PlatinumWata wrote:...I mean everything on this forum works amazing, and theirs really nothing to add.
There's actually a poop-ton to add!
(notice I was somewhat "mature" and didn't say the other word xD )
I've already added my own points system that allows for easy addition and deduction with a simple click on the user's mini-profile. And that wasn't done with the enabling of an option though the admin panel, it was done through the easy template editing offered; something far less complex (and less ridiculous, mind you) than FM's own template editing.
I've also got a kick-butt awards (badge) system that can pull up a light window using javascript when the award icon is clicked. I've got it temporarily removed from my test board, however, until I figure out a way to reduce the amount of information in the mini-profile to just to the way I want it. Anywho, my point is, if WebArtz wants to really take off but remain on a low-budget, then ZetaBoards is the way to go.
However, I'm still all in favor of an actual paid host if you want the added security. Just keep in mind that true hosting can cost a wallet-full of money.
I propose that WebArtz experiments, first, with the different free hosts that are out there (create a test board for each respectable host) and collaborate and interview users that are already using paid hosts in order to get comparison and contrast between the two options.
As far as merging the members from here over to another board, goes? Its actually a lot easier than you think. Sure you can't transfer the database, and they will have to re-register, but WA's active member-base is still small enough to allow for such a task. Ego-One did the same thing and its been a success so far because their original member-base was small enough for them to recall their users to a new host without needing to transfer a database.
Let's face it, Forumotion was ahead of the game back in the early 2000s, but now they're an out-dated, worthless, confusing, and extremely inadequate forum host. Updates come out too slow, and modifications provided by members aren't exactly the best, and the ones that are usually require either template editing, or advanced knowledge in JavaScript. Whereas, other forum providors (like InvisionFree and ZetaBoards) offer a heck of a lot more flexibility, and eliminate cross-version barriers (and might I add, as a final perk I like, an integrated theme-changer with the ability to swap images that are not
just in the CSS?).
For those interested in what I was talking about earlier (regarding the mods I mentioned), I'll have a link to my test forum at ZB up on my blog shortly, if you want to have a look-see and demonstration for yourself.