[Chip]

As I''m sure you have noticed, this forum is broken.

The latest rash of bugs (multiplying apostrophes, broken links) have gone unresolved for nearly three months. The email function (needed for PM notification, password reset, abuse reports, etc) has been broken for more than six months. The New Files section on the front page has been "Temporarily Disabled" for a year.

Craigix, EvilDragon and I have all attempted to contact Hando (the board administrator) multiple times to try to get these problems fixed. We have offered to help fix the forum bugs. We have offered to host the forum for free on ED''s server to cut down on Hando''s costs. We''ve offered to do a donation drive to cover his hosting costs if he wants to keep his own server. We''ve even offered to buy the domain and forum database outright if he just doesn''t want to deal with it any more. Unfortunately, Hando has not offered any reply at all. Were it not for the fact that his user page shows he logged in recently, I would be concerned that something had happened to him.



At this point it is safe to assume that Hando has no intention of maintaining these forums. It is highly unlikely that the current bugs will ever be fixed. It is a definite possibility that the next time this board goes down, it will never come back up. As much as I hate to say it, GP32X.com is on its death bed.

I have discussed the situation with Craig and ED, and we agree that instead of scrambling for a new home when GP32X eventually goes down for good, it would be better to transition to a new forum now. We are completely revamping the openpandora.org forums and expanding them to include more platforms. ED has acquired the domain "OpenHandhelds.org", which will be the new home for the official Pandora forums.

OpenHandhelds.org will be a newer, bigger, non-broken version of GP32X.com. I''ve reorganized the existing forums and added many new ones. This is not just a Pandora forum with a few other consoles supported as an afterthought. It is my hope that we will attract developers and users of a wide variety of platforms. ED will be working on the look and feel of the board, which should improve dramatically over the next few days. Soon it will have a proper front page and a color scheme that is easier on the eyes.

The transition will not be easy. I know a lot of people here will resist leaving GP32X. I''ve been very reluctant to consider moving as well. There is 6 years worth of information and discussion here that nobody wants to leave behind. But whether it is six months from now or next week, eventually this board will go down for good without active administration. It is far better to get the transition period over with now before the Pandora and Wiz are actually released.

I would like to request everybody''s assistance in making this move easy and effective. If you would like to help, please consider copying over important information from this board to the new one, or better yet, to the wiki. As of now, all official announcements and core dev discussion will occur on the new forums. It would be best if everybody would move all discussion to the new forums now as well.

I would also like to hear any and all suggestions you may have for the new forums. This is a forum for everybody, so we want to hear everybody''s opinion.

For now, the new forums are still at forum.openhandhelds.org. Expect a front page update on Openpandora.org when the front page is ready.

[PokeParadox]

I think it's all quite fair. There has been more than enough time to fix forum bugs, so a mass transition does seem like the thing to do.

[Prophet]

This is a bit depressing. But I suppose it''s inevitable.

[StreaK]

Worst thing in all of that will be SEO for the new domain

[JayFoxRox]

Sounds nice, I will backup the Pandora-PSP topic tonight or so and move the most important parts to the offical homepage and the Pandora-Wiki

[sataniC Virus]

Hando replied quick enough to me a while back when I was making a donation!

Good idea to move to new forums if these cannot be fixed. Good time now to plan to future proof the new site for upcoming popular handhelds (dingoo et al)

[fischju2000]

And so the great exodus begins

[PoisonedV]

Can you guys not use phpbb? I mean, I know it's "open"... but damn
oh god, ill miss gp32x

[StreaK]

I''ve send an email to Hando, he is alive ''coz he register himself on my page [ openpandora.pl ] in october''08 so hold on for one day...

[klikklak]

When I first read the title I figured the forums split due to pandora leaving to their own forum. It however appears that this isn''''t the case. With the new domain (which should be futureproof) and emphasis that all handhelds are welcome, I''''m happy about this. Well, happy is the wrong word, but my english is failing me, it''''s sad to lose a home on the net, but an overhaul and active administration was needed, if it can be done at the new site, I''''m all for it.

EDIT: it would be good practice to have the site up before you announce it. All I get is a 404.

This post has been edited by klikklak: 24 April 2009 - 06:09 PM

[Chip]

Can you guys not use phpbb? I mean, I know it's "open"... but damn

I suggested about a dozen phpBB mods to ED last night to improve the look and functionality of the forum. There are things that it lacks compared to IPB, but all of them can be remedied with a few addons. Do you have any speciffic suggestions, or does this just fall under your usual world-encompasing umbrella of hate?

it would be good practice to have the site up before you announce it. All I get is a 404.

As noted in my first post, the forums are still at forums.openpandora.org. I've emboldened that bit to make it more obvious, since it could easily get lost in a large post like that.

[PokeParadox]

When I first read the title I figured the forums split due to pandora leaving to their own forum. It however appears that this isn''''t the case. With the new domain (which should be futureproof) and emphasis that all handhelds are welcome, I''''m happy about this. Well, happy is the wrong word, but my english is failing me, it''''s sad to lose a home on the net, but an overhaul and active administration was needed, if it can be done at the new site, I''''m all for it.

EDIT: it would be good practice to have the site up before you announce it. All I get is a 404.

You can access the board, but the new domain isn't completely active yet

CODE

http://forum.openpandora.org/

[Bramrash]

ah well, see you on the other side fuckwits.


Edit 2: nevermind

This post has been edited by Bramrash: 24 April 2009 - 06:18 PM

[b_o_b]

Great initiative that I highly support!

[Kyosys]

Bummer. I''d hate to see this forum, my posts and everyones posts in it go. But I agree. The forum is definitely on it''s death bed, and it should go prepared rather than unprepared. It''d also be good to put some life back in the other forums which are less annoying (this forum keeps logging me out). I''ll be back to my activity over there, and modding duties, as long as I keep them