OpenXcom Forum
OpenXcom => Open Feedback => Topic started by: SupSuper on April 18, 2012, 03:21:31 am
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One thing I've been thinking about for a while is a brand new website design. It's been long enough that I think the project deserves something that looks like a proper game website, instead of just... a WordPress blog. The current design is really bland and ugly, doesn't convey the game, and the information is spread all over in the menu and sidebar and links and ugh. Terrible. It horrifies the usability-nerd in me. :(
Here is a concept I've sketched up... yeah now you know why I didn't do a remake with new graphics. :P But the idea is to give it a more X-Com look, with the menu looking like the Geoscape sidebar, the content boxes (with news and etc.) looking like the X-Com message boxes, much more appealing look and proper logo. You look at it and think "wow this is so X-Com".
The layout would be wider and more flexible to give more room to the content like screenshots and Youtube gameplay. All OpenXcom-related links would be merged into one menu, with the third-party links (other X-Com projects, etc.) left at the bottom of the sidebar. I'd redesign the pages to be more useful and varied instead of just looking like text walls too.
So, feel free to post your thoughts on this sketch idea, or if you got other ideas of what you'd like to see on a new OpenXcom website.
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Looks good :)
Have you thought how to implement it? Using wordpress theme or something completely else?
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Nice! The new UI should do the trick. Still looks a bit like a blog though :P
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What you need is someone to make a customized WP theme.
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I like the clever logo :)
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I like the logo too, i had a quick go at making it with guns but its not right :(
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I'd love to have a crack at helping out some with a new site, also the new logo. I'm a web designer by trade and have done alot of site with wordpress.
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PM SupSuper. He's the BDFL (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benevolent_Dictator_for_Life) around here.
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First draft.
Sorry I ignored the offers for help but I kinda like adventuring into these things myself. :P It will just be a custom WordPress theme to not disrupt the current website.
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Looks nice :D What time buttons will be for? ;)
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is it possible to toggle the news articles with the time buttons?
something like:
5sec - only newest article
1min - newest two
5min - newest 5
30min - newest 10
1h - newest 20
1day - all of them
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Website is a website, not a game. It should not looks like a game. Especially while game is not so elegant and beautiful.
Sorry, but this design reminds me of ugly sites from 90's.
Ingame ui controls are not designed to be part of website. So don't use them please.
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Agreed, it looks more like funny picture, than user-friendly site design.
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I like the design. it's a retro game, why not have a retro website? it's completely recognizable, although I would actually go one step further and use blocky pixel graphics for the buttons on the right-hand side.
maybe even add a geoscape globe as background picture in the left part?
isn't there even a technical possibility to add custom mouse pointers for websites? :D
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Website is a website, not a game. It should not looks like a game. Especially while game is not so elegant and beautiful.
I agree. But I see no reason not to use buttons like in the game, but with different writing. Maybe even with the blocky font. But it should be obvious what the buttons do and no buttons purely for decoration(like the time buttons).
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Website is a website, not a game. It should not looks like a game. Especially while game is not so elegant and beautiful.
Sorry, but this design reminds me of ugly sites from 90's.
Ingame ui controls are not designed to be part of website. So don't use them please.
Well what do you suggest then? Just saying it's ugly doesn't tell me much.
The goal was for new visitors be able to look at the website and tell "oh it's like the original X-Com", as it's hard to tell OpenXcom apart from every other remake at a glance.
Plus I do have a thing for game-based websites like FreeSynd (https://freesynd.sourceforge.net/) and TT Forums (https://www.tt-forums.net/). :P
Agreed, it looks more like funny picture, than user-friendly site design.
Ok you can say it's ugly but how is it not user-friendly? The content is crisp and clean, the color scheme is easily-readable and consistent, the menu is all in one side and clearly labelled. If anything it's easier to look at than the current site.
