Blogging

New Design/Layout/Features
Posted: 09/08/2011 11:42 by KresComments: 22
Hey,

You can take a look at how far we went with the new design project at http://tst.strategyinformer.com/

New features:

1. Try typing something in the site search. Search auto suggestor will pop up. Ignore the fact that there are no box shots. There will be boxshots once it's published.

2. Check user box buttons in the top right (messages, friends requests, notifications). We've added a new layer popup when you click on those buttons. Mostly just a facebook clone of the feature.

3. Various new mini stuff around the site.

4. Video page has got a new player and a new page, wide page design. It isn't yet fully reskinned. There should be two version of each video. High quality, and low quality. I'm hoping we will get this finished for the launch.

etc...

If you want to share any thoughts please do so! We can even change things that you don't like if you submit them soon!

Thanks,

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User Comments on Kres's blog

By SiyaenSokol (SI Elite) on 09/08/2011 13:19
SiyaenSokol
Things are looking good Kres :)
By hunter612 (SI Core) on 09/08/2011 16:35
hunter612
Looks good! It would be nice if the 'Latest Screenshots' box could be moved to the right side of the 'Latest Videos' box, under the 'Top Upcoming Games'. It would save a lot of scrolling and also use up the blank space there.
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/08/2011 16:56
Kres
That area wont be blank. Some other stuff goes there. Like FRIEND'S UPDATES and probably some other stuff.
By Revan (SI Elite) on 09/08/2011 20:54
Revan
Looks good!
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on 09/09/2011 06:27
herodotus
As Revan says, it does look good. A lot less cluttered than some past design ideas, and I like the "featured content" lising the items and comments.
What is the "submit tip" button?
By JPerry06 (SI Core) on 09/10/2011 12:46
JPerry06
the new layout looks pretty good.

Can i suggest that on the home page where it shows the photos for reviews and news items down the side. There seems to be a lot of news items there. Perhaps using images and only having the 3 newest news items present.
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/12/2011 11:30
Kres
SUBMIT is for submitting news to the staff.

Hm, less news hmm not sure how to re-squeeze that area.
By JPerry06 (SI Core) on 09/12/2011 12:06
JPerry06
I mean its not so bad i will die but thought i would just mention it case it was an easy change :D
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/12/2011 12:19
Kres
Yeah, thing is that if we add more images there, the first fold of the homepage would be all covered with images. Wouldn't feel right. But I agree that it might look too busy. Herod also mentioned that we could remove those HOT MODS & MAPS from the bottom. Hm hm hm.

We had a version with first letters bolded for those news pieces. Made them a bit more readable. Let me find that and upload somewhere. Not a great difference but, a slight one at least.
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/12/2011 12:24
Kres
Here it is: http://www.strategyinformer.com/tests/SI_NewDesign2010_v3.jpg hmm has bit larger first letters, and they're bold. Though looks bit weird... thoughts?
By JPerry06 (SI Core) on 09/12/2011 12:39
JPerry06
i dont mind it actually ha

breaks up the text a bit better

PS you have a lot of messages :P
By Revan (SI Elite) on 09/12/2011 22:43
Revan
Wish you would something with the SI banner. I miss the picture that used to be on it. Now its just all plain looking with nothing but Words on it. And we all know words are Boring without a Picture! :p
By SiyaenSokol (SI Elite) on 09/13/2011 07:11
SiyaenSokol
Lol, well said Revan.
By hunter612 (SI Core) on 09/13/2011 12:33
hunter612
Thumbs up @Revan's comment!
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/14/2011 21:51
Kres
We wanted to address the mentioned issues about the new layout of the homepage. So please tell us which do you prefer:

http://www.strategyinformer.com/tests/SI_NewDesign2010_v5.jpg

OR

http://www.strategyinformer.com/tests/SI_NewDesign2010_v3.jpg

Not that there's a huge difference but...

We might add Facebook, Twitter little bigger features on the bottom of the homepage under SOCIAL NETWORKS on v5.

Just wanted to run things by you at this stage. We haven't concluded if that's the final version yet. Work in progress...

Also, the header graphic. Ok will keep that in mind. Will attempt to make something there. But probably not in this round of updates as things are already totally late.

Thanks!
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/14/2011 21:53
Kres
So v5 could be a bit simpler straight forward version. Could not. So I wonder what you guys will say...
By Revan (SI Elite) on 09/14/2011 23:31
Revan
The "Top Mods" box is pretty good idea.
But I think the text for the "Featured Content" section should stand out more, since it's latest news section. Maybe make the text bigger or something?
But yeah, I definitely like v3 better.
Also, I think the Featured Screenshots box should be in the Media page instead or something. Maybe it's just me but it looks a bit out of place on the Home page?
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/15/2011 10:19
Kres
FEATURED CONTENT and all "topic lines" will be slightly heavier. Like you see on http://tst.strategyinformer.com/. So very slightly.

Top mods hmm ok.

Don't care for screenshots on Homepage? Hm hm, right it's not exactly top content though hmm.
By JPerry06 (SI Core) on 09/15/2011 11:28
JPerry06
ha i have just noticed all my posts in friends updates :P

Im a fan of V3 as well.
By Kres (SI Elite) on 09/15/2011 11:30
Kres
Nooooo, I ended up liking v5. xD Hm, what do you like in v3 that you don't in v5. Can we combine em and walk away happy with it? x)

Lol yeah sorry I ended up using your stuff there. Just a coincidence hehe.
By JPerry06 (SI Core) on 09/15/2011 11:40
JPerry06
I like v5 with the more images in, makes the site look more friendly then just text. perhaps V5 is the better one.
By hunter612 (SI Core) on 09/15/2011 13:38
hunter612
I vote for V5.