So for the past month or so, I’ve been working on a new style for the forums. I figured the anniversary would be the perfect time to unveil it along with some other new tidbits of Forum funtime.
Before I get into that, this cblog is going to be changing it’s material a bit. Since I’m not much of a writer and didn’t write blogs all that frequently. I figured a good use of this space would be as a Dev blog for the forums. Something to keep everyone informed about anything that’s going on that maybe doesn’t come to the forums all the time or has never checked them out in the first place.
Along with that, I will also put things up here like particular threads that seem to be really taking off discussion wise, new users that have really made an impact and just other neat stuff that comes up in the forums that I think people would enjoy. The podcast hosts have been doing an incredible job talking up their forums on their respective shows, so I’m going to follow that lead and cover the rest of the forums. Don’t worry, it’s not going to be on a daily or even weekly basis, so don’t worry about me pushing the exceptional blogs down.
So first off, here are some teaser images of the new forums skin that I whipped up. It’s leaner, more user friendly and a lot more dtoider. None of the forums, threads or sections are changing, this is mostly cosmetic so everything should be in the same place, just more dtoidy lookin. Since I pretty much taught myself CSS to whip this up, all the bugs should come to me in this thread http://www.destructoid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10984.
It’s workin pretty well as is, but I’m sure I missed something. Of course, suggestions, comments and anything else should go in that thread too.
As a heads up, this forum skin will become the new default. However, since I know peoples tastes vary I will leave up the ability to choose your own skin and the Greentoid and UltraGreentoid skins will remain selectable.
In addition to that, I’m going to start up a kind of achievements/badge system for the forums. I figures this works very well in the forums already as there is a type of badge system already in place (your rank).
I’ve got the first two badges all ready to go and here is a preview of them here:
Anyone who is active in the forums on Monday the 16th from midnight to midnight will get this badge celebrating the 3rd anniversary of Destructoid. Kind of a “I was here for that” type of badge. I have a way to search for it, so sending me PM’s claiming you were active when you were not, isn’t going to help.
Starting on the 16th, anyone who has gotten a cblog promoted to the front page will receive this badge. This is from the 16th forward to give everyone a fair starting point. You get the badge once, so multiple blogs will not give you more. This won’t count for editors since well…I would just give them all the badge and they have enough as is. While I understand this isn’t fair to those that have been front paged in the past, think of it as an additional motivation to write another exceptional cblog. It also ensures that anyone who gets the badge is currently active on the site (at least recently in relation to the 16th).
So far those are the only two I have ready to go. Again, Ideas, suggestions and comments about future badges are always welcome and appreciated. I also want to calm any concern that these badges (or any I implement in the future) will somehow instill favoritism or special privileges to those that get them. They do not. Everything that applies to everyone else still applies to people with badges.
So that’s a heads up for all of you so you don’t freak out when you see the forums change on the 16th!
If you haven’t been to the forums before, come check us out. If you’ve not been back in a long time, come check out whats new. If you are a regular: Welcome home.
Thanks everyone.
Thanks for busting your ass on all these updates in the forums. It's very much appreciated.
Also, props for the George Carlin bit in your profile. I was just listening to that the other day. Fucking genius wordsmithery right there.
Aww, you're the best, Technophile!
"Anyone who is active in the forums on Monday the 16th from midnight to midnight"
*assuming this isn't GMT*
Too bad. I don't visit destructoid at 5 in the morning on week days.
Thanks so much for all the work you put in. We're lucky to have you!
This makes me feel guilty for not going into the forums.
@half left
I think he means anybody who is active at any time on Monday. New forum updates are always fun. This one looks to be pretty epic.
@DaedHead8:
Ah, you're right. Curse my lazy eyes!
If only I blogged more, lol. These are awesome Techno!
Sw33t!
@Half Left
yeah anytime in that 24 hours period will net you the badge. You just have to show as "active" so just get on the forums, read a few posts, fill out your profile, whatever works for you.
@Niero
I do it because I <3.
Post the badges on the forum so I can see what they look like against the background. :P
@Bwark
I did. Look at the announcement.
I'm pretty excited.
@Technophile
Sorry, I didn't even see that.
You're a motherfucking saint.
Very nice stuff, Techn0phile! Can't wait to see them implemented in the forums. I need to hang out in there more.
Thanks for all you do, Tech. You rawk :D
A. MAZ. ING. !!!!
Seriously, thanks so much for all of your hard work!
LOL you guys. I really appreciate the thanks. I'm glad you guys like my work.
Sounds and looks good to me!
Great stuff Tech! I would officially petition a "yang" opposite to the tits badge the women of Destructoid get. Like a cock badge or rooster badge for the males of Dtoid who participate regularly and prove themselves macho enough...lol.
Also while I'm at it a beard badge seems like a necessity.
Oh man, this is great work Technophile! I really need to get back to the forums!
Quick suggestion/request: Could you either get rid of the "Destructoid" rank (where it gradually spells out the word, as your rank increases) or move it another line down? It just looks really messy, when you have multiple badges followed immediately by the Dtoid letters.
Anyway, good stuff. :)
Why am I just now finding about about this cblog now? Oh yeah, I was playing choo-choos with my 2 year-old all weekend. :)
Techno... You are amazing. <3
So the forums look awesome. My only bitch is the red timestamps. They play hell with my eyes on that grey background. Color blindness is a mother.