"Hopefully this can be the last time this damn thread is made..." - tgrant, 2006
Narrator: It was not the last time that damn thread was made.
Mortal Kombat Online has had certain threads over the years that are borderline institutions. These threads are fond memories for old users such as myself and many others: Boot and Immune, MKO Idol, Signature of the Week, and, of course, the Drive By.
The 4th and last Drive By thread closed in 2013, and had been active since 2006. It was (and still is) the largest thread in the history of MKO by far, clocking in at over 2800 pages of posts. It was a popular place for anyone on the site, from top to bottom, to just stop in and talk about anything with anyone.
In the time I've spent browsing and lurking here recently, I've noticed that the General Forum (as well as the site overall) has seen a large drop in activity over the last several years. While I don't know every cause and reason for this happening, I was spending a ton of time on MKO back when things were going well, and I still remember the sorts of things that the user base enjoyed and wanted to participate in. I know that having fun threads such as this one usually leads to people becoming regulars. This is the sort of culture I want to reestablish. I don't simply want to increase the total number of registered users; I want to make sure they keep coming back and make us their site of choice, and to do that I firmly believe we need to put an emphasis on rebuilding that strong community aspect that we once had.
Anyway, that's enough of me yelling from a soapbox. Let's get into why you've clicked on this thread, whether you're an old head like me or you're newer and you have no idea of what you've just gotten yourself into.
For those who are unfamiliar or need a refresher, the Drive By thread has very simple rules, with one new addition to the old formula, to ensure smooth discussion:
1- Post whatever is on your mind. Seriously. This thread has no rigid topic, and does not function as such.
2- There is to be no flaming or spam messages, and please adhere to other forum rules as well. While the Drive By thread has always been fast and loose, it is not lawless. Respect each other.
3- Users are encouraged to open a new thread should a discussion of any given topic become lengthy. This is a new guideline being added to foster fresh discourse rather than having multiple pages about the same subject. For starters, it will not be strictly enforced, but that may change.
One last thing - the thread title is a reference that only older users will get. Hope you all appreciate it!
"Then together, let us begin."
First! EDIT...seems like I got beat. It’s good to see this gem back.
Shao Kahn did nothing wrong
Man, I love you magnificent bastards. <3
So why do ya'll think this site kinda died? Was it the rise of social media?
Once the old regulars were gone there was little point being around. I was an admin too.
I didn't find the forum was able to adapt to smart phone users either. I went from being pc/laptop all day long to being a grown up doing 40+ hours a week and having no interest being Infront of my computer screen all day.
I spend it glued to my phone screen instead.
Mortal Kombat Online - Community Manager
| Twitch | YouTube | Lawful Chaos |
Signature and avatar by ThePredator151
I had a feeling that I'd see some old faces in here :)
With all the unrest in the world right now, it's great to see that we can still come together and hang out.
So why do ya'll think this site kinda died? Was it the rise of social media?
I say this with no intention of throwing shade, but I know several users (including myself) jumped ship after a series of site-wide decisions seemed to force new approaches that we disagreed with, as they seemed restrictive and redundant. That said, when I heard this thread was being opened again, it was a decision I agreed with whole heartedly. The drive by was a wonderful part of our community, and I look forward to getting back in the Frey with some old friends.
CCShadow - Owner/Administrator
admin@mortalkombatonline.com
Mortal Kombat Online - The Ultimate Mortal Kombat Experience
Any suggestions you'd like to see on improvements in this area? V8 (the current version) of the site was designed with mobile in mind, so it should be reasonably easy to use on mobile, but we're always accepting suggestions on how to improve!
Mortal Kombat Online - Community Manager
| Twitch | YouTube | Lawful Chaos |
Signature and avatar by ThePredator151
So why do ya'll think this site kinda died? Was it the rise of social media?
I think the rise of places like Reddit certainly hasn't helped (that said, we're partnering with r/MortalKombat for Fight Klub), but I wouldn't fully attribute the decline in traffic to that. I think there's been an honest assessment from within that we need to do more, before it's too late. I can't reveal much, but there is some really cool stuff in the pipeline.
I encourage you returning folks to check out the new stickied Feedback and Suggestions thread and drop some ideas. I have a direct line of communication with CCShadow and I'll pass anything along to him.
Any suggestions you'd like to see on improvements in this area? V8 (the current version) of the site was designed with mobile in mind, so it should be reasonably easy to use on mobile, but we're always accepting suggestions on how to improve!
As a pro web developer, I’d say you guys have made huge, well done strides for mobile UI/UX. Hell, I’m typing out this reply on a phone. I’m still relearning the site, but if I catch anything I’ll be sure to post it in the feedback thread.
Any suggestions you'd like to see on improvements in this area? V8 (the current version) of the site was designed with mobile in mind, so it should be reasonably easy to use on mobile, but we're always accepting suggestions on how to improve!
Well this is the first time I've been on here in a long time. I don't seem to be having any trouble navigating the site so far.
Yeah. The mobile version of MKO is really solid. Good job to everyone that was involved.
Kung Lao/Smoke main. Maker of puns and bad jokes.
I'll have to come back in a few years when this thread becomes drivebyonline.com :P
I'll have to come back in a few years when this thread becomes drivebyonline.com :P
Yo dawg, we heard you like the drive by thread, so we put the drivebyonline.com skill or your Echo Auto so you can drive by while you drive by with the drive by.
If it tastes like chicken, keep on lickin'. If it smells like trout, then get the f*** out!
Talk about a blast from the past
Mortal Kombat Online - Community Manager
| Twitch | YouTube | Lawful Chaos |
Signature and avatar by ThePredator151
I'll have to come back in a few years when this thread becomes drivebyonline.com :P
Yo dawg, we heard you like the drive by thread, so we put the drivebyonline.com skill or your Echo Auto so you can drive by while you drive by with the drive by.
Of course you post what my literal brain was thinking...
Hope to see some old faces more regularly. including myself. glad to see this thread back, and really hopefully for the future of this place. Ill always be a shadow in the background waiting for it to pop off
Feels like a reunion. <3
Feels like a reunion. <3