Webdesign choices

Hey,
I like what you two are doing, Rico and Snake. I have a few problems with the design choices.

1. No consistency between Site and Forum
   
2. aliased Menu-Buttons
   
3. (p)reviews/news at the bottom of the page, despite highest priority
   
4. wide text that lack height, it doesn't look right to me.
   
5. serif-font. sans-serif is far easier to read on screen.
   
6. html for entries. Use php and mySQL for more efficiency! Create an admin-zone, where you can add, edit and delete your articles.
   
7. Hit-Counter. You don't have much to show right now. Register at Google-Analytics to get more information.
   
8. The comment applet in the articles doesn't fit. It's way too bright compared to the rest of your design
   
9. bright and blinking logos hurt my eyes
   

I think that's it. I have a design suggestion right here:
OLD DESIGN SUG. DESIGN

Wow, that's impressive. Just keeps telling me I'm not the best at figuring out designs. I'll probably try to implement that design when break starts... though that will be a pain going through all of our pages.

I agree with you on mostly everything except maybe the logo (as that depends on certain people and also we are getting a new logo) and the wide text. The wide text because I'm just sizing it up normally, so I don't know why it's wider with less height.

Quote :

I agree with you on mostly everything except maybe the
logo (as that depends on certain people and also we are getting a new
logo)

I'm not saying the logo is bad. It's just a little too flashy and distracts from the important stuff.

Quote :

and the wide text. The wide text because I'm just sizing it up
normally, so I don't know why it's wider with less height.

The wide text is because of the site's width. As long as you use all the width for your text, it's going to be like this. That's why I made the text-portion smaller and put the comment section to the right, like a shoutout applet.

Quote :

Wow, that's impressive. Just keeps telling me I'm not the best at
figuring out designs. I'll probably try to implement that design when
break starts... though that will be a pain going through all of our
pages.

If you want, I can write the layout out for you and make an admin zone where you and all of your staff can login to add/edit etc. I mean I already have the design scripted. What you see in my first post is an actual page.
The question is whether your host allows php and MySQL. If yes, then it's all alright, if no then we can think of something else.

Oh, and I'm not saying that I'm better than anyone around here concerning Design. The things on the list just nag me, that's all. Ask Rico what he thinks of it.

Yes, our host allows MySQL and PHP (I finally set up that account on it) and yeah, you writing the layout would help; especially as I haven't had experience with this "Admin zone" stuff.

And it might take some time for Rico to respond/get on. He doesn't get on till about 4-5:00 by EST... and I won't be on from 2-5:00 (maybe 6:00).

ack! Admin-Zone isn't the right word... admin portal? It's basically where only the staff can login and take care of the settings and entries... Probably like the account you have for this forum?

Well, it's probably finished by sunday. I'll write a template and you change all the settings like password etc. in it.

Alright, thanks, that'll save me some time working on it and doing some work on some other stuff.

Link
There you can see how far I've come by now. As i said: It should be finished by sunday.
The listed examples are just that. Examples.
Just go to admin.php, login and create!

Alright, and I did the admin.php creation.

It looks good..its more user friendly and easier to find what you need..nice design

LINK
OK, this is the final version. If you have suggestions, just say it. If not, then I'll send the files to Snake, so he can upload it to the real Site.
You can Login with your username and the password 12345

All necessary files together take 30.4 KB space.
Your current index takes 29,4 KB on its own.

Looks great. Sorry I didn't get to this till today, but I didn't get an email response for some reason.

SnakeYukin wrote:

Looks great. Sorry I didn't get to this till today, but I didn't get an email response for some reason.

Thanks. So, I'll make the last minor tweaks and then send it to you. The instructions will be included, of course.

The next thing would probably be some advertisement, right?
You'll find many tutorials in the internet how to advertise your site, but the best steps I see for your site would be: telling the guys you reviewed them, making a game and most importantly: put your time into it. Make a schedule so you regularly update something: Previews, Reviews, Tutorials, (Shows, Magazines, Games)... Each member should probably make at least one article a week. If you don't have time to put into it, than you shouldn't take the responsibility. That sounds harsh, but it's reality. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I'm giving suggestions.
I'm actually willing to help in the article department, but I didn't write anything yet, so I cant' show you anything. As I said, I like what you two are trying to do and as I see it, there are a lot of sites that want to promote Indy Games, but they're helpless in many different ways. I think that you can grow as a group and site, so I want to help. Even if it's just site-maintenance.

Yeah, I've been trying to advertise as best I can with sites and places I know. The only real members are me and Rico... and I'm the one mainly working on it. It's kinda hard when you have to do all of the articles, work on the site, try to stay active on other places so people can see your site, work on other Gamerz Station stuff, do college, and to have a life outside of your computer area.

While I haven't told anyone I reviewed their stuff, I might consider that for some of the more positive reviews. And I am trying to make a game (have a demo up), Rico is making a game, and that's about it for now.

Though we're always willing to get some help in articles. I was just planning to add you as a web designer, or site-maintenance, as well. So obviously if you could have a profile for yourself in whatever way you want.

I should be putting more articles up soon..over the past few weeks i have been tryin to find a way to fix some of the drivers on my laptop..i have a review or 2 which i will post when im not to busy (working on a major science project). I will be most active next week..while on x-mas break.

As for the new design..love it..

and do all the members get to log in or just snake?

I think all members can log on, but I have the highest authority and can give people different authorities. I haven't messed around with it yet... so.

If you can't find any mistakes, then the websites is finished.
Your passwords are 12345 .
You can change it on "Profile".

Link
EDIT: I added a search page.
EDIT 2: I added a message function that tells you when someone commented on your article.
EDIT 3: Please edit your birthdays and passwords. Noone's gonna believe that you're 2009 years old