Bulbagarden: Difference between revisions

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'''Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden''', commonly known as '''Bulbagarden''', is an English-language Pokémon community. It is most well known for [[Bulbapedia]], [[Bulbagarden forums|its forums]], and [[Bulbanews]]. The site's slogan is "the original Pokémon community".
'''Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden''', commonly known as '''Bulbagarden''', is an English-language Pokémon community. It is most well known for [[Bulbapedia]], [[Bulbagarden forums|its forums]], and [[Bulbanews]]. The site's slogan is "the original Pokémon community".


Bulbagarden has, in recent years, made major pushes into the "Web 2.0" philosophy, starting with Bulbapedia and continuing with the Oekaki and the Bulbawiki networks.
Bulbagarden has for a number of years been a strong proponent of the "Web 2.0" philosophy, most prominently with Bulbapedia.


==History==
==History==
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The original site was shut down at the beginning of 2001, when the collapse of the {{wp|dot-com bubble}} caused severe web advertising trouble for the vast majority of Pokémon sites, including most of Bulbagarden's major rivals. The advertising issue left [[Anenga (person)|Bulba]] unable to pay for the server. The files were held in stasis on the server until the beginning of February, during which time the then-forum head admin {{u|Archaic}} launched a desperate bid to fund the server for just one more month, enough to be allowed access to the files again and to make a forum backup.
The original site was shut down at the beginning of 2001, when the collapse of the {{wp|dot-com bubble}} caused severe web advertising trouble for the vast majority of Pokémon sites, including most of Bulbagarden's major rivals. The advertising issue left [[Anenga (person)|Bulba]] unable to pay for the server. The files were held in stasis on the server until the beginning of February, during which time the then-forum head admin {{u|Archaic}} launched a desperate bid to fund the server for just one more month, enough to be allowed access to the files again and to make a forum backup.


In late 2002, following significant downtime on the part of [[Serebii.net]], ''Mozz'' and Archaic began to plan for the revival of Bulbagarden, with Mozz providing the initial funding. They obtained permission from Bulba, and Archaic began inviting staff members and well-known users from other fansites to join the staff for the new site. A large group of staff members of The PokéMasters, dissatisfied with the situation on that site at the time, chose to join Archaic's project.
In late 2002, following significant downtime on the part of [[Serebii.net]], Archaic began to plan for the revival of Bulbagarden, with initial funding provided by ''Mozz''. Archaic obtained permission from Bulba, and began inviting staff members and well-known users from other fansites to join the staff for the new site. A large group of staff members of The PokéMasters, dissatisfied with the situation on that site at the time, chose to join Archaic's project.


===Early years: 2003–2005===
===Early years: 2003–2005===
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In 2005, Bulbagarden's fortunes began to turn when {{u|evkl}} proposed that, instead of a regular website, Bulbagarden should turn toward a user-edited {{wp|wiki}} approach. With the assistance of {{u|Zhen Lin}}, [[Bulbapedia]] was created. It rapidly grew over the next few years, and with its growth, Bulbagarden was finally able to firmly establish its presence in the fandom, just in time for the release of {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}. To complete the forum and Bulbapedia, a second wiki-based project, [[Bulbanews]], was soon added.  
In 2005, Bulbagarden's fortunes began to turn when {{u|evkl}} proposed that, instead of a regular website, Bulbagarden should turn toward a user-edited {{wp|wiki}} approach. With the assistance of {{u|Zhen Lin}}, [[Bulbapedia]] was created. It rapidly grew over the next few years, and with its growth, Bulbagarden was finally able to firmly establish its presence in the fandom, just in time for the release of {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}. To complete the forum and Bulbapedia, a second wiki-based project, [[Bulbanews]], was soon added.  


As of 2013, Bulbagarden.net is now a major Pokémon fansite, with an {{wp|Alexa internet|Alexa}} ranking placing it among the 50 most visited video game websites in the world, and has been cited in professional studies and publications. Archaic is still the webmaster, seconded by a team of vice-webmasters, as well as by the staff of the various projects of Bulbagarden (Bulbapedia, Bulbanews and Bulbagarden Forums).
Bulbagarden.net today is now a major Pokémon fansite, and has been cited in professional studies and publications. Archaic is still the webmaster, seconded by the Chiefs of Staff, as well as by the staff of the various projects of Bulbagarden (Bulbapedia, Bulbanews and Bulbagarden Forums).


