Forum Status

[DCurrent]

Hey all,

Sorry we're still stuck with this godawful theme - I just haven't had time to mess with that stuff lately. I will get to it soon as I can. That said, I just renewed this year's hosting contract over the weekend. Currently we have the upgraded hosting package, but not a dedicated server. Since Uploads/Downloads are still a pain and we want room to grow, I am considering putting up a Donate box like SX used to have and then looking into a dedicated server option.

I've also been shopping around for a different forum software. SMF is supposedly well supported, but any time I check their community I find things to be a disorganized mess and packages sometimes several years since an update. Unfortunately nothing really stands out as a better option feature wise. So if anyone has some ideas I'm all ears. I'd even be OK with paying for something if the features could justify it.

Either way, looking forward to another trip around the sun with you guys!

DC

 

[ABK]

I have my games on gamejolt , i could leave links to them in download section.
Having server space for mods and forums is just waste of money, theres plenty of options to host our rmods but you was always against them from what i remember.If we all would have to take care of updating links to our mods then forums would be more alive, i would scrap hosting mods and let people leave links in download section with ability to edit and update them.

 

[DCurrent]

...theres plenty of options to host our rmods but you was always against them from what i remember...

I'm against third party hosts for several reasons:

• Unprofessional: You're more likely to attract good people and good talent when you don't look like a bunch of fly by night script kiddies.
• Viruses/malware: Third party file hosts are notorious for infectious adware and malware on their sites, or just outright inserting it into the files themselves.
• Convenience: People have a hard enough time finding stuff. Spreading it all over the net just exacerbates the problem. Why not keep it in here in a place we control and can be searched like a database?
• Link Rot: Third party hosted files inevitably expire or get lost. By keeping at least one copy here, we ensure there's a historic library.

...If we all would have to take care of updating links to our mods then forums would be more alive, i would scrap hosting mods and let people leave links in download section with ability to edit and update them.

I half agree with this. Removing Downlaods is not going to increase activity. Nor will just leaving links in a place incoming users expect to actually download something. But... I DO agree the ability to update one's own Downloads would be a big help. Unfortunately Tiny Portal (our file management plugin) just doesn't allow it. There's nothing we can do to change that fact. That's why I'm in the market for a forum that has a better file management system.

DC