Choose the AGS Website of the future!

strazer · Tue 02/03/2004 21:30:21

QuotePlease note, we're only voting on the overall design of the websites featured - details such as what the links are called, rewording of buttons, etc can be dealt with afterwards.

Seems to me a lot of people missed that part.

I agree the structure needs work ("community" is a great idea), but from a design standpoint, I like Darth's first effort best.
Plus of course the editor's bluecup theme as I stated in the other thread

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Darth Mandarb · Tue 02/03/2004 23:10:52

I'm not sure this is allowed (if not, tell me and I'll take it down!)

But I had an idea, and modified my first design:

I added in a 'front-page' news element.

Klaus, I hope you don't mind, but I just stole your news rather than typing new stuff.

~ d

Privateer Puddin' · Tue 02/03/2004 23:24:48

klaus

remixor · Wed 03/03/2004 00:06:23

One thing I don't like about klaus' design is the iframes. I find that things like that, while these days supported by many browses, are wise to simply steer away from. I feel it's better to just completely avoid compatibility issues rather than have a design that's probably compatible with most browsers.

Esseb · Wed 03/03/2004 00:35:40

I agree with remo. Also I personally feel iframes detract from the browsing experience, in lack of a better term. All pages with iframes have their own interface. Instead of a single scrollbar to scroll up and down, and possibly one to scroll left and right in rare circumstances you've got one or more scrollbars which completely break the methods I use to browse webpages. I can't use pageup/pagedown, up/down or the scrollwheel on my mouse and see all the content on the site. The only sites I don't mind seeing iframes are sites with little or no content.

I change my vote to Darth's last design if he agrees to ditch the clichÃ© grid. The banner seems a bit too thin now as well.

Klaus · Thu 04/03/2004 09:01:32

Time for me to also say some word now:

Quote from: Bionic Bill on Sun 29/02/2004 22:18:59
Although Klaus' ought to be larger vertically, I think.

Actually the size of the layout is dynamic as you can see in the ~~online demo~~.

Quote from: Os Ã Å¡ltimo QuÃ£o Queijo ^_^ on Mon 01/03/2004 00:26:09
I think Klaus thinks that FOY will be released by the time the site goes up or something... I somehow doubt that though... what do you reckon m0ds?

Okay, perhaps FOY will be available before a new AGS site design

Quote from: Stickieee on Mon 01/03/2004 07:00:22
Klaus's iframes are annoying.

Well, they are not always visible: Depends on your screen resolution and the contents of the iframe of course...

Quote from: Krynge on Mon 01/03/2004 12:25:32
Also the photo-style graphics don't really correspond with the style most AGSers make their games with (ie. hand coloured/MSpainted graphics are usually implemented for a cartoony style).

I already wrote about this in the original thread: With some more time I'd have added pixelart to the headers and navigation areas and of course some other minor changes still need to be done.

Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Tue 02/03/2004 23:10:52
Klaus, I hope you don't mind, but I just stole your news rather than typing new stuff.

Actually they are from the original AGS news section... So you didn't find them there? Interesting.

Quote from: remixor on Wed 03/03/2004 00:06:23
iframes ... I feel it's better to just completely avoid compatibility issues rather than have a design that's probably compatible with most browsers.

As far as I know only Netscape 4.x doesn't support this feature, all other "important" browsers (of course especially the current versions) do so. On Opera the right iframe doesn't open in correct size at the moment but this problem could be solved.

Quote from: Esseb on Wed 03/03/2004 00:35:40
Instead of a single scrollbar to scroll up and down, and possibly one to scroll left and right in rare circumstances you've got one or more scrollbars which completely break the methods I use to browse webpages. I can't use pageup/pagedown, up/down or the scrollwheel on my mouse and see all the content on the site.

The layout offers a maximum of two scrollbars. As the size of the complete page is variable in some cases it depends on the users screen resolution if the full content is visible or not (see above). Also some sections (let's say the news area) only need to be scrolled through one time. On your next visit there perhaps is one new message in this box, the rest is already known and so no further scrolling is neccessary. Finally you can use the scrollwheel on the iframes as you don't need it for the whole page here

D Â· Y Â· D Â· O · Thu 04/03/2004 09:51:20

Klaus in combination with loominous' logo/banner design

Igor · Thu 04/03/2004 10:02:18

They are all fantastic, so it's hard to choose...

But i'd say Klaus's is the most appropriate- it's simple and with just enough measure of modern and oldschool design, to be pleasing to the eye while not being flooded with unnecessary details.

As for logo... it's tough choice too. I like the simplicity of Loominous's design, while the colors and pics of Darth's logo (A) might suit better Klaus's web site...

magintz · Thu 04/03/2004 11:15:24

Klaus... although the picture of Chirs may scare away potential AGSers, maybe something more like the current AGS logo?

Privateer Puddin' · Thu 04/03/2004 11:22:46

way to read the whole thread there

auhsor · Fri 05/03/2004 14:34:51

Hmm I really like Darths latest one.

big brother · Fri 05/03/2004 16:47:41

Yeah, Darth's new one rocks.

Vel · Fri 05/03/2004 18:42:36

Totally.

Ben · Fri 05/03/2004 21:06:41

I love Darth's newest design.. The top banner could use a little work, but like CJ said, we can worry about that later.

Klaus's design is also really good. Nice and modern looking, with quality graphics.. My only complaint is that i doesn't show any of the games, except for that little picture of FOY. I like having examples of games on the first page, because it gives newbies a glimpse of what to expect.

But if I have to chose, I'll pick Darth's latest. A simple, eye-catching design.. Functional, but purdy as well

Squinky · Fri 05/03/2004 21:32:43

Yeah, Darth's newest one is sweet. When does the voting for this end?

RickJ · Fri 05/03/2004 22:13:57

Darth's latest design does have a nice look to it but it lacks adequate navigation abilities, IMHO. Klaus' comes closer to filling the navigational need. We should get those two together to work something out. I would prefer a result that looks something like this one http://www.desktoplinux.com/index.html.

The games could go down the right side and links dows the left and whatever content is selected in the middle. Yeah, I know nobody will like it but me

.

Sam. · Sat 06/03/2004 09:14:17

I like darths. it is cool but not over done. it says what ags all about to me

Matt Goble · Sat 06/03/2004 13:46:11

Darth's new design gets my vote.

Something about Klaus' just doesn't sit right with me, although I can't put my finger on what exactly.

I think the key is that the site does not look too corporate - it has to say 'cool fun fan community' not 'hardcore development application' IMHO.

Matt

Necro · Sat 06/03/2004 14:13:20

Coming from a best usability view , i belive Klaus's is the best.

Remeber that what we see will be streched to fit at minimum 800x600, normally these days people have 1024x768 browser window, so there shouldnt be many frames, all text should fit ... which is what i was also concerened about, but for overall design definatly Klaus.

I wish I had stumbled on this sooner , I am a pro web designer & developer and would of liekd to give it i
a go ... ah well

Flippy_D · Sun 07/03/2004 15:12:35

Klaus is sheer style. It may not be as... cosy as what we're used to though. I really like the visual buttons at the bottom. However, I'll subscribe to the opinion that it needs a new banner at the very top. I mean, at least put capitals on the words...

Just my Â£1.12 (going on current exchange rates)