago I haven't got round to posting much. I can't speak for every newcomer like me but I think it's due to lack of familiarity to the whole thing. This is the first forum I've signed up to with the intention of posting and having discussions, but I just don't know where to start.
Do I introduce myself?
Do I make a thread about something?
Or do I just jump straight into a discussion?
I don't think the existing members are a problem, no one is rude or anything but to newcomers like me it still feels a bit intimidating.

Everyone was new at some point. Just jump right in with both feet. Do all the above... Intro yourself in the intro thread. Create a thread about an idea or discussion that interests you; or if that's already made, join in the discussion.

[AnimeMario]

Everyone was new at some point. Just jump right in with both feet. Do all the above... Intro yourself in the intro thread. Create a thread about an idea or discussion that interests you; or if that's already made, join in the discussion.

Ok thanks, i'll do that.

[Blacksite]

Usually its just PS3 fans being punished.

Maybe the PS3 fans need to stop posting with the impression that they can get away with anything simply because they're posting on a PlayStation-centric website. I don't know if you guys have noticed but other sections of the forums like the Nintendo and PC section are pretty much dead and it's a damn shame. You are only driving the rest of the community away when you try and convince others that this website belongs to a specific group of people.

[F34R]

Maybe the PS3 fans need to stop posting with the impression that they can get away with anything simply because they're posting on a PlayStation-centric website. I don't know if you guys have noticed but other sections of the forums like the Nintendo and PC section are pretty much dead and it's a damn shame. You are only driving the rest of the community away when you try and convince others that this website belongs to a specific group of people.

+rep /applause

[Yuuichi]

Maybe the PS3 fans need to stop posting with the impression that they can get away with anything simply because they're posting on a PlayStation-centric website. I don't know if you guys have noticed but other sections of the forums like the Nintendo and PC section are pretty much dead and it's a damn shame. You are only driving the rest of the community away when you try and convince others that this website belongs to a specific group of people.

Yeah it hurts the multi plat people, especially when they want to talk about a game on that system and get trolled.

[Xelios]

i work 5 days a week kids/wife sometimes you have so much going on you forget .the one thing i don't like is when you start your own question every time you respond it counts so when you look at responces you may go back and forth with one person and it will say you have 20 replies you will think you have 20 different responces from people but its only you and one other person. is there a way that you can be alerted by email or text when some one respond to your questions it keeps you involved, interested more traffic and faster responce to questions

I hope you post more often. I like your avatar.

[Acid Snake]

Maybe the PS3 fans need to stop posting with the impression that they can get away with anything simply because they're posting on a PlayStation-centric website. I don't know if you guys have noticed but other sections of the forums like the Nintendo and PC section are pretty much dead and it's a damn shame. You are only driving the rest of the community away when you try and convince others that this website belongs to a specific group of people.

You sir, are absolutely correct. Even if this forum is mainly for PS3 owners, everybody should be welcome to join. That's why the other sections are here to begin with.

[gangsta_795]

I think the main problem is that the new members don't fell welcome here and the older members, no offences, don't do much much to help that. Even I faced the same problem in the beginning and just browsed through the threads instead of posting in them because I always thought that some older member, who has more knowledge/experience than me in gaming, would tell me to shut the fuck up.

[Xelios]

I think the main problem is that the new members don't fell welcome here and the older members, no offences, don't do much much to help that. Even I faced the same problem in the beginning and just browsed through the threads instead of posting in them because I always thought that some older member, who has more knowledge/experience than me in gaming, would tell me to shut the fuck up.

Shut the fuck up, you don't know why the community is leaving.

I kid, I kid

You're so right about that part though haha.

[gangsta_795]

Shut the fuck up, you don't know why the community is leaving.

I kid, I kid

You're so right about that part though haha.

You justified what I said though.

[Nitey]

Is it safe to assume that 'most' people that do register on this forum are PS3 gamers? If so, then I'd have to say that the 'atmosphere' in quite a lot of the threads (especially as of late) arent very attractive for any newcomer (ps3 gamer?) to freely discuss in. Puts me off, atleast

People also derail threads a lot with the usual shit, atleast in the ps3 discussion section

[adierolfe]

Is it safe to assume that 'most' people that do register on this forum are PS3 gamers? If so, then I'd have to say that the 'atmosphere' in quite a lot of the threads (especially as of late) arent very attractive for any newcomer (ps3 gamer?) to freely discuss in. Puts me off, atleast

People also derail threads a lot with the usual shit, atleast in the ps3 discussion section

This.

Personally, I joined for PS chat. However at the minute there's more chat about xbox/PC. Plus not many to choose from using tapatalk.

[gangsta_795]

This.

Personally, I joined for PS chat. However at the minute there's more chat about xbox/PC. Plus not many to choose from using tapatalk.

This forum is not exclusively for PS gamers. There are a lot of people who own more than one console and would love to have a respectable discussion about the other consoles that they are in possession of. That does not mean that they do not belong here or that they should go look for some exclusive forums for their consoles.

[Xelios]

You justified what I said though.

Oh come on, you know it was bound to happen haha.

[gangsta_795]

Oh come on, you know it was bound to happen haha.

Has always been happening. Ever since I told Google chrome to 'remember my password for PSU.com'.

[Cuguy]

My take on this is pretty simple and has been said before.

Our threads are hostile to the point where people don't want to jump in because we have too many members who are more worried about attacking each other and towing the company line than they are about engaging in active discussion.

We are adding new features and forum stuff in order to make the site more attractive to potential new members. Sad thing is, established members usually reject these things, so visitors see this as disorder and probably don't want to stick it out. They don't realize we are growing as a site, and such going through some growing pains, but to them it just seems like things are broken and in a state of argument.

I will keep an eye on this thread, as there is some good discussion here!

[gangsta_795]

My take on this is pretty simple and has been said before.

Our threads are hostile to the point where people don't want to jump in because we have too many members who are more worried about attacking each other and towing the company line than they are about engaging in active discussion.

We are adding new features and forum stuff in order to make the site more attractive to potential new members. Sad thing is, established members usually reject these things, so visitors see this as disorder and probably don't want to stick it out. They don't realize we are growing as a site, and such going through some growing pains, but to them it just seems like things are broken and in a state of argument.

I will keep an eye on this thread, as there is some good discussion here!

Many congratulations, you just solved this thread!

EDIT : What's with this 'are you sure you wan't to leave this page' ?
Must be the double post cause

[T0PGUN]

I attack old members just as much as new members, no discrimination from me.

Also... Fuck the Xbox!!