Site Redesign

[TraderJake]

This is the reason why this forum has been created. There isn't much there, but the long, arduous process of redesigning the site has begun. It's goal is to give a more professional feel to the site in addition to creating standardization on the site as a whole, something that currently just does not exist.

The goal of this site is to keep you guys, the people of significance on the site, posted on the progress of the redesign. This project is not something that just will be done overnight, and I need input on design changes and any new features that will be added.

That being said, you can find the baseboard for the redesign here. Right now it is just a page with CSS classes instead of horrible font color tags. But, overtime the site will begin to change to something more accessible and meaningful.  For starters, the first thing that is going to change is that the navigation bar on the left is going to change. It's going to run right below the static at the top of the site. Through tweaking, it'll look great.

Any suggestions you have regarding the redesign or anything else regarding the site please feel free to post here and we'll try to give a mostly straight answer.

[Tan]

I have to say I like the contrast between the newsposts white background and the grey of the menus. Makes it stand out more, not sure if that's a planned part of the idea behind the frontpage or not but I thought I'd mention it.

[TraderJake]

I've only just begun, but I'll keep that in mind. To be honest, the left bar won't exist on the front page of the redesign.

[bum-man]

One thing I have noticed from my personal use of the site is that I sometimes miss feature updates or news posts on the home page since I tend to go to the forums first.  So I guess I would like to see an indicator on the forum index page that shows updates have been made to the home page.

[Hydrobond]

Let me know if you want some help, Dave. 

[TraderJake]

One thing I have noticed from my personal use of the site is that I sometimes miss feature updates or news posts on the home page since I tend to go to the forums first.  So I guess I would like to see an indicator on the forum index page that shows updates have been made to the home page.

Don't worry, about 90% of you go to the forums first. That being said, I am hoping that the ability to subscribe to the news posts will make readership of the front page go up, as will the ability to comment about these news posts.

[TraderJake]

Here is a page with Eddie's and my Proposed new navigation:

[Kevincal]

Looks great!

[Tynstar]

Here is a page with Eddie's and my Proposed new navigation:

REMOVED

I like that!

[Tan]

I love the nav bar across the top, matches the forum nicely. 

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

But the left side...it's so, so empty.

I think that's where the Sony Ads should go

[TraderJake]

Left side empty? Yes, that's purposeful. Don't worry, most pages that are not the front page or a news page will have a left bar, but no right bar. Evil, no?

Speaking of which, here is the front page, complete with a right bar and news formatting. Most, if not all links are broken, so I highly encourage you not to click them. I hear that such an action makes baby Jesus cry.
REMOVED

[Tynstar]

I think the affiliates should be moved to the bottom and recent topics moved up.

[captain_nintendo]

"Mario Kills Luigi in Nervous Rampage"   

Also, I agree with Scott on the recent topics.

[TraderJake]

I should ask is there anything additional that you want done with the right bar? I can arrange the right bar however I want, but I want the IM Box, Quick Search, and Site Statistics to stay where they are. I can add additional boxes and things to the right bar, but keep in mind that each additional thing adds an additional query, and subsequently increases the server load just a tad.

The affiliates are where they are so that they too display our banners in a prominent spot. This decision was a holdover from when Mike Designed the site, as that was his perspective. If the general consensus is to move the affiliates I can do that though.