Please review my site

[Ben Rogers]

http://www.geocities.com/otacon2662/

please check the whole thing out, not just the entry page!! I think I did a good job, but I need feedback

[oceanic]

Nice Games!!!

[spufi]

Animated gifs that have flamming text are a dime a dozen.

The image for your intro page looks like a bunch of "cool stuff" thrown togther and makes little to no actual sense.

Intro pages suck. You just made me add another click before getting to your actual content.

I'm really not feeling the big red border around the "Enter link."

Using a Valid XHTML image on your site is misleading because Geocities basically makes it impossible for you to have valid XHTML.

#justcuz is a poor way to name something. What you are defining with it really is a <h2> tag.

*beats don't use tables for layout drum*

The graphics look cheap. I'm sure they are made by a lesser quality image program than let's say Photoshop. I'm actually in favor of the idea of not using images unless you can make then look decent. My first site was actually a text only site and I used that layout for about one year until I got Photoshop 7.

Some of your games are screwed up, some are missing.

For your write ups, why is your layout completely gone? I also get a horizontal scroll bar for entry one and I shouldn't.

[iniquity101]

how do people without javascript enabled play your games or lots of the things on your site?

I agree with Spufi on the intro thing. I would also say try and stick to a few text styles, not grab aload off flaming text

[PeOfEo]

It also has issues on other browsers, like in mozilla some text overlaps here some text there.

[pyro]

And the obvious aesthetics. While aesthetics is pretty subjective, not many people are going to find the shades of blue you picked to be attractive. Subtle colors are better than bold colors, if there is large ammounts of that color. I'd have to say I agree with Spufi, as well. When the graphics are low quality, they detract from the site much more than they add.

[Daniel T]

a quote from ur site:

It's the new year, 2004! It called for a new look to the site, and I answered. I think it looks a lot better- before all the pages were kind of empty


well, sumtimes empty is good. ur site, in my opinion has too many crappy images. if you are gonna include lots of images in your site, u should have a hi-quality image program(eg: photoshop or macromedia fireworks). these programs do cost a lot of money, but i say they r well worth the investment.

Originally posted by spufi:
*beats the dont use tables for layout drum*

i agree 100%. i used to use tables for layout, and all i got was problems, usually related to browser compatability because of different rendering engines. also, tables in no way comply to W3C standards. CSS is a much better, and simpler way to go. it doesnttake long to learn, and i'm sure u could find a good site to teach u how to use it (http://www.csszengarden.com/).

hope this helps,
-Dan

[Paul Jr]

I'm just sorta gonna agree with what everyone else said.

The intro page doesn't go over too well, and the red border... well, I'd ditch it, but if you don't want to, I'd make it blue to match the rest of the site?

I find that particular shade of blue you have, with the white text, is a bit hard on the eyes.

The whole low-quality images thing again... yeah.

The text over-laps in some parts.

I really, really, really don't like the opening of new windows. I think you should let the user decide if he/she wants to view the page in a new window.

The way you have the new windows opening makes sure that users without JS will not be able to view your pages at all.

Of course, we'll hit the using of tables for layout again. EVIL!!!

I'm too lazy to think of anything else, so... that's it.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by spufi
Animated gifs that have flamming text are a dime a dozen.

I just liked the effect, I wasn't tring to make it look unique.

The image for your intro page looks like a bunch of "cool stuff" thrown togther and makes little to no actual sense.

Intro pages suck. You just made me add another click before getting to your actual content.

Yeah that's kinda the point... it IS a bunch of cool stuff thrown together. Doesn't much matter, because I link to theprojectepsilon.tk pretty much everywhere but here. That mainly has something to do with files.... long, pointless story.

I'm really not feeling the big red border around the "Enter link."

That was just to emphasize it for morons who didnt realize they could click on the image

Using a Valid XHTML image on your site is misleading because Geocities basically makes it impossible for you to have valid XHTML.

Well all the code I wrote is valid, and I used the upload option to validate it, so, c'mon, cut me some slack.

#justcuz is a poor way to name something. What you are defining with it really is a <h2> tag.

I'm the only one whos gonna be coding my page, and I'll remember that myself, so.... yeah.

*beats don't use tables for layout drum*

Um... what? If you're saying that I shouldn't use a table, then I'' have you know I did that because I wanted everything to go together a certain way.

The graphics look cheap. I'm sure they are made by a lesser quality image program than let's say Photoshop. I'm actually in favor of the idea of not using images unless you can make then look decent. My first site was actually a text only site and I used that layout for about one year until I got Photoshop 7.

I do have photoshop, and made the graphics in combination with MS paint. They weren't meant to be elaborate, just some curves in the CSS world of straight lines.

