Redesign ConquerClub.com

[herschal]

I'm not a computer person but would it be too hard to make it so people can choose their "skin" so that it doesn't always have that ugly green everywhere. It is really boaring to look at for lengthy periods of time.

[wcaclimbing]

just to follow up to porkenbeans. There would be no need to give up 10 points on a redesign. 10% of 100K is 10k which is what some of biggests design firms would charge. As I said before, it can be done for under 1k, or perhaps 25% of of the revenue growth for a 4 month period. or a company may do it for free in exchange for a case study.

either way, its possible.

If you really wanted to cut the price low, you could just put out an advertisement at a college campus or two.
Find some kid working towards a web design major and you could probably get it done for under $500.
Or free, if you are really lucky and the kid needs a long term project to work on.

[porkenbeans]

just to follow up to porkenbeans. There would be no need to give up 10 points on a redesign. 10% of 100K is 10k which is what some of biggests design firms would charge. As I said before, it can be done for under 1k, or perhaps 25% of of the revenue growth for a 4 month period. or a company may do it for free in exchange for a case study.

either way, its possible.

If you really wanted to cut the price low, you could just put out an advertisement at a college campus or two.
Find some kid working towards a web design major and you could probably get it done for under $500.
Or free, if you are really lucky and the kid needs a long term project to work on.

Excellent idea, As a matter of fact I have been doing some research on this and have found a few Design competition sites. All you do is list the job description and prize. This way you actually have many different people working on your behalf. You then choose a winner at the end of the deadline, and pay them the prize. Average prizes range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the scope of the project. But it is all up to you what amount you want to make it.

[ManBungalow]

Maybe we could host a design competition, kind of like the CC Movie Competition ?

[JubjubS22]

All sites need to have their design revisited from time to time, that is the nature of an ever changing digital world. The real problem is in the vast amount of options that are available. From dynamic content coded in AJAX to a skin system based on Cascading Style Sheets, to a vast array of motion mediums like Flash and Flex, you can find dozens of way to implement design changes. The 9 years I've spent in web development and design have taught me this:

• Don't fix what isn't broken. identify what really works at the site and don't change it.
• Less is more. Keep your core concepts at the forefront and don't waste time with flashy things that will deter you from your main goals
• Garbage in = Garbage out + a massive headache
• Decision makers like to see it before they buy it. Some simple screen mock-ups and diagrams might help advance the call for design enhancements.
• The word "enhancements" is less scary than the word "redesign"
• Little bunnies in your graphics don't actually make everyone happy.

I'd be happy to continue a discussion with others about options for the site, and offer any of my skills and knowledge to the community. I also like the contest idea. Contests are a great way to make people feel more "ownership" if they contribute.

[Kaplowitz]

Facebook is a very good example of a ridiculously large web application, with much more complex data integration and user interaction that is effectively very spartan in design. This makes is fast, less confusing, and easy to use by anyone (yes, even soccer moms).

LMAO facebook changes their design like every other month! Plus, its much better looking than CC....

I totally agree, but online competitions probably arent the way to go...this is going to be a somewhat big project, i think the best bet is to use a professional or a student. No one wants to design a whole webpage, hoping to get $500, and not get picked.

[danman101]

Is this new pink design with bunnies due to Easter coming, or simply an April Fool's Day joke? Either way, it's really a turn-off, especially for competitive people who like war games.

[sully800]

be careful what you wish for mibi!

[4myGod]

I was bored today, waiting for others to make their moves on my 4... games. When I first came to this site I almost didn't play because it had a very old design, no offense. I felt that if the design was old, how could they have made this game fun and easily playable online. I was wrong, it is quite fun. So with my free-time today I went ahead and made a design.

I just made 1 page, the page I felt was most important. However, if you like the design I can design the rest of the pages as well, and finish this page.

Actual Design changes from current design (besides the obvious colors):

- Links at the top would be drop downs. For example: Games > Join Game, Create Game, Find Game.

- Top right red box would be like a user profile, filled with information the user might want to view on every page. I filled it with score and users game stats. However I couldn't think of anything else. It could have the logout button as well, perhaps forum information. I just thought it would be nice for users to always see their score and stats, on every page.

