What more would you like to get out of your FLD experience?

[MilesHackett]

Our site is approaching the celebration of its first year of life in March, and I think we've come a long way. That said, we're constantly looking for suggestions with regard to how we can enhance the FLD experience for everyone here. Our community is tightly knit and expanding gradually, but we're certainly looking to bring in new members, however we can.

Are there any features you would like to see added to this site that could potentially improve the experience and draw in new members? Any responses will be greatly appreciated, as we ultimately want to make you guys happier.

[MattBremner]

I would like to see anyone with 8000 posts be put on probation for six months, allowed to make only one post per day.

[Meshuggeth]

More things to do with credits.

[Negative2]

The casino is awesome but I can never turn a profit. I suspect it's rigged...:worried:

Also, could do with more smilies. The ones from MSN and the white background I don't like using.

Sad suggestion, I know. :sad:

[Gomi]

FLDP (I don't mind if this isn't done, as it takes a shit load of time and effort).
MOTM (If possible).
As Mesh said, more things to do with credits. It could also tie in with Negative2's suggestion. Buying smilie packs, etc.
Blogs (if they would be used).
More Gomi.


That's about it for now, but I'm sure I'd be able to think of more later.

[Thaispider]

FLDP (I don't mind if this isn't done, as it takes a shit load of time and effort).
MOTM (If possible).
As Mesh said, more things to do with credits. It could also tie in with Negative2's suggestion. Buying smilie packs, etc.
Blogs (if they would be used).
More Gomi.


That's about it for now, but I'm sure I'd be able to think of more later.

i agree with gomi's suggestions and motm would be nice to have it back again.

[e-thug]

MOTM award is good, nice to recognize active posters.

I'm not sure what we could pull off with the credits thing, I like the idea of it being some sort of competition and the person with the most credits at year end wins a shirt or something.

I also think that the fightlockdown forecast could be modified a bit where each writer finds there "bet of the event" or something where they provide the best odd's they've seen on a particular fight, or a really awesome parlay they find.

[Tripod]

The casino is awesome but I can never turn a profit. I suspect it's rigged...:worried:

Also, could do with more smilies. The ones from MSN and the white background I don't like using.

Sad suggestion, I know. :sad:

Lol, I would actually like more smilies, especially more interactive ones.

I love mostly all of these from here - http://forums.ratedesi.com/misc.php?do=showsmilies
Especially the little purple gay ones haha.

[Gomi]

Lol, I would actually like more smilies, especially more interactive ones.

I love mostly all of these from here - http://forums.ratedesi.com/misc.php?do=showsmilies
Especially the little purple gay ones haha.

http://forums.ratedesi.com/images/smilies/givessmiley.gif - I love this one.

What about having a Forum Game where credits are involved?

[steph05050]

I was planning on doing MOTM starting in Jan. so look forward to it

[MJB23]

Smilies are something easy I can put in.

What do you guys mean by more credit involved things? I need examples.

[MilesHackett]

I also think that the fightlockdown forecast could be modified a bit where each writer finds there "bet of the event" or something where they provide the best odd's they've seen on a particular fight, or a really awesome parlay they find.

I like this idea, but the main reason this is problematic is that the Forecast articles aren't posted until about 1-2 days before an event. Great odds usually drop significantly a couple of days before the event, so by the time our article would be posted the betting lines would have changed (becoming even less appealing lol).

Secondly, it would sort of take away from the purpose of our Lockdown article series (which I admit has been lost in the rabble). Maybe we should just give the Lockdown articles a new face-lift, with 2-3 members giving betting advice for upcoming events (about 2 weeks away from said event). Does that sound reasonable?

[Gomi]

What do you guys mean by more credit involved things? I need examples.

What about opening up a fantasy soccer where each participant gets to pick 15 real footballers on a certain budget. We could base the points each person gets for their team on how the team performs in real life matches. We'll work out a points system to which players can score points for their respective teams. We can create a little league table to rank the teams on points.

Here's where the credits come in. Players send each other credits for certain players. Credit prizes can be set for the teams who finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd when the leauge is finished.

[e-thug]

I like this idea, but the main reason this is problematic is that the Forecast articles aren't posted until about 1-2 days before an event. Great odds usually drop significantly a couple of days before the event, so by the time our article would be posted the betting lines would have changed (becoming even less appealing lol).

