How online forums influence game makers and marketers.

[Whoaness]

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3167513

Oh, someone on the forum called my claims as hollow, but I was right. NeoGAF is the super forum of game fans and the gaming industry.

~shiny smile~

Here's a more summarized version of GAF awesomeness.


You don't read NeoGAF. You follow it, like a sport with a high probability of bloodshed. The site's regulars, unpaid enthusiasts working mainly to bolster their reputation within the gaming community, sift through the vastness of the Internet in search of any detail, screenshot, or video they can dig up about the games they love and the people who create them. Their work makes the site the best aggregator of up-to-the-minute gaming news around, fueling a boom in traffic. In January alone, NeoGAF scored 30 million page views from 750,000 unique visitors. And Malka, needless to say, is now self-employed.

The site is proof that, though ancient by Internet standards, message boards are a vital part of the gaming ecosystem, providing an outlet for passionate players to be heard by and influence industry tastemakers, creators, and deciders. It also allows them to indulge in that most cherished of Internet traditions: thumbing your nose at authority -- anonymously, and with as few properly spelled words as possible.

Many people use NeoGAF as a one-stop shop for gaming news. If you go there looking for original reporting, you're in the wrong place. But the GAFer army gathers news stories from around the Web with surprising efficiency. So much so that many news pros keep an eye on the site for potential material.

I think of QT3 and NeoGAF as a 24/7 Game Developers Conference panel. The comments on the forums about our games are taken very seriously. Both Galactic Civilizations and Sins of a Solar Empire had significant features integ.ated into them both before and after release based on feedback.

If all you did was appeal only to the hardcore NeoGAF crowd, you'd make well-loved classics that sell about 100K, at best. It's not like the sales of Sims 3 or Halo 4 are going to be affected. But if you have a new IP, you damn well better get these folks behind your title because they were the ones who will get the less hardcore to give your game a shot. So as passionate gamers, they are always important because they champion a medium we all love so much.

Maybe Hongfire can be... probably for the hgame industry. XP

[AyaKunoichi]

Internet Only affects me if Iam jumping into a new series...

If Not Ill just buy the game because I liked the series. Not everybody lieks the same thing I do so why bother risking it?

[DK3411]

Interesting that I don't see the names of any Sony (or MS, for that matter) execs on the list of "opinions" given.

[edZero]

@DK3411 maybe because they don't tend to listen to us users...
Just a thought...
If MS would have listened... we wouldn't have vista for instance.
Edit: and of course Forums are an important, very important way of gathering information from everyone, cmon, everyone could check them and developers will find it and gather ideas from it, but it has its problems too, for developers i figure is difficult to actively participate since giving too much information might violate confidentiality policies and such, In fact, i think one of the main rules should be that if you are a developer, NEVER say so, why? because drawing attention might take you to break confidentiality policies of your company.
But that's just my opinion.

[BBsin]

@DK3411 maybe because they don't tend to listen to us users...
Just a thought...
If MS would have listened... we wouldn't have vista for instance.

Jeff Bell listened, oh he listened alright.... and he responded.

[SFOHollandMGO]

... (http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3167513) Maybe Hongfire can be... probably for the hgame industry. XP

I wonder the same thing...What if Illusion or Tea Time is probing around in here with some English speaking interns...

People take that junk serious on forums...lol, more/as serious as sports...

Now, if somebody where to lurk, and drop suggestions or promote an ideals that support their company...I think thats a little malicious..

[solarenemy]

I don't let others choose what games I think are good. Thats why I don't see any games for any console or pc on the market right now that appeal to me. Absolutely none. When I am ready to buy a game I will buy it because I want it, not because some forum says it's good. I have thought many games the majority voted where bad where in fact very good. So if you want to believe forums even if they have a rep, then go ahead. I will make my own decisions and not be one of the blind sheep.

[Whoaness]

Interesting that I don't see the names of any Sony (or MS, for that matter) execs on the list of "opinions" given.

Jeff Bell listened, oh he listened alright.... and he responded.
I was gonna say dat! >X)

Jeff Bell got owned by NeoGAF. Thought his anonymity was safe.

[DK3411]

All this you're doing just proves a point. NeoGAF is a FORUM. A forum consisting of gaming fans, and fans who scour the internet for juicy news to post up there.

The news they have up there are usually taken from other sources (I've been reading it as well).

The reason why they can influence developers and companies is because NeoGAF is probably the largest congregation of gamers from all over the world. Their suggestions are helpful to creating a balanced game that will be loved by the community.