- List of games where it's the user's turn. I put them at 50% opacity, I figure the user can rollover them and it will become 100%. You can list maybe 5-10 games where it is currently the users turn, then cut it off. This way no matter what page the user goes to, they can see as soon as it's their turn. Perhaps even using ajax, so they don't have to refresh or click links.

- I got my friend into this website, and plan to get another 5-10 of my strategy geek friends into it. The friend and I though were talking, and we felt it would be awesome if we could see if a player was online or not. Not just whether or not it he clicked Begin Turn, but whether or not he was actually online. So I was thinking for the names of the players in your game, it can show the ones online in bold and offline in regular. Or perhaps italics and no italics... somehow though showing if the user is online. By knowing if a user is online, then I know whether or not they will/could be making moves soon or if I should just go do something else and turn off my computer.

Tell me what you think of the design and ideas.

Concise description: Dark Website Design

• Small Map: http://www.buthhomes.com/conquerclub.jpg
• Large Map: http://www.buthhomes.com/conquerclubbig.jpg
• Game List: http://www.buthhomes.com/ccdark-game.list.jpg

Concise description: Light Website Design

• Small Map: http://www.buthhomes.com/ccwhite.jpg

[Masli]

I do like the style, don't need to see my won,lost games in the top right corner, But the rest looks a lot better then it is atm.

[4myGod]

I made what it will look like when you click Larger Map. I think it actually fits on my screen now quite well.

http://www.buthhomes.com/conquerclubbig.jpg

[Hsur]

It looks real good and modern. Looks a little dark to me. Do some more pages and some different colors. Just to have more options.

[4myGod]

Well, I personally like the black one, but I made a white version. I only changed the colors though. I would like to hear if a redesign is even possible, or if the admins are pretty much set in the current design.

http://buthhomes.com/ccwhite.jpg

[The Fuzzy Pengui]

I'm not sure if a redesign is something lack would consider, or not. I do like the idea of having the nav bar horizontal with drop-down menus, though!

[GrimReaper.]

I like this idea

[soka]

i thnk the main window or home page needs a update but loooks cool

[4myGod]

Ok, I updated the original post and added a light version of the design and the game list page with the new design.

I hope some admins look at this post and can tell me whether or not I am wasting my time.

[hwhrhett]

you were on the site for a day and then decided it needed a makeover? now thats love.....

i like it the way it is tho, i dont think that it looks 'old'.

[cicero]

Merge post:

Redesign ConquerClub.com - posts 10 March to 2 April 2009 - first post here
New Website Design - posts 21 to 22 April 2009 - first post here

Remember to use the 'search' box (it's next to the 'new topic' button) to see if there are existing discussions on a particular suggestion. That way, if you find an existing discussion, you can join in and also see any useful posts - both for and against - that might influence your own thinking. It also helps to keep the forum tidy

Cicero

[4myGod]

I see, now my links and such can get lost in the 30+ posts this thread already has.

From reading over these other replies in this thread. I am quite curious who "Lack" is and whether or not he visits the forums?

If others also want to change the design then let's do this shiz. What are we waiting for? It's only going to give the owner more money, I would only want 1 year premium accounts for me and my friends, which I think is pretty cheap considering what designers get paid.

It was mentioned by Mibi that the owner doesn't care about the potential of this website. If this is the case, why don't all these web designers and graphic designers build their own foe risk site? If you guys teamed together to build an awesome risk I would want in. This game is an incredible game that everyone I know loves. There is a TON of growth potential, and so far this site is the only site with a near monopoly on it, the other sites are just basic risk.

I don't care what happens... redesign/remanagement of conquerclub, or the opening of a new site. I am just a designer, and I want the game I am playing to be awesome. I also want to look at something that catches my eye every time I login.

Yeah I was on the site one day and that's all it took for me to be addicted, and if I am addicted to it, I want to be looking at something I like, so I decided to make something up.

[cicero]

I agree with some of your thinking 4myGod and certainly you've made your points well. Without wishing to take this thread off topic I'd like to give your post a reply it deserves:

I see, now my links and such can get lost in the 30+ posts this thread already has.

From reading over these other replies in this thread.

That is why it is the policy of this forum to merge threads on identical ideas. So you, and others, can do just that. It makes sense to me.

