Annoucements Alert!!!

[Arrogant-One]

There is a bit of a spam problem at the moment, but luckily our high tech spam filter has captured all of the garbage so far. If any slips through we will of course try to eradicate it, but my time is limited over the next few days so I ask for your patience.

Thanks,

AO

[Arrogant-One]

Good news. The Jin based application is pretty much ready for the programmer to do his stuff, and should hopefully be released on OzChess within the month. Features of the new chess application will be .....

A Surprise!!!

Best Regards,

AO

[Arrogant-One]

Hi everyone,

There seems to be a problem with our vbskinwork skins, Aquateen and Smooth. I've contacted the owner about it, but until a response is received, the 2 skins that are working without problems are CA Evo and the default skin. Please use these skins until things are sorted. I know many of you have stated that Aquateen is your favourite skin, but if the owner can't find a solution then I am afraid we may have to simply move on.

Thank you,

Alex
______

[Noddy]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

Hi everyone,

There seems to be a problem with our vbskinwork skins, Aquateen and Smooth. I've contacted the owner about it, but until a response is received, the 2 skins that are working without problems are CA Evo and the default skin. Please use these skins until things are sorted. I know many of you have stated that Aquateen is your favourite skin, but if the owner can't find a solution then I am afraid we may have to simply move on.

Thank you,

Alex
______

It is very different from usual, no argument fromme.

[Arrogant-One]

The new skin seems to be helping OzChess' seach engine results

For the Google terms 'Chess Australia' we come in 3rd only behind the Australian Chess Federation, and for the inverse of those search terms 'Australia Chess' we come in 5th.

The swamp doesn't even make it onto the first page for either of those terms.

Anyway, just thought I'd share the good news.

Kind Regards,

AO

[Jaydon]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

The new skin seems to be helping OzChess' seach engine results

For the Google terms 'Chess Australia' we come in 3rd only behind the Australian Chess Federation, and for the inverse of those search terms 'Australia Chess' we come in 5th.

The swamp doesn't even make it onto the first page for either of those terms. Maybe ******** should start investing some of those lucrative VIP Premium Membership fees back into his site to improve his site's SEO standing?

Anyway, just thought I'd share the good news.

Kind Regards,

AO

Awesome!!
hahahah the swamp!! hahahaahah

[Dragon-Fly]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

The new skin seems to be helping OzChess' seach engine results

For the Google terms 'Chess Australia' we come in 3rd only behind the Australian Chess Federation, and for the inverse of those search terms 'Australia Chess' we come in 5th.

The swamp doesn't even make it onto the first page for either of those terms.

Anyway, just thought I'd share the good news.

Kind Regards,

AO

Good job Arrogant-One, this is definitely a step in the right direction and will hopefully lead to future growth of the site. But why are you comparing this site to a swamp?

[Noddy]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

The new skin seems to be helping OzChess' seach engine results

For the Google terms 'Chess Australia' we come in 3rd only behind the Australian Chess Federation, and for the inverse of those search terms 'Australia Chess' we come in 5th.

The swamp doesn't even make it onto the first page for either of those terms. I am surprised the site owner there hasn't invested VIP Premium Membership fees back into his site to improve his site's SEO standing?

Anyway, just thought I'd share the good news.

Kind Regards,

AO

I found this forum using google ages ago.

[Arrogant-One]

An agreement has been reached between the owners of both of Australia's chess forums. The terms of the agreement are confidential and will not be released, discussed or debated.

I can, however, say that like most agreements there were concessions and compromises made by both sides. In this respect, the company which hosts the other Australian chess forum is not to be referred to any longer on OzChess. I trust that not everyone will be fully content with that, however a deal is a deal - and like I said concessions were made on both sides to reach a satisfactory accord.


Best Regards,

Alex

ps- With this agreement having been reached, there is a chance that OzChess will be sold within the next 2 months. Matt Sweeney has expressed interest in taking a formal ownership role. Even if it is, however, I will still regularly contribute and make posts here.

[MOZ]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

An agreement has been reached between the owners of both of Australia's chess forums. The terms of the agreement are confidential and will not be released, discussed or debated.

I can, however, say that like most agreements there were concessions and compromises made by both sides. In this respect, the company which hosts the other Australian chess forum is not to be referred to any longer on OzChess. I trust that not everyone will be fully content with that, however a deal is a deal - and like I said concessions were made on both sides to reach a satisfactory accord.


Best Regards,

Alex

ps- With this agreement having been reached, there is a chance that OzChess will be sold within the next 2 months. Matt Sweeney has expressed interest in taking a formal ownership role. Even if it is, however, I will still regularly contribute and make posts here.

This is a bit of a bombshell AO; but, as you had done the hard yards to introduce the OzChess features you had obviously earned the right to take further business decisions.
The agreement to avoid the hosting company name is reasonable if there were unforeseen commercial implications.