However, to say that it's a source of news is a bit of a stretch. It's pretty much like enterprising individuals here on HF picking up interesting articles and posting it in the general discussions section, only that over there, practically 2/3 of the entire forum does that. Its good for those of us who don't read newspapers and don't bother to watch CNN, but not so useful for those who already do.

I'm not the type that usually listens to reviewers or game forum-goers to decide what to buy for my next game. Granted, their recommendations are usually good.

All in all, NeoGAF is a good source of "news" for most of the gamers in the world, but I doubt it's anywhere near the scale of other major gaming mags and companies that have their own press teams. Of course, the articles from the gaming mags will eventually find their way onto NeoGAF, for such is the power of Google these days.

[Whoaness]

Lol, NeoGAF is better than GameSpot, 1up, IGN, Wired, and Joystiq.

That's all there is to it because it gets news to people faster than the news publishers themselves. That's all that matters.

So what happened to your rant about how NeoGAF was full of fanboy flaming?

[DK3411]

Lol, NeoGAF is better than GameSpot, 1up, IGN, Wired, and Joystiq.

That's all there is to it because it gets news to people faster than the news publishers themselves. That's all that matters.

That's the power of Google for you.


So what happened to your rant about how NeoGAF was full of fanboy flaming?

Seriously. Stop putting words into my mouth already. Don't make me have to re-quote everything I previously typed. I never said that NeoGAF was full of flameboy flaming...

If your selective reading (or lack of reading thereof) gets you that far, I strongly suggest you re-take reading comprehension at grade school.

By the way, if the sole purpose of this thread was to prove me and BubbleMonkey wrong, you haven't proven anything.

[solarenemy]

You both need to get a room and do each other till your exhausted. Then maybe you can get along.

[DK3411]

Nah. He's not worthy of that. Besides, I'm heterosexual.

[Whoaness]

Seriously. Stop putting words into my mouth already. Don't make me have to re-quote everything I previously typed. I never said that NeoGAF was full of flameboy flaming...

If your selective reading (or lack of reading thereof) gets you that far, I strongly suggest you re-take reading comprehension at grade school.

By the way, if the sole purpose of this thread was to prove me and BubbleMonkey wrong, you haven't proven anything.
Why don't you read that particular post and know how wrong you are about this.

You said that NeoGAF comprised of people who...
1) Have been to such gatherings
2) Pretend they've been to such gatherings
3) Google articles and post it up there
4) Pretend they're in-the-know and that they "can make games" (reminds me of a certain someone)
5) Are very much like any other forum-goer
So if GAF doesn't fall into that category, then it is just a fanboy flame fest like any other random game forum.

Oh, but you're so wrong. The site is posted by the news makers, the news publishers, and people who read the news seriously and diligently bring the news to all those who love games.

And, yeah, there are a quite a few of indie developers that started on GAF before they became developers.

[DK3411]

You said that NeoGAF comprised of people who...

Precisely, so ever since when did I say that it's just a fanboy flame fest?


So if GAF doesn't fall into that category, then it is just a fanboy flame fest like any other random game forum.

Do you seriously think you're the ONLY one here who visits NeoGAF? It's not like there aren't fanboy flame fests up there, just like any other random game forum.


Oh, but you're so wrong. The site is posted by the news makers, the news publishers, and people who read the news seriously and diligently bring the news to all those who love games.

-_- You can go on worshipping NeoGAF for all I care. The fact that only 1-up "reported" on this doesn't give me much confidence. I personally use Gamespot, IGN, Kotaku, and occasionally some other sites. NeoGAF is more like a "convenient" consolidation of information for me, because what's on other sites eventually end up there anyway (not necessarily first). I personally don't see what's the big deal about it.


And, yeah, there are a quite a few of indie developers that started on GAF before they became developers.

Yeah. Maybe that's where you're learning to make games?

[kingx11]

Originally Posted by Brad Wardell (CEO of Stardock, Sins of a Solar Empire)
I think of QT3 and NeoGAF as a 24/7 Game Developers Conference panel. The comments on the forums about our games are taken very seriously. Both Galactic Civilizations and Sins of a Solar Empire had significant features integ.ated into them both before and after release based on feedback.

nice to know some people listen to gamers , but isn't gamers the lame humans who buy every shitty game no matter how crappy it is as long as it has cute lookin' charcters?? i.e ((wii games)) so why bother askin' them if only 50k copies will be sold ?? my idea is either you have it or you don't

[Whoaness]

Precisely, so ever since when did I say that it's just a fanboy flame fest?

Do you seriously think you're the ONLY one here who visits NeoGAF? It's not like there aren't fanboy flame fests up there, just like any other random game forum.Logic. Use it.

