The future of HxHD

[Kyle]

So... The helpdesk manager has quit and there aren't really any suitable candidates to take her place. The answer is NOT abolishing the helpdesk, neither is it to reform it into "habbox lounge" or other derivative. I wonder, have you considered opening an application for management? Not just for those that currently work in the helpdesk, maybe you could look a little further afield into other departments or even the community as a whole? Proving that you can perform a senior role adequately does not necessarily mean you can deal with the pressures of a management position. Look for someone who can and is prepared to apply for it.

First and foremost, the current survey (http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=789597&p=8033207#post8033207) is nonsense and its statistical results should not be relied upon to make a decision about any changes in structure. You ask 'How often do you go to the Help Desk for help?' to current active habbox community members that, for the most part, DO use it as a lounge. You're completely neglecting a rather large population here -- those that aren't actually members at habbox. I'm sure if you ask any helpdesk staff (past and present) whether users do go in to get help then you'll find that plenty do and are almost always satisfied with the responses they get, they just aren't all in a hurry to sign up to the forum and get involved.

The survey has separate sections for reasons for visiting and the SNQ so I'll separate my thread appropriately. I won't be filling in the survey as I'm of the opinion that in order to move forward there needs to be some sort of public consensus which can only really be achieved through proper discussion.
---
Habbox Help Desk is a lounge... but it's a help desk first. It's one of the few ways use can find out about habbox and it's one of the few constant streams of new users that feeds into the ever-expanding (admittedly now less than ever) community. People come in for help and after their needs are satisfied often stick around for a chat.

I'm sure you'll find plenty of people have referred those they helped or met in the helpdesk to join the community and many more of the current community are those very users. They initially needed help so looked for somewhere that fulfilled their criteria, not a lounge that they could simply chat in. You'll find that throughout history habbo help desks have always provided more functions than just to help users. They're supposed to be community hubs like HxHD is.
---
The Saturday Night Quiz has had issues since I can remember but none that aren't either forgotten after a few days or easily fixed with proper management. In my experience as a staff member, the view seems to be that there isn't really any point hosting other than to get an extra hour added to your total and even then it isn't worth it because of the inevitable storm of hatred that followed if you made a couple of mistakes in the process. I have a few suggestions that my or may not help:

Encourage all staff to host at least once or twice. Prioritize hosting permission for newer or trialist members so they get to experience it as soon as they can. If there's a trial period coming up then disable applications to host for that period so you know there will be space for the newbies to host. If people are scared to host, encourage them to join forces with another member of the team to host together -- I did this with shockwave when he had been staff for months but had never hosted and it worked out just fine. Don't cut the rewards in half for those that do double up, give each one a full hour to their time.

For those that do host... put a little bit of effort into it. It's really not difficult to think of 20 questions but if you are struggling, don't just head straight to google and copy a list from a website, select them from a number of lists. Remember not to have a full general knowledge quiz either, try to incorporate questions about habbo and habbox too so those that do use habbox will be rewarded for their loyalty.

[RyRy]

Given that they could ask ex-management instead, it's a given that they won't open up applications for the job as you suggested.

By not taking part in a survey you're basically saying I dont want to go through the channels given to me to voice my opinions, instead I want people to listen to my opinions and agree/disagree and not necesssrily think about it fully themselves.

You have to understand that from when HxHD was formed to present day, the amount of support offered within the client is now massive and removes the need for help desks. Turning it into something else refreshes the concept IMO, but doesn't take anything away from what the room is now primarily used for: hanging out. Habbox has got to modernise a bit sooner or later, its an unnecessary department now. If you want to help, be a Habbo Helper/Guardian.

Regarding SNQ though, mostly agreed.

[RealClifford]

I must agree mostly with what RyRy has just said.

HxHD is mostly a redundant department now. Habbo has such a diverse range of help tools available to users now that most questions that HxHD may have had in the past are now eradicated. Yes, there are the occasional users that go there for help, but it's not in anyway what is used to be, and I doubt it ever will whilst the support that Sulake has provided in client remains.

I think if we can keep the concept of the HxHD but incorporate it with fresh ideas and events to help encourage new users to get involved with it, it may still remain useful and beneficial past the use of a 'lounge area' for members.

But, that is just my two cents.
Again though, I do agree with SNQ from my experience.

Possibly branching that out to have numerous SNQ's for the different time zones could be beneficial if the staff are able.
I have been away for a fair while though so my opinions may be quite dated.

[FlyingJesus]

Adding to HxHD is a good idea, but definitely not revamping it entirely as a lounge I agree. I was online this evening and saw a good few people get genuine help from the staff so clearly the need for it isn't totally gone, but I see no problem with adding extra functions - it would at least validate the sheer number of staff they have compared to number of people requesting assistance, and of course a bigger presence on the client is always going to be useful.

