Wait, what? Why?

[Tel Prydain]

Okay, so now there is CoG, PIRI, CO, IM and ingame-chat? How does that help? Five sites – assuming that we aren’t also checking back at Ev Av now and then. Bugger that.

I kinda hoped that each site would function on it’s own, but use CoG as a unified forum. As it is, it really just leaves me out in the cold a little more. I’d have loved to see one place for us all to gather – each site could have a site-specific sub-forum while we share the social and gaming forums.

I already visit PIRI, evilavatar.com, and buttonmasher.co.nz (a Kiwi site). I miss the folk off at the other sites, but there are just too many. Quite the disappointment.

[AgtFox]

Even if we were going or planning to do what you're talking about, there was no way it would have been in place at time of opening with CoG. For what we got done in the little amount of time we had I'm very proud of it. Obviously we are still working on things including how things will be connected.

[Tel Prydain]

Even if we were going or planning to do what you're talking about, there was no way it would have been in place at time of opening with CoG. For what we got done in the little amount of time we had I'm very proud of it. Obviously we are still working on things including how things will be connected.

Don't get me wrong, Foxy. I wish you guys all the best - but I just don't have the time to visit all these sites. Not if I want time to actually play the odd game too.
:o

[Ten19]

I kinda hoped that each site would function on it’s own, but use CoG as a unified forum.
And, aside from PIRI, how is this not the case as was stated? Clearly we can't mash all the sites into one mega site any time soon, but the idea was for CoG to be the central forum hub. You don't HAVE to visit any site you don't want to, sheesh.

[Goronmon]

You don't HAVE to visit any site you don't want to, sheesh.I think part of the resistance comes from the fact that people want to participate in the entire community encompassing all the sites together. They don't want to have to choose between spending their time on the forums here, on PIRI, on IM, or on Co-Optimus.

[Ten19]

I think part of the resistance comes from the fact that people want to participate in the entire community encompassing all the sites together. They don't want to have to choose between spending their time on the forums here, on PIRI, on IM, or on Co-Optimus.

Then I hope those same people realize that the current arrangement is not the final solution. CoG hasn't even been officially live for 24 hours. I'm pretty sure all the parties involved want to work on tighter integration as soon as they can. It's just not going to be today.

[torrefaction]

I think part of the resistance comes from the fact that people want to participate in the entire community encompassing all the sites together. They don't want to have to choose between spending their time on the forums here, on PIRI, on IM, or on Co-Optimus.

That's exactly it. I don't know why, but it feels like it's hard to get this message across.

For all intents and purposes, CoG is just another site added to the fray. When I started to hear news trickle out, I was hoping for more.

*Edit*

@Ten19: I think that's part of the issue. It strikes me that launching CoG was reactionary and could have negative long term repercussions for some of the sites wrapped up in it. I sure hope I'm wrong, obviously. But it doesn't seem that way so far. The work that would have been required for *only* forum integrations (taking away single sign on), would've been worth it given the message of unification that would've come across.

I'm in NO WAY knocking the hard work I'm sure went into the site launch. I know how hard that stuff is. I'm just, like others, expressing some disappointment and concern.

[Psykoboy2]

and ingame-chat?

Psst...we have our own forums (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/forumdisplay.php?f=16) here.

You can comment on shows at our site if you like, or just make a comment in our section here on CoG.

[Tel Prydain]

That's exactly it. I don't know why, but it feels like it's hard to get this message across.

For all intents and purposes, CoG is just another site added to the fray. When I started to hear news trickle out, I was hoping for more.

*Edit*

@Ten19: I think that's part of the issue. It strikes me that launching CoG was reactionary and could have negative long term repercussions for some of the sites wrapped up in it. I sure hope I'm wrong, obviously. But it doesn't seem that way so far. The work that would have been required for *only* forum integrations (taking away single sign on), would've been worth it given the message of unification that would've come across.

I'm in NO WAY knocking the hard work I'm sure went into the site launch. I know how hard that stuff is. I'm just, like others, expressing some disappointment and concern.
I often rely on other folk to restate my position with more eloquence. Thanks, torre. :D

[Tayaya]

I have to agree with the OP on this one. I don't see the necessity in having so many different sites, each with their own individual forums. I was a happier guy when EvAv was the place to go for Forums, PiRi was for user feedback on various games, and the other sites good for their own "special focus" type of material. I just finished packing up and moving from EvAv to PiRi, and now it seems like everyone wants us to come here for forums as well, but Siraris at the same time believes his own forums are going to grow and change alongside these.

