Whats happened?

[Barkseh]

This forum seems dead now. There used to be a new post every time I clicked 'new posts'. Now you have to wait around 15-20 minutes! Is Habbox not the most popular fansite no more?

[David]

this topic seems familiar

[Catchy]

This forum seems dead now. There used to be a new post every time I clicked 'new posts'. Now you have to wait around 15-20 minutes! Is Habbox not the most popular fansite no more?

It's been like this for as far as I remember. When we had the posting challenge a few months ago it obviously picked up a lot then but now it's back to usual. It's sad because I remember when you could post a thread and have loads of replies within a few minutes. Now sometimes you're lucky even if you get a few replies.

Reckon Habbox need to get thinking outside the box of how to draw new users in.

[dirrty]

back to school/college/uni

[Barkseh]

That didn't used to be a problem. When I was a Habbox geek, I used to login from School and it would still be booming. That's what used to be so addictive about Habbox. You would post something random and you'd have like 4-5 replies within minutes. I never ever thought it would get as bad as this!


back to school/college/uni

[xxMATTGxx]

You are talking about the times when Habbo was more popular and fansites was a big deal back then. Unfortunately this is no longer the case and fansites across the Habbo globe have been fading away for quite sometime. I would say there is just maybe 2/3 main .com fansites.

But compared to some fansites Habbox is still doing quite well considering. So it's not all doom and gloom.

[Inseriousity.]

Due to Habbo doing most of the features that made fansites unique (rare values being Hx's niche market with the introduction of the marketplace), generally ignoring fansites unless it's for something in their best interests and how many there are, fansites are struggling to keep above board. I would not say that we're still not the number 1 UK fansite though. ClubHabbo seems to be dying a slow painful death. Habbox has proved time and time again that it still has a lot of influence (getting ExtremeHabbo to official status despite how crap it was being the most recent example - admittedly this was a while ago but I doubt things have changed too much).

Aside from organising big-scale events I think my primary job role is to find that unique idea (from a community rather than technical perspective) that sets Habbox above the rest of the pack. I have an idea in particular that I think could be exactly what Habbox needs but I have to proceed with caution with it due to it very easily being able to backfire disasterously if it goes wrong so I'd rather not talk about it right now.

TL;DR - sure maybe it's not as popular as the "good ol' days" but Habbox is still going fairly strong.

[Barkseh]

I thought Habbo was more popular than ever atm? I aren't trying to cause trouble I'm just saying Habbox doesn't seem to be the place it was. Is Habbox still the most popular fansite?


You are talking about the times when Habbo was more popular and fansites was a big deal back then.

[iLogan]

Due to Habbo doing most of the features that made fansites unique (rare values being Hx's niche market with the introduction of the marketplace), generally ignoring fansites unless it's for something in their best interests and how many there are, fansites are struggling to keep above board. I would not say that we're still not the number 1 UK fansite though. ClubHabbo seems to be dying a slow painful death. Habbox has proved time and time again that it still has a lot of influence (getting ExtremeHabbo to official status despite how crap it was being the most recent example - admittedly this was a while ago but I doubt things have changed too much).

Aside from organising big-scale events I think my primary job role is to find that unique idea (from a community rather than technical perspective) that sets Habbox above the rest of the pack. I have an idea in particular that I think could be exactly what Habbox needs but I have to proceed with caution with it due to it very easily being able to backfire disasterously if it goes wrong so I'd rather not talk about it right now.

TL;DR - sure maybe it's not as popular as the "good ol' days" but Habbox is still going fairly strong.

Is that the idea you were talking about here: http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=748982, if so I don't think that'd work in terms of getting something that is unique for Habbox.

[xxMATTGxx]

I thought Habbo was more popular than ever atm? I aren't trying to cause trouble I'm just saying Habbox doesn't seem to be the place it was. Is Habbox still the most popular fansite?

Habbo isn't as popular as it used to be. Well the whole Channel 4 thing didn't help really and the .com hotel couldn't even meet the target they made a few weeks ago and they just gave the prize out for a good effort. I'm not saying you are trying to cause trouble so I apologise If my post came across that way. In terms of Habbox still being the most popular - I would say it is still up at the top out of any of the other .com fansites.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I suggested a while ago that the forum has good potential (in terms of user numbers) to start moving away from Habbo and becoming a more teen-based forum. I know there would be a lot of big changes (although we could still keep a big Habbo element in the medium term) but I think we ought to think outside the box (as a user above put it) and try and grow the forum as opposed to a policy of managed decline.

