[QEoMi752]

I don't even know what 3DMark Vantage is...

I think it has mostly to do with the massive decline in quality PC games. When I first joined up there were a TON of games I wanted to play on my new rig, and if I didn't have the latest hardware I wouldn't get to play them. So I worked with my budget, overclocked what I could, and found a home here among others like myself.

Nowadays, there are maybe 1-2 games a year anyone cares about, and hardware seems so far advanced to me that it doesn't really matter what rig you've got, if it has a video card that's DX9 or better you'll probably run it in some fashion or another.

I think I stick around out of habit, and because I know a lot of you here and the regulars are almost all awesome.

[gennickhif]

I don't even know what 3DMark Vantage is...

I think it has mostly to do with the massive decline in quality PC games. When I first joined up there were a TON of games I wanted to play on my new rig, and if I didn't have the latest hardware I wouldn't get to play them. So I worked with my budget, overclocked what I could, and found a home here among others like myself.

Nowadays, there are maybe 1-2 games a year anyone cares about, and hardware seems so far advanced to me that it doesn't really matter what rig you've got, if it has a video card that's DX9 or better you'll probably run it in some fashion or another.

I think I stick around out of habit, and because I know a lot of you here and the regulars are almost all awesome.

Blame consoles mate, they are so far behind PC's and game developers cbf'ed making good games for PC's anymore they just make then to run on consoles so you can get a cheap @ss PC and still run most/all console games at max settings.

Kinda a shame really. Crysis was a good PC game with graphics to advanced for consoles to handle but it's only one in a few games like that.

[QEoMi752]

Blame consoles mate, they are so far behind PC's and game developers cbf'ed making good games for PC's anymore they just make then to run on consoles so you can get a cheap @ss PC and still run most/all console games at max settings.

Kinda a shame really. Crysis was a good PC game with graphics to advanced for consoles to handle but it's only one in a few games like that.

Consoles aren't killing PC gaming. The two have coincided for decades. The problem is developers being lazy, and lack of consumer interest in the PC gaming sector. It's a downward spiral of crap. Here's hoping Starcraft and Diablo can bring it back from the brink.

Hrm. Guess that's also a metaphor for FM.

[ChuttyAmult]

I haven't been in a tech section for months, I only visit PC/Console gaiming and GD. My interest in the forefront of PC tech has died out, and I suspect it's the same for a lot of other members as well. Add to that the lack of new members and it's no wonder the board is dead.

Edit, current users online including guests 117

Most ever 5600+

Says it all.

[cabonuserollyo]

I haven't been in a tech section for months, I only visit PC/Console gaiming and GD. My interest in the forefront of PC tech has died out, and I suspect it's the same for a lot of other members as well. Add to that the lack of new members and it's no wonder the board is dead.

Edit, current users online including guests 117

Most ever 5600+

Says it all.

Wow...

[Karlmarks]

What has slowed FM down in my opinion:

Being blocked at work due to it being labled a gaming site (Thanks YG [thumbdown]) by the content filter. FM used to be a PC/hardware site. Now it's FM.YG.com.

The unnecessary number of sub forums. Nobody goes into the sub forums. [thumbdown]

Lackluster 3dmark releases. 2001se was the last great 3dmark. Tweak this, tweak that, you'd see changes in results. Nowadays, scores reflect mostly what your video card is. Kind of hard to get excited over that. [yawn]

[suilusargaino]

Consoles aren't killing PC gaming. The two have coincided for decades. The problem is developers being lazy, and lack of consumer interest in the PC gaming sector. It's a downward spiral of crap. Here's hoping Starcraft and Diablo can bring it back from the brink.

Hrm. Guess that's also a metaphor for FM.

I totally agree, and with the advent of Live, online gaming really has advanced considerably than previous console generations. I still think the current generation of consoles still pumps out solid visuals, especially considering the 5 year old hardware. While there will always be hardcore PC gamers, consoles will generally be much more profitable unless your name rhymes with Blizzard.

[gennickhif]

Consoles aren't killing PC gaming. The two have coincided for decades. The problem is developers being lazy, and lack of consumer interest in the PC gaming sector. It's a downward spiral of crap. Here's hoping Starcraft and Diablo can bring it back from the brink.

