View Full Version : TW Centre has had a re-vamp - The Org needs one too
TW Centre has revamped (to my dismay). The Org needs to follow with another re-vamp and soon. TW Centre is the larger community and why - because it has a flashy web-site, a flashy forum (now anyway) and is in date. It is awful. My least favorite site on the net is starting to compete with my favorite.
The Org needs to join in and soon before it loses it's community to that unfriendly place. The Org desperately need:
A new M2TW forum skin instead of us being forced to use "The Guild" to show our appreciation of M2TW.
A new official web-site revamp (seen as nobody seems interested in my unofficial one)
The promotion of mods to bring more hosted mods in.
The re-vamp of the whole forum with more organization, more news and a new newsletter.
The restyling of the post icons: The ones we have now look out-dated.The Org needs to compete with the other TW sites on the net. And soon should it want to survive into 2007.
Kagemusha
12-05-2006, 12:03
The Org is not simply about flashy outlook. I think many of us are here becouse of the unique and friendly atmosphere,which you cant create by changing the look of things.:smash:
Sasaki Kojiro
12-05-2006, 12:11
You mean you like this:
https://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4494/twcenterlolix2.jpg
~:confused:
The Org is not simply about flashy outlook. I think many of us are here becouse of the unique and friendly atmosphere,which you cant create by changing the look of things.:smash:
Yes, but (most) people join for the flashy feel and style. I don't think many actually look at how friendly the forum is before they sign up.
Actually I was just looking at the forums when I mentioned the re-vamp. I looked at the main page a few weeks ago and it was all flashy then. The Org needs to follow suit, reorganize and make itself better than that TWC could ever be..
Hmmm, I understand what your saying.
Is there a way to make a modern, and yet friendly look?
4
New icons, definitely.
Not to flame or bash, but our forum set-up is much more homely than theirs.
EDIT: And we actually outstrip them in number (and quality) of posts and number (and quality) of threads
5
TW Centre has revamped (to my dismay).
Why to your "dismay". If they want to revamp it, let them get on with it. They're not exactly a "competitor" as such anyway.
The Org needs to follow with another re-vamp and soon. TW Centre is the larger community and why - because it has a flashy web-site, a flashy forum (now anyway) and is in date. It is awful. My least favorite site on the net is starting to compete with my favorite.
I disagree. The .org does not need to chase around after another website trying to compete with it. This is not a game of "keeping up with the jones'" and this is not a forum for the under 10s.
The Org needs to join in and soon before it loses it's community to that unfriendly place.
It's a forum it's going to be unfriendly. The .com is unfriendly as well, but who cares. I don't post at either so they don't interest me. We're not going to lose our community to them, we'll simply offload all of the appalling little spammers and trolls that we don't want here anyway. If they go there for the "eye candy" and to mix with their peers, all the better for us over here. The .org is different to other forums because it's much more hospitable place. :beam:
The Org desperately need:
A new M2TW forum skin instead of us being forced to use "The Guild" to show our appreciation of M2TW.
A new official web-site revamp (seen as nobody seems interested in my unofficial one)
The promotion of mods to bring more hosted mods in.
The re-vamp of the whole forum with more organization, more news and a new newsletter.
The restyling of the post icons: The ones we have now look out-dated.
There's one I do agree with. Let's sort out the modding forums and give the modders as much help as we can give them. Also it should be better organised and easier to find what you're looking for in there.
The Org needs to compete with the other TW sites on the net. And soon should it want to survive into 2007.
The .org will survive into 2007 and beyond that. If you're worried about the quiet spell don't be. Take a trip over to .com that's hardly buzzing either. A lot of members are busy playing M2TW, so that's why they're not on here posting about lances being held 2 degrees off, or <Unit Name> being a fantasy unit. Give it a few weeks and they'll be back. ~;)
Yes, a website revamp would be a good thing, but not for the reasons you've stated. It has to be revamped for a purpose not simply to outdo someone else's site.
What's the fuzz about?
