Advertise or Die - FK's website

[Brar]

Next step I think is a rehaul of the website to make it more user-friendly, I'm speaking about look here, not contents

I think Eltsac did a FK phpbb theme years ago... gonna have her take it out if the bosses agree, could be fun to have some changes

[Mask]

This is a good point, Brar!

Our main website, that at http://www.forgottenkingdoms.org is very poor and does need some Tender Loving Care to make it a bit more descriptive in terms of what FK actually is, what it offers etc.

What do people think of this site: http://www.play.net/gs4/ as something we might aspire to?

If anyone is any good at web design and has some ideas on how we might re-organise the website, enhance it's look and feel and above all have a better home page, that would be fantastic. We can put up a second development site at something like : http://www.forgottenkingdoms.org/newsite that we use to work on the new site (I can figure out a way to give people access to update the site's php/html).

Some basic stuff then:

1) What content should we have on the main page?
2) How should the site be organised in terms of content?
3) Should we add any new artwork?
4) Anything the site is lacking?
5) Is our logo still 'cool'?

Any and all contributions much welcomed!

[Melusine]

That other site looks a bit cluttered and too busy to look at... I've always enjoyed simpler designs personally, where it is easy to find everything. I've never had an issue finding what I needed from our site/forums, honestly. It might be interesting to have different skins possible through each account's options of the forums, but I know I personally would keep the standard one I've enjoyed thusfar.

As for the site, it could use a slight reworking to make it look more appealing. A quick description that maybe goes into the very best parts of the game we enjoy. The roleplay, the races, the classes... The very things people usually see first when looking into a mud. Oh, and of course the setting, which version of FR we're using. I like our logo, but I also have a tendency to want things to remain the same. Change is hard!

If there is a change to it, I would like to see the simple layout remain. It has quick links to exactly what you could ever need. I like that there aren't too many options right at front that you have to search through. The Home, Getting Started, Forum, World Information, Builders, Support FK links as the only ones has worked well for me personally in the past.

[Brar]

I would say...

A intro page that give a unique place feeling when you arrive..( flash banner?
A more appealing fantasy layout.
A big Start here button leading to the getting started page.
An easier to access Help File database (not lost in some menus :p )
A gallery for characters pictures and such (I can provide the web storage if that is the problem)
A character gallery where everyone can (can not have to) post the background of their charater (can have different sections for "heroes" that have helpfiles about them.
New/More fantasy artwork.
A story corner to give people coming a short sight of how great the rp in fk can be (potential new player do not begin by browsing the forum, but they do look at the website.)
I would says a "What's happennig" page for OOC updates news, like new codes, ect.

Now let's be clear that I have no knowledge of anything webbish... so I don't know what is feasible and what not.
But I know we have at least one full-fledged webdesigner in the player base who could give advices...

Brar, running for his life for gods now why.

[Briek]

you have two types of players, those that just like to dive in and those that like to read the manual.

Could we possibly have maybe a page or two detailing specific things unique to the story of Forgotten Kingdoms?

[Lathlain]

I'm afraid to say that I completely agree! The current site serves its purpose well enough, but it is sadly... well, uninspiring. A new potential player on the search for a MUD to try is unlikely to be awestruck, but by the same token I agree that the sample MUD site you linked was a little on the cluttered side.

I've not done any web development for a few years now, but I'm pretty sure we could storyboard a respectable new layout between us. A little artwork, textured borders and a generally more informative front page (as in one that tells you what FKMUD is, rather than providing a background on the lore) would do the trick. Removing the old mudmagic award logo and replacing it with some framed text to that effect would also help professionalise the image

[Layna]

Re news:

It's a good idea, but only if the news is going to be regularly updated. One thing that would turn me off as a player would be a site that looks inactive. An inactive site would make me think that the MUD follows suite. If there aren't going to be regular news bulletins, you're better off leaving it out altogether, IMO.

If you ARE going to include it - IC news and OOC game developments (code updates/new areas/features) could both be included as it reassures people that a) there's roleplay happening and b) the game developers are working to improve the game experience.

[Brar]

Well, the news are already updated on the forums, so instead of a forum post, we would have a kind of blog

But again, I'm only giving ideas I think could be nice..I already have my other half scowling me with words I don't want to understand...(she speaks the language called php which is worse than elven..., a language I don't understand anyway..)

Brar

[Athon]

Most 'good' websites for gaming usually have a front-page that everyone goes to first. I'm not sure how the rest of you do it, but I just come straight to the forums here.

I'm a big fan of putting updates/news on the front page, with other options surrounding it. Two things (either or both) I think would make good front-page subjects:

1) OOC Developments to the game - announcements, coding changes, new areas, etc. Let's make changes to the game exciting! After all, it's a very good thing that we have a game that's dynamic and always in work to improve upon itself, but why don't we announce our work to outsiders (note: I don't mean let's make changes that exciting. I mean let's make the changes that currently go on seem more like "game updates" or "patches." In other games I've played in, it's usually an exciting day when a new "patch" comes out)?There's plenty of mods out there that will take posts that are posted in the forums and post it directly to the front page; something like that can be easily set up.

2) IC Developments in the game - Peverell's Newspaper anyone (sorry if I mispelled the name)? The player has put a lot of work into the newspapers (I think 8 editions?) and since they are widely available, I would argue that they could be posted on the front page, too. That way outside players can see that the world is changing dynamically from player RP before they even log in! Also, things like gatherings can be posted (Rangers gathering, Brightbuckle, Selunite Tea, Lathanderite meeting, etc. could all be posted to the front page, too) or new FMs/high priests or major RPs, etc.


