Games threads in the lounge

[I, Brian]

Just to keep people updated - it's my intention to removing a lot of the games thread soon from the general lounge area.

http://www.Freecafe.co.uk has been created as a place for general games and chat, and it's about to undergo something of a make-over to make it look more attractive.

The board staff there are chronicles members - Princess Ivy, Leta, Alexa, and myself, are all running the boards there, so it shouldn't be too strange an environment.

Please do note that once Freecafe has a new template with more attractive colours and a smoother layout, you can expect that I will start to close down a lot of activity in the general lounge area.

Prime concerns include that this is supposed to be a SFF forum - but the general area alone covers 1/2 of the site content. So the chronicles network is in real danger of becoming a chat site with a SFF slant, when it should be a SFF forum which allows wider discussion.

Of particular concern as well is that the game threads and general chat areas are becoming a ground for personal attacks and other improper activities, and I have no interest in seeing that sort of approach incubating and growing on the site.

Additionally, the general chat behaviour of those threads has been spilling out across the boards, preventing SFF discussion topics from remaining SFF discussion topics.

Also, the general lounge should be a place for general threads and discussions - but the fact that it's dominated by games threads is in real danger of not simply killing general conversation topics, but can also look very cliquey for newer members.

The chronicles network has developed a great sense of community and I wish to uphold that as much as possible, but I think it's becoming clear that we need to retain some sense of direction in terms of this being a SFF forum as part of a wider SFF site, and this is how it needs to develop.

Hopefully, the notion of moving general fun and games and chat to the Freecafe isn't going to be too much of a surprise to most people, especially since the launch of that site.

However, I am very open to concerns, questions, and queries, that people may have regarding changes to this site. Please do feel free to raise them, either in public, or in private, whichever you are most comfortable with.

Oh - on other news - I expect the new chronicles design to go live tomorrow.

[Princess Ivy]

I'm on hand to welcome new members as always *conceals large club behind back*
we've got some great games going over there, come give us a visit, then you to can be at my mercy
*Very very evil mwahahahahaha Dr Evil laugh*
can't wait to see the new chronicles design brian.

[Princess Ivy]

Just in case anyone missed it:
http://www.freecafe.co.uk/index.php/board,89.0.html

[Rosemary]

Oh dear, I have erred!

Decided to join the Free Cafe. After registering I found out that I was already on the register, the worst thing is I cannot remember doing so!!!! Is it the same as Myth and Magic or is our Chronicles ID sent straight across when we click on the link?

Whatever the reason, how do I get rid of my 2nd registration.
My first was as Rosemary, the second was Rosie but only because I was instructed that the name Rosemary was already in use!!!!!!

[I, Brian]

Sorry about that Rosemary - Freecafe was initially set up by transferring the chronicles database across, then removing lots of stuff. I couldn't cut out membership stuff, though.

So if you were a member of chronicles when freecafe was set up, then you're automatically a member of freecafe, too.

Sorry for the confusion, and don't worry too much about the second alias - not really a problem at all.

[kaneda]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Oh - on other news - I expect the new chronicles design to go live tomorrow.

wow!

[Rosemary]

Thank you very much for the explanation Brian. I might just put a 'thread' out over, as a number of our 'friends' know me as Rosie.

[Stalker]

Thanks for the info, Brian. The question: are the game therads going to be moved in all their entirety to the freecafe or will be just "killed" here.
BTW, I appreciate very much the new design of the Chronicles forum. Looks excellent!

[Princess Ivy]

very very nice babe

[Alexa]

New games are available at Free Cafe.

[I, Brian]

Okay, official time for closing down game threads is Sunday, and I'll then set up an e-mail announcement about coming site changes on Monday.

[Lacedaemonian]

It's all gravy.

[Stormflame]

RPG's are NOT game threads. I have a 'serious' rpg started in the lounge, and would ask that it be moved to the creative writing section. Games are mostly spam that takes up valuable database and server space. An rpg is a 'book' that is made good by creative writing on the part of many members of this forum.
Thanks, Brian!

[I, Brian]

RPG threads are not games threads - it's basically general word games and similar - Freecafe has been set up to take those, but I may be delayed in getting the new changes implemented due to some serious technical problems at my end.

[I, Brian]

I've now removed most of the more immediate games threads from the lounge - please do use Freecafe for general chat games now please.

I appreciate that Freecafe still has some work to be done to it - the look needs improving and the boards are about to undergo re-arrangement - but you are more than welcome to join up and help shape the Freecafe experience.