I prefer the Org. I like the friendly and funny atmosphere and I love the RTW and MTW skin of the forums. If they would change it in a flashy, fancy site, I wouldn't even notice because I'd stick to the good ol' RTW or MTW skin.
Other people might prefer the TW Center, wether for the different atmosphere or the flashy website.
Others are member of both fansites, and enjoy them both equally.
Since when is there a competition between TW fan sites?
Do we need a competition between Tw fansites :inquisitive: ? Does it matter if for instance the TWCenter has 150 people viewing and the Org only 100 :inquisitive: ? Who cares?
We can co-exist peacefully, can't we?
As long as we are all happy.
Big King Sanctaphrax
12-05-2006, 12:25
Hey, how about while we're at it we illegally host some TV programs too? ~;)
Is there a way to make a modern, and yet friendly look?
Yes. You make sort of "mini-dialog boxes" on the page's background. You gradient the box's bar in two similar warm(ish) colours and separate a header using a similar bar. You also have a navigation bar down the side that make's the site very easy to navigate. All together the site looks smooth and clean with out looking too un-friendly and industrial.
And it is all about competition. TW Centre is stealing Org members due to it's good looks. The Org needs to become the unofficial home of TW by having a serious re-vamp.
Hey, how about while we're at it we illegally host some TV programs too? ~;)
Fine with me, as long as you don't host Big Brother.
Gah! Big Brother.
They should burn the inventors of that program
+0 :bounce:
Sasaki Kojiro
12-05-2006, 12:30
I don't get it. I looked at the forums and they are ugly too. Maybe I'm just spoiled be the Sword Dojo skin.
Seriously, who thought brown text on a tan background was a good idea. If the guild skin is that bad just use one of the others.
Also, I think your theory is off. The .com forums were always the biggest and it's ezBoard for christ's sake.
Yes. You make sort of "mini-dialog boxes" on the page's background. You gradient the dialouge bar in two similar warm(ish) colours and separate a header using a similar bar. You also have a navigation bar down the side that make's the site very easy to navigate. All together the site looks smooth and clean with out looking too un-friendly and industrial.
I see what you mean.
But I agree with AndresTheCunning and Manco Capac. A Re-vamp would be nice, although not necessary.
Note: We sound like WWI Generals discussing "over the top" tactics. :juggle2:
If the guild skin is that bad just use one of the others.
The Guild skin is not bad: It just needs updating to come with the age of M2.
The Guild skin is not bad: It just needs updating to come with the age of M2.
You mean there should be two? :balloon3: I guess it would be nice.
I don't get it. I looked at the forums and they are ugly too. Maybe I'm just spoiled be the Sword Dojo skin.
Seriously, who thought brown text on a tan background was a good idea. If the guild skin is that bad just use one of the others.
I think it's ugly as well, and it's slow. It's the same software we have here (Vbulletin). Fair enough, the portal integrates the site and forums, but apart from that there is nothing that spectacular about it. The Sword Dojo skin is based on the standard Vbulletin skin which is easy on the eyes and user friendly.
What some people fail to realise is that those types of highly graphical websites are much heavier on the bandwidth, which is all important.
Also, I think your theory is off. The .com forums were always the biggest and it's ezBoard for christ's sake.
True enough, but I do think alot of their membership is down to support requests.
You mean there should be two? :balloon3:
:yes:
What some people fail to realise is that those types of highly graphical websites are much heavier on the bandwidth, which is all important.
Very True.
Very True.
Yes, but highly graphical websites encourage new members to join. Highly boring websites (like the one the Org has now) encourage people to not join and instead to leave.
And Sasaki Kojiro: could you please put the thumbnail of that image up there. It is making this thread hard to read because I have to scroll right to see it all.
I didn't even realise, I went to the forum to register and it said I was already a member. :dizzy2: When did I join it?
Oh well, I guess I'll just use it to advertise my new MTW/VI mod.
Big King Sanctaphrax
12-05-2006, 12:57
I just took a look at it, and it's essentially exactly the same as the Guild skin, with a much worse background colour, and a rainy castle banner at the top. I am not impressed.
