The PGC/The Pit/Recruitment

[nerner]

Since I've registered here there has been quite a lot of bad feeling about the removal of both of those boards, with support threads and threads which are not in support. With users taking sides and arguing about whether the removal of the forums in question benefitted the forums in general.

 

The PGC was replaced with an IRC channel but IRC rarely works for me using the Java app and I don't want to pay to get mIRC or another client. Plus IRC is inactive in general and people don't want to have to sit up all night waiting for their comments to get replied to. One of the main advantages of having the PGC forum was that it allowed users to have conversations and leave it overnight, knowing that their message would have been replied to. Conversations would carry on for longer due to this. The multiplayer sections alienate some groups who know each other well but don't have a common interest in gaming, meaning that one of the original reasons for creating a gang, to talk to your mates, was removed. It also helped ingratiate users into the community as it helped them get to know other people on these boards much quicker than by just posting in general chat.

 

So what I propose is that the three forums mentioned above, the old gang forums and the pit, are moved to an offsite location with a domain that links to GTAF in some way. I'm not sure how the signup options would work, whether people would have to make a new account on those boards or if usernames and passwords could be transferred from here over to there. I know of an excellent service for hosting boards which comes in at $15 per year for the cheapest option, moving to around $140 per year for more expensive services. You could even get a version for free if you wanted to, although that would be feature light. I propose that underneath the current multiplayer section there should be a link to said board with the premise of recruitment or of the PGC. A link to The Pit would be placed in "The Lounge." All of these links would redirect themselves to the relevant boards on the other site, which would have a domain like publicgangchat.com, or GTAF.PGC.com, or whatever else you fancy. These redirect links would work in much the same way as the links in the GTA sections which redirect people to the modding areas do. With little mess.

 

Of course, one of the main problems with this is that many groups on these forums, such as The Yardies and D12, have ther own off-site boards. The same could be said for many of the other gangs, especially those which were an integral part in the old PGC such as the FBI and even Propaganda Inc. However this makes it unlikely that GTAF is the centre of the multiplayer scene since there are so many smaller boards which function like the old PGC.

 

I would say to bring everyone back together as one we should create those forums plus advocate forums for the larger unofficial gangs here to participate in. That way they can organise their multiplayer gaming from one base here on these forums, and also talk to eachother on a dedicated board which is also part of the network; this could also create scope for future gang races to promote other gangs to official status, something which hasn't happened since the closure of the gang section.

 

Thoughts?

[Ryan]

Officials serve no purpose and are going to be abolished once V2 roles around, so there's no point in a PGC forum here or there.

[nerner]

 

Officials serve no purpose and are going to be abolished once V2 roles around, so there's no point in a PGC forum here or there.

Well if the OGA is going to be abandoned then surely that makes an even stronger case for an off-site version of the PGC? That way the OGA gangs can continue to post in their own designated forums, and it may cut down the inevitable moaning that will arise if those gangs are removed.

[Ryan]

Officials serve no purpose and are going to be abolished once V2 roles around, so there's no point in a PGC forum here or there.

Well if the OGA is going to be abandoned then surely that makes an even stronger case for an off-site version of the PGC? That way the OGA gangs can continue to post in their own designated forums, and it may cut down the inevitable moaning that will arise if those gangs are removed.

So the staff are going to remove the gangs, yet you want them to create an external site for the gangs? That logic makes sense. If the gangs want to continue onward, it should be they're own job to set up a forum someplace else, not the staff's job here.

[uNi]

Officials gangs, or let's say all of the gangs, official or not, are basically social groups right now. The difference is that a few of the unofficial actually play with each other.

 

Both factions still get to keep their chat threads, which is basically what it is. Plus, officials can get their threads in the Gang's forums, as well keep their private forums.

 

There's no point adding anything else since both OGA and Gangs sections are pretty much inactive besides a few exceptions.

 

Above all that, the objective is having multiplayer groups in GTAF. If having should be changed, or added, it should be to promote that, even give those gangs a pat in the back to keep them going.

 

They've been running MP events, matches, playing with each other for years and they get nothing back. To be honest, if anyone should get private groups and forums, it should be them.

 

 

 

 

[nerner]

Officials serve no purpose and are going to be abolished once V2 roles around, so there's no point in a PGC forum here or there.

Well if the OGA is going to be abandoned then surely that makes an even stronger case for an off-site version of the PGC? That way the OGA gangs can continue to post in their own designated forums, and it may cut down the inevitable moaning that will arise if those gangs are removed.

So the staff are going to remove the gangs, yet you want them to create an external site for the gangs? That logic makes sense. If the gangs want to continue onward, it should be they're own job to set up a forum someplace else, not the staff's job here.

Removing them from the network but keeping a forum where they can continue to talk to eachother would kill two birds with one stone. It would remove the apparent elitism which is caused by having these gangs, and it would stop the officials from moaning about it too much as they have their own forum. So yeah, I suppose my logic does make sense.

