I don't know when it started, but this place doesn't have NEARLY the amount of creativity it used to. When I came here, this place was THRIVING with potential. But now its just some place we come to talk about WWE, pokemon groups A-Z threads and this one guy who posts literally everything on his mind.

MKO might get a heartbeat when the next MK is announced, but nothing close to what it was. No Garlador (something like that) with his Character of the week, no more rotations in little mod jr. statuses. No more DP. No more SOTW (we tried but failed). No nothing. Not blaming anybody of anything-

*cough*

We just don't have the RESOURCES!

WE JUST...


Just...


Just...






Sorry.

Thanks for all of the responses everyone. I was leaning more towards technical layout features like Moseph is alluding to versus something like site popularity, particular site threads, etc. Honestly though its all related.

For example, a lot of forum sites have a "What's New" or "What's Recent" heading section on the front page of the "Forums" section where the site tracks and lists threads that are new and being responded in. That way, you don't have to manually browse through all the forum sub-sections trying to find relevant new threads. It's all right there in front of you as soon as you come to the forums hub.

Razor pointed out another example with the size layout, the lack of use of the right panel (see all that space over there -->). Character specific sub-forums, more options while in "Post Message", getting away from manually using HTML tags for things like this or this, integrating things popular in mainstream social media ("like" buttons, following/followers, user ranks that matter, status updates), "ignore user" feature that just blocks you ever seeing any content created by users you flag, etc.

Honestly though, it sounds like it's a lack of manpower with Mick being a one man show and all. I don't know who pays the bills for this place but hopefully they at least somewhat care about the future of the site. Else, why have it open at all?

Mko Fight Klub!
(yea i spoke about it #internetstrong)

After thinking about this, there is something actually I'd like to see change. The fan art forum.

I feel that there should be two things that should happen to it. There should be sub-sections that separates the art so you have the Fakes section, Fan Art section, Non-MK art, Stories, etc. So that there's not a big mess in the forum. Sometimes, good work goes to the next page that no one bothers to look at because it's being flooded out by a massive submission of Fakes. (Not trying to be rude about that, it's just there's a lot more Fakes being submitted than others)

It would make things a heck of a lot easier to see other works of art rather than scavenging around to see.

Also, since this site has a "user of the day" out in front, why can't we have artwork of the day or something like that? There's a lot of work here that goes unnoticed, and since it's not breaking the rules by bumping fan art (unless you have nothing good to say about it) it'll allow newer users to see artists that no longer go here who were great artists.

I never go into the fan art section but that's what I mean when I talk about having an "active threads" front page so people will know when something new is added. More site integration would lead to more activity/interactivity. As it stands now, the site feels so disjointed.

I am OK with the site itself, but I'd like to see forum overhauled. It's really outdated and cumbersome.

2 leading purse forums

http://forum.purseblog.com
You have been banned for the following reason:
This is a fashion forum. Not a sexy time forum

Date the ban will be lifted: Never


http://www.thebagforum.com
You have been banned for the following reason:
No reason was specified.

Date the ban will be lifted: Never

I find myself not on this site as much any more. I've tried other MK site and they are weird compared to MKO. Lately I've been spending more time on the Double Helix and Official Killer Instinct forum. I think it is done very well.

They offer rich text/posts with video and image embedding. The mods are pretty active, not only posting, but with moving threads around if they feel a topic belongs in a different forum or even merging threads, rather than closing them outright.

I think the biggest problem with MKO and forum traffic is the user name system. Any other site lets you recover your user name and password based on your email address, but MKO doesn't. Just think, new MK games get released every few years, so users who take a break and then want to comeback, but can't because they forgot their username and password. Plus the mods have been tough on duplicate accounts because user names are tied to the ip address.

I just think it's nuts that we still have to use html manually. It was dumb back in the day, and it's insane now, now that every basic message board creator allows for easy html buttons.

I find it hilarious that you've been banned from multiple (purse) forums. Also, I think V8 woulda been great...

I still can't ever figure out how to use spoiler tags and hyperlink shit on this site and I've been here for 10 plus years now. Dumb on my part yes, but I've looked it up and tried several times and can never get them to work right.

Ditto.

What I'll suggest is that if there's a particular interest in something, try to make it happen through the community. Make threads, start projects, etc. I won't pretend that additional technical luxuries wouldn't be welcome. But, in the end, a community is made or broken by it's members. And more has been done with less in the past.

We ARE the community. What power do we have to change the site exactly? That's kinda why the thread is here, we want things we don't have the ability to get.

Goddammit Tony. You've got me agreeing with Razor on something.

If there's a particular point of discussion, forum game, or anything like that you want to see then it's perfectly in your power to make it happen. Technical upgrades may be out of all our hands but they aren't necessary for a community to exist and do its thing.

Like Character of the Week or The Drive-By? 'Cause that worked out.

I remember a few years ago when somebody started a "sign your name here to change the site" because they were bitching and moaning about the mods. The community got together and demanded change from the evil mods (I didn't, there was no leadership in the movement) and wanted better leadership from them. Nothing changed then, and I don't see anything changing now, because even as a community, we have the power to change nothing here. I think the people that run the site just don't care enough anymore.

Indeed, the entire community was unanimously on Garlador's side and where is he now? Mick clearly ain't ruling by democracy.

If I was in charge here, I would definitely spend the time and effort giving the site a more modern, mobile friendly design. Nowadays, if you're not mobile-friendly, you're definitely outdated.

For example, I've spent much of 2013 re-designing my own site (FDMK) with a responsive CSS layout. If you view my site, go ahead and decrease and increase your browser's width, and you'll see how the layout adapts. No need for a separate mobile version. Just one site for all devices. One site to rule them all...ahem...where was I? Oh yes...

Anyays, if I was in charge, this is what I would do here. This was the first MK site I ever joined, and I hate seeing it neglected the way it is.

To be clear, I'm not anti-administration here. I just posed the question to open a dialogue about the current state of the forums and if there was an interest in the community AND the admins in upgrading the site. What I've learned is that while yes, there is an interest from the community, there's really no admins that see upgrading the site as a priority. Most of the effort seemed to have revolved around covering News Articles with no other admins around to try and implement some change/growth.
It goes well beyond "forum games" and "discussion threads" and frankly pointing the finger at the community and going "it's on all you guys to make this site better" is extremely short-sighted. I know I for one would post more in the gameplay & matchmaking forum if it wasn't a goddam ghost town. Literally no one goes in there so any posts just wither away and rot. There's just a lack of forum connectivity that is extremely outdated and that DIRECTLY AFFECTS PARTICIPATION.

Pretty much it seems no one cares.

Not necessarily. I think what's clear is that what's left of the fractured community actually does care. It's just that the MKO admins have this thing on auto-pilot.

Well, if they did care. The Adms would had done something about it.

When was the last time the newsfeed was updated?

When was the last time someone got a DP?

Those are just a few examples of little things that count. I know the community cares. Obviously, since their opinions were expressed in this thread.

The whole schtick.. "If you want things change, then create threads, projects, etc" when just a few months ago a thread got closed because someone mentioned the Drive by Thread... That was just ridiculous!

Just so I'm sure I'm understanding this correctly...Garlador's Character of the Week threads, which were actually well liked by the community, as was he, get closed down because they were "cluttering up" the forum, yet every fucking lame, inane, asinine thought of a certain handbag coveting individual who shall remain nameless and is despised by the community at large, does not except for his own attempt at restarting the Drive By thread?....What is this, the Gol darn Twilight Zone?