A state of change (again)

[Laughing Potato]

RcKingdom is going to receive another make over pretty soon.

We are going to have the entire site now based around the forum. This will in future help with updates and compatability with the various section on the site. I feel that most members don't visit the main site sections anyway. The site will have to a degree less content, but more user enabled functions. You will now be able to add news items and even have your own blog. Doing this with the current set-up would have proved unsafe because of the permission settings. I've a quite spell at the moment as my race reports and commitments have dried up for a bit, so time can finally be dedicated to RcK.

So a bit of re-branding and redesign over the next weeks and possibly months to bring RcK up to the site I've always wanted.

The new theme will be light in colour and all areas of the site will now fully share the theme. This is a big change of style and look, but I really want to re-start the ball rolling on the site. Things have gone quite of late, largely since the weeks downtime. This site has been in a part finished state for far to long, whilst we were waiting for the lastest forum and Joomla updates. Joomla are no longer supporting the forum software, so my hand has been forced and Joomla sections will be no more.

No forum information will be lost in the change over, so all current posts will be safe.


Please let me know below what you would like to see changed in the update. I really need to know what you want changed or altered so it can be actioned from the word go.

Some of mine

I feel the forum categories could do with a tidy up.
The reviews will be moved to the forum pages allowing members to also do their own without me having to transfer them.
I full overhaul of the moderating team and sections covered(some moderators don't visit the site anymore).
More privileges for members that contribute more to the site.
To make sure each section within the site works.
Stop just reading, and start posting again

[jimbob]

site is too wide now

i have to keep moving the page along to the right to read the posts... i think its to do with the top banner 

[Laughing Potato]

site is too wide now

i have to keep moving the page along to the right to read the posts... i think its to do with the top banner 

point noted, that will fix with the new template

[T-Maxx Teaboy]

Stop just reading, and start posting again

Thats a very good point.

I dont know how many thousands of members there are but upwards of 90% of the posts must come from only 10 members, which makes you wonder what the hell the rest are doing.
I loathe spam , but maybe a monthly email with that months hot topics/reviews etc etc. If you include an opt out in the mail I dont think people would object too much.

some moderators don't visit the site anymore).

Fair point. What ever happened to Sammy anyway ?

More privileges for members that contribute more to the site.

The idea sounds great in principle , but I have seen this kind of thing on other forums and you end up with people pointless posting just to increase their post count. Sad , but true.

Things have gone quite of late, largely since the weeks downtime.

I'm sure you have the stats on this Colin , but I felt it slowing down long before the downtime tbh.

-------------------------

I like the current theme , but a lighter one would be a breath of fresh air. What I do like about this forum is the way the the white text on black background is very easy to read.

If I could make one final point. Signatures. OMG some of them are hugeeeeeeeee. Some threads you have to scroll forever just to read a couple of posts.
To be honest thats my only gripe about the forum , I love it 

Keep up the good work !

[Glypo]

We need a reworked forum section part for sure. Far too many at the moment, it makes my head hurt!

[T-Maxx Teaboy]

I dont know what others do , but I have the 'most recent posts' link stored as a favourite so I can check all the latest posts , and as I must check this site at least a dozen times a day I dont miss anything 

I couldnt be bothered scanning all the sub forums 

[Dagger Thrasher]

All sounds good to me. A new, lighter theme would be a very welcome change (there was always something welcoming and fun about the very first site's colour scheme ), and the forum sections could be reduced. I must admit though, I really liked the "recent posts" bit that used to appear at the bottom as you could see at a glance if there were any new posts, and where. If we could have that back, IMO that'd be cool.

It seems to me lately that a lot of RC forums have been slowing down...so we gots to do something to get people posting again!

[josh_smaxx]

I like the idea of a new theme, but please can we still have the option of changing it 'coz im really liking this one ATM

Love the idea of the monthly 'whats hot' email, should be good as i do ( ) rarely visit the main site, but when i do theres always something new

We need to offer something that other forums dont have to entice new members yet still keep it really friendly Im sure we can come up with something.

