We made news topics about its inactivity to help increase it, but after a few months, all we kept getting were crap tutorials, or tutorials with the same techniques we already had in PT, so very few new tutorials were put into focus and it got to the point that leaving it there as inactive as it was just wasn't smart.
any random ideas could be helpful if you have anymore. The Deviantart link on the count posts part i think didnt get noticed much(but thats just my opinnion of it), but you can leave it in your control panel - profile information. Idk if we'll bring that back or not otherwise.
I'm curious what's not smart about leaving a single section of the site's best tutorials around? Every single one of those tutorials had at least 10,000 views and were bringing in tons of visitors. If marketed right, they could have easily been submitted to Pixel2Life or Good-Tutorials (not all, but enough to bring more interest to GR). Winning sig of the weeks use to be bragging rights, reputation use to meant something - getting your tutorial submitted (and approved by the GR staff) was just another accomplishment you could earn around the website. You cannot tell someone to make five good tutorials a month, a truly good tutorial is generally a one-hit wonder. I'm all for: New graphical appearance on splash and banner. No need for a new skin. How often do you see large websites change their look? Automatic auction house similar to the sitepoint setup Download system: encourage more uploads, or the transfer from forum-posted to downloadable in the d-system. More options in the store Fixed reputation system <strike>Bring back more competitions. They don't take a lot of manpower to run, and competition spurs good ideas</strike> If all the current competitions that have forums are active, that's plenty in my book. Just some more overall site competitions would be fun. 64-man entry tournaments, etc. Reduction of the amount of staff positions Activity from owner dA link on topicview, and more gaming-oriented profile submissions. As suggested: xfire, wii, 360, etc. Removal of spam heaven, or at least "The Last Word." I do not find it very p/rofessional that Adminstrators go around and flame others. Not just adminstrators though, any sort of members. Doesn't create a "positive" environment, which is what once maintained. Remove cut off on forums. Part of large forums is the ability to remember past memories, or topics. For example, in the past I posted well over three topics with at least 15-25 well-thought suggestions. Some of them are incorporation now, but not all ( for obvious reasons - not ideas are winners). To many paid subscriptions. Either combine them all into one and create different incentives for the amount you donated, or just drop up to the last one (still provide them access to those perspective forums. This site just doesn't have the activity it once did, and I think something needs to be done with those who offer money. Small amount of advertising, GR emails, or spend some money providing unique resources in only those sections. (One skin a month, one template a month, one LP a month, etc) and last but not least, something to consider: I have heard from several of the Adminstrators regarding what they would like to incorporate and see in GRv4. Just keep this in mind: updates and new features are nice, but if you are going to drastically change the websitei; make sure you have the "numbers" for it. Removing crews and trying to bring in art groups is nice, but how many people are actually able to create something presentable that isn't a signature? GameRenders has always been a signature-based community, and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone starts somewhere, and signatures provide you the ability to learn the basics of photoshop. If you are going to drastically change the type of website this is, you could end up doing more harm then good. Reducing the size of the community is good. But reputations for sites stick with them for the end of time. Regardless of what you do, GameRenders will always have the reputation as a signature-based forum. This isn't dA, so let's share the knowledge in the form of resources and provide some ability for people to make a small profit on their work.
