Need help on something I've never done before.

[gamemaster78]

So I was sitting there eating a bowl of cereal this morning, and it hit me. I want to create my very own website, devoted to Skylanders.

I don't want this to be a simple website. I want to do Skylanders justice. Videos of playthroughs and character strategies, pictures, forums, news, EVERYTHING!

Once done, I am going to try and gain access to places like E3, Toy Fair or any place where Activision has a Skylanders presence, so I can cover the news on all things Skylanders. I certainly have the money to do so.

Thing is, I can easily shoot videos (with a capture card I plan on buying today), some awesome pics and easily find news based on inside retailer info I always get. I don't know how to design a website.

Anyone have any ideas for me, to lead me in the right direction? I can supply pics for everything I want for said website, I just need to know how to get started.

[Yaggleberry Finn]

Well, I think a good website is more about quality content than about wowing people with lots of bells and whistles. The Skylanders website is already a very cool looking website, great images and backgrounds and videos... but it's pretty weak on the kind of content you're talking about.

I've always coded my own websites using notepad, but I know that's not a very common thing nowadays. However, since that's been the case for me, I can't really direct you to be the best site for those without a lot of prior experience. I wouldn't worry about buying any webdesign software, I would just use Google to see what services are available. Looks like there are lots of them. You can go here: www.make-a-web-site.com/ and Tom Jones will help you out. If that's him in the picture, he looks both knowledgeable and friendly

Another pretty important point is picking a good name for the site, and therefore for your domain name as well.

Good luck!

[gamemaster78]

I will take a look. I plan on a lot of cool things. I already have the name picked out, which I think people will like. It's name can represent a couple of meanings.

I plan on having an insane amount of Skylanders pics and such. Hopefully, I can contact someone at TFB or Activision and even get the toys early for review purposes.

I saw Geekdad get them early, but it almost seems like a waste, because he didn't even really review them when you think about it. Mine would actually be for review purposes.

Thanks again. If I get it up and running, maybe I can throw a link to this board up, so the Skylanders community can come together and grow.

[gamemaster78]

Also, if I make a website, how do I make a forum to go along with it?

[coastyjimbo]

GM78, I say you skip adding a New Forum and just use this one. I am way more entertained by this one, then DS. Plus, this place has adults instead of the forum police every other topic. Unless of course: you want this Board to be the place where the cool kids hang out. Then pass on my original idea.

[chaosworrier]

When I read Tom Jones I automatically thought the singer.

I met him once and asked if ladies really did throw their panties at him when he was on stage.

His response was "It is not unusual..."

Boom tish!

PS: If you don't get this joke then Google is your friend...

[themorpheus]

Mar 8, 2012 19:51:31 GMT -6 chaosworrier said:

When I read Tom Jones I automatically thought the singer.

I met him once and asked if ladies really did throw their panties at him when he was on stage.

His response was "It is not unusual..."

Boom tish!

PS: If you don't get this joke then Google is your friend...

LOL! Funny how my connection to photobucket is Tom Jones.

As far as web site design as well as forum creation, most any place that will host your site will also provide you the tools to create,edit,and maintain your website. They should also be able to have the ability to ad MySQL for the database needed for the forums. Dont get suckered into the monthly fee places as my wife's website, as well as my own, were a one time fee of around $5 for name registration and around $20 for yearly hosting. Once you get out of the initial year, it gets pricy, but its not like you cant DL the code and transfer it to a new hosting company.

And yea Yaggle, no one really codes in notepad anymore. LOL

[chaosworrier]

Bish bosh to Notepad, vi all the way!

[gamemaster78]

Well, I had thought about asking if someone wanted to somehow link their forum site, to my site, so it could be like the official forums of my website... if that's possible.

There are just sites out there that don't offer enough info on the game, not even the Wikia page on the game, in my opinion.

One thing I dislike about Darkspyro, is that you're not allowed (stupid move honestly) to buy/sell/trade or ask for help in getting new Skylanders. I simply don't know what the short-sighted dude who runs that site is thinking.

So, on my site, I would make a sightings and buy/sell/trade section. I certainly wouldn't hate on those who make topics asking for help in getting any figures.

However, it's all mainly about Skylanders. I want access to places like Toy Fair and E3, so I can cover news on the game, meet the creators, interview them and such.

I would even partner with someone who could maybe design the website, while I supply pics and video, to build a truly awesome site dedicated to Skylanders and its upcoming sequels. I would tell them the name I would like for the site, I would pay for it and such. They would just help me maintain it, through design and such.