SC:L Forum Mockup [Archive] - StarCraft: Legacy Forums

Gradius

05-09-2009, 11:52 PM

We want to make sure that you guys like the SC:L forums, since we're designing them just for you. :) Here is a mockup that I threw together which we'll try to implement sometime down the road if we can: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtest.jpg

What else would you guys like done skin-wise?

SpiderBrigade

05-10-2009, 12:01 AM

That looks pretty freaking sweet, Gradius. I assume the next post would start immediately below?

Man, this is like analyzing Blizzard screenshots. From that mockup I see what looks like rep stars, and is the red card/yellow card thing the rep button?

But yeah, as far as usablity issues goes this incorporates everything I would want from the forum. My only other question would be where the signature would go: would it be in parralel to the Quote/edit buttons or would those still be below? The former would be better since it would eat up less vertical space.

Much love for the SC:L team for being so responsive on these interface concerns!

Edit: I took a second to clarify some of my questions with an image.

Eligor

05-10-2009, 12:04 AM

Very cool. No complaints from me. :)

Santrega

05-10-2009, 12:15 AM

Pretty awesome Gradius!

What is that Yellow/Orange thing to the left of the report button? I notice there are ranks though, I like that, do we all get a rank to work towards similar to rep? Also, whats the computer on the other side?

The way it looks is great though, great job on it. I can't think of a thing it would need at the moment...

LordofAscension

05-10-2009, 12:42 AM

What is that Yellow/Orange thing to the left of the report button? I notice there are ranks though, I like that, do we all get a rank to work towards similar to rep? Also, whats the computer on the other side?

The way it looks is great though, great job on it. I can't think of a thing it would need at the moment...

Those are admin features don't worry about them ;)

~LoA

RainbowToeSocks

05-10-2009, 12:59 AM

Those stars, im assuming they are just like BF stars (related to post count)

Is there going to be any sort of Rep feature?

Santrega

05-10-2009, 01:03 AM

Those stars, im assuming they are just like BF stars (related to post count)

Is there going to be any sort of Rep feature?

They are trying to figure out what to do with the rep, or if to include it at all..

I personally would like something more along the lines as a thumbs up thumbs down thing for posts. Then you get a total count of thumbs downs and thumbs up in your stats :-P

If I'm an ass all the time, I might have more thumbs down, and be considered a less quality poster, and if I post thought out halfway intelligent posts, or good ideas, I'd have more thumbs up. Even if just thumbs up was included with no thumbs down, that would be fine too :-P

Hamshank

05-10-2009, 01:03 AM

That image appears pretty small to me can you enlarge it please?

Also can there be an in thread notification of a pm received?

Santrega

05-10-2009, 01:04 AM

Also can there be an in thread notification of a pm received?

Yeah, notification pop up would be nice.

Rylin

05-10-2009, 01:32 AM

The mockup looks pretty good to me. Can't wait to see it implemented ;)

Wankey

05-10-2009, 01:32 AM

Gradius, I like that skin but it doesn't really feel "advanced" if you ask me. Why not just take that oval circle thing you have at the bottom of every post and try to make it feel more much higher tech borders (ie add glows and glimmer)

Gradius

05-10-2009, 10:38 AM

Update 2: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtest2.jpg

My only other question would be where the signature would go: would it be in parralel to the Quote/edit buttons or would those still be below? The former would be better since it would eat up less vertical space.
There is usually a space for the reply/quote buttons right below the sig. It takes up extra vertical space, but it doesn't overlap with the sig. This is demonstrated in the above mockup. Also, your second post is an example of what the minimum height for a post would be. Is that fine, or should I make it smaller?

Gradius, I like that skin but it doesn't really feel "advanced" if you ask me. Why not just take that oval circle thing you have at the bottom of every post and try to make it feel more much higher tech borders (ie add glows and glimmer)
Well, I kind of wanted something more solid than that wispy oval thing. All of the blues would be kind of hard on the eyes don't you think? Plus the teal fits in more with the main site. You have any suggestions to make it look more advanced? We could put some elements from the main site into it i.e. the hexagons.

Wankey

05-10-2009, 12:36 PM

Yep hexagons on the edges would do the trick. Also if you can add a little glimeer to the very edges of the block.

Extranjero

05-10-2009, 12:53 PM

Agreed that the hexagons would look good on the edges. I really like the curved blue oval that is currently at the bottom of posts, but if there's no way to save it or to get it to work well in a new scheme then I'd be OK with ditching it.

SpiderBrigade

05-10-2009, 01:01 PM

Update 2: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtest2.jpg

There is usually a space for the reply/quote buttons right below the sig. It takes up extra vertical space, but it doesn't overlap with the sig. This is demonstrated in the above mockup. Also, your second post is an example of what the minimum height for a post would be. Is that fine, or should I make it smaller?Lowly peon huh? :p

Personally I would want the minimum size to be as small as possible. In your longer post, the quote/report/mod tools bar comes right below your signature. I see no reason not to do the same for shorter posts, with the absolute minimum size being when that bar touches the bottom of the poster information box.

That's a pretty minor point though. Otherwise the layout looks excellent. If you brought in the hexagons (which do look awesome) where would those go?

I really like the curved blue oval that is currently at the bottom of posts, but if there's no way to save it or to get it to work well in a new scheme then I'd be OK with ditching it.The problem with the oval is that it is fairly large and doesn't make a dramatic dividing line between posts.

Gradius

05-10-2009, 01:47 PM

Added the hexagons: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtest2.jpg

Ctrl + F5.

Is that where you guys wanted them, or somewhere else?

Spider - since I added them there it doesn't look like we'll be able to make the default vertical length any smaller.