I can understand wanting to leave EvAv behind. That's cool, but if so then everyone needs to pick a new "central hub" and stick with it, I think. I don't have time to read 5 forums AND 5 news sites every day. I do have a life outside of my computer desk, and it just makes it easier to keep track of discussions when they're all, you know, in the same place.

For a group that always criticized Sony's Multi-SKU strategy, this isn't something I should have to explain... would've expected it to be sorted out before launching forums on all these different sites.

Multiple sites with their own content - cool. They don't ALL need Forums, though.

[bapenguin]

I have to agree with the OP on this one. I don't see the necessity in having so many different sites, each with their own individual forums. I was a happier guy when EvAv was the place to go for Forums, PiRi was for user feedback on various games, and the other sites good for their own "special focus" type of material. I just finished packing up and moving from EvAv to PiRi, and now it seems like everyone wants us to come here for forums as well, but Siraris at the same time believes his own forums are going to grow and change alongside these.

Because each site ISN'T a forum. Each site just happens to have forums with their own focus. You don't have to post there, each one will do fine to build their own community. CoG is the ties that bind everything together. It's a way to introduce people to general content, and show them sites that are more specific for content they want.

Co-Op Gaming? Co-Optimus.
Comics? Johnny Giggawatt
Gaming Commentary Podcast? IGC
User Reviews? Play It Review It
PC Hardware and Games? Immortal Machines

Perhaps someone starts a movie site we like that's part of this community, we can bring them in. Maybe a Politics and Religion site - we can bring them in too.

CoG is and will be the hub for it all. Nobody is asking you to read 5 sites, frankly we'd be fucking morons to ask you to do that.

A community doesn't have to be one house - a community can be a street of houses.

[Tayaya]

Co-Op Gaming? Co-Optimus.
Comics? Johnny Giggawatt
Gaming Commentary Podcast? IGC
User Reviews? Play It Review It
PC Hardware and Games? Immortal Machines

Perhaps someone starts a movie site we like that's part of this community, we can bring them in. Maybe a Politics and Religion site - we can bring them in too.

CoG is and will be the hub for it all. Nobody is asking you to read 5 sites, frankly we'd be fucking morons to ask you to do that.

A community doesn't have to be one house - a community can be a street of houses.

Here's the problem. Your argument makes sense... or at least WOULD make sense if the topic lists at EvAv, CoG, and PiRi weren't all identical. When i first went to PiRi's forums the other day, I felt it was exactly the same as EvAv... just in different colors. When I look at the ones here, again it's all divided and organized with the exact same layout. So while each form is intended to carry a certain foucus, in reality each forum offers the same topics-of-discussion that all of the other sites offer.

I think that's where the OP's initial frustration comes from. If he wants to talk about general discussion about console games, he's got at least 3 sites I can think of, all with the same group of users (EvAv, PiRi, and CoG), all with general "console gaming" areas. If the other sites (which I haven't made forum accounts on yet) have a "console gaming" general area as well, then... well you can see why it would be frustrating.

If the forums were more tailored for the content of their respective sites, yes that would be great, and "the way things should be." But as it stands, that's not the way things are.

"General" topics like the Movies, Home Theater, Politics & Religion... that stuff should probably only be on one of the 5 forums.... I don't see a need for PiRi to have them if those forums are for "game feedback and review," as an example.

Does that make more sense?

[Voodoo]

Here's the problem. Your argument makes sense... or at least WOULD make sense if the topic lists at EvAv, CoG, and PiRi weren't all identical. When i first went to PiRi's forums the other day, I felt it was exactly the same as EvAv... just in different colors. When I look at the ones here, again it's all divided and organized with the exact same layout. So while each form is intended to carry a certain foucus, in reality each forum offers the same topics-of-discussion that all of the other sites offer.

I think that's where the OP's initial frustration comes from. If he wants to talk about general discussion about console games, he's got at least 3 sites I can think of, all with the same group of users (EvAv, PiRi, and CoG), all with general "console gaming" areas. If the other sites (which I haven't made forum accounts on yet) have a "console gaming" general area as well, then... well you can see why it would be frustrating.

If the forums were more tailored for the content of their respective sites, yes that would be great, and "the way things should be." But as it stands, that's not the way things are.

"General" topics like the Movies, Home Theater, Politics & Religion... that stuff should probably only be on one of the 5 forums.... I don't see a need for PiRi to have them if those forums are for "game feedback and review," as an example.

Does that make more sense?

It does make sense. But, keep in mind that the only other site of the network that also has forums quite similar to this one is PIRI. Please don't toss in the other sites of the network as if we are all doing the same thing. Since I can talk about Immortal Machines, our primary focus is PC Gaming yet people choose to come to CoG or PIRI even and talk about PC Gaming in the forums. It doesn't bother us, it is a personal choice.