I like the design. it's a retro game, why not have a retro website? it's completely recognizable, although I would actually go one step further and use blocky pixel graphics for the buttons on the right-hand side.
maybe even add a geoscape globe as background picture in the left part?
isn't there even a technical possibility to add custom mouse pointers for websites? :D
I considered going "full retro", but I didn't wanna harm the readability with blocky pixel graphics. It is a website, so I made it more like a "HD" version of the Geoscape interface, plus it's easier to work with regular fonts and graphics than custom pixely stuff (the sidebar is all CSS for example). Background globe would make a nice addition...
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I can see why blocky fonts are not such a good idea :) (I don't really like the "clean" look of the buttons, though, either...)
maybe you can replace the "time" buttons on the lower right by something else? if they are still six small buttons, everybody will recognize the pattern, but they could have actual functions with corresponding labels. maybe six thumbnails for recent screenshots?
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Good call about switching the time buttons to something with a more obvious/specific function but keeping their size and position. I had a similar first reaction on seeing the mockup. This is a website, after all, so user-friendliness should take precedence over appearance--we need to know at a glance what the time buttons actually do.
I also think if you're going to go retro you shouldn't stop half-way in boring css text land--go all the way and use the X-COM font and pixel graphics. It may be a little more trouble, but it's certainly not hard. (Looks nice on FreeSynd! Is that enough impetus?)
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TT and FreeSynd are not good examples. Dense background al over the place make it feel like it's one of first graphics web sites ever (I remember feeling of how I used netscape 2.0). In functionality sence, those FAKE time buttons makes quite a disturbance. I think it will be better without them.
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What about that site as example?
https://openmw.org/en/
It's clean and simple. Uses banner with game inspired graphics, colors and background texture fits rpg game.
So maybe we should stick with simple design (as we have now) but inspire by colors and graphics from original game?
SupSuper, maybe instead of creating new theme, try to modify our current style with some colors, background texture, etc?
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michal, this is indeed quite clean and friendly design, though it lacks of what I suppose SupSuper wants to invent here: maximum ingame effect. The thing is not to fall too deep into it, with cost of usability.
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I suppose you're working on it right now, because the right-side-menu layout has changed... funny, I didn't know we had a facebook page :) but the link to the forum is missing! or at least it's hidden somewhere. and I kind of liked the direct link to the "newest git build", my usual routine is "main page" -> checking for new git builds -> going to the forum. this is kind of disrupted right now :P
EDIT: also, while it's certainly nice to support X@Com, someone should update the news so that the front page is showing something of openxcom instead... because seeing the roguelike like that, people can't really see what openxcom looks like. imagine somebody new opening the page for the first time, and all he sees is the roguelike screenshots - he'll just go "what the h***?" and leave again. (unless he's into roguelike games).
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I don't mind the new design, it doesn't seem that different to the old one to me....
As for the TIme buttons, they could work as one big button that links to a timeline (same as on the Facebook page but with people other than me outline the highlights - First Terror mission, first alien base , First snakeman etc).
Just my 2 cents 8)
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but the link to the forum is missing! or at least it's hidden somewhere.
this, or maybe SupSuper want remove forum? :D
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I suppose you're working on it right now, because the right-side-menu layout has changed... funny, I didn't know we had a facebook page :) but the link to the forum is missing! or at least it's hidden somewhere. and I kind of liked the direct link to the "newest git build", my usual routine is "main page" -> checking for new git builds -> going to the forum. this is kind of disrupted right now :P
EDIT: also, while it's certainly nice to support X@Com, someone should update the news so that the front page is showing something of openxcom instead... because seeing the roguelike like that, people can't really see what openxcom looks like. imagine somebody new opening the page for the first time, and all he sees is the roguelike screenshots - he'll just go "what the h***?" and leave again. (unless he's into roguelike games).
I'm just updating it a bit since it'll probably still stick around for a while. I'm trying to merge all the menu stuff into one, since having it arbitrarily split in two makes it look like the Links aren't part of OpenXcom, and I imagine that's why a lot of people miss the Wiki and stuff.
But having every single page in the menu would overwhelm it, so I tried to compact it, but I figured I'd get this response. :P The Git Builds can be accessed from the Downloads page, and the Forum link is in the new Contact page. I guess that might not be very intuitive, got better suggestions? I figured people would just have this bookmarked by now. ;)
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Definitely we need forum link somewhere visible. It's probably most important part of project and community. Far more important than facebook.
