Thoughts on Forum Games section on Forums?

Forum games are fun, but I do agree that they are a big attraction and end up taking out all the activity of other forum sections. Since many PostLoop members are trying to get a lot of points fast, they will obviously utilize these "Off-topic" forums, since they might not know anything of the topic the forum is about. I believe postloops has options to turn off point recieving for certain forum sections, so that can be fixed. Otherwise, I don't see the reason why anybody would want their post count up.

 

At the start members did post in forum games but I have noticed that they are not doing it so much
the are now posting else where in the forum
So games are ok like we have one called ask the next member so its not just a no or yes answer
or count in images in stead of the normal way but I plan to stop members using forum games as a way of getting their post count up

 

Well yes, of course, these games can get boring, especially if the forum in question isn't very active. On the other hand, if the forum is rather large and active, such sections can be major attractions, especially if they are rewarded for posts.

 

My philosophy is if you give members a place to spam, they won't be as likely to spam the other areas of the forum. I run a serious discussion/debate forum and so most of my members don't use the spam/games section, but it's still there for the few that like it.

 

I agree completely! Forum games do decrease spam in other forum sections. However, they can also decrease overall posts in other forum sections. Some poeple can start out enjoying a forum and the discussions it has to offer, but some of these users can be attracted to more off-topic forum sections and not post anywhere else. These sections usually do raise post count, which is all the more reason to utilize those forums. I think most forums should just remove these sections, since they're fairly pointless and decrease all the great discussions a forum can offer.

 

And keep in mind, those of you saying postloop users will take advantage of the games section, you, the admin, can disable post count increase in that forum to prevent that.

 

Xenforo doesnt have that option, and I recently joined PL, only two days ago. Only got 5 members from there.

 

I was wondering if XF had that. Hopefully that gets implemented because I'd love to bring out a forum games section and no post count it.

I'm all for forum games and have moderated quite a few forum games.

 

My dislike for it has grown more and more as a lot of the niche forums I join are flooded with it. You look at the newest replies and most of them are from spam games, it's so frustrating. I still keep it on my forum but I give the users the ability to block feed from whatever forum they want to when they click "View New Content". It's a really handy mod, I use it myself to filter out the spam games section.

 

It's just spam of forum.

 

That's why you turn the the counting of posts off for forum games - I don't see a problem with forum games as they give your members more things to do, and can also, increase your amount of posts with your forum. As long as you take care of the other forums, forum games shouldn't be a problem for your online community - and sure, people can call it Spam, but it also is another way to attract activity towards your community.

 

Agreeing with others again here--they're fun, but if possible (I'm on XF as well), I would disable that forum from increasing users' post counts, particularly while so much of my member base is coming from Postloop.

 

Yea I would add it, but XenForo unfortunately doesn't have that yet. You should suggest it

 

Already asked about it; it's been suggested (here, for those who haven't liked it yet ).

Back on topic: some of the games can be useful if they're designed to be; for example, there's a What Song Are You Listening To? thread on one forum that's introduced several forum members to new music.

 

I have a thread like that as well but I didnt consider it too be a game.

 

I hate forum games. It will help you in increasing post count, but it will create a bad opinion among potential visitors.

Consider a forum about Car. If i visit the forum and find only about 100 posts in Cars related sections, and i find 1000+ posts in Forum Games, do you think i will stay there?

 

I've never seen any forum have problems that have a forum games section - or have forum games involved in their general chat forum - is there any forums you can think of that has had this problem?

 

To name a few: This Forum, Chatting Time, My Old Forums, the list could go on

 

Well, that's because the owner of those forums failed to work on the other sections of his/her community, and allowed the forum games area to have more activity than the rest(shame?)

 

I think you'll find that all of us worked with each section as much as possible, except everyone kept being drawn to the forum games section, so please do not start blaming myself, Kaiser or Ashley for failing to work with the other sections of the communities because that is not true...