Punk 0 Report post Posted February 16, 2009 I know I haven't been too active on RMXP Unlimited to say such things but I think there are absolutely way too many forums. I think having so many forums (advice, lifestyle, international, etc.) makes your forum LOOK inactive. I mean, your board MIGHT be active but having so many of these forums makes the board look dead. Plus, I'm not sure if the active memberbase (not your entire memberbase, just the actives) is large enough to accommodate that, y'know? I've an idea though. Isn't there some sort of a thread prefixing system you can use for this board? Y'know, where members would select a "genre" for the topic they're creating? If so, I think most of the chatty forums should be merged and a prefix system should be in place. Prefix systems are pretty damn cool to use and can totally help out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marked 197 Report post Posted February 17, 2009 Hey Punk :) Recently we did make a huge forum restructure. The topic is here: http://www.rmxpunlimited.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2157 To be honest the reason for this was no one was posting anymore, or perhaps a phase of inactivity which seem to often get, so it was back to the drawing boards for us. The idea behind the new forums was to make it more of a social forum, as well as keeping the Rpg Maker ones and also a few others. The reason for making it more of a social forum is to compensate for lose of interest in RPG Maker. Plus, I'm not sure if the active memberbase (not your entire memberbase, just the actives) is large enough to accommodate that, y'know? Yes, I'd have to agree. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EmilyAnnCoons 7 Report post Posted February 17, 2009 It could be true that there are too many forums. Really, I only really expanded on the social forums when I redesigned the site (other then adding in the ability for game makers of other kinds to come as well). I'm thinking, though, of merging the lifestyle ones...I never did understand having the different lifestyle forums, and I was mainly just following a template from another active site. Kind of the whole "If it worked for them, maybe it will work for us" thing. The biggest problem, though, with the redesign was that I had a few other ideas to implement that are impossible with IPB, and we don't have the people and resources to shift to PHPBB and redesign the site to add in the other content. In all honesty, though, the forums for sociality are all the same as what we had before. I really didn't add anything new at all, just expanded it out. I literally pulled the cafe forums out and renamed them (though, I didn't originally plan that, and thus moved all the topics into one forum...so it doesn't look like I did that...). But, I dunno, I was just trying to spark activity. We had it for a moment when people heard we were redesigning the site, but I think the fact that all we did was shift the forums a little wasn't enough for people, and they left again. If we could get some AGS, Game Maker, and some of those other game making programs to know about us and come here to post resources and stuff, we'd have a big jump in activity to be certain...but that would all be on the advertising groups job...which...do we even have anyone in there anymore? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Polraudio 122 Report post Posted February 17, 2009 If we could get some AGS, Game Maker, and some of those other game making programs to know about us and come here to post resources and stuff, we'd have a big jump in activity to be certain...but that would all be on the advertising groups job...which...do we even have anyone in there anymore? I have been advertising like crazy but it don't work out to well. I have been even advertising offline here and there when im trying to get people into rpg maker. Advertising can be a hard job. Especially when everyone in our town is so active and don't have much time to sit around on the computer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marked 197 Report post Posted February 17, 2009 If we could get some AGS, Game Maker, and some of those other game making programs to know about us and come here to post resources and stuff, we'd have a big jump in activity to be certain...but that would all be on the advertising groups job...which...do we even have anyone in there anymore? Wow, not since the days of Ryanrulez which was in 2007. Eventually I gave up on the concept. We have an average of 7 members registering every day, so I think people can find the site. The wrong people perhaps. Also about 11,000 pageviews a week. At the moment those pageviews are evenly distributed between the website and forum with the forum getting 52% of pageviews. As a community we really do struggle. With a small forum structure activity doesnt really boom. So it makes sense to do the opposite with a larger one, so far proving no more efficient or no less. Actually though, im not entirely worried about activeness, as long as its high enough to keep the community going. I'm happy with things at the moment, even if we are tiny compared to other RMXP sites. Thats not to say I want it to stop growing and I dont have ideas and goals left :D I have been advertising like crazy but it don't work out to well. I have been even advertising offline here and there when im trying to get people into rpg maker. Advertising can be a hard job. Especially when everyone in our town is so active and don't have much time to sit around on the computer. Every little bit helps :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kiriashi 117 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 This site will never go dead as long as I'm around. Marked, Since I'm so awesome, my tutorial is going to be an RMXP Unlimited exclusive :lol: I'm am so awsum! I'm am so awsum, awsum, I mean awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marked 197 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 This site will never go dead as long as I'm around. Marked, Since I'm so awesome, my tutorial is going to be an RMXP Unlimited exclusive :lol: I'm am so awsum! I'm am so awsum, awsum, I mean awesome! Yes Kiriashi, you're awesome. We got it. We always like exclusives :D there are absolutely way too many forums. I think having so many forums (advice, lifestyle, international, etc.) makes your forum LOOK inactive. Hope you don't mind Punk, I added a poll to your topic. A simple yes or no, otherwise members can post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kiriashi 117 Report post Posted February 19, 2009 I voted yes, but I like the different threads; more places for me to excrete my awesome-sauce. (Yes Pol, you should/can put this in your quotes.