This is a feature that's going to fundamentally change how members interact: The ability to participate in and create chat rooms. Chat is an area that has a LOT of baggage normally associated with it. A lot of sites have tried chat but have ultimately failed because of its difficulty. Here's how we're going to handle it:
(1) No anonymity: The only way to visit our chat rooms is through your theOtaku account. We won't allow anonymous, non-registered visitors to enter.
(2) No double-login: If you're logged into theOtaku you'll automatically be logged into our chat system, with your avatar and portfolio link carrying over.
(3) Grace periods: You have to be a member for at least three months and in good standing to visit our chat room. The reason for this is that it makes it very hard for people to register fake accounts just to harass others. Additionally, you have to be a member for at least one year to have the ability to create rooms.
(4) Tons of moderators: Not only will our normal theOtaku staff serve as moderators, but we're going to let OtakuBoards' massive team of moderators have chat moderation abilities too. That way if you run into any problems at all with chat there'll always be someone to help you out and to keep the flamers at bay.
(5) Accountability: If someone is acting grossly inappropriately in our chat system, we can freeze their entire theOtaku account. Additionally, everyone who creates a chat room will be held responsible for the goings-on in their room.
(6) Promotion System: If someone makes a chat room that becomes incredibly popular, we could promote it into a permanent chat room, in the same way that great WORLDS can be promoted into promoted WORLDS.
The launch date for our chat site is still to be announced but it's 99% finished and we look forward to unveiling it.
