If there are web applications developers (PHP, Flash, Flex, etc), SEO buffs, web designers, graphics designers, templates/scripts addicts, 3D animation gurus or even photographers among our readers, here is some great news. TemplateP2P, a must have site if you are into any of the fields mentioned above (doesn’t matter if you are a professional, student or a hobbyist), now has an online invite application in place. This should come in handy for those dying to get in, considering the fact that TP2P is a closed community that opens public registrations once or twice a year (and they just had an open signup last June so don’t expect another for quite some time).
With the opening of invite applications, several other changes have taken place at TP2P. For example regular members of the site can no longer send invites – you now need to be VIP or above to have that privilege. Main reason for these changes as we understand it is the staff’s disappointment with all the invite selling and trading going on. However with the new system in place one thing is for certain - you wouldn’t have to beg for TP2P invites (or buy them) again. However you’ll have to prove your skills in your area of expertise to get into the site. There is a quite a lengthy explanation posted on TemplateP2P forum about the new system
"We are working on a whole new system for new members. It's an Application / Test. Potential new members will fill it out and their applications will be reviewed by myself and the two Global Moderators. It's not your average membership application. There will be multiple steps and multiple pages. The first page explains the whole process.
The second page is general information that you might find on a normal membership application. The third page is where you pick your test. We will have several different tests covering different but relevant topics. The applicant will pick the topic they feel most confident with. Once selected, their custom test will be shown. This is not multiple choice or true/false. It's ESSAY format! I hated school essays, but they seemed to test my knowledge more than standardized tests. We don't have a set grading scale for admission or acceptance, but we will only select applicants who can form Clear Proper sentences and who answered the questions intelligently. This will hopefully bring in lots of new GOOD blood and filter out the bad."
Right now the invite application (Step 2) has 8 categories to choose from: Website Design, Website Coding, Graphics Design, Templates & Scripts, The Scene, Hosting, SEO & General Filesharing. However for the moment tests are only available for the fist four categories – you can choose any one of these in Step 2 and proceed from there.
It’s all good but why would anyone want to submit applications and go through ‘tests’ to join a forum? Well below is an screenshot of the members only area of TP2P which should give you a hint:
All of the categories visible above (there are ones that aren't shown in the screenshot) usually have premium content that is not freely available on the net. It’s not only the content – this site has a helpful community of over 8000 active members. You can read more about TP2P in our recent review of the site which we posted back when it was open for signup.
Site Name: Template P2P (http://templatep2p.com/forum/)
Invite Application URL: http://tp2p.7twomedia.net
Special thanks to T.J for the heads up.