My NEW new site! Created 19 years ago2005-10-23 17:09:22 UTC by fourthgen

Check my site out. It's still in the really early development stages, but I just want some feedback from you guys.

http://hl2.farvista.net

(I know the host sucks cos it gives me a banner but they rock with everything else! )

Agh... gradient attack!

200 KB for a 200 x 150 screenshot? That needs optimization - a lot. Oh, it's a 800 x 600 image... still, too large (you can get those below 100 KB easily with a tool like Xat or a similar one) and you should use thumbnails rather than cropping such sizes into a smaller size on the page.

Anyway, the site looks... well, really simple. It's not a very easy-to-use design either, with those blue links on a blue background. Get something more contrasting. I also think that font isn't suited very well for websites, it looks funny but it's not so easy to read after a while. Try to stick to Arial or Verdana, or another common and 'normal' font.
The white background makes it look so much less stylish too.

As for the menu, I'd suggest putting the Home link on top, that's most common and people expect it to be one of the first ones. The forum often comes later. About the forum: that's a lot of boards... does it really need that much boards? My personal experience is that fewer boards make it less cluttered and focus more posts in a single board, making a forum more attractive and easy to use.
About the maps links: when it's a download link, say so. Right now people will expect them to take them to another page with info about the map. It's not a good idea to put downloads directly in the menu.
Oh, and the links section doesn't work. You forgot the http:// part in front of those urls.

And give your page a title, too. I'd say, there's a lot to do there. Good luck with it.

I'd say the thing that needs most work is the menu. As cpt said, Blue-on-blue looks horrible. The fonts are, in general, too big and MS comic? I'd suggest switching to Trebuchet MS.

Also, align the site to the center of the page - having to move my eyes to the left when I open it doesn't help it's "first impression".

Give it more borders - now, it just looks like everything's floating around in a big void, with no connection to eachother - makes it difficult to choose what to look at.

Omg, it?s.... it?s.... Horrible!

• Never resize images in HTML. Resample the image itself, and specify its real size in the "height" and "width" properties.

• Never use Comic Sans. Ever.

As for the menu, I'd suggest putting the Home link on top, that's most common and people expect it to be one of the first ones.

My thought exactly.

At least the images work now.

Cool, I've pretty much got the response that I wanted. Especially because most of these things i was going to change, but just didn't know what to replace it with. I'm gonna upload the second edition of the site by......... 11:00AM , check it again if you want tell me what else is bad.

Giving times without specifying the timezone is not useful. Just post when you've updated it.

Heh... while you're at it, why don't we all comment on each other's sites?

sorry about the timezone thing. It's updated now!
Heres what I have done:

• Added a title
• Put the whole page in the centre
• Changed the font
• Changed the side-bar colour
• Changed the title banner
• Added a wiki for tutorials
• Fixed the links

Ok. Tell me what you don't like. By the way I already know that everything looks like it is floating, I'm still coming up with a good solution.

Don't forget to post in the sites forums and add to the new wiki!

Sort out the images.

you mean make some thumbnails?

Anybody else got any tips?

Looks a bit like you copied the twhl layout

The downloda doesn't work, you have a + before .zip

Ermmm...

Isn't this webeite copying the WHOLE of TWHL? The colours and the layout remind me of it. Although it's not very good...

I'm sorry arsham, but you really need work. So here is what you could do:

#1 dont copy the twhl layout or colours.
#2 think of a better porpose for a site. Example: Not a news network, to many of those, try a site about... somthing you have created. Like... ermmm... something you have made...
#3 Ask me for help.

Arsham, Privet mail me for help okay?

Oh and go to w3schools.com to LEARN aswell

ok but
#1 If you had seen it further down the thread it would have looked a lot different, I only changed it because........1. people wanted me to..........2. HL2's native colour is orange.

#2 I'm into mapping now so it was going to become where me and my friends post our maps.

#3 U havent been around for a week.

w3schools for help? that has nothing useful!

You seem to like TWHL! Try a diffrent background(black) and use an orange texture instead of gradient. Also in TWHL links page there is a link to a great site named pixel2life! Try it out it will help you make a better site.

Sort those images out!

You desperately should learn some CSS. It makes your sites much more beautiful and your HTML easier to maintain. Also, that site needs a background, or border, or something.

I would sort those images out but there isn't much point when no-one actually likes any of the site!

Well, You have to have a purpose...

I really cannot find out what your site does...

(that isn't already covered by TWHL)

You've created like a "mini-TWHL"

Many people do that as their first site, anyway, what your site should do is show off things YOU can do. Things you have created, which can be anything. If you've done any HL maps, post them. If you've created anything you want people to see, post it there. Write articles, tutorials, anything on stuff. That'll get people visiting for a reason.

I agree, Thats sort of why I'm gonna hold off doing anything until I have a solid purpose for a site. Then I'll just make a completely new design. Plus, at the moment I'm just too busy to spend any time on a reasonable site.

Thanks for all the help!

looks supirseingly like TWHL. looks around suspiously

Just displays "ACCESS DENIED" on multiple lines here.

yeh I did that cos everybodies still commenting on the site even though i have said I'm just gonna leave it to rot! If you havent visited TWHL it should load fine.

I've been on holiday... forgot to tell you guys...

I think i speak for everyone when i say: No one cares

I agree. Especially when its Dr, Mapper.