Simtropolis: A Tired Brand

[LivingInThePast 364]

Simtropolis is approaching five years old, and it's reaching a mid-life crisis. With members either posting less frequently (or leaving altogether), the STEX declining in terms of quality and quantity (however, there are several high-quality BATs still being released, like Waddle's by Sparkythepenguin), and the over-diversification (from Cities Unlimited to The Sims 2), Simtropolis is need of some help indeed.

Like Lord & Taylor, Simtropolis needs to be dramatically restructed before it's a rotting, half-abandoned forum filled with unanswered posts and lots of spam while the rest of the Internet moves on. First, we want to know what Simtropolis is. Is it a city building site? Is it with simulation games? First, spin off/keep CU and Sims 2 forums like Sporeum. Next, the website needs a radical redesign. For the STEX, either dramatically revamp it. It's a sad mess of buried treasures, outdated BATs, and generally low-quality stuff. Selections of the day are often low-quality things that are locked. But even if the quality must go up, it might discourage new BATters. Also close down some threads that have been replaced by new SC4D threads. The NAM forum seems to be languishing, primarily because NAM is focused on SC4D and may be removed from Simtropolis in the coming months.

Are we going to post "Simtropolis is dying" messages or wail in the streets? We need to find a new mod super-project and get people that can do that. Finally, Simtropolis needs to be downscaled to truly survive. I don't know how that could be accomplished.

Thank you for reading my speech.

[MayorTim 16]

I agree with you that Simtropolis must evolve, but I think Dirk is already making plans for that, and that it would be better to wait to do anything drastic until we know a lot more about SCS and CU.

However, I absolutely disagree that Simtrop should discourage new BATers, especially in times like this before the release of 2 brand new major games. Dirk has worked very hard on the STEX, and it's got dozens of great features and honestly doesn't need to be revamped. The only change I'd like to see is either to hide locked BAT's from the public, or remove them altogether.

Simtropolis has always been focused on Sim City, though I do believe that Dirk intends to convert the site into a Cities Unlimited fan site (though again, it's too early to know for certain.)

And I don't see Simtropolis as "rotting," or even anything close to it. The fact that any of us are still around at all is a testament to how great this site is, and I really don't think it's fair to figuratively compare Simtropolis 3.0 and 4.0 days with modern Simtropolis. The fact is, SC4 has been off the shelves for a great deal of time, and as old members slowly filter out, they aren't being replaced. That will all change with the release of these newer games, and in fact I've already started seeing old faces popping up to share their thoughts on the future.

[SimRabbit 48]

I don't see any of that (well a little bit) but ST as I know it will never die because Societies or whatever is called and CU being developed this site will "reborn" and many old members will come back and ST popularity will soar.

If you see things negative, they will be negative to you, on my part, I see ST as a great SC4 fansite with new generations taking over.

Just my two cents

[Frankie_Grove 32]

With the announcement of SCS/SC5, Simtropolis has actually gained a lot more in terms of posts and such. Nothing is going wrong, its just a phase. As for the STEX, there is plenty of quality coming out. Just the other day there were two or three uploads from NDEX. Don't underestimate the power of the dar....Simtropolis.

[KingTitan 6]

All I would like to see is a PAGE JUMP instead of "next" in the Stex

[LivingInThePast 364]

Originally posted by: MayorTim

However, I absolutely disagree that Simtrop should discourage new BATers, especially in times like this before the release of 2 brand new major games.quote>

quote>

I wasn't very clear with my wording, what I meant to say was it MIGHT discourage newbies if the quality goes up.

Dirk has worked very hard on the STEX, and it's got dozens of great features and honestly doesn't need to be revamped.quote>

Perhaps a "STEX Archive" where really old BATs (early 2004) go. I don't know.

The only change I'd like to see is either to hide locked BAT's from the public, or remove them altogether.quote>

True.

Simtropolis has always been focused on Sim City, though I do believe that Dirk intends to convert the site into a Cities Unlimited fan site (though again, it's too early to know for certain.)quote>

Then why is it called SIMtropolis?

And I don't see Simtropolis as "rotting," or even anything close to it. quote>

Please don't take my words out of context. I said if Simtropolis keeps going down the languishing path, then it will end up that way. This process would at least take a year if it were to go this way.

The fact that any of us are still around at all is a testament to how great this site is, and I really don't think it's fair to figuratively compare Simtropolis 3.0 and 4.0 days with modern Simtropolis.quote>

The glory days are over, but my point is Simtropolis is no longer the once-great super-community it once was.

The fact is, SC4 has been off the shelves for a great deal of timequote>

Nonsense. I bought SC4 at WalMart four weeks ago. And to SimRabbit...

I don't see any of that (well a little bit) but ST as I know it will never die because Societies or whatever is called and CU being developed this site will "reborn" and many old members will come back and ST popularity will soar.quote>

I don't think old members will return. And to Frankie...

