View Full Version : What do you think of the new GCA
Sean-AMN
11-19-2003, 12:52 AM
So now that you guys got to see the goods what do you think?
Sean
JustUsOwls
11-19-2003, 01:18 AM
I like the site, but the forums could use work. I dont like the whole avatar in the left, username in the right thing.
It's also stupid that when you highlight the topic, it shows the poster's ENTIRE message. If he posts something more than a sentence, then you have a huge grey box cluttering your screen.
Yeah Sam is right. I think the box on the left with the Title and that should be on the left just under the avatar I think, and I think the sigs would look better if they were on the left. :)
Sean-AMN
11-19-2003, 02:24 AM
Thanks for the imput, we are workin on improving all aspects this week. If there is any thing you guys want added note that too
Santo
11-19-2003, 07:35 AM
Everything looks gravy. Thx!
JustUsOwls
11-19-2003, 10:53 AM
I could probably get used to the avatar on the left. Just gonna take some time :D
The avatars were always on the left weren't they :confused:
JustUsOwls
11-19-2003, 11:18 AM
Oops, I meant the info on the right.
The avatar isn't on the right :confused: Are you talking about that box with the info on the right?
Sean-AMN
11-19-2003, 12:46 PM
I have a request for ultimate, having the names of everyone who visited the forums be displayed at the bottem of the site in a who visited today as well as the total number.
I don't like the postbit one bit. It makes pages way longer and wastes a ton of space. Looks extremely plain. Something needs to go in that middle space, as it looks unprofessional.
Additionally, the "Profile, Send PM, Search Posts, Add Buddy, Homepage" images need to be smaller. If you have a homepage, it messes up the buttons and bg images. Something to think about.
On the banner Mario looks messed up. He should have been smaller and his eyes included on the banner, and his whole hand and fingers as well.
Just some suggestions. Everything looks okay, but I cannot agree with saying it's "shocking," "breathtaking," or anthing similar to that.
I dunno, I guess what I would do is make the avatar above the information part, and then have that "aligned" to the "right" and see how that looked. Really cannot say.
Edit the home link at the top to GCAdvanced.com please. lol
One last thing. About the hovering over the title link. Yeah, it needs to have a limit, say like 50 or 75 characters. Also, it goes beneath some things, like the droip-down lists. It should be on the top, not below.
Sean-AMN
11-19-2003, 12:56 PM
All good suggestions, we will do what we can to fix them. Right now we are working the bugs out of the new site then on to the forums!
jamesc359
11-19-2003, 01:00 PM
Heh, I like the forums much better than I do the main site. The whole error thing at the top
"Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/advanced/public_html/index.php:3) in /home/advanced/public_html/includes/languages.php on line 40" is really annoying. You have to send cookie data before you write anything to the page!
And the layout is really wacked under Netscape 7.... Geez, I would have thought somebody would have tested for that. Heh, I'm sure I can think up some more complaints, but for now that'll do. ;)
banned
11-19-2003, 01:40 PM
Well were should I start, first off I like the front page setup, (except for how the categories are setup on the top), like said before the Mario is cut-out poorly, and the post bit is just plain, boring, and hard for me to look at. Also I think in order to have a vBulletin you HAVE to put what version it is unless you pay a fee I could be wrong.
Also there is still much work to be done on the front page but I suspect Bill will fix everything soon (if he doesn't freak out first).
Other than that good job to whom ever was involved.
ULTiMATE
11-19-2003, 01:43 PM
Originally posted by MoN
I don't like the postbit one bit. It makes pages way longer and wastes a ton of space. Looks extremely plain. Something needs to go in that middle space, as it looks unprofessional.
Additionally, the "Profile, Send PM, Search Posts, Add Buddy, Homepage" images need to be smaller. If you have a homepage, it messes up the buttons and bg images. Something to think about.
On the banner Mario looks messed up. He should have been smaller and his eyes included on the banner, and his whole hand and fingers as well.
Just some suggestions. Everything looks okay, but I cannot agree with saying it's "shocking," "breathtaking," or anthing similar to that.
I dunno, I guess what I would do is make the avatar above the information part, and then have that "aligned" to the "right" and see how that looked. Really cannot say.
Edit the home link at the top to GCAdvanced.com please. lol
One last thing. About the hovering over the title link. Yeah, it needs to have a limit, say like 50 or 75 characters. Also, it goes beneath some things, like the droip-down lists. It should be on the top, not below.
I was planning on moving the info box onto furthur into the middle and adding info from furthur hacks into another box to the right. This postbit is really only for test purposes to see how people take to having the postbit area at the top. On many forums i've been to, it's taken extremely well.
