Game Maker's Garage Forum
Game Maker's Garage => Suggestions => Topic started by: jeremymaharg on November 10, 2009, 07:16:52 PM
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Just thought I'd mention that there don't seem to be any obvious links to the GM or SC game creation tools on the GMG site in places where newcomers would easily see them...
One possibility you might consider would be to reorganize the navbar on the side, maybe adding a "Game Creation Programs" page at the top of the Developers category, and list GameMaker, SilverCreator, and perhaps a few others on the page it links to.
You might also consider adding a more visible link to the GMG Manual under the Forums section, and renaming Forums to something more general, such as Communication or something. The current link to the GMG Manual is buried somewhere that isn't very easy to find, and the GMG manual hasn't had many edits lately (other than by me and a lot of spammers).
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i think this was actually my first post :P
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...so is anything going to be done about this? I really think it would be a good idea to make these things easier for newcomers to find if we are going to encourage more visitors to get into gamemaking with these tools...
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i'm going to be doing a restructuring/redesign of the gmg website over winter break after i've finished lsats/finals.
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Awesome. :) A new look would be great as the technological world enters the newest stages...
-Gandolf
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What does that mean -_-
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Sounds like adding all the newest web design technology, or just making it look fancier.
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GHOST'S LIST
1) a 5 minute long unskippable flash intro, with a guitar solo and stuff blowing up
2) instead of using a CSS color picker, use random combinations of "FF" "88" and "66"
3) add vague page titles like "that stuff that does the thing on the place in your hoziwatsit"
4) Add a link that instantly gives gnome 6$ a click
5) Delete Bot protection, I find their ads quite enlightening
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GHOST'S LIST
1) a 5 minute long unskippable flash intro, with a guitar solo and stuff blowing up
2) instead of using a CSS color picker, use random combinations of "FF" "88" and "66"
3) add vague page titles like "that stuff that does the thing on the place in your hoziwatsit"
4) Add a link that instantly gives gnome 6$ a click
5) Delete Bot protection, I find their ads quite enlightening
LOL somehow this list seems to revolve around you.
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I'm going to be rewriting the GMG using a number of technologies, including web.py (http://webpy.org/), jquery (http://jquery.com/), python (http://python.org/), and html 5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5). I'll also get around to performing all the SEO tricks I know to see if we can't grow our community a bit (SilverCreator and GameMaker are doing some awesome things!)
Ghost
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I'm going to be rewriting the GMG using a number of technologies, including web.py (http://webpy.org/), jquery (http://jquery.com/), python (http://python.org/), and html 5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5). I'll also get around to performing all the SEO tricks I know to see if we can't grow our community a bit (SilverCreator and GameMaker are doing some awesome things!)
Ghost
Will you consider doing your best to maintain compatibility with older browsers? I sometimes access this site from older computers, and it would be nice to at least be able to access the content in a crippled but functional state on older browsers while still allowing for newer features to work when using a modern browser.
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What older browsers?
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maybe internet explorer 3 or safari 1
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I was mostly referring to accessibility. Actually, if search engine optimization is among the things to be improved, accessibility on older browsers shouldn't be an issue. Basically, I meant that there shouldn't be excessive use of javascript, flash, or cutting-edge CSS Animation (or whatever) to the point that it is impossible to access most of the site without it.
BTW, I'm currently typing this post in Classilla on an emulated Mac (SheepShaver) running Mac OS 9 just to see how well it works. Site runs pretty well on it so far. IE 4.5 for Mac is another story; it's functional but glitchy and ugly.
IE 5 on my real OS 9 Mac does better, but the copyright bar hovers in front of other content until you move the mouse over a link.
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Site runs pretty well on it so far. IE 4.5 for Mac is another story; it's functional but cumbersome and ugly.
So is IE 4.5, so no surprise there.
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IE 6 is the real beast that most people have to murder. Youtube is actually phasing out support for it soon, yet most schools and businesses still use it as the only available browser.
