Suggestions for site improvements

Viper007Bond · June 20th, 2008, 02:05 AM

I'll be sprucing up the main site (adding new features and such). Please add to this list anything you wish to see.

Show -> Season -> Episode format to cut down on the HUGE list of episodes when you view a show.
Wiki link in nav bar
Episode wiki article link on episode page
New show images (need help with that)
Add TG US and TG Aus into the site

Blayde · June 20th, 2008, 11:29 AM

Problem with the new show images is that neither of the newer TGs have any logos or anything except the cast, but would you put up a substitute placeholder till we can make a proper one?

Also as for the replacement images, are you looking for anything specific, cos i have two or three good ones in mind for TG.

Viper007Bond · June 20th, 2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blayde

Problem with the new show images is that neither of the newer TGs have any logos or anything except the cast, but would you put up a substitute placeholder till we can make a proper one?

Yeah, we'll hold off on those for now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blayde

Also as for the replacement images, are you looking for anything specific, cos i have two or three good ones in mind for TG.

No, not really. Probably just something similar to the current designs, but whatever.

ahpadt · June 21st, 2008, 01:07 AM

These:

http://static.finalgear.com/site/images/header_news.jpg

Looks like they came from 1991... images/smilies/tongue.gif

Cobol74 · June 21st, 2008, 01:26 AM

And what is wrong with 1955 (oops 1991?)

How about a heroes/hall of fame section? Some where special where we can post for people who we feel are real heroes for the things we are interested in? Do not know how you'd moderate it but I can think of Freddie Mercury, Pavoritti and Colin McRae immediately.

Viper007Bond · June 21st, 2008, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahpadt

Looks like they came from 1991... images/smilies/tongue.gif

Most of the site does, hence this poll: http://forums.finalgear.com/the-site...edesign-27980/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobol74

How about a heroes/hall of fame section? Some where special where we can post for people who we feel are real heroes for the things we are interested in? Do not know how you'd moderate it but I can think of Freddie Mercury, Pavoritti and Colin McRae immediately.

Erm, what? I mean, if you want to do that here on the forums, by all means. That'd be an interesting thread. But on the main site? Kinda outta place, don't ya think?

Prost264 · June 22nd, 2008, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Kinda outta place, don't ya think?

discopete · June 26th, 2008, 09:10 AM

I think that a torrent should be created for episode music as well as the episodes themselves. there's a lot of interest in what music is used in episodes and if a compilation of mp3's could be made and released as a torrent, that would be great.

Viper007Bond · June 26th, 2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discopete

I think that a torrent should be created for episode music as well as the episodes themselves. there's a lot of interest in what music is used in episodes and if a compilation of mp3's could be made and released as a torrent, that would be great.

A great idea, but that would probably bring the wrath of the RIAA towards the site and that's just something I don't want to do. I can deal with unofficial torrents being made by forum members, but I don't want to make them "official". Too much risk involved. images/smilies/wink.gif

danielmedina113 · June 26th, 2008, 03:02 PM

Well, I don't know if this has happen to other members of Final Gear but sometimes I want to watch episodes of a specific car but as usual I don't remember the exact episodes in which it appeared, and searching in the episode list or in my downloaded torrents takes quite a long time. So I guess a search bar in which you can pick the brand and the model of the car and it shows you in which episodes it appeared would be a very nice addition, I think.

To make this process easier I made a list of some cars (super cars, mostly) and the episodes where they appeared, which might be useful, maybe.

Anyway, thanks for Final Gear for that hard work!!!

efoolution · June 26th, 2008, 03:08 PM

I´ll throw in my 2 Cents ...

I always wounder why you have no frame on the left side to navigate especially in the forums, why I always have to scroll so much torturing my poor little mouse-wheel. And why the Forum isn´t integrated into the site so when you enter the forum, you practically leave the main site ...
Ditch the top-navi for a side one (contend rises to the banner - MORE news to read and see on the Frontpage), implement the Forum with the side-nav so that you can acess the main-site from the forums/wiki. Make the forum more narrow, use a smaller font /fontsize.
I don´t know what resulution on what size monitor you guys use, but my on 17` on 1024x768, the whole site and especially the Forum is just wasting SPACE in huge amounts. The Forum would look a lot better if it´s width was limited to 3/4 of my monitor and if the Text wouldn´t look like it´s for People who are half-blind. You do get stats about what your users use as hardware and setting, don´t you? Use them ... view the Site like your Users do, not only your own settings.