I agree. The buttons are terrible at the moment, buy sadly, vBulletin's servers have been down, so i haven't been able to access any of the vBulletin resource sites to get them changed. I'm looking for some new ones now
The Mario banner was just a temp thing. Can't do much with a busted Photoshop at the moment, so i'll have to ask Sean or Ken to do something about it.
The hover thing? you mean the box that appears showing info on the page?
Thanks for the feedback, hopefully within the week there will be a newer postbit, new buttons and a new banner, and possibly a few more hacks, also on the shocking note. I think the forums are shaping up pretty well. It may not be like WiredGamers, but hell, too many graphics, trendwhorish effects, not really my thing. Things are a little buggy at the moment, but i'll work around that.
Originally posted by JohnXE
Well were should I start, first off I like the front page setup, (except for how the categories are setup on the top), like said before the Mario is cut-out poorly, and the post bit is just plain, boring, and hard for me to look at. Also I think in order to have a vBulletin you HAVE to put what version it is unless you pay a fee I could be wrong.
Also there is still much work to be done on the front page but I suspect Bill will fix everything soon (if he doesn't freak out first).
Other than that good job to whom ever was involved.
I don't really see a problem with how the categories are done, looks pretty nice, and yes, the banner problem will be sorted, along with the postbit. The vBulletin thing, you are allowed to edit the copyright information, all that has been edited is the version number, which is not needed, i added a modified thing to it because i upgraded to the newest version manually from code edits, and the code is pretty hacked to reduce queries.
banned
11-19-2003, 01:45 PM
If you want Bill or I can have that fixed up for you in a jiffy.
The version is on the http://gcadvanced.com/forums/images/GCA/vb_bullet.gif if you hover over it. It's 2.3.0.
I think the main site is too cluttered. Crammed together, if you will. Looks good but a bit crammed.
NickTheGamer
11-19-2003, 02:08 PM
Just change the posts and etc box left with the icon.
EDIT: Also the sigs should be left.
Carlos
11-19-2003, 02:36 PM
I have a question, what's with the "images" box in the welcome screen...? I'm not talking about the avatar box......the IMAGES box.
I think that space between the avatar and user info, should be used for awards, or special images, like GCA veteran or something to that effect....WiredGamers have something like what I suggested.....I don't care about being a veteran, but I'm only suggesting.
I think the hovering feature is really cool, its useful for analyzing a post, before you post it....if its spam, the user can hover to the next thread. This can be seen in any VB3 board....however, it seems that the coder of this board, made more features to that hover, a job well done! :)
Eradikatus
11-19-2003, 02:55 PM
I suppose the color scheme is an improvement over the dark teal and white we had before... but the layout of these boards looks like they were redone to look different more than anything. I still am used to the traditional form, where avatar & poster info are in a column to the left and post is to the right. There is also something to be said over how much potential is really being used in these boards. So far it looks very plain and lacking several key features. Finally, I don't think that we should have that bullet-point on the top left say "VB." So it's a vBulletin board, but what does that matter? Oh, and I don't like the whole "sig on the right" thing, either.
I'm not sure what the code is for the hovering, but I would assume you could place a timer on it? I would suggest doing delaying it for about 1 second, like the title tags. That would be better instead of instantly popping out.
JustUsOwls
11-19-2003, 04:30 PM
Ok, we really need to fix that stupid grey box that appears when highlighting a topic!
Sean-AMN
11-19-2003, 05:43 PM
Sam how bout you get in contact with Ultimate and talk about the top banner, fix it up, maybe a random one... basicly I want it to still have the look of the main page ut you guys can go crazy from there....
Carlos
11-19-2003, 05:45 PM
Originally posted by Sean-GCA
Sam how bout you get in contact with Ultimate and talk about the top banner, fix it up, maybe a random one... basicly I want it to still have the look of the main page ut you guys can go crazy from there....
It won't be wise to have the same design as the main page, cause that would make people go like "the forums look too much like the mainpage"
I say, work with Bill......and ultimate, at the same time.
I say, get creative with new styles of banners.
Sean, the tooltip box when you go over a link is excellent for previewing posts. This is my favorite feature.
As for the avatar, it is good in the left, with user on right.
JustUsOwls
11-19-2003, 06:08 PM
Guys, we worked out a way to have these forum banners. Check it out:
Rob-GCA
11-19-2003, 06:23 PM
I think the main site looks awesome. The boards are great, except that the separation of the avatar and username looks kind of wierd. Otherwise, it's a great improvement over the old boards both in terms of speed and appearance.
pythonfan
11-19-2003, 07:19 PM
When I first saw the mainpage a while ago, I thought it looked a bit cramped too, but it's grown on me.
pythonfan
11-19-2003, 07:50 PM
What I want is the option to continue posting for the same game when adding media, it'd save a lot of time.