Secondly, it would sort of take away from the purpose of our Lockdown article series (which I admit has been lost in the rabble). Maybe we should just give the Lockdown articles a new face-lift, with 2-3 members giving betting advice for upcoming events (about 2 weeks away from said event). Does that sound reasonable?

That certainly sounds reasonable, I think the lockdown articles was a good feature and made us quite different from other forums, we should certainly make that article a priority.

[MJB23]

What about opening up a fantasy soccer where each participant gets to pick 15 real footballers on a certain budget. We could base the points each person gets for their team on how the team performs in real life matches. We'll work out a points system to which players can score points for their respective teams. We can create a little league table to rank the teams on points.

Here's where the credits come in. Players send each other credits for certain players. Credit prizes can be set for the teams who finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd when the leauge is finished.

The problem with that is that it's kind of time consuming and I'm not sure if anyone on the staff has the time to set it up.

Does Yahoo have a Fantasy Soccer League like they have for football? Because if so we can just use that and it makes it a lot easier but it also gets rid of your credit idea.

[Brad.Taschuk]

So long as the front page is a little more active in 2010, and the occasional lulls on the forum become less occasional, I'm good.

Blogs (if they would be used).

Judging from past experience, they would more than likely not be used.

[FunkYou]

Those people on the writing staff should commit to writing at last one article a month but preferably every couple of weeks. I know that would be a lot of work but at the moment apart from Brad's Bodega and the forcast's not a lot is happening article wise.

[Negative2]

Those people on the writing staff should commit to writing at last one article a month but preferably every couple of weeks. I know that would be a lot of work but at the moment apart from Brad's Bodega and the forcast's not a lot is happening article wise.

Umm hmm.

Myself, I'd like to read more articles on the history behind events, fighters, gyms etc. A page or two that roughly explains what took place and why this or that happened.

I remember reading in Fight magazine last year an article on Abu Dahbi. I had no idea how that originated and it was pretty interesting to learn how. Was a great article and it made a lasting impression on me above any other ones I've read from that magazine.

If a writer or two could put together some article outlining that basis, I'd totally like that.

Oh and a FLD magazine. :D

[Thaispider]

Umm hmm.

Myself, I'd like to read more articles on the history behind events, fighters, gyms etc. A page or two that roughly explains what took place and why this or that happened.

I remember reading in Fight magazine last year an article on Abu Dahbi. I had no idea how that originated and it was pretty interesting to learn how. Was a great article and it made a lasting impression on me above any other ones I've read from that magazine.

If a writer or two could put together some article outlining that basis, I'd totally like that.

Oh and a FLD magazine. :D

i like these ideas , so sort of like a bacground/profile on a fighter gym, team or event , kinda like what i did for vitor belfrot in the summer or along those lines?

[Negative2]

i like these ideas , so sort of like a bacground/profile on a fighter gym, team or event , kinda like what i did for vitor belfrot in the summer or along those lines?

Take the Abu Dhabi article I just mentioned. It tells of how this guy was in America (studying school if I remember correctly) and he stumbled upon a BJJ gym. He signed up and was taught the art over a period of time. Then all of a sudden he is gone, just never showed up at the school.

A few months later, the gym received a call from this guy, he was actually a Prince in Abu Dahbi and he wanted to invite the instructors and some artists over to compete in a tournament he convinced his father to put on.

From then on, the competition was held annually and in the beginning this young dude the instructors were teaching was actually a Prince of a city. Who'd have ever thought?

Samething like that. Just like small details outlining a part of history of a fighter, or a gym etc. Black House or Chute Boxe would be a good starting topic.

[Thaispider]

Take the Abu Dhabi article I just mentioned. It tells of how this guy was in America (studying school if I remember correctly) and he stumbled upon a BJJ gym. He signed up and was taught the art over a period of time. Then all of a sudden he is gone, just never showed up at the school.

A few months later, the gym received a call from this guy, he was actually a Prince in Abu Dahbi and he wanted to invite the instructors and some artists over to compete in a tournament he convinced his father to put on.

From then on, the competition was held annually and in the beginning this young dude the instructors were teaching was actually a Prince of a city. Who'd have ever thought?

