How about a MOD REQUEST forum?

[Electric Rain]

Maybe if ben set up a system where the members who actually have done a portable could moderate (delete) topics in that section then it wouldn't be so bad?

I thought of that a couple posts into this thread as well, and I, too, think this is a great idea.

[Adam G]

How about two subforums...
"Pending" and "Approved", topics can't be created in the "Approved" forum, only moved to, that way topics can be moderated. Rather than having a cluttered request forum...

[bicostp]

How about two subforums...
"Pending" and "Approved", topics can't be created in the "Approved" forum, only moved to, that way topics can be moderated. Rather than having a cluttered request forum...

phpbb 2 doesn't do subforums. We'd have to upgrade to version 3 for that added functionality.

And adding two forums on the main page would just clutter things up too much, in my opinion.

[c_mon]

In this forum, requests should be made via pre-planned forms so that everything could be neat, clear and within the acceptable standards.

[HotDog-Cart]

Maybe if ben set up a system where the members who actually have done a portable could moderate (delete) topics in that section then it wouldn't be so bad?

This has merit. The people after all who others would be looking to do work for them are the Portablizers and Portablizer Extrordinaires and they (we) are the ones who know how long work takes and the components cost; so if someone is making an unreasonable or silly request then we will know this and can delete their thread, or lock it; if the request is half-decent then it can be left for people to comment on and offer assistance if they wish to.

Great idea, yet people like me who are just "Portablizer" miss out on the moderating feature. How many portables does one have to make to become a Portablizer Extrodinaire?

[nitro2k01]

How about two subforums...
"Pending" and "Approved", topics can't be created in the "Approved" forum, only moved to, that way topics can be moderated. Rather than having a cluttered request forum...

phpbb 2 doesn't do subforums. We'd have to upgrade to version 3 for that added functionality.

And adding two forums on the main page would just clutter things up too much, in my opinion.

Place all the 3 boards under the same title, much like the forum is arranged today. It's just a visual difference anyway.

[Bay_Wolf]

I think that the current Trading Post forum is fine enough since anyone can request to have something built for them there. (This has been done before in the trading post, just advertise it a little more).

Regards, just my two cents.

[bicostp]

Place all the 3 boards under the same title, much like the forum is arranged today. It's just a visual difference anyway.

Like I said, that would clutter the main page up even more, and get in the way of the real "meat and potatoes" of the forum: the areas where people actually mod things on their own.

I think that's what we should push, rather than "oh hi could someone make me an xbox 360/PS3/Wii laptop in exchange for $200 and this trumpet I found in the attic?"

[Life of Brian]

Why not present a list of people who are willing to make portables, list the portables they feel confident making, and their current availability. If someone is looking to commission a portable they can just PM or email whoever they'd like. Perhaps a few links to past work?

For example, I can make:

Portables:
Atari 2600 4-switch
SNES and SNES mini
PSOne
SNES and NES clones (Super Joy III, Retro Duo, FC Twin)

Mods:
Atari 2600 composite video mod

Availability:
Talk to me this summer

And then some links to stuff I've done. That way, everyone knows instantly who's available, who can do what, and who is willing to take on jobs. Maybe even a number of commissioned portables completed. Plus, prices can be discretionary. If someone wants to list their prices, then that's okay too. I think the advantage to this method would be minimized spam on the forums.


I do like the idea of giving *a little* power to those who have made portables... However there's always those "what if" logistics to consider, so I'd be okay with putting off my power-hungry ways a little longer.

[rockem sockem forever!]

Why not present a list of people who are willing to make portables, list the portables they feel confident making, and their current availability. If someone is looking to commission a portable they can just PM or email whoever they'd like. Perhaps a few links to past work?

just like that but in your sig?

[Life of Brian]

Why not present a list of people who are willing to make portables, list the portables they feel confident making, and their current availability. If someone is looking to commission a portable they can just PM or email whoever they'd like. Perhaps a few links to past work?

just like that but in your sig?

I ain't got a butt in my sig!

Anyhoo... I was thinking more of a specific spot for all of the names to be grouped together. Perhaps a sticky at the top of the Trading Post and Forum 42?

[bacteria]

Personally, I would much prefer to muddle along at my own pace and then if I want to make a spare system, make it and then look for buyers. It saves all the "how long" messages, etc, which would take the fun out of the hobby and make it more like a mini-job for pocket money.

I will be pulling apart my old Nintendo 64 Advance at some point in the next months, for the GBA transverter. By then, my main multi-system console will be completed in the whole, and I might use the remaining components and make an N64p from the screen, mobo and already assembled parts. It won't need to do some of the work I needed to do with a project from scratch, so will make the end result a bit cheaper - probably £100 of the price below. There is no need for two portables of the same system, and my current WIP system will kick the butt of the old one anyway, in comparison.

People have to expect to pay about (depending on an deals you get via e-bay) £26-£38 for a PSone screen, £10-£13 for an N64 (or SNES) and controller, £3 for a memory card; casing, solder, desolder braid, wiring, hot glue, perspex/whatever about £10-£20 in total (hot glue is about £4 for 6 sticks and you can easily use this amount), Li-ion batteries and charger about £70 or half this if using NiMH. Already, you are into £80-£145 just on raw materials. If you then work on a minimum of 50 hours work involved at £10 per hour (quite fair), that means a completed portable at about £600 ($1200); or maybe £495 / $995

Hands up who is willing to pay this (PM me...). Other option for people who want a portable is to make their own, there are enough guides on this forum and people willing to give advice to achieve this.


This is the sort of scenario I was meaning before, people who ask pricing questions, etc can be answered by the Portablizers and Portablizer Extrordinaires in this forum, and if we had the ability to lock or delete silly threads then we could; probably let threads run into three camps:

1) Fairly sensible question, or someone who is genuine but unrealistic - keep topic going, unless it ends in flaming, then lock.
2) Starts ok or unrealistic and degrades into silliness or disrespect - lock.
3) Unrealistic, or becomes "why the blazes not" type comments - delete.

Just a few thoughts. I am happy to assist with others - how about letting the Portablizers and Portablizer Extrordinaires the ability to do the above, then it is less for the moderators to do?

[Electric Rain]

phpbb 2 doesn't do subforums. We'd have to upgrade to version 3 for that added functionality.

I'm not sure if I'm 100% on board with the subform/multiple form idea, but either way, I think we should upgrade to version 3 anyway. But... I'm one of those people who always wants the newest version of my software as soon as it comes out... We'd have to get Ben to do this though, right?

[Adam G]

We'd have to get Ben to do this though, right?

We could just...not tell him?

[bicostp]

We'd have to get Ben to do this though, right?

We could just...not tell him?

Okay, we'll magically gain FTP access to the server and do a major site upgrade without him noticing.

I'd like to upgrade ot 3 eventually, too. However we should wait until at least June so it's had 6 months of real world security testing. Early adopters tend to get burned (Vista, for example).