Homepage Layout Re-Design

DanQ · June 12, 2002, 20:43

In an attempt to further compile the positively received, aesthetic and functional aspects of both the most recent "Default" and "Alternate" layouts launched on March 6th of this year, the second Apolyton homepage re-design in three months <A HREF="http://apolyton.net" TARGET="_new">has been completed</A>.

Check it out, and submit your 'grade of approval' today!

-------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

Jon Miller · June 12, 2002, 20:57

first reply

apolyton does seem slower

I like it

Jon Miller

Sirotnikov · June 12, 2002, 20:58

Very cool

Clear and coherent, though not orthodox.

Me like.

Though, frankly, I was freaked to see my avatar staring at me on the homepage.

This is very cool

I'd change only one thing - two actually.
1) put Civilization III before Call to Power II on the left.
2) Center is spelled Center. Do you want this site to be brittish or international?

Sirotnikov · June 12, 2002, 20:59

I gave A btw.

Jon Miller · June 12, 2002, 20:59

I personally rarely use the first page, as I like to get my news from the news bar at the top of the page

Jon Miller

Jon Miller · June 12, 2002, 21:01

so who are the two butt kissers?

Jon Miller

DanQ · June 12, 2002, 21:03

It's great to see that people are liking it! To address some points/questions raised thus far:

Jon: what do you mean by Apolyton being "slower"? I take it you are referring to the homepage specifically, or are you in fact referring to the entire site? Are you talking about just today or..?

Sirotnikov: regarding the game's order, each game is listed by category (e.g. "Current Games") and then alphabetically, with the notable exception of 'Alternate Civilizations' as it bundles a number of titles together in one coverage area.

As for the spelling of 'centre'... feel free to imagine in your own mind that it's spelled 'center' if you want.

---------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

Sirotnikov · June 12, 2002, 21:04

Well, I was the 2nd person to vote.

I guess the first was DanQ

Jon Miller · June 12, 2002, 21:04

I mean I would understand giving an A (I think maybe is deserved more than my B+), but an A+, no

BTW, I get a little red X by my name which is also annoying

Jon Miller

Sirotnikov · June 12, 2002, 21:05

You should use standartized english. Doesn't Apolyton comply with ISO2000 ?

Jon Miller · June 12, 2002, 21:09

Quote:

Originally posted by DanQ
It's great to see that people are liking it! To address some points/questions raised thus far:

Jon: what do you mean by Apolyton being "slower"? I take it you are referring to the homepage specifically, or are you in fact referring to the entire site? Are you talking about just today or..?

Sirotnikov: regarding the game's order, each game is listed by category (e.g. "Current Games") and then alphabetically, with the notable exception of 'Alternate Civilizations' as it bundles a number of titles together in one coverage area.

As for the spelling of 'centre'... feel free to imagine in your own mind that it's spelled 'center' if you want.

---------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

for some of it check my other email

for the slower comment

it is regularly taking over 10 seconds to load right now (today and yesterday)

I just recently got a new connection to the new, but it is actually faster than my old one most of the time (my speed is usually 1500 kps, my old speed was usually a tenth of that)

sometimes it goes near the old rate (.3-.9 seconds was what I was getting) but not regularly

Jon Miller

TCO · June 12, 2002, 21:21

Dan:

The page gets a B+. It is more organized than before. And easier for a new user to tell what the site is about. But could still use some improvement in both these areas.

Other issues:

-I get a horizontal scaler across the bottom.
-The terms CURRENT GA-MES and OTHER SECTI-ONS show word breaks albiet without the hypens, I've shown.
-The explanation of the site (paragraph in the middle) still suffers from your characteristic pretentious wording. This is the most important part of the site for a new user. It's actually decent. But it could be a lot better.

Apocalypse · June 12, 2002, 21:53

Quote:

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Though, frankly, I was freaked to see my avatar staring at me on the homepage.

I have to say I was a little freaked too about the avatar. Since that initial shock is over, I should be fine. The format looks great.

DanQ · June 12, 2002, 21:56

Jon: are you experiencing this speed problem with any other site? Have you tried using another Internet Service Provider's connection (if available)? In any event, email Markos and I traceroute report (type 'tracert apolyton.net' at an MS-DOS prompt).