RainbowToeSocks

05-10-2009, 01:52 PM

The hexagons look good Gradius

and it looks like your post count ISNT over 9000
tisk tisk

Extranjero

05-10-2009, 02:00 PM

The problem with the oval is that it is fairly large and doesn't make a dramatic dividing line between posts.

I agree with you there. The rectangular outlines are 100% needed to help define posts. What I was thinking was that perhaps the oval could be used within the post box itself. Basically that would mean keeping it where it is now - below the signature and encompassing the Quote and Edit buttons. Obviously we risk making posts cluttered and unreadable by throwing so many graphics in, but I think it might work. At the very least we could look at a mockup of it before deciding.

I think the hexagons look great. Nice work Gradius.

SpiderBrigade

05-10-2009, 02:26 PM

Looking very sweet, yeah. Hexagons look good, and the minimum size is not too huge. Especially since most people do have sig graphics.

Is this mockup 100% graphics work or is this something that'd be easy to make the forum actually do?

Wankey

05-10-2009, 02:29 PM

Looks good Gradius, now add more!

Gradius

05-10-2009, 02:31 PM

Is this mockup 100% graphics work or is this something that'd be easy to make the forum actually do?
This is 100% graphics work - I'm just messing around w/ various elements in photoshop. Haven't done any splicing or anything. I'm not sure how easy it is to do, we need to look into getting a new VB template as well as skinning it. I'd venture to say it takes a great deal of work to set it up to look like that. But hopefully we'll get there. :)

What I was thinking was that perhaps the oval could be used within the post box itself. Basically that would mean keeping it where it is now - below the signature and encompassing the Quote and Edit buttons.
Tried it out here: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtestm.jpg

I flipped it vertically though. That space for the quote/edit button is just sitting there, so it might be a good idea to add this.

SpiderBrigade

05-10-2009, 02:37 PM

Tried it out here: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtestm.jpg

I flipped it vertically though. That space for the quote/edit button is just sitting there, so it might be a good idea to add this.I approve of this.

Extranjero

05-10-2009, 02:45 PM

I also approve. Thanks for doing the mockup.

Freespace

05-10-2009, 02:56 PM

Hey, that's looking really good. Also, keep playing with dark themes, it's easy on the eyes. I was pleased with the forum's current aesthetic, but those mockups are certainly raising the bar.

Dauntless

05-10-2009, 07:50 PM

Those are looking good, Grad. An offline/online status would be nice too. Or is that what the computer icon indicates?

Also a go-to-the-top button at the bottom right corner would be nice.

Freespace

05-11-2009, 02:32 AM

Those are looking good, Grad. An offline/online status would be nice too. Or is that what the computer icon indicates?

Also a go-to-the-top button at the bottom right corner would be nice.

Home key. :p

Dauntless

05-11-2009, 08:25 AM

Hehe, well the home key is in a kind of awkard position on most keyboards.

And what if you're mouse-only-surfing? :p

Freespace

05-11-2009, 08:53 AM

Grab the scroll bar, and yank it up. :)

Rylin

05-11-2009, 02:20 PM

The new look is a thumbs up in my book. Can't wait to see it 8)

SpiderBrigade

05-11-2009, 03:22 PM

Gradius

05-11-2009, 05:13 PM

Just curious, Gradius, I know you said this is all done by you in Photoshop, but have you run it by any of the actual coders yet? It'd be cool to know if their reaction was "Yeah, sure, it'll take some time though" or if they basically just started laughing :D
AJ basically laughed at my face. :P

I'm gonna level with you guys - you probably won't be seeing this for a looong time. If anybody knows how the VB skinning/template system works & is willing to lend a hand that could speed things up dramatically, but we've got bigger fish to fry in the meantime.

Alex06

05-11-2009, 05:16 PM

How long would "a looong time" be?

Tried it out here: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtestm.jpg

I flipped it vertically though. That space for the quote/edit button is just sitting there, so it might be a good idea to add this.
I don't like that oval, it looks too much like copy & paste material, TBH.

Also, you could add buttons for contacting the person via MSN, AIM, ICQ, Yahoo! IM, Skype, E-mail, PM, etc. and a little icon showing their location (country) would be nice.
Maybe more bookmarks would also help...

Gradius

05-11-2009, 05:17 PM

How long woukd "a looong time" be?
In the range of 2 days to the time when the sun becomes a chunk of coal roughly the size of your forehead (aka. Blizzard "soon").

Alex06

05-11-2009, 05:24 PM

In the range of 2 days to the time when the sun becomes a chunk of coal roughly the size of your forehead (aka. Blizzard "soon").
I see...Also, we TOTALLY need to have some kind of topic title visible in there, on each box. (including titles for posts)

EDIT: And what about custom member titles/ranks? :P

Zigurd

05-11-2009, 07:03 PM

Pure excellence bro !!! The current theme is... meh.

LordofAscension

05-11-2009, 10:04 PM

Don't worry - eventually we'll get things sorted out.

~LoA

Wankey

05-14-2009, 10:23 AM

Any update on this?

Dauntless

05-17-2009, 09:40 AM

As implementing that into our forums requires alot of coding I wouldn't get my hopes up this early. You'll see it implemented soonTM.

wuliping0011

04-20-2010, 09:04 PM

This is 100% graphics work - I'm just messing around w/ various elements in photoshop. Haven't done any splicing or anything. I'm not sure how easy it is to do, we need to look into getting a new VB template as well as skinning it. I'd venture to say it takes a great deal of work to set it up to look like that. But hopefully we'll get there. :)

Tried it out here: http://sclegacy.com/_staff/gradius/forumtestm.jpgNike sb (http://www.nike-sb.org/)

I flipped it vertically though. That space for the quote/edit button is just sitting there, so it might be a good idea to add this.
I am also approve it .