Board Activity

[ManofTheAtom]

When did people start leaving? What caused it? What will bring them back?

Surely those that still remain here have ways of contacting the old members like I was and get them to return, no?

[Ryan]

I think I can speak for some of the old school/Shooterverse fans. The schism (hehe) that happened between VEI and Shooter that sent VEI into a reboot and Shooter to DH with the GK3 split some of the fans off as well. Not trying to re-litigate what happened, just stating the fact that certain type of fans like Todd Luck, defiant1, etc. were gone at that point or soon after. There's always just normal attrition that happens as well with people's lives getting busy or other things.

[ManofTheAtom]

I think I can speak for some of the old school/Shooterverse fans. The schism (hehe) that happened between VEI and Shooter that sent VEI into a reboot and Shooter to DH with the GK3 split some of the fans off as well. Not trying to re-litigate what happened, just stating the fact that certain type of fans like Todd Luck, defiant1, etc. were gone at that point or soon after. There's always just normal attrition that happens as well with people's lives getting busy or other things.

Even so, this board was consistently active for a decade or over one.

[Ryan]

I think I can speak for some of the old school/Shooterverse fans. The schism (hehe) that happened between VEI and Shooter that sent VEI into a reboot and Shooter to DH with the GK3 split some of the fans off as well. Not trying to re-litigate what happened, just stating the fact that certain type of fans like Todd Luck, defiant1, etc. were gone at that point or soon after. There's always just normal attrition that happens as well with people's lives getting busy or other things.

Even so, this board was consistently active for a decade or over one.

Yeah that's just one small piece. As we've been discussing in other threads, some of the 2010s-2020s drop off points might be - Dino leaving/HW2 - Valiant Next (soft reboot not aimed at VH1 or VEI fans) - Bloodshot movie disappointing - Pandemic - Further DMG releases that don't seem to be aimed at the fans. Probably more things as well

[TheFerg714]

I think I can speak for some of the old school/Shooterverse fans. The schism (hehe) that happened between VEI and Shooter that sent VEI into a reboot and Shooter to DH with the GK3 split some of the fans off as well. Not trying to re-litigate what happened, just stating the fact that certain type of fans like Todd Luck, defiant1, etc. were gone at that point or soon after. There's always just normal attrition that happens as well with people's lives getting busy or other things.

Even so, this board was consistently active for a decade or over one.

Yeah that's just one small piece. As we've been discussing in other threads, some of the 2010s-2020s drop off points might be - Dino leaving/HW2 - Valiant Next (soft reboot not aimed at VH1 or VEI fans) - Bloodshot movie disappointing - Pandemic - Further DMG releases that don't seem to be aimed at the fans. Probably more things as well

Also, forums like this simply aren't really a thing anymore. Most people use social media.

[grendeljd]

I think I can speak for some of the old school/Shooterverse fans. The schism (hehe) that happened between VEI and Shooter that sent VEI into a reboot and Shooter to DH with the GK3 split some of the fans off as well. Not trying to re-litigate what happened, just stating the fact that certain type of fans like Todd Luck, defiant1, etc. were gone at that point or soon after. There's always just normal attrition that happens as well with people's lives getting busy or other things.

Even so, this board was consistently active for a decade or over one.

Yeah that's just one small piece. As we've been discussing in other threads, some of the 2010s-2020s drop off points might be - Dino leaving/HW2 - Valiant Next (soft reboot not aimed at VH1 or VEI fans) - Bloodshot movie disappointing - Pandemic - Further DMG releases that don't seem to be aimed at the fans. Probably more things as well

Also, forums like this simply aren't really a thing anymore. Most people use social media.

I think perhaps the combination of being in this unfortunately poor post-DMG takeover era in tandem with TheFerg’s point about social media apps over forum use are two of the biggest factors to explain the drop-off of *most* “newer” members who may have joined since 2012 or so… and for any of us who are older and more attuned to the format of forums (this one in particular), it’s probably all the other factors that Ryan mentioned.

