Just quick "news" post (mainly so shows up on main website being as how all you forum members see me around still a lot)

Thats were all the livelyness is guys in the forums. I have a newer simple main website layout to sort out and release at some point. Will be doing general update of the forum and the mods also.

I'm working on plans for the new "rules" (if there is any! [dam it shhh mickey]) for downloads

Well I'll get some updates done something this year lol

~Micks~

=O
yay~
Heh, its been a busy-crazy year

Yeah with all crap that I'm put to in my personal life. :/

I browse this forum after my long period of absence and find myself amazed that were still kicking.

We need forms of advertisement to restore the forums former glory.

Ideas

As you lot all well know, I've been off Anime really for quite a long time (not that I'll stop hosting ygol or anything ) Just with me growing up and all don't have time or any passion to work on this place. I do my bits when I can/feel up to it.

I couldn't agree more with Echo. In the beginning and far past the beginning this site upheld good members, and topics that had depth in every division. Until now, as of lately we seem to be attracting the lowest common denominator (n00bs). any way you can start advertisement networking with other anime sites?

Actually, Mickey said it that he no longer have any passion to work in this place, so you should have expected to go down to the way it is.
I apologize to say this, but this place if not to be improved and have serious changes which should be taken care of mainly by Mickey, it's better to be closed.
Good suggestions instead of this passive view? Lucid Nightmare said what is enough.

I don't think our problem is advertising, it is what our focus is .
If we take YGO out of our name, do a proper name change, and broaden our interest, we'd be kickin with members in no time.
The stigma of being a YGO-centric site instead of just being an anime site, drives away potential members.
The original series of YGO is dead and once GX started it only promoted the OCG/TCG, not the fandom. This is where we lost a chunk of our members morale in the series. (no offense to cardplayers )


Anyway, if changes were to be made, I have no problem in helping. My activity has been poor, but since I'll be starting a new semester at University, my schedule is much more open and free for commitment online then it used to be =].

While the founder have a considerable role in forum's life each member is its creator.
Namonaki is right as there are two major problems that forum struggles with at present.
Lack of interest in anime and lost enthusiasm of people belonging already to the forum.
The time when "Yu-Gi-Oh!" anime was the most prosperous in supporters, was the time when it was played and was still the novelty.
The number of people registering has decreased dramatically. Even the other kind of members, commonly sharing the name of n00bs doesn't seem to show up. As a matter of fact it happens occassionaly on average with seven days difference between appearance of each. More and more rare visits, firstly due to lack of time (or gradual lost of interest), then desire, initiated thinning out in the numbers of people.
The explanation for some people still being present came down simply and unfortunately to sheer habit (those who haven't managed to download everything yet also have a contribution to this sum).
It isn't truth that topics stopped suiting everyone. The only reason for discouragement is pointless waiting.
It isn't this time when only opening the site of the forum assured that one would find that someone made something what appealed to them as well. If there are no such topics, such posts anymore - create one, if not for others than for self. Neither is a waste.
Lack of time? What about these several times spent in the means of transport on the way home or anywhere where waiting isn't the most pleasant activity. We cannot afford relying on others in such situations like this.
But before mobilising others, we need to do the same with ourselves.

The other point, namely the idea of turning the forum into more anime-thematic while good would require lots of changes.
One of which would have to be the addition to downloads those anime which forum would be promoting.
It would cost much effort and would be certainly more expensive, but actually, whether such option is to be taken into consideration at all, is the matter left mainly for Mickey.

I had thought about that, the issue involving the downloads.
In my previous experiences of website choosing, simply a site with updated content (such as articles) were good enough for me. I'm sure even that will arouse the interest of some anime fans, not just the idea of us offering media based downloads.

Anyway, it is indeed up to Mickey about where we go from here =].

Certainly articles are a valueable part to make forum's content more attractive, the more additions the better.
As much as this is true, this is not the term which is written in the searching box the most often.
Alas, downloads have been always beating other aspects in the respect of the firstly mentioned expectations.
Most present articles are really well prepared however also their biggest quantity was written much long ago.
If they were to become one of the strongest points of the forum, there would be need to take care of their continous increase. This section would need to look alive all the time.
Each one, if left alone, becomes invisible. By contrary, one who aims for downloads will not forget soon about the place if they know the update will come. Waiting causes some of them to find time to look around beyond the edges of the download gallery.
This is not the support for downloaders but pointing out some relations, at least those which lead to the first contact with the forum, in majority. In order for forum to become attractive in every respect,
all of them should be on the same level. To interest those who were orientated towards only few particular things, to convince discouraged ones that every matter is interesting if only is shown in the proper form.
All in all, articles...undeniably-yes, but I wouldn't make them the strongest point which we can count on the most.

I meant for the articles simply to be a starting point for us, not to be the main attraction. I understand the importance of a media database and what it can do in terms of popularity on the net. I just think we should work on our content and update, then slowly incorporate the media attribute as we go down the line. Establish the loyal members first, and foremost.

I will not deny the fact that you are correct on the media aspect.

It doesn't have to be a surprise to find loyal people amongst those who were searching for quenching their downloading thirst on the first place although perhaps there is enough experience testifying otherwise on this point.
In any case forum cannot appear to be naked but have firm grounds in order to make one become attached to something other.
It is indeed an interesting and a good solution to help them with the choice in this way.

As a separate suggestion I would have something to say about the change in the rules when and if such time comes.

All I can say is;
It is up to Mickey.

Lets say we "temp" close the website (and auto redirect/linkage also to the forum) while at some point we redo the website. I was thinking of going forum only but heh don't really like sound of that. If had some top members who knew basic html and so on could bring them on to help with the website side of things.

While ago was thinking of making videogame type site but heh. So if we turned to more Anime style. What would we call ourselfs (animelegends.com is taken btw) use www.dnstools.com to check domains are open =p.