AT Database?

This is going to sound stupid and totally ghetto, but we could have a forum section that was nothing more than the title of a game, and then opinions/reviews/whatever inside. Sort that forum alphabetically. Don't see an AT game? Add it. If you don't have a review, start a thread to get others opinions on the game.

Even then, though, you've got to wade through the discussion to see what's what. I don't know if that helps or not.


That's totally a hack job, though. But it might help with what you're talking about, Steve.

Interesting idea. All I know is that if I were a newby that happened upon your site, I would have no idea what this site was about and what games you were talking about.

I would like to see something up front that explains who you are and show me these are your games.

I would be happy with just original F:AT member reviews (Barnes, Skeletor, etc..)and a ranking system based on their reviews of these games. People who disputed this could debate it in the forum

I think some kind of really informal thing like that is a good idea, actually. We don't have to have some really extensive database, just a listing of games with some basic info and staff opinions on each. Like Steve says, any disputes can be taken into the Forums...

Rankings blow

Can you have subcategories? For example, instead of "AT Database?" being a thread, could it be a folder containing threads? That would allow you to separate reviews, variants/house rules, game write-ups, etc.
Alternatively have each new thread with a predefined prefix: "rev", "var", etc.

In my day I just looked at the back of the box to decide if i wanted a game or not.

Mr Skeletor wrote:

Rankings blow

I agree.

As soon as you have rankings, then you have endless discussions about statistical methods, shilling, anti-shilling, who paid for the game and who didn't, the nature of bias and objectivity, whether an off-hand joke about a game is equivalent to commercial sabotage, and coprophagy. In other words, all discussion will be about the site itself. We won't be talking about games, anymore. The other site jumped that shark, already. If F:At is going to jump a shark, it should at least find a new one to jump.

I agree with Steve, though, that it's hard for a casual browser to understand what this site is about. Right now, you sort of have to be a refugee from BGG to join this party.

1) I think Steve is on to something regarding non-BGG veterans finding this site. There needs to be some sort of a way to orient people to what this site is about a bit more.

2) Rankings may not be useful--but separate folders about each game--with reviews may be helpful --- far more than separate folders on new AT games and old AT games. The danger in that approach is dispersing discussion for such a relatively small community in a way that no larger discussions can happen. As it is now, I just go to the "all discussions" tab to see what's current rather than the folders. But as the site matures---separate folders would be helpful so that useful past discussions wouldn't be essentially lost (as threads are often now on BGG and other sites)

3) I'm not a tech guy--but I know that there's various ways to put things into the site guaranteeing that certain key words will be picked up by google in any searches. Doing that for key Fantasy Flight Games or any other the key "canon" AT games would help draw people here.

A good alternative would be doing something like the consimworld.com forums. It's nothing more than a thread per game, and it seems to work well enough.

Consimworld wouldn't be my model. I know people who have been there forever are comfortable with it...but unless you've followed a thread from the beginning of the discussion, it often gets so long and so bogged down that finding information that you're looking for is impossible.

A variety of threads under a larger heading folder for a game might be better.

I think I finally see where this discussion is going...even though we have moved away from trying to be the "anti-BGG", there's still the matter of how right now you do sort of have to come through the funnel of BGG to get to this place and have any sort of context on what's going on.

In the middle of preaching to the choir, we've left the congregation behind.


Let us talk it over to figure out how it can be done. I'm OK with cribbing the thread idea for games. The one thing I don't want is for us to get mired in "THAT DOESN'T BELONG ON THIS SITE!" or something like that or petty bickering over gamer opinions.


We are in the process of scheduling more game reviews, so look for that part of our content to increase. That should help.


I guess that's why the "Modern" and "Classic" AT buckets aren't seeing too much use...too broad, without focus.


Good ideas, we'll see where it goes from here. Thanks for the feedback, everybody...personally, I appreciate it.

vialiy wrote:

A good alternative would be doing something like the consimworld.com forums. It's nothing more than a thread per game, and it seems to work well enough.

&

Merkles wrote:

A variety of threads under a larger heading folder for a game might be better.

I think this would be a solution: Use the Consimworld structure and add another layer for each game. For example: "Commentary", "Rules" and "General Discussion".

How about:

Alphabetical Index Page, linked to -> All games starting with that letter page, linked to -> Game Homepage, containing:

basic information.

a rating (sucks, OK, great) from registered F:A users.

links to any other info on F:A about it (reviews, discussions, photos).

any external links.

Southernman wrote:

How about:

Alphabetical Index Page, linked to -> All games starting with that letter page, linked to -> Game Homepage, containing:

basic information.

a rating (sucks, OK, great) from registered F:A users.

links to any other info on F:A about it (reviews, discussions, photos).

any external links.

So long as people don't bitch about some of the external links, I like it. CSW's forums are great, but man they're a bitch to hunt through.

--Mike L.

no ratings! If you got something to say, put it in the comments.