I'm all for: New graphical appearance on splash and banner. No need for a new skin. How often do you see large websites change their look? - Hmm a light skin would be nice, but just leave this one as default just let the members choose if they want a light or dark skin Automatic auction house similar to the sitepoint setup that would be awsome Download system: encourage more uploads, or the transfer from forum-posted to downloadable in the d-system. We already have that right? More options in the store true Fixed reputation system Whats wrong with this one, exept mods cant delete <strike>Bring back more competitions. They don't take a lot of manpower to run, and competition spurs good ideas</strike> If all the current competitions that have forums are active, that's plenty in my book. Just some more overall site competitions would be fun. 64-man entry tournaments, etc. agree Reduction of the amount of staff positions hmm not nessecary imo Activity from owner would like to see that more too dA link on topicview, and more gaming-oriented profile submissions. As suggested: xfire, wii, 360, etc. yea i would like to see that Removal of spam heaven, or at least "The Last Word." I do not find it very p/rofessional that Adminstrators go around and flame others. Not just adminstrators though, any sort of members. Doesn't create a "positive" environment, which is what once maintained. not a good idea imo, as ppl are going to flame where they arent allowed to do it Remove cut off on forums. Part of large forums is the ability to remember past memories, or topics. For example, in the past I posted well over three topics with at least 15-25 well-thought suggestions. Some of them are incorporation now, but not all ( for obvious reasons - not ideas are winners). agree To many paid subscriptions. Either combine them all into one and create different incentives for the amount you donated, or just drop up to the last one (still provide them access to those perspective forums. This site just doesn't have the activity it once did, and I think something needs to be done with those who offer money. Small amount of advertising, GR emails, or spend some money providing unique resources in only those sections. (One skin a month, one template a month, one LP a month, etc) agree and last but not least, something to consider: I have heard from several of the Adminstrators regarding what they would like to incorporate and see in GRv4. Just keep this in mind: updates and new features are nice, but if you are going to drastically change the websitei; make sure you have the "numbers" for it. Removing crews and trying to bring in art groups is nice, but how many people are actually able to create something presentable that isn't a signature? GameRenders has always been a signature-based community, and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone starts somewhere, and signatures provide you the ability to learn the basics of photoshop. If you are going to drastically change the type of website this is, you could end up doing more harm then good. Reducing the size of the community is good. But reputations for sites stick with them for the end of time. Regardless of what you do, GameRenders will always have the reputation as a signature-based forum. This isn't dA, so let's share the knowledge in the form of resources and provide some ability for people to make a small profit on their work. your right as i said in an other topic, in my opinion there are too many crews, it isnt special anymore to get into a crew, back in 05/06 you had 2-3 crews? and much people tried to get in and by trying they got better, i say let 3 staff members make a crew for example 1 sig,1lp and 1 webdesign crew.. with high standards, so you wont get in if you just started but you have to be an advanced designer too get in.. just my thought on it
2. Automated auction house Hmm, don't know. It will make the site look too automated. I am however for the fact of asking a fee to aution (like on sitepoint). Not money of course, but an amount of points. This would also help kep control over the amount of creds imo. 8. Activity from owner You can't expect this actually. Usually owners have a lot on their minds and things to do to keep up the site. It's mainly the staff's job to keep active. I pretty much agree with the rest though...
If you're wanting to make this a ----- design site then the above is possibly a good idea; selling for money actually creates incentive for established designers to come here. I realise most would just use it to tap into a large user base but some would stick around and lets face it, this isn't a site where community rules all. It's a very slim percentage of the total user base that even posts monthly let alone regularly.
Selling for real money might boost things, but it will also attrack a lot of people selling (let's face it) crap for money and making abuse of it. And above all, there's not really anything we can do when things go wrong in an auction when real money is involved. Everything needs to be done at the risk of the person wanting to buy. If it's about gamerenders credits, those issues can be looked at and dealt with easily, which is not the case when dealing with real money.
if gr wants to go to the art side, real money must be a part of it, if the selling goes on, as the advanced artist wont sell it for credits i guess
Actually, from all the suggestions, I like this one the best. It would take quite a bit of work, but it's something many members will fine useful so it's good to invest time into this. As for the suggestion of allowing things to be sold straight for cash instead of partaking in transactions with GR credits, I object for obvious reasons. 1) By stating that all transactions must be done via GR credits, you are reducing the amount of scams. (GR staff can give you back your credits, but not your $.) 2) By stating that all transactions must be done via GR credits, you are PROMOTING people to purchase credits. We need the demand of credits to go up, and by removing this rule, it will make the "credit situation" even worse.