Hrm. Guess that's also a metaphor for FM.

Starcraft will be a let down. From what I hear it's not gonna have LAN play, you have to pay to play online and it will be like wow where you have to pay for several release expansions. Don't know about Diablo though.

And what I mean about consoles killing PC gaming, I don't mean it's killing it, I mean people like to upgrade their PC's for gaming purposes but todays upgrades are becoming worthless as even mid range PC's can easily break the 60fps barrier (which a lot of console games can't do) in most games and it's beocming pointless to upgrade.

I mean why upgrade to a GTX285 or GTX295 to play games when a HD4850 can play the exact same game as the exact same visual settings?

[cristmiff]

I haven't been in a tech section for months, I only visit PC/Console gaiming and GD. My interest in the forefront of PC tech has died out, and I suspect it's the same for a lot of other members as well. Add to that the lack of new members and it's no wonder the board is dead.

Edit, current users online including guests 117

Most ever 5600+

Says it all.

to be fair, iirc that 5600+ was due to the 1million post thread, not a back in the day post.

[Unlopssesuj]

Alot of the more entertaining posters are either banned or left because of the over-sanitisation of the boards by certain over-zealous moderators. I also just think PC Tinkering has really had it's hay day, that and alot of people's online time now being taken up on social networking sites.

[Azzi_Kahlila]

That and Vantage is such a huge pile of ****. It's so terrible!

you made me install it you *******, MY EYES ARE BLEEDING

[Chubrehege]

Wow a new low, only 10 guys online

[Azzi_Kahlila]

on a positive note, this means some of us have a social life

[Chubrehege]

on a positive note, this means some of us have a social life

Or died,..

[Aozozbag]

I think it doesn't help that the forum link is really hard to spot from the front page. Doesn't help at all for new members. I've thought this has been the case since it changed to futuremark from mo. People leave and wont get replaced with new people, im guessing there's alot more reasons though..

[mobiphones]

I definitely agree on streamlining the forums. I only visit maybe 3-4 boards on a regular basis here.

Same here.. 2 years ago this would probably have been something to look into.. but now with the boards being less busy this might really help!

[Barbshowers]

Depends, lots of users have been banned when there was no need for it, some users have left because some of the local trolls/fanboys here get away with murder and of course the yougamers thing; doesnt help that there latest benchmark sucks either.

[StanWatts]

Same here.. 2 years ago this would probably have been something to look into.. but now with the boards being less busy this might really help!

Yeah there isnt really any need for the "other hardware" section. Move console gaming and hardware together. General and polls together

Those 2 would already make forums a bit more livelier...

[UvgpXK0J]

What has slowed FM down in my opinion:

Being blocked at work due to it being labled a gaming site (Thanks YG [thumbdown]) by the content filter. FM used to be a PC/hardware site. Now it's FM.YG.com.

The unnecessary number of sub forums. Nobody goes into the sub forums. [thumbdown]

Lackluster 3dmark releases. 2001se was the last great 3dmark. Tweak this, tweak that, you'd see changes in results. Nowadays, scores reflect mostly what your video card is. Kind of hard to get excited over that. [yawn]

Yes,I remember the complaints from a large amount of regular users of these boards that they were hit by the fact the name in the URL has also changed.

But the discussion about the 3DM2001 and the rest.. Well, it was one helluva nice benchmark program, but it also contains alot of holes in it. You could literally cheat on it. The positive things it had brought also had a more darker side to it and as company who developes and creates the programs, well I understand they don't want their own software flakey... It is a difficult discussion where both sides of the party have their rights and their wrongs.

And I agree, the sub forums should have been taken care off. The more older lay-out was better. Too many forum topics now as well, containing all little things about FM/YG.. some could be merged or heck even be deleted from here and have some of our sub forums back to normal.

My 1 Eurocent and a half.

[wentscat]

Yougamers has a lot to do with it and the moneymaking schemes attached to it .Vista, dx10 and Vantage have someting to do with it too,it divided a lot of people mainly gamers and over clockers.Moderators and forum setup seen the rest off.

I'm going to leave this place too, very soon .I think a lot of people will be happy about that lol.But anyway its been nice knowing all of you.[thumbup]