I’m a bit of a hybrid myself, as I’ve been a Valiant fan since the original line began, but only discovered and joined this community in 2012 when I first heard about the relaunch.

I’m accustomed to forum groups since before that time, which is why I do still enjoy the format for communicating with fans - but I imagine most people with enough of a youthful age gap don’t have the same sentimentality or patience for it as I/we who remain do.

Honestly, I also just don’t seem to have enough free time to spend on everything like I did in the past either - that, or I’m just spread too thin across too many hobbies and real-life stuff to keep up with it all.

[Ryan]

Also, forums like this simply aren't really a thing anymore. Most people use social media.

I think perhaps the combination of being in this unfortunately poor post-DMG takeover era in tandem with TheFerg’s point about social media apps over forum use are two of the biggest factors to explain the drop-off of *most* “newer” members who may have joined since 2012 or so… and for any of us who are older and more attuned to the format of forums (this one in particular), it’s probably all the other factors that Ryan mentioned.

I’m a bit of a hybrid myself, as I’ve been a Valiant fan since the original line began, but only discovered and joined this community in 2012 when I first heard about the relaunch.

I’m accustomed to forum groups since before that time, which is why I do still enjoy the format for communicating with fans - but I imagine most people with enough of a youthful age gap don’t have the same sentimentality or patience for it as I/we who remain do.

Honestly, I also just don’t seem to have enough free time to spend on everything like I did in the past either - that, or I’m just spread too thin across too many hobbies and real-life stuff to keep up with it all.

Yeah, that's true. I will say the more I use social media the more I appreciate the simplicity and focus of the old message board. Social media seems designed to send you down rabbit holes. Maybe message boards will make a comeback?

[grendeljd]

Also, forums like this simply aren't really a thing anymore. Most people use social media.

I think perhaps the combination of being in this unfortunately poor post-DMG takeover era in tandem with TheFerg’s point about social media apps over forum use are two of the biggest factors to explain the drop-off of *most* “newer” members who may have joined since 2012 or so… and for any of us who are older and more attuned to the format of forums (this one in particular), it’s probably all the other factors that Ryan mentioned.

I’m a bit of a hybrid myself, as I’ve been a Valiant fan since the original line began, but only discovered and joined this community in 2012 when I first heard about the relaunch.

I’m accustomed to forum groups since before that time, which is why I do still enjoy the format for communicating with fans - but I imagine most people with enough of a youthful age gap don’t have the same sentimentality or patience for it as I/we who remain do.

Honestly, I also just don’t seem to have enough free time to spend on everything like I did in the past either - that, or I’m just spread too thin across too many hobbies and real-life stuff to keep up with it all.

Yeah, that's true. I will say the more I use social media the more I appreciate the simplicity and focus of the old message board. Social media seems designed to send you down rabbit holes. Maybe message boards will make a comeback?

Social media is most definitely, specifically designed to keep you travelling down rabbit holes. That’s where they make the most money from us all, when they can keep us engaged in their apps for as long as possible. Sounds conspiratorial on the surface, probably - but there are good documentaries out there that discuss that stuff in better detail than I could here.

If it was as easy to post photos and videos in forums as it is in modern social media apps, I’d happily give up on them for all my most fervent nerd-interaction needs, haha!

[nycjadie]

Social media is like high school. Everyone shows up. It’s loud, chaotic, and full of idiots.

This board is mostly Uber fans. It might be quiet but for me it’s a safer and more interesting spot.

[ManofTheAtom]

Like I just said in another thread, it boggles the mind that the board's community would have survived over a decade without any new VALIANT comics only to die out after a few years of bad decisions from the current owners.

I'll add that if it survived Acclaim, it should have survived DMG too.

[greg]

Like I just said in another thread, it boggles the mind that the board's community would have survived over a decade without any new VALIANT comics only to die out after a few years of bad decisions from the current owners.

