Suggestions for this website

As far as I know, Thermador is using a preset system for at least part of the site and the CAPCHAs are the result of a bug in it (you should only get one set).

Also, you can change the theme to a more Morrowind like theme from your account settings.

Quite simply this is all using a free service, so it's kind of really what we can afford. Nobody has the time to redesign anything, everybody is focusing on actual development. But we have spent a lot of time trying to clean things up a bit. I'd like to clean up the actual forum posts, get more categories and sort them. At this stage because everything is so alpha really the site is for getting people interested in contributing. If a person wants to do some work, they leave a message somewhere on the website and we usually find it.

happychappy

 Nobody has the time to redesign anything, everybody is focusing on actual development. But we have spent a lot of time trying to clean things up a bit. I'd like to clean up the actual forum posts, get more categories and sort them.

This,

I have a ton of ideas for the forums on how to better categorize things and make them easier to navigate. But I have no clue how to do it myself, and therefore there is no point in discussing it. If someone wants to reshape the forums, then I will step up and give them my suggestions. But really, just saying "Here are my suggestions" will get 0% of your suggestions done because nobody has even mentioned if they know anything about forum design.

And just to show how much I have actually thought about this, but haven't spoken about it because I don't think anybody currently floating around the forums knows how to make it happen; this is a quick concept I threw together a few weeks ago.

http://i.cubeupload.com/V0Ehg2.png

*Edit* forgot to mention, this is obviously just the front page.

Considering I don't invest any time or money in the website except for posting and chatting, I'm happy with what I have. Thanks to Thermador and all the people working/funding this ;)

hey guys wish i could help but my laptop is breaking

Interesting thread. 

Right now, the site's three available themes are optimized for mobile devices.  Simple layouts, few images, and totally responsive.  Notice how the sidebar layout changes as you make your browser window narrower (or when you view the site on your phone or tablet).

I can't please everyone.  If I make the site too pretty, I get complaints from people who browse on their phones.  If I add javascript, AJAX, or flash, I get complaints about that.  People complained when there was only one (left) sidebar.  People complained when I introduced the right sidebar, with the active topics, even though they can turn it off in their profile settings.  People complained when I split out the sidebar into active threads for each project, even though they can disable the extra blocks in their profile.  Etc. etc. etc.

For example, several people have complained about the site not being compatible with Internet Explorer 8 and earlier, but refuse to upgrade their browsers despite the fact that they are a security risk and are woefully incompatible with the modern web.  The most current IE version is v10 (released in 2012), and it's actually pretty good.

SheepDogWoof, while your layout idea is interesting, the only way I could accomplish that kind of thing would be using HTML frames (a separate frame for the right panel), and there are mile-long lists of why you shouldn't use frames.  Check out this article on why frames are a bad idea in modern websites... it was written in 1996.  ;-)

If anyone has any real interest in coding new themes for the site, this site uses Drupal 6.28 as a content management system.  If you want to develop a new theme (or test one of the many themes available already) then you should set up a web server somewhere, install a development Drupal site, and then go nuts.  Remember it needs to be fully responsive for mobile users, so don't forget to add the pages and pages of code you'll need for that (almost no D6 themes are responsive, you have to add it).

If you don't want to do that, then at a minimum, I need specific examples of what you want for the site. 

Stuff like "More modern and user-friendly UI" isn't exactly helpful.  One person's idea of "modern" or "user-friendly" is another person's idea of hell.  Give me links to sites you like.  Make real, full graphic site mock-ups.  Be specific.  Be descriptive.  Provide screenshots of things.  I get fairly useful feedback from the guys at TTW, for example (a lot of it is by chat and PM).

Otherwise, I will continue to be the benevolent dictator that I have always been.  It's my $160 each month that goes to keep the server running.  Just like U.S. elections, the guy with the money calls the shots ;-)

thermador

Interesting thread. 

SheepDogWoof, while your layout idea is interesting, the only way I could accomplish that kind of thing would be using HTML frames (a separate frame for the right panel), and there are mile-long lists of why you shouldn't use frames.  Check out this article on why frames are a bad idea in modern websites... it was written in 1996.  ;-)

As I've said in the private message, I personally have no trouble with the forums, and I never have, there wasn't much of a learning curve at all when it came to navigation and figuring out where things were.

But my internet mantra is: People need all the handholding they can get.. unfortunately.

Though if it is too complicated or just simply not worth it to change, I wouldnt mind. So to repeat myself yet again, if anybody with any knowledge of web design comes up with some revolutionary way to easily edit the forums, then I'll put forward my suggestions.

But until then I don't think it is a problem..

 

Really? I like the site, I find it quite easy to navigate and I'm constantly seeing the improvement on the mobile site so all I have to say is thanks Web wizard!

I've always found this forum to be the most user friendly one I check up on. And every time you update it Thermador, it keeps getting better!  Keep up the good work. 

Sadly, most people's idea of user friendly is an impossible system in which one button magically takes you to your destination. This is the reason why things such as RPG games are becoming progressively more simple. Because a larger amount of people appreciate ease of use than depth and immersion.

That argument of course does not apply to a forum layout, but whenever someone says "user friendly" and "modern" in the same sentence, I'm forced to replay the gradual dumbing-down of great RPG games over and over in my head.

I wasn't necessarily referring to the UI, and as I said, my argument isn't applicable to a forum layout. Now, don't get me wrong, a one button system would be amazing, all I mean is that I'm not willing to compromise a working and enjoyable system just for a little convenience.

Well I scaled back the captchas... they still haven't fixed the bug, and no ETA either.

Hopefully we won't get deluged by spam.  We'll see what happens.

Thanks very, very much to Thermador for this website, his continuing efforts on making it better and his very deep pockets for giving these projects a home. Without this website their would be no Morroblivion, Skywind or Skyblivion, the many mod ideas based around these.

I think the Q&A section should be expanded exponentially. Not only is there really little useful info in the section but the two sections for the different games are exactly the same and even have the wrong name of games in the questions and answers sometimes. Common questions being answered could save people a lot of trouble and time (as Q&A pages were designed to do in the beginning, which you already know, no doubt) and I don't think the current page is really doing that.

I've got an idea for the site.An optional button for turning on your favorite music tunes from Oblivion and or Morrowind, if you do this idea it will be greatly appreciated...