Mist
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If you run in a browser older than Firefox 2.5+, Safari 3+, or IE 7+, you're going to lose pretty much all of the advanced functionality of the new GMG. However, you'll still be able to browse the website, post on the forums, etc. Just the new AJAX search features, JQuery sortable tables, and new content submission system. For content submission, I'm looking at a peer-review system where forum moderators get an RSS feed of the latest submitted content. They can either approve, edit/approve, or reject each content submission. This will drastically cut submission times, and also improve the quality of content submitted here.
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Still planning to redesign the site to increase moderation. It'll be more centered around the wiki, and most of the tabs on the left will be consolidated into a community-run wiki with these forums.
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Neat! Will it be super shiny new design or a spruced up rendition of the current one? I'd love to see brighter colours and a more graphically orientated interface for downloads. Something like this:
(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9048/gmgconcept.png)
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:o Shiney...
-Gan
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Wow that looks great Silver!
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That looks great Silver, but I like how the current site retains the feel of the old GMG. ;)
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thats SO much better, im for useing that design
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Well it's just concept, but I've been working at it some more:
(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/3839/pic0s.png)
(http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8433/pic1c.png)
(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2254/pic2k.png)
(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/6349/pic3l.png)
Ignore the sidebar on the news page, that's just experimenting. I think people would be much more inclined to make games with a trendy downloads page. I know I would. ;D
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I think this would bump up our user base quite a bit. :) Like moths to a lamp.
-Gan
P.S. Your design company name is York?
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Shiny indeed :o
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we need someone more enthusiastic than ghost to handle things, someone whos here and knows whats going on so when someone releases something theyll automatically add it to the downloads instead of haveinig to submit it and wait for it to never get put up, also that person could post news updates when things are released or when something happens to basically track whats going on, the news should be like a timeline of what happens
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That'd be quite a responsibility for one person... Maybe if a few or a group had that power who were also avid members...
-Gan
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P.S. Your design company name is York?
Yeah, check it out. (http://tdsy.co.uk/) I moved to York awhile back to be with my Grandfather in his final months. It was my Grandfather who introduced me to Jesus and made me a born again Christian.
The website's nearly finished, me and my dad just need to stick a photo on the homepage and scan more of our portfolio.
we need someone more enthusiastic than ghost to handle things, someone whos here and knows whats going on so when someone releases something theyll automatically add it to the downloads instead of haveinig to submit it and wait for it to never get put up, also that person could post news updates when things are released or when something happens to basically track whats going on, the news should be like a timeline of what happens
Website maintenance is allot of work though. The current design appeals to me because it's fairly easy to update (with it being so text oriented), but a design like my concept requires allot more graphic preparation, such as when a new game is released. I still think it'd be worth the effort though, and I'd gladly invest my own time into it. :)
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we need someone more enthusiastic than ghost to handle things, someone whos here and knows whats going on so when someone releases something theyll automatically add it to the downloads instead of haveinig to submit it and wait for it to never get put up, also that person could post news updates when things are released or when something happens to basically track whats going on, the news should be like a timeline of what happens
that sounds like silver
ghost does update sometimes but notfrequently any more
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Yeah, check it out. (http://tdsy.co.uk/) I moved to York awhile back to be with my Grandfather in his final months. It was my Grandfather who introduced me to Jesus and made me a born again Christian.
Wow. :)
-Gan
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The design looks sweet. If Silver would be up for it, I'd give him full FTP privileges and he could setup his version. But I have a feeling this would require more than one admin.
I was going to streamline the submission process by making a protected RSS feed of updates that admins can approve/deny. Maybe this is something you could incorporate into your site to make it easier to update.
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I'd be thrilled to design the new site but I'm still quite a beginner and know very little about web technology. I write clean, readable code though, so if a second webmaster was willing to jump onboard he/she could handle anything I can't, such as RSS feeds, AJAX and whatnot.