How big and active was the fan buildup to The Phantom Menace, and how big and active is the current fan club for The Phantom Menace?

[ManofTheAtom]

Like I just said in another thread, it boggles the mind that the board's community would have survived over a decade without any new VALIANT comics only to die out after a few years of bad decisions from the current owners.

How big and active was the fan buildup to The Phantom Menace, and how big and active is the current fan club for The Phantom Menace?

Well, the Star Wars fandom persists despite multiple screwups even after Phantom Menace. If they could survive Abrams, we can survive DMG, heh.

[ManofTheAtom]

Social media is like high school. Everyone shows up. It’s loud, chaotic, and full of idiots.

This board is mostly Uber fans. It might be quiet but for me it’s a safer and more interesting spot.

Yeah. Just wish we could get it back up to full strength.

[TheFerg714]

Like I just said in another thread, it boggles the mind that the board's community would have survived over a decade without any new VALIANT comics only to die out after a few years of bad decisions from the current owners.

How big and active was the fan buildup to The Phantom Menace, and how big and active is the current fan club for The Phantom Menace?

Actually, the prequels are popular and lauded now. Just goes to show how things change over time.

[ManofTheAtom]

Like I just said in another thread, it boggles the mind that the board's community would have survived over a decade without any new VALIANT comics only to die out after a few years of bad decisions from the current owners.

How big and active was the fan buildup to The Phantom Menace, and how big and active is the current fan club for The Phantom Menace?

Actually, the prequels are popular and lauded now. Just goes to show how things change over time.

Definitely.

[greg]

Like I just said in another thread, it boggles the mind that the board's community would have survived over a decade without any new VALIANT comics only to die out after a few years of bad decisions from the current owners.

How big and active was the fan buildup to The Phantom Menace, and how big and active is the current fan club for The Phantom Menace?

Actually, the prequels are popular and lauded now. Just goes to show how things change over time.

So, the VEI fandom will pick up again somewhere around 2032... we'll be here.

[greg]

I posted this on another topic, but it belongs here, too.

Where did everyone go?

Well...

A collector of pre-Unity Valiant anytime between 1992 and 2011 would have meant building a collection of 60 books over 20 years.
Throw in the Valiant variants, gold issues, and key first appearances and you'd still be under 100 books for a "very nice" old school Valiant collection.

VEI put out 100 different books (including variants) in about 8 months. By the second anniversary (May 2014), there were over 500 books.

Old school Valiant 100 "classics" in 20 years vs. New Valiant 500 "everything" in 2 years.

... maybe they decided they were done because they wouldn't ever be done.

[ManofTheAtom]

I posted this on another topic, but it belongs here, too.

Where did everyone go?

Well...

A collector of pre-Unity Valiant anytime between 1992 and 2011 would have meant building a collection of 60 books over 20 years.
Throw in the Valiant variants, gold issues, and key first appearances and you'd still be under 100 books for a "very nice" old school Valiant collection.

VEI put out 100 different books (including variants) in about 8 months. By the second anniversary (May 2014), there were over 500 books.

Old school Valiant 100 "classics" in 20 years vs. New Valiant 500 "everything" in 2 years.

... maybe they decided they were done because they wouldn't ever be done.

So all who are left are the people that care about the stories while the collectors/investors raptured themselves?

[Chiclo]

I posted this on another topic, but it belongs here, too.

Where did everyone go?

Well...

A collector of pre-Unity Valiant anytime between 1992 and 2011 would have meant building a collection of 60 books over 20 years.
Throw in the Valiant variants, gold issues, and key first appearances and you'd still be under 100 books for a "very nice" old school Valiant collection.

VEI put out 100 different books (including variants) in about 8 months. By the second anniversary (May 2014), there were over 500 books.

Old school Valiant 100 "classics" in 20 years vs. New Valiant 500 "everything" in 2 years.

... maybe they decided they were done because they wouldn't ever be done.