Main site rocks, except for stuff that makes errors. The forums OWN.
Originally posted by pythonfan
When I first saw the mainpage a while ago, I thought it looked a bit cramped too, but it's grown on me. Same here, man. Now that everything works and I don't get errors, everything works great and I can see all the features.
Spartacus
11-19-2003, 08:50 PM
I love the site and the forums. I'm just happy to have the forums back. But they look great too.
Yeah, I'm glad too. I've been waiting for ages for this.
Peter-GCA
11-20-2003, 12:03 AM
Everything looks great! When the archive is up, nothing will come close to this site.
Carlos
11-20-2003, 12:05 AM
Originally posted by Peter-GCA
Everything looks great! When the archive is up, nothing will come close to this site.
Well, there'll be competitors.....So, GCA better be prepared.
Patrick-NE
11-20-2003, 12:45 AM
So glad the forums are back. Main page looks great, cool features. Only thing that I find annoying is that I cant access www.gcadvanced.com yet!!! Hopefully it will be soon.
Peter-GCA
11-20-2003, 01:16 AM
is there spoiler code?
This would make the forums even better! Especially when game secrets may be spilt.
Patrick-NE
11-20-2003, 01:36 AM
I agree, a spoiler code would be cool. Another thing thats missing is the staff forum...They are great when you want to get every staff to read what you have to say....
Opium
11-20-2003, 01:44 AM
I like the new site, it's really cool. But as other have said the forum layout is a bit strange i don't like it much. Have normal sort of layout like invision of phpBB. The sig and avatar placement is the main thing that's annoying me. But other then that, it's great! :)
Patrick-NE
11-20-2003, 02:17 AM
At least its loading faster then the old forums...they were a pain loading wise
I actually like the layout, its not too bad
Jog DMC
11-20-2003, 02:23 AM
Hey, I'm just glad the forum's back up. I still gotta check out the site.
Patrick-NE
11-20-2003, 02:29 AM
out of curiosity, does www.gcadvanced.com work for most of you guys?
Sean-AMN
11-20-2003, 03:40 AM
Works for me, and by this time tommrow it should work for everyone
These are brilliant. I especially like the Shout box. The post layout is a bit wierd though. I'll have to get used to it
Freak of Kane
11-20-2003, 04:06 AM
Hey people.
Nice to see GCA has finally returned. Looks good, a few dodgy forum problems here and there but great nonetheless. Keep up the great work!
Patrick-NE
11-20-2003, 04:41 AM
Nice to see that people from the old forums didnt give up on GCA and are back for more. Welcome back guys!
Hi guys, good work, i like the new GCA and the new layout!
Keep up the good work! ;)
Patrick-NE
11-20-2003, 06:02 AM
You dont want to know how much time we spent getting all those games in the database, getting all the reviews/previews over to the new site...What a weekend
I agree, new GCA looks awesome. One of the bests
Sean-AMN
11-20-2003, 09:08 AM
Im so happy to see some old faces! I was worried we lost many of you! If you guys have contact with old members have them come back!
ULTiMATE
11-20-2003, 11:14 AM
Originally posted by Rob-GCA
I think the main site looks awesome. The boards are great, except that the separation of the avatar and username looks kind of wierd. Otherwise, it's a great improvement over the old boards both in terms of speed and appearance.
Everyone says that when they first experience a postbit like this, i'll give it a while and see if these don't grow on people. Seeing as the background for the postbit can be changed with an image style, perhaps a competition for a background for the postbit is in order?
I'll never like the postbit, even if it's like this for the rest of GCA. The problems I have, as I stated before, are:
Makes pages way longer than they should be (but I guess depending on post size, as text is now at 100% instead of the usual estimated 70% or so)
There is a LOT of blank space in between, which makes it look unprofessional (I mean, the space is just wasted...something should go there somehow.
I'm not designer, but I know about editing vBs and about how a forum should look, and this just isn't clicking.
Also, this never hit me before but I just noticed that the BG image on the low part of the postbit as well as the "new thread" and "reply" section makes a sudden change of colors (like 3 times). Would it look better if it slowly transcended the colors, instead of the sudden change?
Also, the "Report This Post" text cannot be seen. A suggestion could be to place that as well as the quote and edit link in the middle of the avatar / box information. Also, linking the usernames to the profile is good (kinda a waste, but I always try clicking that instead, lol). Oh, yeah, and is "Title" required?
Sorry for all the questions and suggestions. :x
Stef-GCA
11-20-2003, 03:08 PM
The only thing I dont really like is how the boards are set up, like how the posts look. With the username and stuff at the top, and the sig all the way to the right, just doesnt look normal
oSiRiS
11-20-2003, 03:45 PM
I really like this layout.