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There are only two buttons on the frontpage I ever use: forum and git builds. Both are gone ... help :)
And I agree with moriarty that there shouldn't be other stuff on the openxcom blog. Because when you start doing that you should give other projects out there a blogpost too: xenonauts, xenowar, ... so it's best to stick to openxcom stuff only. (also, roguelike screenshots just look plain horrible if you are not aware of the idea behind it)
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It's me, who've written about x@com. I thought we could write about releases of other x-com fan projects. Like Ufo: Ai guys have done some time ago with Openxcom release.
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Don't get me wrong, I think that posting about other projects is a good thing. I just meant that it should not stay up top for too long. :)
I believe that the website's primary target should be "new people". If somebody visits "by chance", he should not be confused. He/she should see openxcom.
BTW, is there a link to the webpage on the facebook page? I couldn't see one.
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Yeah, we just need more frequent posts about openxcom ;)
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Awesome , the Mod site has a linnk on the main page, brings a tear to my eyes ;)
Also , I think the Forums should be under "NETWORK"
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Also , I think the Forums should be under "NETWORK"
I agree.
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EDIT: also, while it's certainly nice to support X@Com, someone should update the news so that the front page is showing something of openxcom instead... because seeing the roguelike like that, people can't really see what openxcom looks like. imagine somebody new opening the page for the first time, and all he sees is the roguelike screenshots - he'll just go "what the h***?" and leave again. (unless he's into roguelike games).
I was thinking this EXACT same thing not long ago. Thanks for the plug michal, but I'm really hoping you guys post some OpenXCom stuff, *anything*, and soon. (OpenXCom just doesn't have enough frequent news!)
TT and FreeSynd are not good examples. Dense background al over the place make it feel like it's one of first graphics web sites ever (I remember feeling of how I used netscape 2.0). In functionality sence, those FAKE time buttons makes quite a disturbance. I think it will be better without them.
The FreeSynd reference was only with regard to the button appearance discussion. That site design as a whole is poorly done for sure, and certainly the buttons on OXC would *do* something--that was another point of the discussion about the time buttons...
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Forums link has been restored. I would've put it in the menu but current website theme doesn't support it.
I was thinking this EXACT same thing not long ago. Thanks for the plug michal, but I'm really hoping you guys post some OpenXCom stuff, *anything*, and soon. (OpenXCom just doesn't have enough frequent news!)
I'll be sure to post something, don't worry. :P It was easier back when every new screen was an achievement, now it's mostly just code code code...
The FreeSynd reference was only with regard to the button appearance discussion. That site design as a whole is poorly done for sure, and certainly the buttons on OXC would *do* something--that was another point of the discussion about the time buttons...
I think the key to backgrounded websites is to not let it bleed into the content and affect readability. FreeSynd has that problem since it's following the game too closely, but TT Forums avoid that since all the actual content is kept in solid-color boxes. I tried to avoid that problem in the new design too, the background doesn't affect the content and it's very muted to not distract.
Anyways I've got the gist of the complaints. Seems people are 50:50 on the game-like concept, some want none of it and others want even more! So I'll just keep playing around with this one and see where it goes, it might look better once it's actually filled with content. ;)
Nobody likes the time buttons so I'll get rid of them, they did let you play around with the timer but I guess that's too distracting.
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I'll be sure to post something, don't worry. :P It was easier back when every new screen was an achievement, now it's mostly just code code code...
Totally understand what you mean there. It's even tougher when you're recreating a game that everyone's already seen before...
Just yesterday I was paging back through my own blog history, thinking about the fact that I used to post twice as often, or even more, than I do now, mostly because back then there were all kinds of new things appearing that were quick and easy to implement--now I can spend a whole month working on one or two big systems...
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SupSuper, perhaps a very small post about the "New Game" screen and the "New Battle" screen ? This is a feature not in the original game, which is always interesting.
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SupSuper, perhaps a very small post about the "New Game" screen and the "New Battle" screen ? This is a feature not in the original game, which is always interesting.
