Well, we've finally done it. We've launched with the new vBulletin 4 suite! There are still a heap of aesthetic and functionality fixes and tweaks required, but there's little chance we've spotted them all. Whatever you spot as out-of-place, broken or simply annoying, post a comment here to let us know and we'll get onto it straight away.
We're aware that media embedding on the forums is currently broken, but that should be resolved shortly with a script update. There are also lots of hard-to-read links, most of which I'm aware of and am already in the middle of rectifying. In the meantime kick-back, and enjoy the new-look Gamers-Underground.com!
From the funny youtube video thread. When given the link [Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S7YgjBsU8s] it opens that page at http://www.youtube.com/;5S7YgjBsU8s
Edit - naturally when I posted this and clicked on the first link it worked :/
Quote from Xaine;375971: Forum doesn't resize, so isn't netbook friendly (resolution is 1024 x 600) - fixable? yeah sucks on my laptop. might just have to GU from my desktop in 2010 or upgrade my laptop.
Are the times stuffed up or were ppl really up till 04:30 posting ??
New look is good I like the 'thanks' feature. No netbook friendly res = fail. No profile activity bar chart = win. Smilies still too basic... the new post icons are more interesting, at least lets have then available for use in posts themselves?
Quote from ResLo;375992: Are the times stuffed up or were ppl really up till 04:30 posting ??
New look is good I like the 'thanks' feature. No netbook friendly res = fail. No profile activity bar chart = win. Smilies still too basic... the new post icons are more interesting, at least lets have then available for use in posts themselves?
So much scrolling to even just see the first post.
Just figured out what the other nagging issue is. Also the other issue that it breaks one of the rules of usability, it's just too wide. Causes text to scroll across in wide lines, leads to eye fatigue. One of the reasons columns are used in newspapers or constrained tighter x-constraints on heavy reading websites.
The top banner area will eventually be filled with priority community information - Steam group users online/playing, Mumble users, server activity and the like. However, if there's enough members who don't care for that info, we can create a "remove banner" profile setting, as per the last site.As for the width of the forum, that will hopefully be solved in a coming release, where we can implement a sidebar (or two), as per the front page.
Just figured out what the other nagging issue is. Also the other issue that it breaks one of the rules of usability, it's just too wide. Causes text to scroll across in wide lines, leads to eye fatigue. One of the reasons columns are used in newspapers or constrained tighter x-constraints on heavy reading websites.
Gotta agree with this one. Netbook issues aside, I'm now on my main rig with a 24" monitor, and one of the things I enjoy about 24" widescreen is being able to have two documents/browsers open side by side, without any size issues.
This new GU layout is the first forum site I've ever used which breaks this.
Is there any way of having just the text boxes resize when the browser is resized? Otherwise, as Jay said, 1280 width is too wide for comfortable reading. To see what I mean about resizing, here's a link for an example - the banner stays at the default width, but the text boxes reformat with changing window size. Proof of ID and hold the identity theft. - Atomic 3.0
Alternatively, if you could explain why it's intentionally set to 1280 width min, that would be great.
As mentioned, at some stage in the near future the core of the forum content (posts etc) will be thinner - we just need to wait for sidebar support throughout (at the moment it's limited to the front page, and the main forum page).
For info on the 1280px width topic, have a read through the previous discussion on it: http://gamers-underground.com/general-discussion/31962-preview-new-gu-2.html#post373499
]Other than the design being way too wide for usable reading (OCAU users will also notice my kitty campaign on there was success for Agg to implement a fixed-width design), there's other reasons why we don't follow the old rules of width being dictated by target users anymore.
Other than the issues with readability, there's also issues with browsing on other devices. It used to be that power users like us would have access to higher resolution monitors, however it's changed in that we're also now the demographic that's most likely to read our regular websites on mobile devices where the resolution is lower than usual.
So in other words power users do normally access the web on higher resolution monitors, however when they (we) go to use them on our netbooks, pda, iphones, crackberrys, etc -- we're screwed. This translates to lost potential traffic/forum activity.
The new site works a charm on the iPhone, and everything appears perfectly legible (most importantly post text) in landscape mode, without zooming. I didn't get a chance to test it across other mobile operating systems, however.
When a forum sidebar is implemented (tertiary information), the content area will be no wider than the previous site, eliminating that text-span dislike and will mean all of the forum content will be seen inside a 1024 frame without scrolling.
Open and Install script: http://www.fingerpuppetmafia.com/jay/guwidthfix.user.js
That's set to turn thread pages to 1000px width, feel free to "Save As" to your desktop and edit the script with notepad/vi to change the width to your own flavour. The property for this should be right at the bottom of the script.
One recommendation, is under /content/ & /blog/ have a background color/image to help with the massive contrast with the commenter name and what they have written.
This will help the eyes read the comment more easily.
thanks for the script jay, makes it at least readable; my eyes were seriously getting sore just trying to read through this one thread (granted though i surf on a 40" which probably isn't average)
To aid the few of you that use netbooks frequently; the design now collapses to a 980px width (smallest). There's some nasty clipping with the characters up top, but I'll sort that out shortly.
