Extensive Forum Changes

**Man1c M0g** · 04-12-2004

As many of you will have noticed, the forums have undergone a dramatic change in the last 24 hours, and changes should continue to be made for the next week at least. They are part of a massive forums overhaul which should modernize services quite substantially. Here's what I've yet to complete:

- Graphics for each subcategory.
- Template Optimisations.
- Proper integration of Albinator and Vbulletin (atm they have 2 seperate skins).
- A listings fix for subject lines of submitted artwork
- A new vbulletin design (probably modified from the existing one, but changed beyond recognition.
- Installation of a better IRC script.
- Remove placeholder content.

So far I have done the following:
- Installed Mysql v4.0+.
- Installed PHP 4.3.5 and GD 2.0.
- Installed Albinator and integrated it with Vulletin (loosely).
- Installed several minor Vbulletin hacks.

I'll keep you all informed as I continue to work on the modernisations. All comments, feedback, and ideas are, as usual, highly appreciated.

Order · 04-12-2004

Sounds like you are making the forums the center of the site, and I cannot wait to see it all finished, as I am sure it will be done in your style, which is very polished and well done.

ConceptualMind · 04-12-2004

m0g I'm liking the changes, however, I find it's a little difficult to navigate through everything.

I recommend writing a small guide perhaps?

**Man1c M0g** · 04-12-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subject2Failure

m0g I'm liking the changes, however, I find it's a little difficult to navigate through everything.

I recommend writing a small guide perhaps?

Give it time s2f... everything will be easy enough when its finished...

ConceptualMind · 04-13-2004

I know, I'm anxiously waiting for the final result. However, I talked to Alex and he agreed that it was a bit tough to navigate.

**Man1c M0g** · 04-13-2004

OK, i've added more navigable features to the columns-based system. As you can see, the idea is that non-updated forums will display a greyed out icon, whereas updated ones will be in full colour. This is where I need your help though - can anyone out there PLEASE design a full set of icons around the same size (with a light/transparent BG) and in .GIF format? The current ones are 'borrowed' from aliensoup as placeholders, and i'd appreciate replacing them before they notice...

As you may notice, at the moment only the first forums block has placeholders. Its my firm intention to replace the lot with this system eventually, but until the icons are finished i'll leave them on the old 1-column system you are all used to.

PS. For inspiration, and for an idea of the look I am trying to achieve, you can get some inspiration from http://forums.aliensoup.com. Soo..... who out there wants to volunteer?

Evdawg · 04-13-2004

DAMN these changes are COOL. I can't wait to start heavily using the new features.

i'll defenitly take a shot at making icons, i dunno how sucessful i'll be though.

Young Spartan · 04-13-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Man1c M0g

OK, i've added more navigable features to the columns-based system. As you can see, the idea is that non-updated forums will display a greyed out icon, whereas updated ones will be in full colour. This is where I need your help though - can anyone out there PLEASE design a full set of icons around the same size (with a light/transparent BG) and in .GIF format? The current ones are 'borrowed' from aliensoup as placeholders, and i'd appreciate replacing them before they notice...

As you may notice, at the moment only the first forums block has placeholders. Its my firm intention to replace the lot with this system eventually, but until the icons are finished i'll leave them on the old 1-column system you are all used to.

PS. For inspiration, and for an idea of the look I am trying to achieve, you can get some inspiration from http://forums.aliensoup.com. Soo..... who out there wants to volunteer?

I'll do the icons for you.

As for your installations of MySQL, PHP, GD, etc. Is Biorust on a dedicated server? If it is, wow, I had no idea.

**Man1c M0g** · 04-14-2004

Okidokes - today I started on the new design for the forums. Its still VERY basic at the moment, and bits are remaining from the old version, but over the next few days everything should start to slot into place. Thanks once again for your patience during this transitional period.

BTW yuneeek, Biorust is indeed run on its own dedicated server. We don't use anywhere NEAR our bandwidth limits, though, so there's plenty of room to expand before I have to shell out for more services. Oh, and feel free to drop by some icons. Bub has done a few for the first few sections, so if you could do a couple for the 'showcase' section i'd be appreciative. Besides, it'll look good to have a different sort of style in every section (I hope...).

Cweb · 04-14-2004

How about shooting for a mac look?

And 'cept for the aliens, I could design a skin like that, but I can't skin VB.

Order · 04-14-2004

The new look is so, so, so sexay!! I like it

Young Spartan · 04-15-2004

I'll try to get around to that m0g, busy day but I should run into time later, hopefully.

Lexiblue · 04-15-2004

I like the new look! Fresh. Inviting. Very well done. I also like the featured work at the top of the main forum page. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the changes.

LexiBlue

**Man1c M0g** · 04-17-2004

Heee, thankies Lexiblue. Its been a long road... but I think i'm finally getting closer to completion of this little project. Might even have it finished in the next week with a little luck.

**Man1c M0g** · 04-18-2004

Ok.... more changes, and i'm getting close to a finished template. Tell me what you think - shall I stick with this design now and start properly integrating it into the albinator system, or shall i make a few more changes?