[ArcheAdmin]

Ladies and gentlemen, don't be alarmed if you've noticed some changes around our humble fansite. ArcheAgeSource's staff has been working tirelessly for the past week to bring the forums up-to-date. Here's a list of the things we've done (not in order):

• Updated the forum software to the most recent version.
  
• Updated the image gallery software to the most recent version.
  
• Updated the downloads manager software to the most recent version.
  
• Updated the forum skin to accommodate new features and fix bugs.
  
• Manually edited some templates, CSS, and php scripts to tweak forum appearance.
  
• Reduced the number of items in the top navigation bar. The most popular links remain.
  
• Replaced the top animated banner with a randomized message-of-the-minute display.
  
• Modified the background selection tool so it only loads absolutely necessary files.

We're not done yet, of course! There's still lots of upgrades and tweaks to do, so please bear with us as we complete them.

Now, on to what we've got planned for the coming months (in no particular order):

• Lots of CBT3 coverage! Screenshots, videos, reviews, etc.
  
• More translated news and articles! (We need help with this.)
  
• Opening a swag store to help fund ArcheAgeSource's server fees.
  
• Continued support of the featured monthly article competition.
  
• Upgrades to less-popular, non-mission-critical forum features (blogs, etc.).
  
• Eventual forum skin redesign to match ArcheAge's new brand identity.

Expanding on one of the points above: if you or anyone you know can read Hangul or speak Korean, please consider contacting an ArcheAgeSource staff member to let them know. We're in need of one or more volunteer Korean to English translators. We can offer some cool incentives!

If you have any questions or comments about any of the points listed above, please leave a message in this thread and we'll get back to you as soon as possible with an answer.

[Entaro]

Yay! New stuff! Excellent work!

[Cavarath]

Yeah nice work. What i would really like is an more unique style with less standard elements.
The standard look of the forums does just not attract people and it doesnt look professional.
Doesnt mean it isnt, its just not looking like it.

[ArcheAdmin]

Cavarath, on 18 April 2011 - 04:21 AM, said:

Yeah nice work. What i would really like is an more unique style with less standard elements.
The standard look of the forums does just not attract people and it doesnt look professional.
Doesnt mean it isnt, its just not looking like it.

What kind of style did you have in mind? Link me to a good example.

[Cavarath]

I dont know. Im not a designer.
But something that fits ArcheAge. I also like more "roundish" looks.
This design looks very "hard".
And the look should be rather unique. The current look looks like a standard for free forum you can use.
I would also remove some stuff like the additional content space on the right because its "compressing" the actual forum.
You could put it at the bottom.
I also dont get what this ticker thing is good for. I would just remove that.
The profile and search options should also be integrated into forums. It looks like a different part because of the smaller box and the outer box of the forum crossing the profile box. Which is once again confusing.
As i said, i dont know much about design. But i know that crossing lines within a GUI is always bad. Visible as invisible ones.

[Eligor]

I think I know what he means, designing a style from scratch. That degree of customization would require a professional web designer though and I'm not even sure if it's possible to do with the software we use, they usually build sites around phpbb since it's way easier to work with it than this.

Next best possible option is to go mad with the current theme and edit it to the point it's no longer recognizable...

No worries though, it's on the "To-Do" list!

[Cavarath]

Quote

Next best possible option is to go mad with the current theme and edit it to the point it's no longer recognizable...

Thats what i was thinking about. I didnt mean you should a new forum from scratch.

[Eligor]

Radical CSS changed require the touch of a web designer/artist. If we could get our hands on one it would move up on the priority list.