Forum Update thread. [Updated Jan 23rd] Options

[kaz]

Latest Staff Changes

Without a shadow of a doubt Kread-EX is a huge asset to the forum, proactive and helpful and so we have to promoted him to Global Mod.

X-M-O has been promoted to Global Staff- as his skills are in organisation and people management. He is responsible for the Reviewer and Magazine Groups along with competition organisation.

Our Rookie Mods have all been promoted to full L Mod status.

Congratulations to Niscp, Sailerius, Redd and Ember.

Stepping down

DarkYoshi has decided to step down from his role and move into another phase of his life - as happens with many.
We would like to thank him for his help in the IRC and the GM forum and wish him well in all that he does.

Omnial has also gone to pastures new see Farewell Thread, He will be missed down in the RP forum, and again as usual we would like to thank him for his help. He also provided us with some character designs to use with resources coming out in the future.

Forum changes

Sailerius has joined HarryB412 to help moderate the Creative Commons

Recruitment forum

We've updated the rules within the Recruitment section, and they've been split into three sections depending on what you're wanting to use it for (Hiring/For Hire/Trade). We've also placed it under moderation preview so make sure you check the rules first before posting your topic to ensure that it'll pass through those nice kind hearted moderators
We'd like to ensure you get the help you need, so what we've done is place a little template for each area for you to follow. By following this not only gets your topic approved but also enables you to put out enough information for anyone reading to understand your goals and or talents on offer.
Rules and Templates - Recruitment
You will also notice an amendment to the rules-

Giving critique - only questions relating to the process of recruitment are allowed. If you are not interested in joining the team please refrain from giving feedback on the project, Chatty posts between team members are not allowed.

There are far too many topics that get side tracked, or become "flame fests" due to so called feedback.

These rules apply from today, older topics will be left as they are.


New topic icons

Well they weren't working 100% when they were first set up but now they're good to go. We hope you enjoy the new collection of icons for your topics, they've been designed with what things you'd like to show your topic holds for easier navigation and hunting.
Incase you're wondering here's a breakdown of the layout:

First Row: These consist of icons for general topics or early threads, the solved one comes into play for topics where you don't want to edit the topic title for issues that have been resolved and such.
Most of these are self explanatory but have been necessary for topics.

Second Row: Bit of everything in the second row here, firstly the engine icons which can be used throughout the forum, much like the older ones they serve to let people know what engine your topic is linked to.
The next three will make the recruitment section easier to navigate and display what you're wanting, a one which may need a bit of explanation (as it's included in the rules now) is the Trade icon, basically a can you do this for me and I'll offer this talent.
SDK icon helps in the scripting section, Standard Development Kit can sometimes spring up where you least expect it or can be a nightmare finding those topics which have SDK compatible scripts, this should now make this process easier.
Comp and RRR Only is a nice little touch letting everyone know you've got a little Competition going on, the RRR only is just that, something that can be found nowhere else but here at RRR.

Third Row: The green resource area, and also a place to help creators show that what's inside can be used for both VX and XP, best of all it's not just resources but also scripts that can be promoted this way. You can make requests easier by displaying what area you need assistance with or what you've just created for people to give their C&C on.

Fourth Row: The project row, so in times gone by we've just had Engine icons and a project icon, well now you can easily display your games genre. Looking to find an adventure game or one that has a nice little retro feel to it then look no further than the nice little icon

Enjoy making your topics stand out.

[X-M-O]

Yay promotions!
Congrats to all you peoples! >:3

And... so long DY! You'll be missed, in terms of moderating... of course if you disappear entirely, I'll just have to come over your house and live in your attic! D:<

And... bai Nommy!! You'll be missed as much as that chocolate chip cookie I had earlier... I want it back! D=



Also note: If any of you peoples are interested in becoming Magazine Staff, or Review Staff, I'll be more than happy to hear from you (via PM, please don't use this topic for that bit, lol).
Cheers! =D

[Redd]

Congratulations to you as well X-M-O! It must be a huge honour!
I'm glad to be in my position with names such as Ember, Niscp, and Sailerius as well

It sucks that great members of the community must leave as well, but what they are doing now is probably better than this! Farewell.

[Essenceblade]

Sweet, congrats to everyone that has been promoted, and I'll also drop by a warm farewell to those leaving

[kaz]

Forum changes

Sailerius has joined HarryB412 to help moderate the Creative Commons

Recruitment forum

We've updated the rules within the Recruitment section, and they've been split into three sections depending on what you're wanting to use it for (Hiring/For Hire/Trade). We've also placed it under moderation preview so make sure you check the rules first before posting your topic to ensure that it'll pass through those nice kind hearted moderators
We'd like to ensure you get the help you need, so what we've done is place a little template for each area for you to follow. By following this not only gets your topic approved but also enables you to put out enough information for anyone reading to understand your goals and or talents on offer.
Rules and Templates - Recruitment
You will also notice an amendment to the rules-

Giving critique - only questions relating to the process of recruitment are allowed. If you are not interested in joining the team please refrain from giving feedback on the project, Chatty posts between team members are not allowed.

