I was starting to draft a reply to this thread about forum suggestions and I realized it might be better to create an official thread where users can pitch ideas. A few things first...

Forum Software
I know I've gone over this many times, but I'll do it again :P

The forum software, for the time being, is here to stay. I've been looking at phpbb (which I have a fair bit of experience with) and comparing it with bbpress on a database level. Swapping forum software isn't a simple task, it takes a series of steps:

* Create a structure for the new forum software (forums etc)
* Transfer the userbase to the new forum
  * Keep users passwords the same by using the same hashing/salting algorithm
  * Keep users meta-data intact

These are just a few of the factors to consider when transferring to a new forum software. Sure you might say "just purge the whole thing, start fresh", that's not going to happen, even Ben doesn't want that.

I've learned that the password hashing algorithms for both bbpress and phpbb are the same, both use phpass (with a different salt obviously).

On a side note. Ben is interested in updating to bbpress 2 when it comes out of beta. Beta testing is going pretty smoothly, but we still aren't sure when that will be.

Current Software
For the time being, the most logical thing to do is improve the current forums where we can. This is what we need your help with.

Some ideas might include:

* Adding new forums and/or splitting existing ones
* Tighter moderation

Rules
* Be constructive
* Do not flame another user for their idea(s)
* Posts must pertain to the forums (this is not the place to suggest game ideas)

Sorry for the long post and for any typos that may have occured, not used to typing on a laptop for long periods of time.

@Khan, although this thread spawned off of that one (and others), please discuss ideas that have been pitched here ok?

I we where to change to phpbb, moving all the users are actually doable,
but keeping all the posts is way harder...

So what if we where to archive this forum and just start a new one?

@Enari:
The thought had crossed my mind also. It would just mean starting completely from scratch with the more useful stuff like released maps and mods.
Past useful discussion, I know it wouldn't be lost, would be harder to get to.

I think it should certainly be a consideration, but for now we just have to think of ways to improve what we have to work on.

I suggest a 13+ age limit (if that's even possible with the current forum software). Even though it wouldn't do much to stop 12 year olds from coming here, at least there would be legit reasons to get rid of them.

@Enari, sure it's possible but would require a good bit of local testing beforehand. The database structures are completely different and both softwares require different information from users in order to be considered "registered", some might have to be added to make the accounts usable.

@Kanye, as with anywhere on the internet, it's nearly impossible to make something age restricted. There's no way to identify if somebody is older than 13 years of age. Adding something like "what is your birthday" could easily be spoofed. phpbb has something like that that can be put in place but provides no guarantees. Also, given the nature of the game, it naturally attracts younger users and wouldn't be fair to disallow them on the forums due to their age.

Well what about us 12 years old who kinda like it here?! Im 12 and well enjoy everything. I would hate to leave :(

Im with Stack. Lots of us 12 year olds like it here. Falcon and I would trade anything to keep playing this game!

13+ includes 13 year olds bro.

Edit: Yeah I guess you're right about the nature of the game attracting a younger audience.

The two ideas you've included are plenty good enough for the time being, if you guys can crack down on posters and take a bit of time to sort and/or separate the topics.

How about a server section? Server owners could post server info there, and could be given suggestions/asked questions. Just make sure it doesn't turn into the spamfest that is the MC multiplayer forums.

I don't know if this forum software allows sub-forums, but what do you think about splitting the Maps & Mods section into a Maps subforum and a Mods subforum?

Some of you may think it's redundant as the current set-up works, but the number of mods released (and frequency) far outweighs the number and frequency of maps, which can lead to them getting buried rather quickly.

^ Im with Influx. I'm always at the maps and mods page. Maybe you could do that.

Also maybe having a "Most Popular" thread would be cool. For example threads with alot of post, yata yata. I find the one when you go onto the forums can have like a bump from like 4 months ago.

@Influx:
I'd generally agree, especially for future proofing this expanding place.

@Zeke:
http://ace-spades.com/forums/statistics.php
It's been there for ages - small link in the footer of the general page.

^Are you serious?! I have Literally never been told about that <_< Sorry for your time.

I had to be told where it was as well, so no worries xD

Also, since it's 911 have you guys thought about maybe going on a server and playing a few?!

See if maybe you could gather 5-10 IRC members and just have a little match?

WOOT My 'M.a.s.q.,m.a.s.a.' is the #5 thread in the entire forum!

@Influx, Zeke:
Wish granted, categories split.
We'll slowly trawl through the modding category to move the maps across.
We've also added descriptions and simplified the General Guidelines (since it should now be obvious about thread placement).

^Thanks! I think now, hopefully, finding maps and mods will be easier! I was searching through maps and found one I have never seen before. I think it was called "colors" :D

I made a thread about topics already posted
http://ace-spades.com/forums/topic.php?id=6617#post-110527
May help a bit with organization in the suggestions area.

nice thumbtag Stack

I recondite having the a gun/png/wav download for all the guns.

1) They are needed alot

2) I need them xD

Add a button to kill everyone in the forum.

@Reuben, Kanye, Rambo:
That was off-topic.

We are, as a staff team, improving the way we moderate. Namely, we've found a different system that makes it easier for us to record little infringements to the rules. So 'little off-topic comments' that happen several times will count towards warnings and/or bans, as well as larger infringements.
We will likely leave a message whenever we are not pleased with a post, so bear the above in mind when you post.

I don't see how it was off-topic, this is forum feedback/suggestions and I was simply giving feedback on kaede's suggestion. (telling her that if she wants to kill everyone on the forums, she must be suicidal because that includes her)

Suggestion: Can you put a sub-forum in the mods section for RELEASED mods? That way it will be a lot easier to find them without sifting through tons of suggestions and "I TAKE REQUESTS" threads. Not that it's too hard anyways, but it would make things nicer.

Another suggestion: Crack down harder on double posts just like you do with off-topic ones.

@Kanye:
Yeah double posting is annoying, may warn people who don't listen to the admins when we say not to double post.

We tried subforums.. looks terrible on the main page since there's no way to hide it from normal view. Hence why we had new sections instead of sub-forums.

@Everyone, what's wrong with double posting?! I find if you do it because of certian reasons it's ok, for example:

Bumping

Trying to get attention

Un-related comment

That's usually why I double post. If you don't want it at all i'll stop..

tGM, yeah that's makes sense, more subforums = more unwanted clutter etc.

Zeke, the only reason somebody should double post is to bump a thread that has gone like, over 12 hours without a response. There's a fancy little button that lets you edit your posts though, it's very handy.

my idea is you can only break a cearain amount of blokc a presumed amount of time all setting can be fixed aranged chage by server owner or admin

its similar to a chain gun it has to cool off us that same inference ti the pic ax

@Rambo:
This thread is for forum feedback/suggestions, not game suggestions.