MAIN MENU - Design Templates

[MicroJak]

It's funny, how that even though I've left the forum, I seem to be more involved in the upkeep of ST.



Over the last two days, I've created three templates for Spacetrace. All of which have known flaws but, they are easy to fix.

All of the design have been commented on by DinskyDude, Senor and al12. All the improvements have been made from their inputs .









Ok, so this is number 1:







Personally, I don't like it. The colours don't work, the font is standard and it's too.. in your face. It doesn't fit in with the look of spacetrace. So I tried to make a better one.









I've made the Spacetrace logo slightly smaller, and the background now goes fairly well with the colours of the text and shapes. It's more minimalist.

However, on a conversation over MSN, Senor said I should use the space... make bigger icons.. something about waxing in and out...

So this was my third attempt, or version 1.03, as some may say...









This time I've included a language bar, AND a horizontal drop down menu. I don't know how to explain thoroughly how this works... so...



I annotated it..








So, 'guest account', 'tutorial' and 'register' only appear when you click


'CREATE ACCOUNT'

otherwise, they are not there!!!!





Now, a few problems. The background image on two and three is off of Google; luckily the first one I was able to get off of a royalty free site.

The 'Spacetrace' logo is just text. I did not copy it off of the site, and the text is not a standard font (Diamond SF).

The dimensions are 800 x 600. I could make a new 1024 x 768 version if you like it (no, I cannot resize it, it just stretches the page).

I created the whole thing on Paint.net. None of it is coded.

The shapes for the submenus are not inline with one and other. This is only a template, it's just a draft.

There are a few spelling mistakes, and I need to add some more flags.



Ok, so, hit me . I don't care what you say, as long as it's constructive.



EDIT: this is for www.spacetrace.org. It's not for ingame.. as in, it's not for www.spacetrace.org/spacetrace.php.
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[Holy Crusader]

I think the second one has potential

[MicroJak]

[Orange Shavings]

I agree with Holy. The second one is the best by far. The first one clashes too much, and the third one is too busy.
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Wise is he who is not stupid...

[MicroJak]

Yes but...



You do not see...


lost password - respawn - login (UNLESS YOU CLICK/HOVER 'LOGIN')

guest account - tutorial - register (UNLESS YOU CLICK/HOVER 'CREATE ACCOUNT')

newbie help - video tutorials - irc chat - forum - manual (UNLESS YOU CLICK/HOVER 'GUIDES')

recruitment - galactic news - newbie help - ask admin - register (UNLESS YOU CLICK/HOVER 'FORUM')


.


Let me show you what it would look like before you would click/hover over anything:



You see, it looks much the same as two, just all the links have been put into categories and there is a language section.

This is what happens when you've clicked on 'guides' and have hovered over 'video tutorials':




Ok?
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[al12]

I still think number 2 is the best. All I need in the front page is to logn in, once in a blue moon use the guest account and make a new account. I can get to IRC, Manual and forum when I log in.
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X: The "Warriors of the Fallen Star" era

4. SpaceTrooper of Upenix score 16239 relative 16226

[MicroJak]

[zenachi]

The second one would be the best. The third one, the hovering is nice, but the buttons are HUGE. If you add the hovering to the second one, it would be better.

[Thromen]

i agree i like the small buttons.
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"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next 10 generations that some favors come with too high a price - Vir to Mr. Morden

[MicroJak]

Thanks for your comments. I really want to see what admin thinks though, (hint hint, admin, your online ).
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[linux666]

agree with the above...the second is the best, with small buttons
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Don't look back...Think ahead!

[admin]

hey,

nice work ( i also like the second one more)

its a good idea re-designing the startscreen too, (after we finish the navigation)

some hints in designing:
- the screenshot should be 999x500 px cause thats the visible screen on most used displays
- the font-size should be in px too and min. 11px
- the logo must stay like it is (with the circle)
- there are much more finished languages
- the era should be in the main area and can be very long
- try to take some elements from the card-game design: http://wiki.spacetrace.org/index.php/Spacetrace_Card-Game_-_The_Rules#Download__Rules

[Durago]

the second one looks best. the buttons on the 3rd one are kinda big. i like the slide out idea. some javascript could easily add the same functionality to the second one.

you could free up some text clutter by moving 'tutorial' into guest or manual, and removing vote, irc, and simplify the 'your destiny awaits' to just...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
your destiny awaits...
spacetrace
free online realtime space strategy game..
conquer planets, destroy enemy fleets, make alliances, rule the universe
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as for telling them about the help and such, i thing the noob nag screens tell you all that when you log in. or put it in the manual.
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