Ideas for Wiki front page

[Scaredgirl]

Ideas for Wiki front page. Lets hear it people.

I think we should either go with very minimal approach for fast loading, or something bigger like and image with links. Here's kind of what I'm talking about: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,4126.0.html

No, not that image. But the same kind of idea, with big icons as roll-over images.

Discuss.

[Bloodshadow]

Although I like the elements division idea very much, I don't think we should divide the elements into groups until Zanz made it official. Otherwise newbies will be confused and ask "wut r material elements" and things like that.

My idea is to just list the elements like this:



If we have some uber coders, then we can make it exactly like the game's intro page, with buttons linking to each sections.

But of course, we can add things on the bottom, for strategies, False Gods, etc.

[Lyelle]

The Question is who u want to be addressed at the front page primary.

First Group
Newbies - They dont need that much detail about the elements, cards itself or there connections.
Here instructions, basic game rules or a short "demo-theme" of the game would be useful. (no need for registration/login to have a glance at the game)
Forum link priority?

Second Group
Gamers - They are interessted in cards/decks and glossary. Tipps and Tricks in addition to t50/t6 content.
They are the main wiki users. Is the Mainmenu enough to handle them?

Third Group
Advanced Gamer - who continuously visits the forum may only be interessted in tournament reports.
They should handle all there interessents through the mainmenu.
No adressing needed.

The Frontpage should be as clean as possible to highlight the important articels. I dont like a picture as bloodshadow mentioned, but a more promoting one.

Enough talk - start working on a preview

[Lyelle]

So here is my first interpretation of zanz elements list for the frontpage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/Didito/frontpage_concept_part.jpg

aether and time bugs me heavily, but cant come up with something useful.

[miniwally]

What;s wrong with the thunderstorms and clocks? I like the interpretation are the descriptions underneath the same as what's in the intro to the actual game?

[Scaredgirl]

The Question is who u want to be addressed at the front page primary.

First Group
Newbies - They dont need that much detail about the elements, cards itself or there connections.
Here instructions, basic game rules or a short "demo-theme" of the game would be useful. (no need for registration/login to have a glance at the game)
Forum link priority?

Second Group
Gamers - They are interessted in cards/decks and glossary. Tipps and Tricks in addition to t50/t6 content.
They are the main wiki users. Is the Mainmenu enough to handle them?

Third Group
Advanced Gamer - who continuously visits the forum may only be interessted in tournament reports.
They should handle all there interessents through the mainmenu.
No adressing needed.

The Frontpage should be as clean as possible to highlight the important articels. I dont like a picture as bloodshadow mentioned, but a more promoting one.

Enough talk - start working on a preview

My idea for the front page was the put the 12 elements + 'other' in the best possible place for easy access because cards are probably the main reason why people visit wiki.

Also I want recent articles, recent decks, etc.

Maybe some links to the main sections of the wiki. I know the links are in the main navigation too, but it might be a good idea to add them on the front page as well.

So here is my first interpretation of zanz elements list for the frontpage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/Didito/frontpage_concept_part.jpg

aether and time bugs me heavily, but cant come up with something useful.

Wow, that's pretty cool. I love it how some images like the bird and the tree move from one element to another.

Here are some potential issues with it:

- It takes up a lot of space, which may or may not be a problem.

- In my opinion all the 12 element icons have to be visible in the non-hover version as well. Otherwise usability suffers because finding a specific element is easier. It's probably easy for you because you made the image, but for a new visitor it can be more difficult because the picture isn't anything you find in the game. Which leads to my next issue ->

- The picture, while very cool, is completely separate from anything seen in Elements, meaning users have to "learn" how to use the image.

- I like the hover font (Life) more than the regular font you use with the non-hover version. It's the official Elements font so if we go with graphics, I think we should use that.

- You should add 'Other' there somewhere


Anyways, very nice job with the image. If you want, just give me the code and I'll put it on the wiki for testing (that is if it's actually css and not just an image).

And lets hear other opinions too.

[miniwally]

All the elements are visible in the hover version it only increases height not width but I might be misunderstanding what you mean.

[pepokish]

So here is my first interpretation of zanz elements list for the frontpage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/Didito/frontpage_concept_part.jpg

aether and time bugs me heavily, but cant come up with something useful.

Wow!  I really have to say, this looks absolutely incredible.  Very beautifully done!  I love how it looks on hover.

I agree with Scaredgirl on most of the points she made -- especially regarding the font, and the visibility of the element-icon on non-hover.  My one stipulation is that I really don't think it takes up too much space.  Any image containing all of the elements will probably be a bit on the bulky side, especially if you want to include the little blurb about each one -- but this format is large and visible, while still looking sleek and inviting.  The horizontal alignment means it would be easy to make space beneath this banner for boxes containing recent articles, popular decks, links, etc.

Great job, Lyelle!

[Lyelle]

What;s wrong with the thunderstorms and clocks? I like the interpretation are the descriptions underneath the same as what's in the intro to the actual game?

Desciption can be the same as ingame.

Its not about the thunderstorm. Its about the dimension-association. (my stickman climbing out of a window hanging in the air)
And the time foreground doesnt fit in the overall theme.

Here are some potential issues with it:

- It takes up a lot of space, which may or may not be a problem.

- In my opinion all the 12 element icons have to be visible in the non-hover version as well. Otherwise usability suffers because finding a specific element is easier. It's probably easy for you because you made the image, but for a new visitor it can be more difficult because the picture isn't anything you find in the game. Which leads to my next issue ->

- The picture, while very cool, is completely separate from anything seen in Elements, meaning users have to "learn" how to use the image.

- I like the hover font (Life) more than the regular font you use with the non-hover version. It's the official Elements font so if we go with graphics, I think we should use that.

- You should add 'Other' there somewhere

Anyways, very nice job with the image. If you want, just give me the code and I'll put it on the wiki for testing (that is if it's actually css and not just an image).

And lets hear other opinions too.

First of all, this is yet far away from being a code (should be css (maybe plus javacript) in the end, but thats to see)
Dimension still are variable and will change due to coding issues.

Its all about imaging the nature of the element without reading a bunch of text. Tried using card images, but couldnt came up with fitting dimensions.
Introducing 12 (13) different elements in such a small amout of space can be frustrating

Tried to build a bridge between newbie and gamer usage.
on-click -> direct to each element
hover/image -> instruction
image -> "while still looking sleek and inviting."

[Bloodshadow]

So here is my first interpretation of zanz elements list for the frontpage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/Didito/frontpage_concept_part.jpg

aether and time bugs me heavily, but cant come up with something useful.

I vote for this one.

[icybraker]

Yeah, Lyelle's version looks simply stunning. I love what you did for Aether.

I agree that Time doesn't really fit with anything else as well. Not sure how to fix it though; I'm not good at this kind of thing. Rollover animation looks really awesome. Is there some way to make it roll over and make a popping noise, like in the game? I love that noise

[plastiqe]

I'd like a little news blurb showing things like the winners of last weeks tournament or the top 3 in league rankings, to help promote PvP.