Site reshuffles

[FatherJack]

That kinda what I meant. Admittedly it says "You do not have to be a member of b3ta to join 5punk" - but the word does come out a bit much on the very first sentence in the site, followed by 3 images all sounding subset-of-b3ta-ish.

That's there mostly because I never got around to rewriting it properly, in fact I was never that comfortable with it being a mission statement from me personally - I'd prefer it talk about what we do, give the newcomer a few ideas on where to start and what each section on the front page represents.

[Lateralus]

Maybe discuss b3ta later in the site intro in terms of early origins, but 5punk should be described in its own rights now I think, certainly from the outset.

In fact, as we have a wiki that people want to make use of, why not have the site history-type stuff in there? The front page could be more of a splash-screen, with a few simple links to different bits (wiki, arcade, servers page, TS page) but with the forum as the focal point?

I reckon something like this, only with a bit more stuff, would be spot on.

[Mr. Johnson]

you heard it grimmie and shada, get pimpin'

[spoodie]

Combining stickies is going to be a right pain in the arse - may I suggest subsuming stickies into game specific stickies or you'll end up with 15 stickies in each forum.

Personally I'd like to so a reduction on stickies and announcement threads with the merge. Perhaps the more static information can be offloaded to the wiki and linked somewhere?

I appreciate that a mass of icons at the top of the posting screen isn't ideal, but how about a drop-down menu, or a pop-up like the smilies? I know it may not be great, but for some reason this idea appeals to me more than sub-forums, and would still allow someone to find all the posts about game X easily.

I like this idea a lot, more so than sub-forums. Although this is unlikely to be a standard feature of the board software so comes with an overhead.

The biggest gripe I have about 5punk is the speed of it. I'm sure you can find some nicer hosting for no more pennies somewhere. UK based hosts would make sense, or at least EU based. I've lots of experience with shared hosting providers, if you need a good recommendation hit me up.

We believe the problem is with the backend database server; some other process on the shared server is thrashing it and causing us problems. So location is not really an issue, as we don't see any significant problems with bandwidth or latency. There is the option of a dedicated server, but that is overkill and more expensive. Although we have asked to be moved to another server/cluster and we hoping the upgrades/updates will improve things.

To echo others; I have very little interest in B3ta these days. No bad feelings, just got bored of it as I'm not arty in that way.

[HereComesPete]

As for non-gaming forums, personally I wouldn't like to deviate too far from the gaming aspect. Further forms of entertainment in that particular forum seem to fit, but after that I think General is a fine place for them.

I think we already have deviated far from a gaming forum, I don't think it's a bad thing, in fact I think it's good for 5punk. We spend a lot of time with the chef wankery, the art and the other forms of entertainment like reading and films etc.

As for expanding it, I don't look at it as drawing focus away from games, more supplementing those times when you don't have the inclination or resources for games. All our geek meets and such aren't solely about games and the playing of, and I think the site could reflect that a bit more at no loss to the gaming aspect.

Regarding organizing this stuff, how about a non-gaming section, with books, films, music and art as categories. That way we get less clutter and maybe we'll pull in some people who are quite infrequent gamers, but like the other stuff and fit the mental instability of 5punk. I know this adds to the list you want stream-lining but it would clear the mess up a bit.

Front page - simple, elegant insanity I think would be better than a list of forums, even if it's bypassed by regulars. If you turn up for the first time to see what those crazy bastards on that funny named server you had fun on are all about, a large list of topics would imo seem a bit overwhelming and a bit shit to look at as a very first thing.

The post icons that wey was so fond of and Lat wants expanding, it's not that I can't be arsed, I just never remember. I don't think any system of implementation would see their use increase, I could be wrong though.

As for an alternative, I'm not sure. Perhaps a front page button that points to important stuff on the wiki, like setting up TS, what our servers are (this needs an update quite badly) joining xfire, what the fuck some of our memes mean and who you're likely to hear prattling away at any given time.

A brief synopsis of everyone on 5punk would be good. You write it yourself (hefty self depreciation ofc), slap a piccy on and it goes in the wiki, humanising the names with faces and foibles. Granted a lot of members would never do that, or don't show up often enough to notice, but it's the regulars that pull in more new people, so starting with a few and expanding it maybe?

