I'm planning on a few updates to the web site... let me know if anyone has any comments.
1) fix the Left Menu graphics so that they are more like wood holding up the bricks or something else a little graphically cool.
2) Create a Team link under developers section that shows each member, their skills, projects they are working on, and possibly what they have contributed.
3) Update the Graveyard Quest page... not sure what I will exactly do yet.
4) maybe put some interesting icons/pictures on the site.
Any other suggestions? Anyone else have web development experience, uses Macromedia Dreamweaver or Photoshop and want to help on the web site? :)
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I have Photoshop and Dreamweaver, I can contribute to both areas.
I'll dump some ideas to my website @:
Http://home.attbi.com/~computerguruami2/dsdevguild/
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I like dev4.htm the best. The spear head needs a little tweaking and the menu bars too. But overall looks good! I would recommend making it the 'Graveyard Quest' site. I still like the current Developers Guild site (I haven't heard any complaints). But, what we really need right now is a unique look for each project. Currently we have the Graveyard Quest (and the whole story -- still both needing real names). We also have the SpellForge project that needs a web site. So, if you could work on those 2 sites, I'd appretiate that!
The SpellForge site could have a similar look with possibly the header graphic with some spell effects and instead of spears maybe staffs? But, I'll let you come up with those 2 web sites.
In summary, we should have 3 web site looks.
Developers Guild - current one, we'll keep, but probably continue tweaking. maybe after awhile change it.
Graveyard Quest - the site will most likely become more than just this quest though.
SpellForge - dedicated to the new schools.
I might want to use your DS logo with the gears in place of the one I have on the DS Dev guild pages.
Thanks!
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Okay, that sounds great. I'll create a section called Image Pieces so you can pull what graphics you need from them, e.g. the DS gears logo I'll pack them into zip files. Next I'll start pumping the graphics into Dev 4 and switch the logo to Graveyard realted & "tweak the spears 8^) ".
Thanks for the input.
-Joe
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so... "section called image pieces"... what do you mean? a directory?
current directories in CVS:
web assets - contains the raw images for the web. i.e. photoshop files
web - contains the actual things placed on the web.
what is the version of your Dreamweaver and Photoshop?
Also, when you create the pages for the projects, try to keep all path information relative. Since SpellForge and Graveyard Quest will contain their own images, you should be able to create an image directory under each project. Any global images are found under the web directory (web\images). Also, use a template and CSS for your projects - makes it a lot easier to maintain. Let me know if you have any questions. If you are not using WinCVS yet, I can update CVS with your files. I have a build process that will take what is in CVS and rebuilds the zip file that I place on the web site to republish the web pages.
By the way, I sent you an email on some of this... but not sure if you got it.
Thanks!
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The Dev Pages lead there also.
I will probaly remove Dev Sites 1-3 in the near future. Image pieces page is using the new look suggested for Graveyard. (Whaddaya think?)
CVS...humm...well... humm...couldn't get it to work. I know I suck... Maybe you could zip your WinCVS install directory and I could dump it to my WinCVS install directory. I really need to start using it.
I use Photoshop 6 and Dreamweaver 3.
The Photoshop files I use as a template for the pages. You will see when you download them.
Question, does Sourceforge allow server side includes? It would help speed the development of pages.
Content, I suck at text content, I would have to have help in that area.
I didn't recieve any email, just out of curiosity what email did you use?
-Joe
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Looks good! Interesting rollover effect! Spears look great too! One note... make sure the light is always going in the same direction... some of your shadows are on the wrong side. :)
So, if the "graveyard project" is at the top of the image, what would the "image pieces" become?
Also, not sure if the words 'Graveyard Quest' in the menu will be easy for others to read. Maybe a little emboss like it was engraved into the rock would help? and possibly tone down the black color in the brick where the words are would help.
The email... I used the computerguruami@users.sourceforge.net -- I guess that isn't forwarding correctly! That would also explain why you never responded to a lot of the emails I sent. I guess others haven't been getting my emails either!?
There are other things to setup besides the WinCVS directory. Not sure if copying my directory would help you at all. Use the startup guide that I wrote... I've added some things that should help.
I don't know about the server side includes... but do you really need them? Use the Dreamweaver template and it will rebuild the pages that use that template whenever changes to the template are made.
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I'll work the bugs out of Graveyard, still playing around with things. I agree on everthing, in particular about the buttons and text being hard to read, I'll get it readable tho.
BTW I've gotten CVS partialy figured out/working...I'm getting tired, I'll post later what the problem was/is.
-Joe
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Impressive foundations you folks are setting. Very interesting and useful looking sections.
I must say that one of the most refreshing things about DSDG so far, is that we don't "publish" for the world every little thing we do. I mean, we seem to be waiting for bigger size releases of info, and not trumpeting every little bit of progress we make. I like that restraint.
