Suggestions for the theme website

[headkaze]

This message is mainly for Tom and night, but I have a suggestion for the theme website. This idea would mean the theme website could be more of a "GameEx Repository" than just a theme website because it could have many sections added to it. My main idea is to use a portal system like Xoops! (which I have administered before), or a forum portal like a modified ikonboard (which I have helped administer).

I used to be a webmaster for a Xoops! website called www.soundsstudio.co.uk which I did the graphics for and some php modifications (it was for an old Amiga program called OctaMED - you may have heard of it!). There is not much to look at on the archive because all the graphics are missing, but it's not a bad system and has quite a few plugins for it. Check out the archived site here

The ikonboard portal system was for a website called "Hole in the Earth" which was a website created by a friend of mine and the graphics were designed by me, and I'm quite happy to provide the graphics again. It won the netGimmicks "Best Portal Contest" in 2003. I also wrote a custom shoutbox for it. I could probably get my hands on the modifications and graphics to it since the website is no longer in action because he's too busy with two kids. But you can take a look at what it looked like (with a few missing graphics) at the internet archive here.

The point of this post is to say there is no need to write scripts/html or even create a website when you can install a portal that will take care of posting files, articles, news, messages and a forum (most of the other sections are just modified forum scripts). They all have an admin backend which makes editing the site very easy (even for non-webskilled people), and means we could add a lot more stuff than just themes, including tools and applications a FAQ and tutorials. Often they have professional looking skins (which I have made before) so you change the look of the entire website in a few seconds. All you really need to do is configure the thing the way you want and plonk your own logo on the top.

I don't mind helping administering such a site, I don't have time to help write a php/asp website from scratch so I think this is a great alternative. I think most portals run on PHP and MySQL. The SQL part might be an issue for Tom as it might cost something, but I would be alot more motivated to help out if it was a Portal system with lots of things we can plugin and modify to suit. Let me know what you think!

[night]

i know the theme-site have small flaws (i heard the firefox browser isnt showing the page right)

and i agree it would be easier if the site was a script/php based but sadly my knowledge to that

isnt great enough i feel i know enough to make a decent html based site ...

it wouldnt be easier for the people using the site but for the people there would maintain it

the only thing i have looked alittle into are php-nuke

so if the site should be redesigned for sure i would need a person with the knowledge and skills to help

me doing that

anyway what are people thoughts about this ???

Night

[Tom Speirs]

This message is mainly for Tom and night, but I have a suggestion for the theme website. This idea would mean the theme website could be more of a "GameEx Repository" than just a theme website because it could have many sections added to it. My main idea is to use a portal system like Xoops! (which I have administered before), or a forum portal like a modified ikonboard (which I have helped administer).

I used to be a webmaster for a Xoops! website called www.soundsstudio.co.uk which I did the graphics for and some php modifications (it was for an old Amiga program called OctaMED - you may have heard of it!). There is not much to look at on the archive because all the graphics are missing, but it's not a bad system and has quite a few plugins for it. Check out the archived site here

The ikonboard portal system was for a website called "Hole in the Earth" which was a website created by a friend of mine and the graphics were designed by me, and I'm quite happy to provide the graphics again. It won the netGimmicks "Best Portal Contest" in 2003. I also wrote a custom shoutbox for it. I could probably get my hands on the modifications and graphics to it since the website is no longer in action because he's too busy with two kids. But you can take a look at what it looked like (with a few missing graphics) at the internet archive here.

The point of this post is to say there is no need to write scripts/html or even create a website when you can install a portal that will take care of posting files, articles, news, messages and a forum (most of the other sections are just modified forum scripts). They all have an admin backend which makes editing the site very easy (even for non-webskilled people), and means we could add a lot more stuff than just themes, including tools and applications a FAQ and tutorials. Often they have professional looking skins (which I have made before) so you change the look of the entire website in a few seconds. All you really need to do is configure the thing the way you want and plonk your own logo on the top.

I don't mind helping administering such a site, I don't have time to help write a php/asp website from scratch so I think this is a great alternative. I think most portals run on PHP and MySQL. The SQL part might be an issue for Tom as it might cost something, but I would be alot more motivated to help out if it was a Portal system with lots of things we can plugin and modify to suit. Let me know what you think!

Hi Headkaze, although portals are great, I don't think we have enough traffic to warrant one really. If things progress Ill certainly look at setting one up, and yes the SQL does cost but the sited does not. I am making the GameEx site more dynamic, we now have news feed, and GameEx live if anyone noticed. Ill explain a bit more what's going on with that shortly, that's the reason for all the updates Yesterday. The GameEx web site will become more dynamic as time goes on, and I'd rather code that myself for now. We also have the forum, which I think is pretty decent software. All I'm saying is not sure we warrant it just for themes site, and I feel the forum and GameEx site are taken care of. Although thanks for the suggestions mate, and I'm not surprised you won an award .

[headkaze]

I'm not trying to over complicate things (it's starting to sound like I am ) but once a portal system like Xoops is installed with the modules you want, the adminstration of the site is easy. In other words to post a new theme would be as simple as making a post on a forum. But it's just presented the way you want it to - like a file with a picture of the theme or whatever custom tweaking you want (there are generally modules for most things already written by the community supporting said portal). Since it has a membership system, you can also give multiple people permissions to upload content.

night has PMed me a few times inviting me to help, but it's just too messy editing raw HTML when a 10 minute install of a portal can manage it automatically and look professional out of the box.

The reason I post this was really just to make administration easy so night can administer it without having to manually edit HTML files. But I appreciate the time and effort these things take despite my rambling about how easy it is.

[night]

well none have said their oppions so i guess as long i dont mind updating the theme-site its no problem it is like this

as it is now im really enjoying having the site and updating it but are allways open for suggestions of any kind

i PM you headkaze becouse if you wanted to help or had interest/ideas for the site i wouldnt have minded you ran the site with me but you are right it takes more time to maintain the site like this but its ok with me

but as i said this is only the begining i have alot of ideas im working on and i hope it will soon have the standards where the site will satisfy all ....

Night

[Tom Speirs]

well none have said their oppions so i guess as long i dont mind updating the theme-site its no problem it is like this

as it is now im really enjoying having the site and updating it but are allways open for suggestions of any kind

i PM you headkaze becouse if you wanted to help or had interest/ideas for the site i wouldnt have minded you ran the site with me but you are right it takes more time to maintain the site like this but its ok with me

but as i said this is only the begining i have alot of ideas im working on and i hope it will soon have the standards where the site will satisfy all ....

Night

Your doing a good job Night