User:ProdigySim/Forums Proposal

The current layout of the forums leaves much room for ambiguity and many many trash posts. This is my proposed alternate forum layout.

Feel free to leave comments, suggestions, or alternative layouts on the discussion page. This page doesn't have to necessarily represent solely my opinions.

• Category: General
  • Forum: Forum Information
    • Description: Forum-related announcements, rules, and updates. The forum needs its own info spot, and it should be separate from the rest of the forum. No topic creation privileges for users, of course.
  • Forum: Feedback
    • Description: For comments, suggestions, support, and/or bug reports for the forums. At this point there is no good place to put suggestions on the forum.
• Category: Wiibrew
  • Forum: Homebrew Applications
    • Description: All posts relating to existing Wii homebrew applications. Moderation could include a general "One topic per application" rule, so support requests, general comments, etc. are all placed within a single topic. Of course this has both positive and negative aspects.
  • Forum: Homebrew Ideas/Suggestions
    • Description: For bouncing around new ideas about Homebrew Applications, possibly finding developer support. Mainly, though, this would simply serve as a dump for all the shitty veiled-request topics about emulators and whatnot.
  • Forum: Wii Hacking
    • Description: This would easily replace both the "Software" and "Hardware" forums we have (Which don't really make much sense). Topics would include Reverse Engineering, exploits, IOS Hacks.... It doesn't sound like it would be very active, but it's certainly a separate category.
  • Forum: Homebrew Development
    • Description: For help with coding for the Wii. With the other forums in place, this would bar "You should make this" posts. This forum could be 100% support and discussion of Wii homebrew coding/development.
  • Forum: Homebrew Help & Questions
    • Description: For any general help with homebrew enablement, installation, or just general question. This may be slightly redundant, but it will help separate the informational posts from the simple (and often redundant) inquisitive ones.
• Category: Other Topics
  • Forum: Wii General
    • Description: This could encompass game discussion, online play, and even support. The Wiibrew community is knowledgeable, and possesses Wiis. I'm sure a few wouldn't mind lending a hand for support at times.
  • Forum: Other Topics
    • Description: I don't know why, but forums usually have something like this. I don't care for it, but it may be seen as a necessity. It could be removed or replaced with simply "Technology Discussion" to keep things more on topic. Opinions?

One method of judging forum organization is to consider possible, plausible topics and their logical filing. Imagine user A wants to create a topic about topic X, or ask a question about X. Can a person easily determine the proper forum for topic X? If not, does topic X belong on this forum? If so, we should find a place for it in our organization. Please write on the discussion page if you can think of any problematic topics.