Gaia Site Re-design Comments Welcomed

[Cjllewey]

i would love if somebody acknowledged my suggestions:

Ok, if they dont change it back, which they probably wont, what intelligent suggestions do we have to fix it? Ntt just "this should be changed", how should they change it? what do you suggest they change it to.

I think there should be some sort of background, perhaps a symbol, like, the mini angel wings, or just a pattern of Gaia Online repeated, or a non moving Gaia Online watermark in the center. Also, i think a version of the old picture should replace the people inside the circle in the upper left. If feasible, they should replace the current navigation bar with a flash one, but they should keep the landing pages for people who like them, so when you click on the main options, you go to the landing. Of course the corner avatar needs fixed, and the gold count needs a bigger font. If those changes are made, i beleive more people will settle down.

I like the four button alert system, the spotlights, the free items, the tour, and other various aspects, but the above are some constructive criticisms, thank you for your time.

if the admins are going to change things, fix things, and whatnot, it would help if they would post an announcement telling us what aspects they plan on changing, and what they are going to leave as is.

[Sacred Flame]

Waaa*hey*AY too plain. Due to all the whiteness it makes it look like all the links were slopped down. o_O And it just looks like an incomplete site now. D< I like some of it but just... ugh ._.

[MangaGirl]

I have been on Gaia since only a few months after it began, and I can tell a lot of work went into this version of the site. That said, I am not terribly impressed. I am still waiting for new places in Towns to open so I can actually have a home on a lot, and I am continually amazed at the lack of reliability for the site, yet there seem to be enough people working on creating new layouts that are not being dedicated towards bug hunts and getting the features that are in existence working properly. While I do understand that someone seems to think that the site needs to be kept fresh with a layout change every year or less, try and make the site functional before adding upgrades, okay? I know that is not the easiest thing to do, but I am tired of the place developing bugs and features going down after every event and new item release.

Things are getting better, but please consider that a new face for the place every few months isn't the answer. I actually had finally gotten to understand and adapt to the last layout, and the rug was pulled out from under me and now I have to try and figure out everything all over again. I mean, when I am donating to the site, I would expect some input into what comes next. My money is being used to create this place, and to have it changed on me all the time is getting annoying. I have debated pulling out of Gaia a few times due to the lack of stability, and this is just getting a bit maddening when I actually try to support a site that I used to enjoy. So please, try and take into consideration those who do support your site, okay?

[Alec Ikiiki]

I'm not going to say I am or am not a big fan of the new layout. It's sad that it took what seemed about 2 1/2 years for a new layout to come together, but then within that same year this new layout is released.

I agree, that a bit more white was welcome, but technically, there's way too much white space. It's overpowering. I believe if more soft colors like greens and blues were used it would make the site feel a lot better. The darker colors of the last layout were gentle and did not strain the eyes when I stared at the screen too long.

On another note, Navigation was so simple on the last layout. You didn't have to click on so many different links to get where you're trying to go. Instead, you could hover your mouse over My Gaia, Community, Games, World, etc., and then click on the links that appeared. It was so nice and so quick. It made navigation so simple it was fantastic. But with the new navigation, I have no idea how to get to some things like housing.

Also, on the main pages, I consider them cluttered. I seriously don't want to know who's new. I don't want the suggestion to randomly give gifts to newbies. I don't want them to beg me for items/gold/etc. I don't necessarily need to know what my friends are doing all the time. And what do I mean by clutter? The fact there are so many different things on the front pages. Ever thought about those that still run 56k modems? I'm fortunate to have cable internet, but I remember what it's like to run a 56k. Too many images are a bad thing.

Also, profiles, I know they're still in the process of being released, but I want a means of getting back to Gaia from the profile, like before. Granted, it's nice the Gaia Navigation bar doesn't appear at the top of the page anymore, but it was nice when I wanted to get out of someones profile. If need be, place some sort of navigation on the bottom of the screen. Seriously, it would help alot. It's not wise to make a page that someone can not get out of, besides changing the url manually, or back paging. Not a good idea at all, and that's how profiles are set up.

I will admit, things seem a little more organized, tab wise. The free gifts to newbies and oldbies alike, Gaia A to Z, the fact the site map link appears at the bottom of the screen near the copyright signature, are all great ideas in my opinion. Not to mention, the event symbol, trade, friend, or PM buttons change color when they're active. I like that added feature. But like others have been complaining, the avatar needs to increase in size like it used to be. If I'm to look at my avatar on whatever page I'm on, I would like to see it fully.

I like how the top banner/navigation images are set up, the orange on blue reminds me of the beach which the characters in the circle are obviously there. I'm guessing this is a themed layout made for summer. Nice touch.