There are far too many topics that get side tracked, or become "flame fests" due to so called feedback.

These rules apply from today, older topics will be left as they are.

Quoting myself here- but as a reminder to everyone-

Any attempt to by pass Mod Preview will be warned for,

To date we have had topics deliberately posted in the wrong forum - these will be closed-

We have had topics sent by pm- with a request to add them to the correct forum.

We have asked for templates to be used as a way to organise the forums, and have information presented in an easy to read format.

Non of the methods above are a short cut to avoid it- you have to put a little bit of effort in to post your topic.

THIS APPLIES TO ALL FORUMS ON MOD PREVIEW!!!!

Okay!

[kaz]

Update again-

The GM and GML forums have been removed, All the topics have been moved into the General Game Engines, and a master topic for posts relating to them.

[Amy Pond]

It's a shame they never really took off with much spark; it's a much better engine. But probably for the best.

[kaz]

Updates-

General and Serious Discussion have been merged - this now gives us one area for discussions of any type.

As for the "R" points appearing in profiles- more news soon!

[Adrien.]

Updates-

General and Serious Discussion have been merged - this now gives us one area for discussions of any type.

As for the "R" points appearing in profiles- more news soon!

I am not liking this. Reason being is that we will not know if one post is serious or not and we wont be able to keep serious posts from becoming general conversation. Are the rules that were in the serious posts section still going to apply to the serious posts we create in general? Whats to stop us from derailing a serious post if not?

Also from IRC char - these "r" points if they are indeed reputation points could seriously be manipulated and taken advantage of - weather or not they are rep points I see them still being taken advantage of.

This post has been edited by Adrien.: Aug 29 2011, 04:57 PM

[Holder]

I can confirm that they are not reputation points.
There is no way in which these can or could be taken advantage of.

In regards to a topic being serious or not then people can always signal what kind of topic it is intended for by the use of the general topic icons.

[X-M-O]

Are the rules that were in the serious posts section still going to apply to the serious posts we create in general? Whats to stop us from derailing a serious post if not?

There was really very little difference in the rules between General Discussion and Serious Discussion. Not to mention that it has not been a requirement to be of a certain age to have those conversations, so there really is no point in having a completely separate forum for discussions that are "just a little more long-winded".

In regards to a topic being serious or not then people can always signal what kind of topic it is intended for by the use of the general topic icons.

What's to stop members from derailing serious topics? Well, as Holder mentioned, the topic icons can signal the topic's purpose, and members are encouraged to use them in that way.
Further, derailing a topic isn't such a big problem, as we tend to move them back on topic very shortly afterwards. Not to mention that purposefully bringing off-topic posts into a topic is considered spam anyway, and the moderator(s) will take care of anything in that regard.
We haven't really had much of a serious problem in regard to spam in those areas, however moderator(s) will be on-hand if such happens.

[kaz]

Whats to stop us from derailing a serious post if not?

Simple - Moderators and the report button.

[Adrien.]

Really really looking forward to this update on R points and how they will affect users around the board and their purpose.

[Sparrowsmith]

derailing a topic isn't such a big problem, as we tend to move them back on topic very shortly afterwards. Not to mention that purposefully bringing off-topic posts into a topic is considered spam anyway, and the moderator(s) will take care of anything in that regard.
We haven't really had much of a serious problem in regard to spam in those areas, however moderator(s) will be on-hand if such happens.

This is true. If it's a thread about guitar playing, I may allow someone to say "Not a big fan of guitars really." but if it's something serious, like abortion, I won't allow posts like "It's wrong." without further explanation.
I'm still going to moderate posts of two different standards, or rather, a winding degree of standards (as I already do) and have no problem with the change whatsoever. It's all discussion.
This won't affect how I moderate at all (I may possibly be more lenient, but I'm hardly strict as it is)

[kaz]

More staff changes-

Kread- EX has sadly left the forum- he has many changes going on in real life that leave him unable to continue as a Global Moderator.

We are sorry to see him go, and he was a great help to many people and an excellent staff member. Good luck Kread in all that you do.

With the seat still warm we have decided to promote HarryB412 to a Global mod status- you all know Harry- everyone knows Harry -

Well done Harry - go for it!

[Adrien.]

interesting. I await to see how this turns out

[amerk]

Sad, but I'm still keeping Kread's sprite that Penguin worked so hard on. I have plans for the Kread sprite. I have plans for all the staff sprites.

[Legacy]

Shame to hear that Kread stepped down. Hope everything goes well for him, and congratulations to Harry

[Penguin]

NO! KREAD!

Kread was such a hero to this forum... I'm definitely going to miss him.

On the other hand, congratulations, Harry!

This post has been edited by Penguin: Sep 8 2011, 06:07 PM

[kaz]

Few changes in the works-

RPG Maker 2000 / 2003 is now a sub forum of the General Game Engines Discussion

The Magazine Forum has been removed but the magazine is still being worked on,