Improving the forums! [RMRK is NOT dying]

[haloOfTheSun]

RMRK has been a bit slow in activity for several years now, with little bursts here and there, but I think the biggest reason it became so dead is because registration was closed for so long. It's painfully obvious if you just look at the stats. We went from getting 1000+ members one month to ~400 to 92 and then none. Nobody joined in April last year and it was several months before new members even broke double digits. So while older members may have been moving on like they just do sometimes, we weren't getting much at all in the way of new people.

This just made the forums look dead and unappealing to anyone who would have thought about joining later, so even after registrations were open again, our numbers are severely lower than they used to be.

So while I don't think the lack of focus on RPG Maker over the last several years has been why RMRK declined in activity, it's probably the best way to increase it. And that's something I fully support. I mean, the name RMRK is totally unfitting as it is, so we might as well fix that. Though to be honest, I don't think we'll be able to boost activity all that much at this point. And personally I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Maybe that's because I'm much busier than I used to be and I don't have time to stop by here as often.

Anyway, that's my point of view on the whole thing.

[firerain]

rmrk is the hill

[PhoenixFire]

There were some important parts from my post that didn't get carried over here, so I'll go ahead and place them in again:

...I really like it here, and the way the community is, it really stands a chance to become one of the top three communities again, next to CP and HBGames. I know one thing we'll have to deal with is the drop in rankings that came with shutting down registrations on the site for like a year, but one asset you guys have, is that I happen to be a web developer, and my current specialty happens to be SEO work. I'm willing to help you guys out...

[yuyu!]

Fixed the off-topic stuff

I know I'm turning into a split-o-holic, but I'd prefer to keep things civil here. I like RMRK freedom as much as most of us, but I don't really want to see this thread go downhill. It's supposed to be motivational. :anski2:

[firerain]

you can't oppress me you tyrant

[yuyu!]

[Arrow]

The registration block didn't even occur to me as a factor, but it really should have. Yes, that surely had a dramatic impact.

[PhoenixFire]

mmm, yes, actually, I'm really curious. I'm going to run the site through a few of the tests I use at work and get back to you on it..

[yuyu!]

It was certainly a major contributing factor.

[PhoenixFire]

Well, I found this to be just hilarious..

[yuyu!]

I feel popular ;_;

[Arrow]

Damn, that's impressive yuyu.

[bluntsword]

So is yuyu a location? A service? A relevant aspect of rmrk's operation?

And why?

[Arrow]

I feel like implying either of the first two might offend her delicate sensibilities~

But being an administrator, the third one seems accurate.

[bluntsword]

Hear hear.

[yuyu!]

So is yuyu a location? A service? A relevant aspect of rmrk's operation?

I can't find a joke for that without sounding awful

[D&P3]

If you could change it so that the default theme is the dark theme, that might help. My own reason is that the light theme is way too bright and unexciting for me. But additionally, I imagine people who used to browse through here back when RMRK4-Dark was the default theme at some point or another come back here and see the new light theme... and it, just, doesn't have the same RMRK feeling.
Maybe I'm being silly, but I feel like the dark RMRK7 Theme is just more inviting than the light theme

[pacdiggity]

If you could change it so that the default theme is the dark theme, that might help. My own reason is that the light theme is way too bright and unexciting for me. But additionally, I imagine people who used to browse through here back when RMRK4-Dark was the default theme at some point or another come back here and see the new light theme... and it, just, doesn't have the same RMRK feeling.
Maybe I'm being silly, but I feel like the dark RMRK7 Theme is just more inviting than the light theme

It's a lot calmer and easier on the eyes, 'specially if you're a cave-dwelling Mudokon who doesn't see anything bright except their pizza website of choice. I completely agree with you - whenever I load RMRK on a computer I'm not logged in on I have a moment of queasiness before I switch the theme.

[Knownot]

If you could change it so that the default theme is the dark theme, that might help. My own reason is that the light theme is way too bright and unexciting for me. But additionally, I imagine people who used to browse through here back when RMRK4-Dark was the default theme at some point or another come back here and see the new light theme... and it, just, doesn't have the same RMRK feeling.
Maybe I'm being silly, but I feel like the dark RMRK7 Theme is just more inviting than the light theme

^ This. As a returning member I have found it awfully odd looking at the light theme. It makes RMRK feel like just another Forum, which it is not. This is a community, a loong lasting community which the theme needs to express.

[SoulPour777]

And maybe add the natural features of the new forum styles maybe? I find it difficult to run out lists, bullets and numbering without putting the bbc / html codes. Perhaps there's a way to upgrade the forum where you can do them in an easier way?

[Knownot]

This thread:

[yuyu!]

Also, forum gallery showcase? ;_;

[PhoenixFire]

Also, forum gallery showcase? ;_;

^This


I would say that these are actually easy plugins already made, but, I peaked at the source code of the forums, and, well, it seems pretty customized, so I dunno how easy they would be to implement them..