A couple of years ago I set out to do a complete rewrite of the site. The initial goal was to update the look, make it more useable in the mobile world, and add a number of features, such as better tracking of details between home video releases from around the world (details on restorations, a higher level of detail on features, etc.), with a strong emphasis on third-party home video labels, allowing for visitors to better compare between releases, even across regions.
This has been a bit of a stop-and-go-and-stop-and-restart process over a lengthy period and I now just must admit that, along with everything else (including still dealing with issues that have come up with updating the forum specifically), I’ve bitten off way more than I can chew. Because of this I’ve come to accept the fact that I need to hire help in redesigning and updating the site.
Though I am admittedly reluctant in doing so I have decided to set up a fundraiser to raise funds for this update. I am aiming to raise about $2500, which I feel should cover the bare minimum in what I want to do, and help me get it released in the New Year.
To help raise funds I am offering some incentives for minimum donation levels. I understand these incentives are minor but want to share my gratitude in some small way.
(Once I also verify more details for other options I may add some more incentives in the future, but these will be retroactively applied to previous donors so that nobody misses out).
As of now these incentives include:
$25+: Receive your own custom ranking (Registered Users)
A “custom ranking” of your choosing will be displayed under your user name throughout the website, though it must be vetted and approved first. An example of a “custom ranking”:
Sometime after the donation is received you will be contacted on what you want as your “custom ranking.” But again, it will need to be vetted and approved before it’s applied.
OR
If you prefer:
$25+: Change your User Name (Registered Users)
If you don't care about a "custom rank" and would rather change your user name, now is the time! Like every other option, just indicate your current User Name in the memo field when donating and I will contact you about whether you want a "custom rank" or your user name changed.
$50+: Ads disabled across site for 6 months (Registered Users)
I know people could just use ad blockers but for those of you who allow them to show up for this site I’ll give you a guilt-free option to ignore them.
For a six (6) month period, registered users who donate $50 or more will have advertisements disabled specifically for their account for a six month period and these ads will not display while the donor is logged in to the user account they indicated (I cannot guarantee that they will not display when logged out).
This only applies to our managed advertisements for the web version of the site as displayed through standard web browsers, and does not apply to external third-party board applications, like Tap-A-Talk, who have their own advertising system, or any other web browsers that may have their own built in advertisements. I cannot disable those. For every additional $25 donation another six months will be added.
It may take up to seven (7) days for the ads to be disabled, but the six-month period will begin from the date they are disabled, not the date of donation. (If you donate on 7/20/2018 and the ads are not disabled until 7/27/2018, they will be disabled for six months, up until 1/27/2018.)
60+:Pick My Avatar For a Week (Everyone)
Pick an avatar that I have to use for a week. Of course, it will have to be in "good taste" (which I guess can be open to interpretation but I'm more concerned that it is nothing pornographic, contains no nudity, isn't hateful, derogatory, etc.). Basically, I will use the avatar for a week and then switch to the next one for a week until I get through them all. I will then return to my Simpsons avatar generated in 2007 from the Simpsons generator that was around to promote the film The Simpsons Movie because I have trouble letting go of things.
The incentives are stackable, so if you donate $50 you get ads disabled for six months plus you will also receive the “custom ranking” and/or name change.
While it will be appreciated donations will not give users any special preference outside of any incentives. Also, I need to stress, no one should feel obligated to donate. This is for anyone who just wants to help.
To receive any incentives please leave your username in the memo field provided on the donation page. The donations are being collected through PayPal.
Please, also feel free to make suggestions for features you would like to see on this site. This doesn’t mean for the forum specifically (though these are welcome as well) but for the site as a whole. I will take them into account and if they are feasible or would benefit I will certainly look into including them.
You can donate here
Donations are done through PayPal but an account is not required.
Thank you!
