RuneScape Forum Archive | increasing forum population

Sep

2020

mr togue

Posts: 6,957 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

when i was on the boards over 6 years ago there was so many people on the forums
pages would fly off the screen cause so many people would be posting

i hardly ever saw less then 200 active forum members at any given time

now 4 ... seriously?

i get other sites are popular but can you as forum mods do any thing to help incease the interest oin the forum?

i can think of a few.. like in game promoting of the use of the forums,, not a ton so they become annoying,,, but occasionally just a flash message in the chat would or could help

come on people this forum is not active and i want to change that .. help me

10-Sep-2020 15:22:54

Varpushaukka

Posts: 503 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Oh boy, you might want to search forum-related posts on the Runescape subreddit to see what the actual problems with the forums are.

Hint: awareness isn't the problem, many people know about the forums, but they don't want to use it, see above for as to why.

Sparrowhawk (UIM)

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TLVL: 1775 / 2277

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# of 99's: 4 / 23

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QP: 218 / 279

10-Sep-2020 15:36:10

Mrs Ana

Posts: 8,998 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Hey, mr togue.

The problem comes from the top of the chain. Players tend to go where Jagex goes. Social Media has taken over the Forums for a while now. Back then, it was impossible for Jagex Moderators to log into the Forums at home. They had to be physically present at Jagex HQ in order to be able to use them; however, with Social Media, Jagex Moderators have been able to interact with players and the community while being at home, in bed, and watching Netflix.

Furthermore, Reddit, Twitter, Discord, etc., allows players to be more "open" and less restricted to what they say and do as compared to using the Forums. While you are here, you have to follow and respect Jagex's rules. These Social Media sites permit users to do more things than they can here on the Forums. Additionally, Jagex is also able to target a wider audience than the Forums.

Forums are also archaic and most missing features are available in Social Media platforms. Until we get Jagex to focus on the Forums once again, there is nothing that can be done. The first step would be to update the Forums with much-needed and much-anticipated features/abilities/tools that would allow individuals to have better functionalities. As soon as that's completed, we would need Jagex to promote the Forums once again and to add important news here on the website/Forums rather than going to Social Media, even though I understand their viewpoint from a business approach.

The Forums have been neglected for years. That's the reason you don't see that many players online at any given time. If someone is able to interact with Jagex at Twitter rather than the Forums, why would they come here? They can already reach Jagex at Reddit, Discord and Twitter. For these players, there is no need to utilize the Forums. If we want to go back to the Forums Golden Age, something must be done and it has to start at the top of the chain, as that's the most important place and the ones that call the shots.

10-Sep-2020 15:56:17

Sep

2020

mr togue

Posts: 6,957 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

i disagree with your assessment that nothing can be done,,

you are correct till jax realizes that the forums should be home .. things wont change .. but change starts with one man screaming out

mods hear me roar we need you to rethink your ways ,, we need your help in making these forums great again

10-Sep-2020 16:18:37

Aug

2008

Theos

Forum Moderator Posts: 23,574 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

I think Mrs Ana brings up alot of great points as why the forum activity is substantially lower. A couple that I think are key reasons from her post:

" Forums are also archaic and most missing features are available in Social Media platforms"
"Furthermore, Reddit, Twitter, Discord, etc., allows players to be more "open" and less restricted to what they say and do as compared to using the Forums. "

I think comparing the activity from 2020 to 2008 for example is comparing apples to oranges. The evolution of social media platforms certainly makes it challenging. I do agree with you, Mr Togue that Jagex in collaboration with the F-Mods and L-Mods can possibly think of ways to promote increased forum activity. The community has a role in making this happen too, through constructive feedback and suggestions. I think it is also important to have new expectations and not compare activity to 2003-2010. Perhaps Jagex's Community Management team could host and promote events on the Runescape live stream, and host contests requiring players to post in a certain area of the forums? Perhaps there could be forum related contests, and some type of small incentive to the winner(s) such as a bond, Treasure Hunter Keys, or Runecoins? Perhaps F-Mods, and L-Mods can help co-host in-game events to raise awareness to the Runescape forums such as parades? I'm just brainstorming here.

I do think, one essential step that Jagex might consider taking is sending out a survey to the entire Runescape community (OSRS, and RS3) gauging their participation on the RS forums, Reddit, Twitter, Discord, and other platforms and asking what specifically draws them to that platform. Perhaps there could be a question about ideas to improve the RSOF?

Here are some open questions that I have for any folks reading:

What are some ideas that you all think would help promote more forum activity? What do you think would attract more players to the forums?

