Basic info for review:

KOWW.net

Werewolf theme with portal and intro movie, flash Integration, hand drawn graphics, animated status icons, animated / flashed postbit graphics, custom profiles, modifications to enhance the purpose of the site, footer clock displays lunar countdown and local time, portal & forum headers change out depending on season and users local time, just open your date and time properties, change the AM/PM setting and refresh page.

Any comments or suggestions for improvement are welcome and appreciated.

Cheers,


_V

Overall, I like this design and I would say it's one of the styles I've viewed recently that I've taken a liking to. I'm not to sure on the lengthy flash intro though. The flash intro could be a hinderance for users with low connections, just something to consider.

The logo looks realy nice and put together flawlessy. the siloutte of a battle scene was a very nice touch indeed.

If I were to pick fault I would really advise that you change any lingering vBulletin stock images like the Sub forum markers which really don't compliment such a nice style. The other reason is the stock sub markers are showing remnants of a white matte background that doesn't look to good on the background colour that it's applied on.

The other image is the menu_open image. Not a big issue but it's always nice to see that even the small images are fine tuned and compliment a style, more importantly, the have the correct matte applied onto that image.

Because you have one style (thus one coloured background), I would advise that you opt for a set of custom post icons.

Overall, I like the style so goodwork and goodluck with your site.

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Hi Shelly,

Thanks for the great feedback, yes the intro may be long for some, but its for a MMORPG guild and story and mythos is everything, you can always click at anytime to go right to the portal page or even skip it from the splash logo.

I have a few questions, you will have to forgive me , I don't work on forum sites to often, mostly 3d and high-end flash projects, I sometimes miss the little VBulletin stuff.

The sub forum markers, menu_open image and custom post icons:

The little arrows paper clips and pins I am already working on, if those are the sub forum markers you were referring too? The menu open image I guess I should match the colors to the site perhaps? And yes I agree on the post Icons, missed those totally

Thanks in advance for the help, very much appreciated.


_V

The sub forum markers I'm referring to are these images >> << There are 6 (if my memory serves me correctly). Maybe some orb images might suit this kind of style?

The Post Icon images are the images you can select before you submit a post (mainly underneath) the area I'm typing now. (screenshot below)


And the menu_open.gif image is the small triangle image which resides in the navbar menu at the top of the forum (underneath the logo) If you look closely (as with the post icons) there are remnants of a white matte that looks shoody on the tealish background colour it's applied onto.

Just a shame to see such a nice style (not being spoiled) but looking incomplete by a few images which can easily be tweaked and saved out correctly. :classic:

Edit: My mistake, the image (menu_open) resides by the forum tools area. You've done the wise thing and removed it from the navbar area. ;)

Ah those, I will have to make new ones of those and the post icons definitely, or find some suitable custom ones and apply some Photoshop love and matte to them. I agree orb type images would be best to fit the style.

I also changed out the menu background color and mouse over highlight, I think its much better now.

Again I appreciate the help. Thank you

Visually, it's very well done.

I dislike splash screens, especially intros like that because I want to get to the content. But I guess you have to ask yourself whether you're site is for entertainment or for its content. The same goes with the actual forums... Your style relies heavily on graphics. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but you're pretty much killing the chance of getting any new members who are on dial-up. I also dislike the bulkiness of everything - many of your images are huge and it takes quite a bit of scrolling to get around.

Of course the only useful feedback is constructive criticism, so don't take it the wrong way. Great style!

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Hi, SirAdrian,

Thanks for the feedback,

The primary design goal for this site was: Atmosphere. 100%

The site was made for an elite MMORPG guild, all of them broadband users and all of them online RPG gamers, it wasn't created with the slightest interest in getting any new members other then the ones in the guild or alliance guilds. Of which non would ever never ever be on a dial up connection (grin)


Note: The intro is content, its a visual story, of course its more appreciated by gamers and people into fantasy works then the give me the data now people (wink)

_V

That's good that you thought about it in advance. You can disregard most of my comments then. Most gamers nowadays have good PCs so it shouldn't be a problem. You got me with the intro as well - you're right that is content.

Good job; you definitely set the atmosphere with that style.

Thank you Sir, appreciate it

I started to replace those images, only a few so far, however are the ones up any better?

I have to confess that I completely hate working at this size, I really don't know how icon makers do it, 20pix /shutter ...(grin)

_V