- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Wuyie
I would like to see the site open up and allow more none Halo related things because it seems that alot of pple on here know each other and generally enjoy alot of the same stuff...however I dont see that happening as Bungie tends to control its forum page...Tokyopop publishes manga but is interested also in promoting the "manga lifestyle" and all things manga related, whether it be games, art, clothes or what have you...Bungie doesnt seem to be goin that route...
I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I think you're going about it the wrong way.
I did in fact look up Tokyopop so that I could have some foundation to make a point on. My point is that yes, although a site like Tokyopop does offer you a wealth of options, its scope is broad and its audience varied. To a degree I'd say they offer too much granularity in their choices; does the community need or benefit from separate forums for "Films and Television", "Music", "Novels", etc. when a simple "Manga in Multimedia" (or some other applicable title) would do just fine and allow all users interested in those topics to stay in one general area? Bungie doesn't seem to think so, at least in terms of their own products. That's why we don't have individual forums for each level of campaign or multiplayer, etc.
I noticed you talking about Bungie controlling its forum (as well as your comments about blogs, etc.) Again, you're right; this isn't a blog, but I think you're misunderstanding what B.NET is actually for. This site is a Bungie fan-site (albeit one maintained by Bungie themselves) for people who are interested in the company and the games they've produced. It has always been and remains clear on that point, and is organized and controlled as such. Bungie has no requirement to "open up" and allow non-Halo related things; quite frankly, they do anyway. The Flood is for general nonsense, and there are boards for discussion of other older Bungie games (such as gnop, Marathon, PID, Myth). You have all the options you need to discuss anything appropriate to this site's purpose.
Tokyopop keeps coming up in your examples of a "good" website and forum set up; assuming I know nothing of the site or anime, manga, and so on, Tokyopop fails immediately on loading. What is it? Where do I go? What do I do? Why should I care at all? Is this a company site? There's SO much immediate content, and even more further in that it reminds me of a child's toy chest; full of shiny, colorful things but haphazardly thrown together. And I imagine that as busy as the site is in terms of content, it's not easy for non-broadband users to view it comfortably.
You also made comments about this site not having a search feature until recently; I have to ask, how many times have you really used it? Or will you ever? Is it such a critical feature to your navigation and enjoyment of B.NET that the site should be criticized for getting it now, or another site like Tokyopop should be held up as a comparison for a "good" site because they had it earlier?
[Edited on 9/8/2006]