As for the STEX, there is plenty of quality coming out. Just the other day there were two or three uploads from NDEX.quote>

I did mention Waddle's, there is stuff there that is good, but as a whole I see it declining.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I don't think that there is any need to panic.  Simtropolis is already evolving to encompass new games coming out.  It is possible that, like Spore, they may get their own decor or stay on the main board.

Most of this board is Simcity 4 at the moment.  With the new games, we are going to have to branch the exchange if these games admit user content.  (If they don't, someone has a screw loose.)

Let's not leap into anything.  There is lots of time, and there are still release dates for the new games, etc.

Maybe we should change the name of the board, sometime, to the Lurker's Guide to City Simulation Games?

[Bluebeard 0]

ST was live on and on but the sign over the door may change and SC will be put into a little corner to make room for these so called SC games.

    Yes it would be nice to overhaul the exchange but this site runs off donations and as we all know upgrades cost money.

   So let us be happy there is even a ST.

[Orlandoedwin640 0]

We could do a redesign. Add other games like Spore, City Life, Cities Unlimited and make it more for Sims 2 As well.

[SimRabbit 48]

Orlandoedwin640: No need for a Spore forum (there is already a website made by Dirk called Sporeum for this game) not many people like City Life, Cities Unlimited just get their forum, and again no need to make this site more for Sims 2, there are a bunch of sites dedicated to that game.

And LivingInThePast: if these folks don't come back, perhaps new folk with fresh minds will come in. Who knows..

[___idiotbox 0]

Well, there are a ton of new games coming out soon and even though ST is for SC4, we can expand! Cities Unlimited, Sim City Societies, The Sims 3. If you want ST to be less of "A Tired Brand" then be more active in the new games! Although you may not like some of them, you can always put your input into the forums. Sometimes members forget that some forums exist so try your best to put some more effort into checking them out. For example, you can always join a thread about TS3 here that I just made.

Plus, try new things! Create a City Journal or Sim Diary or try batting for the first time. Everything counts

And I do not think we need a complete redesign. That takes a lot of time, and we just had one not to long ago. Dirk's a busy guy

Okay, just my input!

-Ellie

[Kevin 101]

These kind of threads were popping up when Simtropolis was only 2 years old, and yet here we are 3 years later, still chugging along. I'm very happy with where Simtropolis is right now... continuing to cover Simcity 4 while the game is still relevant, and also broadening its scope to include the future of the City Simulation genre (SCS and CU).

That is what I've always considered Simtropolis to be... a City Simulation fansite. Why does it have sim in its name? Because its for SIMulations, thats why! Simcity 4 has been the primary game in the genre for quite some time now, so thats why it might feel strange to welcome other games to the site...

As for improving the quality of the STEX... that is entirely up to the people uploading their work onto it. Dirk has always insisted upon an open exchange, and I doubt that it will change any time soon.

[hamsterTK 93]

Simtropolis: A Tired Brandquote>

We need "New Simtropolis"!

Then when everyone knows "New Simtropolis" sucks, we'll bring out "Simtropolis Classic!"

Dirk will be raking in millions I say!

[wgb24 20]

simtropolis is still  a good site the reasons  for the nam and other mods bing moved sc4 devotion is because it is easier for the nam tean to be able seprate the nam so the parts that are in beta don't interfare with the nam stuff that is finished.

[Jazzmaster 716]

I plan on playing this game 'till I go to college; but that's just me. It'd be great to see this site expand to newer city-simulation games, then we could still hang around here! It's a great site, and I don't see it as rotting at all.

-Yoshiisland

[patriots_1228 51]

OMGZ! ST IS DYING!!!

every1 lik run!! its gunna blo!!! devotion is lik soooo goood it gunna kill ST!!! da STEX is lik, dead, cuz der no mur NDEX, and 2 much crap, and lik, stuff.....AND DAH FORUMS!! dey to crowded and stuff so lik ya wer gunna die!!!!!!!!::::???!!!???!::::

jk please don't kill me

[SimRabbit 48]

patriots: im gonna get your butt out of your house and shoot the hell out of you just for saying that, im serious. jk

If the NAM, SAM etc are moving to SC4D, that doesn't mean ST is dying, as long as they let us get that stuff mentioned we are fine, both sites are good.

And for god's sake ST isn't dying, i just found a lot of threads on the same topic.

Keep the language decent, masked or not.

-- beebs

[Micah 16]

I think we are past the valley. We approached a hill of tremendous growth when SCS was announced, but since that disappointment, it appears that Cities Unlimited is the mountian that we'll probably be on top of for years to come. It's just my opinion though.

It's been repeated so many times. Simtropolis is not going to die. We've had hundreds of these threads in the past... even in 2004 from what I've been told. Look at all the old faces coming back to the STEX. A lot of the old faces are still here... they just rarely post. I use to be extremely active myself; however, since I have soccer practice and I don't usually get home until 8:30pm, I haven't been as active as much. So, what I'm trying to say is, don't worry... new people will arrive to replace the older ones and sometimes the older faces come back and become active again. It always happens. It's called life.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Ugh, not one of these threads again.

