Current Events > Remember the gamefaqs redesign + gaslighting from admin?

(+) Yeah! (+)

For those that dont, here's how it went:

Gamefaqs changes UI/features/etc without warning or announcement

People complain and ask why it was so random and unannounced, and how they can revert

Mods and admins cried about "well weeeee made a feedback topic and yooooou didn't see it so that's yooourrrrr fault!"

Users point out that thats terrible information design and that they are trying to gaslight users and shame us for getting upset at that + the original changes, which is a very ineffective way to handle a situation.

Users start harassing mods and admins more, calling their move pure tonedeaf idiocy (because it was)

Admins finally relent, revert most changes. Issue yet another tonedeaf and fruitless statement, "we have learned blah blah in the future blah blah do better blah blah".

I remember that's when SBAllen went on a banning spree and banned everyone

ok

FatAnimeBooty posted...

I remember that's when SBAllen went on a banning spree and banned everyone

Thats when Franklin (my cousin) got banned.

I recall SBAllen opening up feedback for it again some time after, and then saying that the next time they switch over to the new design, they are not going back whatsoever, so people had better use the feedback this time.

Solar_Crimson posted...

I recall SBAllen opening up feedback for it again some time after, and then saying that the next time they switch over to the new design, they are not going back whatsoever, so people had better use the feedback this time.

Oh that redesign. Didn't know which one TC was referring to since there have been a few over the years that CE has lost their shit over.

FatAnimeBooty posted...

I remember that's when SBAllen went on a banning spree and banned everyone

Ah yes, the dark times. Order 69.

Idk if I'd call that gaslighting, but it was pretty shitty for sure

--- GameFaqs Community Fact Checking Service ---

Naysaspace posted...

Gamefaqs changes UI/features/etc without warning or announcement

This statement has been judged as FALSE. In reality there was an entire forum dedicated to the new changes. This forum was highly publicized by the admins and saw varied levels of community feedback.

FAQ-Checker posted...

--- GameFaqs Community Fact Checking Service ---

This statement has been judged as FALSE. In reality there was an entire forum dedicated to the new changes. This forum was highly publicized by the admins and saw varied levels of community feedback.

Sure it was new user.

FatAnimeBooty posted...

I remember that's when SBAllen went on a banning spree and banned everyone

https://youtu.be/KgeGs8_bQ9Y

Baha05 posted...

Sure it was new user.

It was. There was even a special feedback ticket that could be used to send in your thoughts and recommendations.

How long ago was that? I remember it but it had to be almost 10 years ago now right?

GZAgenius posted...

How long ago was that? I remember it but it had to be almost 10 years ago now right?

Id say five years at most it was pretty damn recent.

I remember they tested the new forums, had a topic for feedback that got bombarded with negative comments on the design and then they launched it without actually listening to any of the feedback and got taken aback that people didn't like they design they already knew people didn't like.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/10-ask-the-mods/80263486/969932485

Not only was it highly publicized but just last week I proved it over on AtM. Moderators were given first access to it. Pretty much everyone one of us hated it, and offered feedback. The only feedback taken on was bug fixes / vulnerabilities. I think after that was a period where some normal users could access the beta, followed by everyone being able to access it. Still everyone hated it, and then it rolled out unceremoniously a few weeks later.

I dont know why the Admins didn't listen to the feedback given; my best guess is they were forced by Red Ventures. Part of the problem with regular users accessing the beta was the lack of constructive criticism. People would just say it sucks, or to not do the rollout at all. Not helpful for a company that is committed to a redesign. I still think they could have done a better job listening to the real feedback they got, but it's also true that barely anyone said anything helpful.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yes we know that trolls like you would immediately abuse any power you receive, thanks for the heads up.

GZAgenius posted...

How long ago was that? I remember it but it had to be almost 10 years ago now right?

No cuz... that was only 2-3 years ago at most

This happens every other year though

Uta posted...

I dont know why the Admins didn't listen to the feedback given; my best guess is they were forced by Red Ventures. Part of the problem with regular users accessing the beta was the lack of constructive criticism. People would just say it sucks, or to not do the rollout at all. Not helpful for a company that is committed to a redesign. I still think they could have done a better job listening to the real feedback they got, but it's also true that barely anyone said anything helpful.

There were plenty of reasons given for why it sucked. The top boards for a given console being useless since they were flooded with multiplatform games (Genshin Impact was the top Switch game even though it's not actually on the Switch). The difficulty in parsing topics and posts due to the lack of borders. Etc. We repeated these same criticisms every step of the way, and then Allen tried to claim everyone was fine with it during testing.

Solar_Crimson posted...

I recall SBAllen opening up feedback for it again some time after, and then saying that the next time they switch over to the new design, they are not going back whatsoever, so people had better use the feedback this time.

again, terrible infodesign. for users saying "there was a board for it!", this was unadvertised, unpromoted, and hidden from main board page. that is bad design ! SAY IT WITH ME, NAOW!

It was linked to in Message Board Announcements, IIRC (with the announcement itself being visible from the Board List). But like I said, those of us who did find our way there DID give negative feedback about it, saying the exact same shit everyone said after the redesign went live.

theres a very large contingent of this website that only browses a few boards. a large portion of CE only browses CE, nowhere else (which makes it funny when they think post archiving/deleting works the same site-wide as it does here).

posting it on a board that pretty much no one reads, brushing your hands and saying "WELP! DID MY JOB!" is not the way to communicate to a userbase. the job is not to post the message, the job is to communicate. they did not effectively communicate.

If they really want to be able to say "we sought feedback", they need to actually promote the topic(s) where they're discussing it. Having them exist in a corner of the website many people don't even know exists, and many of those who do know about it never visit, doesn't really count.

terrible

that was before my time but it sounds like it sucked