Playing Around With Racketboy Site Design

[racketboy]

I'm messing around with new layouts for the site

Here's a far-from-final mockup of the front page

As you can see, there is still some blank space around the middle, but I can't really think of anything beneficial to fill it.
I've decided I don't really like listing the new forum posts on the front page -- not especially useful, IMO.


I'm also planning having the browsing of posts look more like this
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/category/showcase/
Having a small graphic on the side and a short intro of text.

What are your thoughts?

[AwesomeMonstar]

so the game will be xenogears I see... guess I'll have to leave terranigma for another time. Otherwise, I like how the subject of the moment and the together retros hold their own space. Classy.

[Ack]

So, the Sega CD 101...is that a place holder for the latest article topic, are you planning a "guide of the week" type deal, or what?

Also, the Database link...what will that be? And I'm guessing Game Clubs is Together Retro stuff? Also...why drop Topics?

And might you consider a potential calendar of upcoming Together Retro events on the main page, maybe in all that white space under the current TG section?

[neoclasic]

Too much info in one page is bad. People have a limit with that: no more than seven items at same time. Be careful about that racket.

Can recent post be a tab too? I am one that uses the list as a fast way to check the forum.

[racketboy]

so the game will be xenogears I see... guess I'll have to leave terranigma for another time. Otherwise, I like how the subject of the moment and the together retros hold their own space. Classy.

Not necessarily -- it's just a temp mockup

[racketboy]

So, the Sega CD 101...is that a place holder for the latest article topic, are you planning a "guide of the week" type deal, or what?

Also, the Database link...what will that be? And I'm guessing Game Clubs is Together Retro stuff? Also...why drop Topics?

And might you consider a potential calendar of upcoming Together Retro events on the main page, maybe in all that white space under the current TG section?

SCD 101 is upcoming -- that space will just be for the newest article.
Topics will be combined with guides -- I'm working on a better layout for that.

The database is for the game database I have in development. It's rather ambitious and I've been procrastinating with it.

[racketboy]

Too much info in one page is bad. People have a limit with that: no more than seven items at same time. Be careful about that racket.

Can recent post be a tab too? I am one that uses the list as a fast way to check the forum.

Too many items on there? It's actually less stuff than the current layout. More images, but less to really take in.

As for the recent forum posts, I think that would be a little redundant on the menu bar. The main forum page should be on there.
I just add a "show new posts" bookmark to my firefox toolbar, personally.

[raztat]

I've decided I don't really like listing the new forum posts on the front page -- not especially useful, IMO.

I love that part! lets me see new post quick.

[racketboy]

I've decided I don't really like listing the new forum posts on the front page -- not especially useful, IMO.

I love that part! lets me see new post quick.

Anybody else?
I guess my biggest issue is that it doesn't show new replies....

[fox099]

I think its important to have the latest forum updates on the front page. Thats certainly how I enjoy getting alot of my information. The layout looks nice, but maybe too wide. Keep the site in html, I know alot of people will get all messed up if you go flash on us. Otherwise I like the layout, especially the together retro update on the right!