Sorry about the lack of updates, but I’ve been in the dungeon cooking up the code for Final Damnation, the final transition for the site.

What’s Final Damnation
In a nutshell, FD is the culmination of a year and a half’s site development of JP Goth. The site has gone from absolutely nothing, cranked out on Notepad (my preferred choice for looking at HTML) with heavy use of pastels, to a Google blog, to a database-driven blog and falling into the current content database-driven system.

It’s funny, but I still prefer the old Notepad version, although the blog was the most successful in terms of new visitors. However, the current system has been the greatest development in terms of growing an awareness of Japan’s Goth/underground scene and probably the most important as a community-building tool. Also, the current version has pulled the most interesting people of all the systems! Yes, if you signed up here or lurk around then you rock!

But now it’s time to get it on with the dream system (in my mind at least). FD is prepped to be:
† bilingual (Japanese/English interface – and content if the Japanese writing Goths join in);
† easy to submit information (news, event info, pictures etc.);
† consistent system and style – no more pastel sub-sections and a complete look; and
† Possibility for mobile delivery (although that will be later).

I could go on (and on and on), but things are looking ripe for the change.

One of the major challenges lies in the transfer of data. Preliminary experiments suggest that most User data, News submissions and other smaller parts can be transferred. Other sections may be too complicated to transfer, but they could be re-bled into the landscape after FD takes place.

A working launch will probably start early December with alterations, data transfers, etc. taking place in the first half of that month. The final change-over is expected in December and after a short break, I’ll be chained into the desk to ride this thing in January 06.

On the user side (you guys), I hope that you will feel like joining the contributions. Anything that comes from the community helps so much with building an interesting place to be. So don’t be coy when FD comes on! It might be a CD you’ve heard, some bit of weirdness in the street, or whatever. Something to ponder anyway. If you’re busy or don’t have time, energy, etc., I hear you! If you just keep dropping by I’ll be happy!!

As for my part, I’ll be working on a few projects related to J-Goth in the months to come and might have a few other things ex-J-Goth as well. I’m gonna keep trying to nail info here when I can, but there’s lots of other “stuff” to do!

Anyway, back to the dungeon for FD and some work on one of those other projects.

Cheers.

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