Questions about TPR's Front Page - Please read!

[BeemerBoy]

To be honest, when I first came across this site, it seemed rather unorganized and very "grassroots". That's not bad, but I was used to these other sites like Coasterforce, who have a rather slick graphic design and whatnot. So I actually would not visit this site due to that impression, until I realized you guys had some of the best content around, plus you're just one of the better humored sites around. So I was wrong about that first impression!

 

You know, that's actually one of the things I've always liked most about the site...not alot of fluff like the others. In my opinion, too much fluff concerning the design/ layout usually equals less substance.

[Reality15]

1. What do you find most useful about the front page?

I like that the latest official updates are posted and easy to find, instead of digging through the forums.

 

2. What do you find least useful about the front page?

Nothing, really. It's a pretty basic front page.

 

3. Is anything on the front page confusing?

Official updates and updates by forum members are in the same place.

 

4. How far do you scroll down the front page looking for updates?

Far enough to see if there's a new official update.

 

5. How often do you look at the front page?

Once a day

 

6. How often do you click on the "whatsnew" link?

Never

 

7. What would you like to see added to the front page to make your visits to TPR better?

Nothing added, but I'd like to see official updates and forum updates in separate places.

 

8. Anything else you would like to mention? Like any thing else you would like to see us add/change/leave alone/etc?

Maybe make the navigation menu easier to read, space things out a little bit (web 2.0), and maybe even offer an RSS feed for the latest official updates.

[The Disneylander]

The site and the content itself is fine, but sometimes it looks a little 'cluttered', you know? Maybe brighten up the site a little. Right now, the predominant shades are black and grey.

[nagro5]

What should the two columns on the front page be called?

 

I think the first column should be "Official TPR Updates". The second column should be "Unofficial Updates" or "Updates from the users" or something along those lines.

[Skramp]

Ok, here's a question for all of you - What should the two columns on the front page be called? I realize they are confusing. Help us fix that!

 

The first column will be for TPR Updates, like when we do an update from a trip, West Coast Bash, something "major". I envision we would add to this column 2 or 3 times a month, and these are the updates that we would like to "feature" on the front page, thus we don't want them to be integrated with the 2nd column because we want them to be in position longer.

 

The second column is for stuff on the forum. News, trip reports, etc, etc. I see this section being updated at least every day, sometimes twice a day, occasionally 3 times a day.

 

Please give us your thoughts!

 

--Robb

 

I think the front page looks pretty good. What I would suggest is leaving the pictures off of the "Announcements" part. It shifts the whole page down a few inches which could be used for other things. I would leave the column names as they are, they seem appropriate, but maybe shorten it to just "Forum Updates."

 

As far as the "plastic surgery" some have said to cosmetically make the site look better, I wouldn't worry about that. A lot of sites are all fluff and no substance, like "Doesn't our site look good? Too bad half the links don't work!" Of course you can always make the site looker with Flash intros and crap like that, but I don't believe that people that come here are looking at the prettiness factor, they are more concerned with the nuts and bolts of the site working right and getting the info they want.

 

Here's an idea, how about a "picture of the day" in the top left or right corner. Using scripts you could have it display a different pic from the galleries everyday or on every visit. Might be fun and let people put a face with all these silly names we call ourselves on the forums.

[Dleo]

Okay I'll put my two cents in...

 

1. What do you find most useful about the front page?

Able to see very easily if there is a new update or announcement.

 

2. What do you find least useful about the front page?

I think that would be the "Search Theme Park Review" bar.

 

3. Is anything on the front page confusing?

Haven't been confused by the front page yet... so no.

 

4. How far do you scroll down the front page looking for updates?

Not far since I check the site almost daily for new announcements or updates. Once I look at the front page I usually go to the forums page.

 

5. How often do you look at the front page?

Almost daily.

 

6. How often do you click on the "whatsnew" link?

I have never clicked on the what's new link. I trust that you are going to highlight the big stuff on the front page so I usually don't bother. The front page is already the "what's new" page for me.

 

7. What would you like to see added to the front page to make your visits to TPR better?

I'm not sure. Things are pretty good. Easy to navigate for the most part. Although at first I would always wonder where do I sign in. So maybe a highlighted sign in area.

 

8. Anything else you would like to mention? Like any thing else you would like to see us add/change/leave alone/etc?

Maybe just a facelift to the site. I picture something clean and sleek looking, right now it's dark and a bit "boxy". Otherwise front page content is good. I really like the thumbnails included on the updates page. Keep up the emails for important announcements. Also like that you are highlighting birthdays on the site... very cool. Anything that you can do to make members feel a part of the group is really good.

