Well... I look at it this way. I would like to see traffic similar to what the other elite fansites enjoy. There are few plans in action to make that happen...
1 -
Photics.com GuildWarsWiki - I think I made a mistake by excluding strategy information. I thought the magazines would be enough to draw the interest of the community. Plus, I didn't know how to organize all the information. Now that I have a Wiki intergrated into this forum, I think it's working out great. It's even better that the page disappearing bug has been mostly resolved. Most importantly, this is the first way fans of Photics.com can join in and contribute to this website. I have been very reluctant to allow anyone to do anything at my website. Yet, I am pleased with the way this project has been progressing.
2 -
Games - Guild Wars: RogueBATTLE was the most popular item at this website. I have taken steps to build on this. The plan is to have exclusive Guild Wars web games at this website. If all goes well... there might even be game design competitions. I'm a little afraid to open such a contest, but some prizes have already been secured. I'm waiting to finish my current game projects... plus "someone" here is working on "something". I'd like to see that project finished first. It's something of a litmus test. The popularity of RogueBATTLE almost crippled my site. I'm going to be very careful with proceeding with future games. Yet, there might be more information in the February 1, 2006 issue. It depends on how gutsy I feel.
3 -
The Forum - I'm waiting to see what the folks at punBB cook up, but there are serious projects planned for this forum. Not only would I like to see the population grow, but additional features for this forum are being considered.
I would be pretty bummed out if I got the forum working, built-up the community, then see ArenaNet release an official forum the very next day. I doubt that would happen. Plus, I doubt it would hurt the overall popularity of the forum. As mentioned, people like the different pace that this site can offer. The dialogue that happens here is not like most forums.
Yet... the goal is to make the site more popular. Where the forum is at now is not where I want it to stay. It's tough... you know? Photics.com is not going to be the same site one year from now. Think about it from a year ago. I didn't have any web games here. I didn't have the Wiki. I only had a handful of comics. The forum was still troublesome. I wasn't happy with the previous web hosting company. I wasn't using Flash Paper. The game wasn't even released.
Plus - my
science fiction novel is now available. I mean wow... I finished my own book! :cool:
Now that I have a better understanding of things, I am looking forward to the release of Chapter 2. If the Guild Wars expansion is worthy, another surge in traffic will occur. This time, I don't intend to miss it.