News Reporting Poll, Take 2

[MonkeyBoy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: What's the point?

I haven't even touched upon the "WotC product schedule" and "upcoming D20 products" lists, each of which leads to a reviews page. The old site format had the upcoming products in a sidebar; the new site has links to your product catalog and the other information - the stuff that those links are supposed to lead to - is lost.

Oi, that's annoying. I expect it from the WotC or Monte's site, not a community site. It's like Dragon doing a Forgotten Realms special when the FRCS came out.

Aye; the site is _just starting_ to turn into "My best mate has just released XYZ, please buy it...from me." There used to be a veneer of objectivity, but its wearing off, sadly.

I mean to say that the feel of the site has changed from a news site towards (not yet fully to) an advertisement.

 

[The_Old_one]

I don't think that is true, or fair MonkeyBoy- Morrus is one man doing an excellent job with little in return save ad revenue, shop profit and our kudos. Nobody I know can live on appreciation, and the man needs to make a living doesn't he? The objectivity is still there, but we've all gotten so used to Morrus' style and personal likes that we can see it in his reports...my tuppence for waht it's worth- not intended to be a flame or whatnot

 

[evildmguy]

Several days missed

I don't mind the new style but I still voted against it.

I did so because if I miss several days, as I did due to a business trip, then reading through that much is very tough, compared to the summarized version.

Yes, if I see it every day, it isn't bad and it quite nice to read. Even trying to read two days worth, though, gets to be tough.

(I personally find myself skimming it and looking at the links at times instead of reading everything.)

Just my 2 coppers.

edg

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What's the point?

I mean to say that the feel of the site has changed from a news site towards (not yet fully to) an advertisement.

The problem with this conclusion is that if you look at the forums and the reviews- you will see unfavorable comments of Natural d20 products are not censored.

And all publishers are welcome to plug their products on the forums.

I have not noticed any shift in attitude of the site since the formation of Natural d20.

FD

 

[JeffB]

I hate to say it, but ditto with me.

Me Three

 

[collin]

Convinced

I must admit I was not enthused about the new format, but having gotten used to it over the past several days, I'd say it's fine. I haven't really missed the bulleted items like I thought I would.

Keep up the great work,

Collin

 

[Jhyrryl]

Community

Ketjak's points about community are actually important to the success of your site. You've taken what used to be a news page, and turned it into a personal blog. Blogs don't build communities - at best they generate a collection of groupies.

You've got about 20% of your respondants saying that they can no longer use your site effectively. Chances are, that's 20% of your current community that will start to disappear. Now look at comments to the effect of "I liked it, after I got used to it." For new users of your site, the "wall of text" is a barrier - the first impression is "this isn't useful to me."

Current "customers" will go away, and you've added a barrier to attracting new customers. It's up to you to decide whether you want this to be your personal site, or to be a tool for the d20 community. If it's for the community, that front page needs to be useful. Put the banter in the boards or a seperate "editorial" section.

 

[Ketjak]

Good step!

I prefer the new format I think, feels more like you're talking to us than just listing stuff...

... but can you bring the old icons back so we can tell which section is which perhaps?

Even that minor blend of the old and new formats would make the new format much more useful. Right now if I want WotC news I have to skim until I find it, rather than look for the WotC logo... Where's the d20 publisher news? I have no idea unless I skim and find a name I recognize among the several hyperlinks in the text.

I like the news, and I even like most of your exposition, Morrus - but there's certainly a more convenient and efficient way of presenting that information. I'm not arguing against content, just the format.

- Ketjak

 

[Morrus]

Re: Re: Re: Re: What's the point?

I haven't even touched upon the "WotC product schedule" and "upcoming D20 products" lists, each of which leads to a reviews page. The old site format had the upcoming products in a sidebar; the new site has links to your product catalog and the other information - the stuff that those links are supposed to lead to - is lost.

Oi, that's annoying. I expect it from the WotC or Monte's site, not a community site. It's like Dragon doing a Forgotten Realms special when the FRCS came out.

To be honest I was going to get a membership, but I knew this change was bad for me. I figure within months I'd have paid a membership to a site I no longer visit, a lot like my subscription to Dragon paid for issues I got little to no value from.

- Ketjak

Unfortunately, your utopian view of a website's content doesn't match with economic reality. Y'see, websites cost money. This website, in particular, costs an awful lot of money with its high traffic - we're talking over $1000 per month. If that $1000 is not paid one month, then *poof!*, goodbye website! The hosting companies will turn the servers off without a second thought.

So those who complain about any of the vaguely commercial elements - I have to say that that complaint is just uninformed. I'll make you a deal - I WILL remove those commercial elements IF you can give me an alternative method of funding the site.

I'm sorry, much as I like you, I can't afford to pay $1000 out of my own pocket just for the privilage of providing you with a service. This is what many people seem to expect from me.

 

[Morrus]

Re: Good step!

Even that minor blend of the old and new formats would make the new format much more useful. Right now if I want WotC news I have to skim until I find it, rather than look for the WotC logo... Where's the d20 publisher news? I have no idea unless I skim and find a name I recognize among the several hyperlinks in the text.

There is a d20 logo. Just like there always was.