Online forums have been a huge part of internet culture for decades, bringing people together to share ideas, hobbies, and communities. Today we’re speaking with Page, also widely known as Empire, the founder of Bayside Gamers and one of the most active members on Forum Promotion.

In this interview, Page talks about his journey through online communities, running a gaming forum, his coding background, and what it’s like being the top poster on Forum Promotion.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background online?

Hello, I’m Empire. I’ve always gone by the name Empire, even though my username now is Page, most people still know me as Empire across different platforms. I’ve been around online since around 2007 and became quite well known by 2015, especially in forum promotion, where I reached one of the highest member ratings (not talking about post counts!).

I wasn’t always focused on webmasters or online communities. My online presence is actually very different from my personal life, as I tend to keep those two worlds separate. If you met me in real life, you’d probably see a completely different side of me.

More recently, I’ve started getting involved in UK politics and I’m looking at becoming a councillor, which is something a lot of people wouldn’t expect. That has pushed me to learn more about policies and how things work in the UK.

Online, I studied ICT including web development, which naturally led me into forums and online communities. I enjoy building, managing, and promoting online spaces. I’m also a content creator, streaming on Twitch, creating videos, and I’m heavily into flight simulation and virtual aviation.

Overall, I’d say I’m someone who’s always evolving, whether online, professionally, or personally.

How did you first discover online forums, and what kept you interested in them?

I first discovered online forums while studying between 2010 and 2013. Part of my course involved ICT and web design, so I had to build basic web pages using HTML and CSS. At the time my knowledge wasn’t amazing, but I learned the fundamentals.

While exploring websites, I eventually came across forums. What really pulled me in was gaming, especially GTA roleplay back in the GTA IV days. I joined several roleplay communities that were using older forum platforms like Invision Community v2 and v3.

Forums were huge back then, completely different from today. I became very involved and even served as staff on one GTA community forum for about three years. During that time I helped manage communities and worked on a roleplay project called Bayside Virtual Emergency Servers Roleplay.

Eventually I decided to create my own forum. My first proper site was for that GTA community, and in 2014 I launched Bayside Gamers using SMF boards. That really cemented my interest in running online communities.

Later I was introduced more seriously to forum promotion through someone I worked with who had run Postloop. That opened my eyes to the promotion and engagement side of forums, which kept me involved long term.

What are some of your main hobbies and interests outside of forums and the internet?

Outside of the online world, I live a fairly normal day-to-day life. I enjoy gaming and streaming on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, but I also spend a lot of time relaxing with films and TV shows.

I’m definitely the kind of person who ends up staying up until 2am watching movies or series before going to sleep.

More recently though, I’ve become quite involved in politics. I’ve been canvassing for the party I support, helping with campaigns, knocking on doors, and speaking with residents about elections and local issues.

For example, I recently travelled to Newcastle to help with a by-election campaign, which involved meeting residents and even getting the chance to meet higher-level politicians face-to-face.

While I still enjoy online communities and content creation, politics has definitely become a major interest for me recently.

How did you first get involved with Bayside Gamers?

While gaining experience with forums, I wanted to build something of my own, specifically a gaming and modding community around GTA.

The name “Bayside” actually came from the GTA roleplay community I was already involved in, so it felt natural to carry that over into something I created myself.

The original vision was an all-in-one place for gamers, initially focused on GTA but with plans to grow beyond that. In the early days the forum focused heavily on GTA content and modding.

Since launching in 2014, Bayside Gamers has evolved into a broader gaming community. It’s no longer about just one game, it’s about bringing gamers together to share discussions, content, and experiences.

How would you describe the Bayside Gamers community?

Bayside Gamers is a community built by a gamer for gamers. It began around GTA but has grown into a more general gaming community.

For me it’s never just been about posting and leaving. I’ve always wanted it to feel like a real community where people feel welcome, supported, and part of something.

Forums aren’t what they used to be, but Bayside Gamers has adapted and continued since 2014. At the end of the day it’s a relaxed place where gamers can connect, talk about games, and enjoy discussions together.

What do you enjoy most about being part of Bayside Gamers?

Running a community definitely has its challenges. It can be hard work managing issues, keeping things active, and maintaining everything.

But what I enjoy most is connecting with people. I like interacting with other forum owners, doing exchanges, and checking out the sites and communities they’ve built.

Another big part for me is the satisfaction of building something from the ground up. Not everyone can say they created and maintained their own community for years.

And yes, I do enjoy getting a bit of credit for it too!

How did you first get into coding?

I first got into coding during my ICT studies where I learned HTML and CSS. I wouldn’t say I’m an advanced coder, but I know enough to build and manage websites.

I’ve always been someone who learns what I need to get the job done rather than diving deeply into programming.

I’ve also had some learning difficulties over the years which made coding harder, but I’ve always found ways to work around that. As long as I understand the basics like HTML and CSS, I’m happy.

What technologies do you enjoy working with the most?

I enjoy working with HTML and CSS the most.

I often compare it to building a house. HTML is the structure and foundation, while CSS is what makes everything look good.

Another way to look at it is like a black-and-white drawing on paper. HTML is the drawing, and CSS is what colours it in and brings it to life. That creative side of design is what I enjoy the most.

Have your coding skills helped in the forum world?

Yes, especially when it comes to themes and design customisation.

Knowing basic HTML and CSS allows me to tweak layouts and make things look how I want without relying completely on others.

Over the years I’ve done quite a bit of customisation on Bayside Gamers, including themes, layout changes, and plugin setups. Even basic coding knowledge can go a long way in making a community unique.

Are there any projects you’re particularly proud of?

I’d say the projects I’ve built over time are what I’m most proud of.

I’m always looking back and thinking about what can be improved or changed, but overall the journey of building and maintaining sites like Bayside Gamers is something I’m proud of.

You’re the top poster on Forum Promotion. What motivates you to stay so active there?

Honestly, sometimes I look back and wonder how I even reached that point!

I originally joined in 2015 mainly to promote my site and take part in post exchanges. But over time I got more involved in discussions and started building connections with other members.

The mindset back then was simple: support the community and it will support you back.

Before I knew it I had built up over 46,000 posts on the forum. At that point it just became part of my routine and something I genuinely enjoy doing.

What do you enjoy most about the Forum Promotion community?

I enjoy the discussions and the variety of topics people bring up.

I also like exploring other members’ sites and projects. It’s interesting to see how different communities are built and run.

Over time you start recognising familiar members and building connections, which makes it feel like a real community rather than just another forum.

Do you have any tips for people who want to become more active in forum communities?

My biggest advice is simple: just be yourself.

Don’t worry too much about what others think. Be respectful, join discussions, and actually engage with people rather than posting just to post.

If you put the effort in, people usually support you back.

What makes a forum community successful?

For me it always comes down to the members.

Active, genuine members are what make a community feel alive. A good staff team also plays a big role in keeping things organised and welcoming.

I always try to treat my community like a family. Over time you build friendships and connections, and it becomes more than just a forum.

What keeps you passionate about forums after all these years?

It’s really the people and the process of building something.

Watching a community grow, meeting new people, and seeing what others create keeps it interesting.

Even though the internet has changed a lot, I still enjoy being part of forum communities and I plan to keep doing it for many years to come.

Final Thoughts

Page’s journey shows just how powerful online communities can be. From discovering forums through gaming to building and running his own long-standing community, his passion for forums and connecting people has remained strong for nearly two decades.

Whether through Bayside Gamers or his activity on Forum Promotion, Page continues to help keep the spirit of forums alive.

If you’re interested in gaming communities or forum culture, Bayside Gamers is definitely worth checking out.