And, like I say, I like the websites under development. I'll be interested to see how they will be set up to be used by the developing group.
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I may be really picky, but I'm not sold on these designs.
The readablity of text in all these examples is a main concern for me as well as the hierarchical organization of links and information.
I'd like to spend some time and do some mockups as well and perhaps collaborate with Joe.
I have a couple quick questions that maybe Charles can answer:
1) Are we locked into a template with the sidebar navigation and the top and bottom headers? Is this a template we need to maintain, or can I deviate from this information structure?
2) Are there any special constraints I should worry about or can I design freely?
Thanks, and I look forward to helping you all out with some web design work. I'll crack away on it soon...and I'll keep ya posted.
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Jeremy, just to clarify (since I didn't in the email to you)... projects are different than the Guild. For example, a Project Leader is in charge of the direction of their project. The Guild houses the development effort on projects, but doesn't control the project. With that said, suggestions for improvement are always welcome (but not always implemented).
There was an updated GQ web site, but I don't see the link in here. (maybe Joe will post it in here for us.)
So... concerning the Guild web site, some of the design constraints are:
1) must be able to use a template so that updating the pages of this template in Dreamweaver is easy
2) addition of new projects to the links must be easy to add (easy is relative of course)
3) text on the site should be easy to read
4) the current theme of the Guild site is based around construction (this is open for change and suggestions)
Between you, Joe, KC, Ron, and I (and the input of others)... we will design/build the next version of our Guild website. Since it is not highest priority at the moment, most of us are devoting time to a lot of other things in the Guild and GQ project. However, I'm looking forward to hearing/seeing your ideas/mock-ups.
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I you are interested in taking on a set of challenging/interesting pages, I think a "hub" set of pages, that allows visitors to branch off into the various mods that will be premiering soon, would be a good project.
Think of the navigation/information presentation that will be needed to properly route everyone to the various associated mods that will be coming out of the project groups. Some will have their own pages, others will be only hosted on Sourceforge. A nice hub WILL be needed, and its design is wide open.
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I'm planning on a few updates to the web site... let me know if anyone has any comments.
1) fix the Left Menu graphics so that they are more like wood holding up the bricks or something else a little graphically cool.
2) Create a Team link under developers section that shows each member, their skills, projects they are working on, and possibly what they have contributed.
3) Update the Graveyard Quest page... not sure what I will exactly do yet.
4) maybe put some interesting icons/pictures on the site.
Any other suggestions? Anyone else have web development experience, uses Macromedia Dreamweaver or Photoshop and want to help on the web site? :)
I would like to help...
Just let me know.
Joe
Joe, what would you like to help with... graphics and/or HTML? Do you have photoshop and/or dreamweaver?
Thanks.
I have Photoshop and Dreamweaver, I can contribute to both areas.
I'll dump some ideas to my website @:
Http://home.attbi.com/~computerguruami2/dsdevguild/
Okay I have a little up, I need input please, don't like to get very far if concept is wrong.
Thanks,
Joe
I like dev4.htm the best. The spear head needs a little tweaking and the menu bars too. But overall looks good! I would recommend making it the 'Graveyard Quest' site. I still like the current Developers Guild site (I haven't heard any complaints). But, what we really need right now is a unique look for each project. Currently we have the Graveyard Quest (and the whole story -- still both needing real names). We also have the SpellForge project that needs a web site. So, if you could work on those 2 sites, I'd appretiate that!
The SpellForge site could have a similar look with possibly the header graphic with some spell effects and instead of spears maybe staffs? But, I'll let you come up with those 2 web sites.
In summary, we should have 3 web site looks.
Developers Guild - current one, we'll keep, but probably continue tweaking. maybe after awhile change it.
Graveyard Quest - the site will most likely become more than just this quest though.
SpellForge - dedicated to the new schools.
I might want to use your DS logo with the gears in place of the one I have on the DS Dev guild pages.
Thanks!
Okay, that sounds great. I'll create a section called Image Pieces so you can pull what graphics you need from them, e.g. the DS gears logo I'll pack them into zip files. Next I'll start pumping the graphics into Dev 4 and switch the logo to Graveyard realted & "tweak the spears 8^) ".
Thanks for the input.
-Joe
Great!
so... "section called image pieces"... what do you mean? a directory?
current directories in CVS:
web assets - contains the raw images for the web. i.e. photoshop files
web - contains the actual things placed on the web.
what is the version of your Dreamweaver and Photoshop?
Also, when you create the pages for the projects, try to keep all path information relative. Since SpellForge and Graveyard Quest will contain their own images, you should be able to create an image directory under each project. Any global images are found under the web directory (web\images). Also, use a template and CSS for your projects - makes it a lot easier to maintain. Let me know if you have any questions. If you are not using WinCVS yet, I can update CVS with your files. I have a build process that will take what is in CVS and rebuilds the zip file that I place on the web site to republish the web pages.
