TSO It's been a while since we posted something like this, and I've been wanting to do it for a while. With the cancellation of NCAA for now and the introduction in next gen consoles and technology, it's time for us to take a step back and look at who we are and where we are going. Although management has been a bit scattered over the past year, I have tried my best to keep this place up and running. It's another example of what makes this community so awesome and the stability that exists from various leaders that have emerged from the community to help new members, debate hot topics in the industry and protect the values that we built this place on in 2009. With that being said, I'll pose the following questions. Answer honestly and candidly. I want to take this feedback and help form together a plan to make this place more stable and better for everyone who is apart of it. If you do not want your replies to be public, you can PM me as well. I appreciate the feedback, good or bad! 1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? 2) What would you change about the site? 3) What do you like most about TSO? 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? Again, really appreciate it guys. Looking forward to many more strong years to come!
TSO TSO UPDATE - There are 3k members here on the site, please take the time and give us some feedback. It is greatly appreciated!
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? TSO continues to be my "go to" place on the internet. It's the first place I go when I get home from work - check out chat box, check TMFL forum - and it's the place I check a half dozen times a day while at work to check the exact same things. I would rate my experience 10/10 simply because I have made friends with people I would have never met and am thankful for the relationships I have gained through the site... and on top of that I get to play in an awesome league that I would never have the chance to do anywhere else. 2) What would you change about the site? I lack some creativity here, but the chatbox doesn't function well on my phone (I use Chrome on the iPhone)-- some sort of app that connects you to our chatbox would be the absolute tits. I wish I had a better idea, but that's all I've got in regards to a change. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The friends I've made- without a doubt. I can only hope I will have the opportunity to personally meet them someday. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? The chatbox thing would be nice. If I see some better ideas maybe I will edit them into here to make them more visible. One more thing, a big thanks to everybody that keeps this place going-- I honestly don't know what I would do without this site. Good or bad, that's the truth.
Drift, 1) Two years ago I would say on the up, because it seemed that way. But as the current gen games took a nose dive so did the leagues that we all play in. Right now it seems like things are leveling out, but hopefully with the influx of the new console the ship can be back on the up and up. As far as experience, I have enjoyed it. It's been an honor getting to know so many guys that are like minded. 2) Well there isn't much you can do about what I would try to change. I feel like there is negativity that trickles down from the top and into the leagues, thus making members just get to a point of constant complaining. 3) The best thing about TSO is the camaraderie. I know through some of my personal struggles, that some of the guys on here picked up the phone and called me or texted me to just make sure I was ok. That is from the top of the site all the way down. So it shows that there is some sense of friendship throughout the site, thus being the main reason I came back and started playing again. 4) There has to be something that can be done to reward the members who have done the most work or most content. Not really a monetary reward, but some type of something..
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? This site is always one of the first places I stop for general banter because it's a fun place to be even though I am not currently in a league. The people here are great, the staff here are great, and I really don't have any complaints. 2) What would you change about the site? For my purposes, I don't need anything big to change. As long as this place remains up and running and is a fun place to come to, I will stay here and pitch in my annual $12 (since y'all don't have the lifetime thing anymore ) 3) What do you like most about TSO? The people. I have made so many good friends here in TSO, some of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting (Dru50 , recchem2000 , gowazzucougs) and many whom I look forward to seeing in Vegas in a couple months. Of course, the way some people talk, I won't be remembering meeting many of you. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? Again, bells and whistles don't really apply to me. The way the site is set up is just fine. The staff here do a fantastic job. Keep on Keepin on.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? For me personally it has gone downhill. That’s not really an indictment on the website or community. NCAA in my mind has really been a buzzkill the last few versions with OD killing glitches. With the site being one that started as primarily an NCAA OD site, the death of NCAA has been pretty rough on the site I feel. 2) What would you change about the site? Site stability has been a problem over the last 6 months or so. Also (if at all feasible) larger capacity to allow multiple OOTP leagues to be fully functional. Seems like OOTP is really becoming a community favorite and if we could fully take advantage of its capabilities (live sims, statslab, other various features) it would only grow membership I feel. I would also like to see a little more in terms of utilizing the home page. I currently visit the home page on a once every two month frequency. Maybe moving the chat box there or something might help. I also think the social network presence is a bit lacking. I’ve liked the facebook page and there only seems to be 5-10 posts per month. 