==Site organization==
==Site organization==
Rather than being a single, unified website, Bulbagarden consists of a large number of projects, often operating under their own name and on their own subdomain (e.g. forums.bulbagarden.net, bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net, etc.), each with their own staff and leadership, each filling a different role or niche. Most projects have a specific color associated with them, used primarily for the rank bars of members of that project on the forums.
Bulbagarden incorporates a large number of projects, often operating under their own subdomain (e.g. forums.bulbagarden.net, bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net, etc.), each with their own staff and leadership, each filling a different role or niche. Most projects have a specific color associated with them, used primarily for the rank bars of members of that project on the forums.


===Core projects===
===Core projects===
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====Bulbagarden forums (BMGf)====
====Bulbagarden forums (BMGf)====
{{main|Bulbagarden forums}}
{{main|Bulbagarden forums}}
Bulbagarden forums is the oldest of the four core project, and the only one that was part of the new site immediately when it was launched. It was established in late 2002, and opened to the public on January 1, 2003. Its primary purpose is to provide a discussion forums for Pokémon fans to discuss all aspects of the fandom, as well as to provide a location for staff members of the various projects to interact with one another. The project head of Bulbagarden forums is known as the ''Head administrator''.  
Bulbagarden forums is the oldest of the four core project, and the only one that was part of the new site immediately when it was launched. It was established in late 2002, and opened to the public on January 1, 2003. Its primary purpose is to provide a discussion forums for Pokémon fans to discuss all aspects of the fandom, as well as to provide a location for staff members of the various projects to interact with one another. The project head of Bulbagarden forums is known as the ''Head administrator''.
 
As of 2020, the Bulbagarden forums also hosts Bulbanews.  


====Bulbapedia====
====Bulbapedia====
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Bulbanews was established shortly after Bulbapedia, in early 2005, to provide a community news source for Pokémon fans. Although the original concept relied on users submitting news articles that would be approved by the staff, the concept later evolved toward the use of dedicated news writers. Its project leader is the Bulbanews Editor-in-Chief.  
Bulbanews was established shortly after Bulbapedia, in early 2005, to provide a community news source for Pokémon fans. Although the original concept relied on users submitting news articles that would be approved by the staff, the concept later evolved toward the use of dedicated news writers. Its project leader is the Bulbanews Editor-in-Chief.  


Bulbanews also hosts the Bulbagarden projects [[Bulbacast]] and the [[National Bulbagraphic]].
Originally given a special wiki setup using a submissions interface designed by Zhen Lin, Bulbanews moved to a setup integrated with the Bulbagarden forums in 2020.


====Bulbagarden Social Media====
====Bulbagarden Social Media====
Bulbagarden Social Media was created in early 2013, with the aim to coordinate efforts to establish and maintain a strong Bulbagarden presence across the major social media sites, such as {{wp|Twitter}}, {{wp|Facebook}} and {{wp|Tumblr}}. The project is still in its infancy and working on building its initial staff, although its first project leader (''social media coordinator'') has already been appointed.
Bulbagarden Social Media was created in early 2013, with the aim to coordinate efforts to establish and maintain a strong Bulbagarden presence across the major social media sites, such as {{wp|Twitter}}, {{wp|Facebook}} and {{wp|Tumblr}}.