Random thought - Hows about different colours on the different sections? The blue is nice and soothing, but splitting topics by colour is proven by science and William Shatner to work well and increase brain stuff. I'm not saying throw loads of random colours about, just a few more.

[Mr. Johnson]

i quite like the member profiles the way they are, but we could indeed do with some pictures, or something similar, like a drawing. maybe a more obvious link to the wiki etc. would be nice, i didn't even know we had one of those till about a year and a half ago.

EDIT: actually, after looking at them again, the profiles could be a bit more elaborate.

[FatherJack]

Kill the Eve and Eve 0.0 forums, either archive the posts or merge them into the MMO's forum (most of them will drop of the bottom as it's not been touched for ages). Or keep a separate one if it scares you that much - I'd be happy to mod it if so.

That would be the general plan, since it'll be a multi-game forum, each game should only really have one sticky, called [GameName] Info which links to the other items previously stickied. The Eve forums are pretty much there already, it's the other MMOs which would need a tidy.

Eve doesn't scare us, and merging it with the other MMOs says it's just another MMO that some 5punkers play - a healthy message in my view, which perhaps wasn't as practical when it was much busier. Our concern is mainly about info in the 0.0 forum you wouldn't want made public. It's probably all so old as not to matter, but the existing mods would know that better than me - either delete the threads (preferable) or ask us to move them somewhere secure (likely the bottom of Waugh) if neccessary.


In general I'm very keen on the shift to non-game-specific forums. Our current layout hints that we are interested in a very small number of specific games, which might put off newcomers - it also alleviates the inevitable discussions about whether new games should have their own forum or not. Mainly though, it's about reducing clutter on the main forum page, while retaining clarity, so that new people will know where to go and the format won't change depending what game is flavour of the month.

[FatherJack]

The Minister of Fun thing was partly to encourage things like compos (which we love) but also to collate the best stuff and have it proudly showing on the front page, as a big glorious advert of what we are.

While the first part won't be limited to an individual, as anyone should suggest new fun ideas, the organisational part, possible cat-herding and pimping on the FP probably needs to be done by a dedicated person or small team as experience has taught us nothing ever happens otherwise.

As for colours, we are thinking of adding a nice contrasting one to make things stand out.

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, keep them coming.

[Mr. Johnson]

more aardvarks.

[deject]

Seems alright to me.

[Dr. kitteny berk]

As for colours, we are thinking of adding a nice contrasting one to make things stand out.

Magenta?


Along with this stuff, I'm thinking it might be good to unpassword the TS server as the password is different to all the others, and just adds hassle.

Obviously, along with that it'll probably be worth adding a few more TS admin types to keep it retard free.

if it doesn't work well, we can re-password it, but setting the pass to 6667 instead.

[Baliame]

I shall therefore add the Hungarian Seal of Approval to all of the aforementioned hypotheses.

[FatherJack]

Obviously, along with that it'll probably be worth adding a few more TS admin types to keep it retard free.

Sounds sensible, you can send us a list of people you'd trust if you like, so we can announce it officially and people don't blame you personally.

Personally I can never arsed doing the admin things on servers and stuff when I'm trying to play a game, so volunteers who frequent the servers often would be good.

[Grimmie]

I reckon something like this, only with a bit more stuff, would be spot on.

Hahaha, christ. I didn't expect that.
I'd be happy to do some arty stuff for any bits of 5punk, of course.
Be it a 'welcome pack' or FP stuff or illustrations in the wiki.

As for an alternative, I'm not sure. Perhaps a front page button that points to important stuff on the wiki, like setting up TS, what our servers are (this needs an update quite badly) joining xfire, what the fuck some of our memes mean and who you're likely to hear prattling away at any given time.

I've been meaning to continue to edit the Wiki for ages.
I shall get around to that some time very soon.

[HereComesPete]

Sexy nurses.

Woo on colour, I just thought of it, but a nice contrasting one would be top notch.

The herding cats thing is true though, the recent questions and such seem to have spawned with doggers, but he's already fingering pies at an alarming rate so he might not have time for another specific pimping job.

With separate non-gaming things we could have Lat focussing on books, leaving tv/film and art for others, ofc grimmie could be good for art, probably berk for tv, because he watches so much crap and loves telling everyone about it, Mordeth is good at clueing us in on merkin stuff too.

