admin
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Post by admin on Aug 2, 2009 7:41:23 GMT
Hey folks, As anyone here who read this months issue of the sword buyers digest is well aware of, SBG is about to get a serious site wide facelift (much like the forums did last month, thought that is not 100% finished quite just yet - but the heavy lifting has been done and any further changes will be fairly minor. Um, fingers crossed on that anyway!). Anyhow, I thought that you might like to have a sneak peak at what it is going to look like... The whole concept is to make navigation easier and clearer, highlight important links on every page (such as the digest, forums, directory - etc) and just make it all look a bit more clean, modern and professional. Bear in mind that the preview is only for the general look and feel of the site, the categories and what will go in the right hand side menu has not been fleshed out yet (and indeed, any suggestions on this are more than welcome) - but I am pretty happy with how it looks.. (the idea is to keep it clean and simple, no flash graphics, music that makes you jump out of your chair or want to get out of the site as quickly as you can, etc). So without any further ado - feel free to have a peak behind the curtain to see the shape of things to come. www.neteffectsdesign.com/sbg-index-test.htmlHope you like what you see! Cheers, - Paul
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 7:52:45 GMT
Umm? let me be the first to say....Diferent, I happen to be cave mannish about things, like taking hammers to My computer!! But you know, opinions are like "O" holes and we all have them, Good work Paul, keep it up...SanMarc.
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Post by shadowhowler on Aug 2, 2009 8:00:24 GMT
The new look certainly matches the new look of the forums well.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 8:33:15 GMT
looking great Paul
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 8:34:35 GMT
I like it much more than the old look!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 8:52:41 GMT
Looks good, but what about adding some .gifs of flames, beer cans, scantily-clad women, Harleys, guns, and perhaps a few skulls? ;D
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 12:42:17 GMT
Lol @ Odingaard.
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admin
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Post by admin on Aug 2, 2009 12:55:25 GMT
Looks good, but what about adding some .gifs of flames, beer cans, scantily-clad women, Harleys, guns, and perhaps a few skulls? ;D Hehe, you mean like this? Glad to hear that you guys like it so far, definitely looks a lot cleaner and more professional - and I'll be linking SMG at the top and changing that to a similar look too. Busy, busy, busy!
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Post by Matthew Stagmer on Aug 2, 2009 13:10:27 GMT
Looks great Paul. One of these days I would love to produce something for you all to sell in your store.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 13:32:11 GMT
;D Great facelift, it is #1
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 15:04:35 GMT
Paul, looks good. Maybe add a western style sword at the top along with that other type of sword :>) ??
-gaffer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 15:30:16 GMT
I think the site looks proffessional as is.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 16:13:05 GMT
I like the basic look, but the central text area seems crowded and I found it just a bit confusing to figure out what's what. The google ads don't help this but I understand why they're there. Maybe a little more empty space between elements? It seems like you're trying to get away from boxes and lines which is fine--maybe swords to divide elements?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2009 13:08:40 GMT
Looks to be good. I like the parchment-like effect you've been using lately.
M.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2009 15:49:59 GMT
Looks great so far.
I agree that adding a western sword near the top would be a nice touch - add a little more balance, and maybe a little more white space around some of the elements below, too. You might also want to move the links to the SBG store up towards the top of the page to give them more prominence And/or give that box on the upper right a heading like "SBG STORE" at it's top - heck, all this stuff needs to get paid for, right?!
on a side note (and I know you are "done" with the forums...) While I like the parchment look and color, at least here on the forums, it is virtually impossible to see hotlinks embedded in people's posts - they are too nearly the same color as regular text. Could we do Bright Blue or Red or something instead?
Also, the navigation thread/links at the top of each forum page, just above the box (for example):
SBG Sword Forum :: General :: General Discussion Board :: SBG Site News and Updates :: SBG Facelift - Sneak Peak
-is still so small, unbolded, hard to read, and almost impossible to find if you don't know it is there. Some day when you are lying around drinking margaritas in all that southern sunshine (heh) you might think about giving it a once over?
Seriously tho - you have done a great job at revamping the site(s)! Congrats!
Buff
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Post by brotherbanzai on Aug 3, 2009 18:23:14 GMT
Looking good! I would like to third the suggestion to put a Euro sword up at the top too. Just so casual browsers know at a glance that you cover everything.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2009 0:25:22 GMT
Make it a Longsword, Katana, and a Jian then I think we've covered everybody. Although I'll be happy if it's just a Euro and a Kat shown.
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Post by hotspur on Aug 4, 2009 1:16:13 GMT
A three minute page load on dial-up, I don't think it needs more glitz.
Please take my next as constructive criticism of the site overall and some of the wording in particular. There are a few that will disagree with me but my honest appraisal as to what is usually offered at SBG is that having fun is more important than sharing education and real truths in general.
I would suggest taking the parenthetical (and abuse) right off of your main page and not generally target folk to that train of thought. Is sword abuse really something to boast about and praise manufacturers for its abilities? If it was "well I was just kidding" that only underlines what I mentioned as to the site being more helpful in having fun than really adding long term values for beginners.
In another offboard topic with you Paul, I mentioned the beater classification as something that has also led to simple and more serious (and often dangerous) sword abuse. While you replied that it wasn't your invention to use the classification heralded by many, it is how you continue to classify your general discussion area.
Disclaimers abound but the presentation still seems more directed to endorsing beaters and abuse of swords. In the meantime make sure everyone is having fun, regardless of how better to convey accurate information. Let's not confuse anyone with facts when others just having a blast is more important.
Again, hardly worth putting forth those few cents again but there are some small changes in wording and perceived attitude at the top (from the site's own words and instructions) that could make a world of difference.
Cordially
Glen Cleeton
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admin
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Post by admin on Aug 5, 2009 23:42:12 GMT
Well, I guess we also need a Rapier, Saber and a Viking sword too! Hehe... I have to say that it was hard to try and narrow it down, but I chose a Katana to underline the store because the old SBG header just had a Katana in it, so I wanted some 'continuity' - and added the crossed arming swords and armor to the right hand side to try and balance it out (gotta avoid that homer simson style webpage with spinning icons of every sword type at the top, that would just make me dizzy!). Glen: I do see that as quite constructive and will be removing that bit about 'and abuse' on my site as, despite my disclaimers, people can get the wrong impression. SBG is indeed more about the 'fun' of swords from a more casual collectors point of view than MyArmory or SFI - which I consider to be more advanced resources and that SBG is kind of a stepping stone to these places for those who seek more serious information. But I agree that the beater classification needs to be refined a bit to avoid people thinking 'wow, I can do anything with this sword' and doing destructive tests at home for 'fun'... (which is of course missing the point entirely!) - Paul
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2009 10:25:01 GMT
Or you could just go with a plain arming sword and a turko-mongol saber (if you can find one) since it's the grand daddy of the Asian blades LOL Anyway, I think the facelift looks good.
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