I'm saving that for a video update. ;) But I'll put up a quick post about what I'm working on now.
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nice :) now I feel safer about posting the link to our site in other forums... :)
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Me too ;D
I'm waiting for the video so I can Reddit it--Make it good! ;)
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Where's the 'Git builds' link?
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Where's the 'Git builds' link?
Downloads page. Yes I realize by now I might as well just reduce the site to two pages, Git and Forum. :P
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Yes I realize by now I might as well just reduce the site to two pages, Git and Forum. :P
+1 on that.
Well... Maybe not, but you could make three HUGE buttons on the right side of the header, and that would be forums, download latest (nightly) build and download latest stable build. I think that that are the three most used links on the website.
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I would love to put them up on top with the menu, but the current theme doesn't support custom menus, so I can't do it without hacking around the page code, and if I'm gonna do that I might as well work on the new design instead.
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Downloads page. Yes I realize by now I might as well just reduce the site to two pages, Git and Forum. :P
Damn. I must have been really tired when I looked at the 'Downloads' page.
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I love the OP picture! I hope it gets done, I wanna see it soon.
Can you show us a preview soon?
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I agree this looks pretty good. Even if it isn't "formal-looking" like some other website, it does fit the retro-style of X-Com to a glove.
I would vote in favor of changing it !
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where is IRC link???
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where is IRC link???
Contact page. :P
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Shouldn't it be in "network" section as forum???
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sdopnhfdsofidsnmfine I've gotten rid of the Contact page because pages are for losers.
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Tell us how it's looking... I want to see the new style!!
:)
Can you add some classic X-COM music to the page? I'd also love to see a playlist on the side listing the tracks. Mainly just want Final Briefing and Battlescape so it's eerie and grim. I love all the tracks, so any tracks you choose will be great. You could also add all the versions from DOS, Amiga, CD32, PC, and PSX.
I'm sure many of us dislike music suddenly playing on a website, especially when we're quietly reading and "BAM!" music, so you could lower the volume so it plays calmly and you can edit the songs so they have the fade-in effect when they start.
Did I mention I love Final Briefing ;D Can't wait to see the retro-style website!
Thanks SupSuper, you're Officially the Greatest X-COM Fan in the World!
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I currently have everything on hold until I get rid of this semester of university, then I'll discuss future plans.
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Alright I got a potential addition/modification to SupSuper's template. It would have to be reworked a little by someone with a better mastery of CSS and webdesign then me, and more time.
Basicly I thought why not have the paragraph panels look X-COMy too. Included is a scrshot and the source. Hopefully it's helpful.
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The panels in my design are supposed to be more like X-Com windows (I guess they need the fancy border), but I ditched the background idea because:
- It's not flexible with different panel sizes (unless you use an annoying repeating background).
- It ruins readability (X-Com has outlines to avoid this).
- It just clutters the design, specially since I plan on adding more formatting (images etc.) to pages to make them nicer.
Anyways since everyone seems to be pretty happy with the Geoscape design idea, I'll work on integrating it with the website and let you know the results. :)
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Ya I wasn't able to get the background working the way I wanted. Part of the unread-ability was because it was inheriting transparency, but it just doesn't do to have text as part of the background for text. There's also the problem that browser fonts aren't designed for being displayed over a picture, and don't have a font backing.
It might be possible to get a background like what I was going for if someone wanted to draw up some nice low-key art in the x-com background style and colorize it the same way. I assume the text backing could be accomplished with text/shadow or some other effect but someone would have to fiddle with it until they got something good looking.
Anyway, ya I thought the geoscape style design was absolutely genius!
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sorry for resurrect old post
but, can you make the forum Tapatalk Friendly???
https://tapatalk.com/faq.php (https://tapatalk.com/faq.php)
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sorry for resurrect old post
but, can you make the forum Tapatalk Friendly???
https://tapatalk.com/faq.php (https://tapatalk.com/faq.php)
Ok it should work now.
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Great its perfect
Enviado desde mi GT-I8550L mediante Tapatalk