GP: I take it when you say horizontal "scaler" you are referring to a horizontal scroll bar. What browser/version are you running and what is your screen resolution? If you're using Internet Explorer, try decreasing the text size by going to 'View'->'Text Size'. I suspect that this may also be related to the second problem you site.

As for the general site description, you and anyone else is welcome to email Markos and I suggestions for revisions/additions to it at anytime. They will be considered.

-----------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

TCO · June 12, 2002, 22:12

Dan,

1. Yes. A scroll bar.

2. I'm using Office XP (I think that means IE 6.0). I'm already using the smallest text within IE. My control panel setting has "large fonts" enabled. otherwise, 36 year old eyes can't handle the teensy letters. Don't laugh. You'll be like this too. It happens to everyone by age 40. I'm at 800 by 600 on a laptop.

3. I'd prefer to give comments on the page on this thread. That seems appropriate. I have nothing further to say about the page at this time.

Trevman · June 13, 2002, 02:04

You lost your centralized, efficient design. Now I have to look at both sides of the screen for info. Users with a lower resolution will have to scroll horizontally to see everything.

Zopperoni · June 13, 2002, 02:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Me like.

Though, frankly, I was freaked to see my avatar staring at me on the homepage.

Same here, and my avatar has a good stare

ixnay · June 13, 2002, 02:34

I like it, and give it an A. I never look at it, though, so it doesn't really matter all that much.

aaglo · June 13, 2002, 02:49

Quite nice, thank you very much...
B+

Scouse Gits · June 13, 2002, 03:09

I like it a great deal (A+) just one niggle it seemed to me that there was no need for two different coloured title bars - rust & blue - I think it would look better with a single colour.
Personal point - Civ II rules and should not be rlegated to the bottom of the page

SG[1]

MarkG · June 13, 2002, 03:13

thank you for votes

on 800x600, normal size(small fonts settings) fonts, ie 5.5 with text size option at medium, i do NOT get horizontal scrollbar

if you increase your text size from ie, i'm sorry, there's not much one can do about it without creating a page that needs to be vertically scrolled on 1024x768 to see the same content

notyoueither · June 13, 2002, 04:17

Hmmmm. Compact. Well organised. Aesthetically pleasing. Ohhh! And look at that! There's a tiger right in the middle of it. It's Grrrreeeeaaaaaaaat!

MarkG · June 13, 2002, 05:05

btw, if you're subscribed to some of the forums, they'll show up in the homepage

JohnIII · June 13, 2002, 05:10

I don't visit it much, but it still creeps me out.

It looks like a web layout converted to print and back again.

I don't use an avatar, so I get a red X on the front page--even guests get a custom image.

The hedlines in ALL CAPS HAVE ALWAYS IRRITATED ME.

The text in the 'Support Apolyton' box should be centred.

If something is underlined, I expect <span style="text-decoration:underline;" title="Use the title attribute">at least a tooltip</span>.

The images on the centre-right don't appear to be aligned to aqnything else on the page. Is this intentional?

MarkG · June 13, 2002, 05:26

Quote:

I don't use an avatar, so I get a red X on the front page--even guests get a custom image

ok now?

Quote:

The images on the centre-right don't appear to be aligned to aqnything else on the page

if you refer to the moo interview, etc images, they are in a vertical column just like the other main elements in the page(sections titles, news headlines, etc)

BeBro · June 13, 2002, 05:45

Good work

Muuuuch better than the previous version, better structured and also a bit nicer despite many elements are more or less the same like before. Voted A-, since nothing is perfect....

Edit: And I love it that everyone sees now my avatar on the front page

Solver · June 13, 2002, 05:51

Avatar shows.

Vertical scrollbar is there, but it doesn't actually scroll anywhere, but is there...

Loading times - who complains? Loads in under a second.

MarkG · June 13, 2002, 05:53

Quote:

Voted A-, since nothing is perfect...

perfect is A+, so you should have voted A

MarkG · June 13, 2002, 05:57

Quote:

Vertical scrollbar is there, but it doesn't actually scroll anywhere

vertical or horizontal?

MarkG · June 13, 2002, 05:59

you would get a horizontal scrollbar on 800x600 with mozilla. now you wont