Hooligans Gaming

So, if you have been checking this site often, you would’ve noticed that the site has looked different nearly each day. All that has been really changing is the CSS. While my home computer was down, I was experimenting with different color schemes, coding styles, etc. This is the “basic” layout minus a few more tweaks and the graphical overlay.

In about two weeks the site should be up and complete with full graphics as well as data. Next on my plate will be styling the forums to match the site and all-in-all that should be very easy considering it will just be editing pre-existing files and the forums existing CSS style sheet.

Other than the site, a recent roster drop was made. Check the forums to see who is no longer a member of the community. (Private Board access required.) We wish him all the best but regretfully, it just wasn’t going anywhere good with him here.

Besides that, my main machine is now back up and running that’s to a few new parts. I haven’t had much time to game but last night we played some Call of Duty 5 and it was a blast. Until next time, have a good one and Happy 4th/Indy Day!

Just a quick update on some things:

1. I dropped my computer off at the local shop here while I have them test all my hardware to make sure all I need is the new motherboard and case. I should hear back from them by midweek which is great!
2. During the interim, I have been touching up the forums while at work. I added two completely new public boards in the Hoolie-Mart and the Music Shack.
3. I adjusted the permissions somewhat to see how these settings work out.
4. The new Hooligan roster will be posted soon! Check here often as it will be released over the next few days!

That is it for now. I may add another board to the forums called Newcomer’s Welcome where people can introduce themselves on the forums but we’ll see.

Other than that, cross your fingers for a quick and inexpensive fix on my computer and I’ll see ya around soon.

My computer fried because I tripped over my headset cord while in the dark. It cracked up my USB headset adapter which in turn sent a surge through my case peripherals and into my motherboard. Hopefully it is just my case and motherboard that needs to be replaced. I’m having all my hardware checked over by a local place I trust so, we’ll see. Until then, site production is on pause and I will only be on the forums and on Vent here and there.

Sorry :/

P.S.
The site’s actual design is coming along REALLY nice. A few people saw a quick draft the other night but I buff’d it up quite a bit and it’ll be something extremely cool. Unfortunately, it’s on my now fried system. So, until new parts are in… no more designy. Again, Sorry.

So I was sitting there last night designing the layout on Photoshop when something occured to me, we have no “main” game right now really. A case could be made for a couple of titles we play currently:

World of Warcraft – Not being played by the majority anymore but rather a few still holding on or just wasting time until a new title comes out. Most are dropping their accounts by the day. However, it has been a main game for so long, it still needs to be considered.
Left 4 Dead – Played nearly everyday by at least someone and while the playtime of the group drops steadily by the week, it is still a game we all enjoy firing up and playing together.
Call of Duty: World at War – The newcomer of the group. This FPS is getting a lot of playtime and with talks of possibly getting a server, who knows. I do know a fair share play it or have it now and others want it so it’s on the list.
Counter-Strike: Source – Yeah, I know! SOURCE! But, it’s being played a lot by people in Hooligans so it cannot be denied from this list.

Now, a game like Age of Conan would be up there as well. However, those that did play it daily (myself included) have paused their subs for real-life reasons mostly. We’ve been too busy. We never left cause of the game.

Also, we have a lot of titles that we are looking forward too like Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, Jumpgate Evolution and even games that are way far off like the BioWare Star Wars MMO, Stargate Worlds is talked about once a month and Blizzard’s yet to be announced ORIGINAL IP MMO is always in the running for the future. Oh and how could I forget Modern Warfare 2 which is one reason why there is only talk of a CoD5 server currently.

Consoles are getting a lot more attention recently as well with us. So, this led me to design a layout that was simplistic and while I liked it… the header just wasn’t right. So, I was thinking and I’m going to redesign it this evening and add renders of ALL the games I can think of.

