The forum improvement thread.

[hool10]

Well I have been meaning to make this thread for some time and finally got around doing it. In light of recent members :-), ahem, we need to make drastic changes to the way we see this site IMO. The stickies look like a normal threads, the main page needs something separating each news headline, news archives, and better placement of ads (more money for the site). Now for you the user, we need sections. We need options when posting/making threads to add pics, links that show the URL, smiles, quotes, colored text, PM's, etc. We need a complete overhaul on this forum. It's a huge job but it's inevitable and imperative to do it. Since there will be sections we also need mods. We don't need people who are thinking they own the place because they are mods either. We need mods that use their power wisely and correctly. We also need mods in different parts of the world so there can be a mod on most of the time. Once we do this, I think we will get better and more mature members.

Right now we have too many steampowered users and this forum resembles it. It's too easy to register and start making threads without any limit. This leads windows of opportunity for spam bots. We need to stop the user who never uses the search function nor can think for himself. I'm not saying to turn this place into the flamehaus, I'm saying to turn it into a community similar to this: URL (http://www.halflife2.net/) I did not make this thread to become a mod myself, I'm just genuinely concerned on where this site is going. Btw the red text is starting to hurt my eyes, lol.

[iRelentless]

I think their intention is to keep the forum as simple as possible. I contacted frogopus about something similar to this a while ago and he seemed to like the site how it was. The simplicity has grown on me in some ways too, despite mainly using SMF on most of the forums I use or maintain, and still missing some of its basic features.

My guess is they were planning an expansion and some changes to the site once the game was released. So in light of the delay, they could decide to make some changes before release, If they have enough free time.

[squerl]

Yeah, every time I look at a new forum sorta thing it's just meh.. but we're open to suggestions on anything.

Btw, d_cover has been banned.

[Deadly]

interesting

[iRelentless]

Yeah, every time I look at a new forum sorta thing it's just meh.. but we're open to suggestions on anything.
If you want I could set up default installations of SMF and a few other common forum systems on my webspace for you to poke at. I keep meaning to do it for showing people live template examples anyway.

[A DUCK]

Btw, d_cover has been banned.

THANKYOU!

Also, sorry if this is alot to ask, but if you get a LOT of extra free time and dont mind, can you check to make sure theres not other accs hes made (by checking ip). Someone said hes also using Anti Zombie Task Force and some other name.

[hooray for zombies]

Well I have been meaning to make this thread for some time and finally got around doing it. In light of recent members :-), ahem, we need to make drastic changes to the way we see this site IMO. The stickies look like a normal threads, the main page needs something separating each news headline, news archives, and better placement of ads (more money for the site). Now for you the user, we need sections. We need options when posting/making threads to add pics, links that show the URL, smiles, quotes, colored text, PM's, etc. We need a complete overhaul on this forum. It's a huge job but it's inevitable and imperative to do it. Since there will be sections we also need mods. We don't need people who are thinking they own the place because they are mods either. We need mods that use their power wisely and correctly. We also need mods in different parts of the world so there can be a mod on most of the time. Once we do this, I think we will get better and more mature members.

Right now we have too many steampowered users and this forum resembles it. It's too easy to register and start making threads without any limit. This leads windows of opportunity for spam bots. We need to stop the user who never uses the search function nor can think for himself. I'm not saying to turn this place into the flamehaus, I'm saying to turn it into a community similar to this: URL I did not make this thread to become a mod myself, I'm just genuinely concerned on where this site is going. Btw the red text is starting to hurt my eyes, lol.


and can we please get those monkeys in the sidebars, we go live in four months people!

[Deadly]

Anti Zombie Task Force
he was there way before, and you should just ban ip from the beginning

[iRelentless]

Someone said hes also using Anti Zombie Task Force and some other name.
The other name was Cool Cat Carl, but their both too familiar with the English language to be cover.

ban ip from the beginning
IP bans are only temporary against most people and I'm not sure if miniBB can ban an IP range.

[The One]

Btw, d_cover has been banned
ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY SQUERL!!!!

