D&D 4E Video Review of the 4E D&D Website

[Scalding]

I haven't read everyone else's comments on this yet, because I want to give my thoughts with as little outside influence as possible.

Just the other day I was talking with a close friend about this very issue. We both love D&D and are excited about what 4e promises to do for the game. However, when I try to direct him to an article on their website, it's painfully obvious how poorly laid out the website is.

The first thing I think when I see the website is, "That's busy, jarring." It's got so much stuff randomly slammed together that it is confusing to look at. So the second thought is, "I'm looking for information on X, where might I find it?" The tabs on the left offer little help, and eventually I've clicked through many unnecessary pages or I've turned to Google.

So, in short, my gut reaction is that this video is exactly right. It might be a little sarcastic, and a little harsh, but I expect more from Wizards of the Coast. They produce print - that's their core business - and they should know better.

 

[FreeXenon]

Didn't they recently make known that they were hiring individual for this very task?

*blink, blink*

I would kill for an opportunity like that, but I am afraid that I do not have the usability experience to tackle something as large as this. They need Professional Usability people simply due to the massive amount of information that they have to present to the public.

I would love for the WotC site to Roxors.

 

[Chibbell]

Thanks for all the responses guys, both positive and negative. This is my first attempt at a video like that. The only way to learn is to jump in with both feet and start swimming. Would love to see someone else do a video.

I think it should be said that I really love D&D and what WotC is doing with the game. I only wish they could spend a bit more time with their website. They have so much great content that it is an absolute shame that its so hard to make your way through it.

 

[Dragonblade]

Can I get a crappy video on the front page too by posting it too my blog?

Dragon Avenue is not Chibbell's blog. It is the evolution of ENnie award winning (and now defunct) 3rdedition.org website. Dragon Avenue is experimenting with a lot of content in order to raise the bar for what a fansite can be. One of the things being experimented with is video reviews.

Feel free to post rebuttals to Chibb's review, if you disagree with him. I certainly do on occasion.

But I will say his professional web design work is very well regarded in the industry. He and the design team he works on has received design kudos from companies such as CNN. He may come off a little strong, but its because he is passionate about good design. He definitely knows what he is talking about.

 

[AllisterH]

So how would you change the website to make it more friendly? The thing is, WOTC's website has a lot of content so I'm not sure how much more navigation friendly it can be without expecting the user to have more of a gist of what they're looking for.

 

[jimmifett]

While i'm no web designer, I am a web developer (ie: javascript, ajax, css, dynamic database things, webservices, you know, the guts behind the pretty) and have worked with enough designers to see the good an the bad. All my UI stuff is extremely spartan, but then again, i'm a programmer. However, I do know what is teh suck and what visually works, even if i can't do it myself. This guy is absolutely right. The website does feel all squished together and suffers a lot of design gaffes. I'm glad i'm not the only one persistently bothered by to lack of image cleanup on the troll.

At the same time, I haven't sat down to examine the forums, but good lord, it sure crawls. Sometimes I wander if their database design was actually thought out or not for high utilization x_x

 

[Charwoman Gene]

An Apology and actual Criticism

Apologies to the author for the personal insult. It was meant as a over-the-top parody of how snarky and over-the-top the review was but it went past so bad it"s good into so bad its terrible. And I have no reason to talk about anyone having a little chubbiness in the face. Anyone who saw my pictures from I-Con can see why.

The video was totally lame and boring. The points he was making were obscured by the ridiculous over-the-top snobby tone he took. My point about the video quality are valid ones. Could you stand watching a movie review show with poor production values criticize a Uwe Boll movie? (Sign the Petition!)

The WoW website stinks in terms of usability. I lose track of where stuff is all the time.

I have the feeling WotC is sitting on a new D&D website to release in May.

The D&D website does suck I just think this video was terrible criticism.

 

[Michael Morris]

Ability to use Frontpage and Dreamweaver is pretty much the extent of WotC's web design crew's talents - I know this from working with them. That code is NOT done by hand and it shows.

Anyway, tangent the people reading this particular thread should be able to help with - I'm running into serious CSS issues on ENWorld2 vs. Internet Explorer. I need help (see thread in the meta forum).

 

[Irda Ranger]

Maybe some web designer/developer can jump in and tell me why I'm wrong, but I think one of the best things WotC could do for their site is to integrate a Google Suggest search bar at the top of every page. Just type in "pit fiend" and Google will suggest every article and art that mentions them. As many have mentioned, WotC has a lot of content, so maybe they should let those Google people organize it all for them.

It doesn't have Suggest features, but here's a Google Co-op Engine I made to search the WotC site: D&D Official Content

It could be better, but it's free. If you're familiar with Co-op please feel free to make suggestions.

 

[The Eternal GM]

Personally, I couldn't give *ahem* a fig how the site looks as long as the game is good. I'd rather they spent time, energy and resources on the product.

The site is just the 3rd Edition site with some 4th Edition logos glued to it... It's obviously not meant to be there forever, and I'm sure it will be upgraded or renewed. But right now, it's not a priority, not even close...

So why now to bitch about it? It's been up for years! Why is it so important to inspect the ghost town? If in a years time it's still in this state, fair enough... Feel free to mock them no end... But really, right now? When all attention and focus is clearly going to be (or bloody well ought to be) on getting 4th Edition ready to sell?