Site Update, May 24th
vBulletin Upgrades and More Shenanigans
Well fellow Hubbers, it's time to usher in a new age as the upgrade to vBulletin 3.8 has been completed. With it comes some bright new features and opportunities for your graphical artistic abilities to shine. Many may fear the changes, but don't worry - we're here to coddle you.
First, we'd like to mention some of the additions/subtractions to the Forge Hub we know and love. Social groups have now been fitted with a discussion board, and we hope you'll take full advantage of this, especially in the more active groups. With other new features taking their place, there are some that shall be missed. The blogs and calender have both been removed due to incompatibility, but these features may see a return when they have been updated. Though many will be sad to see it go, the Old School Theme will only remain until new themes are chosen - then it too will be making an exit. More on new themes below.
With many changes to the site, there is hope on the horizon. With the finale of the very long-winded 404 contest, we've chosen five rotating winners. If you should enter a fake link, like http://www.forgehub.com/FAKELINK, you'll find one of five community created images and a link back to the site. Congrats to the winners, you did an excellent job.
Hot on the heels of this contest comes another opportunity for fame. With the beginning of the Theme contest, we hope to see all you talented G&A fanatics give it your best shot. Following the format (interface) of the current Forge Hub default theme, create the most unique and interesting theme that screams Forge Hub (or just looks damn cool). You're free to use any color scheme and there is no coding required, only an image (at least 940 pixels wide) that shows your design. This is one by TDH that may possibly be our next skin, with some changes. Unlike that theme, yours must be 100% complete, and include all of the current buttons of the default FH theme as seperate images, as well as being extremely high quality.
For those of you wishing Old School to remain, try your hand at spicing up this classic and creating a more unique Forge Hub based skin. Most submissions will not be picked. Themes may be submitted here. There will be no new themes purchased, so until themes from the contest are chosen, Forge Hub X will remain the only usable skin.
For some more positive news, the glorious top-of-the-page shoutbox has returned. Basically the same as the previous version, the shoutbox has received an upgrade to remain compatible with the site. The shoutbox will remain moderated, and if abused, infractions or bans will be given out accordingly.
Lastly of all is the new forum rules button. All new members must read the forum's rules before making their first post. Ignorance of the rules is even less of an excuse, as every single member will have had them pop up on their screen at one time or another.
We hope you enjoy the changes we've made to keep Forge Hub up to date. Get to work on those themes, Hubbers!
Photographers Inc. Winner
Congratulations to urban destroyer for winning the recent Photographers Inc. Contest with Resistance. There were some generally awesome entries this time around and we had a tough time choosing the overall winner. Involvement in Photographers Inc has been great, and we thank you all for your participation. Congratulation again to urban destroyer, and make sure to keep an eye out for the next Photo Inc theme.
http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pely.jpg
Promotions
The Forge Hub Staff is glad to welcome the veteran Vorpal Saint back to the team. Vorpal is entering his second stint as Journalist, and we're locking him up so he can't get away this time. While the Saint rises to power, the viper falls back into the shadows. That's right, Shad0w Viper lays down his all powerful banhammer and retires into the calming life of a premium. Speaking of patrons, Agamer93 has joined the ranks of loyal. Be sure to stop by his page and give him a slap on the back.
The Community
I wanted to take time out to talk to you guys about the Forge Hub community. I want to remind you guys of a few things. Even though the staff gets to see and act on everything behind the scenes, we are in fact a part of the community as well. A major part of the community is the rules and we see the rules as a tool to help keep the community in line. Rules can only help guide a community to do the right thing. It is the individuals who follow the rules that actually make a difference. For a community like ours to thrive and move forward as a group, we must band together and work as a group. If every member of this site took 10 minutes of their time daily and helped another member out - whether it be explaining the rules to a newer member, linking the way to post a map correctly, or just talking to another member about a subject - it would surely make Forge Hub a better place. So, like we said previously its many members’ willingness to abide by the rules set in place for Forge Hub to a better place. Forge Hub is not about features, loyal members, and fame. It’s about being a community that is willing to help others. It’s about putting time into helping another member that does not quite get an idea. It’s about giving constructive feedback to a map creator. It’s about making friends with another member. Most importantly it's about having fun! We can only ensure that the Forge Hub community’s success continues by embracing each other.