So all who are left are the people that care about the stories while the collectors/investors raptured themselves?

I don't think the few that still haunt these halls show much interest in current comics - stories, covers, or otherwise.

[ManofTheAtom]

I posted this on another topic, but it belongs here, too.

Where did everyone go?

Well...

A collector of pre-Unity Valiant anytime between 1992 and 2011 would have meant building a collection of 60 books over 20 years.
Throw in the Valiant variants, gold issues, and key first appearances and you'd still be under 100 books for a "very nice" old school Valiant collection.

VEI put out 100 different books (including variants) in about 8 months. By the second anniversary (May 2014), there were over 500 books.

Old school Valiant 100 "classics" in 20 years vs. New Valiant 500 "everything" in 2 years.

... maybe they decided they were done because they wouldn't ever be done.

So all who are left are the people that care about the stories while the collectors/investors raptured themselves?

I don't think the few that still haunt these halls show much interest in current comics - stories, covers, or otherwise.

That sucks.

[lorddunlow]

POSTS POSTS POSTS! YAAAAAY!

Also, social media sucks and is quite anti-social. This place is social.

[greg]

Social media is like fad haircuts... everyone does the same thing for a while, then stops completely... with regret when they look back later.

hairfads.jpg

We're more like the "never goes out of style" basic cut around here.

normalhair.jpg

It's not going to win any popularity contests, but it doesn't come with a cringe factor either.

[lorddunlow]

Social media is like fad haircuts... everyone does the same thing for a while, then stops completely... with regret when they look back later.

hairfads.jpg

We're more like the "never goes out of style" basic cut around here.

normalhair.jpg

It's not going to win any popularity contests, but it doesn't come with a cringe factor either.

Exactly, Greg. That's why I've had the same haircut since 7th grade. It's even working out as I get some baldness.

Sent from my Pixel Fold using Tapatalk

[grendeljd]

I posted this on another topic, but it belongs here, too.

Where did everyone go?

Well...

A collector of pre-Unity Valiant anytime between 1992 and 2011 would have meant building a collection of 60 books over 20 years.
Throw in the Valiant variants, gold issues, and key first appearances and you'd still be under 100 books for a "very nice" old school Valiant collection.

VEI put out 100 different books (including variants) in about 8 months. By the second anniversary (May 2014), there were over 500 books.

Old school Valiant 100 "classics" in 20 years vs. New Valiant 500 "everything" in 2 years.

... maybe they decided they were done because they wouldn't ever be done.

So all who are left are the people that care about the stories while the collectors/investors raptured themselves?

I don't think the few that still haunt these halls show much interest in current comics - stories, covers, or otherwise.

That sucks.

I still have a strong passion for new comics - this is probably because I still dream of being a comic book creator as a full time gig. I particularly like to maintain an interest in series beyond any of the traditional superhero books too (if I were to produce my own comics, they would not end up being superhero stories - and that’s not to say I dislike that genre in any way).

Using the medium of comics to create great stories across multiple other genres is what gets me most excited, so I do actively try to be open to new stuff. However, I am currently not as active as I used to be in terms of trying out many new series - it’s close to one of my lowest points in decades as a fan, as far as how many current comics I pick up regularly. I did just try out a new series called “w0rld tr33” this week that was exceptionally good though!

If Alien manages to publish even a limited but solid line-up of Valiant books regularly, I’m interested in giving them a chance.

[grendeljd]

Social media is like fad haircuts... everyone does the same thing for a while, then stops completely... with regret when they look back later.
hairfads.jpg


We're more like the "never goes out of style" basic cut around here.
normalhair.jpg


It's not going to win any popularity contests, but it doesn't come with a cringe factor either.

I’ve been noticing a hell of a lot of kids in all the cities around here seem to suddenly have all the same haircut… my wife describes it as a mushroom top - shaved sides that flare up to as much of a curly poof on top as they can manage to grow