ProBoards = DEAD?

[Kefka]

I know this place has died out but I just got back from visiting a load of old haunts which were colossal in their activity and they all seem to be stone cold (even more so than this place) or absolutely dwindling in number when it comes to activity. So this made me wonder...

Is it PB ITSELF that has become dead? I for one reckon there are a small number of factors that have encouraged a shift in popularity for the service.

But yes, do discuss!

[Richard]

Apart from horse, Harry Potter and Twilight roleplay forums, Proboards is quite dead. Shame.

[Kefka]

Horses have always been popular beyond belief. Sort of surprised that HP forums are still going strong but as for Twilight... GET THE £&*& OUT OF MY INTERNET.

It's odd, I was looking up the updates blog and there is a HUGE discrepancy in updates for almost a year. Seems like everything really has died down. G101 and Zanmato no longer exist and they were pretty active places. When you know stalwarts like them are gone then you know the service is about to kick the bucket.

[Killer - Marshmallow]

If anyone can find an alternate provider they shall be rewarded!

For me there are little bits that Proboards could make, I've mentioned some of the things I would like to see being offered behind the scenes but are they avaliable?

It's hardly fair that good, honest administration staff on many boards that actually contribute being let down cos Proboards are not doing what they should be doing *pauses for someone to say lol wut?*

[«Lord Rand al'Thor»]

I've noticed the same thing, with once-popular Proboards forums.

I don't know, I guess ProBoards really are out of popularity. I rarely visit any ProBoards forums anymore (sadly, that includes this place). Looking through the administrative options on my own forum, I'm still seeing many problems that should've been fixed by now (yet haven't).

Anyway...

[Anono]

The most popular type of Proboards forums these days are RPs, and they all look similar with side tables on the left, no board icons, etc. They're all very serious and usually have a 300 or so word limit for posts.

[Otzlowe]

Y'know, I'm also starting to wonder if it's partially because of MMOs becoming so popular. I know that a few members here have dabbled in MMO gaming (myself included).

Guilds for those games tend to be similar in function to our board here (and many others, I surmise) but they're also coupled with a more immediate form of entertainment and communication. Even guild forums tend to be pretty dead as guild members would prefer to interact in-game, and forums have little to offer them unless they're artsy or like roleplaying.

Thus, it makes sense that a fair portion would be drawn to focus on those sorts of forums (which happen to be so populous that they have specific providers) first, and likely only. (Seeing as how dead even those tend to be.)

Obviously online gaming isn't fully to blame, but I feel like the internet is making trends toward focusing on monolithic internet websites that are run by companies and not a small group of people. Forums like this are less efficient because they take a lot of participation from not only the creator, but all of the posters as well. If it starts to die, morale goes quickly with it, and it meets a swift end.

On the other hand, if you have an already massive member base and a method of providing consistent, free features to members, they'll keep coming back. This applies both to online gaming and websites like facebook and even 4chan.

Forum discussion also seems like an outdated concept anyway. There are specialized sites to share creative works and the like. Forums tend to really only provide much of a service to roleplayers, because any other forum of communication is much quicker, and more direct.

Take twitter, for example: It's basically an incredibly simplified form of forum posting. What makes it more popular is that you can access it in multiple types of electronic media, particularly on the phone.
I don't think people often feel the need to get more formal with their discussion than that, which is what forums are, sadly.

Edit: Post two back here, and I'm already making large posts again.

[Kefka]

Jan 3, 2010 3:34:38 GMT Anono said:

The most popular type of Proboards forums these days are RPs, and they all look similar with side tables on the left, no board icons, etc. They're all very serious and usually have a 300 or so word limit for posts.

You know, just as I was reading that a huge grin appeared on my face. As soon as I saw you mention left sided tables I almost instinctively knew what you wrote next. They seem to be a dime a dozen. Seems they're still consigned to the curse of inactivity. About 6 or 7 that BR frequented had to shut due to inactivity.

Jan 4, 2010 7:47:25 GMT Otzlowe said:

Y'know, I'm also starting to wonder if it's partially because of MMOs becoming so popular. I know that a few members here have dabbled in MMO gaming (myself included).

