15 replies to this topic

[Setever]

We have a beautiful community filled with numerous talents and perspectives, with future projects coming and no sign of slowing down. But our front page is so out of whack. It is hard to take anything seriously when it is broken. I know most of the returning members go directly to the forum and have no need for the front page, but it does exist for a reason and is important in recruting new people. Who will keep using YVD if they can't figure out a support system or get some answers to simple questions?

1. IRC Chat - the rules are completely outdated. There is a noticable change here. Also nowhere on the middle module does it list our server link ( irc.xerocreative.com ). I suggest a link to the (irc) staff page as well on here.

2. The Staff page links here - which is also outdated. I think this is a poor way to do this anyway. It is really expanded when it doesn't need to be. A simple link to the the moderating team would do for half of the list. Under all the admins' names could be their respective titles, somewhat like so:

Spoiler

XC's Team
MykeXero - Webmaster, Founder
DarkBlaze557 - Co-Webmaster, Lead Administrator
ensui - Co-Webmaster, Network Administrator, Head Programmer, Head of TCG Rulings
Master - Co-Webmaster, Network Administrator, Head of IRC & #YVD chat
Rayth - Network Service Administrator, Forum Global Moderator
MyBlackwingPlaylist - Forum Global Moderator
Shikamaru - IRC Global Operator
Hotaru - IRC Global Operator
Mana - XC's Graphic Designer
RiverShock - XC's Set Maker

Forum staff
IRC staff
Tournament staff (link to upcoming tournament forum? )

I think that there could easily exist an IRC staff page via a forums page created in a similar manner to the forum staff (moderating team). Just assign the members all a group (they likely have this already so they can access the staff forum, right?), and create a module like the other ones for easy linkage. I don't think it is too hard to emulate a page that way. And the tournament staff could be on a page in the new tournament forums in a simple list like I've made above. Sorry to everyone if I skewed your positions, but I don't know who does what, and the lists are all so outdated.

3. FADQ. What? Is that supposed to be faq? FADQ? Wha da fadq? it also links to # nowheresville, and provides no help to anybody. Can we PLEASE do something about this? It is so ridiculous....

4. Ladder - Does not exist apparently, so why is it there?

5. IRC Chat (left sidebar) - Doesn't display the server stats properly. It could also be much more friendly in connecting people to IRC. If top channels is too much to script, at least list like three or four xc-sanctioned rooms.

6. Podcasts - We can't really show these off anymore. Maybe instead, to keep with the idea, some XC-brewed media. Podcast #1, a link to a fanfic, artwork, etc.

7. Fan Submissions - None of these links work. I suggest maybe a Zone of Games section instead.

8. Copyright 2002-2009. I think that says enough.

---------------------

ensui, darkblaze557, please, can we get a working front page? This doesn't help our image or members at all.

Edited by Setever, 16 May 2013 - 01:15 AM.

[Hypermaster117]

We have a front page? Yeah it needs a serious overhaul the thing is seriously outdated.

Also it has no special symbol next to it's name in the tab just a little generic piece of paper

I know when I started I looked at the front page and just went wtf is this. I just went straight through to

the forums and never used it again. I guess ease of access clarity and a more appealing design would

be great.

[fluppy]

Setever, on 15 May 2013 - 11:29 PM, said:

3. FADQ. What? Is that supposed to be faq? FADQ? Wha da fadq? it also links to # nowheresville, and provides no help to anybody. Can we PLEASE do something about this? It is so ridiculous....

IIRC the 'd' stood for 'dumb' or something..

[ensui]

You're not wrong, the main site in general needs an overhaul. We lack a reliable designer with the time to actually design us a new one...Which sucks.

The non-updated nature of the pages stems from how it's actually reasonably difficult to modify the pages...There is no nice content management system behind it...Let's just say it's a holdover from the previous administration.

FADQ...That's an Andrew thing...

In short, yeah we know there're issues with it and we'd love to fix it all up...Just needs some time and stuff.

[Abyss]

ensui, on 16 May 2013 - 10:01 AM, said:

We lack a reliable designer with the time to actually design us a new one...Which sucks.

