New Site Feedback, Discussion, Problem Reports

LeanWolf

i should have been clearer. i meant on the front page, so you see immediately that you're logged in (i know the text is still there). It also made me feel a part of the site to see my av on the front page, but that's just me.

it's not a link, just shows the latest threads. i liked the direct link to the news forum, there i could see which threads are new since my last login and if someone has commented on any of them. now it's TWO clicks away, poor me!

Vikingod

For those that haven't read every post here, I'll give a recap:

1) The new front page isn't finished, there will be bug fixes, tweaking and features added.

2) The "New Posts" button is being looked into, and will most likely be added to the front page as soon as a viable solution is figured out.

3) If you are experiencing problems, log-off, clear your cache and DH cookies, shut down the browser, load it up again, and log-in.

4) Please post your comments, everything will be considered.

We know its a big change, but please give it a shot. In my personal experience, while it did take some time to get used to it, once I did, I find it much easier to get around.

Thanks to all who have posted comments.

Personally, It took me some time to get used to it, but now that I am, I have found it to be easier to get around the site and see what's new.

Chaos

I found just changing to SereneHeaven theme made the front page look less confusing I guess because of the lighter colors and contrast

me972

I was gone for 2 weeks.. I come back and someone did a real job on this site.. Its really not to my liking.. actualy i almost "hate" it.. sorry for the bad feedback but i feel i must be true to my thoughts.

its also very very heavy and takes realy long to load.

I miss the old DH like from 2 years ago when it was all about the technical soal and not the show and sparcle.. makes me feel as if ... HO I don't know.. maybe I'm just nostalgic..

gonight..

Mr cairo

im finding myself struggeling to like it as well i miss having the User avatar with the thread links and the news items at the top it was all much simpler

its all just a bit all over the place now and i dont see the logic

just hope it will grow on me

ET3D

A little further feedback:

I just realised that the main graphical panel on the front page is not an ad but a link to articles.

Now that I know this, I dislike the interface more. By default, I was looking at the Reviews tab, and these reviews don't appear there. The panel itself, while graphically neat, has very little text compared to the Reviews tab, meaning it's less informative. The titles also get cut. The other thing I dislike about it is that there's no "open in new tab" functionality in that panel, which is a common problem with Flash based sites, and goes against the way I browse.

I don't "get" it, but I think it'd be more acceptable to me if the same articles were also listed on the Reviews tab (or Articles, or whatever's suitable). Also, if this design is kept, I'd like the text to be given more space, perhaps blended over the graphics in some way. That'd make the panel clearer and more informative.

The change in the image as the mouse moves over the articles is IMO a decent design and I kind of like it. The popup with the miniature review page is to me just distracting, as the images are too small to show anything, and the movement just confuses my eyes.

Going back to previous comments, now I finally understand that not all of what I saw was ads, so it was just a wrong impression. It's a pity I got that impression, and I would have preferred the Articles, etc. panel up there instead, but it still feels better.

Regarding the comment about Gaming as a tab, I realise that more things change when moving to GamingHeaven.net than just the reviews tab. Part of that is because the main panel's reviews aren't listed there, and I think they should. Another part is that the forum posts and poll are different. Here I think that the tab concept would again work well. The Tech/Gaming news tabs simply work so well that I'd like to be able to switch all other things so seamlessly.

ET3D

BTW, on the GamingHeaven side, the graphical panel article links don't work for me.

ET3D

I don't mind the show and sparkle. I like the work Zardon put into making each review unique, even if it made them load more slowly. The problem is that this new design just doesn't look as cohesive as the old one. It's a bit of a mess, IMO. I just looked at a game review page, and there's the review on the left, still nicely designed, but on the right there's an ad and underneath it a "Latest Reviews / Latest Articles" box, and these just don't mesh with the article's design, IMO.

Zardon

Yes they broke tonight, and will be sorted tomorrow. I personally have reservations about the flash entirely - im still not sure we should be using it at all, and I will say ive made some points about it already behind the scenes, so it will be looked into shortly. You guys might think im making the calls on everything, but im not. there are three directors on Driver Heaven and we all have the same goal, to improve the experience of the site, sometimes compromises are made and one of us will get something in we want. The flash is a bit of a sore point for me right now and it will be addressed.

Zardon

I really would like to thank everyone for their feedback so far. It certainly has been mixed and we really want to get this right for you guys. I will say immediately however, the site can't go back to the way it was, we are moving forward and to move forward we need to be able to present more information in the same space, which this system in theory is capable of doing.