Main things to fix would be avatars in the upper right hand corner, navigation out of profiles, use less white (it's literally blinding for it is too bright), use roll-overs for navigation again, & less content on the front pages. Seriously, if those were fixed, I'm sure so many more people would be happy.

Here's a question. When the admins are not working on Gaia, but are just on their own computers messing around, what color are their wallpapers? Uber bright practically white? Or light shades of colors to keep the eyes from straining? Or uber dark?

While writing this message for teh past 25 minutes, my eyes are seriously beginning to bug out from the excessive white. In the old layout, the medium blue bar to the right of the screen was nice to get rid of the excessive white. I'd recommend to use color again.

[videostoregeek-230607]

well its new its got a very laid back appeal but its slightly scattered, and the letters are big and annoying. I like the new look but those two things are slightly confusing sweatdrop

[kiironobara]

Please bring back the old navigation. It will cut down on site traffic. Also, why do we have to click two links to dress? Why not a dress me AND my stuff link?

And I miss the borders. Sorry, but it made the site much neater. Right now it just kind of blobs across the monitor.

[SonCathowl]

Cursed beach people, mocking me through their portal... Making fun of me because I have to deal with this expanse of burning white... *Grumble*

Gaia, you FAIL. See signature.

[iubire]

I hate the new layout.

There's so much that pops up that's just extra fluff. When I press "Community" I don't want to read a quote from another user, I want a list of the forums. I don't care what so and so's puppy ate this morning, I just want to get where I want to go.

It's hard to navigate and the only useful thing is the Index. It took me forever just to get around to check my usual things and I haven't even attempted to get to my guild yet. Although, if you do change it, I;d have a link for the index page, not it cluttering the bottom of the page.

All the empty white space is bland. The "Welcome to Gaia" thing was cute when we first logged on but now it just adds to the lack of personality on this site in its current layout. Our avatars are much smaller and look worse. The little beach scene is tacky in the header.

I realize that alot of work goes into these things and it's always appreciated. The guide at the beginning is a spectacular idea, and I love the free items and gold. (Who wouldn't?) But please, go back to the old layout and maybe tweak it here and there to include more things under the main titles, dress up a few things, find ways to make Gaia more user friendly. Instead of re-vamping something that works, why not make it perfect? All in all, I'm really dissapointed. You had the first layout and had been going up in quality, then you kinda hit a drop off and have plummeted down to worse than the very first gaia layout.

Of course, who would I be to say these things and not advise ways to improve? Bring back roll over nav bars! Those were beautiful. Put a scroll bar in the shop window so it's easier to get to the one you need. Bring back the old layout and improve things from there. This site feels like MySpace now. Tacky, cluttered, and bland. Cliche to say the least. It honestly takes me back to my first days in web design. White and noobish. It begs the question, did the web designer preview this in Dreamweaver? Did they think it looked good? It's blinding. It makes me not want to be here on Gaia. Lol, don't want law suits for eye damage due to sudden brightness blinding your innocent users. ( A Joke of course)

As always, I realize how impossible it is to please everyone, but with enough people complaining about the same things it should be obvious that change is needed. All of this is constructive commentary and suggestion.

To sum it all up, this sucks.

I hope if you plan to fix these travesties that you'll make an announcement detailing what will change. Hopefully your users can find it.

Like wise people always say, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it."

[LilBitNekoKiwi]

I really love this new layout! But how do we get out of the profile page? I'm confused!!!

[Duck_man]

If I could choose one thing to change about this whole new layout, it would be the background. The white is, as many have said, blinding.
Secondly, please bring back greyed out topics... this was very, very helpful.
Thirdly, the navigation drop-downs were innovative and wildly helpful... bring them back, too, please.

[Aeronautical Whorebag]

With the border it looks like it's something from a kindergartener site, not the largest anime forum. There is a lot of white space that does make it look neater but after a while it seems like to much. My poor avi is squished at the top! gonk
I liked the flash navigator, not where we have to go to 'landing pad' place and then click on forums.

[MingSao]

Well, I must say... I'm a little lost. I'm sure I'll figure it out... but yeah... what everybody else said about the layout - too much white. There's gotta be a happy medium between not enough white space and waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much.

[Wolfie Duke]

I think that announcements when posted should log us out. When we re-enter gaia, there should be a mandatory read of the announcement that we have to click continue for before entering the rest of the site. This way here, events like todays change wouldnt be like 'WHOA!' to some people

[[x]Living Dead Girl[x]]

Probably already been stated((no way in hell am I going through 531 pages to see if it has neutral )), but I think there is too much clicking to get where you want to go. I liked how before you could mouse over something at the top, like commumity and then click guilds. Now you have to click community and then click guilds. It's a pain in the a** with unneccesary clicking.