Plus, our forum mainpage is a lot less bland-the big tick icons and such. And that background colour on TWC really is bad. Bleagh. The Guild skin has been here for at least four years, and at least two iterations of the software. It's fine.
I just took a look at it, and it's essentially exactly the same as the Guild skin, with a much worse background colour, and a rainy castle banner at the top. I am not impressed.
The forums are not the main issue here. In my opinion it is the website. Without the colour TWC's style would be almost perfect for the Org. With my unofficial design I am, however, going to do it completely different.
I just took a look at it, and it's essentially exactly the same as the Guild skin, with a much worse background colour, and a rainy castle banner at the top. I am not impressed.
Plus, our forum mainpage is a lot less bland-the big tick icons and such. And that background colour on TWC really is bad. Bleagh.
Yeah, I get what you mean. TWCentre has a very bland homepage :book:
Big King Sanctaphrax
12-05-2006, 13:07
The forums are not the main issue here.
But that's what you started teh thread about!!!!11one
Gah.
Edit-wait a minute, they've revamped the frontpage as well. Never mind. It's essentially just blank, with that banner at the top. I still don't see what the problem is.
Sasaki Kojiro
12-05-2006, 13:35
The forums are not the main issue here. In my opinion it is the website.
Actually I was just looking at the forums when I mentioned the re-vamp.
Make up your mind :p
Make up your mind :p
Ok. Order of how much it needs a re-vamp (worst first):
The Org's website
The forums (modifications)
The forums (layout)
The forums (M2TW skin)
The forums (post icons)
Big King Sanctaphrax
12-05-2006, 13:57
The forums (mods)
Are you saying that the staff need a re-vamp?
Are you saying that the staff need a re-vamp?
A new haircut should do ~;)
Are you saying that the staff need a re-vamp?
Yes, but no.
I meant modifications :laugh4:
Adrian II
12-05-2006, 14:11
A new official web-site revamp (seen as nobody seems interested in my unofficial one)I wonder if there is a hidden message in there.
:idea2:
Could it be that you represent a small minority (which is not a reproach, just a conclusion) and most Orgahs are satisfied with the present lay-out, staff and icons?
Myrddraal
12-05-2006, 14:19
I also think we could work to improve this site without constantly having to compare with other sites. This competitive nature is a bit unpleasant, and it's not something I'd noticed so much at the .org.
We're all one community, lets be happy ~:grouphug:
Yes, but highly graphical websites encourage new members to join. Highly boring websites (like the one the Org has now) encourage people to not join and instead to leave.
But... the .com forum has far more members than any others, with the following amazing features:
Forum skins: Black, Black, Black or the new Black theme
Signatures: None
Avatars: None
BBcode: None
Smilies: None
Yes that's right, it's as fully featured as notepad. Do you think they would increase membership and posting if they had a sexier UI? Personally when I go to forum I want usability. I don't care much what it looks like as long as it works ok and is fast. What I do hate is sitting around waiting for billions of images to download every time I access the board.
I can agree with you that the actual website needs a facelift, but nothing more. I don't think it needs the fancy nukeportal and tarted up eye candy forum skin treatment however.
LeftEyeNine
12-05-2006, 16:43
Ha ok, so here we have it again.
It was around 3-4 years ago that I had come across with The Org. Actually I was looking for a way to find an answer to one of my problems in MTW. I looked around, somehow got to the forums, registered and asked about what I was looking for (It may have been another username before LEN became my virtual identity)
I quickly forgot about The Org, because it did not have a flashy interface. Whenever I joined there I couldn't see eyecandy swinging axes flashing into my eyes or charging hordes of cavalries animations with full authentic sounds all over the place where the buttons were designed in a trebuchet throw animation. The Org had really lost me indeed. Pity. What a piece of crap it was.
But it was when I turned back here and registered to hear other's opinions about how nice a MTW in 3d would be. (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=47948) (Wow, Spartakus was the first one to reply to that, good memories ~:)) I had seen that people were sharing their ideas in a good and understandable manner using mankind languages. Right that moment, one of my fingers started itching for flashy tinky winky deedle doodle websites and for how dumbass was I to miss .Org 's happy full house community due to some meaningless eyecandy.
