Ryan Gebhart | 22 Jul 2015 7:45 a.m. PST |
After all the years lurking and reading forums here one thing I never understood about TMP was the massive amount of threads and posts linking to outside websites. Most of the other gaming forums I know have severe restrictions on directing their user base to other outside websites. User clicks are revenue and they don't want to lose that revenue to other websites. One huge example is Boardgamegeek, they are awash in cash both from user contributions and advertising revenue. IIRC they are worth anywhere from $1 USDM – $2 USDM (Million!), all from board gamers arguably a much smaller fan base then minis gamers. They have pretty strict rules on linking to outside websites. First few times the moderators will send a warning and delete your link, after that it is increasing numbers of suspensions. Obviously that policy is working very well for them based on their huge growth and income. Only speaking for myself but I like to logon and stay on TMP, I value and appreciate the security and non-intrusive nature of TMP website overall. I don't know how difficult a rule like this would be to implement or code here on TMP. Oh well, we tried….. |
batesmotel34 | 22 Jul 2015 8:02 a.m. PST |
Given that the links are generally obvious if they're to external sites, it seems like a little self control and not clicking on external links is all you need if you're not interested in looking at external sites. As it is, links from TMP normally open in a new tab, so you're not leaving TMP even when you click on a link to an external site. If Bill really thinks he needs to limit external links for his business model, that's one thing. I certainly think it's a bad idea unless it's a real necessity to make TMP work financially. Chris |
Winston Smith | 22 Jul 2015 8:06 a.m. PST |
I see no point in limiting links to other sites. First off, this is not a zero sum game. Putting in a link to Joe Blow's Blogshop gives JBB a hit but does not take any away from TMP. If that is the perception of other sites I find it odd and counterproductive. Secondly, the main reason I came to TMP and stayed here is for the information. I weighed that against the treatment I got in 2011. Heck, one of the main attractions is the manufacturers' listings which is nothing BUT links to outside sites. Could it be updated? Sure. But I still find it valuable. Thirdly, I think you have the relative numbers of board gamers and miniatures gamers completely backwards. No, that is not something we can all agree on. And if you leave out Warhammer and GW gamers who do not see TMP as their main go to site, the numbers become even more disparate. |
doctorphalanx | 22 Jul 2015 8:14 a.m. PST |
Providing links to interesting and useful external references is one of TMP's greatest attractions. |
warwell | 22 Jul 2015 8:20 a.m. PST |
I have found some interesting blogs due to links posted here in TMP. I see no need for a limit. |
John Armatys | 22 Jul 2015 9:04 a.m. PST |
I agree with Dr Phalanx and Warwell, and with Winston Smith's point about the manufacturer's directory. TMP would be a poorer place without the links. |
Weasel | 22 Jul 2015 9:23 a.m. PST |
Understand the concern but probably not in favour. Besides, without all the links to news sites, how would people know what they are supposed to get the vapours about today? |
RavenscraftCybernetics | 22 Jul 2015 10:35 a.m. PST |
|
steamingdave47 | 22 Jul 2015 10:54 a.m. PST |
Just do not understand OP's objection. I have been directed to many sites, blogs, manufacturers, news sites etc, which have been of great interest to me. Leave well alone. |
David Manley | 22 Jul 2015 11:11 a.m. PST |
Such a move would make TMP less interesting for me. As mentioned previously its the sharing of useful info and links that makes this place and others like it worthwhile |
Dynaman8789 | 22 Jul 2015 11:49 a.m. PST |
I'm in the no category, one of the best things about TMP is not limiting outside links. |
Umpapa | 22 Jul 2015 12:55 p.m. PST |
|
Flashman14 | 22 Jul 2015 1:04 p.m. PST |
|
Mako11 | 22 Jul 2015 1:12 p.m. PST |
I agree on the no limits, but do understand the concern. What especially annoys me in many cases is a single line of text, no photo(s), and suggesting that I click on the link for more info about their game, products, narrative, theories, etc.. If you can't provide more info here, and at least a single pic, unless it is something I'm really interested in, I can't be bothered, so frequently won't click on it, as a general rule. Why should I bother if the original poster can't be? |
Jcfrog | 22 Jul 2015 1:32 p.m. PST |
External links, first. Via the magic manuf data base are the salt of Tmp, not the chat. Information in 2015 is via links, a lot. Boardgamers, if they have non historical, German type family gamers, no doubt they have a huge base. Then even if I am registred there, if I find the code, almost never go. Links also free space for the site, pictures AAR etc. that can be initiated here to their site. That also is the point of this forum. How many boardgamers blogs around? |
The G Dog | 22 Jul 2015 4:25 p.m. PST |
I have zero interest in seeing restrictions on links to external sites. It's the easy way to share information and point out items of interest. Years ago, when I had a kludgy PC, I was not a fan of links as they took forever to load. But in today's environment, links are a big part of what makes TMP work as a community hub. |
Garryowen | 22 Jul 2015 5:18 p.m. PST |
No limits. I go to TMP virtually every day. One of the reasons IS the links to other products and ideas. With limits I would be less likely to log on to TMP nearly as often. Tom |
Weasel | 22 Jul 2015 7:24 p.m. PST |
I do agree with Mako. One link with no discussion = no click. |
Bunkermeister | 22 Jul 2015 9:45 p.m. PST |
|
Tango01 | 22 Jul 2015 11:36 p.m. PST |
I support the checking on Mike blog!! (smile) Amicalement Armand |
combatpainter | 23 Jul 2015 1:34 p.m. PST |
|
Weasel | 23 Jul 2015 7:09 p.m. PST |
|
Stepman3 | 24 Jul 2015 5:31 a.m. PST |
I don't mind the links, but maybe require a little bit of info as to what the link may be would be helpful…There is one particular poster that often puts a subject title/header then in the messages body provides "LINK" with no other info… |
Marshal Amherst | 24 Jul 2015 6:02 a.m. PST |
"I go to TMP virtually every day. One of the reasons IS the links to other products and ideas. With limits I would be less likely to log on to TMP nearly as often." In this case is it like using TMP as a newsfeed aggregator and not a discussion based forum? Has TMP become now simply a portal to other off-site blogs and manufacturer websites? "How many boardgamers blogs around?"