But, I see no report from you on the need to re-establish some protection from the wild-cat, arbitrary, and unsupportable bannings imposed by chesschat moderators on firegoat and myself for the simple irrationale that we post here. While I have succeeded in embarrassing the chesschat moderators, <for their lack of logic and incorrect assumptions>, to the point that they have rescinded my chesschat ban, <without due apology by them>, disappointingly the adulteration of their professed standards of fair play don't stretch to fg7.

[Sobriquet]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

An agreement has been reached between the owners of both of Australia's chess forums. The terms of the agreement are confidential and will not be released, discussed or debated.

I can, however, say that like most agreements there were concessions and compromises made by both sides. In this respect, the company which hosts the other Australian chess forum is not to be referred to any longer on OzChess. I trust that not everyone will be fully content with that, however a deal is a deal - and like I said concessions were made on both sides to reach a satisfactory accord.


Best Regards,

Alex

ps- With this agreement having been reached, there is a chance that OzChess will be sold within the next 2 months. Matt Sweeney has expressed interest in taking a formal ownership role. Even if it is, however, I will still regularly contribute and make posts here.

Missing the window of opportunity to move to the reconciliation solution whereby the chesschat data-base is ported to the better skinful ozchess data-base, and an election of moderators for the whole chess community is held.

[Arrogant-One]

Originally Posted by MOZ

This is a bit of a bombshell AO; but, as you had done the hard yards to introduce the OzChess features you had obviously earned the right to take further business decisions.

The agreement to avoid the hosting company name is reasonable if there were unforeseen commercial implications.

Thanks MOZ. I don't think its that big of a bombshell though because it isn't likely to affect most posters on either forum.

At the end of the day you are correct about the money issue.

CC exists because its owner invested his own time and money into it, and no one else apart from him paid anything to set up CC. Regarding OzChess, although there have been some donations in the past which have been helpful, I have shouldered roughly about 70% to 80% of total costs for this forum - including the start up costs of this forum when there was no guarantee that Matt or anyone else would assist me financially.

If I had known what I know today maybe I could have done this for about $300, but at the time I didn't know how to do a lot of things and needed to hire others to get the job done. In other words the initial start up costs were much higher, and that's to say nothing of the ongoing costs since.

So I therefore think that it was appropriate the accord reached was only between him and myself, because we are the only ones with a financial interest.

But, I see no report from you on the need to re-establish some protection from the wild-cat, arbitrary, and unsupportable bannings imposed by chesschat moderators on firegoat and myself for the simple irrationale that we post here.

I sympathize but it is not my place to tell others how to run their forums.

While I have succeeded in embarrassing the chesschat moderators, <for their lack of logic and incorrect assumptions>, to the point that they have rescinded my chesschat ban, <without due apology by them>, disappointingly the adulteration of their professed standards of fair play don't stretch to fg7.

I acknowledge that you succeeded in this.

Originally Posted by Sobriquet

Missing the window of opportunity to move to the reconciliation solution whereby the chesschat data-base is ported to the better skinful ozchess data-base, and an election of moderators for the whole chess community is held.

Axiom's dream of a single unified Australian chess forum is noble, but has many hurdles in place. As such, its an idle day dream unlikely to ever eventuate.

Sorry,

AO

[Arrogant-One]

Originally Posted by PPWPFL

Now you mention the sky does seem to be alot closer to teh ground then it was yesterday!! :0
Oh nooo!!!!!!

Okay, users will have noticed that there are two (2) new skins. The one with the side panels will be used as the default skin replacing Aquateen. There are still a few issues however, that need to be ironed out, including getting the shoutbox to display on the new skins. That, unfortunately, may mean re-installing the shoutbox which would wipe previous shouts made there.

Accordingly, if anyone has some shouts which are near and dear to their hearts, please save those shouts as soon as possible.

Best Regards,

AO

[Arrogant-One]

Originally Posted by Arrogant-One

Okay, users will have noticed that there are two (2) new skins. The one with the side panels will be used as the default skin replacing Aquateen. There are still a few issues however, that need to be ironed out, including getting the shoutbox to display on the new skins. That, unfortunately, may mean re-installing the shoutbox which would wipe previous shouts made there.

Accordingly, if anyone has some shouts which are near and dear to their hearts, please save those shouts as soon as possible.

Best Regards,

AO

New Update

The shoutbox issue has been resolved and it will not be necessary to re-install a new shoutbox. Unfortunately, it meant making the box a little bit shorter but hopefully not enough that anyone would notice.

I hope everyone enjoys the 2 new customized skins, Aquateen was a crowd pleaser but I felt its time had come. For die hard lyoalists, it will still be available however.

Lastly, members should expect a fantastic new modification to make OzChess-ing an even more delightful and easy activity. I hope to have it installed within the week.

Spoiler for Clue About Upcoming Mod:

Its sweet as, and will definitely improve communication between site members. Probably about the 2nd or 3rd best mod for members ever installed here!

Best Regards,

AO

[Arrogant-One]

A major update has been made to the FAQ section, and further updates will be made to FAQ over the next fortnight.