Redesign?

[Zeggy]

I was thinking of redesigning this website, and completely re-doing the forum as well.
For the main website, I might get a new layout that's a bit wider, I've gotten too sick and tired of such a thin layout
And for the forum, I think I might be making a new install of the forum and then repopulating the database with the posts and stuff, but at least the mess with the mods and stuff will be gone. Right now the forum is so messed up with all the installing and uninstalling of mods.

What do you think?
It could take a while for the redesign to be complete, and there could be some downtimes.

Oh, and if anybody wants to help, they are welcome to!
 B)

[Dasein Fiasco]

I wouldn't mind a little wider site, but please don't make it liquid 100% - I have a huge resolution, and the eye wasn't made to read text columns greater than a certain width.

I also wouldn't mind seeing the site tweaked a bit, though. The OSS web template you're using could certainly stand some new colors at the very least.

[Zeggy]

Just a few tweaks huh?
I was thinking of a complete rehaul

Maybe this time I won't be too lazy and maybe I'll design my own template... or maybe not.

What do you suggest?

[Dasein Fiasco]

Honestly, I very much like the forums and don't see much incentive to spend a great deal of time changing it around.

Enlarging the page width is a good idea. Everything else seems pretty usable to me.

If you're just looking for a way to improve the site, I would suggest that you spend your time developing the community, e.g. publicizing the site, maybe adding some social networking components, etc.

Take a look at www.rpgdx.net. It's another inde-game site, focused on RPGs in general, JRGS less generally, and JRPGS written for the PC specifically. Anway, there are a lot of neat features there to help showcase developer projects, and hooks like that seems applicable here. Maybe you'd get an idea for a feature or two poking around there, but then again, I don't really know what your goals are.

I do think the site works fine as it is; I haven't experienced a single usability pain, though I do think you should maybe change the color scheme, at least from the default colors. There's nothing wrong with using a template, though, especially if it helps you become more productive in your true purpose, which in this case I would imagine to be building a community.

Anyway, I'd like to see a more active forum, so anything that facilitates that has my vote. More users? Get them. Longer, more discursive topics? Let's discuss more game design, a la gamasutra or gamedev. Staff advertisements? Volunteers? I'd like to see more people talking to each other and helping develop and promote each other's projects. In short, a more friendly, helpful, contributory environment.

But that's just me.
 

[Zeggy]

Alright, so no new design (yeah! ), maybe a few changes though.

My reasons for redoing the forum is because this forum is very buggy with all the badly installed/uninstalled mods, and the admin panel is also a little messed up.
I don't want to restart the forum though, but just upload fresh SMF files without any mods, then repopulate the database with all the posts and users, etc.
But I'm still unsure about redoing the forum.

So I guess what's left is just adding improvements.. More members, activity... and features?
Well, I'll see what I can think of, and as always, if anybody has any specific features to request, just ask

[Chris]

It works now, right? So, wait until it crash and then install a new one As for me I do not mind bugs in admin panel at all, really
Just make backups before installing new mods.

As for features I would like a top level "how to promote your game/how to get players" board, not the exchange hidden somewhere or stuff posted in "revenue & promotion".

[Twisted]

I'm not a big fan of SMF.. so if you wanted to redo the forums, you could go with IPS. www.invisionpower.com :: they are the leaders in forum software AND hosting right now. Good tech support and all. Even www.freepowerboards.com is pretty good if you need a host as well as great easy to use forum software. PHPBB.com is another great forum company that allows you to download the PHPBB3 forum software and host it on your own. I suggest looking at one of those sites.

[beam]

SMF is way better than phpBB, phpBB is the forum your grandmother would use. The only thing I don't like about SMF are the emoticons. If I had to pick anything, I'd go with vB because I'm a sucker for nostalgia

[Twisted]

If your going to disagree, then give a reason. Why would phpBB be for my grandmother? Are you just dissing it because YOU don't understand it?

[Aliss]

I hope after your work website and forum will lok nice.