ID:132469
 Oct 21 2010, 11:35 pm
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The new layout for hub entries fails at life. If the game's description is long enough (like Teridal's), and your browser is small enough, it will even expand the size of the entry? Leaving the icon in the top left? I also don't see why an entire line is wasted on Author. Just put it back to the way it was <.<
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That drop down was pretty flunky to begin with, but not having it at all seems even worse.
EDIT: Also, the options to include unpublished/unavailable games seems to be gone? I would recommend the new search working similar to how the old 'include unpublished' did. When you search anything, it should default to games. Why it didn't, and still doesn't do this, has never made sense to me. Changing the default search type based on what page you're on (or seemingly now what you search) is just an inconsistent, confusing, pain in the something. Anyway, after I run a search, it should show me something like: [x Games] <font color=yellow>[x Resources] [x Blogs]</font> Defaulting to [x Games], each would be a link to the related search, the one you're currently viewing should be disabled/plain text. The x would be how many results were found... Also, the order of them should not change, so if you decide to search for resources it should look like: <font color=yellow>[x Games]</font> [x Resources] <font color=yellow>[x Blogs]</font> | |
I think they're updating the site, as I noticed the zip links on games and resources stopped working again.
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OrangeWeapons wrote:
Also, what the heck is with the search box in the top right corner of the screen? Why can't I select Resources, Community, Games? What happened to that box? I agree........ | |
Falacy wrote:
Leaving the icon in the top left? Oh no! Not the top left!! If you want to be taken seriously you should explain why the new layout is bad. All you did was explain how it's different. To people who don't fear change these explanations will be different. | |
LordAndrew wrote:
I think they're updating the site, as I noticed the zip links on games and resources stopped working again. Thanks for noting that; I've fixed that issue. | |
Falacy wrote:
The new layout for hub entries fails at life. If the game's description is long enough (like Teridal's), and your browser is small enough, it will even expand the size of the entry? Leaving the icon in the top left? I also don't see why an entire line is wasted on Author. Just put it back to the way it was <.< The reason for this layout change (I personally think it's minor) is that we have standardized the layout for search results so that they can use a common template instead of several different ones. They were already very similar so this just brings them further in line. I'd be open to suggestions like changing font sizes and rearranging stuff, but final authority on any of this rests with Tom. Many changes have been made to the search in general. The overarching reason for this was that our old search methods were far too inflexible. If we needed to make a change, it basically required making major changes to a single complex query. It also prevented us from doing anything like mixing results. The blog search, while it no longer has a dropdown from the topbar, is still available from the community page. The topbar's dropdown then would have been just games or resources, so instead we've opted for a simpler solution where the topbar will check both games and developer resources (which now include articles and reference entries) to find the best match--but if it guesses wrong, you can simply click a link to switch types. Regarding the available and unpublished options for the advanced games search: Those have been taken out in favor of an all-inclusive listing, but as before, unavailable and unpublished games take a penalty in the results (except when sorting by # of players). This is so that if you wanted to search for a very specific game that didn't happen to be online or downloadable, you could still find it with one search instead of having to click through a bunch of options to get there. However to keep down the number of bogus results, there is also now a limit that all games returned in the search must either be downloadable or must have been played in the last few months--unless you're looking at the listings for a specific author or guild. I realize these changes dilute the "published" status quite a bit, but it's something we've been reconsidering anyway because it hasn't really been doing all that much for us. Bear in mind the site is in flux and any number of things are subject to change, so new changes that don't seem to be working for people may need to be tweaked. As always feedback is welcome, but as Forum_account said it should be detailed and as constructive as possible. Frankly we always get blowback whenever changes are made because people hate change, but only good feedback can separate valid concerns (ease of use, etc.) from simple fear of change. Lummox JR | |
OrangeWeapons wrote:
Also, what the heck is with the search box in the top right corner of the screen? Why can't I select Resources, Community, Games? What happened to that box? The blog search is now on the community page alone. We may or may not find a need to put that elsewhere for ease of use, but I don't think it was doing a ton of good in the upper right. With that gone, it's just games and resources and our new search capabilities mean the search can actually make a good guess as to which ones you want. I liked the two boxes better. This different box is lame, and I remember the top Search box looking a little nicer. You'll have to be more specific than "lame". Stylistically I did prefer the simple text "Search" to a button, since HTML form buttons tend to look kinda bad, but it doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Still I'm open to hearing ideas on what would look better. Lummox JR | |
Lummox JR wrote:
Frankly we always get blowback whenever changes are made because people hate change IMO, the change should only be made if its 100% for the better. If you're just going to move crap around then don't waste your time - its just going to annoy people/complicate things/not actually improve anything. If the change is 100% good, then there's not much to complain about. http://www.angelfire.com/hero/straygames/ByondBugs/ ExplanationForTards_PicturesYay.png I went pretty in-depth about my search suggestions. If you need further explanations of those, then I don't know what to say. The ideas should still apply, even if they don't display Blogs. | |
Also, while you're at it, could you change where it says [2 games, 50 players] to say [2 servers, 50 players], I'd also say capitalize both words, but that's less relevant. This text could also be made into a link to the lives game tab.