This is an interesting question. I would say not many precisely because BGG dominates the boardgaming sphere. The boardgamers don't need blogs when they can go to BGG for everything. Even Consimworld, older clunkier software than TMP, provides space for individual "blogs" (really just forums). So the board wargamers stay on CSW, either on the respective individual game and game company forums or in their favorite blogs. They almost never venture off the site. In both instances BGG and CSW take care to hold on tightly to their user base. Is this the case with TMP? Can TMP do better? |
David Manley | 24 Jul 2015 2:47 p.m. PST |
|
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 24 Jul 2015 10:42 p.m. PST |
I don't think there should be a limit. These links basically fall under two broad categories: (a) Links to wargaming blogs of TMP members who share their batreps and AAR's, or showing off their recently painted miniatures and models. There are also links to KS projects "of interest." (b) Non-wargaming related links. For instance, I have a movie review blog that I sometimes link on the Movies board or other Media boards when someone starts a topic on a movie. Other TMP members have done the same for book and game reviews. There are also links to funny Youtube or other videos. The most "objectionable" of the non-wargaming links seems to be those on the Ultramodern board, but many people don't mind them at all. Why do I think there should be no limits? Because since its inception TMP has become sooo much more than a mere miniature wargaming forum, just like how Amazon has become sooo much more than simply an online bookseller. If you look at the TMP topics on any given day, you'll no doubt find that many of them have little or nothing to do with wargaming at all. |
normsmith | 24 Jul 2015 10:44 p.m. PST |
Boardgamegeek has its own internal blog system and what we might think of as 'boards' exist on a huge scale. The user base for BGG is massive, not because of some board wargames but because of the more family and group orientated Euro style game. There is also a cross-over of those that both board wargame and figure game and they will be using four or five sites on a daily basis. TMP is audience gets a big boost from the modelling and figure collector community and I think they really do need external links and that TMP provides them with a useful hub to get those links. The Lead Adventure Forum recently did a survey as to how much gaming wargamers actually did. The number of people who still consider themselves as wargamers, but actually game so little that they are in reality more like collectors and modellers, was an eye opener. So the potential TMP audience is very diverse and is looking for diversity in its reading material. The proliferation of blogs and such-like is substantial and most will already post their links across several sites. It is a singularly superb source of information and eye candy, which helps TMP. Bloggers are not going to run their own blogs (often substantial work) and then feel that they somehow have to reproduce that same information to fit a TMP (or BGG) internal blogging system. If those external links were not here, users would go to another site which did have them, simply because we all want to link in to the widest world as possible. I agree that good information needs to be in the opening post so that a person can decide whether they want to click or not. I am a boardgamer and figure gamer and I daily (more than once) visit TMP, BGG, Consimworld, Lead Adventure Forum, The Guild and The Wargames Website. I run a well visited blog which has fairly substantial articles in it and a paid for website that has more snippet based comments in it. TMP and Consimworld provide the biggest audiences at more than a third each and all the other sites and Google etc draw in the others. If TMP went to an internal only forum, I would most likely stop blogging and just become a consumer instead because I would not reproduce my stuff in two places and the amount of work I do on the blog would not justify an audience that was TMP only or that was everything else and excluded TMP. Link to my blog – to prove a point! link Link to my webpage – a snippet alternative to the blog – commanders.simdif.com Have a look at the post 'Comparing tactical systems' on the blog – select from the top 6 list of popular post in the right panel. That was a huge under-taking and that sort of thing simply would not happen if the potential audience was limited to TMP or excluded it. |
StarfuryXL5 | 30 Jul 2015 4:00 p.m. PST |
|
14Bore | 01 Aug 2015 1:58 p.m. PST |
No limits, it's one of best things here for information. |