Filefront might be sinking soon.

MercZ · #1 03-25-2009

Edit: On April 1st, the site was brought back online. The original founders of GF bought it back from Ziff Davis and insisted that it was not an April Fools joke, and that the site was on track to be completely shut down. Ziff Davis no longer runs the forum, and the only significant change will be ZD's lgos being removed.

Original Post

Spoiler:

**the1chaos** · #2 03-25-2009

I've been asking around, and it indeed seems to be the case that FileFront is dead. I'm hearing confirmations from all kinds of directions. It's estimated that it will take at most until the end of the month until all the FileFront websites are gone.

I have indeed considered if it could be an April Fools joke, but it does not make any sense to keep down the forums for a week, cause wide-spread panic amongst the users and staff and remove key elements for submitting and moderating content for the file sites.

I think it's really happened. It will be missed.

NCC1017spock · #3 03-25-2009

yea, I have been sending the alert message to every one my X-fiire and MSN contacts list, I'd advise you all to do the same, we must spread the word fast, so we can regroup at the split-off forums like these, and others. And we will plan it as we go from there.

Giz · #4 03-25-2009

Just to chime in here, seeing as I'd consider TRF to be the biggest forum community around, built off the GF community.

Quote:

Despite having some really dicky admins

Oh, do I qualify as a 'dicky admin'?

It's tough to tell if this is real or not, even though I've spoken to Dread and he claims it's as real as it gets, as in Jeff (n0e) has lost his job as well as other File Front employees.

It just seems strange because why would Ziff Davis demand that the FF message board be instantly shut down with no notification to all it's users after an eight year period? Why would the URL point to an apache web server page and not a notice to users? Even just a quick note to say "thanks for all the fish"?

Here is what I believe:

I think File Front is doing some server maintenance on the forums. Either a server move, upgrade, whatever. It's down for those reasons and I believe the forum staff have decided to roll with it as an April fools joke seeing as we're so close to April. Yes, that's one week away, but since when has the FF techs known to work fast?

The main website is still up and operational, with absolutely no notice of it being shut down.

I might be wrong, I'm just adding my opinion on the situation as I see it. It just seems kind of fishy how a community disappears without notice, after eight years of service, for reasons totally unknown, one week before the month of April. Oddness indeed.

NCC1017spock · #5 03-25-2009

I heard the other sites will be goning down soon, download while you can! I have seen and played everything those sites have to offer thats of interrest to me, I have spent my time spreading the word ASAP.

Vantage · #6 03-25-2009

Oh, hi there.
Yeah, it is too abrupt (an update just happened) for me to believe this is the death kneel of the forum. It would be real lame if that is the case.
I'm hiding here (and at another offshoot forum) until things return from chaos.

Graeme · #7 03-25-2009

I do not know whether to believe it's a joke, or a real shut-down, but I'm certain that I'll download all mods that are considered worthy, just in-case. Meh, I must say, if this is a joke of the management, it's sure as hell a dry one.

NCC1017spock · #8 03-25-2009

They arent! Unless some one buys out the forums, then our city has just been nuked! Our goal now is to get everyone organized, some way to stay in touch with as many as we can possible get to. After that we "will" start sending either everyone here, or make a new forums.

In the post-apocitaliptic horror, communication is key to organization.

MercZ · #9 03-25-2009

Well I wouldn't put it that dramatic. It's not the end of the world or anything if it is not a joke.

NCC1017spock · #10 03-25-2009

:(

I hate it when things change like this so fast, I am downloading all the good EAW mods I can.... I asume there will be alot of MOD trading on MSN and X-fire in the coming months, unitll its all put on DB or privatly hosted.

Vantage · #11 03-25-2009

I know it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but imagine something on an even grander scale with community support, like Flickr or World of Warcraft, just going down in flames one day. I suppose Ziff Davis is making quite the profit those are, but still.
I would expect some outcry if the issue isn't resolved at least by April Fool's day/week.

MercZ · #12 03-25-2009

I'd imagine, especially from those of us who are long time members of the forum.

NCC1017spock · #13 03-25-2009

Lets not forget the millions of files stored on the many fielfront game sites..... Thats the bigger problem.

Vantage · #14 03-25-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by the1chaos

I think it's really happened. It will be missed.

1. You're too powerful of a member to believe. Sorry, but it is true. You're probably in on whatever this is.
2. The quote I cited seems a bit overconfident and dismissive.

So, from these points, you have actually given me more confidence that everything is really fine.

AdmiralHocking · #15 03-25-2009

If this is real, some of the smaller modding communities are about to die completely.