 

How many members of the staff are affiliated with gangs? They would in all likelihood help to staff the new site. Failing that the officials themselves would become the admins and mods.

[uNi]

Stuff like that has been done in the past.

 

Private boards for gangs, or all gangs etc... all inactive as usual.

[nerner]

 

Stuff like that has been done in the past.

 

Private boards for gangs, or all gangs etc... all inactive as usual.

Was the PGC ever inactive? If it was built up again then it certainly wouldn't be so.

[uNi]

It's the same.

 

PCG, you got a thread for each gang. Members chat in their threads as well of a few others if they want to.

 

OGA, you chat in your private board and with everyone else in the shared board, if you want to.

 

Gangs, you got a thread for each gang. Members chat in their threads as well of a few others if they want to. They actually play.

[AndyGanteks]

If they are really going to remove them like someone says for the ''V2'' then they all will surely make topics in the MP gangs section and a private forum like ours and TEC's for other talk, and then you'll have everyone in one place with OGA gangs and MP gangs together and you'll have the ''conversations and leave it overnight, knowing that their message would have been replied to'' and more activity in general and those gangs will get more closer and will cut elitism as you say it. Some will talk more, less MP, others will do more MP, less talk. It's not like nobody from OGA gangs don't play any game at all, and also nobody can say that MP gangs just play games and don't chat about other stuff at all.

 

No point in creating an external forum.

And if they really get removed and don't want to make topics in the MP section, they will keep talking via facebook. Majority of them talk via fb right now anyways and organize these London or GTAF meets every year.

 

All this of course is how i think it will happen if what Ryan(and many others before) were saying wasn't trolling.

[nerner]

 

No point in creating an external forum.

And if they really get removed and don't want to make topics in the MP section, they will keep talking via facebook. Majority of them talk via fb right now anyways and organize these London or GTAF meets every year.

 

All this of course is how i think it will happen if what Ryan(and many others before) were saying wasn't trolling.

But do you not think that it's sad that the official gangs will have been driven away from the forums to facebook. Half of the OGA gangs haven't bothered with multiplayer topics because they don't play GTA anymore. That's why the OGA has stayed for so long now.

[uNi]

So? This is GTAforums, not SocialForums.

[nerner]

So? This is GTAforums, not SocialForums.

No. Relationships between people keep people coming back. After a while the common theme begins to wear thin, people move on and grow up.

 

If this isn't a social forum then why don't we do away with all of the general boards then? That seems to be what you are getting at here.

[The-King]

 

So? This is GTAforums, not SocialForums.

What'sup Waddy? Didn't know they started cloning you.

 

I love it, degenerates retards and their sh*tty Concept Threads get a dedicated forum (along with the right to ruin the Requests section) and we get told we're being removed, how considerate.

[uNi]

nerner, you're only making my point stronger.

 

Lets say you're not interested in GTA any more, you're only reason to come back in here, is to talk to a few members you like. You got the OGA board, if you don't have access to that, you have their public threads. Plus the gen chat, gaming chat, D&D, movies and music etc.. etc...

 

The problem is, the current official threads and OGA aren't that active or GTA related at all. Why add more sections to it?

 

@The-King, the whole OGA doesn't need to be removed. I just think its the future of the MP gang we should focus on.

[nerner]

nerner, you're only making my point stronger.

 

Lets say you're not interested in GTA any more, you're only reason to come back in here, is to talk to a few members you like. You got the OGA board, if you don't have access to that, you have their public threads. Plus the gen chat, gaming chat, D&D, movies and music etc.. etc...

Or you could both just ditch this forum and talk on MSN or Facebook.

 

I wouldn't do that if the OGA was removed, but I know of people who probably would. It would probably be just like the PGC removal.

[uNi]

I just don't see the point in getting the PGC back, since the gang section is the PGC.

 

I guess we could rename it.

[Mainland Marauder]

 

Stuff like that has been done in the past.

 

Private boards for gangs, or all gangs etc... all inactive as usual.

Was the PGC ever inactive? If it was built up again then it certainly wouldn't be so.

It certainly saw much better days going into around 2006-07 right before it was killed, and of course the oldschoolers will say after 2003 or so.

 

The social gangs, including the officials, were one of a kind indeed. They were created in anticipation that the PC version of GTA3 would have multiplayer, but it did not, so instead of just canning the new clan section it was decided to just keep them as social clubs of sort. It will always be part of this place's history, but now that the GTA series has moved into multiplayer play it just serves little purpose. Multiplayer clans can be social groups too.

 

The social aspect will not be completely done away with as it's something that has always set this network over others like it, and the people who got together through the old social "gangs" will still have their bonds.

[nerner]

 

I just don't see the point in getting the PGC back, since the gang section is the PGC.

 

I guess we could rename it.

If the rules were also to be relaxed to allow non-multiplayer gangs then you'd have yourself a PGC.

 

@MM: True. Good to hear that the social element will remain.

[The-King]

@The-King, the whole OGA doesn't need to be removed. I just think its the future of the MP gang we should focus on.