[ztech6]

First off I'd like to say how much I like this site 
As you said LP, the forum is the more interesting part, i rarely visit the main site unless a new review is posted.
For me the colour scheme is great, white on black is very easy reading.
Agree with T-Maxx Teaboy about the sigs, I've turned them off now.
Would like to see a 'light' version as I view the site at work. The boss can see big RC advert headers from his office 

[Laughing Potato]

Really helpful replies guys, many thanks

I like the idea of a new theme, but please can we still have the option of changing it 'coz im really liking this one ATM

That can certainly be an option, although the new theme will be the only option until I have it correct and working for all.

site is too wide now

i have to keep moving the page along to the right to read the posts... i think its to do with the top banner 

Yep, that will be fixed. That is a problem with the way the site is currently constructed.

The idea sounds great in principle , but I have seen this kind of thing on other forums and you end up with people pointless posting just to increase their post count. Sad , but true.

Yeah, I know this can happen. I will try to do it in a different way, possible an award system. I'll have to see what options are available.

[jimbob]

so when do we get to vote for mods

[rallyraid]

could we get the chat box on all pages, it works on other forums.

[Laughing Potato]

could we get the chat box on all pages, it works on other forums.

How do you mean? the old shoutbox or the chatroom?

[chris harte]

How about stealing some of Ooples ideas;
Add a quick reply box to the bottom of a thread with no editing functions on it.
How about a photography forum; with hints and tips on taking shots?
Maybe extend the time out period. I sometimes get a error message after I have wrote a long thread saying I have took too long.

The show unread posts doesn't include all the subject forums. It doesn't include the members one

[showtime]

personally i don't like the quick reply boxes as they encourage boring replys with no smileys, links or attachments etc 

if somethings worth replying to at least post up a reply worth reading 

[chris harte]

Why don't we have an RCkingdom msn thingy, were online members can chat one to one without having to give out a private email address. Rather like an instant messaging service.

[Stumungous]

RcK seems to be built like RCUniverse in the way it has specific forums for everything, or at least power type. Trouble is I doubt it see's 1:10 of the traffic they do in a month.

I mean, to be honest you could easily kill off most of the electric/nitro option forums as they never get used that much . Look at flight, marine and air... they could easily, be in one section with one forum for each topic.

The main issue I have is with the stuff from rc accessories downwards... it's all over the place! I goes from being well laid out and visable to... well... all over the place!

I do like the sound of the chatbox though, should be good... RcK Messenger!

[Laughing Potato]

The transformation will begin tonight, I have certainly taken on board the comments above. Compatability has always been the main problem between the different sections of the website, I'm really hoping that this time that won't be an issue. The full change over is going to take me 4-6weeks, although there will be a noticeable change tonight. Bear with it whilst the caterpillar emerges into a butterfly

[Savageman26]

WOW, very different so far. Not in too much of a good way in my eyes so far, but then it's early days. I must admit tho, I'm probably in a minority, and I don't like to have lots of glare off my screen. The dark theme suited me perfectly. 

I'll have a further explore and see where things are and such. 

[ME:MTC]

i like this much better. i dident like the dark screen so  . whe still need an emoticon with a  :whip:.

[Laughing Potato]

whe still need an emoticon with a  :whip:.

why? Little hobby of yours

There will be a new extended smile set coming soon

[josh_smaxx]

Ooooo, first off i love the new layout, very effective with the buttons, looks great. Im with Niel though, the bright screen isnt to my liking but it wont put me off using the forum, doubt anything could keep me away

[ME:MTC]

whe still need an emoticon with a  :whip:.

why? Little hobby of yours

There will be a new extended smile set coming soon

somthing like that.   

[Laughing Potato]

I am currently transfering news from the old site. So some articles will appear very dated as I ship them over. Whist I'm at it I'm learning how to use the backend of this dite software. I'm getting there slowly

[Laughing Potato]

I have cropped some of the less used sections within the forum. I have also moved a few boards to better places IMO, so hopefully it is looking a little less cluttered.


Please tell me of any bugs you may be experiencing with the new layout asap