I don't get this whole attitude of "modernising" which seems to translate as "doing less and being intentionally pointless" that some people here seem to want. Scrapping things just because you personally don't like them isn't a good argument.

[Inseriousity.]

I agree, changing to a lounge is a backwards step and will just cement the room as a hangout for Habbox members only. It should retain its help desk status as those most likely to use it are also those people that Habbox desperately needs. When roxy was agm, she had the idea Habbox central; a room full of links to habbox rooms of which hxhd was one. I wanted to bring that back but put the help desk at the centre of it instead. Rooms that newbies are most likely to frequent with a mysterious door tele that would lead to hxhd and habbox staff/members who could hopefully greet them and get them to make the leap from habbo to habbox.

[Red]

I don't think the helpdesk is a redudant dedpartment at all. The problem is that there are no staff and habbox's habbo community is just DEAD. Soemone posted a thread about there only being like 2 events a day? So that must be a redundant department too then :S I worked there for well over a year and during my time I helped countless people, both with habbo and habbox issues. And this was still after helpers and guardians were introduced. I'm both and that tool isn't as popular as people above are making out and people still continued to come in for help. I also have quite a few referrals and signed up a lot more users who didn't use me as it. Changing it into a hub isn't going to make the room popular. It's the same few cliquey people in both events/the helpdesk atm. As a help desk, it at least brought in new people, and help desk staff were making a conscious effort to be nice to new people and encourage them to go to events or join the forum.

[Empired]

I pretty much totally agree with Kyle about all of this. I would love to see HxHD get new things, but I would totally be against anyone trying to take the "Help" part away because people do still need it. I notice most of the people who are wanting HxHD to be turned into a lounge barely go into HxHD at all and so probably don't really know what's going on.

Anything added to HxHD now can only be a plus, but taking things away will make it worse as well.

Also Kyle is totally right about if you double host you should still have an hour each.

[Phil]

I pretty much agree with what everyone is saying, it doesn't need to be abolished and made into a lounge, it just needs a revamp. I think what Kyle said about opening applications is a really good idea and I was actually only saying this to Kelly yesterday. I think what the HxHD needs is a brand new pair of eyes with lots of fresh ideas! Just because there are two Senior staff there now, I don't think either of them would be ideal for management right now.

I didn't feel the survey was as powerful as it could have been. When I was filling out the questions and saying that I never go there for help sounds like I'm putting it down but that's not the case. I've been a Habbo(x) user for years and there are no longer any questions that I really need to ask, it's really for the people who just sign up to the sites and want to go there to ask where they can earn some credits and make some friends. Like the amount of times I've been in the HxHD and seen the question "How do I earn credits" and the staff member send them to an army (........REALLY GUYS!?!?")


Given that they could ask ex-management instead, it's a given that they won't open up applications for the job as you suggested.


I don't think asking a past member of management is really an option here unless Rosy would step back in but I don't think she would consider it. Before Rosy, the last manager was kaylinboo and that was two years ago. [

QUOTE=RedClifford;8033359]
I think if we can keep the concept of the HxHD but incorporate it with fresh ideas and events to help encourage new users to get involved with it, it may still remain useful and beneficial past the use of a 'lounge area' for members.

Possibly branching that out to have numerous SNQ's for the different time zones could be beneficial if the staff are able.
I have been away for a fair while though so my opinions may be quite dated.[/QUOTE]

This! I think it'd be good to see more games in the HxHD. Like even back a year or two ago, the HxHD and a battle ball arena and people loved it! There's also things like the HxHD Sleepover which yeah did happen recently but it's been a very long time before that and this is something that people enjoy. Having various SNQ's is an interesting idea!! Or just maybe changing the time every week?


People obviously believe that HxHD is close to rock bottom if they think it should just be abolished. If this is the case, this is the perfect time to take risks to try and get it back up to where it should be.

Wow I do go on...

[FlyingJesus]

For obvious reason ie me being great at everything I think it's a good idea to open management apps to the general membership - obviously only someone who has longevity and trust on the site would be picked so it's not like we'd be letting any old random take over the place, but there are plenty of people around who have very good management and control skills but either don't want to join from the bottom or simply don't see the point in a job where they aren't being put to proper use. It's absolutely daft that someone like Cassie is basically "next in line" for a management job when there are people who aren't shameless bullies with an IQ of 6 around

[Shar]

I think it might be a good idea to open management to the general community. The manager of HxHD doesn't really require many skills...it would be nice to have someone who can come up with some creative ideas for HxHD instead of just trying to get the manager title but doing **** all.