Quoting: A DUCK
Anti Zombie Task Force
he was there way before
Yeah, he was here way before.

Anyway to stay on topic, what would be nice is this, try and follow me with this cause I dont know if I will do a good job explaining it... Ok:

When you type a title on the thread that you will make, this might help with not having the same thread, every time you type the beginning letter or word a list on the bottom of the bar will show up with threads that have that word or letter. So that when you see whats in the list you will go "Oh ok, there is a topic already made" then you wont make a worthless topic.

I'll stop myself there cause I dont know if I'm doing a good job explaining, but do you get what I mean?

[Deadly]

yes, good idea but i dont think that can be done

[The One]

yes, good idea but i dont think that can be done
Its like on the Internet explorer web page, when you type a site say, www.left4dead411.com (http://www.left4dead411.com) when you type left it will come up with the site already there.

[hool10]

Yeah they can use those toolbars to hide their ips. I'm not sure if Carl is a spam bot but he did play with d_cover with the mama flaming. Also there is a trend in capitalizing the first letter in a new word. I'm not sure but I should'nt jump to conclusions. If I'm wrong though I'm truly sorry. I just love these forums though and I really want changes done. I'm not a coding guru so I really can't help you. Though I'm sure members here can help very much so.

[The One]

Do you understand what I'm trying to say though? I think that might be a good idea. :D

[hool10]

Yeah like typing in google in the address bar and the site comes up. Handy if you don't know the site is a .net or whatever.

[iRelentless]

If you mean like an auto complete but showing all current topic titles, it wouldn't be very effective. The same topic could have any number of different titles, all starting with different letters.

A system which takes all the words in the title and compares them with other topic titles, then shows the top 10-20 results in an auto complete/similar topics box would be more effective but could potentially cripple the server if a lot of people were making new topics at the same time. Google could be used to generate the list instead of reading the on-site database, but it would still be a lot of work for something which is already manageable for the most part.

Overall its probably just more efficient to sticky ones which are likely to be repeated. Although that would also be ineffective with the recent posts list on the main page.

[The One]

Just trying to help....... Hmm, we should have like a chat box. Just one, and whenever a member logs on it says in the chat box:

iRelentless has just logged on:
The One: iRelentless you there?
iRelentless: Yeah whats up noob?
The One: The hell with you :P j/k
Quotidius: The ammount of knowledge in which you process temporarily blinds me and so forth I cannot continue with my extremely confusing yet intelligent intellectual conversation
The One: Umm, ok?



Know what I mean? That way we can all talk with each other and keep topics on topic instead of going off topic. :D

[Deadly]

i doubt they will do that though

[iRelentless]

The old chat box is still there. Perhaps an IRC channel would be more effective though?

[Deadly]

what old chat box?

[The One]

I still will like to have it......

[iRelentless]

The site had a chat box for a while, I wont link to it in case squerl doesn't want people using it any more, but I just made a test post and it still works.

(Watching Fururama + auto refreshing forum in the background = large amount of posting from me. lol.)

[The One]

The site had a chat box for a while, I wont link to it in case squerl doesn't want people using it any more, but I just made a test post and it still works.
Really? its still there? Why wouldnt squerl want us to use it?

[iRelentless]

That's a very valid point. If he didn't want people using it he would just remove it.
http://www.left4dead411.com/l4dshout

[hool10]

Because it reminds us of the good old days lol. It literally says "testing...testing......first post!" A chat box is'nt really needed but rather PM's or using Steam. The Steam Community completes it so we can all talk on VOIP while playing games. So a shout box is'nt really needed. *No don't post it! Already been spammed too.

[The One]

EVERY ONE START USING THE CHAT BOX!!!!!!!!

[The One]

8-)

[darksora2323]

8-)
lol that dont work in the forums

[The One]

lol that dont work in the forums
ahahah you knew exactly what I was trying to do hahha

[gorgoth]

Squerl, thank you so much. I dislike rude insensitive people, as they can ruin everything by simply existing. The forums could use improvement, although I have no problem with their current state.

