Redesigning and re-branding EN World
- Thread starter Morrus
- Start date
Mistwell
Crusty Old Meatwad
I'm sorry, I never thought of this as a news site. I always thought of this as a fan community site, with news as an element (though not a more important element than any of the other content). Now I am to learn this is an industry news site? Ah well, you learn something new every day.
However, even as a news site, you don't want the entire text of the news up on the front page, if you want it to look good. As I cited above, even news sites put a synopsis of the news, with a link to the full article.
However, even as a news site, you don't want the entire text of the news up on the front page, if you want it to look good. As I cited above, even news sites put a synopsis of the news, with a link to the full article.
Nice, but....
The new site-design looks good. It's far less cluttered. However, there is one problem with the way it works now - browser compatibility. I only use Linux at home (as an increasing number of people do). The drop-downs work perfectly in the widespread open-source browser Mozilla (And so also in Netscape 6 and 7 I presume), but with Opera and Konqueror (Which are the ones I normally use) the animated ads are displayed on top of the drop-downs, hiding them. If this could be solved I'm sure more people than myself would be grateful.
The new site-design looks good. It's far less cluttered. However, there is one problem with the way it works now - browser compatibility. I only use Linux at home (as an increasing number of people do). The drop-downs work perfectly in the widespread open-source browser Mozilla (And so also in Netscape 6 and 7 I presume), but with Opera and Konqueror (Which are the ones I normally use) the animated ads are displayed on top of the drop-downs, hiding them. If this could be solved I'm sure more people than myself would be grateful.
The Kender
First Post
Okay, here's my report for Linux users:
Mozilla:
Layout 1: Laggy, menu's go under the ad
Layout 2: Even more laggy then the first one
Konqueror:
Layout 1: Works well, still has the ad problem
Layout 2: Almost crashed Konqueror
Conclusion: Enworld is a lot easier to surf without the menu's. I don't mean to sound rude, but I don't like to wait for the menu's to load up and then try to make them work. Personally, I like Enworld how it is. It looks nice, and it is fast. Besides, I almost always keep javascripts off.
Mozilla:
Layout 1: Laggy, menu's go under the ad
Layout 2: Even more laggy then the first one
Konqueror:
Layout 1: Works well, still has the ad problem
Layout 2: Almost crashed Konqueror
Conclusion: Enworld is a lot easier to surf without the menu's. I don't mean to sound rude, but I don't like to wait for the menu's to load up and then try to make them work. Personally, I like Enworld how it is. It looks nice, and it is fast. Besides, I almost always keep javascripts off.
I like the first drop down, with the text starting at the left. It was a little wierd at first, but i grew to like it as i kept comparing the two samples. The first one spreads out the news so that you don't have to scroll down so much. I like that. The second exampale still looks too crowded.
ColonelHardisson
What? Me Worry?
I've seen Morrus treated like his site was basically just a repository for press releases by publishers. I've seen such publishers act rather arrogantly about it, like Morrus was there to be at their beck and call. This didn't begin with Morrus' tenure - I'm sure many of the long-time posters remember when WotC's message boards were gone for literally months, back when Eric was running the site. You saw WotC people posting here all the time, and the site used as a de facto WotC site. Then, when WotC's boards were back, many of them vanished. There were some who stayed as regulars here, but if I had been Eric, I know I'd feel like I'd been used and not really acknowledged or compensated for it. I see evidence of this type of treatment being done to Morrus now. There are plenty of great and loyal board members who are also publishers, who treat Morrus and EN World with respect. But it only takes a relatively small number of les-than-polite folk to make the whole thing a drag for whoever is running the site.
Psionicist
Explorer
Mistwell: I don't think Morrus wants to be in a position to write full-page news on a regular basis. If he were to do so, I agree he should just have headlines and highlights on the front page.
However, most of the news on the front page is only headlines and highlights. A couple of rumors here, a new release there, some quotes from insiders, etc. Giving those all their own page would be silly, and I think the ENworld community much prefers the condensed, daily updates anyway.
In those few cases where there is a significant "chunk" of news, as in the case of Ryan Dancey's comments, or even in the case of Morrus's own annoucement of the redesign, I do think it would indeed be better just to mention some highlights and then refer to a URL to find out more (possibly posting the full comments on the bulletin boards). For example, here's my summary of Ryan's comments:
Ryan said there are very few restrictions on using Open Game Content, but for the sake of the OGC community, please be "polite" about it. So inform people when you're planning to use their OGC content in your work, and give back to the community by releasing as much of your own original contents under the OGL as well. The full text of Ryan's comments can be found here
However, most of the news on the front page is only headlines and highlights. A couple of rumors here, a new release there, some quotes from insiders, etc. Giving those all their own page would be silly, and I think the ENworld community much prefers the condensed, daily updates anyway.
In those few cases where there is a significant "chunk" of news, as in the case of Ryan Dancey's comments, or even in the case of Morrus's own annoucement of the redesign, I do think it would indeed be better just to mention some highlights and then refer to a URL to find out more (possibly posting the full comments on the bulletin boards). For example, here's my summary of Ryan's comments:
Ryan said there are very few restrictions on using Open Game Content, but for the sake of the OGC community, please be "polite" about it. So inform people when you're planning to use their OGC content in your work, and give back to the community by releasing as much of your own original contents under the OGL as well. The full text of Ryan's comments can be found here
Last edited:
Eosin the Red
First Post
I like Psi's stuff.
The colors could use some tweaking but otherwise it looks great.
The colors could use some tweaking but otherwise it looks great.
KnowTheToe
First Post
Psionicist said:
I really like the layout. I like the color choice, but maybe the background could be a subtle grey or light blue instead of white. I definitely like the lack of black. The current layout makes me feel like I am a mole reading something in a dark dingy basement with a single light bulb hanging on a cord from the ceiling swinging slightly over my head.
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