New forum themes now available

[Philippe D.]

One new feature is that asterisks are now considered open game for bb code replacement. A single raw asterisk surrounding a word, *foo*, is treated as italics, foo. A double raw asterisk becomes bold. While the shortcut is convenient for those who find it convenient, that means that to *actually* surround text with asterisks, you have to use the [plain] bb code, e.g. [plain]*[/plain]actually[plain]*[/plain]. It's a bit of a plain.

JR

I've always understood the * in typewritten typography to be a replacement for some missing face, typically bold for attention-getting. So not being able to surround a word in them without going to some p(l)ain should not be too much trouble - the forum software does the face-changing for you. OK, I like bold (sorry, bold) better as a default, but it's still a reasonable default.

 

[Dr Zaius]

I found that site acceptable to read and view.

I'm experimenting with a theme with similar colors. If it doesn't pan out, I'm going to have to put it aside as I have to get back to work.

 

[jrv]

I've always understood the * in typewritten typography to be a replacement for some missing face, typically bold for attention-getting. So not being able to surround a word in them without going to some p(l)ain should not be too much trouble - the forum software does the face-changing for you. OK, I like bold (sorry, bold) better as a default, but it's still a reasonable default.

I don't like computer italics. They can be hard to notice. To emphasize a particular word or phrase I prefer to surround the word/phrase with asterisks. Bold can be ok, but it tends to attract too much attention. On a computer screen italics generate too little. The asterisks aren't perfect, but they do seem to strike a balance IMHO. Just my preferences.

JR

 

[Ric of The LBC]

Yeah, some of the new Xenforo stuff is good and some of it is hard to get used to.

I'm still happy with the choice we made two years ago to transition from Vbulletin to Xenforo, though. Vbulletin is what GameSquad used for years and years, but most of the developers had left after the company was bought. So the original team re-formed and created Xenforo, which was what Vbulletin 5 really should have been. Vbulletin has undergone a really strange development cycle over the last few years, and had we kept on using it here, I can only imagine how people would have complained.

The thing is, forum software is in a state of rapid and forced evolution due to the fact that social media has put most big forums out of business. People whine constantly about me changing the forums, but in actuality all I'm really doing is the bare minimum of keeping the forums updated with the latest release. The forum software is changing and evolving, because forum owners have discovered that if they fail to evolve, these websites will simply die off. In the age of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, forum-based sites are a bit of an anachronism and it takes a lot of work and dedication to keep them going, let alone get them to grow.

So that's where we're at. GameSquad must get the latest software updates because I've learned the hard way that failing to do so invites the hackers and spammers to run riot. But people whine and complain whenever there's an update, so catch 22. And as for growing the site, if it doesn't grow it can't pay for itself. And if it can't (at an absolute minimum) pay for itself, then it goes away.

I'm happy that this forum exists whatever the form. Content is king.

 

[bprobst]

In the 20 years I've been running forums, I have never once installed a new theme and got positive feedback. Never.

So maybe you should stop installing new themes ...?

Even I can't usually judge whether a theme really works or not

So maybe you should stop installing new themes ...? Or perhaps find someone else who can judge, because it's not rocket science. Some colour combinations work well and some don't. This has been known to humanity for at least the last 1000 years.

Use this one for a few days and then see what you think.

It's fucking awful now, and it will remain fucking awful in a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months time.

Maybe you should consider not installing new themes when no-one is asking that you do so. Or maybe get some feedback before you implement something.

Here's an excellent example. When I posted this message I got a warning noting that there were additional posts in the thread. Let's look at the brilliant choice of colours used:


Yes, that's orange and red text displayed on a red background. Coming up with that must have taken a genius several weeks of thought ... or a moron just a few seconds. Which is more likely?

 

[Dr Zaius]

So maybe you should stop installing new themes …?

So maybe you should stop installing new themes ...? Or perhaps find someone else who can judge, because it's not rocket science. Some colour combinations work well and some don't. This has been known to humanity for at least the last 1000 years.

It's fucking awful now, and it will remain fucking awful in a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months time.

Maybe you should consider not installing new themes when no-one is asking that you do so. Or maybe get some feedback before you implement something.