3) What do you like most about TSO? OOTP and The Baseline are the best things running. OOTP can be a site-anchoring title if we let it. Its such a great game and if we can get the word out there, I really think it could bring traffic to the site. And I can’t forget to mention its members. There are people I talk to here more than I do my friends and family. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? None that I can think of at this time outside things already mentioned.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? I'd rate my experience rather high, but I haven't been involved in a league in quite a few months due to time restraints. It's still one of the first things I check in the morning when I get to my computer. 2) What would you change about the site? The former way that leagues were presented (NCAA Leagues > Showing all the leagues on one page under their specifics (PS3 Premier OD, PS3 OD, X360 Premier OD, etc. etc.) made it really easy for me to browse around and check in on leagues I wasn't a part of. Since I'm not a part of a league I haven't checked in on any current running leagues since that change. Also on certain forums, and this is more of a user-specific thing, when new FIFA 14 news comes out, it's all just jumbled into one thread. If it's something big, hell go make a new thread, amirite?! I don't know if Shaun or anyone has the statistics, but the hits on the main page vs. hits on the forums has to be so drastic towards the later. The front page to me brings nothing but a headache. Even if it just has a blog portion(for reviews and what not,) and then feeds for different forums or leagues, it'd be an upgrade. http://www.sbnation.com/blogs I'd love to see a layout like this for our leagues, and while it would involve maintenance every cycle, removing dead and adding new leagues, it could really be neat. Even allowing for a place to link towards the League Openings forum. On top of that, we are a sports gaming site, and I while I know that vBulletin has a feature(paid or not I can't remember + this isn't vBulletin) to allow users to have a blog, it'd be really neat to get something like that going. Whether the topic is video games, sports video games, sports, gambling, so on and so on, another way for users to find one another and bond over a common interest or hatred. 3) What do you like most about TSO? It's got to be the guys, albeit any communication with the core group I associate with is outside the TSO public eye (PMs and/or Skype.) 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? Ah should of read through all of this. Placed most of it in the 'What would you change about the site' portion. I'd probably add a few smaller things that don't necessarily have to be intertwined within the forum's functions. A TSO wide College Football Pick 'Em, Bowl Pick 'Em, NFL Survivor Pool, etc. etc. I thought it was pretty cool when it was functioning within the forum, but Yahoo and other sites run those things a lot cleaner, and I'd imagine, a lot simpler on the person having to enter all that data/games/information. Edit : Also would love to see us get a 'collective' site. collective.traditionsportsonline.com, in which you could list and link to live streams and twitter handles from the TSO community. We could be the place for people to go if they want to watch a sport's game stream. With PS4/Xbox One having this feature, it could be fantastic. On top of that : A collective site. That's got all of our twitters/streams/blogs(if implemented throughout the forum.) The main page showing 'Most Popular Streams' 'Most Popular Blogs' 'Most Popular Leagues,' based on plug-ins detecting which ones got visited more, tweeted more recently or more recent posts for the leagues.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? Tso as a whole has done a great job in providing leagues to which there is something for everyone when they join up. My experience has been great, since I joined in 09, I've seen the changes both internally and Site-wise. People have come and go(only those that couldn't hang) plus you have the opportunity to share with fellow gamers. Not too many other sites (which I've only seen 1) can come close to what as members of Tso have. Companionship. 2) What would you change about the site? Nothing comes to mind at the moment. 3) What do you like most about TSO? Basically in a Nutshell, the opportunity to chat or compete against other gamers around the Us. To me its pretty cool playing against someone who's 2 hrs Time difference from Me. I like the fact that we have a site that we can all come together and discuss or shout or whatever between each other. Hopefully Tso will continue to set the standards for fair play in gaming. I've enjoyed my 4 years with Tso and look to continue that. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? Maybe just Maybe a Chat Room App for Phones like Aim, and release it to the phones in use today, Verizon, Iphone.. etc etc etc. Final Note from Me: Tso is a site like no other, the opportunity to come and compete and chat is what holds this Site together. While other sites just only discuss gaming, we discuss other topics as well as gaming. Leagues are top notch on here and hopefully will continue to do so. Great Job everyone here at Tso. Thanks to everyone for making this site top notch. Bamagrad