I quite like the color-sceme, the graphics ... I think it´s a waste of time doing anything about those. You could improve there if you wanted ... but nobody will really care as long as the contend is right, it´s still fine - IMO. A lot of webmasters waste their time on improving already good design, don´t make the same mistake. IMO you should focus on usability, I belive you could achieve improvments there with not much efford.

leglessmoof · June 26th, 2008, 07:40 PM

How about adding reviews for all the Top Gear episodes from Series 1 and 2?

I could certainly help with this and I'm sure other members would be willing to help too.

Blayde · June 26th, 2008, 07:51 PM

^ Reviews or at least overviews of the eps are in the wiki iirc

leglessmoof · June 26th, 2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blayde

^ Reviews or at least overviews of the eps are in the wiki iirc

You're right. I had never visited the wiki before so I didn't know.

How about adding that information to the episodes page so it's accessible via the search function?

Phaeton99 · June 26th, 2008, 09:18 PM

Perhaps a tracker for the torrents?

Viper007Bond · June 26th, 2008, 09:52 PM

Thanks for all the posts everyone. images/smilies/smile.gif

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielmedina113

So I guess a search bar in which you can pick the brand and the model of the car and it shows you in which episodes it appeared would be a very nice addition, I think.

There's already a search page. Type in the name of the car and it'll tell you what episodes it was in. images/smilies/wink.gif

Quote:

Originally Posted by efoolution

I always wounder why you have no frame on the left side to navigate especially in the forums, why I always have to scroll so much torturing my poor little mouse-wheel.

This thread is for the main site, not the forum. images/smilies/wink.gif

Although I will answer your question: because there breadcrumb navigation at both the top and bottom and you can easily press the "Home" key on your keyboard. Plus I think that'd just look ugly. It'd take up screen space for essentially nothing IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by efoolution

And why the Forum isn´t integrated into the site so when you enter the forum, you practically leave the main site ...

Because the main site is really narrow and the forums would look crazy fixed width. The colors match -- isn't that enough?

Quote:

Originally Posted by efoolution

Ditch the top-navi for a side one (contend rises to the banner - MORE news to read and see on the Frontpage), implement the Forum with the side-nav so that you can acess the main-site from the forums/wiki.

There's a link to the main site at the bottom of every single page as well as on the homepage of the forums (which can easily be gotten to via the logo a the top of the forums).

Quote:

Originally Posted by efoolution

Make the forum more narrow, use a smaller font /fontsize.

That definitely isn't gonna happen. Forums work best full width. images/smilies/smile.gif

Quote:

Originally Posted by efoolution

I don´t know what resulution on what size monitor you guys use, but my on 17` on 1024x768, the whole site and especially the Forum is just wasting SPACE in huge amounts. The Forum would look a lot better if it´s width was limited to 3/4 of my monitor and if the Text wouldn´t look like it´s for People who are half-blind. You do get stats about what your users use as hardware and setting, don´t you? Use them ... view the Site like your Users do, not only your own settings.

I run 1920x1200 on a 24" monitor.

The main site is fixed width as my news posts are short, rarely contain images, etc. Plus it ensures it displays the same for all users. A fixed width site is generally agreed upon by most developers as being the better solution for a site such as ours.

The forum is fluid width as images are often posted, posts can be long, and it's just the norm for forums. It'd drive me nuts if I had to scroll after reading like 10 words.

Quote:

Originally Posted by leglessmoof

How about adding reviews for all the Top Gear episodes from Series 1 and 2?

I need to actually watch them first, heh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by efoolution

I could certainly help with this and I'm sure other members would be willing to help too.

Yeah, when overhaul the site, I'm going to copy/paste in descriptions from the wiki as a bandaid (possibly a permanent bandaid).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaeton99

Perhaps a tracker for the torrents?

Erm, why? We ran one for a while, but all trackers bring is trouble. I don't see what's wrong with our two current ones that are donated and using The Pirate Bay as a backup.

June 20th, 2008, 02:05 AM	#1
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: 02:10 AM Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 24 Posts: 20,137 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 224	Suggestions for site improvements I'll be sprucing up the main site (adding new features and such). Please add to this list anything you wish to see. Show -> Season -> Episode format to cut down on the HUGE list of episodes when you view a show. Wiki link in nav bar Episode wiki article link on episode page New show images (need help with that) Add TG US and TG Aus into the site __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

June 20th, 2008, 11:29 AM	#2
Blayde Joined: Dec 20th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bahrain Posts: 1,689 Car: '02 Nissan X-Trail Rep Power: 38	Problem with the new show images is that neither of the newer TGs have any logos or anything except the cast, but would you put up a substitute placeholder till we can make a proper one? Also as for the replacement images, are you looking for anything specific, cos i have two or three good ones in mind for TG. __________________ Some say he migrated when fuel hit 4 pounds per gallon and that he can make 'special price' for you. All we know is, he's the Stig's Arab cousin; Al-Stig!

