10 replies to this topic

[mattd8752]

I am looking for some advice on http://www.mattdsworld.com/.

At the moment the site has 1 game. There will be 3 games by tomorrow night, 1 just has to be fixed and one has one server side code to finish.


I'm looking for advice about the actual content. The template is going to be redone shortly as well.

Basically I am looking for ideas as to making the site better. It is a game portal. I want to know about features which people here think would make my site have a better community. I have already considered (and am developing) private messaging and custom forums. Any other suggestions will be taken.

Thanks,
Matt

[Archangel]

My biggest recommendation would be a site revamp. Generally gaming sites tend to be on the cutting edge or at least up to date with web graphics, but your's is really lacking in that area.

[mattd8752]

You mean a template? I am going to be replacing this template very soon. I just made it quickly so that I could release Mattdsworld 0.5 quick enough. The person who does our templates was gone away for a long time.

[Pax]

Never release a website until its ready. If I go to that site and think "wow, this is incomplete, and doesn't look all that great.", I'll probably never go back. Wait till you have a decent amount of content built up before you launch your site, or it'll kill you in the long run.

[mattd8752]

Pax, on Jun 28 2007, 05:29 PM, said:

Never release a website until its ready. If I go to that site and think "wow, this is incomplete, and doesn't look all that great.", I'll probably never go back. Wait till you have a decent amount of content built up before you launch your site, or it'll kill you in the long run.

Ok, What do you think of what is there right now?

Also, if you look at the URL this is only release 0.5. I am making sub release just to have something available on mattdsworld.com.

Edited by mattd8752, 28 June 2007 - 04:32 PM.

[Pax]

Well, I would agree it needs a new design. The current one looks very....old. Im not a fan of the crosshair cursor either. If the site is about this game, you should draw attention to that...not drop it in the middle of your stack of links. I had to spend more than 2 seconds looking for it -- usually that means I move on to something else. Websites are about bringing the attention of a user to a certain point so that you can achieve your goal, be it make more or have them play a game. Get a design that does that, and you'll be going in the right direction.

[mattd8752]

Thanks for the advice. In the next template I will get a "featured game" spot. That way I can show off whatever game I want users to play. I will also make the menu easier to look through. (Probably image based).

If I am getting rid of the cross-hair would you recommend I just leave default cursors or I use different ones.

[Pax]

mattd8752, on Jun 28 2007, 05:58 PM, said:

Thanks for the advice. In the next template I will get a "featured game" spot. That way I can show off whatever game I want users to play. I will also make the menu easier to look through. (Probably image based).

If I am getting rid of the cross-hair would you recommend I just leave default cursors or I use different ones.

Go with the default, its what users expect. You need to build websites to cater to what your viewers will want/need. Crosshair cursors might be cool, but if you have an inexperienced web user, that could make them think anything (like, I wonder if this means its a virus). Stick to the normals for functionality. Make something clean and awesome for the design.

[mattd8752]

Thanks for the advice, it will definately be considered in the next version.

[lysol]

Archangel, on Jun 28 2007, 04:04 PM, said:

My biggest recommendation would be a site revamp. Generally gaming sites tend to be on the cutting edge or at least up to date with web graphics, but your's is really lacking in that area.

pretty much what he said....