Is it time to unlock the forums to new members yet?

[Solitaire]

In the intrest of trying to salvage these forums and make them once again useful to the community, I submit this poll in an attempt to get some action concerning the ban on new members to the forums. So, should EI unlock the forums so new people can join? Comments welcome.

[walkerglassmire]

Tis well past time, HAS been well past time. I have seen a rather lot of new folk on the night crew (WOOHOO) and it'd be really nice for them to use the forum too. Last new member was Oct 17, and now that (from what I hear) everything is working again for new accts and new chars, tis time for folk to have a voice again.

Tis a sad day here when I can not see the forum all weekend, and still only miss maybe 2 dozen posts.

[Kulamata]

Nevva shoulda been closed.

Potential returning or new players come here from time to time to ask about the game. They do so looking for confirmation that the game is OK. And they get stock answers; "Since you left x, y, z, 1, 2, and 3 were added" or "Plenty of good content for at least a year" and such. Good free marketing.

Instead now I see a few such questions on other boards, and they may get answers such as "The game was destroyed when Dave Allen was backstabbed, don't play it" or "I played it for ten minutes in beta, and I can tell you it's terrible" depending on which jerk bothers to answer. That's really not good for the health of Horizons.

[Zexoin]

It is time indeed. New players told me they wish to register. Best is to allow them to do so.

[Solitaire]

Originally Posted by walkerglassmire

...Last new member was Oct 17...

I think Zexoin somehow slipped through the cracks to get in. That was the day new character creation was opened up again and I'm assuming that someone flipped the switch and opened the forum for a brief time. Before that the same person had been listed as the newest member for 2-3 months. Back to August, if I remember correctly, when the forums were locked down initially.

Unless Zexoin is an EI plant.... j/k.

[Tcei]

I wholeheartedly agree with opening the forums back up. I've several freinds who are new to the game and want to post comments/ask questions on the boards.

[Zexoin]

Originally Posted by Solitaire

I think Zexoin somehow slipped through the cracks to get in. That was the day new character creation was opened up again and I'm assuming that someone flipped the switch and opened the forum for a brief time. Before that the same person had been listed as the newest member for 2-3 months. Back to August, if I remember correctly, when the forums were locked down initially.

Unless Zexoin is an EI plant.... j/k.

I just sent a ticket asking that I wanted to register on the forums, and got an account one week later

*edit* I see that some voted against the reopening. I'd like to read their point of view

[Sylvye]

I also sent a request to join the forums and actually got a response within a very short time. People who want to join could always go that route though it is not quite as easy as just signing up

Sylvye

[Garfonso]

I think they should open up the forum again...

but on the other hand I still think they should create a part of the forum where only active players may post (others should still be able to read) and discuss suggestions and so on, or these historian parts and such things..

I don't think that everybody should be allowed in such discussions... only people who actively play and therefore care for the game...

that's my opinion.

I don't know if that is technically possible. *shrugs*

Nevertheless I voted to open up the forum, cause till now I don't see that much discussion about suggestions that EI reads..

[Solitaire]

Having a player and non-player could be a desireable thing in the future. But Unless EI has the ability to impliment that soon, I think we need to open it up fully now. I can see no way that keeping the forum locked down helping us out. But it is harming Horizons, in the short term at the very least.

[Phillip]

The forum should be open to current subscribers, just like they do in most games now.

[Steelclaw]

Discussion here is slowing down. New members, good or not, would increase board activity and give some fresh perspective, hopefully breathing life into what feels like a fragmented and dying community.

Troublemakers will always find ways to make trouble. Punishing everyone to keep the troublemakers in check should never have even been an option.

[saphosar]

IMHO this game is currently dying very quick because it's not really featured anymore. Allowing some new users to the forum may slow down this a little bit.
So yes, open the forum.

[CallakDW]

I have to agree with this. *bump*

[IndyMan]

I think they fear having to ban dozens of people who might stop in to slash and bash.

I believe it might help the game if new players could stop in to ask questions. I would be hesitant to play a game that has such a history as this one if I could not ask a couple questions.

Maybe they prefer that people ask on other boards, though the answers are less kind than they would be here.

But hey, I dont run a game so maybe I am way off mark. I'll let those who do, make the decisions. /shrugs

[Vlisson]

whats the use of a forum if nobody new can join it?

[Garfonso]

to let the already active people discuss?

There are a lot of forums, where you can't register an account and they are doing great....

Ok, I know what you wanted to tell, but I couldn't hold it

[Vlisson]

yes but why are old forum accounts better then new ones?

if there would be more new users then my old opinion would be a very small minority ^^ nobody would listen me at all

this would be better for all ^^

[Garfonso]

I've never said, that old people are better than new ones...
I don't think that anybody ever said such thing, even not the ones, that decided to lock up the forum...

[Frith-Rae]

They should open them back up, or at the very least allow guests to read if not post.

Before I go play any new online game, when I even think about it, the FIRST thing I do is go read the official forums and fan forums. I go get this information for two reasons 1-I look for factual gameplay information that will help me do what it is I'm wanting to do in game, and to see if its possible and 2-it lets me know the state of the players and the game.

I see slambois and fanbois everywhere, I can wade through that crap and get the picture of the real feel and nature of the game from those thoughtful gems that most threads have at least one or two posts about .

In fact I've been known to read forums for a week or a month before deciding to subscribe to a game, or not, because of it.

If I wanted to try Horizons now, I'd never hand over my CC number for a free trial without being able to get access to the forums at least as a Guest.

If for no other reason than being unable to find informative information from people playing the races/classes before I even start. I don't want to sit in the game and have the multischool/craft mechanic explained ot me in chat for an hour or two by people who may or may not know what they are talking about.

(and also because in a large majority of games out there, you're not expecting to find this sort of nice detailed help from a lovely community - so without any foreknowledge of Horizons, I woudln't be expecting it here either.)

I'd rather be able to come to the forums, go to the threads that relate to that, and read up. Even if I never post.

So please, the forums should DEFINITELY be open to all active players, and at the very least open to guests who have not paid yet.

I have yet to visit a single MMORPG game forum (and I've visited lots, cuz I get bored and go forum surfing for fun) where I couldn't at least visit as a guest and read, even if I coudln't post.