I'll pay to become a supporting member. The whole pursuit thing worked for PBN to gain more traffic; a similiar idea to bring AO back couldn't hurt to try.
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I'll pay to become a supporting member. The whole pursuit thing worked for PBN to gain more traffic; a similiar idea to bring AO back couldn't hurt to try.
Well, I can start some of the work on this if some of the mod team is willing to help out.
I'd need some numbers in regards to monthly traffic, server load, etc. That might have to come from the hosting company though.
Tom - is this something you can help with?
Getting this info would help us figure out the monthly hosting costs elsewhere if need be.
Also, can we get a SQL backup of our Database in case something DOES happen? This would make the transfer easy too.
Just a side note, I'm on a work computer that isnt used for anything but record keeping and online forums... and I keep getting ads for ukranian women who want to date me :rolleyes:
Well apparently you need to stop frequenting Ukranian singles forums. :rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by BTAutoMag
apperently I need to stop shopping for GM products as well even though I'm loyal to dodge :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by OPBN
The forum has limited appeal no matter what ads are coming up, what server it's hosted on or what format the information is displayed in. Remember the state of paintball, AGD, and the marker we all love so dearly. There is nothing to draw non AGD fans here and there really would be a tough time to find anything. IF AGD were active in manufacturing anything paintball there would be a draw for the product support but alas...and the difficulty a wanting to register member must endure to actually get registered here will dissuade all but die-hards anyway... seems you have to know someone who knows someone to get a registration approved by a MOD and word on other sites is it's been this way for a long time. If there is a prayer at getting new people here registered to do more then lurk new registrations must be dealt with appropriately and more timely. This situation makes the site look dead to outsiders, and the community look "closed" and snobby.
You can host a pretty massive website for a lot less these days than one could back on 06 when TK was quoted on the costs. Company I was working for was hosted on a virtual dedicated for $400/year with over 5ooGB storage and that was an older server - newer hardware means cheaper hosting costs. Godaddy is a great host even if you dislike their political views. Dreamhost (mentioned before) is so so rated in what I have seen.
I agree with Luke, adding a required membership will be the death of the site/forum - there is not enough content to create traffic from enough people. PBNB and MCB have a much wider audience to draw from. Advertising and user donations are the only viable sources.
We have become a nitch community. I'm all for saving the data here, and moving it to a cheaper host, especially if TK is still paying that exorbitant fee every month, however recently loosing my job precludes me from donating much in the way of funds...I can click ad links, but not for milfs, ukraninian women or such... I can't afford a divorce either :rofl:
well when the ukrainian woman moves in just say youre supporting the site :nono:Quote:
Originally Posted by justme-
I wholeheartedly agree that a required paid membership would be a very bad move. I still believe, however, that a premium membership, or support member or whatever it might be called for sure would bring in a decent sum of yearly $$$. Especially if there were perks apart from bragging rights, such as membership only deals on AGD apparel. Ukranian women might not be the answer we're looking for, even though some of us are looking for Ukranian women, or so it seems.
this is why I love this site :dance:
I found a Ukranian woman that shoots a Mag...... win/win! :shooting:
It’s only popular because it’s popular.Quote:
Originally Posted by Justus
The two things centralized in the current setup are the storage/bandwidth and the moderation, both of which I would think can and should be decentralized. The fact that it is so centralized doesn’t help people find like-minded individuals or relevant information, especially if the single server goes down (look what happened to Simonized), or the owners don’t feel like paying money for the storage/bandwidth anymore, or new users or certain posts need to be approved by mods, or something silly like that.
The real reason to enforce so much literal centralization is control. Say if you’re a vendor (or just your garden variety megalomaniac) and you want to impose control over customer's content, access, interface -- the entire user experience. From a business perspective, this is understandable.
With the status of AGD as it is, it's hard to make a case for why it needs to be this way.
I’ve been looking for a replacement, but so far haven’t seen anything other than what I’ve already mentioned. I am distinctly, specifically *not* talking about Facebook.
I guess we’ll be holding on to the old model a bit longer.
I have to agree with him on these pointsQuote:
Originally Posted by GoatBoy
Also , i never understood why there are pics of guys up on the banner( rt/hand corner)
that are from 1990's ?
Shouldn't we be adding guys up there like "BIG EVIL" for example ,that are "active" on here ?
You know @ least giving the attempt of "mixing it up " a little
Maybe some variety & fairness ?? Just a thought ;)
Btw its not going to matter what we did to this site @ this moment in economic time.Lets be realistic, cuz paintball & other hobbies are down across the board ,and there are some fancy sites out there we all know that .
I could make this site dance & do "Global thermal Nuclear war games" if i could ,& thats not going to change a thing as far as AGD revenue
Shouldn't we be adding guys up there like "BIG EVIL" for example ,that are "active" on here ?Quote:
Originally Posted by luke
I have always thought there should be pic updates, show the mag in action! Perhaps a video how to and look what i have tab?
i like this idea also, lets all chip in and get some well over due updates... if we can cut out the fees, but if there was a option to be a "supporting member" i would do that, keeping in mind that u can roam free if u like just a little plus for additional support!
BRANCH OUT!!! as we have shown that the mag is customizable. he made it and perhaps can breath new life in to it! Just a new marker style would b cool... they all have the same motor.... idk if u can out do the xvalveQuote:
Originally Posted by BTAutoMag
I agree. TK adding something new to AGD would do just that.Quote:
Originally Posted by RT Lover
Making it mandatory to become a paying member is a bad idea any way you slice it. However making it an option to pay to help out AO as a whole is something I feel a lot of old schoolers would do here.
Tom can we design the next big thing from AGD? :clap:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Side
#1 - this thread was about (originally) re-doing AO forums. If you have "plans" for reinvigorating AGD, let's take them elsewhere to keep things somewhat on track.
#2 - Tom's not in charge of AGD anymore. Dave Zupan is.
Tom will always be in charge of AGD in my heart :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Dayspring
Oh, believe me, I have a major affinity for Tom and the brand he built. Hell, I've hung out with the guy multiple times. But let's face facts here - he's out of paintball (outside of the compressor project) and Dave's all we have left.Quote:
Originally Posted by BTAutoMag
I dont think I've ever seen him on the boards... whats his SN?
Tom? AGD is his SN.
lol, no.
Dave's SN
My biggest concern is the possibility of loosing old threads if we have a server crash and the speed of this site itself. Sending messages and also trying to open the site when there is a message window telling you have a new private message in your queue can take forever (on occasion).
For me it’s more about preservation and not a new look. If a new look happens through the renovation that’s fine, but that is not the real motivation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AGD
Well, a SQL database backup would prevent that - not sure how often that's done though.
I'm hoping a mod can either chime in here or somebody with connections to the hosting company pops in - I'd like to help and if necessary, spearhead this. But we have some standing questions that need answers.
ZupeQuote:
Originally Posted by BTAutoMag
I think Zupe has nothing to do with this site. I beleive it is still Tom's baby.
So, i second the lets get back on track.
First priority is a reliable site so this doesnt go bye bye. fancy stuff is not the primary objective.
I also, second someones idea of Tom setting up a paypal account for donations. IF Tom wants to do that....(if Tom could answer this)
Last I heard Zuoe pays the bill but I could be mistaken.Quote:
Originally Posted by skipdogg
I thought that is why TK set up the header adds years ago. (??)Quote:
Originally Posted by BigEvil
Alright then. Back to getting things on track. Why not set something up like Custon Cockers has?
I'm all for reinvigorating the Mag but I think the after market will more than likely have to do that.
Such as?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark Side