Webmonkey Candidate Andy Harsent
From Kent Adventure Gaming Society Wiki
Several years ago the AGS did not have a web site that was kept up to date. It was black text on a white background, a challenge to navigate and lacking much in the way of useful content. I ran for the position of webmaster and have never looked back since.
I provide the society with as much web space as it needs, hosted on a robust off-site server over which I have full control. I purchased the domain adventuregaming.co.uk to provide it with a web presence that was both instantly recognisable and easy to remember. I also host email services and the mailing list for the society.
As an individual, I have been working with web development for several years. I have run and managed several sites over the years, including that of the AGS and AnimeSoc at the uni. I have had several personal sites and worked on professional pages both within and outside the University.
Over the years the site has seen a number of different forms, responding to the demands, requests, thoughts and suggestions of the members. It provides a wealth of information about the society, the committee, and the games and events that are run. We've had forums, content management systems, database driven pages. The site has been written in HTML, XHTML, ASP, PHP. In fact, just about any kind of page or geek talk you like has been tried and tested on the AGS site, leading it to the refined state you see today.
The AGS web site is now a wiki, taking into account the desire from the committee and members to be able to work with the content themselves. The entire committee can update a number of pages, ensuring the up-to-the-minute information is available without relying on a single webmaster (who could be on holiday). I also operate a small web team outside of the committee who are available through a separate email address, who can update any content on the request of any member of the society.
The AGS site in its current form has no limits to where it can be taken. It's your web site, so if you want something on the site, then all you need do is drop us an email.
For the future, I've had requests for personalised adventuregaming.co.uk email accounts, a new forum, mailing lists for individual games, a database of gaming web site links, downloadable game resources, along with others. All of these are possible. Since the site has come into a refined form, remaining as webmaster means I don't have to start afresh at the beginning of the next year. I can just build on the success of the established site, focussing on offering new content and services for the good of the society.