[holster the assistant moderator dagger and throw away the toilet mop]
The Org has been and is being run by professional webmasters and they precisely know what to do when the attention is slipping away or when the website needs make-ups.
Suggestions and criticisms are vital to anything public, and The Org is obviously one of them. But pushing and forcing things to change repeatedly while there is merely a response is annoying. As a fully satisfied and happy member of The Org since my step in, I am getting annoyed at "Wheeeh Wheeeeh ! Let's pull that this way!" screams. My ears are bleeding indeed.
What you show as an example can't compare to The Org in any terms longing from the friendship to, say, the political BS propaganda I clench my teeth at.
I want my house wooden and neat. 'Cause I don't want a shiny, neon-lightened casino. You know bugs like light. It won't take long before they 'll fly in.
[/holster the assistant moderator dagger and throw away the toilet mop]
Regards.
Mikeus Caesar
12-05-2006, 16:48
So, you're saying people are attracted to that awful place by the flashy lights and bells?
Well surely giving us flashy lights and bells will bring the horrid people here?
I personally like the .org as it is. Simplistic yet functional.
The Wizard
12-05-2006, 17:03
Not needed. Org wins, hands down. TWC is full of newbs and crackheads, if I may be so frank. Only place worth your while is the Symposium, and that's only accessible through the strange patronage system of the site.
Besides -- TWC's current design sucks. Hardcore. The old RTW skin they made, now that was some graphical ingenuity, especially those graphical icons. Ever since they opted for that MTW2 look they've entered the realms of fail.
Note: realms of fail on the graphical side. Few TWC members, indeed, exceed the realms of fail on the community side. And community remains the heart of a forum. Ze Org winz all when it concerns community :yes:
So, you're saying people are attracted to that awful place by the flashy lights and bells?
Well surely giving us flashy lights and bells will bring the horrid people here?
I personally like the .org as it is. Simplistic yet functional.
Yea, blinging the place up will cause an infestation of horrid little blighters that resemble your boss's horrible little spoilt rich kid son, that is getting no less than 15 games and a new PC with the bestest graphics card this christmas... or... or... he's going to scream... yes thats it and... and... he's going to hate mumsy wumsy and popsy forever if they don't buy it for him. And if you ban him for wanting to try out swearsy words he'll be back again with hundreds of IPsessss... daddy will get your site closed down forever... ~:mecry:
The Stranger
12-05-2006, 17:11
So, you're saying people are attracted to that awful place by the flashy lights and bells?
Well surely giving us flashy lights and bells will bring the horrid people here?
I personally like the .org as it is. Simplistic yet functional.
I have to agree:smash:
The Wizard
12-05-2006, 17:43
TWC has some good folks. But that's only a section of the "promoted" members there (those with access to the Symposium and such and such), and considering the fact that those promoted members, both the worthwhile ones and the weird ones, form a very tiny minority of the total userbase, and comparing that to the Org's majority of thoughtful, wise, grown-up and intelligent posters...
You get the message. :smash:
P.S. Oh, and try the Sengoku Jidai skin. When its aesthetic pleasure you need, Duke John provides ~:pimp:
It´s not the looks that make a forum attractive, it´s the quality of posts. If it were up to me, I´d banish anything but one-line signatures and simple static avatars. I don´t need my bandwith eaten up with junk. Drastic? Certainly, but I´m a most spartan person and I couldn´t care less about decoration. When I join a forum I want either to get information or have an interesting discussion, perhaps the occasional screenshot, but I certainly don´t want half a page cluttered by signatures, which to load takes minutes of my precious time - and since I´m a working person, what little spare time I have is precious. Every minute of it.
The only thing that would warrant a revamp would be a restructuring of the forum, but I don´t consider that necessary, the forum is very well laid out, I can find whatever information I want quickly, just by giving the subforum headlines a quick glance.
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