Jay, you seem to be repetitively missing answers to your concerns. In this particular instance, I've already explained:
Quote from rec;376005: The top banner area will eventually be filled with priority community information - Steam group users online/playing, Mumble users, server activity and the like. However, if there's enough members who don't care for that info, we can create a "remove banner" profile setting, as per the last site.
You also seemed to miss my point, we don't need to see it on every single page. I do want to see it on the forum index, just not every time the page loads (aka. rammed down our throats).
Sensitive much?
I digress.
Couple more Greasemonkey scripts available to alter the look of GU for now.
Remove Info Banner This one's the main one. (Ed: changed background colour fix)
Remove Main Banner Optional to remove even more off the top. Minimalist style.
Quote from Jay;376163: You also seemed to miss my point, we don't need to see it on every single page. I do want to see it on the forum index, just not every time the page loads (aka. rammed down our throats).
Quote from rec;376005: The top banner area will eventually be filled with priority community information - Steam group users online/playing, Mumble users, server activity and the like. However, if there's enough members who don't care for that info, we can create a "remove banner" profile setting, as per the last site.
Quote from rec;376156: It will be a profile setting. It will still show the data, but in a collapsed/minimal fashion.
That information is an integral part of our community, and will remain. Who's chatting, who's playing and how to get involved - ensuring everyone is aware at all times of this activity greatly aids participation levels, and in turn the growth of this community. Growing the community further is of paramount importance with the launch of the new site, where Dan & I are spending more of our dollars and more of our time running it.
We're understanding that the size of that area is a concern for some, but as mentioned on more than one occasion, a minimal version will be provided. Otherwise, enjoy your Greasemonkey scripts.
Quote from rec;376168: That information is an integral part of our community, and will remain. Who's chatting, who's playing and how to get involved - ensuring everyone is aware at all times of this activity greatly aids participation levels, and in turn the growth of this community. Growing the community further is of paramount importance with the launch of the new site, where Dan & I are spending more of our dollars and more of our time running it.
We're understanding that the size of that area is a concern for some, but as mentioned on more than one occasion, a minimal version will be provided. Otherwise, enjoy your Greasemonkey scripts. Quite obviously then you're contradicting yourself.
After each thread a person heads back to a forum index, not much is going to change from the point they load a thread from when they entered the index. If anyone really wants that information they'll go back to the index.
With the GS scripts, I'm simply providing the community with options to use GU as they wish - not to step on toes.
Most use the search page (now the "What's New?" link). And new users will hit the front page. As more clan forums established, they'll bookmark their forums specifically. Randoms who have come to ask for help will bookmark their specific thread. Not everyone uses the site like you do.
Quote from Jay;376169: With the GS scripts, I'm simply providing the community with options to use GU as they wish - not to step on toes.
You're providing the community with options to decrease the potential of the community. I understand where you're coming from and know you're trying to help, but in fact you're probably doing the opposite. This is obviously an opportunity for a new growth spurt for the community, but all you're providing is a tool to reduce at least some of that growth by removing most of the "real time" elements of the site. As rec explained, these elements greatly increase that community aspect...
I've given constructive feedback, exactly what would be an issue. Being able to put forward things that most people wouldn't notice even if it was smacking them in the head I figured would be useful.
Although it seems that the only 'constructive feedback' that's really appreciated is 'IT LOOKS GOOD'.
And really, I do appreciate the effort and time put forward to GU, especially since the leave Octa4. Don't get that wrong.
Quote from Jay;376174: I've given constructive feedback, exactly what would be an issue. Being able to put forward things that most people wouldn't notice even if it was smacking them in the head I figured would be useful.
Constructive feedback is great. What you offered in the form in Greasemonkey scripts is not only violating the hard work the guys have put into designing this, but also counterproductive. It's more destructive feedback. From a designers perspective, I'd be fucking peaking if this was my site.
I do understand that you are trying to be helpful, therefore I don't see that you are unappreciative... I just don't think you've considered your actions as counter-productive for this community - which they are IMO.
Jay; it seems like you're under the assumption everyone uses this site just as you do, and want the same things from it. It may not be that they haven't seen "it", but have and don't hold the same objection. And we're most welcoming of all feedback. But being constructive isn't repeating complaints, even after those complaints have been addressed or have been added to our to-do list.
I appreciate that you're clearly motivated and passionate about the site. The feedback this debate stemmed from has already has a resolution explained, and I'm sorry if you don't find it completely satisfactory - but as I've mentioned the display of that information is an important source of our growth.
Growth is good Feedback to assist growth is good A person is entitled to thier views from any angle
As a multioptic humanoid with a rubber neck i see from all sides at once ;)
Let this community continue to grow and have feedback, even when viewpoints offered may stick in the craw of some and excite others to frothing rampage
Quote from rec;376204: They are. I even considered disabling them. But I think Ronan likes them... he's Irish. Find him a potato one then! That's my feedback.