Proof by exclusion.


-_- You can go on worshipping NeoGAF for all I care. The fact that only 1-up "reported" on this doesn't give me much confidence. I personally use Gamespot, IGN, Kotaku, and occasionally some other sites. NeoGAF is more like a "convenient" consolidation of information for me, because what's on other sites eventually end up there anyway (not necessarily first). I personally don't see what's the big deal about it.
Could you not read the article enough? Did you miss all the figurehead developers named in it? 1up owns and writes EGM and Ziff Davis of the leading figures in the gaming news industry. Gamespot is in shambles, unless you completely missed the whole Jeff Gerstman incident as you probably haven't been keeping up with NeoGAF, IGN is divided in its own console realm and doesn't bring out trustworthy reviews (9.9 for Jade Empire?), Kotaku provides misinformation for so many times and it's funny how many times Kotaku writes an article on something NeoGAF posted waaay before. If you enjoy slow news and goatse pictures (Kotaku forgets to host its own pictures), then read Kotaku.

And thanks for implying that everyone eventually bows down to NeoGAF in the short run. ^_~

Yeah. Maybe that's where you're learning to make games?
Sure. Keeping in touch with the industry is part of the learning, and according to the article, the game developers agree with me.

[Bubblemonkey]

@DK3411: I know this is strange coming from me, but you're just feeding Whoaness's fire of stupidity. He defines himself by being the b&*tch of random entities (first Sony and now NeoGAF), so nothing you're saying here is going make him waver in his blind quest to be one of the loudest fanboys on the planet.

He has such a skewed view of things that logic just doesn't work, no matter how much anyone tries...he sees what he wants to see, ignores what he doesn't, and skews the things he can't really argue against or ignore. The saddest thing about the whole thing is that he actually thinks his blind fanatical ramblings sound reasonable....that they actually make sense. How do you argue with someone who defines themselves on being delusional?

I swear, if NeoGAF or Sony were an actual person, Whoaness would probably be camped out outside their house with a telephoto lens equipped camera, a giant box of tissues, and a copy of the restraining order that they placed against him...

[Whoaness]

stuff
If you have nothing to contribute to the gaming industry, you should stay out of these forums.

And that logic that I stated came from the book of logic. You must be some kind of crazy rebel to call it skewed.

[Bubblemonkey]

If you have nothing to contribute to the gaming industry...
Lol...irony.

[Whoaness]

Lol...irony.
Guess you haven't read the article either.

Game developers are saying they are benefiting from the feedback on NeoGAF.

[Bubblemonkey]

Quick, if you look up, you should just see my point flying way over your head....

.....oh.....

......you missed it.

[Kiritsugu Emiya]

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3167513

Oh, someone on the forum called my claims as hollow, but I was right. NeoGAF is the super forum of game fans and the gaming industry.

~shiny smile~

Here's a more summarized version of GAF awesomeness.






Maybe Hongfire can be... probably for the hgame industry. XP

By the way, is this a joke? As far as I know those guys rarely listens to a bunch of otakus who have too much time on their hands.

[DK3411]

Logic. Use it.

Ironic that the person who lacks it the most is asking others to use it.


Could you not read the article enough?

No, I could read the article well enough.


Did you miss all the figurehead developers named in it? 1up owns and writes EGM and Ziff Davis of the leading figures in the gaming news industry.

Unless they're the ones giving me my next big monthly bonus, I seriously couldn't care less.


Gamespot is in shambles, unless you completely missed the whole Jeff Gerstman incident as you probably haven't been keeping up with NeoGAF

I was keeping up with it, first-hand on Gamespot itself you silly.


IGN is divided in its own console realm and doesn't bring out trustworthy reviews (9.9 for Jade Empire?)

I have about as much faith in game reviewers as far as I can throw them. Including those on NeoGAF.


Sure. Keeping in touch with the industry is part of the learning, and according to the article, the game developers agree with me.

I bet you'll get flamed to death in there by shooting your mouth of with "I can make games! Durdurdurdur." as well. Game developers "agreeing" with you carries about as much weight as vacuum.

[Whoaness]

Just more about how game companies listen to online forums... like NeoGAF. ^_~

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200472

[Bubblemonkey]

bumping your two month dead thread for that? Really?

Companies pull quotes from tons of places if the quotes paint them in a positive light...every company I've worked for has done it and, guess what....the only people who gave a s**t are the execs and the publicity guys who pulled the quote in the first place...

[DK3411]

If those Japanese H-game companies actually bothered, they'd probably find lots of quotes here that paint them in a positive light as well:D