When Bungie.next first launched on January 10th of this year, it was shiny and different, but it wasn't perfect. It still isn't perfect today, but Bungie continues to roll out more of what the community spent years asking for and fixes based on additional feedback. For perspective, here is what we have gained on the site so far:
[quote]• One of the most common requests - liking threads and posts - has finally made its way to the site. Now you can show approval for a thread or comment to keep it at the top of the page.
• If you don't use the account with your gamertag, you now have 4 other ways to log in and you can link and unlink in a manner of seconds. Previously it could take more than 10 minutes to do something as basic as unlinking a gamertag. After months of unsuccessful attempts before, I was finally able to link my gamertag to the site with the proper email.
• A common request was a sent box, but Bungie instead converted them to the convenient conversation format. With this format, you no longer need to reload the page to send a message. You can even send a single message to multiple users, a task previously requiring elaborate scripts.
• Notifications for when you were quoted, replied to, or liked help you keep track of the threads you post in. Before, you'd either have to install a browser extension or manually scroll down to find a reply to your post.
• After many years of staring at that typo or freshman moniker, users can finally change their user names.
• The follow feature allows you to find content from friends or the people who interest you with the Activity tab. Their threads also stand out to you more.
• Hiding and Muting are godsends that allow you to remove bothersome threads or troublesome users from your site without the need for a moderator.
• In addition to hiding and muting, you also have greater control over the threads based on the date they were created and the response they've gotten.
• If you're only interested in posts about certain topics, you can stick with those tags and sort by them directly.
• You have direct access to BBCode (including spoiler tags), and all links are automatically created. Gone are the "I'm clicking but it wont work" replies.
• In the past, embedded images were a tease from employees. Since their inclusion, many members have made use of them by enhancing their posts with banners, diagrams, examples, and reaction gifs. And let's not forget how lively music threads have become now.
• Though its effect has slightly diminished since the forum update, you can still spread a topic across multiple relevant tags.
• Users are no longer required to search external sites to strip unicode from text. In addition to special text characters being allowed (such as the interpunct used to bullet this list), the rules have also been relaxed to allow for more [i]colorful[/i] language.
• Groups can now expand their discussion or recruit members easier with public threads. Groups are also much more straight forward to search and browse.
• Users no longer have to worry about accidentally voting on the wrong poll option or changing their mind now that you can switch your option. The page also no longer needs to refresh.
• While questions may at first seem like something from a Yahoo site, what they do is encourage others to provide you with your answer and allow you to highlight it so it may help others as well.
• All of your tags, group forums, and followed users are readily accessible on the NavBar
• The SearchBar is more straight forward, using the hashtag feature to its advantage. Again, no excuses!
• Mobile browsing is a much more seamless experience and you have greater control of your notifications as well[/quote]
There are still many other new features Bungie has added across the site, but we cannot forget what we've lost in the process. Things like post preview, member titles, saved threads, pinned and top forum topics, and group news and articles still have yet to make a return. However, if Bungie's response to our feedback thus far is any indication of their commitment to improving the site, I'd like to think we can expect most of these features to either return or be redesigned. After more than 2 months of B.nexting with the new toys though, I can't imagine going back to the simpler layout anymore.
What about you? Have you found yourself enjoying B.next, or do you still hold the original site to a higher standard?
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Wow. It's been a long ten weeks. :\ I'm still trying to shake off a bunch of habits I have from Bungie.old.
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I'm just not liking the whole posting and liking methods of Bungie.next
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Today is the first time I have been back on since the week it came out. Now I found the dark theme in the options and that may have me come on more. IDK, it just wasn't what I was used to, but maybe now I can suck it up and come back here.
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They have their perks. Bnext has a lot of cool features like notifications and an improved message system, etc, etc, but it practically killed groups. The threads are also faster-paced than Bungie.old (whether or not that's a good thing is purely opinion) I do love the continuous work that's being done to Bnext.
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Its taking some getting used to, but it's not that bad.
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I leave for a few months and come back to find everything refurbished and shiny new. How do I feel about that? Meh, I'll definitely need some time to acclimate that's for sure, but everything looks a-ok so far. Do miss some of the age old informative threads there used to be here.
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I have not had much experience with the previous forum, but it looks like people preferred it. This new one seems to have a learning curve, but I think it' nice.
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Edited by ZealotSG: 3/28/2013 2:29:26 PMI prefer B.next. CE and H2 forums were dying. :/ Plus, thanks to B.next, the H4 hate can spread!! Yaay!
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I would have to say I preferred Bungie.old, if only for what I consider ease of use. I used to be a regular to the forums, but since the update this is the first time I've been on. I just find it too unnecessarily complex.
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I still prefer bungie.old.
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I'll live.
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I feel overtime I will enjoy the new bungie.net, it has a more simple feel to it. I'm just so used to the old bungie.net being on the site for so many years that it takes awhile to adjust! I'm sure with more features rolling around and Destiny's release will make the site more interesting (as I'm sure there will be some cool additions to the site once the game comes out).
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I still like old Bnet better.
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Edited by spartakus14: 3/28/2013 10:21:18 PMWhile this new site is very interesting, it doesn't rid me of the feeling that I'm missing something. Something like the old NavBar from back in '07. It was always there for me. Ready to pop up and block my view. Ready to help me navigate the website. Large, and unclear. Times were good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wDjTgmG51o
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I loved both sites, but BNext just has so much more potential.
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I like both, but I think I like this one a tad bit more.
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While I prefer bungie.next overall, I prefer the old forum layout and my beloved "Save Thread" button.
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I like the features but not the design/look.
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Bungie.old
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Edited by Shogg: 3/26/2013 7:17:32 PMThe only way I can stand B.next is with the scheme changed to black.
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Edited by SergeantFlood: 3/25/2013 6:59:34 AMAnyone who says the new site is miles ahead of the old site is fucking retarded or was never on the old site. Before you say anything, your argument is invalid. inb4butthurtmorons
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I very much prefer the old layout. :/
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Maybe it's just nostalgia that makes me prefer B.old, but B.next has some wicked new features. And I'm sure there's more to come, so we'll see, right? Right?
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It would be better to replace [i]"B.next is miles better."[/i] with just [i]"B.next is better."[/i]. I probably warmed to the changes a lot better and quicker than others did, because I was not a frequent poster before then. I was already active on another forum before, but it was difficult to have conversations on it, at least for me.
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Once titles are implemented again, the site will be surpass B.old