I am quite curious who "Lack" is and whether or not he visits the forums?

Lack, or lackattack to give him his full username, is the site owner and developer. He certainly does visit the forums.

If others also want to change the design then let's do this shiz. What are we waiting for?

You're waiting for the site owner to realise how right you are and decide to employ you Seriously, if the site owner decides that a site redesign is a good idea I would guess that he would either (a) do it himself, (b) engage someone else directly to do it or (c) advertise here on CC for people interested in doing it ... Perhaps the site owner just doesn't think that a redesign makes good business sense. Which, coincidentally, is what you comment on next ...

It's only going to give the owner more money, I would only want 1 year premium accounts for me and my friends, which I think is pretty cheap considering what designers get paid.

It was mentioned by Mibi that the owner doesn't care about the potential of this website. If this is the case, why don't all these web designers and graphic designers build their own foe risk site? If you guys teamed together to build an awesome risk I would want in. This game is an incredible game that everyone I know loves. There is a TON of growth potential, and so far this site is the only site with a near monopoly on it, the other sites are just basic risk.

I don't care what happens... redesign/remanagement of conquerclub, or the opening of a new site. I am just a designer, and I want the game I am playing to be awesome. I also want to look at something that catches my eye every time I login.

Yeah I was on the site one day and that's all it took for me to be addicted, and if I am addicted to it, I want to be looking at something I like, so I decided to make something up.

And there, I think, you make/discover, the strongest reason why lack has not yet decided to do a site redesign. From a business point of view he doesn't need to. You wanted to play world domination online, you come to Conquer Club and you paid. From a purely business point of view the sale is already made

As regards setting up a competing site you'll realise that this isn't the forum - or the site - to have such a discussion.

So, back to keeping on topic, if there is anything else to be said about a site redesign then this is the thread for it. Personally I can't see that there's much more to be said than "the site would be improved by a redesign." I tend to agree by the way, but I'm not sure there's much that can be said on the subject.

As regards any of your other points if you wish to discuss those further I'd suggestion searching in General Discussion to see if there are existing threads there. And if not, starting your own ...

I hope that makes sense. If you'd like raise anything by PM that would take this thread off topic please feel free.

Cicero

[4myGod]

There are at least 20,000 other members out there on this site. That is at least 20,000 people who now know about this business. This will not be the only site to play world domination, and it's only a matter of time before a new one pops. By the time a new one pops up, if the designers of the new site were smart, they will immediately be better than this site.

I want to give an example. I read in an article, that I can no longer find, that Travian isn't the first game of it's kind. I also know that facebook wasn't the first website of it's kind either. Yet facebook is now becoming, if not already, more popular than the others, as is Travian.

This site can't just sit here not updating just because the site owner is already making money and doesn't have any threatening competition. By the time he does have worth while competition it will be too late.

[hwhrhett]

I see, now my links and such can get lost in the 30+ posts this thread already has.

From reading over these other replies in this thread. I am quite curious who "Lack" is and whether or not he visits the forums?

If others also want to change the design then let's do this shiz. What are we waiting for? It's only going to give the owner more money, I would only want 1 year premium accounts for me and my friends, which I think is pretty cheap considering what designers get paid.

It was mentioned by Mibi that the owner doesn't care about the potential of this website. If this is the case, why don't all these web designers and graphic designers build their own foe risk site? If you guys teamed together to build an awesome risk I would want in. This game is an incredible game that everyone I know loves. There is a TON of growth potential, and so far this site is the only site with a near monopoly on it, the other sites are just basic risk.

I don't care what happens... redesign/remanagement of conquerclub, or the opening of a new site. I am just a designer, and I want the game I am playing to be awesome. I also want to look at something that catches my eye every time I login.

Yeah I was on the site one day and that's all it took for me to be addicted, and if I am addicted to it, I want to be looking at something I like, so I decided to make something up.

they wont pay you to redesign the site... and i would much rather see them spend their time on new game types and important updates. instead of stupid graphical interface which doesnt effect the game at all.

[4myGod]

I see, now my links and such can get lost in the 30+ posts this thread already has.

From reading over these other replies in this thread. I am quite curious who "Lack" is and whether or not he visits the forums?