[The One]

Hey Squerl you should change the homepage background. I like it but it would be nice to have something different. If its ok of course..... Maybe something like a darker background? Black or dark grey kind of thing? Just a thought....

[darksora2323]

ahahah you knew exactly what I was trying to do hahha

yea i figured because if u wanted to do a smile face you would have done this one
:)
but u didnt lol
and that post was just random

[The One]

yea i figured because if u wanted to do a smile face you would have done this one
:)
You know me too well my good friend, now you must die

[CrossSilver]

Eh Is it possible to change password?

[The One]

Eh Is it possible to change password?
Nope, unless you make another account then you'll have a different pass, but it will still be the same confusing thing. But no, you cant change your pass

[Deadly]

yes you can, click on profile

[iRelentless]

Eh Is it possible to change password?
Click profile at the top of the page. Then I think you enter the new password in the "Password" and "Repeat Password" fields and click Edit Profile.

It's an unconventional method, but that appears to be how miniBB does it.

[Deadly]

i beat you to it relentless!!!

[darksora2323]

You know me too well my good friend, now you must die
to late i planted a bomb in your head, when you where first born.
I have the detonator, to urk me or else i will have to use force.

[The One]

yes you can, click on profile
I havent gone to profile in such a long time, I didnt notice that hahahah :D

to late i planted a bomb in your head, when you where first born.
I have the detonator, to urk me or else i will have to use force.
Hmmm, do it. Think I'm scared? C'mon DO IT!!!!!

/Hopes Dark doesnt notice that I'm bluffing :P

[dontleave]

Shoutbox. Thats all...

[Etheallmighty]

lol after reading That's a very valid point. If he didn't want people using it he would just remove it.
http://www.left4dead411.com/l4dshout


I went to the link and said testing testing1 2.....then went back here and read. It literally says "testing...testing......first post!"


LMAO that's so weird :P

[Pixelnator]

What i would like to see on the forums is a "Poll" option for when making threads. It would be a nice way to get a clear image of the general opinion of the boards on a subject.

For example a "Which boss-infected do you like the most?" with options for "Boomer", "Hunter", "Smoker", "Tank" and "Don't make me decide D:"

It could come in handy.

[dontleave]

Add a thing at the bottom of the page saying who's online...

[Puscifer]

Add a thing at the bottom of the page saying who's online...


i second that...

Hey Squerl you should change the homepage background. I like it but it would be nice to have something different. If its ok of course..... Maybe something like a darker background? Black or dark grey kind of thing? Just a thought....

and that (Black)...

I also think u should have the menu tabs in the same font as the title text..

[dummiesday]

The only things I can think of are stickies and signatures. Those two things would mean a great improvement.

[hool10]

How about we just do a complete overhaul? *It's like saying "how long can we keep this P2 computer going?"

[The One]

Add a thing at the bottom of the page saying who's online...
I third that

[iRelentless]

Signatures actually annoy me after using this board because a thread becomes an instant image gallery. Even the text ones annoy me a little.

My biggest want, from using SMF a lot, is a "Warning: Someone else posted why you were typing!", for when you hit post and someone else posted while you were typing. I've got into the habit of doing ctrl-a, ctrl-x, ctrl-r, ctrl-v whenever I hit post now because of that not being there.

[The One]

Hmmm, maybe if this was somehow a sort of RealTime forum. IT WOULD BE THE FIRST ON THE NET!! "The First ever Real Time Forum :D"

[hooray for zombies]

someone mentioned this in another topic but; the option to select your timezone and have the forum change correspondingly
probably a good idea given our large number of members from the UK

[The One]

someone mentioned this in another topic but; the option to select your timezone and have the forum change correspondingly
probably a good idea given our large number of members from the UK
It would help also so that, for example, in the thread "Fun forum game" whenever you want to wish someone's wish you wont feel stupid and have to edit the comment cause someone else beat you to it. I have to Refresh my page before I post a comment to make sure if anyone posted one or not.