I think somewhere down the line SNQ has become a big chore for everyone...I agree with Kyle on this one. All staff should host it at least once and maybe perhaps as part of their trial the trialists get to come up with the questions (if there's a group of trialists as people being lazy about thinking of questions can be a problem) and then host it.

[Absently]

yeah, people do come into HxHD for help, but how many hours are you just sitting there not giving help to anyone? a lot of the time when i was staff the room would be empty up until around 5 o'clock which is pretty shocking. it's silly to have staff members just sitting there racking up hours talking to people and not doing their main purpose one bit or even rarely. what i found sometimes is that when somebody DID come to ask for help and there may have been a few behind the desk, yet they would end up being ignored. like said above, the two seniors completely aren't up to the job for management either. what you really could do is change it to the lounge and simply put help in the tags.. people will still come in asking for help and considering we have a lot of older and experienced members on habbox i'm sure they'd happily help, as i've found myself and others doing when the members behind the desk hadn't a clue what the answer to the question was. like i've already said, a major part of people come in saying "HOW DO I GET CREDITS??" they want the quick way, not the whole "attend habbox events!!!!!! enter comps!!!!" e.g. going onto habbo page > credits > offers.

i really do agree with getting rid of it and turning it into some sort of large room, linked to many different rooms e.g. have a party room, a maze, a roleplay room, wired game, run sort of game, etc. different games to cater to all different types of people which i truly believe will gain habbox more members than the help desk and to replace the help desk staff in the main room, have moderators who can also be like the "helping hand" if needs be, they'd mod the whole room and make sure everything's alright. we have lots of different users on habbox, so i'm sure so many would be happy to have their rooms joined up to it.

all in all, i just think help desk staff have run their course and if you really need help you can just click help and if it's related to habbox, users would know to goto the main lounge-type room and ask some members in there.

[Inseriousity.]

yeah, people do come into HxHD for help, but how many hours are you just sitting there not giving help to anyone? a lot of the time when i was staff the room would be empty up until around 5 o'clock which is pretty shocking. it's silly to have staff members just sitting there racking up hours talking to people and not doing their main purpose one bit or even rarely. what i found sometimes is that when somebody DID come to ask for help and there may have been a few behind the desk, yet they would end up being ignored. like said above, the two seniors completely aren't up to the job for management either. what you really could do is change it to the lounge and simply put help in the tags.. people will still come in asking for help and considering we have a lot of older and experienced members on habbox i'm sure they'd happily help, as i've found myself and others doing when the members behind the desk hadn't a clue what the answer to the question was. like i've already said, a major part of people come in saying "HOW DO I GET CREDITS??" they want the quick way, not the whole "attend habbox events!!!!!! enter comps!!!!" e.g. going onto habbo page > credits > offers.

i really do agree with getting rid of it and turning it into some sort of large room, linked to many different rooms e.g. have a party room, a maze, a roleplay room, wired game, run sort of game, etc. different games to cater to all different types of people which i truly believe will gain habbox more members than the help desk and to replace the help desk staff in the main room, have moderators who can also be like the "helping hand" if needs be, they'd mod the whole room and make sure everything's alright. we have lots of different users on habbox, so i'm sure so many would be happy to have their rooms joined up to it.

all in all, i just think help desk staff have run their course and if you really need help you can just click help and if it's related to habbox, users would know to goto the main lounge-type room and ask some members in there.

Can easily give them both! It does work, I've seen it :)

[Grig]

yeah, people do come into HxHD for help, but how many hours are you just sitting there not giving help to anyone? a lot of the time when i was staff the room would be empty up until around 5 o'clock which is pretty shocking. it's silly to have staff members just sitting there racking up hours talking to people and not doing their main purpose one bit or even rarely. what i found sometimes is that when somebody DID come to ask for help and there may have been a few behind the desk, yet they would end up being ignored. like said above, the two seniors completely aren't up to the job for management either. what you really could do is change it to the lounge and simply put help in the tags.. people will still come in asking for help and considering we have a lot of older and experienced members on habbox i'm sure they'd happily help, as i've found myself and others doing when the members behind the desk hadn't a clue what the answer to the question was. like i've already said, a major part of people come in saying "HOW DO I GET CREDITS??" they want the quick way, not the whole "attend habbox events!!!!!! enter comps!!!!" e.g. going onto habbo page > credits > offers.

i really do agree with getting rid of it and turning it into some sort of large room, linked to many different rooms e.g. have a party room, a maze, a roleplay room, wired game, run sort of game, etc. different games to cater to all different types of people which i truly believe will gain habbox more members than the help desk and to replace the help desk staff in the main room, have moderators who can also be like the "helping hand" if needs be, they'd mod the whole room and make sure everything's alright. we have lots of different users on habbox, so i'm sure so many would be happy to have their rooms joined up to it.

all in all, i just think help desk staff have run their course and if you really need help you can just click help and if it's related to habbox, users would know to goto the main lounge-type room and ask some members in there.

