unforum

[Kagehi Kossori]

[ScarpeGrosse]

I understand the frustration here.
However, I have to disagree that this set-up discourages organization.

Yes, we have duplicate posts. Yes, we have duplicate threads. Its why there are moderators to keep things (relatively) under control. Granted, it's not perfect, but there isn't a desire to make the forums uber-moderated and have to "approve" every post or every registration - that slows everyone down. If you're concerned with increased number of things to read, take in mind that Yahoo Groups have been increasingly subject to spam and HTML placed ads in the two years since The Beast was played there. Anyone who was trying to play Push, NV on Yahoo is aware of that (as well as the deluge of repetive posts that come with 8000 members), as are any individuals currently on the Cloudmakers Yahoo group, which was reopened recently, and from which I've received spam everyday.

Also, as more people become interested in ARGs, you find that there are some people who are only here for the story, while others are only around for the puzzles. The beauty of this structure on the phpBB is that the readers/members/players are able to read only those threads which interest them. Want to spec? Read the Spec threads. Want a puzzle to wrap your head around? Read the Puzzle threads.

Just because this is different from Yahoo! thread structure doesn't make it bad. Just different.
If anyone has any constructive thoughts on how to make UF forums a more managable and readable place to convene for ARGs, rather than just general "its not all in one thread" statements, please, send in your thoughts.

EDIT to add: Actually, you can cross-search the Haunted Apiary forums. Under the "search" panel in the drop-down menu to restrict your search by forum, just pick "Haunted Apiary" main header, rather than a specific sub-forum, such as Puzzles, General/Updates, etc - SG
EDIT #2: Though there isn't a technical "trail", Rowan has provided us with a Guide that shows events in chronological order and without comment. I'd also like to point out that from the QuickLinks that Sapagoo provides for the game, there are further links to a moderated blog that goes into even less detail, also without commentary.

[Varin]

[sherpa]

I think the problem really is that of information overload - sure, it's fairly easy to catch up if you've been following the forums and Wiki regularly, but even a day out of it and I boggle at the number of threads here and the Recent Changes on the wiki. I don't think the Beast setup is any better, however, and think the wiki is a tremendously good idea and makes it easy to share information. The difficulties occur when people get confused at the difference between the two and want to shout their [SPEC] in as many forums as possible - comments on Dana's blog, here, on the Wiki, etc. Ouch.

I don't think a pay-for game could do very much to streamline this process, though as information technology advances and knowledge management changes, tools like Wikis do come to the forefront, and certainly these could be provided in-game, somehow. You mods are doing a stellar job in keeping the forums relatively clean, and I think that's the key -- have real people who are interested in the game carefully making sure the information explosion isn't too ridiculous. Personally, I'm trying to spend a little time every day cleaning up the Wiki, and it seems to work, though without a decent policy at the start (e.g. no personal comments in main pages, only in Talk pages, and nothing to be posted without first posting in the forums..) it's got the disorganised way it has.

An email list would be so much harder to follow, I'm grateful for these forums. I suppose the only thing to say is that older posts, theories and information gets outdated quickly in this particular game - e.g. all the threads discussing Phase 1 stuff - and there are SO MANY sticky posts that the board is just cluttered with them and nobody reads them any more! Also, I think a one-man-guide would be a really good idea, bringing together everything under one roof, without arguments, speculation or duplication. Hmm, do I have enough free time?

[clamatius]

[sherpa]

Well, I was thinking more of a fully fledged integrated Guide/Trail with all the relevant website text, emails etc included (hosted on a website, not a forum post - easier to direct people to) and all the 'conclusions' that are generally accepted (and not spec, 'cause that's too hard to keep up-to-date IMO). The idea struck me earlier as a possible solution to the Wiki problems. But it would take a lot of time

[Kagehi Kossori]

[sherpa]

I reckon any ARG should have a BigToughandScary Unsolvable Puzzle that leaves everyone grounded for a few days, just so's people can catch up

[clamatius]