[robbalvey]

What about the following for the two headers:

 

"Theme Park Review Updates"

"Park News, Trip Reports, and Other Stuff"

 

Thoughts?

 

--Robb

[Groteslurf]

1. What do you find most useful about the front page?

The overview of all the recent focusses.

 

2. What do you find least useful about the front page?

Not much. The only thing I can think of is that if I click on a link on the front page before I hit the 'view posts since your last visit' button on the forum, the history of the latter is erased.

 

3. Is anything on the front page confusing?

No

 

4. How far do you scroll down the front page looking for updates?

Till I see updates which were there during my last visit.

 

5. How often do you look at the front page?

Due to the reason given under 2., only occasionally

 

6. How often do you click on the "whatsnew" link?

Seldom

 

7. What would you like to see added to the front page to make your visits to TPR better?

A 'view posts since your last visit' button link to the forum (see 2.)

 

8. Anything else you would like to mention? Like any thing else you would like to see us add/change/leave alone/etc?

Like Skramp suggested, a (random) 'picture of the day' from Tpr official report and/or Tpr member TR's

 

What should the two columns on the front page be called?

I can only think of 'Official TPR updates' and 'TPR member updates'.

[JC241092]

1. What do you find most useful about the front page?

 

- Easy to see when there is a new update almost anywhere on the site

- The right hand colomn

 

2. What do you find least useful about the front page?

 

- Don't know! If there is something that i would find least useful i havn't used it yet!

 

3. Is anything on the front page confusing?

 

- Well as other people have said, the first two columns!

 

4. How far do you scroll down the front page looking for updates?

 

- Normally i don't, but if i do it is never very far!

 

5. How often do you look at the front page?

 

- about 3 times a week. Can be more when i am on holiday and stuff though!

 

6. How often do you click on the "whatsnew" link?

 

- I must admit i never knew there was one until checking just now!

 

7. What would you like to see added to the front page to make your visits to TPR better?

 

- Maybe a smarter or more modern colour scheme?

 

8. Anything else you would like to mention? Like any thing else you would like to see us add/change/leave alone/etc?

[Meteornotes]

What about the following for the two headers:

 

"Theme Park Review Updates"

"Park News, Trip Reports, and Other Stuff"

 

Thoughts?

 

--Robb

 

Just as I was posting "Official Updates" and "News And Other Stuff", you post this. Which is better than what I came up with. So count me as a vote for "excellent - go with those."

 

dt

[dandaman]

1. I find that being able to discern official TPR updates with the "showcased" material, if you will, is one of the advantages of the front page.

 

2. The link to the forums is only limited to a small link at the top of the page and the occasional link within the updates.

 

3. Seems pretty straightforward to me!

 

4. Well, I guess since I frequent the site every day, I don't normally scroll beyond the first three updates because I've already seen the others.

 

5. Well, I look at it every time I log on; I don't have the forums themselves bookmarked.

 

6. About the same as everyone else -- very rarely do I click on the "What's New" page, primarily due to reasons outlined in Answer #4.

 

7. Maybe a more prominent link to the forum, but I suppose I could just bookmark a link directly to it.

 

In any case, only one answer to Question #8: Keep the awesomeness comin'.

[ernierocker]

I like the two new headers.

 

"Etc." looks a little better than "other stuff".

 

Did you change the font size too, or did I just imagine that?

[robbalvey]

I have just made a few slight adjustments to the front page. See if you can see what they are and if you like them better or not:

 

http://www.themeparkreview.com/

 

--Robb

[robbalvey]

I have just made a few slight adjustments to the front page. See if you can see what they are and if you like them better or not:

 

http://www.themeparkreview.com/

 

--Robb

[robbalvey]

I have just made a few slight adjustments to the front page. See if you can see what they are and if you like them better or not:

 

http://www.themeparkreview.com/

 

This is not a final version, but just a 'test'.

 

The final version will be PHP based.

 

--Robb

[robbalvey]

Looks good! The only thing that bothers me is how the bottom right side is empty. Maybe extend the special features section horizontally or add a new feature there. Other than that, I like it.

Yeah, I didn't touch that part for this test. That will be changed in the final version.

 

The question is more about did you notice what I DID change and do you like it?

 

--Robb

[CoasterGuy06]

Those links are....big. Looks good though.

[Swimace]

The links are a little too big for my taste, but that's just me. Also, moving the "Forum" button threw me off, but I guess I'll get used to clicking it in its new place.

