The OP says it all. Yes.

Also, at this point I'm really put off by the beta process because bugs we have identified repeatedly are not fixed, without any updates as to why (there's a point where "working on it!" is not enough, I'd really like my group pings back sometime this decade). This does not make me want to help the site out by beta testing.

Does anyone here actually know how to run a site of this magnitude? And all of the many aspects that have to be tweaked, how they have to be and with what people? Perhaps certain people or aspects are only available at certain times.

I've been on this site for over 9 years (all together) and over all of those years it has been run quite smoothly. It offers more now than it ever has before and that along with improvements, I imagine, takes time and a lot of collaborative effort. I am so impressed with this site on the whole and am even kind of proud of how far Keith (hence, the site) has come. It blows my mind really.

Bottom line, look at the big picture... consider everything involved, and concentrate on the positive aspects and the things that are working. It could totally be shut down right now. I'm just happy we're all here with the ability to even talk about it. :)

I really don't think we've been playing the same site. Yes there have been days, sometimes even weeks of smooth sailing - but it's never constant.

Days where there is no lag and everything works should not be a "OH YAY!" sort of reaction from the user base. It should not be so rare that people are over joyed by it.

Well I never said I was overjoyed. I'm just kind of sick of negativity and blame.

But I did say concentrating on the fact that it is still here and the positive aspects just seems more productive to me. It is in the middle of huge revamps right now so some wonkiness is to be expected.

My main thing I use on here is the wardrobe and, aside from the salon (which I still manage to use anyway), it is working fine for me.

Yeah, at this point, I think I could run the site better.

At least, I don't think I could make it worse than it already is.

Management wise, there is so much wrong with what is going on. Instead of focusing on one feature, everything is pushed at the same time and everything is broken. Which is the entire point of Seerow's post.

I think that people managing a site for 10 years should know not to do that, or to communicate better.

I'd play a petsite that would be run by a lot of people on this thread, including Seerow, Andrea... because they know where they're going.

I don't think it's subeta's fault, or the programmers fault, or specifically 's fault that the site is in the shape that it's in. I don't think it's fair to believe Keith doesn't deserve time to himself, or money (if he wants to travel with his paycheck then that's well within his right), and I don't think the money he's spending on gas to travel around the US is keeping subeta from being able to hire another programmer (pretty sure a programmer would cost thousands upon thousands more than that gas does). I was taken back when someone on tumblr quoted him, out of context, making it sound like Keith was without internet access for 5 full weeks, because no job allows that much PTO, but he WAS technically working and that was out of context. I do feel, though, that sometimes they just don't care. Lost their juice to push through it. I know how beyond frustrating it is to ALMOST have something done, to think you found out why it's not working and this time it's going to be perfect-- only for it to laugh in your face and stay broken.

But just because I don't blame anyone for the half-running site features doesn't mean that it's acceptable and we should just deal with it. If there's a reason these features were pushed through, and a reason simple things like pings don't work, then just tell us so we can stop piling up frustrations and bitterness. If the amount of programming manpower the site requires would be hiring an outside programmer for 6 months (upwards of $48,000) then LOL no it would not be physically possible for subeta to raise the funds needed for that.

People are negative because they're jaded over the site features they like the most being half-working or flat out broken.

Ok, sorry I'm not experiencing the same thing you all are I guess. And just thought I'd give my opinion... like everyone else here is. I should have known better than to comment somewhere where people are just angry.

I'm over it.

- Thanks though for being polite and understanding! :)

Everyone is definitely entitled to their opinion, and to be honest I'm glad at least some people are playing the site fine and without much frustration!

My annoyances are mainly pings and the pet aspects of the site that are always 98% ignored by staff, which is nothing new. I'm used to them being a black sheep, though I do wish staff would either up the cap or post saying they're fine with it where it is so I can be undeniably bitter then sell all my stupid weapons and scrolls and just borrow gods whenever events take place because that's what counts now anyways xD!

But it still frustrates me to see things half-working when they roll out, even when they don't directly effect me, because I know it's due to the sites faulty core coding that needs to be fixed and nothing will ever really run smoothly unless it is r__r; And I just, really it's not welcoming to new users or is it comforting to older users to know that the site will (potentially) never be able to catch-up to the backlog and when new things roll out it means that something core is being neglected.

Thankfully, cults shall never be revamped.

I have been stupidly optimistic the last few months. I've learned to expect Subeta hitting rock-bottom during the summer months. But this has easily been the worst summer in the last couple of years.

It's not about events. It's not about getting a battle week. It's not about wanting new features or new pets/colours/revamps/etc..

It's the lack of communication and explanations as to WHY the site is having issues? WHY are broken things, not being fixed? WHY is there lag? WHY are things being pushed out, half-baked? WHY is no one talking anymore? WHY are there rumors going around that Subeta is in financial trouble, or WHY hasn't anyone truly cleared this mystery up?

Just, what is going on behind closed doors? What is being kept so secret? If it pertains to the welfare of the site's survival, then your users, YOUR CUSTOMERS, fucking deserve some direct answers to these questions.

What grinds my gears is that this happens every six months or so. Keith pops up, answers some questions, shows how something is being worked on/the beta version/gives explanation of behind the scenes, and the users are happy and agree to wait patiently. Then six months later the beta version is still shit, the same problems are still happening, there is still lag during events after nine years, etc. And then the cycle starts again.

Just . . . stop it. Focus on ONE thing. Do that and nothing else. Work on it until ALL bugs are out before letting it go live. Do not start any other projects. Do not hop from thing to thing and leave everything half done. Just focus on one thing that needs to be fixed, and fucking fix it.

I'm usually not too vocal about stuff like this, but after almost 8 years on this site, I just want to say that I agree with everything being posted here. I still love this site, it's definitely more stable than before (anyone remember the Saturday downtimes?), but there's still so much broken. And if it isn't broken, be assured there's a revamp on the way that will break it. I wouldn't mind some calmer event-less times, and just let the programmers focus on fixing things first before coding new stuff.

I nominate Andrea as official userbase spokesperson. Right on point as always!

Everything. Yes. On one hand I've always really liked supporting the site by buying csc, but on the other hand, all that money that users spend doesn't seem to be making a difference? 😞

You know what? I miss the saturday downtimes because at least, the rest of the week, the site worked fine.

Sure, we have issues on saturday with the cron but the rest of the week? Peachier than right now, in 2014.

double post wut

Not saying I'm happy with how some things have been going lately, but I don't think bringing in a temporary programmer is the answer.

Even if they are really good at their job, if they don't know the intricacies of how Subeta works, I think they'll end up breaking things they don't even understand they're breaking. Our in-house people, while maybe not playing as much as they did, at least still have a basic understanding of what's connected and what impacts what onsite. And, as mentioned, they're familiar with the existing code system and how to function within it.

I think it would have to be a new permanent addition to the programming team to make the onboarding process worthwhile.

and b4 our feedback falls on deaf ears and something else is revamped and released half broken

I haven't even been having as much trouble with the site as most people -- forums are working more or less fine, games and quests are up, my shop is working -- but I have to say that the site needs a lot of work. I'm willing to wait a while; I don't know anything about coding or running a website, but just the knowledge that important things (I want my wardrobe back!) are being worked on, with periodic updates from staff, would go a long way for me.

I can see it now-- [Avatar=andrea] [avatar=sopheroo]

[User=Andrea] / 2016 [B]Change and Representation You Can Belive In![/b]

I can see it now-- [Avatar=andrea] [avatar=sopheroo]

[User=Andrea] / 2016 [B]Change and Representation You Can Belive In![/b] You're forgetting an important addition to the dream team

[avatar=speiro]