Actually now I think about it this is probably best done in an extremely regulated fashion.

Make it so that only a couple of new forums are created, such as an 18+ forum, a debates forum and whatever that are limited to certain members based on certain credentials (previous bans, behaviour in those forums, post count, age) and that are just as heavily moderated as other forums.

This would allow the change in quality and matureness of posting in those forums while avoiding all the cliqueness that is associated with allowing members to created their own forums.

I think it could work and there could be some nice discussions to take place in groups like these. I've wanted a retro gaming forum for a while, so it would be nice to have a group dedicated to that.

I'm also going to side with Dogs Rule on this one. I especially don't like the idea of the invite-only, closed forum groups. That seems like it could fan the flames of fanboy anger/hate.

I think the forums are very good as they are now.

Other tidbits to discuss:

- Users can only create X number of groups and join Y number of groups.
- Only users with a certain post count can create groups.
- It costs vg$ to create/join a group, or only to do so beyond some limit.

DKII said: Other tidbits to discuss: - Users can only create X number of groups and join Y number of groups. - Only users with a certain post count can create groups. - It costs vg$ to create/join a group, or only to do so beyond some limit.

 Good ideas. What would the post count limit be? Oh and if a user abuses it the mods should take away the privelege temporarily or permanently depending on how much they abused it. 

DKII said: Other tidbits to discuss: - Users can only create X number of groups and join Y number of groups. - Only users with a certain post count can create groups. - It costs vg$ to create/join a group, or only to do so beyond some limit.

 That sounds really good, having the restrictions. There are like 5 billion groups on 1UP, many of them repeats or only different than others in the slightest way.

I love this idea.
And I don't think it will detract from the regular forums at all. Afterall, no one's going to post general gaming news and whatnot in these things.

We'd have like Mario Kart and Smash bros groups where we could go to arrange matches, touraments etc, or maybe even one dedicated entirely to posting humorous cat pictures :)

DKII said: Other tidbits to discuss: - Users can only create X number of groups and join Y number of groups. - Only users with a certain post count can create groups. - It costs vg$ to create/join a group, or only to do so beyond some limit.

My suggestions: 1. Users should create as many groups as they can afford (see #3) and we should be able to join limitless groups. 2. I say anyone other than a noobie, so 500+ posts to create a group. 3. Here I say we make groups fairly expensive to create to keep down on a bunch of useless groups being created so maybe 250-500 vg$ range? Joining groups should be free. and when closing a group you created you should get back half of what you paid for it. So if it costs 500 vg$ and you decide to close it you should get 250 back.

kasillas88 said: DKII said: Other tidbits to discuss: - Users can only create X number of groups and join Y number of groups. - Only users with a certain post count can create groups. - It costs vg$ to create/join a group, or only to do so beyond some limit.   My suggestions: 1. Users should create as many groups as they can afford (see #3) and we should be able to join limitless groups. 2. I say anyone other than a noobie, so 500+ posts to create a group. 3. Here I say we make groups fairly expensive to create to keep down on a bunch of useless groups being created so maybe 250-500 vg$ range? Joining groups should be free. and when closing a group you created you should get back half of what you paid for it. So if it costs 500 vg$ and you decide to close it you should get 250 back.

 No, limiting how many groups you can make based on how much you can spam and create crap topics that get heaps of posts ('post something about the person above you!') is basically telling people to wreck the forum.

It should be a limited number per person at a time, with only people who have been here for more than a month and having over 500 posts being allowed to make them. 

I support it!