If others also want to change the design then let's do this shiz. What are we waiting for? It's only going to give the owner more money, I would only want 1 year premium accounts for me and my friends, which I think is pretty cheap considering what designers get paid.

It was mentioned by Mibi that the owner doesn't care about the potential of this website. If this is the case, why don't all these web designers and graphic designers build their own foe risk site? If you guys teamed together to build an awesome risk I would want in. This game is an incredible game that everyone I know loves. There is a TON of growth potential, and so far this site is the only site with a near monopoly on it, the other sites are just basic risk.

I don't care what happens... redesign/remanagement of conquerclub, or the opening of a new site. I am just a designer, and I want the game I am playing to be awesome. I also want to look at something that catches my eye every time I login.

Yeah I was on the site one day and that's all it took for me to be addicted, and if I am addicted to it, I want to be looking at something I like, so I decided to make something up.

they wont pay you to redesign the site... and i would much rather see them spend their time on new game types and important updates. instead of stupid graphical interface which doesnt effect the game at all.

That's fine, because as I mentioned, I am not asking for money.

I personally will most likely play the same game type and the same maps that I am playing now, so new game types will not effect me. With that said though, I am not fighting against new game types. Nor am I saying new Graphics are more important than new Game Types, however, there are many of us it seems who would like to see a change in graphical interface, whether it effects the gameplay or not. So there is no reason you should put down the things we want and say yours are more important ("stupid graphical interface"). We are all on this site, and we are all playing this game, every one should be entitled to their requests.

I don't care if I have been here 1 day or 1 hour. I am now part of this community as it is free to everyone, and I, with older members than myself are requesting a new design. I have spent my day making an idea I had, instead of just saying "get a new design." I was doing what I can, without getting paid, to help so it wouldn't require much effort on the owners part to make the change to a new design.

[hwhrhett]

I see, now my links and such can get lost in the 30+ posts this thread already has.

From reading over these other replies in this thread. I am quite curious who "Lack" is and whether or not he visits the forums?

If others also want to change the design then let's do this shiz. What are we waiting for? It's only going to give the owner more money, I would only want 1 year premium accounts for me and my friends, which I think is pretty cheap considering what designers get paid.

It was mentioned by Mibi that the owner doesn't care about the potential of this website. If this is the case, why don't all these web designers and graphic designers build their own foe risk site? If you guys teamed together to build an awesome risk I would want in. This game is an incredible game that everyone I know loves. There is a TON of growth potential, and so far this site is the only site with a near monopoly on it, the other sites are just basic risk.

I don't care what happens... redesign/remanagement of conquerclub, or the opening of a new site. I am just a designer, and I want the game I am playing to be awesome. I also want to look at something that catches my eye every time I login.

Yeah I was on the site one day and that's all it took for me to be addicted, and if I am addicted to it, I want to be looking at something I like, so I decided to make something up.

they wont pay you to redesign the site... and i would much rather see them spend their time on new game types and important updates. instead of stupid graphical interface which doesnt effect the game at all.

That's fine, because as I mentioned, I am not asking for money.

I personally will most likely play the same game type and the same maps that I am playing now, so new game types will not effect me. With that said though, I am not fighting against new game types. Nor am I saying new Graphics are more important than new Game Types, however, there are many of us it seems who would like to see a change in graphical interface, whether it effects the gameplay or not. So there is no reason you should put down the things we want and say yours are more important ("stupid graphical interface"). We are all on this site, and we are all playing this game, every one should be entitled to their requests.

I don't care if I have been here 1 day or 1 hour. I am now part of this community as it is free to everyone, and I, with older members than myself are requesting a new design. I have spent my day making an idea I had, instead of just saying "get a new design." I was doing what I can, without getting paid, to help so it wouldn't require much effort on the owners part to make the change to a new design.

i think you mistook my statement of my opinion as an insult because it disagrees with your opinion. dont tell me to shut up and then talk about how you have a right to your opinion. we BOTH have rights to our opinions, lol.

and these statements are almost contradictory.

I would only want 1 year premium accounts for me and my friends, which I think is pretty cheap considering what designers get paid.

That's fine, because as I mentioned, I am not asking for money.