I simply worry what will happen to Habbox when the likes of my generation of Habbo users (currently management) start to drop off.

[xxMATTGxx]

I suggested a while ago that the forum has good potential (in terms of user numbers) to start moving away from Habbo and becoming a more teen-based forum. I know there would be a lot of big changes (although we could still keep a big Habbo element in the medium term) but I think we ought to think outside the box (as a user above put it) and try and grow the forum as opposed to a policy of managed decline.

I simply worry what will happen to Habbox when the likes of my generation of Habbo users (currently management) start to drop off.

In terms of your suggestion about a more teen-based forums, two fansites that were quite popular have tried that and failed. I don't see how Habbox could be much different apart from trying better and different things but that isn't really an approach Habbox should take unless Habbo is no longer here.

[Barkseh]

I agree with moving away from Habbo tbh. I for one would probably visit more. I only ever come on here now to see what's going on every now and then. I feel a little bit childish coming on here now.


I suggested a while ago that the forum has good potential (in terms of user numbers) to start moving away from Habbo and becoming a more teen-based forum. I know there would be a lot of big changes (although we could still keep a big Habbo element in the medium term) but I think we ought to think outside the box (as a user above put it) and try and grow the forum as opposed to a policy of managed decline.

I simply worry what will happen to Habbox when the likes of my generation of Habbo users (currently management) start to drop off.

[Inseriousity.]

Is that the idea you were talking about here: http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=748982, if so I don't think that'd work in terms of getting something that is unique for Habbox.

Yep that's the one. It is fairly unique and not something you see fansites doing nowadays although I agree that it also could fall flat on its face although this isn't really the thread to discuss it cos it's unfair on those who don't have a clue what we're on about :P

Another reason for your problem could also be that the forums you frequent aren't as popular anymore because I think the Habbo forums in particular do very well whereas other forums tend to be really quiet and if you weren't interested in Habbo anymore then it'd make the forum look more dead than it actually is.

[-:Undertaker:-]

In terms of your suggestion about a more teen-based forums, two fansites that were quite popular have tried that and failed. I don't see how Habbox could be much different apart from trying better and different things but that isn't really an approach Habbox should take unless Habbo is no longer here.

Hmm, how far away and how fast did they make these changes though? I would think a slow, longer term shift taking place over a number of years would work as opposed to a sudden one (which would alienate Habbo users)? I mean, we could still keep the forum based around Habbo but attempt to branch out a tad? .... It all seems very tricky, although I think it would be interesting to see the results and worth considering if the site is currently on a slow, downward spiral in terms of membership numbers.

The problem is, how to retain older members whilst managing to still attract people from the hotel itself.

[GoldenMerc]

Its not as popular as before, heck i struggle to find useful topics to discuss nowdays. Its still the most popular site, just HxL isn't the most popular radio anymore i guess

[xxMATTGxx]

Hmm, how far away and how fast did they make these changes though? I would think a slow, longer term shift taking place over a number of years would work as opposed to a sudden one (which would alienate Habbo users)? I mean, we could still keep the forum based around Habbo but attempt to branch out a tad? .... It all seems very tricky, although I think it would be interesting to see the results and worth considering if the site is currently on a slow, downward spiral in terms of membership numbers.

The problem is, how to retain older members whilst managing to still attract people from the hotel itself.

I don't know the facts but HFFM did a full re-brand where they changed the site name, bought a new domain and pput a fresh look on it. I believe they removed the Habbo forums as well or maybe kept one of them. Few months after (I'm not sure how many) they decided enough is enough and they opened back up as Habbo forum. I believe they are bringing the main site back as well.

While ClubHabbo didn't do the same changes they also went to a more relaxed teen-based forum and reduced the Habbo forums quite a bit and the activity on there is very low.

[Inseriousity.]