The front page is the symbol for FK for the rest of the MUD community. We can also make it a tool for current players. Find the delicate line between "clutter" and "just the right armount" is tough, but with our flow of ideas and input, I think we can make the appropriate change.

[Athon]

Also, Estrild is having issues logging in, but she brought up a good point to me:

Flash introductions can be a bit annoying after a while and they're a big burden to slower connection users. Seeing as MUDs are a perfect fit for those that want to "game" but have issues due to connection, I feel like a flash introduction might alienate some users.

Just an opinion, however. I personally love flash intros - we had one for my Quake 3 clan webpage for two years. But I don't think it's the best solution here.

[Brar]

Oh I was more thinking about a banner on the top of the sites more than an intro, but I was already told that banner was better as animated gif than flash... shows my incompetence about those things.

So bosses, still no answer about if you want to try the phpbb forum theme. Just send a pm to tell me where I should send the files (I can upload them and let you d/l them if you want).

Could be a start and no one is forced to use it, just add flavor.

[Nysan]

The more enjoyable websites, to me at least, are the simple ones. Not the ones that have nothing on them, but ones that are simple to move around in. Far too many websites flood their main page with tons and tons of info, images, flashes, ect. Not only is it overwhelming to slower connections, it is also off-putting to first time guests that may feel lost by all of it hitting them at once.

A new website for FK would fit better in a simple setup. Clear, easy to locate, links to important things such as the Zmud/Fang downloads, New Player sections, Forums, and maybe the Event Calander, things to draw new players. Highlighting an active community is far more appealing to the average new player than a thousand manuals and how-to guides.

I would avoid many things for players already here. Yes, shiny things are nice, but we know where things are and how to find them. A website should focus on the new blood, not inside-joke material only current players would enjoy. Thats what the forums are for, after all.

[Eltsac]

Hello there.

I love it when Brar launches new ideas with a "Eltsac can do it"...

I can work on a new website (I design and code websites on a regular basis - html /css / php / mysql ... not sure if other languages would be required here ?).

I will search my old fk files for the fk layout I made for phpbb years ago and see if I can put it online on a test server just for fun. I don't even remember how it looked like and I don't know if it works for newer versions of phpbb.

To me, we could improve our logo, wouldn't be bad but it's a personnal point of view

This week-end I will try to gather and organize all the content propositions everyone put in this thread.

As other pointed out, I like simple, clear website layouts too. I hate to feel overwhelmed by unecessary information and media.

I will search ideas for logos / site layouts and tries to come up with different things. I don't know if others want to share ideas too ?

El.

[Eltsac]

Alright, I got lazy, I didn't draw them myself. I found some elements online I put together.

Don't know if anyone like those ideas ? or have any comments / other ideas ?

El.

[Lathander]

I just want to throw my full endorsement behind all of Nysan's comments. If I were to post my opinions on the topic, they would exactly mirror his.

[Tavik]

I've got some schooling in online advertising and the most important aspect of a good website that was repeated over and over is that you HAVE to grab the viewer's attention immediately. If you don't do that, you'll lose a lot of traffic. Images and graphics are a good way to do this, but there are other ways to do it was well (The word FREE in big bold letters is an example). Once you have your attention, then you need a means to direct them to where you want to go. For us, that means either directing them into the game immediately since the game is really our biggest hook, or note the features of the game somewhere easily accessible. Another thing to consider is that most people will not scroll down a page unless it already has their interest, so we need something near the top to where no scrolling is required to get their attention, and then anything else we want to use to draw them in should be below that. The third point is just as others have mentioned: Keep it simple. Busy looking websites can be good for those who are already used to them, but for us, our website is our tool for drawing people in. If it looks complex, people aren't likely to stick around to figure it out, they'll just move on to something that looks more interesting, so simple is very important.

[Eltsac]

Alright, as I told, here is a summary of what has been proposed in this thread.
Whoever will be the one that will be assigned for this job, I hope it might help :

Everyone agree on the fact the site layout must stay simple and clear, with easy access links so everyone can find its ways easily in the site.
It should be attractive and organized to draw the attention of potential new players.

About content propositions :
- The starting page should have an appealing, global description of what FKmud is with an inviting access to the getting started section
- See if the help file section can be improved
- Possibility to have players share pictures and backgrounds of their characters
- pages about the unique story / lores / background of FK
- Some news that list the last OOC improvements /developpements or IC events / major RP in game (maybe 2 different news feeds ?) to show new players fk is an active mud. It must be updated on a regulas basis, maybe recovering the news content from a specific thread on the forum for an easy management ?
- An event calendar

I hope I didn't forget anything. I don't know if anyone has other ideas / comments ?

About the phpbb theme I made, won't work on new versions on phpbb (it didn't use css when I made it, it's no more compatible). Too bad.

El

[Lathander]

There used to be, and may still be, a thread dedicated to positive comments about the mud. A "Thank you" thread or something like that. Maybe consider taking the best two or three of those quotes and posting them as brief testimonials.

[Lysha]

This is the thank you thread, I do believe.

[Brar]

As no one speaks of it anymore

First layout try...

The important here, is the layout, not the content itself

Thoughts and comments (be them positive or negative) are very welcome

Brar

PS: Also if you think we are moving air for nothing you can tell it too