WHAT!? This isn't a store?! ...
I was using an example to raise a point. It's often done in this fashion, looking at a similar and easy to understand situation, and using this as a model to relay an idea.
You say: "It's a community forum. It therefore needs community to keep it alive." Well then let's use another example since you pointed out the huge flaw that the Grepolis forums, is in fact, not a shop. I will make an example that comes from my field (Computer Scientist/Web Developer), if you want people to come to your website, you must give them a reason to go there.
It's up to the people appointed to run the Beta community to make it worth while for those who wouldn't usually visit the forums to get in here. The ones that are on the forums have not a lot to post as we are mainly from the larger alliances involved in the same old war that has been going on for months. I still do not see the reasons to turn any idea that could possibly drum up some activity down.
Now I would like to point out I am not trying to attack mods/Devils here. I am merely stating my views on what could inspire more activity on these old dead forums. And I know that more "Rate the player" threads is not the key. Nor is asking people to post news where there is none.
eGOD - While it may be in the interests of InnoGames to keep the Beta Forum alive and kicking, it is not their place to constantly push the Beta Community into posting new threads, ideas, topics, comments, etc. This Community is meant to be self-sustaining to an extent. However, there can be times such as right now when that doesn't work. Currently the majority of the players are either in Uni, or taking their final exams for school. Due to that, many players likely have little time to come onto the Forums and take part in the discussions.
We have tried to liven up this part of the Forum before with the King of the Hill competition, but it was found that running an in-game competition like that was de-stabilizing the server. Perhaps if we can find a way to do that again and safely, then we could do that. The problem that Beta is facing is not unique to Beta. Alpha and some of the other older worlds have the same problem. The players want new and better, and so Inno constantly looks to provide this. This may come in the form of new worlds, implemented ideas, gods, and even a new UI with Grepo 2.0. Essentially, as soon as something new comes around, the vast majority of players will jump ship and join the new worlds and let the other worlds they play in languish in decline. This is represented by the Forum activity quite clearly, and despite what we may do, it will happen again and again.
So I repeat what Devils and Sapphire have been saying: If you want more activity YOU must create it. There is only so much that we can do on our end. We are more than willing to listen to any ideas you may have for the creation of sub-forums for Beta. I suggest that maybe something to do with a Wall of Honour sub-forum where the great players of Beta (past and present) can be put into a sort of Hall of Fame. Beta has seen and created its fair share of great players in the time it has been around.