Forgotten Treasures is Over!
Wow, there's some great entries, and we really have our hands full here. Thanks to everyone who participated! We're excited to throw down on some classics over the next couple weeks, reminisce about the bloodied and battered of the past Halo installments, and we hope to announce the winners by the next Site Update <-- subject to change, pending laziness...sorry! xP
Forge Hub Favorites
For those of you expecting another instances of Hidden Gems, we are sorry to disappoint. Though, can provide you with some positive news, as in place of Hidden Gems, Forge Hub Favorites shall be returning in the coming weeks. Makes sure to keep an eye out for the rebirth of FHF before the next site update!
The Tester's Guild
If you have recently used the Tester’s Guild you might have noticed the brand new Test Feedback Forum. You guessed it, the Test feedback forum is where the Tester’s Guild Members will leave there feedback for a map they tested. What makes the Test Feedback forum special is that map creators who had their maps tested by the Tester’s Guild can easily reference feedback given. In addition, if map creators don’t know what exactly to say when posting their map they can take good feedback given and use it for parts of their official map post. It gets even better than this! Once map creators have their maps posted if there map is up for review members of the Review Hub can easily reference feedback given from the Tester’s Guild.
We also want to give a shout out to some of the members that have stuck with the Tester's Guild, through the thick and the thin times. Kidbomber for almost always being there when the Guild required his aid. What's a Scope for his continued dedication to the testing practice and for putting time into managing part of the guild itself. Whisper, for always proofing and editing the sayings of the Tester's Guild In addition to maintaining the Master list. This is to all the Tester's that take time out of there daily schedule to test. This is to Transactionzero who through his dedication has helped shape the Tester's Guild with a unique vision. If you wish to join the Tester's Guild click here.
Review Hub
Two updates ago we casually mentioned Review Hub and it being released soon. We know you guys can’t wait to get your maps reviewed by the Review Hub. In the process of getting Review Hub up and running we have run into some complicated pitfalls. We are taking care of these pitfalls at the moment. However, one of the less complicated factors impeding RH’s Release is the Map Rating Criteria. The staff works on many behind the scenes projects without any help from the rest of the community. However, this time around we wish to give the rest of the community a chance to participate in help constructing Review Hub. The official map rating criteria can be found here. One look and you can see competitive and casual map rating criteria are completed. The aesthetic, mini-game, racing and MLG map rating criteria are incomplete. This is where you, the community come in. We need you guys to fill in the remaining criteria of those sections. Located here you can submit map rating criteria for the unfinished sections.
Forge Hub Community Spotlight
Return with much more vigor this time around, Forge Hub Community Spotlight made its second debut this passed week. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to speak with Draw the Line on some very insightful, forge related topics. If you happened to miss the interview, feel free to check it out here. Also, if you feel you know someone who deserves a spotlight, send a private message with three reasons as to why (evidence provided) to either chrstphrbrnnn or Transactionzero. Hope you are looking forward to the next community spotlight, which will air bi-weekly, on Wednesdays.
FH: The RPG - A look at Act II
With permission from Fbu, I got to take a sneak peak into the second act of FH: The RPG. During my time in Act II a few problems were worked out to make the actual play flow more smooth. Act II has a number of things in store for players along with new weapons, armor, a higher level to get, things to kill or be killed by, a chain of quests, and of course, the arena. To focus more on the story line, in Act II you will be helping out Mr. Shock Theta himself. Dead bandits have been stealing his things and he wants you to stop them! You'll have to travel all around the act II area to get the job done but in the end it'll be worth your while. Oh and just a heads up, watch out for the menacing water goddess. Aside from all that, there will be a tower in which players can face off against other players. Unlike the arena, this pvp tower is more of a no holds bar place for guilds to go at with every member they got. Kill the players, control the tower, and you'll have yourself a jolly good time. If you haven't started playing FH: The RPG already, then now would be a good time as Act II should be out and about in the near future. Oh, and here is some teaser screenshots for all you fan boys out there.
Catch ya on the Flip Side, Hubbers
Til next time, guys and gals. Thanks for reading and keep churning out all these awesome maps. We'll be back in 2 weeks with another Site Update. Also, message Grif for Recawnz!