Call to Arms !! vBulletin is too strong to die.

[TheAdminMarket]

Hello,

After a year away, I came back to this site. Due to my bad past experiance I was expecting to feel happy seeing statistics like "Active Members: 3052" while a year ago were 10.000+ and a months ago 3.850, finding 80% of the commercial sites for Plugins/Styles to be died or not working. But strane. Didn't felt happy. Actually I felt sad. Very sad.

During last 12 months I was visiting some "Admin" sites and I was reading post about vBulletin. Not that those post were missing true. But, how to say it... Except that the posters were trying to make small issues -> big issues, I got a missing humanity in those post. For me, if you see someone (even if it's a product and not a human) dying, it's not fair to kick him(it). If you want, you can easily bypass him(it), but not kick. Especially if some days/months/years ago you had a good relationship and even more if you've earned money.

I'm licensed user almost of all Forum software. vBulletin, xenForo, IPB, Woltlab WBB. There are many points that I don't agree with IB. But I still believe that vBulletin is the best, and most extendable forum. Even in case that I had to go away from vB, my selection should be WBB4 and not xF or IPB.

For one thing that I'm happy (one and only one) is that at least I found posts where vB staff accept as fact that vB5 is rubish. But ok, still there are vB4 and vB3. You can work fine with those versions.

So, if you, like me, still love vBulletin, let's give a try to make this software again the pioneer. It deserves it. Don't expect to have benefits. Life is not "I'm giving you, if you give me back in exchange". Is not just business.

Starting this post I had many things in mind to write. But maybe is useless. Maybe on the rute. Currently the "Call to Arms" (hope that is correct saying) is for all those who felt in the past disappointed from vBulletin and left the ship. Coders, Designers, Webmasters. Drop out the bad memories and just keep in mind that at some time in the past this place was your favorite meeting place. For support, or just for spending your time. And that vBulletin was the forum software that you grew-up with.

Finally a suggestion (and JUST suggestion) for Admins here. Try to change some rules. World is going ahead, not back, not staying on the same point either. Some of the rules are outdated. eg In the ERA that other forum software sites have seperate section where Coders/Designers can advertise (even to sell their work), is "idiot" (and sorry for my hard tongue), to restrict Coders/Designers even to post a price for their PRO versions. As for me, I don't plan to sell anything so I don't really care for it.

Thank you for reading

[Drake M]

It was the result of how vbulletin actually treats their customers.
It was the result of how their move (vb4 releases, vb5 releases and a god damm cloud whatever) affects developers (coders, designers)

Convicing people to upgrade their board to vb4 years ago, and to vb5 one year ago was like:

"Cheat me once, shame on you. ... Cheat me twice, shame on me".

Vbulletin.org was one of the most important reason for people buying vbulletin software due to the large of mods, styles, amazing supports.

There are people who are willing to help and support people here at vbulletin.org, still.

But they seems that don't have much works to do, since the development is already dead. None of new mods styles to provide support.

From my opinion, the last hope could be VB6 (well, if there are still some vbulletin fan boy). But this wont happen in the near future from experiences with IB software cycle releases for vbulletin.

It's sad to see this place turned out to be a graveyard.

Well, say what you need to say, the number talk it all.

Ok time for quotes

During last 12 months I was visiting some "Admin" sites and I was reading post about vBulletin. Not that those post were missing true. But, how to say it... Except that the posters were trying to make small issues -> big issues, I got a missing humanity in those post. For me, if you see someone (even if it's a product and not a human) dying, it's not fair to kick him(it). If you want, you can easily bypass him(it), but not kick. Especially if some days/months/years ago you had a good relationship and even more if you've earned money.

Got your point but it may be true if vbulletin is something like opensource, free for all. Not when you have to actually PAY for it.

For one thing that I'm happy (one and only one) is that at least I found posts where vB staff accept as fact that vB5 is rubish. But ok, still there are vB4 and vB3. You can work fine with those versions.

Come on, why the hell that I have to pay for use something
- 4 years old, going to be non-support in the near future. Mods and styles almost abandoned. (vbulletin 4).
- Not supported, mods and styles is set as graveyard? (vbylletin 3)

The last block,

Come back for vbulletin 5 development ? Hell No.

[TheAdminMarket]

Originally Posted by Drake M

Come back for vbulletin 5 development ? Hell No.

Nobody said to do something like this. Say that vB5 does not exist. Work for vB4 and, why not, for vB3.

I do agree with your comments for abandoned scripts/styles. Have never released a style. But I do understand the designers. How frustating is to need to update their style after each vB release. So many changes, so big changes.

As for vBulletin to being freeware, I don't think so. But a better pricing is a must. Let's say around $150, or $100 with a yearly renewal cost. Actually I believe that this was the big mistake for IB. They increased the price hoping that they'll continue having big amount of sales, and they stop the annual renewal which actually is bringing cash at home. To be honest, for me (as client), was very profitable to have paid once on November 2009 for vB4 and even today, after 5 full years, to be able to download the latest version. If it was still active the old pricing schema, I had to pay ~$400 for renewals (if I remember well the renewal cost was around $80).

[webmastersun]

Agree with your post above

Originally Posted by NickTheGreek

In the ERA that other forum software sites have seperate section where Coders/Designers can advertise (even to sell their work)

For this idea I suggest you should go to an internet marketing forums out there to offer or find solutions better than this forum. here should be for discussions

Cheers,

[Mark.B]

Originally Posted by webmastersun

For this idea I suggest you should go to an internet marketing forums out there to offer or find solutions better than this forum. here should be for discussions

Cheers,

That shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what the community on vbulletin.org is.

"Internet Marketing Forums"?? Seriously....

Oh what a surprise...you just happen to RUN an "internet marketing forum".......

I can only say... .

[TheAdminMarket]

Originally Posted by Mark.B

Oh what a surprise...you just happen to RUN an "internet marketing forum".......

Before to decide to come back I gave a promise to myself to avoid to hell any argues any more. That's why I kept my (big) mouth closed when I read it. Thank you for "being my voice". And something more. vBulletin has never been a site JUST for discussions. Has discussions, as it has Mods, as it has Styles, as it has Articles.

Actually Forums have less visitors than Mods/Styles.

Let's keep calm. I did a suggestion. Not for me, as I don't need it anymore. But for all others who are still trying to have some profits to continue supporting vB.

[mokujin]

vBulletin 5 owners should get a free upgrade to vB 6 in the future, look at Microsoft, they ++++ed up with Windows Vista, and look at W7 and W8 Don't worry, the Greek man, vBulletin can't die, there is Internet Brands behind vB

[TheAdminMarket]

Originally Posted by mokujin

... there is Internet Brands behind vB

That's scrares me mostly. Because is a company (any company) behind and not those who coded it. Let's face the true. Companies are balancing profits and lost. When they're seeing "lost" they give up much more easier than if the owner is the team who build it because in this case, feelings are also count. Not just sales reports.

[leemart44]

everyone jumping ship to goto Xenforo crap, I find it shitty I like the idea behind VB5
but 200 dollars to upgrade when I already paid 200 is a rip. I would pay 50 dollars for the upgrade. VB 4 maxes out any server its on, not all the time, so i switched back to VB 3.89 Beta 2 and very happy, retro, it rocks!

[Paul M]

vB4 does not max out any server its on, that's complete rubbish.

FYI, (unrelated) there are a couple of minor bugs in 3.8.9 Beta 2.
Beta 3 is due soon, probably when I return from holiday at the start of November.