[Eunuch Provocateur]

The right column seems like it's forum specific, so why not call it something like TPR Roundup or something like that (I know that sounds like the MiceChat thing, but, y'know, i"m none too creative)

 

"Top Forum Threads" "Favorites from the Forum"

 

Also the little white message before the update columns seems kind of non-sequitur... A simple message about why you should join the forums. Maybe make it the same as the Save the Date! thingies above it, with the small picture being a screen shot of the mySpace or something... You don't really need to bump the forum since most everyone in the coaster community already knows about them! And if they don't, all the great threads that're linked below already give them a solid gauge of the awesomeness to abound.

 

And the empty chunk on the right column could be eliminated by either A) Making the Special Features section centered or B) Putting older topics up there...

[nagro5]

I noticed that the pictures are a little to small, and I also noticed that you moved the forum button (which threw me off for a second, but I like it). The font is bigger at the top. I also noticed that you took away the place to join the TPR mailing list, and the search bar.

[philobat]

This site is really well done IMO. My only suggestion would be to create ICONS to convey content and less words. Having to read word descriptions to disseminated content interest can be confusing/time consuming.

 

I leave it to the creative members to create these ICONS and would probably get an ICON suggestion post to inspire members to create them- motivate with contests and prizes. Have the lifers on here such as Dan, Jahan and even kidtums be the judges/and participants. Talk amongst yourselves about that suggestion.

 

The information is definitely here and TPR is a trusted source all the way around.

 

I am very grateful for this site and all the hard work that has gone into it. Even if you did nothing and leave it as is- I know where and how to get the info I may need (yes, the site is this good already!!).

 

I have only attended one event and it was fabulous! I still have my badge and it hangs proudly somewhere in my things when I can find it.

 

I wish I had time to become more involved- but I do not- thus TPR has become a source for verification. Sadly I do not add much to this site and I am an unintentional news parasite! Sorry about that! I did give some info about Maggie Valley because of a client who wrote and directed a movie called GhostTown which was filmed on location at Ghost Town In The Sky Amusement park- which was (as I was told) the premiere of the film was to be linked with the parks grand-reopening. I do not know how it turned out but I did provide film location shots which occurred while the park was closed and this and Screamscape were the only sites I gave the pics and info to.

 

So I did give a little! I have received far more than my imput- so I offer some suggestions here as requested so I will feel less guilty perusing the site.

 

My nephew is the creator/co-founder and CEO of digg.com and I have asked for his tech staff to take a look at the site and give me some notes which I will happily pass along when and if I get any.

[robbalvey]

The right column seems like it's forum specific, so why not call it something like TPR Roundup or something like that (I know that sounds like the MiceChat thing, but, y'know, i"m none too creative)

Well, it won't always be forum updates. For example, when we had the link to Mitch Hawker's poll there. It's only forum updates now because that's all that's been posted recently.

 

This site is really well done IMO. My only suggestion would be to create ICONS to convey content and less words. Having to read word descriptions to disseminated content interest can be confusing/time consuming.

I'm not sure I would like that for the front page to be honest. I'm assuming you're talking about icons like Something Awful has:

 

Is that what you're thinking about?

 

I could see that one day being part of the forum, and I think it could work well there, but not the front page. I think that would take away from the personality of the front page with each update having it's own unique image. And really, you only should read as far as the image and the link text to know what's in an update.

 

--Robb

[ETapley0687]

I like the new changes to the front page. I notice that the "what's new" link is gone which isn't a big deal since I didn't notice it. The font on the 7 links are bigger and some what don't exactly match the front page, BUT that's not a big deal and it probably won't mean much to others. I like that the "Park News, Trip Reports, Etc." is shorter now.

[robbalvey]

^ They will eventually match, though. I'm more curious to know if people just wanted bigger font or if they were hidden in some other way that we need to fix.

 

--Robb

[PURE]

Love the front page as it's always been. If you want my two cents here you go (cause I already noticed a change that kinda bugged me):

 

Don't move the order of the labels at the top of the page (the order of Home, Forums, Links, etc.) It just makes it more confusing for people that have been visiting the site for years.

 

However, you can change the style of everything and I bet it would be just as user friendly. Using labels or symbols instead of the text is alright, but I'm a fan of the words, not wondering what each symbol means.

 

Overall your page is great enough as it is, however, I think if you spread everything further out, it would look better. Everything so squeezed together in the middle, the "Theme Park Review" banner is nice, but I think you could make it more "2008." The rectangle boundary really makes it look dated.

 

Overall I like how you have all the updates on the front page, and links to videos and archived updates as well.

 

If I can think of more I'll let you know.