"TMP New Policy" Topic

Many of us want to read about this mysterious New Policy.
So here it is.. from here.. TMP Link

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1. We could ban non-advertisers from using the TMP forums to announce their new products.

That would make some of our advertisers happier, and might convince more companies to become advertisers. But some non-advertisers would just stop using the forums, which would be disappointing for our members. Also, it would be easy to do an 'end run' around the policy, so that a company might ask their fans to post about their new products, or use a sock puppet account, or hope a TMP member might post about their new products.

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2. We could ban all new product announcements from the forum, by companies or members.

This would force all hobby news to go through the Hobby News system. The forums would be less cluttered, and would focus more on gaming than on the latest products. It would also get rid of some duplication, where people currently post news on the forum that has already been covered in Hobby News.

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I also asked from Bill that what mean "It would also get rid of some duplication"? Can users talk about Hobby News on Forums on it is forbbiden and what is in Hobby News, stays in Hobby News?

Answer is: "It means Hobby News goes into one place – Hobby News. A Hobby News story is not duplicated on the forum. This enables the forum to be focused on actual GAMING. Big improvement."

Unfortunately this gives no answer to question – are users allowed to talk about Hobby News on Forums. Can we post links to Hobby News on Forums?

"The forums would be less cluttered, and would focus more on gaming than on the latest products."

The thing is, I'm not a gamer. I don't give a stuff about rule sets, I just buy and paint toy soldiers. I want to know what the latest products are, and I want to hear other's opinions about them. That's why I visit TMP and pay a subscription.

I just buy and paint toy soldiers. I want to know what the latest products are, and I want to hear other's opinions about them.

plus 1

Unfortunately this gives no answer to question – are users allowed to talk about Hobby News on Forums. Can we post links to Hobby News on Forums?

Hobby News has its own forum. Discuss Hobby News there, not on the main forum.

Plus one to both Lambert and von Schwartz.

I come to TMP for information and reviews on things I buy or might buy.

"Hobby News has its own forum. Discuss Hobby News there, not on the main forum."

Well.. how then users will know, that there are something new on Hobby News?
You are well aware, that most of users don't visit Hobby News at all.

And Hobby News don't have its own forum. At least I can't find this.
There are commenting possibility behind every Hobby News posting, yes, without seeing the content of Hobby News posting there.

But nowhere I can found such forum there what clues together separate Hobby News postings to one story. This is why main Forums still needed.

Your idea works well with one time announcements but absolutely not with covering endless processes.

If you want to separate figures from gaming then two forums needed.
Give to figurelovers and collectors true Forum, inside Hobby News or elsewere, and all will be happy.

Otherwise we need main Forum to tell stories and to inform conversation partners that we already answered to their forbidden questions about figures on Hobby News and they will see the answer tomorrow. Also the main forum is now the only place, where users physically are able to ask such questions at all. They are not advertisers and can't post their questions through Hobby News announcements.

May I suggest New Policy after current New Policy fails?

The goal of current New Policy is to get fee from advertisers.
For this the advertising is made to not user friendly and added work to editors.

May be it is better to add less works to editors, do advertising user friendly and get more fees from advertisers and supporting members?

We need only 3 points to follow.

1. All people can read Forums as always.
2. Registered users can write comments on existing topics.
3. Supporting members and advertisers can start topics.

Forums already are divided to sections: game reports; previews; galleries etc.
We only need to add sections for advertise and promotion events.
And if all themed topics are also crossposted to Discussion section, all users, editors and advertisers will be happy. Also money comes and nobody can't complain about free advertise.

"You are well aware, that most of users don't visit Hobby News at all."

Not judging, just curious. I'm wondering why this is the case?
All of us love new and shiny stuff, so why would you skip the HOBBY NEWS?
Even if you are rather focused in your interests, it seems an obvious place to visit, even just for the nice pictures.
Personally I like to see all the new stuff even if they are not my thing.

It seems little trouble to set up your page so they automatically appear at the top. And it takes but a second to scroll by if you're not interested.

I do, however, think advertisers should be able to post in the boards also.

"so why would you skip the HOBBY NEWS?"

Because this is advertising. The same as skip advertising in TV.

Hey I'd watch TV advertising if it was all about miniatures! :)

True. If main TV programm is anything else but not about miniatures.
This is Bill's goal – to promote Hobby News section, forbidding any talks about miniatures on forums.

Unhappily the Hobby News section is not ready for such task.

I almost never go to the Hobby News section. Half the time I don't even remember it exists and bookmarked the direct forums.

Is the Hobby News section even searchable…?

Because this is advertising. The same as skip advertising in TV.

So you want to know about new things, but you don't want to see the announcements about them?