We should add only a very few new forums at a time if we are going to make wholesale changes to the list. Otherwise, it gets to be too much to read/sort through. I imagine it would be hell for the mods, too.

I don't see the point of breaking down the Platforms section into individual consoles or adding a bunch of new genre categories - the forum areas for all these get sufficient traffic now but not an overwhelming amount.

I also don't like the "HS parking lot" idea as a place to kick arguments. It is a bit derisive, and having one's discussion getting "moved" there would probably result in some hurt feelings or possibly people leaving the site. Unless you are engaging in out-right name calling/insulting or offering some other kind of argument without substance, I don't see why threads that engage in deep or heated conversation couldn't be a part of any of the forums. There is a report button and threads can be locked.

Based on what the other posts have suggested, here's what I think makes sense. New forums are marked with ***:

General
---------
***General Gaming (anything that doesn't fit elsewhere)
Together Retro
Game Reviews (I'd move this up the list as it deserves more attention)
***Games as Culture (the Philosophy, Art, and Social Influence of games)
***Game Rooms and Archiving
Downloads
Videos
***Off-Topic (topics not related to gaming)

Marketplace
------------
Buy/Sell/Trade (open to people who have been a member for 30 days or more)
***Game Deals (post deals, brag about finds, etc. - open to all)
***Auctions (eBay links and general discussion of auctions - open to all)

The Garage
----------
Technical Help
Hacks and Mods
Emulation

Platforms
----------
Sega
Nintendo
Sony and Microsoft
***PC
Other Platforms

Genres
----------
Fighters
Shmups
RPG
***Other Genres (RTS, FPS, Sports, Platformers, etc.)

Marketplace
------------
Buy/Sell/Trade (open to people who have been a member for 30 days or more)
***Game Deals (post deals, brag about finds, etc. - open to all)
***Auctions (eBay links and general discussion of auctions - open to all)
.

Not a big suggestion, but an obvious one I think: Any chance of some Spoiler Tags? It's always nice to not have to worry about reading one.

I'd asked for a console modding section here a couple of times in the last year+. There are lots of topics on this forum from recent months and years that are just as relevant now as they were then, would be nice to have them all in one place, eg a "Modding consoles" forum with sub forums for each console or failing that, each company (ie Microsoft, Sony, Sega, Phillips, SNK, Nintendo, Amstrad, Commodore, Mattel, Coleco - I think that covers them all?).

Perhaps also nominate a new Moderator to help out a bit too. (ahem ?)

I actually came in here to mention this. Spoiler Tags would be incredibly useful, not to mention easy to implement.

(strikeout tags would be nice too)

I'd asked for a console modding section here a couple of times in the last year+. There are lots of topics on this forum from recent months and years that are just as relevant now as they were then, would be nice to have them all in one place, eg a "Modding consoles" forum with sub forums for each console or failing that, each company (ie Microsoft, Sony, Sega, Phillips, SNK, Nintendo, Amstrad, Commodore, Mattel, Coleco - I think that covers them all?).

Perhaps also nominate a new Moderator to help out a bit too. (ahem ?)