Poll: Topic Redundancy and the Case for the Megathread

[Horticulture]

If you've poked your head into Gaming Discussion after the release of a hotly-anticipated game, you've probably seen something like the following:

a selection from the first page in Gaming Discussion

While the Escapist forums were young, multiple threads regarding similar topics offered a way for a subject to be approached independently from several angles; for the same game to be looked at through different lenses. Now that the forums are, as some have observed, becoming more mature (read: larger), it leads to what we see above. With threads being buried so quickly, it's increasingly likely that multiple threads will be started for the same topic, which of course feeds the problem.

It seems to me that megathreads (single, large threads about a given game), at least for games that generate similar attention to Mass Effect and Modern Warfare, are a good idea. It'd make the problem of thread burial less extreme and make it a lot easier to avoid repeating the same discussion verbatim five times in five different threads. While it's true that the megathread has been attempted before [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.155125-The-Everything-MewTwo-Modern-Warfare-2-Thread], if mods and the community are willing to put some work into reporting and merging duplicate threads I think it'll work out for the best.

I've included a poll to see how widely my views are shared, make sure to vote if you have a strong opinion.

 

[BonsaiK]

I agree that one big overarching thread is better than lots of small ones. Feel free to take matters into your own hands and make such a thread about your favourite topic.

Be aware that mods to an extent already do exactly what you are suggesting. Yes, they possibly could do it more, but I guess for mods time is an issue, it's not like they get paid after all.

 

[Erana]

I think it just... Well, it depends.
With new releases, megathreads are prolly the way to go. However, a OP on the topic of a hot new game that would not dissolve into a general discussion of the title as a whole should be allowed to stand on its own.
Part of this has to do with the users themselves- if what you're going to post has already been said in the thread- or in the case of a hot topic, in a similar thread -then simply do not post. That would avoid derailing a similar-but-different thread from losing its relevance. If little is to be discussed, then the thread will simply disappear into the depths of the forum.

 

[Sassafrass]

I agree with BonsaiK. A big thread like the MW2 one is a very good idea to apply to ME2 and maybe Bioshock 2 and FF XIII in the future as well given the high profile of both those games.

 

[Spaghetti]

The megathread idea makes sense, but not everyone is going to want to talk about the same thing. People will want to discuss endings at the same time other people are discussing graphics or story or game play aspects. It could easily turn into a cluster-fudge.

But something does need to be done. I think I've posted on 5 "How did ME2 end for you?" threads...

 

[Timotei]

I agree with BonsaiK. A big thread like the MW2 one is a very good idea to apply to ME2 and maybe Bioshock 2 and FF XIII in the future as well given the high profile of both those games.

What about Half Life 2: Episode 3? Just imagine what the review section will be like.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

High profile games should have a dedicated Megathread. I wonder how little new threads we'd see then, probably a fair decline. But for the best no doubt. I think that use of the Search Bar should be encouraged a little more too... and the punishment should be removing the privelidge to post new topics.

 

[grimsprice]

I agree with BonsaiK. A big thread like the MW2 one is a very good idea to apply to ME2 and maybe Bioshock 2 and FF XIII in the future as well given the high profile of both those games.

What about Half Life 2: Episode 3? Just imagine what the review section will be like.

This website will probably have been forgotten to the annals of history by the time that game is out. I plan to look through a telescope at our first moon colony before i play that game.

OT: The megathread idea seems to work on paper, but it just doesn't in practice. As much as we use the sayings, i'd wager that less than 1% of the members here use the search bar for anything but bashing on someone for not using it.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I agree with BonsaiK. A big thread like the MW2 one is a very good idea to apply to ME2 and maybe Bioshock 2 and FF XIII in the future as well given the high profile of both those games.

What about Half Life 2: Episode 3? Just imagine what the review section will be like.

This website will probably have been forgotten to the annals of history by the time that game is out. I plan to look through a telescope at our first moon colony before i play that game.

OT: The megathread idea seems to work on paper, but it just doesn't in practice. As much as we use the sayings, i'd wager that less than 1% of the members here use the search bar for anything but bashing on someone for not using it.

I thought that was what it was there for...

 

[Beastialman]

How about subforums for the gaming thread, one for 360, one for PS3, One for PC, and another for Wii.

 

[DoctorNick]

If there are multiple active threads on the same damn topic then yes, that is annoying and should be avoided. That doesn't mean I would collect all 'Half-Life II Episode Three' threads or whatever into one giant overarching megathread, but I would take all the ones of similar topics like 'When Is Episode Three Going To Come Out?' and lump those together.

However, while this might just be a cultural artifact impressed upon me from the first forum* I ever posted on way back when, but I find necro-posting to be equally annoying. If a thread has been dead for a week or so then leave it be.

Yes, I do happen to hate it when three or four people in a row go on about using the search bar for a topic that died a couple weeks ago.

*-[small]WereNet if anyone cares, it is defunct now.[/small]

 

[Sneaklemming]

megathreads are baaaaaad. They stifle discussion. Variety good.

 

[Kollega]

I agree. Maybe two megathreads per game - one for people discussing story, and another for everything else, so there will be no cases of accidentially spoiling a plot twist or whatever.

What about Half Life 2: Episode 3? Just imagine what the review section will be like.

This website will probably have been forgotten to the annals of history by the time that game is out. I plan to look through a telescope at our first moon colony before i play that game.

Very unfortunately, you couldn't actually *see* it (and by that i mean moon colony, not Episode 3) from down here. That would require a telescope with 100-metre diameter. But it's still a good metaphor nontheless.

 

[Souplex]

We should only have megathreads if I make them.

 

[Inverse Skies]

I seem to recall Wilson making an official Escapist Watchmen thread when the interest surrounding that resulted in the creation of a disasterous amount of generic Watchmen-esque threads. Although I've never had any interest in Watchmen and didn't visit the thread, from memory it had quite a few hits and seemed to hover around the first page for quite sometime.

I believe this sort of thing would best be done by a moderator setting up the megathread, possibly with it being stickied or the creation of a new forum just for megathreads which cover content so popular that too many threads are popping up about it. It's the sort of idea which could work very well, however it needs some sort of official sanction to make it work properly. You or I couldn't create one and have it work, the moderators must take charge if the idea is to be successful.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Megathreads work, I've seen them work. I wonder why Mass Effect 2 never got one?

I seem to recall Wilson making an official Escapist Watchmen thread when the interest surrounding that resulted in the creation of a disasterous amount of generic Watchmen-esque threads. Although I've never had any interest in Watchmen and didn't visit the thread, from memory it had quite a few hits and seemed to hover around the first page for quite sometime.

You should read Watchmen though, it's one of the better graphic novels. Regardless, I do agree that Megathreads should be made by Mods and only Mods.

 

[Tattaglia]

We had a perfect example for Fallout 3. There were a few leftover threads about it but for the most part the mod-created/endorsed Megathread worked out fine, I think totalling in at 1000 posts. I could check it but I am far too lazy.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I don't think a megathread is a good idea. Although it can get annoying seeing a hundred ME2 threads pop up right when the game is released, you can choose which ones to read and post in. I generally only tend to bother with threads that have less than a few pages of replies if making a first post. If there is some Megathread on an issue I like I don't really want to read 12 pages of posts before posting so I don't bring up some issue that was already brought up 6 pages ago.
Maybe a common section in the forums for repeat threads?