- Saint
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- Exalted Mythic Member
There has been a decline in personality with the increase of members. You simply can't have 1.92 million members -and- a close-knit community.
Those members may still be here, there are enough that still enjoy the community as it used to be. Used to be. Oldschool games, little groups, helpful members... They are all still here, but the focus of Bungie right now is on the Halo series. That's all there is to it.
The games that made Bungie great in our eyes as a small(er) developer are not the games that are at the centre of attention right now. The popularity of the Halo series has brought a massive influx of people to this site and, frankly, most of them probably only came here to view their stats. Many of them are young, many of them are immature. The two words are by no means synonymous, but unfortunately idiots post junk more than mature members post interesting topics. That's just the way it is.
To have such a vast community and also keep things the way they were, to cling to the good old values, is far too ambitious. I too miss the input from Bungie staff, as equals, for fun, the updates to the community and everything else that went with a casual , talented and community-based developer as Bungie was in the "old days".
It is my opinion that of course, Bungie employees haven't changed all that much... I'm sure they enjoyed the community just as much as we did. However, they aren't working on small games anymore... they are working on the best-selling series of console games of all time, for a cash-hungry, secretive and aggressive company. There can't be the same community interacton as there used to be...
Again in my opinion, it is the refusal to realise that things have changed that is holding B.net back: It is not appropriate to have 15 moderators for 1.92 million members, no matter how much we wish it was. In addition, the fact that most (if not all) moderators don't play the games that are -now- central to Bungie very extensively means that they can't handle the arguments of the (now majority of) members that do.
15 close-knit moderators, in HFCS, recruiting other moderators on community interaction seems like a good idea. However, it has to be said that this is simply not an adequate system for such a large playerbase. More moderators, that play the games that the people on the forums do, that can interact in Halo discussions. Not enough interaction in topics? When was the last time a moderator posted in New Mombasa, or the old Zanzibar, other than to warn, lock or ban someone?
A few isolated examples spring to mind... I remember GJJ playing Devil's Advocate in an SMG/BR discussion, with a degree of success: He knew what people meant in that thread, he held his own in a difficult position, and a good debate followed. I enjoyed that thread. The mere presence of a moderator in that thread made a flame-fest waiting to happen into an intelligent discussion.
A larger number of moderators that play Halo, don't need to have extensive knowledge of Myth and Marathon and so can interact, really interact in the more unruly forums would calm those hotbeds of argument down into mere... warmbeds of discussion. More idiots would be kept out of The Septagon etc., the other moderators wouldn't be totally demoralised, disillusioned and disheartened, and maybe smaller groups would appear that didn't surge for members but fillled an active and useful role -Halo- community.
Group powers for moderators and methods of punishing groups would be more extreme but could become neccessary...
After all this rambling, it seems I don't really know where I'm going. However, a summary of the major point I feel strongly about:
The communtiy is changing. For better or worse, in the long run this hassle may result in an improvement... This is a stage of transition for Bungie, and the community has to move with it. I wouldn't want to see the Oldschoolers left behind, they don't deserve it.
The system of moderation on this site is no longer appropriate. The whole secrecy, don't ever ask to be a mod, spend all your time in groups about Marathon etc. simply won't sustain the huge number of people here! You know what? I'd make a good moderator, and I'd love to be one. I'm not a Myth connoisseur, but I have an extensive knowledge of the Halo series and I play online and interact in the community here a substantial amount. I'm always helpful and respectful on the forums, I don't lose my cool, I spell correctly and have passable grammar... All this is insubstantial though, as the system as is means that because I wouldn't have been a good moderator in the Bungie Mac era, I won't become one now. "Never ask to be a mod" is all well and good, but the system is breaking down. More Halo-savvy moderators means more control and interaction in the Halo parts of the site, and that means a better community.
The hiring of KPaul was an excellent idea, but this site does need some attention in the community areas. The moderators etc. don't really have time for this, as they are busy getting flamed in MLG discussions.
My 2¢, take it or leave it. =)