Hey there, Hubbers. It's been a very long time since the last Site Update. We have a lot to talk about, so without further ado, let's get to it!​

STAFF
Over the last few months, we've assembled quite a capable group of staff that are committed to helping ForgeHub thrive. Don't hesitate to contact any of them if you need assistance with anything. Here are their full names, addresses, and social security numbers:
Err...on second thought, here are their usernames:

a Chunk - Administrator
A Haunted Army - Moderator
coldFUSION - Moderator
Doju - Event Staff
purely fat - Moderator
TheElderAcorn - Video Team
theSpinCycle - Moderator
WARHOLIC - Administrator​

1V1 FORGE CONTEST
We recently announced a really big, huge, gigantic, super colossal forge contest.
If you don't know about it you should, because the prizes are big, huge, gigantic...(you get the point). Have a great 1v1 map in your brain or on your harddrive? If so, you're in the right place at the right time, because we're looking for the best 1v1 Forge maps around. If you haven't started Forging for the contest yet, it's not too late: the submission deadline is 11:59 PM on March 5th, 2015.

DEADLINE: MARCH 5th!

I know what you're thinking now...
What exactly are those big, huge,...those prizes that one guy was talking about?

1st Place - $500
2nd Place - Astro A50 Wireless Headset (Halo Edition)
3rd Place - Gunnar Glasses ($100 Gift Card)

Interested now? Yeah, I thought so.
Check out all the contest details HERE, and join the weapon/gametype discussion HERE.

Also - looking for help testing your map, or interested in helping test others' maps? Post your Gamertag in one of our map testing threads, and fill up your friends list with willing testers from the ForgeHub community:
Gamertags for Forge Customs and Testing
Schnitzels custom lobbies - EU
Chronmiester customs night - US


SITE UPGRADE
The site has undergone drastic changes over the last couple of years as it's gone through the process of attempting to retain and redefine its identity. As we doggedly work to reclaim our rightful place as Forge Overlords, the changes continue. Fear not, the light at the end of the tunnel approaches: a much needed redesign is well underway behind the scenes.

We're working hard to create a site that's optimized both visually and functionally. In order to implement these upgrades as seamlessly as possible, we will need to close the site for about one day during the transition to ensure that no threads are lost during the upgrade process (the dynamic lighting needs to render ). This is especially important given that this downtime may happen during the 1v1 contest submission period. We will give notice of the pending update (and downtime) a few days ahead of time, so stay tuned.

I'm sure you're all curious exactly what we have in store for you. There will be upgrading the 3 main facets of the site - Homepage, Forums, and Maps Page.

• The Homepage will have a new visual layout, in addition to expanding our “content management system” for internal use.
• The Forums will be getting visual improvements.
• The Map Page will be optimized and integrated with XenForo forum software. Load times will be significantly reduced, and overall ease of use will be improved. The Maps Page will be receiving visual improvements in a future upgrade.

Here's a teeny, tiny, itsy bitsy look at what's headed your way in the near future:

Spoiler

COMMUNITY FAVORITE MAPS
Most longtime members of ForgeHub are likely familiar with ForgeHub Favorites, ForgeHub's long-standing tradition of voting for the month's best forge maps. It has always been the community's opportunity to have their voice heard. Well...it's back! It's back with a few changes, in the interest of avoiding the flaws of the previous nomination system, but with the same spirit of community involvement.

What's different?
The most obvious difference is that there is no nomination period. The top ten nominations are automated, with an algorithm running in the back-end of the site that automatically selects the top ten maps of the month.

Information is collected through the final week of the previous month and the first few weeks of the current month, then the nominations go live and everyone gets the opportunity to place their vote during the last week of the month. When voting opens, a button right above the "Hot List" on the Maps Page will prompt you to choose your three favorite maps of the top ten. Here's a sneak peek of what it'll look like:

Spoiler

Voting Button
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Voting Popup (after you click on the button)
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The top 3 community voted maps will be announced on the 1st day of the month. The community's #1 favorite map will become an official Recommended Map - meaning it will be featured at the top of the maps page AND at the top of our brand spanking new Home Page.

Additionally, ForgeHub is happy to introduce something we like to call '30 every 30'! We will be giving away $30 XBOX LIVE cash every 30 days to the 1st place winner! So make sure you stay connected, you never know what users are voting for.


STAYING CONNECTED
We have big plans for the future. We'll be covering all the goings on in the Halo world, so you can get all your Halo news here at ForgeHub. You should also keep an eye out for upcoming tournaments featuring ForgeHub maps (hint, hint), and of course more big, huge, gigantic, super colossal forge contests. Believe it or not, this little 1v1 thing we started with is actually just the tip of the iceberg, so be sure to keep your mind sharp and your thumbs nimble.

May the forge be with you
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To catch more ForgeHub news about the Site Update and announcements as they happen, please follow us, like us, subscribe to us, and so forth at:
ForgeHub Twitter
ForgeHub Youtube

-- The ForgeHub Staff​