MWO sites and forums other than Mechspecs?

MWO sites and forums other than Mechspecs?
Yes, I am wondering if there are other sites for discussing builds and things. It is always nice to be able to get a second opinion. I am probably not going to the official forum, too toxic. Any other choices?

 

I love MechSpecs, I am surprised by the notification to sell, since the site runs on donations cannot the running just be handed over to a active moderator or something?

I also have the feeling that the redesign and new software (which I was very happy to pay for) which has also lead to the creation of ShipSpecs seems to be saying "Thanks for paying for the new site, so long suckers". I know that sounds a bit strong but I know Michael was not really into MWO before the new design...

 

I don't know of any, obviously there is MetaMechs and it's tier list, but that is just one persons ideas rather than build discussions

 

Handing MechSpecs, over to an "Active Moderator" had been considered. Unfortunately.

One: there are no really active moderators any more. Most of them have moved on to other things or made other parts of their lives more of a focal point. Every one of them has expressed condolences but this is the cycle of life with video games. Even the die-hard mods, who lived and breathed MWO have kind of moved on to other projects or interests.

Two: money would still need to come from somewhere. It is unlikely that MechSpecs could be self sustaining as it has been in the last few years. That would then put the onus on whichever moderator was given control of the backend software pieces.

Finally, while people have donated to the cause, and kept things afloat, that does not mean that this site will run forever until the day they turn the servers off at PGI land.

This site is still paid up until December. I was given a renewal notice request a couple of weeks ago and that is when we went in to discussions and deliberations behind closed doors. The site will run until then, I just didn't want anyone to come on one day and say "What happened, where did it go". THAT would be "So long and thanks for the money".

I would love to talk more but I've absconded to Mexico with all the billions the site has generated. /sarcasm

 

What costs go into the site and what are you looking for in terms of 'handing over the keys'? You really didn't answer that part.

I get not caring anymore, but if you could answer the financial part, it would be a bit easier to understand.

 

Nobody asked me the financial part. At least not from what I can see above.

Cost breakdown is as follows...

Around 500$ per year in hosting and bandwidth fees. It runs on a VPS host account. This upcoming year will probably be less due to the drop off.

On top of that there is the Xenforo licence fee that renews yearly. That varies since the initial software was purchased. This is more an fee to allow to upgrade to future versions.

Secuity certificates and domain name renewals. Around 50$ maximum per year.

The site currently generates around 300.00 a year in AdSense revenue. That's MAX! The extra has come from donations or out of pocket.

As for what I'm asking? That depends on who is offering. I asked 2500.00 from PGI. Which is well under what some valuations have come back at based on traffic. Google placement and age / type of domain.

 

I guess the MechSpec users have the following options before the end of the year to wait for someone else to buy Michael out. If that doesn't happen we can do the following:

1. Let MechSpecs die
2. Agree to move somewhere else similar (MetaMechs forum)
3. Start a brand new low cost forum

Certainly this is something we should discuss and there are pros and cons to each option. But I certainly think Michael deserves a chance to get something for his efforts. After that the MechSpecs community can decide how to proceed.

 

I don't mind doing some modding work and stuff really. But yeah the money has to come from somewhere.
I am not even looking at earning big bucks, just to not pay loads to keep it afloat for everyone.

 

Thanks for the costings Michael, I did not know it was quite so expensive in momentary terms, let alone the time involved. I guess it now makes sense why you don't want to continue with something you no longer have interest in.

 

Actually it is interesting ... I was thinking that we need to shell out around $300 a year for keeping it alive. So, balancing out the adsense revenue it is pretty close.

If a few regulars are willing to shell out and help then we can probably get this boat going still.

Now, $2500 is really cheap for what it is though, as far as PGI is concerned.

 

Mmh not being rude but what gaming company wants to run a seperate site using different software that they didn't code or have a hand in which makes a loss? I can see them wanting to buy the smurfy rights maybe but mechspecs, unlikely.

Meh I probably need to start mass copying builds for posterity....

 

No rudeness taken. It is what it is. They either want the domain. Or the site and the domain. Or they don't. Either way makes no never mind to me. I offered it to them out of respect to mwo players who frequent here to keep it in house so to speak. If they don't want it and someone else does then it'll go there and PGI loses what many consider a valuable and toxic-free community.

 

I was going to respond to the reddit post, but fuck 'em, they're nobodies.

Thanks for hosting the good times, Michael. I came up as an MW on MechSpecs. If the financials don't add up, who are any of us to ask you to fund/maintain a forum for a game that has lost your support. If the labor of love turns into regular old labor, you've got every right to pass the mantle.

I could feel out GMan regarding meatymechs if you want, but he really does that on his own. To his detriment at times... ;p

 

Well, I'll always have my MechSpecs cup to remind me of the good times!

Thanks for everything Michael!

 

I know it won't do much but its worth a shot considering how this site is what got me back into MWO but I tweeted out to Russ and "No Guts No Galaxy" about the news and what a valuable and convenient resource Mechspecs really is for the community. Hate to see it go but for all your reasons it makes sense. Good luck in your future endeavors guys

 

No idea who Decasya even is and his mech choices leave a lot to be desired.

 

he has a forum where mechs can be discussed. It's not broken down like it is here, but none the less it is still there.

 

Maybe we regulars should start a mini-mechspecs somewhere should this one go down.
Sure it would be much less fancy, but at least we can have categorized build links sections.
Hope smurfy can find a home though.

 

To do this we need someone to maintain the site as Michael did. And he did it with Passion in the past. Who could this one be? Most of us elder regulars are busy with work and family, and rarely get to play MWO unlike we did some yrs ago. If anyone who has freetime and passion enough to maintain this site, i'll be glad to support with donations.

 

Well, I don't mind doing bulk of the maintaining work.
I have basic understanding of things like these, and had done so in the past.
I would do some donations also, just like in the past here.

So, as long as someone is setting up a site, I can help work on things.
Someone has to take up the role of getting a site and server and what not though... I can't do document work for shit.