Site Changes/Improvements

[JohnnyV]

Ok, guys figured I would let you know some of the changes I will be implementing in the next few hours. The reason being is because it might cause performance issues, until I'm completely finished. So here's the updates you'll be seeing today, two of them major. The first change some of you noticed is moving the Introductions category to the top of the site. This is to help new members find the place for them to go alot easier. Now here's the major changes taking place today.

1. Adding/Changing the Xbox360 Games Category. The Forum Staff debated on ways to make navigating through the Games category easier, and more streamlined. We debated about making it to where there would be specific game subcategories, "Halo", "Fable" etc.. Instead, so that there isn't continual changing of games we will be adding genres for subcats instead. Here's a list of the subcats that will be listed. There will also be a special section where news can be posted for brand spanking new releases, along with games that have yet to come out.

Action
Shooters
Adventure
Fighting
Sports
Puzzle
Platforming
RPG
Rhythm/Party
Other
Strategy
New Releases
Upcoming Releases

2. The second change isn't quite as major as the game changes. Next, I will be changing the Xbox360 General section, and will be adding subcats for that as well. There will be a Xbox360 News subcat, and a Xbox360 vs. PS3 section. The reason for this is that the General xbox360 category gets cluttered with all kinds of different topics, and is almost too 'general'. With the news section, we will be making it easier to find topics related to xbox360 news. The same goes for Xbox360 vs. PS3 subcat. For those who like to show off their xbox360 spirit, and how much better it is then the PS3 will have a place to do it.

3. I'm also going to make slight SEO changes to the site. These won't really hinder the site in anyway, just hopefully make Google like us better. Just wanted to let you all know what I was up to there. This includes cleaning up the HTML coding, which I did yesterday which is hopefully helping with performance. In the coming weeks, we will hopefully see more page views which in turn will increase activity from new members.

4. One change I've already implemented is getting a link to our site posted on Xbox360Forums. Again this helps with SEO (gotta love incoming links), along with the direct traffic from the site. I will post a link to them, which I'll put in tomorrow, but it will be in the footer out of the way. I'm also going to start linking to Xbox360Evolved from some of the blog sites I write for. Which should also help traffic.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to post it here, or message me. Have an idea for a genre category? Feel free to let me know. Any suggestions helping with the improvement of the site is a good thing. All of the decisions have been talked about with Forum Staff other than myself. So, hopefully everyone will like the changes, and will help bringing in new members

Thanks

[X3E Gravity Flux]

Woot for changes!

[ssp0929]

Yay! Nice improvements.

ONly thing I hate is the whole genre thing.

Seems very very cluttered and unorganized.

[JohnnyV]

^I agree, thinking about trimming some of the genres out. Thinking about taking out adventure and platformers and just grouping that with action, since neither have very many games to associating with the genres.

*edit* - ok the changes are made, and switched around how the categories appear. Think that has helped?

[ImperialRA]

Originally Posted by ssp0929 Yay! Nice improvements. ONly thing I hate is the whole genre thing. Seems very very cluttered and unorganized.

Agreed on the genres. Some of them will get little to no activity.

[JohnnyV]

Originally Posted by ImperialRA Agreed on the genres. Some of them will get little to no activity.

im thinking giving maybe a 1-2 week trial period, and if certain genres aren't getting any love, i'll give them the axe. Want to keep them put in for now, maybe attract attention from certain people who like a particular genre

[ImperialRA]

So be it. Were we ever going to get a new skin...banner new perhaps?

[IC3MAN]

Yeah, the only thing i don't really like is the Genre thing. And I'm not all big with the Xbox 360 vs. PS3 subcategory but we'll see how well it goes.

[JohnnyV]

Originally Posted by ImperialRA So be it. Were we ever going to get a new skin...banner new perhaps?

yes, the next project I plan on doing is creating a new skin for the site. The thing is, a skin can take awhile to get done. I want to do it right, and make sure it's a vast improvement over what we have now. I'm thinking 2-4 weeks, and I could have something ready.

[ssp0929]

Are we hiring a professional skinner or something?

[JohnnyV]

Originally Posted by ssp0929 Are we hiring a professional skinner or something?

that would be me. I'm a graphic/web designer/blog writer. Probably what I'll do is is make a few different ones, and put images of them up so everyone can have a voice on what they would like to see.

[ssp0929]

Awesome. Here's an idea. Make the skin darker and more smoother and rounder around the edges.

[Dan]

Green and black......lol

also don't forget we can have a skin chooser

[Calo Nord]

Sounds like great improvements! Make TFG proud! (saying that almost brings a tear to my eye for some reason)

[Dan]

Ah, he is still around, college is just.......college!