June 21st, 2008, 01:07 AM	#4
ahpadt Joined: May 7th, 2006 Last Online: 01:17 AM Location: The Norwaylands Age: 21 Posts: 2,037 Car: Working on it! Rep Power: 16	These: Looks like they came from 1991...

June 21st, 2008, 01:26 AM	#5
Cobol74 Joined: Mar 21st, 2006 Last Online: 01:13 AM Location: Southampton Posts: 5,188 Car: Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 TDI Slush box. Rep Power: 40	And what is wrong with 1955 (oops 1991?) How about a heroes/hall of fame section? Some where special where we can post for people who we feel are real heroes for the things we are interested in? Do not know how you'd moderate it but I can think of Freddie Mercury, Pavoritti and Colin McRae immediately. __________________ Strewth mate another whinging pom! Build the Severn Barrage NOW!

June 26th, 2008, 09:10 AM	#8
discopete Joined: Aug 7th, 2006 Last Online: July 7th, 2008 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	I think that a torrent should be created for episode music as well as the episodes themselves. there's a lot of interest in what music is used in episodes and if a compilation of mp3's could be made and released as a torrent, that would be great. __________________ pete@discopete.com \| http://www.discopete.com

June 26th, 2008, 03:02 PM	#10
danielmedina113 Joined: Jan 22nd, 2008 Last Online: June 27th, 2008 Location: Bogota/Cundinamarca/Colombia Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Another Idea Well, I don't know if this has happen to other members of Final Gear but sometimes I want to watch episodes of a specific car but as usual I don't remember the exact episodes in which it appeared, and searching in the episode list or in my downloaded torrents takes quite a long time. So I guess a search bar in which you can pick the brand and the model of the car and it shows you in which episodes it appeared would be a very nice addition, I think. To make this process easier I made a list of some cars (super cars, mostly) and the episodes where they appeared, which might be useful, maybe. Anyway, thanks for Final Gear for that hard work!!!

June 26th, 2008, 03:08 PM	#11
efoolution Joined: Mar 5th, 2007 Last Online: August 25th, 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 682 Rep Power: 16	I´ll throw in my 2 Cents ... I always wounder why you have no frame on the left side to navigate especially in the forums, why I always have to scroll so much torturing my poor little mouse-wheel. And why the Forum isn´t integrated into the site so when you enter the forum, you practically leave the main site ... Ditch the top-navi for a side one (contend rises to the banner - MORE news to read and see on the Frontpage), implement the Forum with the side-nav so that you can acess the main-site from the forums/wiki. Make the forum more narrow, use a smaller font /fontsize. I don´t know what resulution on what size monitor you guys use, but my on 17` on 1024x768, the whole site and especially the Forum is just wasting SPACE in huge amounts. The Forum would look a lot better if it´s width was limited to 3/4 of my monitor and if the Text wouldn´t look like it´s for People who are half-blind. You do get stats about what your users use as hardware and setting, don´t you? Use them ... view the Site like your Users do, not only your own settings. I quite like the color-sceme, the graphics ... I think it´s a waste of time doing anything about those. You could improve there if you wanted ... but nobody will really care as long as the contend is right, it´s still fine - IMO. A lot of webmasters waste their time on improving already good design, don´t make the same mistake. IMO you should focus on usability, I belive you could achieve improvments there with not much efford. __________________

June 26th, 2008, 07:40 PM	#12
leglessmoof Joined: Jun 26th, 2008 Last Online: July 29th, 2008 Location: Delaware, USA Age: 24 Posts: 2 Car: '07 Honda Fit S Rep Power: 0	How about adding reviews for all the Top Gear episodes from Series 1 and 2? I could certainly help with this and I'm sure other members would be willing to help too.

June 26th, 2008, 07:51 PM	#13
Blayde Joined: Dec 20th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bahrain Posts: 1,689 Car: '02 Nissan X-Trail Rep Power: 38	^ Reviews or at least overviews of the eps are in the wiki iirc __________________ Some say he migrated when fuel hit 4 pounds per gallon and that he can make 'special price' for you. All we know is, he's the Stig's Arab cousin; Al-Stig!

June 26th, 2008, 09:18 PM	#15
Phaeton99 Joined: Nov 5th, 2007 Last Online: July 14th, 2008 Location: CHI IL Posts: 16 Car: NIS Frontier Rep Power: 0	Perhaps a tracker for the torrents?