Your Forum Review
First Impressions & Appearance - (Out of 20)
Immediately logging on the site, and just skimming around, I am thoroughly impressed. The style and layout are fantastic. Great choice of colors on the template. The banner is bright and gorgeous, which is what you expect from anything Nintendo Related. Though, I really do have a problem with the images covering the text in the banner. It's creative, but not a good idea to block the forum title in your banner.
The background image is great; but , only 50% of it. You really need to find a way to add something different on the right side of the forum background. Samus' leg, Kirby's belly, and Pikachu's ear just looks really awful over there.
I have never seen better board icons perfectly fitted for a forum before. Ususally I always have to nit pick on most forums on/off icons, but yours are amazing. The coin blocks, which are very synonymous to any Ninetendo fan, are just perfect.
(18 /20)
Site Layout - (Out of 20)
I do have several issues with the forum layout, especially being a huge nintendo gaming fan, myself. Let me start from the top, The Bulletin Board. Everything really seems layed out well in this section. My only complaint is the Nintendo Store. For one, it should probably be titled, The Forum Nintendo Store; since it is for the forum, and not the actual nintendo store. Also, I don't like it's location. I think it would probably be best suited as a sub-board in one of the sections; or maybe just moved down below, and I would suggest underneath the Spam board.
Now, here's my griping of the layout. The Nintendo sections. You actually have more sections in the "Other Gaming" sections, that the actual nintendo section. Everything in these section are kinda messy. There's no organization. And, by that, I mean why aren't there sections for Nintendo based franshises? If I want to find a particular game to talk about, I have to search through a load of pages just to find it. You really need to consider either a section for popular nintendo gaming franchises, oir add gaming franchises as sub-boards under their respective systems, Wii & DS.
Now, don't go crazy on adding every single title. Just geta feel for the series' you know will be most talked about. You already know the most popular ones will be, mario, metroid, zelda, pokemon, smash bros, animal crossing, etc. This will actually spark more interests in your Ninetendo sections, cause it will allow so much more freedom on talking about certain franchises, and not just one topic dedicated to a game.
Just to compare, I run a brawl forum. I have more brawl sections than any other section on the forum. And that's just ONE game. You have the complete Nintendo Universe of games at your disposal. And, another thing that bothers me, is there's nowhere to hook up with members to play games on wifi ... which is a huge selling point for any nintendo forum ... getting members connected.
For the General Games sections. I honestly think you should combine the General Gaming & Current Consoles sections. Cause when looking through current consoles; it's mostly talking about games on other consoles, which defeats the purpose of General Gaming. My solution. Again, use sub-boards. Make different sub-boards for different consoles. So gamer talk will be more organized when a member wants to discuss a game from a particular console.
The rest of the forum is layed out very well. And each section belongs exactly where it should. Though, the category, Irrelevance" probably isn't the best choice of words for that section. everything else has "Discussions" in the title, so why not something like, "Member Discussions" ; but Irrelevance just makes that section sound like those sections don't belong.
(14 /20)
Statistics and Activity - (Out of 20)
Considering your forum had to completely start over, your current stats are impressive. I couldn't imagine how huge the sats would be right now if all the previous stats were able to be tranferred. The only thing though, is your forum didn't just start in 2008. By that, I mean you didn't just think it up, then have to build it's reputation from scratch. You had a 4 year build up for it's new foundation, and active loyal members from the previous forum were already set for when this forum got up and running. But still, the stats are impressive for only being opened for one year.
(18 /20)
Staff Moderation - (Out of 20)
Oh, wow! 5 administartors? I had to look and refresh a few times to make sure that was accurate, and not a glitch. Seriously, your forum only calls for 1, maybe 2 admins on the forum. I DO understand how this happened. The prevuious forum must have been huge, and you needed those numbers when converting to the new forum. But it just makes your forum look too governed. You need less admins, and more mods.
Do all of these admins really have admin responsibilties? Or are they just close friends who help moderate the forum. You need about 3 of these admins removed from the rank, and placed as a moderator. 8 staff members is already pushing it. But maybe there's a reason for all the staff.
Oh, lord. Doing a little more research. You have an admin, Linkums, who in 1 entire year, has spent a total of 34 hours on the forum. In one year, has only 266 posts. And reading his portal page
Ahoy. I'm the guy that originally started Forum Nintendo back on Invisionfree. Now I mostly do my own thing and just visit for fun, maybe help occasionally.
^^ This has got to change, very soon. He needs to let go if he doesn't plan on actually working for the forum's progression. He is obviously a good friend of yours, and you don't want to hurt is feelings.
REMOVE Linkums, SW:Crimson, and SW:The Thief from your admin and staff team. They are not there for your forum; seems more like a staff rank is all. D2K is a great admin from what I can tell. You and him are all the admins you need.
I have never spent this much time on a forum's staff team when reviewing. You just have to think about it, once you read what I am saying. It does suck to hurt friends' feelings, but you have to think about the forum. You probably have better members more fitting for the mod team; not 3 admins who don't get involved. A FULL year on the forum, and they barely post. They average between 200-300 posts.
(7 /20)
Spelling/Grammar & Professionalism - (Out of 20)
Everything looks great throughout your index page. Very good use of grammar, spelling, and clever wording for board titles and descriptions ... all except for that category title i mentioned above.
(20 /20)
77 - (Out of 100)
Final Remarks:
The admin team needs serious re-adjustments. Ask anyone from here, they will agree. Also, your forum needs more nintendo related content. There are only 3 section that have to do with nintendo, It almost feels like Nintendo was the main goal of the forum, but more sections got added for off-topic discussion ... but nothing added to spice up the nintendo sections.
Your forum would have had an amazing score, up in the 90's, if not for the really bad choices for the current staff members.
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The forum look and layout. It's a great theme that will attract any fan of the Nintendo comapny.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
The insane number of admins, and 3 of them that almost have nothing to do with the forum. This issue needs to be resolved, I have already stressed and presented my case on this issue. It's time for those admins to let go, so the forum and staff team can move forward.
Another thing, I even posted a topin on the forum about this one. That there are no toption to add any Wii FCs, or game FC's in the profiles. But for some reason, Xbox Live gamertags are welcomed. That really needs to be addressed.
How could I get you (The Reviewer) to join my website?
Didn't take me long, being a huge nintendo fan myself. And jusging by the activity, doesn't take many others long to decide to join and be active. It is a good forum with alot of potential. Looking forward to beuing a member on there.
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