This is it, after all these months working on the new site version, we managed to release it with less bugs than expected. All along it has been an hell so we're proud of the results. We want to thanks everyone who participated to the site, and those supported us. Some of you have some questions about the site and its development. Let's talk about akfgfragments.com.
Why a new version?
The previous version was just an upgrade, it had the same system than the previous versions and we were using an awful framework called Bootstrap. On the front-end side (design), I was in charge of this awful version and the final design wasn't that good. So I decided to develop a responsive format proper to the site, and it turned out my format wasn't made by anyone else on the internet, plus it solved every grid systems' problems such as the obligation of rewriting the whole design code for a specific device/screen. Using the current system assure us that the site is working on every screens, and only writing a very few lines of design to fix a few things. On the back-end side (system/database), we were focused only on Asian Kung-Fu Generation.
Today we are going to talk about many bands related to Asian Kung-Fu Generation such as 8otto, Gotch, Sails, Phono Tones, Straightener, Chatmonchy, Dr.Downer and more. Links/connections between all the website's elements are more effective, faster. Thanks to Gregory's work, we are able to develop more easily features. To summarize, we improved the site on every sides.
Will there be another version of akfgfragments.com?
No. Computer languages like HTML/CSS/PHP are evolving every years and we are going to improve the actual code with CSS4 for instance (CSS3 at the moment), so in a year, the website's design might change and since we coded the site in a way we won't start everything all over again, there won't be any more tabula rasa with the site.
What is new in akfgfragments.com?
We have now goals for this year, in terms of traffic, contents, articles, etc. Japanese editors will join us and we are going to get closer to Japanese fans. Regarding the bands' contents available on the site, you will find out who recorded the latest Asian Kung-Fu Generation album, watch the bands' music videos, listen to songs samples (under construction), know their full time-line, able to download tablatures in GP6/5/4 and txt, read interviews (yes that isn't new). We also have a Youtube channel, at the moment no video are put on the channel. As soon as we have the right equipment to make videos, we have some ideas that I hope you will have an interest in it. Each months, a song analytic will be made, if you don't show any interest onto the forum about a certain song, we will randomly choose one. I was talking about Japanese editors joining us, we will also write articles about things that have no relation with the band's discography but the band itself.
About the forum and users
Registering on the site will let you have access to more features than you can think of. You can participate to debates and also comment news. User or not, you can also join the team to become an editor, to add content, to translate the site. Please note that since we are independent, we want a place made for you all, to gather and talk about your passion. We want to be separated from the social networks as mush as possible, some of you remember how it was to talk on a forum before the worldwide release of the social networks, we want you to feel this feeling again. Akfgfragments.com is your place, your website.
Donation and affiliation
It has been 5 years now since we're working on akfgfragments.com on our free time. I guess we could have held an Asian Kung-Fu Generation private concert if we were paid since the beginning (testing the smiley system and you didn't notice). More seriously, a donation system has been set up for you to donate any amount of money you want through Paypal. If you cannot donate but purchase things on the internet, we have created a page where you can find the affiliated links for the main Amazon shops (EU/US/JP), CDjapan and Itunes (coming very soon). If you are about to do shopping on these shops, please click on the affiliated links so we can earn a very little commission.
Commission
We invest the commissions in two ways at the moment: We are releasing for free contents like tablatures, if we reach a certain amount of commission and donation, we are paying a friend who works on tablatures, he is a pro, has a diploma in music with many years of experience and spends more than 20h on each tablatures. We decided to remunerate him in exchange of his tablatures. We started with tablatures, we think of hiring a professional Japanese translator to run projects and translate things like interviews. Then, we use the money to pay the host. A third way is planned. As soon as we can, we will to donate some money to NGO, charities, association like Fukushima Kids, Radiationguardians, etc.
Thank you everyone for your help and support, we are back and will grow bigger than before thanks to you and will always remain independent. We insist on this.
I would like to dedicate this article in the memory of Frédéric Boisseau, Franck Brinsolaro, Jean Cabut, Elsa Cayat, Charb, Philippe Honoré, Bernard Maris, Ahmed Merabet, Mustapha Ourrad, Michel Renaud, Bernard Verlhac and Georges Wolinski, victims of Charlie Hebdo shooting. Akfgfragments.com is Charlie, je suis et nous sommes Charlie