Distinction between front page and here

[Shockwave]

I think that the new portal is going to have the effect of dividing this site into two distinct parts. I did not intend for this to happen, and while I will integrate the portal more and more into the forum as I work on it with embedded links, hot topics etc, it might take future registrations away from the forum.

I don't want that to happen and I am sure nobody here does either.
One way around it would be for me to create a welcome page, set out something like this;

Text:
WELCOME TO DBFINTERACTIVE

=FORUMS=

=RESOURCES=

Text:
Welcome Message

Where FORUMS and RESOURCES will be two nice looking banners, I'd get someone cool to draw them Don't worry you won't have to suffer my gfx.

Perhaps I could integrate the forum into the welcome page, like displaying who's online etc?

Thoughts are welcome!

The portal and the board are distinctly seperate now, due in a lot of ways to the difference in template.
Maybe I could have a go at reworking the forum template to fit the portal, though that scares me a bit Lots of potential to mess it up badly.

[Shockwave]

Ok, there is going to be a "front door"

With a welcome message that also shows online users etc and allows users to choose the forums or resource page.

Hopefully we'll still et lots of new registrations this way as I am concerned that the new portal doesn't take posts away from the forum

[Clyde]

Just a passing thought, maybe you could implement a login part to have access to the resources / other areas that require membership to go to the forum from those bits in order to see them. That way people will still have to register.

Don't know how helpfull and idea that is it to you dude.

Cheers and great work on the frontpage / welcoming splash,
Clyde

[gooner]

What Clyde said Shockie.
Also is there anway you can provide a link so i can get back to the front page when i'm in the forum part unless there already is one and i've missed it.
Cheers dude

[Shockwave]

Hmm making people register to download some of these files is going to be a no-no I am afraid.

The reason is not because it can't be done, it would be easy to check if someone is logged in before displaying the download link. The problem is that there are files here that originated in the demo scene (Tinysid was originally written partly by kb, protrekkr by hitchhikr, the small frameworks were partly based around aulds work, and there will bo doubt be more scene libs ported.) I can just imagine the flames if someone told them that we were forcing people to register to download their libraries. I've seen this kind of thing blow up in the past, anyway, people should register for the forum because they want to. The competitions and the friendliness of everyone here should be enough incentive for anybody. Nice idea Clyde, sorry that it can't be done.

Gooner, there are two things you can do..
Firstly bookmark the home page, so you can click on from anywhere.
Secondly if you have the default theme as your theme for browsing the forum you'll see a (very small) link top right that says "HOME PAGE", that takes you back there.

I'll code a button into the menu too to take care of this but as I am not finished with the site structure I can't quite do it yet Thy bidding will be done though.

Thanks for the ideas guys, it's nice to have them K+ to both of you.

[Clyde]

Ok no worries dude and thanks for the K.

[benny!]

...
With a welcome message that also shows online users etc and allows users to choose the forums or resource page.
...

Good idea IMHO.

[Shockwave]

Got the buttons from Dicab

Also he updated the background templates for the resource page, resources, and links.
Those buttons are online now, the new front page will be made tomorrow morning

[benny!]

Got the buttons from Dicab

Also he updated the background templates for the resource page, resources, and links.
Those buttons are online now, the new front page will be made tomorrow morning

Woah ... how cool are these ? Awesome!!! 

[Xalthorn]

Wow, I go 'offline' for a few weeks and come back to find all sorts of amazing stuff happening.  The buttons are beautiful and sooo in keeping with the feel of the site.

[Shockwave]

Welcome back mate, I am really glad you like the buttons too
I still have a lot of work to do to the site but it's coming
The feedback I have had and dicabs graphics have helped a great deal.

[Dr.Death]

Jesus shocky it just keeps on getting better every day 

I just love the front page what a great idea...

[Hezad]

I just love the front page what a great idea... Up & Dance!

+1  The two buttons are really awesome, so does the new site entrance 

[Shockwave]

Thank goodness you guys seem to like it It's taken years to build the site up and I don't want to scare anyone away so thanks for letting me know.

It motivates me to carry on too

And there is a lot to do!

[Hotshot]

well there be Shoutbox? 

[Shockwave]

Hopefully That will come a little later on though

[Clyde]

You've probably got this pencilled in allready, there were a few tutorials.

And just a passing thought, I sometimes get brainwaves. in the resources, besides the cool tools and music players on offer. Where you thinking or considering including original graphics ( like bobs / sprites, icons, bitmap fonts ) solely media for demos? As I bet there's a few people who wouldnt mind contributing. I guess it's one of those things, that would only appeal if people where general interested.

Keep up the great work, and welldone with the spring cleaning.
Clyde.

[Shockwave]

Where you thinking or considering including original graphics ( like bobs / sprites, icons, bitmap fonts ) solely media for demos? As I bet there's a few people who wouldnt mind contributing.

Thats something I've been asked to do for retro-remakes actually clyde

As for adding something like that to our resources page, it wouldn't be too difficult as long as enough people wanted it

There will definately be a resources page full of fonts and music at retro-remakes though.

[Shockwave]

Whoops, forgot to mention the tutorials..

Most of the tutorials we had were not very well written. Again it's something I would love to add.

If anyone has tutorials, please send them to me in html format on a white background in their own folder with any images they use. When we have enough I'll add a tutorials page.