CiaranORian
Shared on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 07:03I’ve read with interest the various threads and conversations that have sprung up in the last few days around what 2old2play is, where it should go and how it should get there.
I haven’t contributed so far and a lot (lot!) has been written. One of the reasons I’ve held back until now was because I wasn’t really sure what my opinion was regarding the future of the site. It seems some sort of consensus is emerging though so coupled with my own opinions here is what I think we need to do as a community:
I know its corporate speak but we need some sort of “mission statement” to give the site an identity. This should explain who we are, what do we do and what a new member can expect when they sign up.
Again from the corporate world if we decide we want to grow the community we need to put some targets on how much we want the number of members to grow by, by when and how will we do it. Should this include some sort of revenue model with increased advertising both on the site and by the site?
If we collectively decide we want to grow the number of active users we can go two ways. 1. We cater to the 2o2p core audience and recruit new members with a similar profile i.e. predominantly male, not easily offended 2. We reconfigure the site to appeal to other demographics. This doesn’t mean we have to get rid of parts of the site just that the site infrastructure changes.
I don’t see anything wrong with people staying within their clans and clan forums if that’s what they want. Rather than using a stick to make people mix more we need to create content that people will seek and get excited about. I think the site mixers that aren’t affiliated with a particular clan are a great idea. Again, if you don’t want to get involved you don’t have to, but you know, maybe you will make new friends along the way.
Just some opinions and sorry for taking up your time!
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Comments
Submitted by badmin on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 09:57
Fantastic post. We talked a lot about it during the podcast, but you have some great ideas. I've said it before, but ultimately I think clans are the biggest thing we have going on 2o2p. I'm not sure we would have ever got to where we are without them.
I've heard the term mission statement a lot this past few days. I get the need for one, but I will say I think some people take the idea a bit to far. They equate a mission statement with more of a terms of service and think it should explain the rules of 2o2p. In my opinion 2old2play is a place where the aging gamer can meet and play with other older gamers in an adult environment.
We'll never be PG, but I don't believe we need that to be successful. We provide a space for older gamers to let their hair down after a day at work. In the end, this past few days has been amazing. Sure we have some heated thread, but this is what I love! No discussion and no one arguing is just boring. Getting the conversation out there and meeting up against different personalities is what sparks change.
Submitted by GUL74 on Wed, 08/15/2012 - 14:06
Hope you guys don't mind giving my opinion here I didn't want to post in the other thread as I didn't want to offend anyone
Doodi some of things Im see with clans is people have got kinda set in a comfort zone only post in their clan forum because it's easier and there might be some other reasons why people aren't mixing in the public areas of the site. Also you dont really see meet a greets anymore . When I joined the site Halo 3 was still being play and I remember laughing my ass off cause Bubba was being funny I think those things need to come back into play for the new people that might help get more circulation going
Ok thats all I got hope I didn't step over the line by saying what I just said
Thanks
GUL74/Eric
Submitted by CiaranORian on Thu, 08/16/2012 - 04:25
I remember the first time I came across the site there was a picture of donk holding a huge mug of tea linked to an interview with him "the unofficial 2o2p welcomer". It just seemed a friendly, welcoming place.
Meet and greet sessions, member interviews, and playdates are all ways we can increase member involvement and foster community spirit.
Submitted by GUL74 on Thu, 08/16/2012 - 11:53
Meet & greets are the best people running it always made sure there was enough new people in each room along with the regulars and we seemed to have a good time and thats what gaming is all about in my eyes goodtimes,new people and lets not forget laughing your ass off at stupid shit
Submitted by ekattan on Thu, 08/16/2012 - 12:25
Submitted by GUL74 on Thu, 08/16/2012 - 14:22
Oh I agree I'm just saying if you look at some clans Im sure they are more active in their forums vs a Public forum,and you still gotta concider we all have a life outside of 2O2P and things get hectic some have kids and their time gets pulled away ..I mean you can definatly see who are the people that post all the time and it is hard to get to know someone when they only show up for just a clan night and everyones just being silly and some of those people might not open up right away but maybe thats the time to give them a little light in someway let them know we know they are there and that might help generate more activity ...
Hey I got more to say on this but I got head to work and wont be home till midnite anyone wants to shoot me a FR and talk about this on xbl sometime let me know I think it would be good to start bouncing ideas off each other
Submitted by GUL74 on Fri, 08/17/2012 - 14:15
Ok to continue what I started yesterday
Let me just say I think clans are a great thing its nice to be in a club within a club but I can honestly say that Ive seen more active post going on within the clan forums and I think stems to habit/easier and I also want to throw out there someone might have an issue with others that may be in public forums and I get that ..to a degree ..I think when it comes to someone we don't get along with/like we can "try" to crub that area so the friction doesn't spread and it also keeps peace people dont avoid the public areas for that ..Ok enough of that rant I'm probably boring everyone reading this
Now I have an idea and kinda stems off of what DEEP is doing, I don't know if its good one but would love the feed back either way
Is there a way that the clans the keep their forums closed could open for a day or so let new/old people see how they are run and let them get feel for how it is in there and see if they want to join said clan and the sign up sheet can be set up in the off topic forum now these new people will get to look around in more then one area and could help generate more activity
Also can event calander be set up like what Deep is doing maybe on an off night but with Different games again this can be more focused on the new or people we've never gamed with before that been on the site . and again maybe set up a sign up sheet in those game forums if you get more newbies in that game turn into a meet &greet
Ok tell me if this was worth mentioning and I mean anybody
Thanks
GUL74/Eric
Submitted by CiaranORian on Thu, 08/16/2012 - 04:22
Yes a mission statement should only be 2 lines."A place where the gamers over 25 can meet and play with other older gamers in an adult environment" is a great place to start.