New work in progress RPGN layout needs your opinions!

[Kilu]

Okay dudes and dudettes, chat people already know about this, but I guess it's time to post about this in here as well. For couple of days Nizzre, a friend of ours, has been working on a new layout design for RPGN, to finally replace the one we have had for like, 7 years?

The problem is, it seems us chat people have very few opinions and ideas for the design (or they are just lazy to comment), so the progress is slow. So, any opinions, ideas, anything you can give us, just post about it here and we'll make sure that Nizzy sees them and all that.

This is what we currently have.

http://www.umpikuja.org/junk/RPGnGrayish.jpg


There was some talk about possibly having multiple different colour choices and also a possibility for changing shadow figure in the banner, but the final decision on these is still open as well.

Comments please.

[BAMAToNE]

1) I like the design, but maybe the background color that is outside the container should be a different color than the dark gray inside the container. It might be nice to offset the container a little, beyond the shadowed borders.

2) What an awesome poll.

3) I think the site should be in English.

[eViL bAz]

It is really awesome design, I like the ide of RPG character shadows. One thing I think is overloading the banner is the picture of Vive on the"Rpgamers network" letters.

About the sking color change Im all for it, and also you can add different banner shadows for each skin, for example:

in the grey template we have mog shadow and Red on the site names, on a blue theme you can set as main shadow vivi or another rpg charachter (maybe Lenneth from VP), and so on.

what do you think?

[Kilu]

So, here's a quote from Nizzy.

Originally Posted by Nizzre

Alright, hola everyone! Most of the chat people who have been paying attention already know my yappings concerning the layout but the lot of you only know what Kilu mentioned in his post. And he did forgot to say a few things.

What Bam and Baz have suggested have actually been discussed in the chat and here's what the outcome was... From the base of that layout (which no doubt will change a bit along the way) there will be themes with different coloration and banner images. At first I will work on 2 templates, the lighter as seen on the first post, and a darker one. What I need from you guys is suggestions for the overall layout; positions of menus, text, images, colors and whatever you can think of.

Most likely in the banner the images are represented as shadows and as you post your images, from your favourite rpgame for example, you have to keep in mind a few things.
1) The shadow will not be as detailed as the original image, which leads us to..
2) Try to find some image that has the character in some typical pose or has it's usual items or just simplified in a way that others too can recognize it.
3) No tiny images, try to keep them atleast medium sized. Format doesnt matter.
4) Images with a character against some background will bring extra work for me. *cough*
5) Some images will just look bad as a "shadow" no matter how awesome they are.
oh and 6) Always mention what character it is in the picture, so I can name them correctly unless it is already done for me >.>

Now, the idea of playing with the images is that when there's enough images, you can hold a vote of sorts and decide which images I will use on each of the templates.
As for last, Silvy! I saw your comment on the chat. Post it >.>
-Nizz

[Kilu]

Here's a small update.

http://www.umpikuja.org/junk/RPGn.jpg

[FlashFirer]

The buttons are simple and awesome, along with the logo and all. I just think the color should be livened up a bit, a few stylish red gradients (or another strong color) would do the job; maybe the gray could use a little gradient too. =p

[Doreagarde]

I, for one, would love to see this site get a fresh coat of paint. It would be wonderful to see the forums back with traffic like it had in it's prime. The new look is pretty cool and the icons and banner are all right; just promise me that the final product won't have it's news posts in Latin.

[Kilu]

By the way, the picture in http://www.umpikuja.org/junk/RPGn.jpg has been updated, if you are still seeing the old one, hit ctrl+f5 to do a full refresh. Not a huge change, but there is little something there.

[Locke Cole]

The latest changes of the redesign project can be viewed over at:

http://undead.rpgamers.net/

Forum people can take a sneak peek, and keep an eye on upcoming changes. We are desperately in need of CSS experts, so if you know a lot about CSS design, we could use you. <.< Come find us in the chatroom.

[Kilu]

If you don't like the colors, here's one alternative.

http://beerlake.net/dump/rpgnforthelulz.jpg

[Locke Cole]

Originally Posted by Kilu

If you don't like the colors, here's one alternative.

http://beerlake.net/dump/rpgnforthelulz.jpg

Just to prove a point, we are going to make a skin like that, and name it after you Kilu :P What point is proven? I dunno...

[Kilu]

There will be no skins named after me!

[Locke Cole]

Good news everyone! Its been awhile, but Nizz got up some creative energies and sort-of scratched the old work in progress, instead we have a new one in the works! Chatroom folks have had the first peek, so I guess forum dwellers can also have a look. We are still working out the kinks and it will change from time to time as we progress. Feedback is always important and welcomed.

The CSS is still moody in some browsers. Firefox is outputting the page nicely, I hear Opera is as well. Microsoft IE is well... a pain in the butt and has its own CSS file, however still is being moody. Work in progress.

Comments!!

Initial idea: http://www.umpikuja.org/junk/RPGn2.jpg

Current Work: http://www.umpikuja.org/sites/RPGN/

[eViL bAz]

it would be nice to have a forum redesign too

[Kilu]

There are a lot of vbulletin themes out there that we could use, or even make our own, but one thing at the time.

[eViL bAz]

I want it NOOOOOW!!!!! j/k Its getting cool Nizzy, keep up the good work guys

[Locke Cole]

Progress is moving ahead nicely. Nizz just sent me a copy of the files so far, I have placed them on our test server for me to play with <.< Current site progress can be viewed here:

http://undead.rpgamers.net/

[Locke Cole]

Much progress completed.

- Code now validates.
- Internet Explorer 7+ looks normal
- Major tweaking of php code behind the scenes
- Working on poll script

[Locke Cole]

Alright, whats changed?

- Poll code now ajax, no page reloading for the results
- CSS now validates!
- Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0 now also look normal
- Fixed positioning problems with side menu and top quotes box
- Removed un-needed CSS tags and code

Now the part that I need you all for.... testing!

Please provide me with the following:

- A screenshot of the page ( http://undead.rpgamers.net/ )
- Browser Name, Version and Operating System
- Do the main menu buttons (Home, Music, Lyrics, Reviews) indent when you mouse over them?
- Do you see a 'kupo nut' appear when you mouse over the links to the left of the main buttons?
- Any sighted problems or other suggestions?

** If you have multiple browsers, please submit multiple responses/screenshots. I would like to get a look at the new layout in as many situations as I can to ensure I haven't missed anything.

~ Thanks!

[Locke Cole]

http://www.mr-grape.com/files/XP_IE6.PNG
- Internet Explorer 6.0, Windows XP SP2
- Yep
- Yep
- No

http://www.mr-grape.com/files/XP_IE7.png
- Internet Explorer 7.0, Windows XP SP3
- Yep
- Yep
- No

http://www.mr-grape.com/files/XP_Firefox303.png
- Firefox 3.0.3, Windows XP SP3
- Yep
- Yep
- No