That being said, I quite enjoy the layout of the site as it is, because it's minimalistic and easy enough to navigate from non-PC devices, such as PDAs and cellphones!! Keep it simple is the motto - hence, even if you do desire to add extra stuff, please give us the option to retain this look if we need to.
I think it would be better to keep the forum as it is and make the wiki a standalone page. (of course with some kind of link between them but not more than that). Also, I was saying wiki to refers to the idea of member being able to contribute to the website. It would be bad, I think, if assemblegames was going to be "just another wiki". I mean using the same frame as all other wiki (white and ugly). The gamesx wiki is a go exemple to follow I think btw: http://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php
Here's the link, anyway I see errors all around the site that make it practically impossible to use. http://assemblergames.com/wiki/dogatemysnes/pmwiki.php?n=Main.HomePage It looks badly hacked IMO, what the hell happened there?
I don't think an instant chat feature would be needed. Plus the "Last Forum Topics" wouldn't need to take that much space. As a portal, the News, Articles and Museum News area would be more important.
The forums are the "workshop" - an esoteric circle of people who exchange grey information about grey areas and unknown or less known subjects. This shouldnt be mixed with a "come in and read" portal for average joe in my view.
Nothing that Messenger can't solve. Maybe a topic with the MSN accounts of the members who want to be added to others' accounts would do it (I know some people who adds the MSN account to their profile but doesn't like a lot to be added if it isn't necessary).
There is (or used to be?) a IRC channel. Used to visit it before until the problem with Xtreme and someone decided to DoS people in the channel. In fact, I havn't even been on IRC since then.. Is it any better now days? Been thinking of joining it again from time to time.