I have tons of time but I don't know if I can be reliable. I don't know much about web page designing but if you tell me what I need to know,I'll go learn it and get back to you o_o

[Setever]

Thanks for the quick response, ensui. We have competent staff members who could do simple things like this. I know DB could fix most of these with basic FTP access, and I'm sure he's knowledgeable and willing. I realize you spend a fair amount of time doing other work for XC so I do think you should find someone competent to clean up so you don't can keep your attention elsewhere.

Yes, a complete overhaul is very much welcomed. It must come before the new YVD release though, or we run the risk of losing a lot of the steam brought up from its arrival. Until then, though, we should make a plan to get these kind of errors fixed.

I didn't realize the fadq was intentional. Oh Andrew....

[Rayth Mistwalker]

The staff list is mostly up to date. I made a point of looking through it when I became global mod so any changes missing on it are those i've not known at that time, or have happened since then (which tbh I think is just kyros? and maybe 2 other local mods)

As for the overhaul/fixing website issues, everyone knows i could do it.

Also I doubt you'll get a response from ensui now till sunday/monday. He's judging every day from now (I don't start till a little later) early morning

[Setever]

Right. You're a great candidate to take over stuff like this, as are many others.

And while I appreciate ensui's first response, simply saying "we need some time" isn't enough. It hasn't been touched in four years now.... Clearly time isn't the only thing lacking. Like you noted, he's a very busy, productive guy.

Edited by Setever, Yesterday, 07:03 AM.

[DarkBlaze557]

I agree that it needs to be done before yvdx/webyvd are released, but our main intent was to simply replace it. Our problem with that is the person working on it has proven unreliable and we've seen little progress.

So the question becomes: do we spin our wheels updating an outdated design, or do we focus on finding someone that can build a new one and working on that? Both will take time either way and pulls us away from other projects.

[TheLaughingMan-JDS]

Make a contest for people to submit their designs for a new home page? :x

[GothicKratos]

I maintain the same stance on this as I have everything else; something is better than nothing.

First impressions are everything.

[Setever]

DarkBlaze557, on 18 May 2013 - 11:27 AM, said:

I agree that it needs to be done before yvdx/webyvd are released, but our main intent was to simply replace it. Our problem with that is the person working on it has proven unreliable and we've seen little progress.

So the question becomes: do we spin our wheels updating an outdated design, or do we focus on finding someone that can build a new one and working on that? Both will take time either way and pulls us away from other projects.

This isn't about updating an outdated design. This is fixing what's broken. These are small, clumsy mistakes that would take me personally only an hour or two to fix. I don't think fixing typos and broken links should even warrant a discussion on the best course of action. Clearly this points to a bigger problem as to how our focus gets directed. Why can this not be done? If you can't get it done, find somebody who will. Simple as that. Don't let your top priorities skew the overall project.

It seems the ideology has been along the lines of waiting for YVDX to do anything with the webpage, which has failed. We have been waiting for YVDX for years, and the webpage and content has remained stagnant. This is a failed way to handle things.

EDIT: I am being critical because nobody else is, and I have seen how easily XC can rise with a push.

Edited by Setever, Yesterday, 02:14 PM.

[EeL]

I thought this was the front page? Everything looks fine here, all the forum sections look good.

[Jesse]

Oh.

[GothicKratos]

EeL, on 18 May 2013 - 02:30 PM, said:

I thought this was the front page? Everything looks fine here, all the forum sections look good.

http://www.xerocreative.com/

[Andrew]

I personally liked the FADQ back in the day :B -- It's what got us featured in a magazine, albeit I'm pretty sure it was one of my older yugioh websites, and not XC specifically. But I agree, the front page is atrocious. What's more of problem, regardless of these small minor things you talk about Set, is that it doesn't really offer anything. Most traffic that comes in to the main page are bounces, nothing of value is really there. You need to kind of generate some content or something that's worth people sticking around, because when I go to the front page, there's nothing that would make me think XC is a place to stay.