Forum's platform engine is abysmal!

[Lemuel81]

This forum has always been atrocious. It is embarrassing that it is 2024 and this is what a multi billion dollar company gives us.

[Sove92]

That's because the FFXIV forum software is VBulletin, (along with the FFXI forum), which is third-party forum software, and a really old one at that, so SE are limited by the limitations of the software (having been a moderator on an old forum that also used VBulletin years ago, I can vouch how long in the tooth it really is).

Unfortunately, I doubt SE are really interested in spending the money upgrading to newer software or taking the time to actually design their own forum, as forums are kind of outdated compared to modern social media systems.

And VBulletin 4.2.x at that. This version hasn't received support in years and also only runs on a long since EOL'd version of PHP.

[Daralii]

As you can tell from the forums and how preorders work, web design is Square's passion.

[1313]

This is a commonly used, cheap forum skin. I've played other games going back nearly twenty years that use the exact same setup.

[CidHeiral]

It's nearly impossible to keep track of interactions (replies / upvotes) in very busy threads if you're not actively refreshing and reading through. Or even threads you participated days ago and forgot about it. And the tool that remotely resembles that is buried under the Profile page which takes ages to load.

Reading a thread shouldn't be a problem if you're honestly trying to discuss a topic with the community. If you're just here to collect updoots and pat yourself on the back you'd have better luck on Reddit.

[Raikai]

Reading a thread shouldn't be a problem if you're honestly trying to discuss a topic with the community. If you're just here to collect updoots and pat yourself on the back you'd have better luck on Reddit.

Sometimes threads are really slow, especially in the sub-forums, and it's easy to forget about them a couple of days later. And even in busy threads. It's not about 'collecting updoots', but in fact to keep track if somebody actually replied to you and keep the flow of the conversation after intervals. In a thread like the Healer Strike, that gains multiple pages overnight, it's hard to keep getting back to replies and then not even guaranteed that the person you replied to will see that. And it happens because a thread's narrative is hardly linear, with different niches of conversation going at once, sometimes meaningless things about people just arguing about arguing.

[CidHeiral]

Sometimes threads are really slow, especially in the sub-forums, and it's easy to forget about them a couple of days later.

Threads you've replied to are marked with a little clock icon. If it's in a sub forum it should be even easier to find since they move down the page much more slowly.

And even in busy threads. It's not about 'collecting updoots', but in fact to keep track if somebody actually replied to you and keep the flow of the conversation after intervals. In a thread like the Healer Strike, that gains multiple pages overnight, it's hard to keep getting back to replies and then not even guaranteed that the person you replied to will see that. And it happens because a thread's narrative is hardly linear, with different niches of conversation going at once, sometimes meaningless things about people just arguing about arguing.

Your problem is solved entirely by just reading the thread. If you can't be bothered to read what other people have to say then you're not really interested in participating in the discussion.

I assume you skew pretty young because for many years every forum on the internet was exactly like this one and it was fine. It's not a big deal.

[Reinha]

I assume you skew pretty young because for many years every forum on the internet was exactly like this one and it was fine. It's not a big deal.

We also used to have phones that were tethered to the wall at all times. Just because something has existed for a long time doesn't mean it's well designed by today's standards.

[CidHeiral]

We also used to have phones that were tethered to the wall at all times. Just because something has existed for a long time doesn't mean it's well designed by today's standards.

Of course, but on that same token it would be ridiculous to argue that the wall phone is just IMPOSSIBLE to use. Inconvenient compared to other solutions, sure, but still perfectly functional.

[Raikai]

Threads you've replied to are marked with a little clock icon. If it's in a sub forum it should be even easier to find since they move down the page much more slowly.



Your problem is solved entirely by just reading the thread. If you can't be bothered to read what other people have to say then you're not really interested in participating in the discussion.

I assume you skew pretty young because for many years every forum on the internet was exactly like this one and it was fine. It's not a big deal.

Like I said, in many big threads (where the problem is more egregious) there are multiple niches of conversation going on for pages, and sometimes is just people doing personal attacks to each other, or people going offtopic.

Also good for you to assume, but you're wrong. I lived in the 90's early internet days and I know how things worked back then... why I would want to live by those standards when basic technology evolved so much to the point that we can have a much more engaging user experience?