However, and its a big however, there have been many great posts with people stating WHY they don't like certain aspects of the site, I have been making notes and next week I will be having a meeting with the other directors to go over all your concerns and comments. Nothing is set solid in stone right now so we can alter and regig bits of the site.

What I would ask you to do from this point on is to give me reasons why you don't like the front page. I am leaving the forum out of this as it is basically the same as it has ever been.

So let's focus on the problem parts of the front page, lets not get over sentimental on the old style, and lets please not just post "I don't like it, it sucks", you need to tell me exactly why it sucks and exactly what sucks!

Everyone has a valid view on this forum and trust me, I have read every post in here and I always listen to what everyone has to say. This site has been built on a strong community foundation and I would like to think quite a few people in this thread are people I know and respect ...... so we are listening.

I would like you to play with things over the weekend and let me know exactly what you would like to see changed. The forum right now as far as im concerned isnt an issue, sure there are minor things to tweak and little links to put in, Craig has already done some of these today so we are moving on that.

The front page seems to be the issue for people, so the more information you can give me the better. Want something removed? something added? something moved? lets hear.

werty316

Great job on the new look as I like it.

Lelisevis

Im just not sure the thing flows the way it used to. It almost seems like too much information squeezed into one place, Although the tabs are a nice idea it doesnt read as easily as it used too. Im sure it will improve with time as I get used to finding things but I guess I was so used to site news then tech news. Dont get me wrong I can kind of see the logic, it sometimes seemed like you where scrolling through a biblical scroll but it followed a logical path and didnt involve hunt the section.

Current poll is given too much priority, it's pretty much the first thing you come across which is wrong seeing as it's a pretty much one use item for most people, move it across to the right.
Not sure why but im getting intermittent white boxes im guessing it's the location of adverts but I have no blocker, have cleared my cache and it still does not show.

Finally I have mentioned this already but only half of my screen is being put to use with masses of ugly grey either side. It was like going to bed with Beth Ditto (shudder) and waking up with Kate Moss, everythings all pinched in the middle.

Zardon

Well lets kick them out of bed and get it sorted. what "masses of ugly" grey are you talking about?

are you on the front page? the forum? which theme?

Lelisevis

Apologies, hope this quickly shrunk mspaint image shows it. Who knows it could be me as I still get big blank white patches

Zardon

ah right you mean serene heaven, its not dynamically stretching to fit your (rather massive) screen area. the front page is intentionally "locked" to width for a variety of reasons. You will notice the forum is not the same and will fit your screen.

Do you feel it would be better all a medium/dark grey on the outside? Not really much we can do with that mate apart from alter the colours/tints. maybe fire in a few pictures of hot women?

IEMC

This is how I feel it should be laid out. I think it makes more sense, but again, just my opinion.

http://oxihosting.com/files/4/DH%20layout.jpg

It doesn't address how I think it's cluttered, but it works for as many advertisements as you have on there now.

And those white spaces are from missing advertisements. Do you have adblock installed?

Tipstaff

I really like that layout, IEMC. It's more suited for left to right, top to bottom reading, which, btw, is the way most people read. Everything flows that way in your layout idea. The way it is now your eye has to jump around the page to get to the information you want. It looks flashy, but to be honest, it's not comfortable to read.

Other than those 2 things (front page layout and new posts link/info) I find the new look quite catchy. The site loads fast in my case, even on my junk terminal machine. Plus before I never ever went to Gaming Heaven since the forum had the same info in it, yet this way I can easily jump from tech to gaming news on one page. Nice touch.

Robert McClelland

Why not google ads? Instead of flash ads they load more quickly hehe thats my two cents. Anyway I turn my HD on my x700pro card everthing looks good on so far at 720p.
At least I got haulin working in HD so my nhl08 hehe Boy I really do need new system soon lol. Mine won't come to summer time.

Tipstaff

Not too sure if this happens in other resolutions, but I've noticed that in 1280x1024 or lower (tried down to 800x600) that the news showing up on the right side (Technology or Gaming), that sometimes the very last listing isn't showing completely in the window. Or rather that it gets cut off.

Just TYSK.

Zardon

Agree totally and its basically the same shape as the design I have proposed yesterday to the team with other modifications. We will see how it goes.

Mr cairo

running at 1024 to fit my screen and i am also getting those white patches that Lelisevis is getting i also thought they were blocked ads but it appears they arnt as i have nothing blocking

and at 1024 (a very common resolution) it doesnt fit the width of the screen correctly ...