====Bulbagarden Discord====
====Bulbagarden Discord====
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====BulbaNewsNOW (BNN)====
====BulbaNewsNOW (BNN)====
{{main|BulbaNewsNOW}}
{{main|BulbaNewsNOW}}
BulbaNewsNOW was created in 2012 during the months leading to the release of [[Pokémon Black and White Versions 2|Pokémon Black 2 and White 2]], to provide Bulbagarden with a better tool for handling breaking news stories and major rumors (Bulbanews itself being focused on slower, more in-depth reporting). It works closely with both Bulbagarden Social Media (as a tool to help spread breaking news), and with Bulbanews itself, which can follow news stories in more depth after BulbaNewsNOW breaks them. The head of BulbaNewsNOW is identified simply as the Editor, or BNN Editor.
BulbaNewsNOW was created in 2012 during the months leading to the release of [[Pokémon Black and White Versions 2|Pokémon Black 2 and White 2]], to provide Bulbagarden with a better tool for handling breaking news stories and major rumors (Bulbanews itself being focused on slower, more in-depth reporting). It works closely with both Bulbagarden Social Media (as a tool to help spread breaking news), and with Bulbanews itself, which can follow news stories in more depth after BulbaNewsNOW breaks them.


====Bulbagarden Archives====
====Bulbagarden Archives====
{{main|Bulbagarden Archives}}
{{main|Bulbagarden Archives}}
The Bulbagarden Archives is a file-hosting system that was created in early 2005 to support Bulbapedia and Bulbanews by providing a common repository for images and other files that the two projects may need to link to, such as [[Pokémon anime]] screenshots and [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] cards images. The head of Bulbagarden Archives is known as the Archive liaison.
The Bulbagarden Archives is a file-hosting system that was created in early 2005 to support Bulbapedia and Bulbanews by providing a common repository for images and other files that the two projects may need to link to, such as [[Pokémon anime]] screenshots and [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] cards images.


====Bulbakaki====
====Bulbakaki====
{{main|Bulbakaki}}
{{main|Bulbakaki}}
Bulbakaki was an [[wiktionary:Oekaki|Oekaki]] (an artwork board) hosted by Bulbagarden. While it received significantly less attention than the other parts of Bulbagarden, it was somewhat active and had fan artists posting their artworks fairly regularly.
Bulbakaki was an [[wiktionary:Oekaki|Oekaki]] (an artwork board) hosted by Bulbagarden. While it received significantly less attention than the other parts of Bulbagarden, it was somewhat active and had fan artists posting their artworks fairly regularly. The Bulbakaki was shut down in 2015 due to ongoing issues with the Oekaki software.


==Hostees==
==Hostees==
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This is a current list of Bulbagarden's senior staff.
This is a current list of Bulbagarden's senior staff.
* {{u|Archaic}} - Bulbagarden {{bp|Webmasters|Webmaster}}
* {{u|Archaic}} - Bulbagarden {{bp|Webmasters|Webmaster}}
* {{u|evkl}} - Bulbagarden Chief of Staff, Founding Editor-in-Chief
* {{u|evkl}} - Bulbagarden Chief of Staff, Founding Editor-in-Chief of Bulbapedia
* {{u|Kogoro}} - Bulbagarden Chief of Staff, Former Bulbapedia {{bp|Editor-in-Chief}}
* {{u|Kogoro}} - Bulbagarden Chief of Staff, Former Bulbapedia {{bp|Editor-in-Chief}}
* {{u|digBMGF|dig}} - Bulbagarden Chief of Staff, Acting Forums Head Administrator  
* {{u|digBMGF|dig}} - Bulbagarden Chief of Staff, Acting Forums Head Administrator  
** {{u|Enzap}} - Bulbagarden Deputy Chief of Staff
** {{u|Enzap}} - Bulbagarden Chief of Staff, Former Forums Head Administrator
* Magnificent Entertainer - Forums Head Administrator  
* Magnificent Entertainer - Forums Head Administrator and Multimedia Executive
** {{u|Blazingfist|Neo Blaze}} - Forums Deputy Head Administrator  
** {{u|Blazingfist|Neo Blaze}} - Forums Deputy Head Administrator  
* {{u|Pokemaster97}} - Bulbapedia Editor-in-Chief
* {{u|Pokemaster97}} - Bulbapedia Editor-in-Chief
* {{u|abcboy}} and Misty - Co-Chief Discord Administrators
* {{u|abcboy}} and Misty - Co-Chief Discord Administrators
* sharkshocker - Social Media Coordinator
* Magnificent Entertainer - Multimedia Executive
** Elieson - Multimedia Deputy Executive
** Elieson - Multimedia Deputy Executive
* Cresselia92 - Art Director
* Cresselia92 - Art Director