We run IM to offer a place for those that enjoy PC Centric sites and as long as those people exist so shall we. :)

Also, why are you complaining about PIRI on CoG? Shouldn't you be bringing this up with the admin of PIRI? It is quite obvious now that CoG is the hub, not PIRI.
Because each site ISN'T a forum. Each site just happens to have forums with their own focus. You don't have to post there, each one will do fine to build their own community. CoG is the ties that bind everything together. It's a way to introduce people to general content, and show them sites that are more specific for content they want.

Co-Op Gaming? Co-Optimus.
Comics? Johnny Giggawatt
Gaming Commentary Podcast? IGC
User Reviews? Play It Review It
PC Hardware and Games? Immortal Machines

Perhaps someone starts a movie site we like that's part of this community, we can bring them in. Maybe a Politics and Religion site - we can bring them in too.

CoG is and will be the hub for it all. Nobody is asking you to read 5 sites, frankly we'd be fucking morons to ask you to do that.

A community doesn't have to be one house - a community can be a street of houses.
Quite right and quoted for emphasis.

[Tel Prydain]

Just sad, is all. If I want to see what people think of Fallout I'll have to vist IM to see Voodoo, CoG or CO to see what BAP this and my own possie over at PIRI to see what they think.
The comunity that was, is no more.

[pomeroy]

Just sad, is all. If I want to see what people think of Fallout I'll have to vist IM to see Voodoo, CoG or CO to see what BAP this and my own possie over at PIRI to see what they think.
The comunity that was, is no more.

Really? It seems like the gang's all here...

[Banacek]

I agree with you Tel. (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=116)

[Heretic Machine]

Well, believe what you want, but I see 65+ people logged in here through-out most of the day. This makes for a fine ex-EvAver social hub. If you want to be more involved with certain segments of the community, they now have their own niche.

[J Arcane]

Just sad, is all. If I want to see what people think of Fallout I'll have to vist IM to see Voodoo, CoG or CO to see what BAP this and my own possie over at PIRI to see what they think.
The comunity that was, is no more.
I don't see why in hell you'd need to do that. Everyone on IM is already here, everyone on every other site is already here, the only hold outs I'm seeing are from PIRI.

Frankly I think you're blowing this out of proportion.

[Grifter]

Even the guys from PiRi are here they just don't post as much as they do on PiRi. I'm sure if they see something they feel the need to comment on they will.

[AgtFox]

Just sad, is all. If I want to see what people think of Fallout I'll have to vist IM to see Voodoo, CoG or CO to see what BAP this and my own possie over at PIRI to see what they think.
The comunity that was, is no more.
Well, first off Fallout 3 wouldn't be covered at CO since I don't believe it has co-op gaming in it.

[Ten19]

Just sad, is all. If I want to see what people think of Fallout I'll have to vist IM to see Voodoo, CoG or CO to see what BAP this and my own possie over at PIRI to see what they think.
The comunity that was, is no more.

If you want to see what people think of Fallout you go to CoG. We're all here and this is where the central discussion will be happening for everything. How many times do we have repeat this to you until you stop with your doomsday posts?

[Banacek]

If you want to see what people think of Fallout you go to CoG. We're all here and this is where the central discussion will be happening for everything. How many times do we have repeat this to you until you stop with your doomsday posts?

When are you going to stop telling him that his opinion is wrong? The internet is a competitive place, fracturing the user base isn't a good idea. I had to post the same post twice today. Most likely I'm just going to stop posting at the other forums altogether. I'm not the only one.

[rein]

I think sites like PIRI, Co-Optimus, and the others will benefit from being part of the COG hub rather than being individual sites. I am sure when COG gets bigger, it will generate more users for those sites rather than pull away from them. I was already lurking at Co-Optimus quite a bit while being at EvAv. It was a benefit for Co-Optimus to have that connection to EvAv because that is how I found it. I also bounced to IM and PIRI now and again because of their connection to people at EvAv. I am sure the founders of those sites put a lot of thought into how COG will effect their individual sites.

As for keeping the 'community' together I feel that COG is the only shot at that. At least it gives a central location for everyone. The alternative is for everyone to fend for themselves and that will definitely result in a fractured community. I think the fact that this site grew as fast as it did is a testament that the 'community' needs a general gaming information and news site for a home rather than a site focused on a specific category.

Originally Posted by Tel Prydain
Just sad, is all. If I want to see what people think of Fallout I'll have to vist IM to see Voodoo, CoG or CO to see what BAP this and my own possie over at PIRI to see what they think.

I share your concern about this but I hope the way it works is that one site will run the editorial or review on a topic and then it will be featured here. In a case like this, maybe we will get some user submitted reviews from PIRI featured on COG.

