Where did everyone go?

[Lufia Erim]

So it's no secret that the escapist forums have bbeen slowing down. There are many reasons as to why this is, but that isn't what this thread i about.

What i want to know is :

where did they go?

Is there another website that people flock to?
Has there been an increase in traffic in other places?
Did everyone just go to twitter or other social media?
Is there a new secret society of gaming website that i am unaware of?

As a bonus question have you personally been frequenting another place as well as here?

 

[Catnip1024]

Canada. They all kept their promises and went to Canada. Turns out, they are having so much fun outdoors, they don't need the internet any more. They say you should have all moved there years ago.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

​

Canada. They all kept their promises and went to Canada. Turns out, they are having so much fun outdoors, they don't need the internet any more. They say you should have all moved there years ago.

Ah you think cold is your ally? You merely adopted the winter. I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the sun until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but scorching!

 

[DoPo]

Is there another website that people flock to?
Has there been an increase in traffic in other places?
Did everyone just go to twitter or other social media?
Is there a new secret society of gaming website that i am unaware of?

I think it's much much less exciting. I don't doubt at all that some people would have done one or more of the above but, in reality I suspect most of the time they merely stopped posting here. From all my wanderings around the interwebs I suspect that's exactly what they did. I've visited other forums before, I've left a bunch, too - I've also seen a lot of people leave. What usually happens is that people visit more than one place and just stop visiting one.

It's somewhat rare that people just move to a different place or flock or whatever. Forums are not some sort of exclusive deal where you can only choose one. In fact, if two (or more) forums cater to your interests, you may as well visit multiple just because you like those things the forums are about. If one becomes boring - whatever, you just stop visiting and otherwise keep the rest as normal.

As a bonus question have you personally been frequenting another place as well as here?

Yes, I have. I've actually been on GameFAQs for a lo-o-o-ong while. It was actually my first web forum I joined and I'm still visiting daily.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I did notice the lack of activities especially when the thread I had made had went longer than I thought (in saying so it did get abit derail). I originally thought it's simply Christmas as in everybody are elsewhere than to post something on here. Since Christmas is over now I am thinking something else.

 

[Saelune]

This site is at this point a group of almost purely regulars. It is very rare for any new members to show their faces. Not saying they do not exist, but they either do not make accounts, or do not post. Hell, some people only post in certain forums.

I thought FalloutJack bailed, but apparently he retreated into the RP forum and hasnt come out. Ya know what, I will go in and get him, aw mah gawd...

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

People move on, sadly. The site, through no one individuals fault, has been going down hill. Shows/content are leaving, traffic is down, #GamerGate gutted the forums with protest quits and purges for all the toxic 'drink bleach cuck!' talk and people no longer care about Who would Win or Would you Date X forums.

Some of us kept out heads down and survived, but some of the spark is gone. I used to be super negative and get lots of traffic going with everyone telling me how negative I am. Then 2015/16 happened and everyone is on my level that the new gen sucks, wasn't needed, we were lied to about features, and most new games suck. So there isn't a whole lot for me to do.

 

[PainInTheAssInternet]

Grew up or moved out. It'll happen to all of us eventually if this place doesn't just get shut down.

 

[Cycloptomese]

By my observations, it's been slowing down steadily since gamergate. People just disappear sometimes. I did it myself once in an MMO. I had a dozen friends at least who I'd known and talked with most everyday for like two years. One day, I just up and disappeared. It happens.

 

[Zhukov]

Reddit and Youtube.

I'd probably join the exodus if I didn't hate Reddit's thread format so much.

 

[Silvanus]

The loss of almost all the site's content is the primary contributor to The Escapist's ever-dwindling userbase.

Another factor would be politicisation. Gamergate resulted in more than a few long-term posters quitting (some on principle, and others because of an upswing in aggressive behaviour). The image of the board also went down externally-- partly due to other gaming news sites mentioning it in the context of Gamergate, though Archon being a blow-hard on Twitter towards criticism can't have helped matters.

We also have the relatively-minor contributory factor of mod disagreement, but it's difficult to gauge that. I'd be surprised if many people picked up their backpacks and walked out over that. People disagree with mods on every board.

 

[Lufia Erim]

The loss of almost all the site's content is the primary contributor to The Escapist's ever-dwindling userbase.

Another factor would be politicisation. Gamergate resulted in more than a few long-term posters quitting (some on principle, and others because of an upswing in aggressive behaviour). The image of the board also went down externally-- partly due to other gaming news sites mentioning it in the context of Gamergate, though Archon being a blow-hard on Twitter towards criticism can't have helped matters.

Oh i know why. After gamergate all hell broke loose, but im wondering where they went.

 

[Silvanus]

Oh i know why. After gamergate all hell broke loose, but im wondering where they went.

If I had to guess, I'd speculate that some of them didn't truly leave the site altogether, just the forum-- but remain active in usergroups exclusively, due to acquaintances they've made.

Others, to Reddit. Specialist gaming sites aren't great for forums. My money's on Reddit, if indeed a competitor has absorbed the leavers.

 

[Fox12]

They all got married and found respectable jobs. We're what's left.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

Into my shell

and 4chan

 

[Zontar]

Oh i know why. After gamergate all hell broke loose, but im wondering where they went.

Probably to YouTube. That's the real killer of sites like these. These places rely on their original content, mostly in video form, but YouTube is a one-stop-shop for stuff like that and the interactions one gets from the videos are paralleled in the comment section (only without moderation).

It didn't help matters that talent drain has left a void that still hasn't been filled. While I hate to admit it, for whatever reason Bob and Jim had a noteworthy enough following that their leaving had an effect on the place (never let anyone tell you popularity = quality) and while I like Yatzee and I really love the fact they brought on Cecil (who incidentally announced he was coming here the day after I'd finished marathoning his channel and subbing to him) but they just don't cut it and the place needs more talent. They really should try to have two videos made for featured content each weekday by reaching out to YouTubers (they did try this it seems, but given how what we where getting was months old Game Theory videos and Honest Video Game Trailers that where the same day and on their YouTube channel people noticed them leaving as much as they did their arrival: not at all).

 

[09philj]

Reddit and Youtube.

I'd probably join the exodus if I didn't hate Reddit's thread format so much.

It's alright on small subreddits, but they're all weird special interest things.

 

[MeatMachine]

I go to 4chan for chaotic fun, and come here when I want to discuss matters somewhat seriously and honestly. If I have game-specific topics, I take them to their respective Steam discussion pages. So yeah, the Escapist forums are largely redundant for me, but neither dead nor without its purpose.

The only two forums I've abandoned were the Newgrounds forums and the Age of Empires 2 - Heavengames forums.

 

[Sassafrass]

To pastures new.

I've been here just over 7 years, on and off over the last 3 or 4. The place just doesn't hold the same lusture any more for me. Youtube is way more interesting for content, and the shit I want to talk about is on Reddit. I still do float around the odd user group now and then, but almost everyone I'm close with chat to me on Skype, Discord or Steam.

Basically, the shit that made me enjoy the site, post like a fucking lunatic and keep coming back left. And I went with it, occasionally dropping in for a visit every now and then if something interesting catches my eye.

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

I took an extended sabbatical a few years ago because I was tired of the kerfuffle around Sarkessian et al. Apparently I left just before Gamergate became a thing, so I dodged a bullet in that respect.

I suspect a lot of other posters had the same reaction. The only reason forums exist is so people can talk to people, and if the conversation is dominated by he-said-she-said shitflinging coming from all directions, there's not much incentive to get involved.