Well then, welcome to the new SpikedEffect.com main website, as you can see things have changed quite significantly from what it use to be and hopefully in the long run for the better.
Unfortunately in the process the user database has been cleared completely, I thought long and hard on the decision to do this, and I felt that due to the changes that are happening in the near future it would work out for the better. So you will have to register again even if you have done so in the past.
To find out what's changed read on...
So what exactly has changed around here? Well without going too much into the technical side of things, below is what has changed:
- SpikedEffect.com now has a new home: I talked about this previously (even if it was a long time ago now) and now it's finally happened. The website is now on it's own server that is not shared with any other websites. Fundamentally what this means is I have full control over the server and what it actually offers.
- The "engine" that powers the content has changed: Basically all this means is that the content is generated (as it appears to you) in a different way with a new management system (for those in the know the Content Management System is called Joomla)and a more powerful administration so that hopefully in the long run it leaves a lot of doors open to expansion.
- A brand new design: This is the most obvious change and one of the changes I've spent the most time trying to get right, according to my tests the design works in Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2 and Apple's Safari. If you do find any issues with the design, please contact us to let us know.
- A notice to users of Internet Explorer 6 and below: Whilst I have done my utmost to try and make this site look as close to how it's meant to look on your browser, because of how uncompliant your browser is to current web standards (and unsecure to add) there may be times content doesn't look as it's meant to. I suggest you upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer or alternatively change your browsing client to Mozilla Firefox or Apple's Safari for the best browsing experience across the internet.
- The forum has been spruced up: The forum is now powered by the newest version of the original forum software I was using, and with it all the new features that were brought in, however, the forum has been cleared out and started from scratch... Again this is something I thought long and hard about as the previous forum seemed to have no direction in where it was going and well, will this one go the same way? Only time will tell.
- The gallery has moved: The gallery is active and can be accessed via the link in the main menu and page header navigation, it can also be found here.
So now you know what's new... you may want to know what's missing and some extra points to note... at least for now:
- We had a special gallery photo album, it's gone?: Actually no, it hasn't, like both the forum and this main site, the user database has been wiped clean, if you had a private album you could view before it's still there, you just need to re-register (when for now if you want access to any of the photos. Contact us.
- A note about the forums: Be aware the forum is "synced" to the user database of the main site using some software which isn't actually a full stable release as such, so if you find any issues whilst using the forums please contact us and let us know!
- A note about the gallery: Like the forums be aware the gallery is "synced" to the user database of the main site using some software which isn't actually a full stable release, so again if you find any issues whilst using the gallery please contact us and let us know!
Now that's by no means all that has gone "missing" or things that you may need to know, but it is the major points to note. Over time more functionality will be released and added, and I will keep you up to date through these news articles and my blog. For now enjoy the new SpikedEffect.com and I'll report back soon.