Also, can you make it so the green download arrow for games on the hub list can be clicked to download the game. And the live icon could take you to the lives game tab. And the member bonus icon could take you to a page to buy membership with that game's bonuses listed. Maybe the favorite star could take you to the guild its a favorite in... EDIT: Hm, there's apparently a reviews icon for resources, how come this doesn't show on games? Should be added there, and it should be a link to the reviews/discussion tab. | |
Falacy wrote:
Lummox JR wrote: I agree with that. As an additional improvement, if the "short" description is too long, place the full short description as a tooltip when you're mousing over that particular entry. | |
Falacy wrote:
IMO, the change should only be made if its 100% for the better. "Better" is subjective, and 100% may well be unachievable. By definition any change whose pros outweigh the cons is still an improvement. If you're just going to move crap around then don't waste your time - its just going to annoy people/complicate things/not actually improve anything. If the change is 100% good, then there's not much to complain about. Again by definition, if a change is 100% good then there's absolutely nothing to complain about. But because every change is perceived differently by everyone, there is no way to please 100% of users with 100% of the changes. http://www.angelfire.com/hero/straygames/ByondBugs/ ExplanationForTards_PicturesYay.png We'll consider any options for improving layout. What we actually go with will depend on what we feel is most workable and, generally speaking, can be applied to the universal template. Bear in mind while you're seeing problems with games with long descriptions, games with long names would have just as much trouble with the author name right next to them with the current font size. This also would look quite terrible for blog posts I think. Also, I can fully acknowledge the visual problems you've presented there, although frankly I think they're minor. Saying you're explaining it "for tards" is uncalled for. I'll gladly discuss layout and such like a reasonable adult; but if you choose not to treat people with basic respect or decorum, we'll take suggestions from someone who will. If you want to participate in this conversation then be civil. Lummox JR | |
Lummox JR wrote:
Falacy wrote: An at-a-glance way to see what the search thinks you're looking for would be good. The box at the top while looking at this thread will switch between games and developers depending on what you search for. Possibly just sticking the Dream Maker icon somewhere if its developer results, and Dream Seeker for games Or possibly just assume that if someone is searching from the developer portion of the site they're looking for developer results, rather than games (ie. searching for bank, or bank system brings up game results). | |
Xioden wrote:
An at-a-glance way to see what the search thinks you're looking for would be good. The box at the top while looking at this thread will switch between games and developers depending on what you search for. Possibly just sticking the Dream Maker icon somewhere if its developer results, and Dream Seeker for games If you're talking about some kind of autocomplete, I don't think that's feasible. Or possibly just assume that if someone is searching from the developer portion of the site they're looking for developer results, rather than games (ie. searching for bank, or bank system brings up game results). I suppose preloading the type based on which site you're on might work decently, although I don't know how necessary it really is. As for the search, try "demo" instead of "system". One advantage of the new search is that if you include "demo" or "library" as a keyword, it defaults to a developer search and only shows hub entries of that type (plus it still shows reference entries and articles). Lummox JR | |
Lummox JR wrote:
Xioden wrote: On the results page I mean, rather than just "Found 12 games. [Search developer resources]", just a more visual indication of which results are actually showing. Or possibly just assume that if someone is searching from the developer portion of the site they're looking for developer results, rather than games (ie. searching for bank, or bank system brings up game results). Yea, demo/library do bring up the developer results, but for beginner or intermediate users it may not be immediately apparent they need to, and getting thrown back and forth can make it a little confusing for them. | |
Stephen001 wrote:
Not centering the results may also help, as it looks veeeery funky on 1680x1050. Try doing a hard refresh (ctrl+F5) | |
I liked the two boxes better. This different box is lame, and I remember the top Search box looking a little nicer.