Cool, thanks for the update.
TF2Maps.net is getting a new look and new software!
- Thread starter Fruity Snacks
- Start date
Cool, thanks for the update.
The testbed is running off of its own set of data, copied from here. Updates don't transfer.
The testbed does actually have a mobile layout right now, but it's a little rough in places. I can start listing some of the problems I've found if it's going to be developed along with the desktop site.
EDIT: I put things in an imgur album
EDIT: I put things in an imgur album
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The "mobile" version of the site is simply responsive design, please do report any issues you find and I'll try get them fixed before next week.
There is indeed a tapatalk addon! I've installed it on the testbed now if you want to give it a go.
The world's dirtiest hack: http://geit.uk/uploads/6rZhFA.png
(It converts UTF8 text into an HTML entity instead of letting the database save it)
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Moderately excited!
spudboy
L1: Registered
- Feb 8, 2015
- 37
- 6
I'm looking through the testbed site and I have some concerns.
The thing that I use the most on this site by far is the "recent threads" section. I don't tend to find myself looking at specific sections of the forums. I like to pop in and quickly be able to see what people have been talking about since I was last here. The current site design does this pretty well, and puts the new posts front and center.
However, on the new site, this is relegated to a side bar, and only shows 5 entries as opposed to the current 8, as well as giving me far less information about the thread itself.
Also when I am just browsing through forums, the new site also seems to give me less information.
There's no actual indication on what threads have posts I haven't read yet, where on the current site we have this handy little icon.
There's also no sign of the "Latest Maps" bar, which I also liked.
From what I've seen this new site is a definite downgrade from what we have now, and I don't really get why everyone seems to be so excited about it.
PS: I think having "thanks" over "likes" makes more sense with the learning-oriented community we have around here. Kind of a nitpick but just more negatives to add onto the pile.
The thing that I use the most on this site by far is the "recent threads" section. I don't tend to find myself looking at specific sections of the forums. I like to pop in and quickly be able to see what people have been talking about since I was last here. The current site design does this pretty well, and puts the new posts front and center.
However, on the new site, this is relegated to a side bar, and only shows 5 entries as opposed to the current 8, as well as giving me far less information about the thread itself.
Also when I am just browsing through forums, the new site also seems to give me less information.
There's no actual indication on what threads have posts I haven't read yet, where on the current site we have this handy little icon.
There's also no sign of the "Latest Maps" bar, which I also liked.
From what I've seen this new site is a definite downgrade from what we have now, and I don't really get why everyone seems to be so excited about it.
PS: I think having "thanks" over "likes" makes more sense with the learning-oriented community we have around here. Kind of a nitpick but just more negatives to add onto the pile.
There is a new posts page, spud.
In the forum view:
Clicking the blue envelope takes you to the new post like the little thing we have now.
The site just thinks you've already read everything because it's not live, it's using an old copy where you had read everything. Or read/unread data wasn't copied.
I agree that we need a latest maps/latest showcase maps bar also, though. I don't use the front page ever, it's totally useless to me, but it's a good front for new people and visitors.
In the forum view:
Clicking the blue envelope takes you to the new post like the little thing we have now.
The site just thinks you've already read everything because it's not live, it's using an old copy where you had read everything. Or read/unread data wasn't copied.
I agree that we need a latest maps/latest showcase maps bar also, though. I don't use the front page ever, it's totally useless to me, but it's a good front for new people and visitors.
So basicaly, tf2maps.net gets replaced with forums.tf2maps.net? I don't like navigating forum stuff at all, which is why I always use the front page. I'm just gonna list the things that I fear will suddenly be gone:
What's the newest stuff atm? Click "Recent Threads" text.
Need to get to, lets say, the "Arctic Theme Pack" thread? Click the image thing.
Want to join US/ES Server before everyone else? Click the button in the image on the side because In-Game server browser's favorite feature never works anyways.
What's the newest stuff atm? Click "Recent Threads" text.
Need to get to, lets say, the "Arctic Theme Pack" thread? Click the image thing.
Want to join US/ES Server before everyone else? Click the button in the image on the side because In-Game server browser's favorite feature never works anyways.
spudboy
L1: Registered
- Feb 8, 2015
- 37
- 6
There may be a new posts page, but I feel like I shouldn't have to click down another level to get there.
Well that's kind of the difference here. I use the front page for 90% of things I want to do on the site, and a lot of that is taken away or downgraded on the new site.
Tumbolisu seems to have pretty much the same problems. I didn't even think about it but when I join the steam chat I usually do it by clicking the steam chat button on the front page, as navigating through some of the Steam stuff is a pain.
I'm not necessarily saying that you can't get to stuff on the new site, but a good website is as convenient as possible for users and should take as few clicks as possible to get where you want to be. From what I'm seeing, the new homepage fails at this.
tyler said:
Well that's kind of the difference here. I use the front page for 90% of things I want to do on the site, and a lot of that is taken away or downgraded on the new site.
Tumbolisu seems to have pretty much the same problems. I didn't even think about it but when I join the steam chat I usually do it by clicking the steam chat button on the front page, as navigating through some of the Steam stuff is a pain.
I'm not necessarily saying that you can't get to stuff on the new site, but a good website is as convenient as possible for users and should take as few clicks as possible to get where you want to be. From what I'm seeing, the new homepage fails at this.
Guys, the front page stuff isn't being removed necessarily, it just isn't in place yet. Links to Steam Chat can be added again no problem, it's just a single link. Also the new posts link isn't buried under additional clicks and once the front page is I doubt it will be far from that either. No reason to not keep it in the header.
It's good to raise these points but you don't need to freak out! It says in the OP things are missing or will be missing for a bit!
It's good to raise these points but you don't need to freak out! It says in the OP things are missing or will be missing for a bit!
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spudboy
L1: Registered
- Feb 8, 2015
- 37
- 6
So we'll be switching to the new site in about a week right? If that's the case I'm just kind of worried because I feel like a good front page is very important, and I'm not sure that the people working on this will go from nothing (that I've seen at least) to a great homepage in that time.
Additional nitpick: currently on the testbed you have to be logged in to download files. Even worse, you even have to be logged in to go through a download link to an external site.
These things may fall under "stuff we're gonna do" or "janky permissions" but I'd rather voice this now and make sure everything is fine than switch to a sub-par site.
Additional nitpick: currently on the testbed you have to be logged in to download files. Even worse, you even have to be logged in to go through a download link to an external site.
These things may fall under "stuff we're gonna do" or "janky permissions" but I'd rather voice this now and make sure everything is fine than switch to a sub-par site.
If I feel that in a week the site is in a state where not all functionality is adequately replicated, defunct or replaced then I will delay it, getting a functionally equivalent front page will take about 5~10 hours of work, but we haven't decided what we want yet.
Also fixed the downloads thing, as you said - a trivial permission issue.
One quick (fickle) complaint-
There isn't much contrast between the non-linked and linked text in the green announcement bar. A deeper gray would do a lot of good.
Edit: Also, under the profile images to the side of each post, I like the current format of "Posts; Thanks given; and Thanks received" rather than "Joined; Messages; Like Received", even though I could get used to the removal of "Thanks given" (983 thanks given! Man, I'm a kissup). Again, I'm fickle.
There isn't much contrast between the non-linked and linked text in the green announcement bar. A deeper gray would do a lot of good.
Edit: Also, under the profile images to the side of each post, I like the current format of "Posts; Thanks given; and Thanks received" rather than "Joined; Messages; Like Received", even though I could get used to the removal of "Thanks given" (983 thanks given! Man, I'm a kissup). Again, I'm fickle.
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