Samething like that. Just like small details outlining a part of history of a fighter, or a gym etc. Black House or Chute Boxe would be a good starting topic.

ok i get what your saying , i might have a bash at one of these before the new year thanks for the ideas Neg :)

[MattBremner]

I'm all for writing more articles, and I like being a writer, but people have to understand that all of us have full time jobs or are students. It's just not that easy to get articles out, especially considering that we've been doing a Forecast or two a month, we were doing the Aftermath articles before I got insanely busy (they'll start again in the New Year). All that stuff really does add up.

My Rich Franklin article was the only one that I wrote where it came easy to me, the others require research and such. Even the guys over at Sherdog who do this for a living only put up an article every few weeks, which, when you think about it, isn't that often for a full time job.

Anyway, you have my pledge that I'll do my best, but I make absolutely no promises as far as articles go.

[Jack]

I'm all for writing more articles, and I like being a writer, but people have to understand that all of us have full time jobs or are students. It's just not that easy to get articles out, especially considering that we've been doing a Forecast or two a month, we were doing the Aftermath articles before I got insanely busy (they'll start again in the New Year). All that stuff really does add up.

My Rich Franklin article was the only one that I wrote where it came easy to me, the others require research and such. Even the guys over at Sherdog who do this for a living only put up an article every few weeks, which, when you think about it, isn't that often for a full time job.

Anyway, you have my pledge that I'll do my best, but I make absolutely no promises as far as articles go.

Completely agree Matt, it's hard to appreciate how much time and effort can go into writing an article until you start trying to produce regular stuff. Sometimes they come easy but that's usually the exception rather than the rule IMO.

I'm planning on getting a lot more articles out next year, but like you said fitting them in around a job is a bitch sometimes. I've been putting in 60 hour weeks for almost the last 2 months now, so even doing my Forecasts, Rankings and the occasional article has been a stretch.

[MilesHackett]

Those people on the writing staff should commit to writing at last one article a month but preferably every couple of weeks. I know that would be a lot of work but at the moment apart from Brad's Bodega and the forcast's not a lot is happening article wise.

I agree, we need to be more actively writing. The thing about our articles that's a little different from other sites is that we write more in-depth speculative/critical, and historical pieces, which take a few days to throw together. Other sites like bloodyelbow, mmamania, etc, do quick commentary that takes very little time to put together. The main reason we don't focus on that here, is because we use the forum for news commentary.

I've already got some plans in the works for 2010 that will make me a more active contributor to the front page, such as a video prediction series for all MMA events, and video breakdowns of fights, focusing on the technical elements at play.

[Negative2]

I understand that you guys on the staff have lives outside of FLD. I don't expect the homepage to be booming. The articles that put together are pretty good at this point. My suggestion was merely something I would enjoy a bit more.

[MattBremner]

I understand that you guys on the staff have lives outside of FLD. I don't expect the homepage to be booming. The articles that put together are pretty good at this point. My suggestion was merely something I would enjoy a bit more.

Oh, that wasn't really aimed at you, or really at anyone. It's just something that's easy to overlook. I appreciate feedback on what people want to read though, that makes my life way, way easier.

[Lotus]

MOAR BOOBS!

[e-thug]

Oh, that wasn't really aimed at you, or really at anyone. It's just something that's easy to overlook. I appreciate feedback on what people want to read though, that makes my life way, way easier.

Yeah I think I speak for everyone here when I say that its been a very sucessful 2009. Even though some of the request's in here are gonna be a bit out there at the end of the day there just suggestions, which can turn into good ideas.

[Lotus]

whats so out there about moar boobs!

[MilesHackett]

Yeah I think I speak for everyone here when I say that its been a very sucessful 2009. Even though some of the request's in here are gonna be a bit out there at the end of the day there just suggestions, which can turn into good ideas.

Exactly. We may not be able to give you guys exactly what you want, but knowing what is on your minds and ways we can improve will only make this site better.

2009 has been very good to us and we're moving in the right direction, we just want you all to help us stay on course with your feedback. :)

[FunkYou]

Anyway, you have my pledge that I'll do my best, but I make absolutely no promises as far as articles go.

