Adventure Gamers - Forums

I understand we need to drag the AG website kicking and screeming into the future. That seems a very good idea to me and I would gladly back it. Better forum software would be great of course but I’m not so sure about the wikis. I don’t really see the added value of game wikis. I’m afraid turning the game information into wikis adds a lot of reviewing work to the maintenance of the site. All data that is added by ‘the public’ has to be checked by the staff. And I surely hope you will not turn the reviews into editable wikis. Reviews should never be edited after publishing them because they not only give you an indication of what the game is about and how it works but also of how it fits into the time it was released in.

Marek - 09 October 2014 08:54 AM

I read a description of Gabriel Knight recently on Giant Bomb that made a point about how the main character doesn’t have any weapons.

It is true!!
He doesn’t!!

Marek - 09 October 2014 08:54 AM

I read a description of Gabriel Knight recently on Giant Bomb that made a point about how the main character doesn’t have any weapons.

HAHAHA that’s brilliant!

On topic: that’s a good idea to limit access to the wikis only to AG members. I think it’s wise to have a minimal posts limit as well to prevent spammers and the like.

He does: The schattenjager dagger….even though there isn’t much use for it, aside from making himself bleed.
The talisman is also a kind of weapon, a defensive one

I would absolutely back this type of Kickstarter. It’s amazing to me how much Marek and Jack (and all of the awesome writers and volunteers) have put into this site; this site was my entry into the adventure gaming community, allowing me to review some of the best (well, and the not so good, hah) stories being created today. I love the passion the community has for the games as well as the involvement and interaction of game devs in the forum community, so I’d be all about supporting improving the site and the forums.

The problem with Kickstarter is that if you don’t reach your goal you don’t get any of the money you raised. So maybe it’s a good idea to use an alternative like Indigogo.*

* They have the worst website I have ever seen for a company that delivers services. Even their page on How It Works doesn’t tell you how it works. Hell, even their Partner Terms leave many questions.

Marek - 09 October 2014 08:54 AM

I read a description of Gabriel Knight recently on Giant Bomb that made a point about how the main character doesn’t have any weapons.

This made me laugh!

And while I’m here, I’ll add my support to the Kickstarter idea. I would be more than willing to contribute an amount of money for the proposed features, having used the site for free for many, many years.

As a side note, I may be in the minority but I love your current forum software. I finally signed up today after decades of lurking and what strike me is how simplified it is over vBulletin and similar setups, where you typically have to spend one hour configuring your options when you sign up to become a member. I applaud such a streamlined design, to be honest. And it looks fantastic, too! With that said, I wouldn’t mind switching to something else either, if that’s what most people want.

Marek - 28 September 2014 08:00 AM

If we do swag we’d definitely need some help from a graphic designer. We’d need vector graphics, preferably something that can be printed in 1 or just several colors.

I’d be up for doing this if you’re in need of someone—it’s the least I could do after years of enjoying the site I recently designed the logo (and made a 2-colour t-shirt version) for Back in my Play, the retro gaming podcast. I’m a web/graphic designer by trade.

As for the Kickstarter, I’d most definitely back it. I agree that you should avoid physical rewards, and I think forum badges are fine to have. I don’t have a huge problem with the current forums but I’m all for making them better. I’m not the type of person who’d add to a wiki (I think), but the wiki format would be a much nicer way to find info on a game.

So these proposed changes wouldn’t include a general update to the design of the main site? There’s nothing wrong with it I guess, it just looks a bit dated now. Most sites have moved on to wider widths, bigger images, and responsive designs suitable for phones and tablet. Could make a great final stretch goal.

I don’t know if that is possible but how about selling T-shirts with the AG logo on it? Part of the price you pay then goes to the new site.

Excellent, Marek and Jack! I’ve always hoped and wished for something like this to happen!

I’ll back this on the first day, and I’m sure many others will.

I was wondering. If/when you improve the site, will you also get a new logo? This one is getting a bit stale IMHO…

The goal to move to a better software is admirable, and I’m all for it. I know deep in my heart that the folks at AG are doing it for the benefit of the community, rather as a cash grab kind of thing. Also as an old timer,(10 years and counting ) I am giddy with excitement to get all the old posts back. I was bummed we lost most of them in the last transition.