Main site and forum successfully integrated, feedback very much needed
Posted on December 4, 2010 by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Site updates
I’d still like to hear what you guys think about the options below, so keep the comments coming!
After many hours of tinkering around with settings and files, I have successfully managed to integrate the main site and forum. I’ve actually wanted to do this for years – probably since I first started NE, in fact. Since my PHP and database knowledge is very limited (Java and C++ is my expertise, not Internet coding), linking the two wasn’t possible until I discovered a much easier way of accomplishing my goal (without worrying about coding too much).
So, here’s the deal. Every single post made on Nintendo Everything will now appear on the forum (with a link to the news post) on the new “Nintendo Everything news” sub-board. Additionally, you now only need one login for the main site and forum. If you’ve already signed up on the forum, you’re good to go. There’s one thing I need your input on, though. We have two options:
1) Disable guest commenting: You would need to register on the forum in order to comment on the main site, but again, you would only need just that one username – no additional login for the main site. If you’re logged in on the forum, you’re logged in on the main site (and vise versa). Likewise, if you post on the forum, it’ll appear on the main site (and again, vise versa!). I know a lot of you don’t have any sort of account (as a large majority of you are guest posters), but if you guys agree, this is something I’d really, really like to do. On the other hand, if this is something you’re not up for, I’ll hold off on it since I don’t want the discussion on the main site to die down! Basically, if you guys are willing to register for just one account here, then we can go ahead with this.
2) Enable guest commenting: If we go with this option, comments posted on the main site and forum will be split. So, let’s say I made a comment on this story. As you’ll be able to see, that comment will not appear as a reply on the forum. Clearly, this isn’t an ideal situation. If the first option is chosen, then everything will be in sync. The only benefit I can think of with this option is that you won’t have to log in at all.
The main reason why I’ve linked the main site and forum is because it makes things easier for everyone in terms of logins, and I’ve wanted to help promote the forum more as well as increase the discussion there (it’s kind of hidden, at the moment).
After we decide between the above options, I need to look into fixing a couple of things (such as the poll…) and getting a new design for the forum (it’s too bland and ugly!). But really, what you guys say is critical. I’m practically begging for feedback! I’m not doing anything until I hear from at least a few of you. Oh, and no – You don’t need to register just yet (unless you want to start posting on the forums right now). For the moment, commenting hasn’t changed.
