Fansite Compatibility

[RYANNNNN]

So you wanna cut down on the arguements between fansites, but you've just said that a fansite isn't good, congratulations, this project will go far.

I know 2 factors don't make a fansite good/bad but I was just including some things that help.

This really isn't going to go any where though, seriously. There is no point in it, most fansites compete to be the most popular and that isn't going to change.

[Awfy]

Okay entitled to your opinion. However a lot of people have taken an interest so I'm going through with it.

[RYANNNNN]

Congratulations on wasting your time, this serves no purpose.

[Aflux]

Congratulations on wasting your time, this serves no purpose.

That post doesn't.

[Blob]

Ill help code it.

[LegendOfNoob]

this seems similiar to alot of ideas
Topsites become pointless cracks everywhere
the webring leaves smaller fansites high and dry when other fansites discovered
FRAPO it was a somewhat idea but it didnt have support
its hard to get a organization running because there is always going to be a critic
running after you to find out one problem
i dont hugely like or understand it but go for it you got the support

also a slight off topic note to the FRAPO critics
were soaring in america where were beleived in

[QuickScriptz]

I just spoke to Simon about this over messenger. After seeing constantly arguments on this forum which I have also been included in.

No offense but it's a bunch of 13 year old kids making websites with frontpage and dreamweaver... what do you expect

I wanted to come up with a plan to make all fansites combine and become like one big community.

Good in theory but unless you get the support of 99% of the Habbo Community it won't work. No one will hear about it.

I'm more interested in getting fansites to basically have the same ground rules and production methods. Not saying that all fansites should be the same as this then loses the uniqueness between all the different ones.

Now if that isn't the best contradiction I've ever seen. It's great and all to say "let's make a standard" but for the most part people make their own fansites because they're sick of the standard. When I was still using Habbo I only made one because I was sick of working for someone else and doing every "their way". I wanted to be the head of something and really feel important.

Just trying to come up with a way to make a community of fansites that don't fight for users/visitors, argue over features or items and generally promote one another. Kind of like the AA hotel ranking system, which would then allow the fansites involved display a star rating out of 5 on the site.

Big problem here is like the Retro Toplists, no one scrolls to page 378 where the little fansite that no one has ever heard of and just because it's small means it won't ever reach the front page because not enough people know about it to vote for it.

The best thing I can really think of is a base site which then allows fansites to join. Upon the request three or four reps will browse the site to see how it is in the terms of coding, design, user friendliness and so on. The site will then get a rating out of 10. If it gets a certain amount it can then join the group. Once it's in the group it's banners or advertisements are then added to the database or whatever which will then display on all the other fansites that are included in the system.

Same thing as above... no one scrolls to the very last page to check out Fansite #3988...

My only concern is the fact when fansites are ruled out from joining the system that they will retaliate and that then means the point of it is lost. As what we set out not to do has then happened.

Basically, yes. You're absolutely right that they will retaliate in some form or another. The metaphor "If you can't join 'em, beat 'em." may apply but if you're the little guy who doesn't get included then it becomes kind of hard to "beat 'em" and that makes the system quite flawed because it excludes the little guy.

Any views? If a lot of people think it's a good idea I will be wanting help to create it

Life is mean, so just quit.

No, I'm kiding, but honestly do you really think out of all the fansites out there that atleast 90% of them will latch on to the idea of being ranked in a huge database of fansites? Great in theory, flawed in reality. Sure the major fansites will all jump right in because "OMG - We're now an Official Members of 'The Habbo Fansite Group'" but if there's an "evaluation" to get accepted then it won't work.

a) People are afraid to fail the evaluation
b) People are too lazy to apply
c) People see no need to apply (how do they benefit?)

C is the major one - unless there's something to gain for the fansites then nothing will get done. What's in it for them? They will see it as: "Join our group and change how your site manages staff, treats visitors, deals with complaints, etc.".

The perfect example of what you're trying to do is the W3C. We all know them but that doesn't mean all Webmasters go out of their way to make sites W3C Compliant does it?

Okay, now I'm rambling... basically if you can come up with a good enough "Hook" and you can get the word out then it may work... otherwise you should maybe think up a new concept.... sorry :S

[Awfy]

We're not a topsite list. Our homepage will display random fansites this means everyone gets a look in. However, people can choose to view by category, rating, name or search. A fansite owner can decide whether or not they wish for their review and rating to be public or whether to have it just a link to their site if they want to improve before having a public rating placed on site.

This isn't out there to benefit just any fansite. It's there to help fansites that want to become part of a group where skill and input are measured instead of just pure popularity. I have come across MANY fansites over my time on Habbo which fail due to their owners popularity but do have an amazing site. Where as sites such as ThinkHabbo can quickly become popular because of the owner's position on Habbo and Habbo Staff input.

However I'm working on a hook at the moment. Been speaking to Habbo UK staff about them considering using the group as a way to select new official fansites. As they agree with me that the popularity deal doesn't make a fansite good. I've not heard back from them yet about their final answer, however it's looking promising. I think their main concern is that it's not an official site of theirs meaning that myself and other staff could easily manipulate ratings and so on. I did point out to them that we obviously wouldn't as the group is all about fairness in fansites and all the group would do towards the official selection is recommend not actually select the sites. Staff would then go onto the fansite and see for themselves if it's official material.

[QuickScriptz]

Well if you get the approval of the Habbo Staff and become officially affiliated with them then that will help your cause hugely. Only thing is that if you become the people in charge of what fansites become official like you said, there's the whole bias issue... anyway just a thought...

[Awfy]

Yeah, agreed with you.

My plan around this is to always have fansites reviewed and rated by people who are not involved with it or know the management of the site. This should cut out the fact of friendship getting in the way of a true review. Like if I wanted my site put onto the system, I would have to get 5 Habbos who didn't know management or myself to review it.