Simtropolis is not going to die!! So many new developments in the community, it will spur growth of the site! And old-time members are coming back, take The Dalai Llama for example, who has been remade a moderator on the site. No one worry!

[Palpatine001 57]

Hmmm I have to agree with Mike and Micah on this one

Being here since the 3.0 days (and boy that is showing mine, derekos, beebs amongst all our admins age (HEY SKI) I have watched as this site grows, go throw growing pains, two sets of BSC vs everyone else wars (sorry but it is rather true) and a tonne of over events that has made being a member here memorial.

Nah this site won't die, just continue to evolve.

I'll probably be posting this again in 2 years on my 6th anniversary here

[drevilshenchman 4]

I've been here for a very, very long time a quite frankly I disagree with you Livinginthepast. In fact, I think simtropolis is more or less the same since 2003 (The only differrence being the color of the forum ).

[Jasoncw 11,949]

I have personally never minded the different versions of Simtropolis, but whenever ST has been redesigned (to improve the site, and to make it fresher) people have totally flipped out.  Some people even permanently left.  Many said that the redesigns would be the doom of Simtropolis.

In the BATing realm, things are advancing a lot.  There are new techniques being researched and refined, and implemented.  Skill of many BATers has flat out increased, and buildings that would have been considered god-like a few years ago are now common.

I don't read CJs very often, but my impression is that CJs have also been evolving, with new things being done, and new amazing CJs and uses of custom content, and stories, and everything else still moving forward.

The community aspect is still moving forward.  Of course it's dynamic, and as the people in the community come and go it will be different, and less or more people will find a certain time preferable, but it is still active and moving forward.

So, I think that Simtropolis is fresh for people who want to see it as fresh.

[City2TheMax 3]

I have to agree with alot of people here that ST is not going to die. However, it would be VERY nice to see some things updated. The STEX, for example, could use an overhaul. I would like to see it designed to be much more flexible to get around in and find great and forgotten BAT's and lots. Maybe the overall look of the site could be changed, just to make it look fresher.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Originally posted by: City2TheMax I have to agree with alot of people here that ST is not going to die. However, it would be VERY nice to see some things updated. The STEX, for example, could use an overhaul. I would like to see it designed to be much more flexible to get around in and find great and forgotten BAT's and lots. Maybe the overall look of the site could be changed, just to make it look fresher.quote>

 

Actually I think the STEX has improved a whole lot over the last few months. Before it was upgraded, it was very hard to search for specific buildings on the STEX. But since then it seems like Dirk has flipped a few switches, and made browsing on the STEX easier. Also, that little search tooltip that pops up while you're searching for something is quite interesting, and beneficial. 

As for the design of the site, there's not much IMO that could be done. All of us have grown accustomed to the site layout and design, and maybe it might be 2 years old already, but the site design is definitely not a priority for change.

[purpledaddy 6]

Granted there are lots of other computer games and fansites out in the sea as it were, but if Simtropolis was truly getting all that tired (yet again... ), then I doubt that Dirk would be courted by the next generation of city sim gamemakers as he is now.

[fern244 1]

people, the answer is simple, simrabbit has said and maybe ill have to repeat. When sim city societies comes out popularity will soar. If this doesnt it will when cities unlimited comes out and wew should make this website for that asd well. If that doesnt work we do have to make a supermod or a huge update to the STEX. And if that doesnt work, the website will die and everyone will switch to devotion! (except the true patriots like me)

[shpangler 19]

yeah i've been here for almost 3 years now (i know i only have like 30 something posts) but to me, with the release of the pictures of Cities Unlimited, there has been much more activity than usual.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Like all living things, this board has its ups and downs.  It can never be perfect because we are not, but it will continue to improve by virtue of the community interaction.

I've been around here for over 4 years, and I am not planning on leaving anytime soon.

[dasilva 3]

Err... don't know if I can share a word on this topic here but well... Based just on the number of responses this thread received in the short period of time, it's just a demonstration on how active this community is

Then, there's always someone in the chat, a lot of content in the STEX, Dirk and the other admins are doing a great job on the site and I really don't see any reason to worry about the future of ST. I only can see a brillant future!

Long life to Simtropolis!

[patriots_1228 51]

guys if this site dies, devotion would go down with it

they are both Simcity sites, so if 175,000 people lose interest in ST, i think 5,000 will lose interest in Devotion. That being said, i don't see death for either in the future. I see devotion overtaking ST in the sc4 department, but i don't think it will be anywhere near as good as ST with the next-gen city building games, just because simtropolis is a little more flexible.

Mikeaut-yep. Ive grown so accustom to the ST layout I have a hard time on other simcity sites getting used to it.