Lack of new people is killing the backroom and the entire forum

[Shibumi]

I have a little input from a new members perspective.

First of all, the Back Room is just a little bit too hard to access.. Seeking access, first of all no one had an idea how to actually do it. Some well meaning members tried helping me, but they must have missed how the new system works. Upon finding the correct method (not an intuitive one by any means, I might add), it still took days to validate my request. Few people would go through this hazel to get clearance to talk on a game forum.

Secondly, the mods seem to uphold rules that are less than obvious for the general internet user. It seems like this forum tries to build some sort of fort where a few enthusiasts can hang out unhindered by the world at large. I had a mod contacting me just because I had written that one of CAs new ideas were "idiotic", as this, per the mods view, could make the CA employees sad, or something like that.

If you look at the backroom, this seems even more true. I have myself stayed out of warnings, but from what I could tell, warnings are handed out as much because some mod woke up with his panties in a twist as actually warranted warnings. There also seem to be a lot of neputism, some posters gets away with stuff because the mod knows he means well and has a reputable forum history, whereas others gets warned for the exact same offense, as this person meant it with ill will and has a bad history. For an outside observer this seem rather random, and makes one less willing to try ones wings on the forum.

As a last point, the Back Room seems very much to have turned into an old boys club. There are lots of references to different members that of course can not be understood by new members, as well as a general atmosphere of old timers kissing up to each other. From an outsiders perspective, it just looks like the forum has had its days, and now only a few people remain to validate each others worth. Has an aura of desperation around it, if you ask me.

All this sad and done, there once in a while flare up an interresting debate, and the general level of discussion is of a level more often found on a forum for history buffs, not gamers.