VB3 Default theme?

[DarkRaven]

Why do so many VB3 forums use the dafault theme? I mean, it's not a bad theme or anything, but wouldn't they have a bit more imagination?

Examples:

• http://boards.ie/vbulletin/
• http://forums.tizag.com/index.php (slightly modified, I know, but it's still 99% the same)
• http://www.smogon.com/forums/
• http://www.skyscrapercity.com/
• http://www.fileforums.com/

The list goes on, and on, and on, and on.....

 

[Ascent]

It's clean, simple, and professional at the same time. I don't see why not.

 

[Deleted member 4320]

I don't like it, it's to blocky and boring, no problem with people using it but I wouldn't join if they used that because to me one thing I look for when joining a forum is does it look good, and it doesn't to me.

 

[DarkRaven]

It's clean, simple, and professional at the same time. I don't see why not.

Yes but it is used on every second site that uses vBulletin. It's totally unoriginal. If it was any other theme on any other forum software, people would criticize the administrator for not looking hard enough for a theme or designing his own.

 

[John1]

The more professional boards use it, and some just edit what they need to. It isn't bad anyway, it's easy to read and can be customized anyway you like.

 

[juststeven]

I don't like it

 

[SettledHate.]

I like it. 😉

 

[spyka]

well seeing how big those boards are, clearly the vast majority of people don't mind it, so why change it?

it's far easier to keep the original theme when upgrading and whatever, so if people are still using the forum with the default theme I see no reason to spend time and money on a new theme when it's not needed

 

[John1]

well seeing how big those boards are, clearly the vast majority of people don't mind it, so why change it?

Exactly, take DigitalPoint forums for example. They have the blue default one and another but in the color green.

 

[Cosmic]

But what if the same question was asked about phpBB? And IPB? I think originality is great and, personally, the VB3 default theme looks terrible to me.

 

[Nathan]

But what if the same question was asked about phpBB? And IPB? I think originality is great and, personally, the VB3 default theme looks terrible to me.

While I totally agree with you, who needs "originality" when you've got boards as big as those?

 

[Cosmic]

If they continue using the same skin forever it will eventually get outdated which will decrease activity. They may have big forums but they need to do some things to make sure people stay.

 

[Nathan]

Having a big forum is enough to keep people to stay really.

 

[Fredward]

I agree with Nathan, when starting off it helps if you have an eye-catching design, but once your forum is truly established it is really the people, and the quality of information there that make it worthwhile.

 

[Fergal]

Just goes to show, quality forum content and management is more important than design.

 

[DarkRaven]

Just goes to show, quality forum content and management is more important than design.

Of course it's more important, but it's still better to go that extra mile. Personally, I detest that design. If two forums had equal quality of content, I'd take the one with the nicer design over the one with the VB3 default.

You should always seek to outdo your competition.

 

[Fergal]

Just goes to show, quality forum content and management is more important than design.

Of course it's more important, but it's still better to go that extra mile. Personally, I detest that design. If two forums had equal quality of content, I'd take the one with the nicer design over the one with the VB3 default.

You should always seek to outdo your competition.

Good point DarkRaven, I agree with you 100%. I made my original point on the basis that I have in the past personally spent too much time trying to get a forum theme just right, when that time could have been better spent on the forum management and content. Thanks for your clarification.

 

[Impulse]

I don't understand why they keep the default theme either, it's really not all that hard to make your own or even install a new one.

With big boards like those though I don't think the admin really care, if nobody is complaining, why change it.