Completely agree Matt, it's hard to appreciate how much time and effort can go into writing an article until you start trying to produce regular stuff. Sometimes they come easy but that's usually the exception rather than the rule IMO.


I fully understand that the articles take time, if they didn't they would be gash tp read. However with 6 writers on the staff it would onlyt take an article every 6 months from each opf you andf there would at loeast be one new proper article a month. This coupled with interviews, forecasts and aftermaths would make for an active fromt page.

[MattBremner]

I fully understand that the articles take time, if they didn't they would be gash tp read. However with 6 writers on the staff it would onlyt take an article every 6 months from each opf you andf there would at loeast be one new proper article a month. This coupled with interviews, forecasts and aftermaths would make for an active fromt page.

Oh, I definitely read your post as each writer posting an article a month, not an article a month from one of the six writers. That's much, much different. I think we can do that.

[Jack]

I fully understand that the articles take time, if they didn't they would be gash tp read. However with 6 writers on the staff it would onlyt take an article every 6 months from each opf you andf there would at loeast be one new proper article a month. This coupled with interviews, forecasts and aftermaths would make for an active fromt page.

Oh I wasn't aiming that at you man, just saying that it's a lot harder to produce commentaries on MMA than I thought it would be before I started writing here.

It's not so much actually writing the article that I find takes up so much time, it's milling around ideas that I feel I can actually write a decent 2000 words on (and then edit it down to 1500/1600), whilst trying to keep it interesting/relevant.

Anyway, I'm planning to be a lot more active in 2010 (work permitting). I wanna get around 12 MMA commentary articles out, a boxing series that'll hopefully be around 12 and then another series that I'm still thinking about that should be around another 5 over the course of the year.

So you're definitely not the only one who wants to keep the front page active :D.

[Brad.Taschuk]

Oh, I definitely read your post as each writer posting an article a month, not an article a month from one of the six writers. That's much, much different. I think we can do that.

I think he did mean everyone posting an article a month, which is quite possible. I think considering the site has only been around for 9 months that a couple of our writers almost got there (in terms of commentary type articles).

Looking at the back end, Jack wrote 10 articles for the year. Miles did 6 (which is forgivable given that he puts together all the Forecasts, and they're numerable), I think I did something like 12.

So as long as we can come up with ideas (which is the toughest part by far), one a month is pretty simple. Even if we each shoot for 9 articles in 2010, that'll put an average of a new article up on the front page every week, and I'm planning on doing double that, personally (18 for the year, not 2 articles a week, haha).

[steph05050]

i think ideas will be yalls only bad part. hopefully though in 2010 things will occur that will bring about topics to write about.... maybe some fighters will retire or leave certain orgs etc etc etc.I'm sure just as the year plays out new topics will come about then

[e-thug]

Oh I have another thing id like to add.

Now I know this used to be Damone's thing but I really miss it but any chance of getting someone to do a retro watch or something along those lines? It doesn't have to be the exact same, just throwing it out there.

[Brad.Taschuk]

I can reluctantly take a shot at that, since I watch old cards all the time... but I feel like it'd be lacking Damone's character wit, which would take away from the entire thing.

Still, I'm willing to give it a try.

[*TN*]

Kidnap Damone. Problem solved.

Guy doesn't post enough anyway.

[CockPuncher]

IMO motm turns off new members from hanging around

[Aaron]

IMO motm turns off new members from hanging around

really? how exactly?

[MattBremner]

I'm the opposite on the MOTM, when I joined, I kind of strove to win it. It made me want to make more quality posts. Of course, it stopped when I was here, but that's just me.

I can see how it may turn people off if they don't win or feel somehow left out.

[e-thug]

I can reluctantly take a shot at that, since I watch old cards all the time... but I feel like it'd be lacking Damone's character wit, which would take away from the entire thing.

Still, I'm willing to give it a try.


That be awesome, Damone did it very well and someone needs to seriously kidnap him away from whatever is keeping him from us.

Again ya dont have to do it the way he did, I just liked it as it was a great chance to look back at things and reminisce.

[MilesHackett]

Well Damone has written a few Retrowatch articles for us already, so I could always ask him if he could possibly give us the pleasure of another. I'd feel kind of bad taking it over, especially seeing as he conceived the concept for MMAF.