Guilds for those games tend to be similar in function to our board here (and many others, I surmise) but they're also coupled with a more immediate form of entertainment and communication. Even guild forums tend to be pretty dead as guild members would prefer to interact in-game, and forums have little to offer them unless they're artsy or like roleplaying.

I feel you're onto something here as well upon further reflection. Take for instance, World of Warcraft. It's an absolute behemoth and the player base is vast with a constant influx of new members daily.

Jan 4, 2010 7:47:25 GMT Otzlowe said:

Obviously online gaming isn't fully to blame, but I feel like the internet is making trends toward focusing on monolithic internet websites that are run by companies and not a small group of people. Forums like this are less efficient because they take a lot of participation from not only the creator, but all of the posters as well. If it starts to die, morale goes quickly with it, and it meets a swift end.

It's a sad truth. These monolithic websites you mention have so many advantages over places run by smaller groups. For instance, i'd be a whole lot more happy to put a ton of effort into this place if only I could receive some form of money from it. Unfortunately it's impossible as it is now for that to happen.

Jan 4, 2010 7:47:25 GMT Otzlowe said:

On the other hand, if you have an already massive member base and a method of providing consistent, free features to members, they'll keep coming back. This applies both to online gaming and websites like facebook and even 4chan.

I agree wholeheartedly with you on that one. I remember discussing this with Killermarshmellow a few months back when I was on the brink of staging a mass revival for this place. People are attracted to free stuff whether it be graphics and coding and onto more dubious areas such as music and games.

Jan 4, 2010 7:47:25 GMT Otzlowe said:

Forum discussion also seems like an outdated concept anyway. There are specialized sites to share creative works and the like. Forums tend to really only provide much of a service to roleplayers, because any other forum of communication is much quicker, and more direct.

It's sad to think forums have become quite outdated. They've been around for a good portion of the Internet's history but when they truly did become popular it was only for a short number of years. Then again, this just goes to show how fast technology and favourability amongst the masses last. MySpace is a good example of this. Almost overnight everyone mass migrated from that site to Facebook. And it's only a matter of time before Facebook suffers a similar fate.

Jan 4, 2010 7:47:25 GMT Otzlowe said:

Take twitter, for example: It's basically an incredibly simplified form of forum posting. What makes it more popular is that you can access it in multiple types of electronic media, particularly on the phone.
I don't think people often feel the need to get more formal with their discussion than that, which is what forums are, sadly.

See this is what gets me. Twitter is pretty much a micro-version of forum posting but it's the general word limit and lack of formality that repels me from it. I thought Twitter was a joke when I first heard it and admittedly I still think the same of it today.

No matter what angle you look at this, it's obvious a major revamp has to be in order to tackle a lot of these issues.

[Jacob]

I can definitely testify, I've tried revisiting all my old boards. Places I used to go all the time. And the only thing that can still be called "active" is a single harvest moon board. And even it has been reduced to mostly its core members. It's such a shame. My favorite thing to do a couple years ago was visit my forums and then they all but disappeared.

[Evilprower11]

;.; Yes, I've joined many proboards sites and the only three I go to that are ACTIVE is, My Destiny Chao, Tails Doll Resarch Lab, and Chao Talk. All the others are dead.
EDIT: It appears that many proboard forums I make become dead or something. I have only made 2 and my nest one has 132 members...and then one has 7 members. ;.; Yes, it appears that proboards is going out of business. I am not surprised though, most forum hosting services don't last for long.

[Blueangel]

only the porboards are active for awhile then they die out after a little bit,,, it is a shame cause I lov to go to them and have fun,,, but it getting to where everyone on them always has something else to do after a bit of being on it then they come back.... hugs all ^)^

[Evilprower11]

I agree, I made a proboard forum yesterday and no one joined. :/ I believe most proboard forums don't last for a while, unless they are on something popular, like Sonic, Chao, or fantasy and other things.

[Blueangel]

well I don't know to where your board is, but this is where I go and stay at alot, like its not popular, like Sonic, Chao, or fantasy ok...

rickylee100.proboards.com/

if you like to check it out ^)^

[Evilprower11]

This is my forum, not much though. :/
www.mephiles-sonicx.proboards.com

[«Lord Rand al'Thor»]

ProBoards lives on in my memories.