Forum Moderator

10-Sep-2020 16:19:25 - Last edited on 10-Sep-2020 16:24:39 by Theos

Sep

2020

mr togue

Posts: 6,957 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

i think the one thing that would or better yet ,,, should stand out,,, is that the forums should be the only place that useful and accurate information should come from

i am a older man... as a child if i needed information for or about something i would go to the holy of the holeyest source ... the encyclopedia ... should the forums not be considered the holeyest of all holy source?

edited to add ** over the last few days i have found the forums hard to navigate because of all the sub forums in the list,,, i have made several posts ( in the wrong place obviously) saying i am not sure where to post this but...da da da... if i have to spend 2 hours just to find out a yes or no question then i most likly wont go searching

10-Sep-2020 16:26:21 - Last edited on 10-Sep-2020 16:29:20 by mr togue

Mrs Ana

Posts: 8,998 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

mr togue said :
i disagree with your assessment that nothing can be done,, I'm unsure about how long you have been here on these Forums, but what you are suggesting isn't new and it has been suggested an uncountable number of times. In addition, I said that until we get Jagex to focus on the Forums again, then nothing can be done . I didn't specifically said that there is nothing to be done. There is a clause attached to this opinion and that's dependent on Jagex's actions.

I'm fully aware that something CAN be done. It's a matter of focus and time. I remember Mod Lyon saying that they currently do not have the time to focus on the Forums being updated as there are bigger things to tackle. So, if the time may come available at any point in the future, then we may have an update to the Forums.

Forum users have been advocating for a change for years and we still are. If these Forums are not updated and if Jagex does not somehow bring more presence to this space, then there will not be any incentives to have players come here to form another community. They will keep going to Social Media because 1) it's easier to openly communicate with others and 2) most, if not all, Jagex Moderators make use of Social Media platforms due to their audience and because they are able to form part of them while out of Jagex's HQ.

I love the Forums, I really do. That's why I am still here and I think others share the same opinion. We have all been trying to get the Forums more attention and the much-required update in order to somewhat "compete" with Social Media. I remember the good 'ol days when there were at least 400-600 active players at a time. We are lucky if we get 10-20 right now and most of these active players are in the Marketplace sub-forums.

The Forums need a change. They have required a change for eons now. If the ones in charge do not have the necessary time to do so, then nothing can be done right now.

10-Sep-2020 16:32:20

Sep

2020

mr togue

Posts: 6,957 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

i truly believe in my soul.. that the squeakiest wheel gets the grease first.. i started playing in early 07 found the forums shortly after that

i have no doubt that others have mentioned it before,,, and they took the lack as change as a failure,, but i live a never die life style,, and i feel even if it doesnt change today only means we try harder tomorrow

edited to fix typo

10-Sep-2020 16:38:08 - Last edited on 10-Sep-2020 16:40:24 by mr togue

Mrs Ana

Posts: 8,998 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

mr togue said :
i think the one thing that would or better yet ,,, should stand out,,, is that the forums should be the only place that useful and accurate information should come from The Forums were the ONLY place for Jagex to share important news and updates with the community. This was only possible back then due to the fact that 1) Social Media was not that huge and 2) there were over 200-300 Jagex Moderators. Out of those 200-300 Jagex Moderators, we had at least 10-20 that were part of the Forums Community Management. Additionally, we have over 400-500 active users at any given time.

Throughout the years, this has shifted. Forums became archaic compared to other platforms and Jagex moved away from the Forums to Social Media due is ease of use and bigger audience. Even though we had 400-500 active users here on the Forums, utilizing Reddit, Discord, Twitter, etc., makes more sense business-wise and that's what they went for. If they can read thousands and thousands of people instead of 400-500, why would they come here?

Remember that Jagex Moderators were unable to log into their accounts outside of Jagex HQ. That slightly changed this year due to COVID-19, but this was one of the main reasons why many, if not all, Jagex Moderators decided to start taking part in Social Media platforms: they were unable to interact with the community outside of Jagex HQ. Since they were able to discuss and mingle with the community from home and other locations while being logged into their J-Mod accounts, Social Media became more appealing to Jagex and it has been so for many years now.

10-Sep-2020 16:40:20

Mrs Ana

Posts: 8,998 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

mr togue said :
i truely believe in my soul.. that the squeakiest wheel gets the grease first.. i started playing in early 07 for the forums shortly after that

i have no doubt that others have mentioned it before,,, and they took the lack as change as a failure,, but i live a never die life style,, and i feel even if it doesnt change today only means we try harder tomorrow And you are commended for that. We have all been trying our hardest to get the Forums the attention that they need and deserve. So, with you being on board, we can add another Forumer to the list.

10-Sep-2020 16:41:42