 November 13, 2007 - 9:28am | I was looking at the Star Frontiersman website, and I was thinking that the site really is quite nice in its simplicity and ease of accessing the offerings there. Although it seems that Bill wants to migrate its contents over to this (Revival) site, I would differ. I think there needs to be a simple outlet for what I have come to think of as 'official' new content. While this revival site is wonderful for collaboration, news, ideas, and otherwise as a communication device, I do not think it is ideal for drawing in any newcomers.. It is just too overwhelming in its scope. Not to mention, that I think the Star Frontiersman website was really gaining in momentum and becoming well known in hobby circles (Bill can attest to his 'stardom'). Anyone try to count how many clicks it takes to actually locate the newest Starfrontiersman webmag if they were completely new to the site (and did not get an email directing them to a direct download link)? It takes 5 to 8 clicks (depending on exact route taken and settings such as project full/lite, and assuming no special shortcuts made), and that is when one knows the correct location and is not searching semi-randomly through the site to locate content. Does anyone else see things from this point of view? Or am I explaining my view properly enough? I think a promenient link to the Revival site would be ideal, but lets use the K.I.S.S. methodology for new folks to get to know what the game is about. Keep the 'finished products' (that are developed here) listed over there in nice simple html. any other opinions? <insert witty comment here> |
 November 13, 2007 - 10:42am | I think it valid. Though this site definitely needs to be promenantly linked on the Remastered! site, which it currently isn't linked at all, except in the what's new article for this month!  |
 November 13, 2007 - 10:45am | I agree -- I also like a simpler interface for getting starting / finding "complete" content.... |
 November 13, 2007 - 11:44am | I agree. While I love this site and all its complexity, it's not very new-user friendly. In fact, one of my problems with this site is that project updates are burried too deeply and don't show up in the "What's New" shortcut without being a member of that project. And while I understand that Bill wants the Star Frontiersman to stand on equal footing with everything else on the site, I'm not convinced that's the best course. Having an anchor project would not be evil. It is, after all, the driving force behind this site having come into development. And the best of many of the other projects is, regardless, core material for future issues of SFMAN. So, my suggestion is to keep the other site basic and simple, with prominent links to all the juicy bits of this site related to the webzine (forum and downloads in particular.) Further, I think that SFMAN should either have its own forum as one of the "General Forums" or there should be a Project Updates general forum where some project promotion can be done on what I see as the first and most accessible layer of data on this site. So, for example, when a new SFMAN comes out, a post would go in the Project Updates general forum. But all the talk inbetween issues could stay buried in the project forum. |
 November 14, 2007 - 5:30pm | I want the two linked - and this has been the plan for a while. I'm not at this very moment exactly sure how to do it :( I guess I could keep everything on the other site as-is, but when downloads are clicked, have it link directly to the download node here on this site. What does everyone else think about that approach? 3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
November 14, 2007 - 7:05pm | I want the two linked - and this has been the plan for a while. I'm not at this very moment exactly sure how to do it :( I guess I could keep everything on the other site as-is, but when downloads are clicked, have it link directly to the download node here on this site. What does everyone else think about that approach? Sounds fine to me. Though I still think you should have a prominent link to the front page of this site as well shown on the front page of that site and visa versa. |
 November 14, 2007 - 7:16pm | "Advertising" on the "main" SF websites will help, of course. Has anyone contacted rpggateway.com to add the address to their lists btw? And as for user friendly ... this only real difference between this place and other places in terms of forums is the initial image based navigation as opposed to a text based forum navigation. Once the learning curve of that first step is overcome the rest is fairly simple ... at least that was how it was for me. Perhaps another page based on a text based forum navigation would also be possible? @}-,-`- "It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one’s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between." – Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), [i]Tsurezure-Gusa (1340) |
November 15, 2007 - 12:02am | I guess I could keep everything on the other site as-is, but when downloads are clicked, have it link directly to the download node here on this site. What does everyone else think about that approach? Sounds like a good way to start migrating people over. (And adding the "Feedback" link inside each issue of SFMAN that will bring people here. ;) |
 November 15, 2007 - 8:41am | They should be linked, I am a long time SF fan and wouldn't have found this site without the SFMAN....I also think ....and I am not a tech guy so I am not sure this is possible, but why a big SFMAN link on the front page? Mess with the fish....you get the bone!!! |
November 15, 2007 - 10:51am | They should be linked, I am a long time SF fan and wouldn't have found this site without the SFMAN....I also think ....and I am not a tech guy so I am not sure this is possible, but why a big SFMAN link on the front page? Not sure I'm following that last question - can you please re-word?3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
November 15, 2007 - 10:53am | "Advertising" on the "main" SF websites will help, of course. Perhaps another page based on a text based forum navigation would also
be possible?I had all text links instead of these little graphic links
at first. It worked fine - but it was requested that I make them icons
instead haha... Has anyone contacted rpggateway.com to add the address to their lists btw? And as for user friendly ... this only real difference between this place and other places in terms of forums is the initial image based navigation as opposed to a text based forum navigation. Once the learning curve of that first step is overcome the rest is fairly simple ... at least that was how it was for me. What about an icon key shown somewhere? anyone wanna tackle making one and I'll post it somewhere to help folks understand the forums? 3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
November 15, 2007 - 2:27pm | "Advertising" on the "main" SF websites will help, of course.
Has anyone contacted rpggateway.com to add the address to their lists btw? And as for user friendly ... this only real difference between this place and other places in terms of forums is the initial image based navigation as opposed to a text based forum navigation. Once the learning curve of that first step is overcome the rest is fairly simple ... at least that was how it was for me. Perhaps another page based on a text based forum navigation would also be possible?I had all text links instead of these little graphic links at first. It worked fine - but it was requested that I make them icons instead haha... What about an icon key shown somewhere? anyone wanna tackle making one and I'll post it somewhere to help folks understand the forums? |
November 15, 2007 - 2:33pm | No - actually that was just my mistake - I put the cursor within the closing quote thingie and typed my response there! haha - sorry! 3. We wear sungoggles during the day. Not because the sun affects our
vision, but when you're cool like us the sun shines all the time. |
 November 18, 2007 - 5:08pm | Just my two cents as a new guy here - this site is lacking in the usability factor. It seems great for collaborating and working on projects. For the person who just wants to get the rules and supplements it's confusing and honestly most people would give up. It's hard to tell what's "released" versus what's being worked on. One thought I just had (just an idea - from a new guy! I know how those can come across, so feel free to ignore) is keeping the Star Frontiersman site for "released" content and this one for colloborating on new content. This would make it quick-and-easy for those who are just a little curious or who know what they want but don't want to dig around looking for it. |
November 18, 2007 - 5:13pm | I think Kevin's introductory view is as accurate as it gets, nailing the issue on the head. It should definitely be identified on the front page as a project site with a link to the Remastered! home page. |
November 23, 2007 - 5:50pm | Just my two cents as a new guy here - this site is lacking in the usability factor. It seems great for collaborating and working on projects. For the person who just wants to get the rules and supplements it's confusing and honestly most people would give up. It's hard to tell what's "released" versus what's being worked on. One thought I just had (just an idea - from a new guy! I know how those can come across, so feel free to ignore) is keeping the Star Frontiersman site for "released" content and this one for colloborating on new content. This would make it quick-and-easy for those who are just a little curious or who know what they want but don't want to dig around looking for it. Good idea Kevin ... @}-,-`- "It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one’s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between." – Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), [i]Tsurezure-Gusa (1340) |