I'd certainly devote allot of time into maintaining the site and providing frequent updates. :)
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I'm currently taking an AJAX class but I doubt I would be able to implement anything. I also know PHP but, again, I wouldn't want to take chances on an already-established site like this one. So I guess this post isn't really necessary. :P
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I start Spring break this Friday, so I'll set you up with admin/FTP privileges then.
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Cool! Thanks Ghost. :)
EDIT:
I think it's really shaping up now:
(http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/190/articlestutorialsconcep.png)
(http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/8527/gamesconcept.png)
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(http://wimg.co.uk/tTX.jpg)
Just messed around in photoshop for a few minutes, not sure it will suit the style of the site tho.
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Oh hey, I love the softness of the drop shadow. :)
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Oh hey, I love the softness of the drop shadow. :)
Thanks, its actually not a drop shadow its two gradients overlayed on each other with different lengths. Makes it nice and soft and "3d".
Yours is probably more apt, it has more of a home brew feel that is needed for this place. I can see a few things id change though. Perhaps you would like to collaborate?
:D
Also btw im well versed in xhtml/css
EDIT:
(http://wimg.co.uk/9YN.jpg)
Spent half an hour doing a little mockup.
EDIT 2: I just realised I uploaded the version with the bad content text, oh well just ignore it.
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Thanks, its actually not a drop shadow its two gradients overlayed on each other with different lengths.
Yup, I use it myself. :)
Perhaps you would like to collaborate?
I certainly would, but two prominent designers will inevitably conflict. I'm all for giving it a shot though.
Spent half an hour doing a little mockup.
Very nice indeed! I've always despised IE's green, but that's a personal taste, hehe...
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Yup, I use it myself. :)
I certainly would, but two prominent designers will inevitably conflict. I'm all for giving it a shot though.
Very nice indeed! I've always despised IE's green, but that's a personal taste, hehe...
The colour is easy to change, I literally just picked a random colour. Could easily be improved.
Ive worked on heaps of collaborative projects before, shouldnt be a problem, im pretty flexible.
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I personally prefer Silver's layout. Bigger Pictures :P
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I also like silver's but I think a cross between both would work.
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I might just steal Silvers layout to be honest. I didnt really put much effort into the actual layout of images and text, I think that kind of a cross would work however my design is way to professional (and by that I mean business and trend oriented), GMG needs something with a community feel to it, which is what SIlver's does, but I cant still see lots small things id add/change =D
Im more used to doing client work who want something for a business, im a bit rust on my "friendly community" style of design. Damn web 2.0 sucks the creativity out of designers.
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Are you guys updating most pages show this:
Warning: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: User timjurka already has more than 'max_user_connections' active connections in /home/timjurka/gamemakersgarage.com/content/gmgdb.php on line 6
I cannot connect to the database because: User timjurka already has more than 'max_user_connections' active connections
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I might just steal Silvers layout to be honest. I didnt really put much effort into the actual layout of images and text, I think that kind of a cross would work however my design is way to professional (and by that I mean business and trend oriented), GMG needs something with a community feel to it, which is what SIlver's does, but I cant still see lots small things id add/change =D
Im more used to doing client work who want something for a business, im a bit rust on my "friendly community" style of design. Damn web 2.0 sucks the creativity out of designers.
alias, if you'd like to help silver with the new design, go ahead and send me an email and i'll get you ftp/shell access.
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Are you guys updating most pages show this:
Sorry bout that, I do share the server with some of my other products and it seems they were affecting the GMG. Let me know if the problems persist.
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BTW Your 404 Error page is broken "Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request."
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What happened to the plan for a new design?
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I only learned that the site was coded in PHP after becoming sub-admin, so I couldn't do a straightforward swap with the CSS files. I'd still like to do a redesign someday, but I'll have to spend a few nights brushing up on PHP first, and it'll have to wait until I have more time on my hands.
Ghost did an amazing job coding the backend editor. :)