I have been on a Habbo fansite that turned into a 'teen-based forum' (HabboNation into UrSpeech if anyone remembers that) and once you do that you just turn into every other teen based forum on the internet. There's nothing to pull new people in and when the people who are "too old for Habbo" who tend to advocate these things also become too old for forums in general, the site is left behind to pick up the pieces with no new people to continue the site. I would be very against turning it into another teen-based forum.

[Yonder]

Nice.

Yes Habbox is still the most popular .com fansite, what does that say for other fansites! As everybody else has said, Habbo has killed fansites. The forum is quiet. I remember when the tech section was booming with dev and questions. Now it barely gets a few threads a week. It is a sad situation.

I think a unique feature or two has to keep new Habbos here. Any fansite can post news and have a forum, Habbox needs some new features to make itself stand out again like it did with RV. The events etc on Habbox is great and new habbos come visit but they need a reason to stay.

Also a side note the forum isn't as friendly as it used to be as a whole. Sometimes i feel like i am on ClubHabboforum with the members jumping down each others throats. This can also put new members off.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I don't know the facts but HFFM did a full re-brand where they changed the site name, bought a new domain and pput a fresh look on it. I believe they removed the Habbo forums as well or maybe kept one of them. Few months after (I'm not sure how many) they decided enough is enough and they opened back up as Habbo forum. I believe they are bringing the main site back as well.

Ah I see, well it sounds like HFFM made the move too suddenly and alienated existing users.


While ClubHabbo didn't do the same changes they also went to a more relaxed teen-based forum and reduced the Habbo forums quite a bit and the activity on there is very low.

Hmm, see I don't see the need to remove the Habbo forums at all. I just think maybe some slight rebranding would do the trick, as well as maybe more teen-issue based forums being created over time. Habbox might differ in that it has a grown up non-Habbo user base whereas I don't really think the other sites offered this (from my experience, anyway).

It would be risky, but if we didn't make any rash decisions like the sites you mentioned did.. at least we could always hit the breaks?


I have been on a Habbo fansite that turned into a 'teen-based forum' (HabboNation into UrSpeech if anyone remembers that) and once you do that you just turn into every other teen based forum on the internet. There's nothing to pull new people in and when the people who are "too old for Habbo" who tend to advocate these things also become too old for forums in general, the site is left behind to pick up the pieces with no new people to continue the site. I would be very against turning it into another teen-based forum.

Oohh I see, another example which doesn't look too good then for this idea. I suppose the pattern shows it just hasn't worked, in which case if the site is to remain based around Habbo - the biggest effort must be to attract a new generation of Habbo users onto the forum who will ensure it's survival.

And that's what I meant earlier when I said that when our generation leaves, I worry who will take over the reigns.

[GoldenMerc]

Moving Habbox to a non Habbo forum would be silly, but i do have a idea, not 100% if it'd be easy but i GARANTEE, it would attract people. I'll most likely PM it to Matt then post it on the forum, its in essence keeping the Habbo side of forum, but allowing users to register to a non habbo forum, so the forum would be re-arranged for the people who log onto the domain DanLovesRoss.com, It still has one section for Habbo, when they post in their it would go into Habbo in general etc...
I imagine it'd be a lot of coding, but in return i bet it would bring a strong market in

[LiquidLuck.]

The only reason I joined habbox was because it was An habbo fansite. Tbh if it chantre to a teen site, id leave.. And we do have Stuff like in teen sites around habbox. Id love to see a thread just about new badges and details on how to get them like in ANSWERS, since i think that doesnt exist anymore.

[nvrspk4]

As many have said, the reason that the teen site idea is repeatedly dropped is because there's no real way to keep attracting new members.

Also hi Paul ;)

[mrwoooooooo]

moving away from habbo, no. you would get absolutely no new members.