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? I just recently joined TSO this summer. Coming from a small group of sports gamers I really was a bit skeptical at first. The group I had played with had great commaradire but life had taken its toll on us and our numbers dwindled as we got older. Coming in I was blown away by the response I got welcoming me to the site and the effort others took helping me on my way. A month into being a part of the TSO community, I knew I had found a home, this site has shown to be more than a "gaming" website, it truly is a community of great sports enthusiasts such as myself and I I could never have imagined I would have found such a great group of people to game and communicate with. 2) What would you change about the site? Really dont see any glaring needs, the site does very well adapting from what I have seen in my short time here. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The community itself. I wake up daily and before I even check facebook I'm on TSO. There are some great and knowledgeable people on the site and its a true joy to be a member. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? Im strictly going to be on next gen as of Friday, and it looks like there are already some movements that direction. Just continued progress in this direction.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? My experience here has been fantastic. Before joining TSO I would typically only play NCAA until Madden came out, and then get rid of Madden around the time the NFL playoffs start and I would be searching for something to keep my attention sports gaming wise. Now, I play NCAA and Madden all year and get my moneys worth and then some out of each game. I check this site on a regular basis and is usually the first thing I look at in the morning and the last thing I check at night. 2) What would you change about the site? Some way to get information about up coming titles easier for people to see/get too. I still find myself going elsewhere (OS) for sports gaming news, even though this is the first site I look at everyday. I would be willing to bet the majority of the members here, that are here religiously could write a more articulate review of the games that come out without sounding like EA/2k bashers or fanboys. Which if properly placed for the viewing public would get more people coming here on a regular basis, if of course, that is a direction leadership wants this site to go. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The people, plain and simple. Sports enthusiasts who have a passion for playing the game the right way, the way the sport is played IRL. I have made some great friendships here. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? I would like to see a chat feature similar to an Instant Messenger that could support group chat. Some of the most fun leagues are ones where the league as a whole can banter back and forth all day from our computers or phones without having to create threads or posting in other threads.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? Well, I've only really been active since the spring of 2012, but I think it's the best website of its kind on the Internet. The NCAA leagues seem to have taken a massive dive but that's really no fault of the site. I plan on picking up Madden next year for PS4 only so I can be in a league on here. 2) What would you change about the site? If it would be possible to see more gaming news here I would never go anywhere else. I still find myself checking OS for MLB: The Show news and PastaPadre for NHL/Madden type news. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The group of members is second to none. I think it has the best collection of people of any forum that I have read/been a member. Also, the site is always adding nice new features that keep things fresh. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? I would like to see more contests like the bowl pick 'em from last year. It could be done for march madness as well as preseason playoff picks, etc. It would just be cool to have some bragging rights.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? You're doing an excellent job. I'll give you a 10 out of 10. 2) What would you change about the site? I haven't seen anything I don't like. So change nothing right now. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The good game play and the users in this forum. You guys do a good job getting good users in here sim play is the way to go. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? Probably a chat feature for each league.
Is the notification for this thread messed up? I get an email notification every 5 minutes for this thread.
1. It's certainly better than OS. Lots of room for improvement. 2. As a former staff member, the potential of the site's growth is obvious. The problem as it is currently is that this potential will never be met with the model in place. Unfortunately the time required to do this can be considered laborious. Without a compensation system of some sort in place for those who are assigned these roles, they become stagnant. 3. The community. Ease of use of the website. Excellent forum software. 4. League specific embedded chat rooms. Not everyone uses (or likes Skype). Not everyone can get on Skype at work. More resources allocated to OOTP, and a different approval process possibly for members not interested in other titles. As it stands now the application can be a pain in the butt for someone wanting to only play in OOTP.