With the posts more spread out, it's easier to differentiate between them and it makes it seem far less cluttered then most forums.
On the downside it does make pages very long, but in reality, there isn't any difference between a long page and a short page when the content isn't changed anyway. It's all just different ways of displaying the same data.
ULTiMATE
11-22-2003, 05:25 PM
Originally posted by MoN
I'll never like the postbit, even if it's like this for the rest of GCA. The problems I have, as I stated before, are:
Makes pages way longer than they should be (but I guess depending on post size, as text is now at 100% instead of the usual estimated 70% or so)
There is a LOT of blank space in between, which makes it look unprofessional (I mean, the space is just wasted...something should go there somehow.
I'm not designer, but I know about editing vBs and about how a forum should look, and this just isn't clicking.
Also, this never hit me before but I just noticed that the BG image on the low part of the postbit as well as the "new thread" and "reply" section makes a sudden change of colors (like 3 times). Would it look better if it slowly transcended the colors, instead of the sudden change?
Also, the "Report This Post" text cannot be seen. A suggestion could be to place that as well as the quote and edit link in the middle of the avatar / box information. Also, linking the usernames to the profile is good (kinda a waste, but I always try clicking that instead, lol). Oh, yeah, and is "Title" required?
Sorry for all the questions and suggestions. :x
It Doesn't make pages longer than they should be, in fact, technically, it should make them shorter. Give it time to grow on you, once more ideas for hacks come, say Awards and things like that, the empty space will be filled up, also the buttons will be fixed once the person making them sends them to me for changing
COTTON
11-23-2003, 04:48 PM
I like the new look of the site. it looks very nice. keep up the good work.
NickTheGamer
11-23-2003, 05:14 PM
Originally posted by Stef-GCA
The only thing I dont really like is how the boards are set up, like how the posts look. With the username and stuff at the top, and the sig all the way to the right, just doesnt look normal
It does make it look cleaner tho... even that its sometimes a pain in the rear... it does look much better!
Sean-AMN
11-23-2003, 08:30 PM
Glad to hear the feedback, I want you all to say what you DONT like... this way we can improve it!
Bkbro429
11-23-2003, 08:40 PM
Yes just add more customization to the forums - you should be able to choose where you want your avatar and sig. located. But besides that it is looking great, just want the new GCA Radio up!
I'm not sure if that can be done.
I'll get Sam to make vB codes for left, right, and center alignment.
gohanrice
11-24-2003, 05:22 AM
Truthfully, the old site looked a bit better. Yes, there are a lot more options in the new version, but the old one was much easier on the eyes. The main news section which is constantly updated seems to be too small and a downgrade from the old GCA. But, that could be due to the fixed width to the layout. If someone has a high resolution setting, there is a lot of wasted space, but if someone has a much lower resolution setting, there are scroll bars everywhere. One thing that might really get you though is the incompatibility with the Mozilla Firebird internet browser. The Firebird already has tons of users and it's only the preview for the full version. Hopefully, you guys will fix the compatibility problems. It actually looks very good except for the Daily News section and on Mozilla Firebird.
bugsbite
11-24-2003, 01:46 PM
I also agree the front page looks cramped and hard on the eyes maybe its the colors, also the fonts are terrible there is something about them I do not like.
Linque
11-25-2003, 02:30 AM
One thing I miss from the old GCA are the style of its hyperlinks. But only in the sense of how they work. Previously, everytime I clicked on a link, it opened in a new window. I liked this because I wouldn't have to back all the way to GCA to keep reading after exploring the page I linked to.
This comes in particularly useful when trying to get back to the particualr post you were reading.
Thanks.
i like the new GCA better...the layout is professional and much more pleasing to look at
theblueflame
11-27-2003, 09:41 AM
Yeah. I'm with ya JaGa. The new look is awesome.
the ability to post reader cmments is nice 2... the new forusm are sweet as well...
bill TSM
12-07-2003, 02:12 AM
Originally posted by gohanrice
Truthfully, the old site looked a bit better. Yes, there are a lot more options in the new version, but the old one was much easier on the eyes. The main news section which is constantly updated seems to be too small and a downgrade from the old GCA. But, that could be due to the fixed width to the layout. If someone has a high resolution setting, there is a lot of wasted space, but if someone has a much lower resolution setting, there are scroll bars everywhere. ...
I'd like to comment on the fact that the "new" GCA is fixed width. The "new" GCA, we'll call it GCAv3, is the same size as GCAv2. I made sure I kept them the same size for content purposes. So to say GCAv3 has wasted space on large monitors... it's no different than GCAv2. And I designed GCAv3 so it'll fit in a screen resolution of 800x600, which is still standard which I hate, but I've gotta stick to it.
I really appreciate all of the comments from everyone.
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