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hai 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2009 Well I only just registered (much thanks to this thread), so feel free to disregard my sentiments, but I would answer a resounding yes. All these forums with no activity really does make you look very inactive. I was ready to move on and forget about this place after a quick scroll-through (I'm sure you are all aware of the patience of the average internet-surfer), and would have, had I not noticed the link to this thread. If there is one thing I have learned during my foruming years, it's that too many forums for your userbase is an absolute killer. And I have also seen forums saved from certain 'death', as it were, by cleaning up and reducing the amount of sections. It is no less than daunting to try and familiarize yourself with the forum when you are met with such a wall of sections and subforums. That would be my humble opinion, and my first impression when seeing your site. You guys seem like a good bunch and I wouldn't mind having another RMXP site to hang around, but personally I feel that the vast majority of your forums have to go - either hidden as subforums, or gotten rid of completely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Polraudio 122 Report post Posted February 20, 2009 You guys seem like a good bunch and I wouldn't mind having another RMXP site to hang around, but personally I feel that the vast majority of your forums have to go - either hidden as subforums, or gotten rid of completely. Worth a try. What could go wrong? Might work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kiriashi 117 Report post Posted February 21, 2009 This place is defiantly a great community!, So what If we don't have that many members? We have GOOD members, and that's what is so nice about this place! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marked 197 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Yeah, well Hai's post is rather concerning. I've actually noticed that very few new members are posting. And from experience on this forum, when just the regulars post the post count per day will drop dramatically as well as low quality posts. Its gives the forum a timeline. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nisage 31 Report post Posted February 22, 2009 Why not just delete a few old topics. I have a request topic that no one has replied to, so you can basicly delete that one, here's the link to it http://www.rmxpunlimited.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2035 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marked 197 Report post Posted February 25, 2009 Why not just delete a few old topics. I have a request topic that no one has replied to, so you can basicly delete that one, here's the link to it http://www.rmxpunlimited.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2035 You confuse me sometimes Nisage. Too many forums, not topics. Emily and I are discussing changes. Thanks for making this topic Punk. 90% of the voters agree, but no one else said anything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nisage 31 Report post Posted February 25, 2009 Oops, I guess I misread a little (I guess staying up until 1 in the morning is finally having an effect) Sorry for the confusion Marked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
j4kl1ng3r 0 Report post Posted August 1, 2009 I was about to suggest this and then I saw this topic. I am a very organizational type of person, so I'm just going to lay it out on the line and tell you what I think you should restructure this like... RMXP Unlimited Center - Announcements and News - RMXP Unlimited Productions - Contests and Events Community Portal - Welcomes, Farewells, and Birthdays - General Chat (and/or "Off Topic) - Debate and Mature Discussion - Comics/Anime - Computers/Programming -- Formlesstree4's Visual Basic Class -- Blackbound's C++ Class - Literature - Graphics and Multimedia - Role Playing RPG Maker - RPG Maker Discussion - RGSS/RGSS2 Scripts -- Requests - RPG Maker Resources (rename for search engines :) ) -- Requests - Projects and Teams - RPG Maker Support -- Tutorials - Training Center -- Scripting Class -- Spriting Class -- Mapping Class -- Music Class -- Writing Class -- Eventing Class Other Game Makers - Other Game Makers -- Resources -- Support Notes: Member of the Month should get some sort of Pin, or sticky, or prominent placement on the board besides in a forum. This is not a demand, just a very thorough response to the topic at hand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Polraudio 122 Report post Posted August 1, 2009 Notes: Member of the Month should get some sort of Pin, or sticky, or prominent placement on the board besides in a forum. This is not a demand, just a very thorough response to the topic at hand. I think its fine there. It is a contest and a monthly event so it fits perfectly there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marked 197 Report post Posted August 1, 2009 Hmm, well j4kl1ng3r, I can see you put a bit of thought into your post. I think that the feedback forum is essential, I've fixed many forum bugs because of it as well as helping members with the forum. The welcome and farewell forum too is very important in a community. Not only for introducing new members but for when active members have to leave for a period of time. It's also the 2nd most popular forum, rpg maker support being the first. You should also know that since Punk made this topic, there have a huge forum re-structure. There were many many more forums than there are now which have since been deleted and the topics merged into other forums. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
j4kl1ng3r 0 Report post Posted August 1, 2009 Cool cool. I don't even dislike the way you have it set up that much, to be honest. I just really, really, really like organizing things lol. I hope that didn't come off as pretentious or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