But Realtime would be a nice feature. Since most members are from the UK and US

[iRelentless]

The ability to select a timezone far outweighs real time for me. A real time forum would very quickly become a set of 1-5 word post chat rooms, I've seen it happen before.

[hool10]

All of these features are on a normal forum though. hl2world has a donate feature so you can become a premium member. Here, look at this: URL (http://www.halflife2.net/forums/) Should be just like that.

[iRelentless]

True, many of these features (well, all the worthwhile ones) are available in vBulletin.
But they shouldn't make it just like that. Squerl doesn't need to pay for a vBulletin license because some of the free boards available are just as good, or superior.

[hool10]

Well let's look at another then: URL (http://www.hl2world.com/bbs/) Look at any forum. There are many free forums and they don't have to be clones of other forums. That's what makes left4dead411 so unique. :-) We need to follow that design though and build upon it.

[squerl]

vBulletin is a good possibility, the reason we don't have PMs on this yet is because it costs $25 and I'm not sure we're going to be sticking with minibb for the long term.. especially when there's a lot of free forums that offer PMs free (like it should be). Does anybody know if there's a way to test out templates on vBulletin before you buy it? It'd be nice to make sure it can look like I'd want it to before we pay.

[iRelentless]

Eww, phpBB. :P
But yeah, I get what you mean hool.
Worthwhile standard features + easy to use ergonomic layout + the most important part, the L4D411 community.

EDIT: You should try out SMF squerl, its free, fully featured, moddable, etc. but still quite lightweight.

[The One]

Hey squerl you should give the Homepage of this site a fresh new look :D

Just a thought..

[The One]

bak on subject plz :) lol
That was like how many comments ago?

Stay on track plz :) hahaha :D

[hool10]

Hey squerl you should give the Homepage of this site a fresh new look :D
Well that's part of the whole picture lol. I just checked out the 'haus and they use this: URL (http://www.pligg.com/) Better placement of ads will probably earn the site more money too. *Stop spamming up the forums.

[QuotidianTemerity]

Generating advertising revenue is a good idea. The current ads are simply too unobtrusive. While I'm certainly not purveying (tee hee) that threads such as this should be plastered with ads, a few context-sensitive Google ads here and there wouldn't hurt.

[hool10]

Well yeah nobody wants pop-up's and whatnot. Look at the way halflife2.net does it and the 'haus. You barely even see them but they are there creating money for you. If we get more people here, the site gets more money. Then it opens up the possibility of owning forum software for free.

[squerl]

It's good to hear feedback on this stuff.. I really don't like when half of a website are ads (even though I understand why) and I've tried my best to make them not appear anywhere too BOOM in yo face. With the current design I'm not sure where I would place them so it'll have to be on the next redesign, which I've been toying around with lately.

Next design will probably be a lot darker, mostly black/red/grey to match the game. If you guys have any ideas please post them, I'll probably post rough drafts here before I change things.

[The One]

Next design will probably be a lot darker, mostly black/red/grey to match the game
Thats good, you could put the website adds on the sides of the homepage, and the very bottom.

[iRelentless]

If you put the left4dead411 text/logo on the left in the new design, you could easily fit a small 522x62 Google ad in the right side of the header.

[dontleave]

SHOUTBOX!

[Teknobry]

I'm really sick of phpbb forums, this forum design is quite refreshing to use. It doesn't even need very much adding to it really, just the option for smilies, PM's and polls.

[Pixelnator]

just the option for smilies, PM's and polls.

To borrow a certain "meme" from a certain other forum:

SECONDED!

[The One]

THIRDED!

[iRelentless]

I like the new logo, but the embossing seems ever so slightly too strong on the red letters. (probably just because I'm used to the older logo)

And the Google ad doesn't seem intrusive, actually looks like its supposed to be there to seperate the top menu and the breadcrumbs when its an image ad.

[squerl]

I agree with the embossing, Imma fix that now.

Better? And what color are the links on the ads? To me they're a weird light red/pinkish almost and they should match the rest of the links..