[FlyingJesus]

Regardless of how childish it may make some people feel (as though being a child is a bad thing anyway!) the only thing that connects each and every user of the site is Habbo, and severing ties with that would make us no different to the hundreds of "hey check out my new teen forum!" sites that we see failing and failing and failing in the Show Off Your Website section or whatever it's called. While there's certainly room to add something new if the right idea comes up, taking away our one common denominator (which is also our one and only feed for new members) would be an ugly disaster

[dirrty]

i think the fact of the matter is that the forum has, and will evidently run its course sooner, rather than later. with a majority of the active chunk of users being in their mid-late teens, it's only natural for them to slowly stop using the forum. the obvious solution would be to think of ways of getting more users from habbo onto the forum, but that is easier said than done really. i personally don't think there's much that can be done, and all we can really do is just watch as the numbers dwindle to the extent where the forum eventually closes. i can't see that happening for a good few years, but once the bulk of users start going off to uni, there'll be a very, very steep decline in user activity imo. and i'd say that'd be in 3 years judging from all the GCSE/A-level thread(s).

but mind you, threads like these have been popping up every so often since 2008 and the forum is still relatively active (not as much compared to then though).

[GommeInc]

The idea of branching out will not work when there's nothing to branch into. Habbox, much like any fansite out there (Habbo or not) is destined to die out. It's best to keep with Habbo for as long as possible until Habbo knock the last few nails in the fansite coffin. If the idea was to slowly, over time, become a generalised teen-based fansite, then this is really just the final stages of killing off the community. Nobody knows where these new members will come from in this "teen-based" branch, when the main source of members comes from Habbo as there was a demand for independent communities back in 2001-2008. People do not use forums as much as they used to, not with the creation of social media and it's expansion into new areas that serve such communities and websites.

It's a sad realisation :P

[nvrspk4]

Haven't had time to really formulate this idea or how it would work but I think part of a solution would be to cultivate an "immature" part of the forum. There is the constant complaint that young Habbo users are immature (and they are, because they're like 12 or 13, we were all immature too). But if the lack of maturity means you can't be welcomed into the forums then we only have a small percentage that can join Habbox.

General ideas:

A three month campaign where the moderators crack down on users who are harsh to or mocking of newer members
Taking on young staff who perhaps aren't as good but more enthusiastic, especially in departments like HxHD and HxL (and maybe even Events though I feel like you need a bit of a thicker skin there). Could use some in Content too for Habbo-based content.
Basically building the noobish userbase. The matoor one will still be there but they both need to coexist (and always have)

Admittedly the idea of cracking down on people for just being mean or mocking is a bit extreme and raises the fair question "Why should mocking someone who's behaving like an idiot be against the rules?" and "Why this special protection for newer members, why treat them differently?" (because I certainly don't think that rule should be applied to all members.)

The answer is that its not based in fairness but instead a need to change the rules to target what the forum needs to accomplish. I think that's reasonable, but I can also see very valid counterarguments.

[GoldenMerc]

It'd be a sad day the day Habbox shuts its door.
maybe we should become a torrent site.

[Two]

Believe me this is like how all the fansites are now. I'm just bummed I didn't join the fansite scene earlier when it was "booming". On HabboHub and Habbcrazy and ThisHabbo I have to search through old threads and bump those to get any conversations going.

[GommeInc]

nvrspk4 - Is there a mocking culture on here? If people are mocking young users and are attacked for it, you're just putting off the one remaining part of your demographic.

The issue of keeping new users interested is another issue. Habbo seems to keep their users interested in the services and provides everything a fansite used to do. There's just no need for fansites these days when everything is served up to them on a plate. The only thing that can really work is boosting Habbo based events and getting the Habbox name recognised on Habbo, and hoping older users on there are interested as the younger, immature ones do not have as much an interest in forums and fansites like we used to. Times have changed afterall.

[The Don]

Just throwing this out there, but what about a merge with clubhabbo or another popular faniste, would increase traffic but I'm unsure how such a thing would come about and I doubt Jin would let this happen and even if he said yeh, wouldn't we need sierks approval for such a thing?

[Kardan]

Just throwing this out there, but what about a merge with clubhabbo or another popular faniste, would increase traffic but I'm unsure how such a thing would come about and I doubt Jin would let this happen and even if he said yeh, wouldn't we need sierks approval for such a thing?

I feel something like this would only ever be considered as a last resort, and we're nowhere near that.

I also like to think Habbox would go out with it's head held high rather than die a slow death.

[lawrawrrr]

Haven't read so this has probably been said before but

Habbo is less popular
Sulake are discouraging leading to other websites (fair enough, security risk)

Therefore, fansites are less popular.