Ryan's post seemed to imply that we were being removed in our entirety, which, if true, is just plain f*cked up. I think some clarification is in order then.

[uNi]

@The-King, the whole OGA doesn't need to be removed. I just think its the future of the MP gang we should focus on.

Ryan's post seemed to imply that we were being removed in our entirety, which, if true, is just plain f*cked up. I think some clarification is in order then.

I don't think is going to be completely removed, as MM said it's a part of the community and I agree, it's just not the most important feature of it.

[nerner]

@The-King, the whole OGA doesn't need to be removed. I just think its the future of the MP gang we should focus on.

Ryan's post seemed to imply that we were being removed in our entirety, which, if true, is just plain f*cked up. I think some clarification is in order then.

I don't think is going to be completely removed, as MM said it's a part of the community and I agree, it's just not the most important feature of it.

I never said that it was the most important feature. Obviously here GTA is the most important subject. Without it we wouldn't get any new members. It would just be a shame to see it go.

 

@The-King: I'd be more inclined to believe uni.

[The-King]

 

@The-King, the whole OGA doesn't need to be removed. I just think its the future of the MP gang we should focus on.

Ryan's post seemed to imply that we were being removed in our entirety, which, if true, is just plain f*cked up. I think some clarification is in order then.

I don't think is going to be completely removed, as MM said it's a part of the community and I agree, it's just not the most important feature of it.

I never said that it was the most important feature. Obviously here GTA is the most important subject. Without it we wouldn't get any new members. It would just be a shame to see it go.

 

@The-King: I'd be more inclined to believe uni.

Not really, since they both have full access to the Staff Room, Uni just has more power.

 

GTAF's gang scene has been the one thing that has consistently separated it from other similar forums in that it gave us a fantastic outlet to make friends among other things. I know without it I probably wouldn't have made the friends I have here, discovered numerous interests I love or even stayed here in the first place if it weren't for the original PGC. There's a certain pride that comes with being in a gang full of friends and it does a fantastic job in keeping this place interesting between releases for those of us with a few more functioning braincells than average. I can't see any form of benefit in removing it in the slightest outside of satiating some long-standing grudges certain members seem to hold.

[adamcs]

Officials serve no purpose and are going to be abolished once V2 roles around

That's news to me. As far as I'm aware nothing has been decided yet. Though I think Tank prefers the idea of a chat room based system for gangs/social groups. If that idea goes ahead then gangs will remain, and anyone will be able to create a new one.

[Waddy]

There is no point in resurrecting anything which is in the past. Even with no new news on the next GTA the forums are still attracting crazy amounts of new members.

We bring back the pit for what reason apart from embarrassing the forums when people browse before deciding to join or not. I think many will decline when they see the pit and what it contains, it was pathetic when it was here, nothing will change.

 

Ill bring it all back to what is in store for us in V2 which is well on its way. Then the decisions will be made for a number of things, then we can sort it.

 

There is no point at all in adding or changing anything on the forums right now, none at all.

[Ryan]

 

Officials serve no purpose and are going to be abolished once V2 roles around

That's news to me. As far as I'm aware nothing has been decided yet. Though I think Tank prefers the idea of a chat room based system for gangs/social groups. If that idea goes ahead then gangs will remain, and anyone will be able to create a new one.

My fault then. Just going by the rumors I've heard from people and staff.

[Suction Testicle Man]

The PGC was replaced with an IRC channel but IRC rarely works for me using the Java app and I don't want to pay to get mIRC or another client. Plus IRC is inactive in general and people don't want to have to sit up all night waiting for their comments to get replied to.

Don't use the Java client - there are loads of decent, free IRC clients.

 

IRC serves the purpose of comms for a group of people when the actual messages are worthless once all intended eyes have read them. They don't clog our occasionally-limited resources, therefore leaving room for content of lasting value.

 

There are many active channels on the GTANet IRC. The inactive ones are surely indicative of that channel/subject's popularity - which doesn't bode well if #pgc is inactive...

[CongaRats629]

WOO YEAH FBI!

 

[nerner]

There are many active channels on the GTANet IRC. The inactive ones are surely indicative of that channel/subject's popularity - which doesn't bode well if #pgc is inactive...

I'd say that said channel is inactive mainly due to inaccessibility rather than choice. How many people know that there is a #pgc channel? And how many of them can be bothered to use it at the same time as they are using the forums.

[Waddy]

There are many active channels on the GTANet IRC. The inactive ones are surely indicative of that channel/subject's popularity - which doesn't bode well if #pgc is inactive...

I'd say that said channel is inactive mainly due to inaccessibility rather than choice. How many people know that there is a #pgc channel? And how many of them can be bothered to use it at the same time as they are using the forums.

When you join the network you go straight into #gta. Then you can get lists of all the other rooms, which there are many. #Zaibatsu, #Yardies are a couple that are always active, #gta is normally where people just hang about while also chatting in other rooms.

You can make new rooms at a click too, the scope is huge.

As of this minute there are 200 GTAF related members on the IRC network. Not too shabby.