Okay so, I've been here for more than a year now and I can say that, although I feel that saying "this forum is dead" is somewhat denying the current members, the way things are,
we aren't getting new membersThis forum for me is a hangout with cool people where I can post shit. A lot of the time I sit here just refreshing, hoping for something new.
This forum is dead in terms of new members but I feel like we're slowly getting a little bit of productivity back. I think this forum needs
a lot of changing before we start getting new members.
Firstly, I would like to say that we should most likely have a forum for Unity. That would bring in a lot of the unity crowed which would be cool. I also think that we should split the C2 forum into the C2/MMF2 forum.
We need to think about how we use our current forums. We've got RPG Maker, GM and C2 forums, but then everything else is lumped together. There are a lot of other makers.
Perhaps we could change RPG maker forum into the Enterbrain forum so that we can include all of their makers such as IG maker, VX, VXA, XP even the 2000's
I know one or two of them weren't translated to english and that it's most likely illegal to obtain an english copy, but who are we kidding? It's not like Enterbrain really keep a close watch on us, and I'm sure there were lots of old forums that used 2k3 and shit when VX came out.
So it would be:
General Game Making Support
Enterbrain Engines
Construct 2/Multimedia Fusion 2
Game maker
Unity
Something like that?
Anyway, next is the resources forum.
These are fairly fine, but is there a huge need for the Generators and Tools section?
If it gets used a lot, sure but if not then cut it.
We may get a few spammy threads asking about generators or shit, but we can then answer these threads and if it's a new member, make them feel welcome and give them a reason to come back.
[edit]We could even go as far as to make our own name generators or something.[edit]
Okay, the artwork forums might need a little addition. How about we add a 3D models forum? It might not get much activity, but it's worth a shot. Sure it could be put in the artwork forum, but so could Edits & Rips.
The other hand... We'll leave for now. That place is a double edged sword... It keeps members in, but prevents productivity, so lets not go near that.
Now that's all I think needs changing to the forum.
In terms of the homepage, I don't actually go there often. I come straight to
http://www.hbgames.org/forums so perhaps we could have it redirect you to the homepage when you first go to the forums? Or something like that.
I somewhat agree with Jasons idea about resources...
I know poaching is never going to not happen but still, we could put better measures in to prevent them. I think limiting could be good, but in moderation. I don't really know how to go about this though...
Perhaps we could have members only resources and "drifters resources."
This would be sorted by a new logo on thread creation + the artists consent.
If they mark their work with the members logo, that work will only be accessible to the members where as if they mark it for drifters, anyone can see it. They have a choice as to whether they allow their work to be poached. This could be bad, everyone could mark their work for members only, however I'm sure I know this forum and its members well enough to know that it won't happen.
I agree with the points/achievements thing.
I think that would be a great. There could be points for recommending someone to the forums too!
I'd like to state at this point, the amount of VX/A resources is shocking. I use(d) primarily VX when I came to this f'rum, and I think the rec room was the only thing that kept me here.
I know the general feel is that VX is shit. And it is shit. But we shouldn't neglect it, cause it does have users. (Well, VXA should have users.)
I don't think there is any way we will be a huge prosperous forum again (I was never part of it when it
was prosperous) but we can do things to gain a few members and I really do think that most of what I have said will help.
OH One last thing. Don't spam this forum on other forums. That's horrible. You've seen how we react towards that here. It doesn't work and only gets you a ban + a bad name for whatever your advertising.
Anyway, I think that's all I wanted to say...