I hope you are ok with honesty..... 1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? I joined the TSO I believe 3 or 4 years ago. Id say I had some ups and downs. In general the experience has been average to good. I say that because I was part of long standing Madden league that in reality didnt feel that the direction of the TSO was to help foster good working relationships with those in the madden community. I recently came back to join a madden league and I do like what I see.I will say that the TSO was very strong to elite in the promotion of NCAA leagues. 2) What would you change about the site? This is likely being done as we speak with EA's announcement that they will be discontinuing the NCAA franchise. I already see movement towards more integration of the Madden Franchise which is what I would like to see more. Now perhaps im biased/jaded since I was really never interested in NCAA leagues. I only had time for one football game and decided on Madden over NCAA. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The Traffic. Lots of volume and promotion of sim style players. Obviously have some dedicated people interested in simulation style gaming. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? I think someone said it before but APPs and Chatrooms for each league
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? I've been seeing the same faces around for years... to retain so many people for so long for a video gaming community means something right is being done. 2) What would you change about the site? I took a pretty big step back from the site (include a ninja disappearance) due to dissatisfaction with how NCAA was being done, but since that's gone now... The home page is more of an annoyance than anything right now. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The people. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? It would be cool if most of the non sports games ideas didn't completely flop, but that's more of a community problem I guess.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? I joined 3 years ago, and from a gaming perspective it's the best decision I've ever made. While I dabbled in NCAA for a while, FIFA has always been my priority. In that regard, I think we've done a fantastic job building our league (TFSerie) out of a predominantly football-centric user base. I do have concerns though. With NCAA no longer here, and it being arguably the biggest segment of the user group, what's next? Will the site be able to sustain itself on Madden alone? Because while there are other leagues here, they aren't bringing in the numbers that football did/does. Furthermore, how can we change that? Is it as simple as reformatting the front page (see below), or are there other things that can be done to drive new members to the site? 2) What would you change about the site? The front page. All of the elements are there, but it's very cluttered and unorganized. If I'm a new member and I'm not directed specifically to the forums, I have a hard time figuring out how to get where I need to go. (The "Join" button, which should be higher up, doesn't even work). How often is there "Featured News", and how often is it updated for the front page? Same goes for "Tradition Sports News". 3) What do you like most about TSO? It's pretty obvious that the community here is the bee's knees. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? As stated above, the front page is a mess. Chatbox for each league would be nice, but I can't imagine that's an easy thing to implement. Maybe one for each sport/franchise would be more reasonable? New Member application could be consolidated without sacrificing the objective. As an aside, it would be nice if somewhere in that forum there were icons for XBox and PS users...that would cut down on time spent looking for interested new members.
1) How are we doing so far? How would you rate your experience here? Its the best league structure you can find on the net. Thats for sure. Very happy with the longevity that i have been apart of for the last 5ish years. 2) What would you change about the site? My biggest issue as been, There is little to no leadership on the Sony side of the site. We had hackgolfer but he has went pretty well MIA. I would love to see someone dedicated to that side. Like Xbox has had continually. 3) What do you like most about TSO? The interaction and friends i have made is awesome. I have the majority of them on Facebook now. 4) What new features or amenities would you like to see us add in the future? Maybe a private real time Chat instead of PMs
I agree with alot of what JFace said, especially as it relates to site stability. Whatever the reasons (and I'm not an IT expert so I won't claim to know why it happens) but over the past year TSO has been down more often than any other site I visit by a very large margin, which includes other forum based sites. The frequency of the outtages was very frustrating when I was actively involved in NCAA, less so now since I've moved on from that title for good.
The stability issue directly relates to the StatsLab utility that OOTP uses. You'll notice the site has been more stable in the last 6 weeks since I've taken the updating into my own hands, where I can ensure services are cycled afterwards. Basically, there is memory leak somewhere in the application and it ends up consuming so much RAM the forum fails trying to spawn threads.
