There are quite a few reasons. First and foremost is the work it takes to create each design. Each design can take large chunks of time. Once one design is finished, finding the time or desire to do a second design is not easy. And if anyone knows Tony at all, they know he's not one to just implement simple color swaps. He likes this design, the staff likes the design, and I think that was all he really wanted.

Second is search engines. Having multiple skins waters down your search results because of the way search engines work. Search engines do not like multiples of the same content.

Third, we wanted something different. We had the dark blue for so long, it was, as Tony said, depressing looking anymore. We had back ourselves into a corner, design wise, and Tony felt there was nothing more to really expand on with the darker colors. But by bringing something new, we went back to the begining and brought out colors that Tony had on one of the earlist, and most well recieved versions of TFW2005 and the 2005 Boards.

Lastly is server stress. Multiple skins cause extra server load to pull that info each time. That would result in more server crashes and time outs. That's something nobody wants.

And in all honesty, we're seeing the same type of complaints that we saw when 2005 went to the dark color scheme. 2005 needed a new look, and I think this is a much more enjoyable site to look at now. This is how Tony wants the site viewed.

 

I got nothin against TB but that right there ain't right, the viewers should have a choice/choices not just be happy with what the owners/staff want.

The depressing blue was better then the current look, the grey and the blue mix is bad, and is worse on the eyes sad to say and i have good eyes, white would be better then the grey even.

 

Thanks for the redesign.

I like it and appreciate your work!

 

Really? I was unaware that those were the conditions of running a website. That the owner has to pleases everyone, or that the people who visit the site have to have a choice on what it looks like. The choice is not yours, or anyone elses.

The choice belongs to the person who busts his ass to design this site. If you don't like it, that's fine, but this is what the site is going to look like. We're not going back to the dark colors scheme. PERIOD. We don't expect everyone to like it. But don't presume to tell me who has the right to decide what this site looks like. When you decide to start making the server payments every month, then we'll talk about what choices you should have.

 

Yup, most of us are here as guests. It'd be nice if more people on forums saw things that way.

On that note, any chance of slightly larger allowed avatar dimensions? Allowing up to 48Kb for the filesize... I'm not sure I could make a 50x50 av that size without sticking an entire mini movie into an animated GIF. A 75x75 avatar should easily come down to 5-10Kb max, without looking unsightly.

If you're browsing with Firefox, you could try using Greasemonkey to remove certain bits of content and resize others.

Or if you just want to read with full control, it's provided for you:

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/archive/

Works great with small screens, text browsers, handhelds, etc. I'd go the Greasemonkey route for easier posting, personally... the thing to remember is that http is a pull mechanism; you can do anything you want at the browser end.

 

Word! If only more people understood that.

P.S.: I've adapted to the gray..... now I like it more than the dark color. Heck... I think I'd take a white background as well.

-airfox