Also, BIG NEWS ABOUT EMAILS! I will be making an announcement on Ventrilo tonight to explain this in person but:

I will NOT (I repeat NOT) be setting up hooligan-gaming.net emails for everyone and rather just use the domain emails for “departments” of Hooligans like Round Table, Recruitment, etc, etc. This means the forums are NOW OPEN FOR YOUR REGISTERATION NEEDS!! However, some rules to follow please:

Register with THE GAMING NAME YOU WANT TO APPEAR ON OUR HOOLIGAN ROSTER! THIS IS THE GAMING ALIAS YOU WANT TO USE GOING FORWARD! HAVE THAT BE YOUR FORUM USER NAME. IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS I WILL DELETE YOUR ACCOUNT ON THE SPOT AND NOT RE-REGISTER FOR YOU!

That’s it for now. I will change your user permissions on the forums when I get the chance and I will be fleshing out the actually data of the site as well as the design tonight.

Thank you.

I’m not exactly sure if any of you caught it (or care) but the Hooligans site was recently updated from Wordpress 2.7.1 to version 2.8. Now, this new release is said to add “polish” and speed to the CMS as well as nearly 800 bug fixes! So, even if we don’t notice a whole lot of changes, their there and I can even notice better response times on the back-end so all-in-all, I like it!

As far as the actual site goes, progress is being made! Last night, as a lot of you know, I was unable to work on the site at all because I had something that took priority. However, after I finish that up tonight I will be working on the site again and working on adding all those email accounts you guys have been sending me! So, if you have sent yours in, sit tight and pass the word to make sure others have too! If you haven’t… WTFMate?!

I’m also been looking into phpBB coding more so than Wordpress, I want the forums to be laid out first and foremost because I feel we need those first for our off-Ventrilo communication purposes. However, what is taking top priority is me finishing the image creation on Photoshop! So, here is my agenda:

1. Photoshop – Header image and all other imagery needed to make the layout complete.
2. Forums – Finishing the forums layout so I can just lay it all out and then drop in the Photoshop files to have it be complete and ready to go.
3. Rest of Site – Everything on the Wordpress end. Meaning, all other aspects of the site BUT the forums.

When thinking of the site, think of it in two parts – Wordpress and phpBB. Both pieces of software work e of one another but in the end (with the aid of the layout creation) they will look as one. If you hear me say “site” than think of everything. If I say “Wordpress” than think of everything BUT the forums. Got it? Good!

I’m going to get back to my real job, later.

With the creation of the new website I am also setting up everyone so they have a “hooligans-gaming.net” email address. Now, moving forward these emails will be used on the site for our H-tech members who will keep the “main” section of the site updated (the Wordpress) and for all the users on the forums (phpBB). This way we can all keep our own personal emails private as well as keep true to our gaming aliases within the public eye.

So, I need the follow:

Gaming Alias – This is the name you are known by on the internet when playing games. If your World of Warcraft toon was called “Hairynuts” but your more commonly known as “HNuts” in all the games you play… I want the name you go by the most! Therefore, “HNuts” would win that one. For me, this was easy: McKrazie. This alias will be used for your forum user name, the alias seen on the Hooligan Roster as well as for your official Hooligan email.

Your Personal Email – I will NOT be posting this on the site. So, relax. However, I will use this email when setting up your “hooligans-gaming.net” email. Instead of installing a web based email software for us to use, we can use your own email. All I need is to setup the “hooligans-gaming.net” based emails to forward to your personal email. So please, send this information along as well and make sure it is an email you check often. I WILL BE USING YOUR “hooligans-gaming.net” EMAIL FOR HOOLIGAN BASED EMAILS!!!

Desired Password – What would you like you password for your email to be?

Send that information to McKrazie@hooligans-gaming.net as soon as possible and I will setup everyone on the forums as soon as this information is with me. So, pass the word and get all Hooligans to check this post and fast.

Wordpress 2.7.1 and phpBB 3.0.5 are now fully loaded.

Hooligan Members and above will be given emails for our domain to use for the forums, etc. Mine is already setup as McKrazie@hooligans-gaming.net and each of us will have our main gaming alias as the username. So, think long and hard and stick with one name as it WILL be displayed on the roster, forums and your email.

Neither the Wordpress or phpBB are customize at all. The forums don’t even have a forum on them except for the default Test Forum that comes along with the vanilla install. Reason being, I’m at work.

I will do more tonight. However, this is the skeleton of the site and I will be working off this as the site approaches it’s final stages. Other than that, stay active and have fun!