By the way, I sent you an email on some of this... but not sure if you got it.
Thanks!
The URL to the image pieces page is:
http://home.attbi.com/~computerguruami2/dsdevguild/imagepieces.htm
The Dev Pages lead there also.
I will probaly remove Dev Sites 1-3 in the near future. Image pieces page is using the new look suggested for Graveyard. (Whaddaya think?)
CVS...humm...well... humm...couldn't get it to work. I know I suck... Maybe you could zip your WinCVS install directory and I could dump it to my WinCVS install directory. I really need to start using it.
I use Photoshop 6 and Dreamweaver 3.
The Photoshop files I use as a template for the pages. You will see when you download them.
Question, does Sourceforge allow server side includes? It would help speed the development of pages.
Content, I suck at text content, I would have to have help in that area.
I didn't recieve any email, just out of curiosity what email did you use?
-Joe
Looks good! Interesting rollover effect! Spears look great too! One note... make sure the light is always going in the same direction... some of your shadows are on the wrong side. :)
So, if the "graveyard project" is at the top of the image, what would the "image pieces" become?
Also, not sure if the words 'Graveyard Quest' in the menu will be easy for others to read. Maybe a little emboss like it was engraved into the rock would help? and possibly tone down the black color in the brick where the words are would help.
The email... I used the computerguruami@users.sourceforge.net -- I guess that isn't forwarding correctly! That would also explain why you never responded to a lot of the emails I sent. I guess others haven't been getting my emails either!?
There are other things to setup besides the WinCVS directory. Not sure if copying my directory would help you at all. Use the startup guide that I wrote... I've added some things that should help.
I don't know about the server side includes... but do you really need them? Use the Dreamweaver template and it will rebuild the pages that use that template whenever changes to the template are made.
posted Spell Forge preview...
http://home.attbi.com/~computerguruami2/SpellForge/
I'm not completely happy with it, but thought you would like to check it out.
I'll work the bugs out of Graveyard, still playing around with things. I agree on everthing, in particular about the buttons and text being hard to read, I'll get it readable tho.
BTW I've gotten CVS partialy figured out/working...I'm getting tired, I'll post later what the problem was/is.
-Joe
Looks good! (comments in SpellForge forum)
Glad to see you are getting close with CVS. It is a little tricky, but it can be done.
Impressive foundations you folks are setting. Very interesting and useful looking sections.
I must say that one of the most refreshing things about DSDG so far, is that we don't "publish" for the world every little thing we do. I mean, we seem to be waiting for bigger size releases of info, and not trumpeting every little bit of progress we make. I like that restraint.
And, like I say, I like the websites under development. I'll be interested to see how they will be set up to be used by the developing group.
I may be really picky, but I'm not sold on these designs.
The readablity of text in all these examples is a main concern for me as well as the hierarchical organization of links and information.
I'd like to spend some time and do some mockups as well and perhaps collaborate with Joe.
I have a couple quick questions that maybe Charles can answer:
1) Are we locked into a template with the sidebar navigation and the top and bottom headers? Is this a template we need to maintain, or can I deviate from this information structure?
2) Are there any special constraints I should worry about or can I design freely?
Thanks, and I look forward to helping you all out with some web design work. I'll crack away on it soon...and I'll keep ya posted.
Jeremy, just to clarify (since I didn't in the email to you)... projects are different than the Guild. For example, a Project Leader is in charge of the direction of their project. The Guild houses the development effort on projects, but doesn't control the project. With that said, suggestions for improvement are always welcome (but not always implemented).
There was an updated GQ web site, but I don't see the link in here. (maybe Joe will post it in here for us.)
So... concerning the Guild web site, some of the design constraints are:
1) must be able to use a template so that updating the pages of this template in Dreamweaver is easy
2) addition of new projects to the links must be easy to add (easy is relative of course)
3) text on the site should be easy to read
4) the current theme of the Guild site is based around construction (this is open for change and suggestions)
Between you, Joe, KC, Ron, and I (and the input of others)... we will design/build the next version of our Guild website. Since it is not highest priority at the moment, most of us are devoting time to a lot of other things in the Guild and GQ project. However, I'm looking forward to hearing/seeing your ideas/mock-ups.
Jeremy,
I you are interested in taking on a set of challenging/interesting pages, I think a "hub" set of pages, that allows visitors to branch off into the various mods that will be premiering soon, would be a good project.
Think of the navigation/information presentation that will be needed to properly route everyone to the various associated mods that will be coming out of the project groups. Some will have their own pages, others will be only hosted on Sourceforge. A nice hub WILL be needed, and its design is wide open.