Here's an excellent example. When I posted this message I got a warning noting that there were additional posts in the thread. Let's look at the brilliant choice of colours used:
View attachment 7426

Yes, that's orange and red text displayed on a red background. Coming up with that must have taken a genius several weeks of thought ... or a moron just a few seconds. Which is more likely?

Bruce, as has been explained, software systems evolve pretty dramatically over short periods of time these days. So you can't use a vBulletin 2 theme with vBulletin 3. It just won't work because all the templates are broken and out of date, which creates all sorts of bugs and script errors. People complained when Windows XP changed from Windows ME and looked dramatically different. And they complained when Windows XP then changed to Windows 8, and then when Windows 10 totally changed every little thing.

Bear in mind I didn't design these themes, they're just variations of the default. The software developers change things around, change how things work, where functions are located, etc. And sometimes they do things like the message bar you showed above. I'm the one who gets stuck with the task of trying to dig into the system and find all these little inconsistencies and annoying issues and fix them. And there are literally thousands and thousands of CSS combinations to sort through. Compounding matters, as you can see from the posts above yours, is the fact that there is broad disagreement over what people find pleasing. Some people want giant font, some people want small font, some people have suggested an all dark theme, some people want eight themes to choose from. It’s all subjective, and a lot of it depends on whether you're on mobile, a crappy old laptop, or a shiny new 4K monitor.

I don't get paid to do this stuff. In fact, I'm a volunteer here just like the mods and everyone else, so I do what I can to keep the site updated as my free time permits. And as I already explained above, I am working on coming up with a replacement theme with better color and contrast. A little patience while I sort through all the changes in the latest software version.

 

[Paul M. Weir]

Clovis has got the tip of his right ear back! ?

 

[hongkongwargamer]

Oi .. again, I find the present scheme quite easy to read! I can’t quite find as many words to reiterate how “fucking” nice it is, but it is and my inability to do so shouldn’t diminish my opinion any.

The present scheme puts the emphasis on the actual posts instead of operational notices like “There are more posts to display”, which I find “fucking” agreeable.

Plus Clovis got the tip of his ear back, which is the most “fucking” important thing.

 

[trailrunner]

I don't get paid to do this stuff. In fact, I'm a volunteer here just like the mods and everyone else, so I do what I can to keep the site updated as my free time permits.

The turquoise isn't my favorite, but keeping things in perspective, it is functional and perfectly acceptable. Of all the things in our very rich lives, complaining about how this site looks falls way, way below my threshold, and I'm actually appreciative of the people who make it happen. I remember the ASCII-based dial-up bulletin-board days, and then the usenet days, and I realize we are fortunate now to have a resource like this to connect the world. Life is truly good.

And no ads for me. Maybe because I support the site (even though I only make a few posts a year).

 

[dlazov]

I am my iPhone and their are annoying adds about Russian women nd some dude trying to sell me something...

 

[Dr Zaius]

I wish I could make the ads go away myself. But if the members have to see them, then I figure I do as well.

At a minimum, I wish it was possible to make them all be high quality game ads, but that's simply not possible.

 

[hongkongwargamer]

Hey, got scheme choices now! Nice

 

[Uncle_Duke]

Hey, got scheme choices now! Nice

To change your scheme, go to your account, select "Preferences," then click the "Style" dropdown menu at the top. It should be right above "Time Zone."

 

[Paul M. Weir]

Clovis has got the tip of his right ear back! ?

He's lost it again!

The Green is better though!

 

[ineation]

Good for me! I've been handling web dev and design projects for more than 10 years now. The one thing I've learned is to never ask people which color they prefer. It always transforms into endless (and low value) discussions. Readability and accessibility is the important decision to have (but is a topic for specialists).

 

[hongkongwargamer]

I am not sure if you know us very well. We don’t need to be asked ...

 

[ineation]

Yeah ;-) I've been observing that for a few months now!

 

[dlazov]

GameSquad Green is the new thing!

Love it!

 

[dlazov]

To change your scheme, go to your account, select "Preferences," then click the "Style" dropdown menu at the top. It should be right above "Time Zone."

There is no such thing. Does not exist.

 

[dlazov]

There is no such thing. Does not exist. Or wrong forum.

Never MIND!

I lied its there!!!

I still like the Green...