[hool10]

Yeah the ad at the top is ok. Could probably put one at the very bottom too. Go with new forum software jeez.

[squerl]

Hey, we'll get to new software sooner or later! jeez! :P

[hool10]

Lol ok. :-p

[iRelentless]

Better? And what color are the links on the ads? To me they're a weird light red/pinkish almost and they should match the rest of the links..
That's the color I get too.

They look a little light in comparison to the rest of the links to match with them, but that's probably needed because of the darker background. I tried a few colors closer to the normal links tone via. PS and although a couple matched the rest better (e.g. #cc6666 ), none were as readable as the current color and most were shades which combined with the dark background would irritate some peoples eyes.

So they look fine as they are to me.

EDIT: And the emboss looks a lot better now. Something about it still doesn't look right but overall, it looks fine.

[Tobold]

I like the forum as it is really, without smilies etc.
I do agree the stickies icon needs changing, but thats only a matter of redesigning some icons, not a complete overhaul

[hool10]

Well now that TRS is hard at work on the game, and the forum is sleeping, the time is now to build the new forum. Plus the chat room is dead.

[DarkevilPT]

Yeah, the Forum site is crappier.. Frog and Squerl should instal phpbb or vbulletin.. HAS A MAN FORUM not this little shitty... minibb. lol This makes my eyes hurt.. Plz Make some update or change.. More Pixels for avantars.. signatures..

[Halfeatendonkey]

Yeah, the Forum site is crappier.. Frog and Squerl should instal phpbb or vbulletin.. HAS A MAN FORUM not this little shitty... minibb. lol This makes my eyes hurt.. Plz Make some update or change.. More Pixels for avantars.. signatures..

Ive never seen your name here so i would say your new here, and the first thing you do when coming to this site is bringing back a Topic made almost a year back, complaining and telling this forum is shit ?
You just earned the Golden Jackass Medal

Correct me if im wrong.

[hool10]

No, he is a regular forum member but just lurks a lot.

[zombiegenocide]

Correct me if im wrong.
No, I'm pretty sure that you're right, mostly because I did something like that earlier. XD

[TheDark12]

We don't need people who are thinking they own the place because they are mods either. We need mods that use their power wisely and correctly.
Awesome idea, idiot power obsessed mods put me off most forums. I'm not a troll or anything, but I hate being disliked by mods because I don't give them special treatement. Furthermore, I can't stand the people that compliment their hair and pamper the mods' balls just to get in the good books. It makes me sick. That's why I like this forum, so far I have not met an unfair mod, nor one that isn't seen nor sees himself as a relative equal on this forum.

IP bans are only temporary against most people and I'm not sure if miniBB can ban an IP range.
Banning IP range is difficult because so many people have dynamic IP's. You could end up banning a whole bunch of people from a certain ISP and that's no solution at all.

When you type a title on the thread that you will make, this might help with not having the same thread, every time you type the beginning letter or word a list on the bottom of the bar will show up with threads that have that word or letter. So that when you see whats in the list you will go "Oh ok, there is a topic already made" then you wont make a worthless topic.
That's an awesome idea, I've never seen that before.

A system which takes all the words in the title and compares them with other topic titles, then shows the top 10-20 results in an auto complete/similar topics box would be more effective but could potentially cripple the server if a lot of people were making new topics at the same time.
Actually, my mobile phone does that with the contact search. It searches for the first few letters from each word and makes a list of the most likely contacts by first name, surname, etc. Something like that would be valuable.

An example might be if you were to make a topic called:
I hate lefty's

the top few that might be already related would be:
I hate left4dead
I hate girls!!
I hate vegemite.
left4dead hates me :(
leave me alone, i hate you...
hatemail
haters...

Just examples, I'm obviously not gonna go through this site for a realistic example, but see how it just compares the top few letters from the longest word?

Add more later perhaps.

[Shrubberyjsc]

Hey, we'll get to new software sooner or later! jeez! :P

Haha.

No pressure.

^.^