BlenderNewbies Reboot

Gents,

I have made an offer to purchase the BlenderNewbies name, URL, and website without taking on existing liabilities not related to hosting the site itself. If Kernon is not interested in selling, I will likely purchase a plan from Forumatic. It will be cheaper to purchase a new plan than taking over BlenderNewbies, but BlenderNewbies will have a built in reputation and draw.

If a new forum was started from scratch, what...
1. features and services would you like to have?
2. focus would you like the site to be on?
3. audience would you prefer the site to be focused on?
4. name would you like the site to be?

For myself:
1. In addition to the standard image hosting, allow up/downloading of .blend & .xcf files
2. Open-source content creation software for beginner and intermediate hobbyest users (Blender, GIMP, Inkscape, and MyPaint).
3. Beginner and intermediate hobbyest users, as mentioned above. Professional users are not the aim, and expert users should be encouraged to help and mentor new users rather than use the forum strictly as a posting board for their own use. (Of course they should be welcome to post their own stuff--but they should also be willing to help, otherwise new users might be scared away because they think the site might be for more advanced users--this is something I read from a few users on BlenderNewbies and BlenderUnderground, although both sites were quick to alleviate those folks' concerns.)
4. I'm at a loss... Headstart Creations?

What are your thoughts?

So, I take it that Kernon is not going to be reopening BN? Anyway, I'm up for helping if this is the direction it goes. I'll dig a bit deeper for more input as things become a bit clearer.

Kernon said in his letter from a month or so ago that he plans on bringing BlenderNewbies back online sometime later this year. In the letter I sent back I proposed hosting the March 2012 backup and making some of us BlenderNewbies regulars admins. This way we can go through and delete all the spam rather than him trying to cleanup the June(?) backup himself. That's also when I made my offer to just buy it all off of him, so we'll see if he's up to either suggestion when he replies.


Another thought is, and this is something I'm posting over at BlenderUnderground, is maybe pooling all of the BlenderNewbie refugees together and propping BlenderUnderground back up to it's glory days. Apollo has been missing for well over a year or so now, and their activity has dropped considerably.

Penix1 wasn't too keen on this idea, and Apollos has just been heard from, so that idea is being dropped.

How about we add some new sub-forums to BlenderWorld to bring in GIMP, Inkscape, and MyPaint conversation and build up BlenderWorld until BlenderNewbies comes back online? And if it doesn't, than maybe do a little advertising and tutorializing to bring in newbies?

Just throwing out ideas.. thoughts?

Hi

Just dropping in my opinion. I agree entirely that it should be focussed on new to intermediate users with everyone encouraged to help each other. That is what attracted me to BlenderNewbies in the first place.

Blender is what I am interested in as I can't draw to save my life but it'd be interesting to see and comment on other peoples 2D stuff.

Also I tend to have quite a lot of free time and endless patience for dull tasks. So if you need anyone to help delete the SPAM messages off a re-hosted BN I'll volunteer my services. I can't remember how many times I wished I could get in and delete all that crap, it would be nice to actually make that wish come true

All,

If you've tried to log onto BlenderUnderground during the past 24-hours or so, you may have noticed it was taken down temporarily. It is now back up, and should stay up.

Penix1 took it down to do some site maintenance and clean-up. Apollos went missing sometime in summer 2010 with no word on where he went. Penix1 took over admin duties and even paid the hosting fee to keep BlenderUnderground running. Apollos sent out a message a few days ago, but from the sound of it he may not be back for while longer (no word on the how's or why's of his disappearance).

That being said, BlenderUnderground is being overhauled and several inactive accounts will be stripped and outdated content archived. Penix1 is looking to update the main page with relevant content and whatnot, and also bring in updated Blender discussion and assistance to newbies.

As we keep the BlenderNewbies atmosphere and friendships alive on BlenderWorld, drop in on BlenderUnderground too and see what's jumping. BlenderNewbies and BlenderUnderground have always been like brothers to each other.

www.blenderunderground.com/forums

Until Kernon returns--BWFF (BlenderWorld For Forever!)

Oh really? I didn't realise Newbies was so closely tied to Underground. Must get myself over there and start posting on both.

See you all there too.

Hi all havent been here for a while so is it true newbies might get back up and running?

It all depends on Kernon's reply to BnBGobo99 I think.
I just hope Kernon realises there's a group of people out here who are ready and willing to help him. That would make it happen faster.

well its not that theres anything wrong with this site same great people but this site got quiet blender updated to fast for me to keep up and a nasty fight with obama about my disability kept me quite busy.

so im back to see how everyones doin and to see if i can get my feet wet again....but ill have to start back in the begining again

Oh no this place is great too.

I think we're all always going to be re-learning with Blender it's the nature of the beast. I saw on another forum that Cycles is now able to render strands without havin got use buffer shadows in some of the newest builds.

Fields of grass just got much easier! Some change is good