I agree here and think so also. It's redundant and keeping a name simply for the nostalgic Habbox justification of "oh it's an icon of Habbox" doesn't really justify it well. I see very little people coming in for help, out of a 7 day week, how many people do ask for help.

I also fear that this is going to be done the typical way, where we all have these amazing ideas (of keeping the name yet revamping it a bit), and there will be some focus in the first month and with then a month down the line it'll probably revert to being what it is now, a dying skeleton of the Habbox past. Notice, I say "dying" mainly due to the fact that it has potential, but only with a brilliant brilliant manager, in which looking at the staff list I don't think there is anyone suitable. My first option would be to transfer it into a lounge, because people may moan now, but they're still going to come there and chill. Essentially all HxHD staff are, are room moderators as of late and even then they sometimes aren't any or pass stuff up.

So either you have the option of bringing in someone who would be an amazing manager or just transform it into a lounge, because it is absolutely pointless keeping it the way it is now.

On a side note, I also remember it being put to better use, there were really popular things like when a department such as the forum took over the HxHD for questions and stuff or when general management had question time there once. People came and it was a nice Habbox community event. Nowadays, it seems any sort of will to put anything on in there is gone, and it's just transformed itself into some sub-par chill room with a weekly sub-par quiz.

Although potential is there.

[RyRy]

I pretty much agree with what everyone is saying, it doesn't need to be abolished and made into a lounge, it just needs a revamp. I think what Kyle said about opening applications is a really good idea and I was actually only saying this to Kelly yesterday. I think what the HxHD needs is a brand new pair of eyes with lots of fresh ideas! Just because there are two Senior staff there now, I don't think either of them would be ideal for management right now.

I didn't feel the survey was as powerful as it could have been. When I was filling out the questions and saying that I never go there for help sounds like I'm putting it down but that's not the case. I've been a Habbo(x) user for years and there are no longer any questions that I really need to ask, it's really for the people who just sign up to the sites and want to go there to ask where they can earn some credits and make some friends. Like the amount of times I've been in the HxHD and seen the question "How do I earn credits" and the staff member send them to an army (........REALLY GUYS!?!?")



I don't think asking a past member of management is really an option here unless Rosy would step back in but I don't think she would consider it. Before Rosy, the last manager was kaylinboo and that was two years ago. [



I think if we can keep the concept of the HxHD but incorporate it with fresh ideas and events to help encourage new users to get involved with it, it may still remain useful and beneficial past the use of a 'lounge area' for members.

Possibly branching that out to have numerous SNQ's for the different time zones could be beneficial if the staff are able.
I have been away for a fair while though so my opinions may be quite dated.

This! I think it'd be good to see more games in the HxHD. Like even back a year or two ago, the HxHD and a battle ball arena and people loved it! There's also things like the HxHD Sleepover which yeah did happen recently but it's been a very long time before that and this is something that people enjoy. Having various SNQ's is an interesting idea!! Or just maybe changing the time every week?


People obviously believe that HxHD is close to rock bottom if they think it should just be abolished. If this is the case, this is the perfect time to take risks to try and get it back up to where it should be.

Wow I do go on...

I didn't mean that it should be open to ex-HxHD Management, I meant open to ex-management who have already proven themselves to be reliable, and somebody who is familiar to the whole "being a manager at Habbox" and what comes with it, preferably from the community-based area (Events, Comps, HxHD and those folks). I don't think opening up applications for management would be fair given that the staff that work there would be commanded by somebody whose probably never worked at HxHD for a long period of time.

Though, there's an idea. Open it up to ex-HxHD staff who never got their shot at the management position whilst Rosy was a manager (given it was 2 years long, there's bound to be somebody in that time), but still proven themselves to be up to the task. I go into the helpdesk whenever I'm on Habbo, without fail, mainly because it's my home room and the it's the first room I check to see if anybody's in and 9 times out of 10 there's one staff member behind the bar sitting like a lemon, or a bunch of Habbox staff talking to their Habbox staff friends behind the desk. Doesn't really promote a helping environment does it? It also echoes from the "Lack of Events?" thread where it was mentioned staff and Habbox people are the only people that go to events.

On the topic of SNQ, I don't see why you can't just have a Quizmaster job at the help desk to keep the staff more involved in the whole SNQ procedure and putting some motivation into people that are doing. Plus, that person can help be there (almost) every Saturday to help out. It's not like people who sign up to the help desk are like "I CAN'T WAIT TO BE ASKING HABBOS QUESTIONS", pretty sure it's "I CANT WAIT FOR HABBOS TO ASK ME QUESTIONS".