New Homepage (Official Dev Feedback) - updated 4/5/09

[spotless rose]

I like the new look..but is there a way to see my "friends list" so I do not have to dig them out if storage? I miss getting on groups because they do not know I am on or i don't see them on...just a thought..thank you

[rufflefern]

hi..nice job..but could I see me friends list? I miss who is on when I am on..or a place to "click" onto to see friends faster...thank you

[Lazarus Larkin]

Are the NPCs on the "spotlight" thing going to be rotating, or are we always going to be stuck with Moira? I... honestly really can't stand Moira. I know there are users who love her, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't rofl Rotating new ones in and out would be awesome, and also give a chance for some neglected NPCs like Lex or Josie time in the sun.

I also really dislike the title "What's Hot"... it's kind of nitpicky, and not really a big deal, but it reminds me of Paris Hilton and that's not pleasant rofl Just "What's New" or something would be better in my opinion.

I also don't get the point of the Popular Threads and Popular Items lists. The Popular Threads thing seems redundant, since we already have the Top-Rated Threads list under the Community tab. And the Popular Items list... uh... just... why? I think they'd be better off using that space either to move the announcements that are currently crowded into the corner, or making the spotlights bigger, or something. I dunno. Those two things just seem like unecessary filler to me.

Other than that... it... isn't really drastically different than it was before. Not really any better or worse, tbh, haha.

[Kill Hybrid]

The announcements area is confusing. Seems the "Featured" ones are just the same sponsorship things that are linked over in "Keeping the Lights On", while some important site-related ones are tossed off into "Community"

Half of the page looks like various advertisements, with links to a jubilee of sponsorships, advertisement, and banner to either Skittles world or Verizon's Cinema channel.

The footer still looks like a train wreck and not nearly as nice as it looks in that mockup in the first post.

[Melosaeidein]

Overall I think it's okay. It doesn't blow my mind or anything, but I don't dislike it, either.

I wish the Announcements box was more prominent, though! It looks almost like an afterthought. I would also like it if it didn't always go back to the 'featured' thing, like, once I clicked over to the 'community' one it would stay there, even if I went to another page. I don't know if that's easy to do, but if it is that would be fantastic.

And can we have our Friends back, please? whee

[Yen Quest]

I can't really tell the difference between the "keeping the lights on" and "announcement 'featured'." xd If there's really little difference between the two, I think it would be best for you to replace "keeping the lights on" with the friendlist feature. :3

*edits*
Oh, I forgot. Is there's any way for you to fix the problem with the empty space on the right of the homepage? Some people have a problem with the empty space, especially when they're using a really high resolution.

[Reasons VII]

The bottom half of the homepage is mainly text, which looks kind of boring.

Half the content on the homepage is basically advertisements for other companies and gala cash such as the flash worlds and sponsored gala cinema. I realise that gaia needs these profits to pay their bills so I guess this can slide.

The popular items thing while fun, is essentially useless and could probably fit in better in the shop part of site.

It looks cramped, probably because of the borders.

If I saw the page as a newbie, I wouldn't know where to start.

It is more streamlined and sophisticated but I don't like it very much at all.

How about you guys implement a feature where you can customise your own homepage? That would be awesome.

[Jokemo]

cool layout

[DJ LAZA]

Nice job, I like it. But it looks really small?

[Cyberpumpkin]

The twilit edges make this look like something featured in someone's DeviantART gallery, rather than its own actual site.

Just so you know, that's not a compliment. DA's layout is tasteful yet subdued, bordering on boring, but that's perfect because it's about people's art, not the presentation of the site itself. Not so with Gaia.

Am I the only one who's kinda sad that it seems like the "suits" at Gaia are trying to change the branding away from what attracted many of us in the first place?

"But we're trying to give it a more grown-up look!" the response goes.

Okay, here's the thing: I'm twice the age of the hypothetical average Gaian, and I'm actually male. It's my job to spend the day looking at a computer screen filled with grown-up-looking applications. If I'm accessing a grown-up-looking website at home, it's to file for my tax refund (hellooo TurboTax.com, I'll be taking my money back, thanks very much Uncle Sam).

So the last thing I want to look at when I'm visiting a fun site is something "mature" (e.g. boring and bland). Back in the day, Gaia's look gave a bright "fluffy clouds and sky" feel, thanks to the different blue tones and the wing (remember the wing?). How come Maple Story (who some say took design ideas from Gaia) is still getting it right, but now Gaia not so much? What about Wakfu? Or Ragnarok Online? Remember when people wanted Gaia to be more like that? What about (dare I say?) Neopets? Or Club Penguin, for crap's sake? They don't seem to have forgotten what fun looks like.

the suits: Those are your competitors. Not Gears of War. Not WoW. Not some hypothetical Hot Topic Online.For

And, okay, if you won't give way on this. . . Could you at least fix the goddamn forum buttons?! Make the colors match and put pictures in all of them.

[BreathlessTao]

Thank you Gaia again - NOT. You just did it again. GREED once more, it's just disgusting - monthly collectibles and evolving items, not everyone can afford it, yet it's the BIGGEST thing u come to see upon signing in. scream Spotlight is again a thing that for some ppl might be useful, but most others will never click there. Featured avatar? Who decides what gets there? Totally useless again, imo. Popular topics, maybe this one makes the most sense, tho I'm not sure it's really needed. Popular items, again, GREED, just spend the money/gold, and spend more and even more. scream Well ******** that. Keeping the lights on, it's just ads again. Announcements, i think, are totally useless again, I mean we get those in notifications anyway, so what's with the repetition? On the other hand - so far I could see the status of at least four of my friends, prolly the most often used part, now it's gone. Congrats for another set of shitty stuff. scream

[BreathlessTao]

Reasons7

How about you guys implement a feature where you can customise your own homepage? That would be awesome.

That's strongly supported. eek

[Mitsukumuro0]

I really love it. I like the way the annoucments are set. I dont have to go clicking all over the place to find everything XD . <3 Love you gaia..

[Fried Ovaries]

It looks cramped.
Not very eye catching.
The advertisment is too big.