It's better now that it was this time last year though, and while there are less members I am enjoying the smaller, closer group of people where i feel like i know a lot of them, rather than a huge bunch of strangers!

[FlyingJesus]

Just throwing this out there, but what about a merge with clubhabbo or another popular faniste, would increase traffic but I'm unsure how such a thing would come about and I doubt Jin would let this happen and even if he said yeh, wouldn't we need sierks approval for such a thing?

Go to CH and see what their 4 active members are like, then see if you still want to join up with them :P

[GoldenMerc]

To be fair, Habbox is fine for how Habbo is doing, we could do with some fresh blood but yeh, most likely wont happen now

[Aiden]

Habbo isnt that popular anymore and thats the main reason Habbox isnt as popular. If Habbo maybe started doing television adverts or something like that to draw users in, Im sure Habbox would get more members.

Also there are a load of Habbo Retro's now. I hate to say it but when I looked at 1 they had almost 1,500 players online when Habbo only had 2,500. It's Crazy.

[Grig]

Habbox will be in trouble when people of my generation quit and leave for good. The demographic age has been rising steadily over the last couple of years.

[Robbie]

I've stopped visiting the forum as much recently because I pretty much speak to everyone I want to speak to off here on Twitter/Facebook etc anyway. When I do come on, I just don't feel like posting or making threads because the people that'd reply can speak to me elsewhere. That and one or two people on here are ***** and just put me off visiting :P

Regarding new members, I think there's really only so much Habbox can do. Everyone knows Habbo just aren't as supportive of fansites as they were in the past, and eventually, Habbo are just going to kill off fansites altogether. Sad but true.

I've been here since December 2004, so I've seen the forum in both boom and "bust" phases. Unfortunately, the current phase seems to be a slow decline, and I really hope Habbox would decide to close gracefully rather than fizzle out and die when nobody can be bothered with it anymore.

I mean the two owners can't even be bothered to pop on now and then. I know they financially support the site and they're adults with busy lives etc etc etc, we've heard it all a million times, but that's precisely it, the majority of this userbase are soon going to be adults with busy lives, just like the owners, and they will just stop posting. The younger members that do stay will just be talking amongst themselves with no new members, then they'll move on to speaking on social media, and the forum will die.

As I said though, I hope the decision is made to close Habbox gracefully rather than let it die.

[dirrty]

I've stopped visiting the forum as much recently because I pretty much speak to everyone I want to speak to off here on Twitter/Facebook etc anyway. When I do come on, I just don't feel like posting or making threads because the people that'd reply can speak to me elsewhere. That and one or two people on here are ***** and just put me off visiting :P

Regarding new members, I think there's really only so much Habbox can do. Everyone knows Habbo just aren't as supportive of fansites as they were in the past, and eventually, Habbo are just going to kill off fansites altogether. Sad but true.

I've been here since December 2004, so I've seen the forum in both boom and "bust" phases. Unfortunately, the current phase seems to be a slow decline, and I really hope Habbox would decide to close gracefully rather than fizzle out and die when nobody can be bothered with it anymore.

I mean the two owners can't even be bothered to pop on now and then. I know they financially support the site and they're adults with busy lives etc etc etc, we've heard it all a million times, but that's precisely it, the majority of this userbase are soon going to be adults with busy lives, just like the owners, and they will just stop posting. The younger members that do stay will just be talking amongst themselves with no new members, then they'll move on to speaking on social media, and the forum will die.

As I said though, I hope the decision is made to close Habbox gracefully rather than let it die.
yeah i won't be buying anymore VIP for that exact reason really. i'm getting on a bit, and don't really wanna put money towards something that i'll be (and others) using less and less over the common months/year. i mainly come on here for the posts in spam, but they're becoming more infrequent that it's like why bother lol.

[brodeo]

I've not been around much at all recently (can't even remember my last post) but frankly it just seems like the userbase has grown up. Heck, I started on a different account in 2004 when I was only 12. There just is only a certain amount of longevity that fansites can have, especially if actual Habbo users are truly leaving in droves.

[edible]

Let us not forget that Habbo used to get 12K-15K regularly. Now it peaks at around 5.5-6K. Bound to have a detrimental effect. HxF doesn't get as many posts as some others but they have much more 'developed' conversations and have by far the best Habbo section.