Download vbulletin styles?

[Dario D.]

I once heard of some software that lets you download (or dare I say "steal") the theme from an existing vbulletin forum. Is this possible, or is there a website where you can download free vbulletin styles?

I don't know (nor have the time) to make a completely new forum style, so I just want to find a forum with some colors that I like, and start with that style instead. Anyone know what software does this, or where to get styles?

Thanks

 

[Fewski]

Don't take someone elses skin.... They probably paid good money for that skin and they would most likely want it to stay unique.

For free vBulletin skins:
http://www.extremepixels.com/skins_vb.php

 

[Dario D.]

Oh... You have to pay for skins?

Thanks for the link Its not my intention to "steal" some highly specialized skin... just a simple black theme, with as little graphics as possible.

[edit] whoa, theyre asking for money here! [hides]

 

[Brian]

if you go to vBulletin.org, in the style's section you can download free styles there.

 

[LeetPCUser]

I'm sorry but if you use VBulletin then you know it costs quite a bit. I would think if you decide to buy it that you should be willing to fork out the money for the rest of the addons. This leads me to believe you have ripped it off. You know you can be reported and get in lots of trouble?

 

[Dario D.]

Now, now... don't jump to any hasty conclusions. I don't even have a public website yet.

I'm going to launch probably within the month, and am still trying to decide on actual forum software (vBulletin or phpBB).

Since phpBB comes free in my CPanel, and since I found extremepixels.com's phpBB skins for cheap, I think that's the route I'm going to take. If vbulletin is going to cost me $160, I don't see why not to use phpBB for free, with an identical skin as any vBulletin forum, for only $30.

Does anyone see any reason NOT to do this? Are there serious advantages to vBulletin compared to phpBB? I *can* put out the money, but I would rather it go to other things, unless vBulletin will greatly assist the community (I'm soon to launch a big video game mod, so I have to plan the forum well, beforehand).

 

[Brian]

vB seems more professional (IMO), better systme for adding mods/ad-on's, better Support (IMO).

Out of the box vB also has more features, in the time it takes to get phpbb to have the same features, you could already have your community up and running with vB

 

[LeetPCUser]

VB is more professional but it isn't worth the money unless you have the traffic.

 

[Dario D.]

vB seems more professional (IMO), better systme for adding mods/ad-on's, better Support (IMO).

Out of the box vB also has more features, in the time it takes to get phpbb to have the same features, you could already have your community up and running with vB

Ok, yeah, I agree. I'll have to figure out if it's worth it for me.

VB is more professional but it isn't worth the money unless you have the traffic.

Hmm, that's a good way to put it. Thanks.

 

[CreedFeed]

The problem is once you have the traffic it sucks to convert over to another forum software. Sure there's scripts to handle the conversion but I'd much rather start with the best software possible. If the site doesn't work out you still have the vB license and you can close down the old failed site and open a new one with your vB forums.

 

[LeetPCUser]

But the problem is if you somehow don't have a lot of visitors and the site goes downhill, like most forum sites, then you just ate a lot of cash!

 

[Dario D.]

Hmm... I guess there are several things to consider.

What I'll do is find a phpBB forum, look at it for a bit, and decide if it's good enough as-is... keeping in mind that vB is a little more powerful. I just have to see if the difference is worth it to me.

It will be a game-related forum, designed to serve the community for a couple years (unlike a place like this, where the forum is what it's all about, and isn't going anywhere anytime soon).

 

[LeetPCUser]

I wanted to use VBulletin, but I really don't have the money to fork that out.

 

[Xyzer]

I understand the software is quite expensive as i would also like it. I think you have to buy skins.

 

[LeetPCUser]

There are some free ones but I don't think they are that great. But with almost any forum you have to get custom skins...I mean face it if you are paying that much for a forum you want to make it look stellar...by not using free skins.

 

[jeygad]

@Fewski - thanks for the link.