...just my 2 pennies.

[Tel Prydain]

If you want to see what people think of Fallout you go to CoG. We're all here and this is where the central discussion will be happening for everything.
See, I'd have thought that PIRI would be the place to talk game reviews and opinion… unless it was a PC game where you'd talk about it at IM.
How many times do we have repeat this to you until you stop with your doomsday posts?
Many :p

[Goronmon]

The comunity that was, is no more.This is kind of a weird comment, isn't it? I mean, this community, like all others, is always changing. The EvAv community was certainly always changing and the community from 6 months ago is not the same community of 1 month ago. Things change, that's just the way it is. The only thing you can do is pick the place you feel more comfortable and go there.

[cp#]

I think it's fucking awesome.

[AgtFox]

See, I'd have thought that PIRI would be the place to talk game reviews and opinion… unless it was a PC game where you'd talk about it at IM.
PIRI is for user reviews, CoG is the established review site with a staff of established reviewers that have been doing this for years, far before PIRI was even around (I wrote for sites before Evil Avatar for instance). I think you're confusing things somewhere.

PIRI is a fantastic repository for anyone to review a game and for there to be multiple reviews of a game. That however is not what CoG is designed for. You need to think of CoG in simliar terms to Evil Avatar. The actual site reviews (In-House at EvAv, CoG Features here) and reviewers that were at EvAv have transferred over to CoG (in my case to become one of the founders) to do the same thing. The plan is to bring the same kind of content that was at EvAv over here with most of the content providers of EvAv having come over to CoG (bap, fits, me, Dr. Finger, Psykoboy2, etc.).

[mightbe]

Can I suggest an idea?

Can we add a widget with a PIRI metascore or at least a link to the PIRI page for the game that's getting reviewed?

This would add a bit of interconnectedness and make it easy to say: "Hey, I know foxy/bootsy/baps opinion. Now lets see what other people say."

[AgtFox]

Can I suggest an idea?

Can we add a widget with a PIRI metascore or at least a link to the PIRI page for the game that's getting reviewed?

This would add a bit of interconnectedness and make it easy to say: "Hey, I know foxy/bootsy/baps opinion. Now lets see what other people say."
Something like this is in the works. The hope is that the link at the bottom of reviews will point directly to the game in the database and allow people to review the game if they like. Don't know how far off it is.

[Adam Blue]

Just to put up my opinion, I like how this all currently works. CoG for general gaming, and IM strictly for PC gaming and not having to worry about console-only posters. And obviously Co-Optimus and PiRi has its own niche.

[Johan]

Just to put up my opinion, I like how this all currently works. CoG for general gaming, and IM strictly for PC gaming and not having to worry about console-only posters. And obviously Co-Optimus and PiRi has its own niche.

I actually agree wholeheartedly. I like the lack of political/religious threads here (they're at PiRi in spades!), and each of the sites seems to have a niche to itself that makes sense.

I think it works very well and will only get better.

[OldeWolf]

Colony of gamers...

If one stops to think about the name itself, one would see that it means a community, a place that draws various niches and crowds to a central place, this Colony of Gamers.

Since we now have so many individual sites doing their own niche-y things, it's small wonder why people including me feel like all the information we want regarding any forms of gaming is scattered to the 4 winds. If we continue to let other sites be it's own little niche and not bring them into the fold, then the meaning of Colony of Gamers fails to serve it's purpose behind it's name. If that isn't the purpose of this site, then the wrong name was chosen.

My suggestion would be for this site to have a little more complexity in it's design regarding drawing in all those information from the sites, including the designs of the forums.

Example would be to have a snip of a quote from one of the site featured on the front page of CoG with links to that site for more information given by the original creator. If more conversing about that particular information is wanted, then come to the CoG central forum and spill out all that is on our mind about it.

I don't see the purpose of having many forums spread out among this community of websites, not when all the members are often the same across the board. If all the forums from all the websites be contained within CoG, then the thoughts and ideas and community inputs will be found in a central area and a very close feeling of being a community once again will be reached. Think of it as drawing in all the American States into one central country, America, which still gives the states leeways in what it wants to do but the information across all the states are central to America's identity and social community. Colony of Gamers can achieve such feats, living up very strongly to it's given name.

I know this Colony of Gamer is still young and new, but this is also the prime time to bring together the above and create a much greater place than Evil Avatar will ever be, paving way to new ways in forming a community on the Internet with new foundations and new layouts designed by us all. It's a chance of a lifetime.

[Kryopsis]

I don't see the problem. As it was said, with a hub to link it all together (Colony of Gamers), each site can turn back to their intended program rather than accommodate the refugees from EvilAvatar.