How hard is it to make a game site? I'd like to do a small one with a few subforums. If possible I'd like to have it outside of america for legal reasons.
At the base level, very easy. Even I have had my own local board. Just buy a domain, get service from a hosting company, and copy over a free message board.
Local boards are easy to attract folk to as long as you're willing to do footwork and post fliers at the local colleges, libraries, and other places.
General boards like theRPGsite, though... growing this is tough stuff.
It's also fairly easy to run a site for any other specific audience, like fans of a given game or game company, as long as you don't set your hopes too high. I've run a successful forum for fans of a specific game product, but a close friend was never able to get his general rpg forums off the ground. In my experience it's hard to get a critical mass of posters vs. lurkers on any forum, so you might be best off with a focus that invites a lot of specific conversation about things like new products, rules clarifications, metaplot (if any), etc.
I'd rather you simply continued posting here to be honest. what does another forum add?
outside america for legal reasons? What do plan to do, sell crack over your forums?
anyway, try out Proboards (http://www.proboards.com), its free and easy to setup and there are a lot of easy to install addons and RPG options, like a die roller.
If you plan to use your own domain, the easiest way is to get a plan through yahoo. They give you a domain name and have forum software that is just a few clicks to install.
Quote from: Mcrowoutside america for legal reasons? What do plan to do, sell crack over your forums?
I was wondering that, too. America actually has less restrictive laws involving internet regulation, due in part to our obsession with capitalism. This is why we'll never be on the EU's list of approved nations (for getting around E-Commerce bureaucratic issues) and have special rules applied to us for businesses engaging in internet business that are based in America. It largely revolves around a concern the EU and other legal bodies have over privacy rights in data collected through online transactions, which the U.S. doesn't pay much attention to.
Quote from: C.W.RichesonIAmerica actually has less restrictive laws involving internet regulation, due in part to our obsession with capitalism.
hehehe...classic....just classic...
Sorry sorry sorry...back to getting Nox his own forum.
Ask yourself...
(1) What could I do that every other site can't?
(2) Will I have an audience?
A forum without members is just a sad, sad thing. If you have no active user base you're better off not having it at all.
-O
Quote from: James J Skachhehehe...classic....just classic...
I don't understand. The United States doesn't protect consumer information (except in the case of children) except through enforcing agreements individual websites choose to create (which few people read). The reason of this is because the country is just fine with businesses selling personal information, which is extremely profitable.
Quote from: C.W.RichesonI don't understand. The United States doesn't protect consumer information (except in the case of children) except through enforcing agreements individual websites choose to create (which few people read). The reason of this is because the country is just fine with businesses selling personal information, which is extremely profitable.
Really, I'm sorry I posted it and potentially derailed the thread.
I'll just leave it as read what you just wrote, with all the of the qualifiers and exceptions. And if you still have a problem with my calling out the "obsession with capitalism," we can take it somewhere else. Fair enough?
Quote from: Mcrowoutside america for legal reasons? What do plan to do, sell crack over your forums?
Don't ask, don't tell. :D
Maybe he thinks it'll provide some sort of protection from civil litigation? I wouldn't count on that though.
There are already at least 4 or 5 gaming forums that I can think of out there, (The Big Purple & Pink, The Orange & Friendly, The GenCon Forums, Forge the forum, this one that we're on...) MORE forums , if I consider localized ones connected to game stores or smaller science fiction conventions.
So who would join this hypothetical forum?
What would entice people to register and join it ?
- E.W.C.
Why are you discouraging him? ;)
Quote from: JongWKWhy are you discouraging him? ;)
Who's discouraging? {{:-)
Those are pretty valid questions for
anyone who is thinking of starting a new gaming forum.
- E.W.C.
If you need it outside America for legal reasons, do a lot of research. Don't assume that just because your server is in Mbutu you'll be able to post pictures of .
Quote from: JongWKWhy are you discouraging him? ;)
no kidding. How many times will Nox try to get rid of himself?:D
Quote from: James McMurrayIf you need it outside America for legal reasons, do a lot of research. Don't assume that just because your server is in Mbutu you'll be able to post pictures of .
And keep in mind that, say, the European authorities may crack down rather heavily on hate speech. For instance, around here promoting violence of any kind on ethnic or religious grounds is a criminal offence, potentially punishable by two years in prison.
Quote from: blakkieDon't ask, don't tell. :D
Maybe he thinks it'll provide some sort of protection from civil litigation? I wouldn't count on that though.
Yeah, that makes sense. Now that I think about it, maybe he plans on having piracy subforums.
What is the orange & friendly?
Quote from: BrantaiWhat is the orange & friendly?
I've never heard it referred to as that before, but he may have meant EN World (http://www.enworld.org/forums.php?). They've got an orangish bent to their color sceme.
Quote from: James McMurrayI've never heard it referred to as that before, but he may have meant EN World (http://www.enworld.org/forums.php?). They've got an orangish bent to their color sceme.
I think he's talking about the Steve Jackson Games (http://forums.sjgames.com/index.php) forums. I see him over there.
Quote from: Monster ManuelI think he's talking about the Steve Jackson Games (http://forums.sjgames.com/index.php) forums. I see him over there.
My Eyes!
Quote from: Monster ManuelI think he's talking about the Steve Jackson Games (http://forums.sjgames.com/index.php) forums. I see him over there.
That's probably it. Now how do I get rid of these sparkly spots floating in front of my face?
I had a forum. Started a forum for gamers in Oregon and SW Washington, on ForumUp.
Was reasonably easy to set up, but not so easy to keep alive. I had limited time and travel capabilities to really promote the site, and ultimately it died from inactivity.
ForumUp deletes your forum after so many days of inactivity, and I eventually just let it lapse.
Quote from: Monster ManuelI think he's talking about the Steve Jackson Games (http://forums.sjgames.com/index.php) forums. I see him over there.
If coal tar is calling sjg forums friendly then all his ass kissing must have kept him from getting enough oxygen to his brain. That place has mods and users more hateful and spiteful that the purple toilet's.
That douchebag paladin gets awya with threats, personal attacks, maternal cracks and other stuff you'd have to be a mod to get away with on the pruple toilet.
Quote from: BrantaiWhat is the orange & friendly?
I was referring to the Steve Jackson games Forums as the "Orange & Friendly".
- E.W.C.
Quote from: KoltarI was referring to the Steve Jackson games Forums as the "Orange & Friendly".
- E.W.C.
Yep, all that ass kissing must have deprived his brain of oxygen....
Ok, given that this has NOTHING to do with RPGs directly, I'm moving it to off-topic, I really wish some other admin had done so already.
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