Based on all the negative feedback we get on the forums, I was getting the impresison that we'd be better off pointing things to a dedicated community site.

That's like cutting off a leg to cure a hangnail. You ought to get some forum software from someone else that works on all browsers (I can currently only use this from a Windows computer, since only IE works for it... of course, my gaming computer is obviously running Windows, so it's not THAT bad, but still...), but that's about it.

I'm having a problem where the forum crashes my browser a lot. I'm using Internet Explorer 6 SP1 and Windows 2000 SP4. I thought maybe my Java installation was the problem so I updated to the latest version, but no difference.

What I would like to see is better forum software. Something like phpBB is open source and doesn't cosy anything (www.phpbb.com). It has tons of features and can be easily customized. Since the software is open source you guys *are* developers, you should be able to hack-in the medal system (which I really like, would hate to see that go away) and any other functions you want or need.

As far as the trolls, just like any forum, there's never a shortage. I think you just have to ignore them and try not to let those posts affect your assessment. Like stated previously, it should be necessary to have a serial number to create a forum account and an account should be required to make a post.

- Craig

Well clearly we underestimated the use of the forums. We'll have to put more thought on how best to do things going forward. Based on all the negative feedback we get on the forums, I was getting the impresison that we'd be better off pointing things to a dedicated community site.

THANKS! Good call Frogboy, good call.

Do a poll. You'll see.

Re the comment about the forum crashing my IE browser, I cleared all the files in my Temporary Internet Files folder and that seems to have solved the problem. Might have had a corrupt cache file, not the first that's happened.

We need the forums here. Maybe the problem is that you tried to program them yourselves instead of using some standard one and this took a lot of time and there were tons of bugs to fix.

They seem to be working now just fine after the page break fixes a couple weeks ago.

The only quirks are a lack pf a really good internal search engine, that could be fixed by a comphrehensice FAQ, and the recent post highlight needing a second post to be triggered.

I always check the full forum log and add a lot of stuff to my watch list where the dates there tell me if the discussion has continued.

All in all the quirks in this forum software plae next to its advantage as being part of the GAlciv2 website. Just the responses to the polls suggest you have a very vibrant active community.

I have to toss in my two cents and say that I also like the forums. I have had my problems with them, but overall, I like coming to the Galciv2.com site and looking at the front page news, checking the journals, and browsing the forums quickly. I do this just about every day, and sometimes multiple times a day. I also like the medals system that is tied into the metaverse and the fact that these forums are in the same system as JoeUser. These forums are very appreciated. As much as I like Apolyton.net, I am much happier when a gaming company runs its own forums. Thanks, Stardock!

These forums DO suck (sorry). There are compatability issues and they're odd looking. There are a lot of commercial (and free) products out there that wouldn't necessitate Stardock having their own in-house forum. Why not use one of them?

PS: Had to use IE to post this as I can only read posts with Firefox on these forums

(sorry, double posted)

I use Firefox and do not have any problems posting. Try adjusting the firefox security and privacy settings.

Unless most guys in this forum are jerks who are not welcomed by StarDock, I don't see there is any reason the forum to be eliminated. If anyone complain that the forum should be disappeared because its system is not good functional or well looked, it is also another kidding because what keeps a party going is moral but not flaring skins.

Please keep the forum !
I'm just another one out of the mostly silent majority who likes to read what others do, or have problems with. And this being the official forum, with LOTS of attention from the developers, does give it added value that I fear would not be present on another site, no matter how good these alternatives are.