I too think Roman would be good as a mod for comps, long time 5punker, regular and despite his terrible jokes, we all love the manc. Whether he'd want it though is another thing. I've not been here that long ( 2 years in February) and as I got to know everyone I was surprised Roman wasn't a mod already.

I don't want to be negative about anyone, mods or not, but we do seem to have a lot that just don't show up any more, or if they do don't really post much or at all. I'm not aiming this at eve before anyone jumps on me, it's every part of the site in a way. I think more mods for mongs is necessary, but given you want less, those who concentrate on eve solely, because that's hit a low at the moment, may be better posting about their new favourite mongs to get interest raised in them instead.

I don't play wow, but it seems doggers, fj and spoodie spend a lot of time working on stuff to do with wow and maybe they could be better employed on a site overview approach if more active wow'ers (and other mongs to an extent) put the time in to post on new stuff.

I tried to write that not sounding like a twat or anti-eve, not sure if I did or not, but that's how I feel.

New mods (apart from a minister of fun type) I don't think are needed, (that said, I'd happily be a green if it was offered, and I'd try not to be a berk ) but we could lose some and never notice, maybe they wouldn't even notice or care. And others could shuffle around and be filled with vigour and jism and such and maybe get some fresh flesh for the bumming pot.

I also remembered the bit fear said about more stuff on houses/jobs/monies etc, we might want to chill out and forget that shit here, but those questions pop up a lot anyway. Because we know 5punkers have skills and we trust them more than faceless bank manager/midwife/estate agent cunts. I think a bit on stuff like this wouldn't detract at all, rather make the site better.

/Yet more thoughts. I have lots of thoughts, all the time.*





*In fact have you ever lain (is that the right word, my brain hurts) awake at night thinking about everything so much that you find yourself thinking about breathing and it stops being an automatic subconscious function so you have to actively regulate your breathing? I do it all the time and it's really annoying.

[Grimmie]

*In fact have you ever lain (is that the right word, my brain hurts) awake at night thinking about everything so much that you find yourself thinking about breathing and it stops being an automatic subconscious function so you have to actively regulate your breathing? I do it all the time and it's really annoying.

Yeah, but that can be triggered at any time with the following;
YOU ARE NOW AWARE YOU ARE BREATHING MANUALLY.

Another good one is
YOU ARE NOW AWARE OF YOUR TONGUE.

[HereComesPete]

Gah, you utter shit grimmie!

I'm just off for a shower and I'll be trying to breathe whilst thinking about my tongue and is too big for my mouth or how does it stay attached at only one end and still work as a muscle. If I fall over it's your fault.

[Dr. kitteny berk]

Gah, you utter shit grimmie!

I'm just off for a shower and I'll be trying to breathe whilst thinking about my tongue and is too big for my mouth or how does it stay attached at only one end and still work as a muscle. If I fall over it's your fault.

[FatherJack]

*In fact have you ever lain (is that the right word, my brain hurts) awake at night thinking about everything so much that you find yourself thinking about breathing and it stops being an automatic subconscious function so you have to actively regulate your breathing? I do it all the time and it's really annoying.

Yes, thanks for reminding me . It's something I try to forget about as it spirals into a panic attack that I'll stop breathing if I stop thinking about it and has caused me many sleepless nights. So I drink until I pass out.


Back on topic we're not particularly looking to reduce the number of mods, just make sure that every mod has the time and enthusiasm to pimp up their bit of the forum and keep people interested and posting. While suggestions are useful in prompting people, it'd have to people who themselves volunteer their time who end up doing it. The site admins still listed as forum mods are just placeholders, really - so that's a few vacancies straight away.

General seems fine for any non-gaming related stuff, but perhaps we should make its description a bit clearer. I don't bother with any other forums at all, so discussion of any stuff is fine in there in my book, infact that's kind of how it is anyway - while a lot of the disco board stuff is random chatter, a lot probably should go in there, so it can be looked up easily later on.

[HereComesPete]

Well if you want more mods I volunteer myself.

I've got the time and enthusiasm in big dirty bucket loads. Problem is that pretty much everything I could pimp is covered. I like films, books, gadgets, tech and most games (can't get on with rts) but we all do to some extent. And sometimes I'm a short tempered rude bastard.