Some of your games are screwed up, some are missing.

They all work fine for me, and on my friends computers.

For your write ups, why is your layout completely gone? I also get a horizontal scroll bar for entry one and I shouldn't.
Um, yet again... what?

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by PeOfEo
It also has issues on other browsers, like in mozilla some text overlaps here some text there.

Well, I don't have Mozilla, I don't know how to fix that, and I can't download any other browsers because I have dial up.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by pyro
And the obvious aesthetics. While aesthetics is pretty subjective, not many people are going to find the shades of blue you picked to be attractive. Subtle colors are better than bold colors, if there is large ammounts of that color. I'd have to say I agree with Spufi, as well. When the graphics are low quality, they detract from the site much more than they add.

I don't know about that, because I prefer bold colors, and I also like blue, and think that sites should match (in my opinion this one is a**-ugly.) And C'mon, I'm trying the best I can with the graphics, stop trashing me! Maybe tell me how to make them better... I'm willing to learn....

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by DanieLTomaS
a quote from ur site:


well, sumtimes empty is good. ur site, in my opinion has too many crappy images. if you are gonna include lots of images in your site, u should have a hi-quality image program(eg: photoshop or macromedia fireworks). these programs do cost a lot of money, but i say they r well worth the investment.

i agree 100%. i used to use tables for layout, and all i got was problems, usually related to browser compatability because of different rendering engines. also, tables in no way comply to W3C standards. CSS is a much better, and simpler way to go. it doesnttake long to learn, and i'm sure u could find a good site to teach u how to use it (http://www.csszengarden.com/).

hope this helps,
-Dan

I already know CSS, and am very proficient with it. All those images were created with Photoshop, which I got for free from my dad. I'm 13 and I run a non-profit site, I'm not willing, (and couldn't anyways) spend money for my site which nearly noone visits because google hasn't indexed it, and when they do I won't get paid. I have a book on CSS, btw. And my tables work perfectly for me, maybe it was your fault they screwed up for you.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Paul Jr
I'm just sorta gonna agree with what everyone else said.

The intro page doesn't go over too well, and the red border... well, I'd ditch it, but if you don't want to, I'd make it blue to match the rest of the site?

I find that particular shade of blue you have, with the white text, is a bit hard on the eyes.

The whole low-quality images thing again... yeah.

The text over-laps in some parts.

I really, really, really don't like the opening of new windows. I think you should let the user decide if he/she wants to view the page in a new window.

The way you have the new windows opening makes sure that users without JS will not be able to view your pages at all.

Of course, we'll hit the using of tables for layout again. EVIL!!!

I'm too lazy to think of anything else, so... that's it.
Well only 1 thing... all my games are Javascript based, so why would I open a window to a game they can't play? Also, the games are the only thing that opens in a new window. Also, noone I know has had any troubles reading my site, including my grandparents.

[rhsunderground]

also, no images loaded for connect 4.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by rhsunderground
also, no images loaded for connect 4.

?!? they loaded for me....

[spufi]

"Yeah that's kinda the point... it IS a bunch of cool stuff thrown together."

I hate to break it to you, but they aren't cool.

"That was just to emphasize it for morons who didnt realize they could click on the image"

Have the word "Enter" underlined and define a hover state for the link that changes the links color and I'm sure they'll have it figured out.

"I'm the only one who's gonna be coding my page, and I'll remember that myself, so.... yeah."

My point is that you should be using semantic markup.

"Um... what? If you're saying that I shouldn't use a table, then I'' have you know I did that because I wanted everything to go together a certain way."

I'm saying you SHOULDN'T use tables for your layout.

"I do have photoshop, and made the graphics in combination with MS paint. They weren't meant to be elaborate, just some curves in the CSS world of straight lines."

If you have Photoshop, I see no reason to use MS Paint. Your images have "cool" effects(in your mind), but they are harder to read and understand for the rest of us.

"They all work fine for me, and on my friends computers."

I get a jumbled looking game for Breakout. The Chess and Concentration games give me a missing page from Yahoo. Connect 4 and The Magic 8 Ball games have numerous missing images. I'm clueless about the Maze game.

"Um, yet again... what"

I ckick on you links for Chapter 1 and your layout is completely gone.

[pyro]

Originally posted by omega
I'm trying the best I can with the graphics, stop trashing me!
Who's trashing you? We are simply pointing out the issues that we do not like about the design. You did ask for feedback. There are basically two types of people who ask for feedback - those who actually want it, and those who just want to hear "good job." I think I'm starting to guess which one you fall into, as you've not appeared to appreciate anyones comments and criticism.

As far as making stuff better, we've listed tons of suggestions. Try them.

[Ben Rogers]

But you see, I kind of am just doing it the way that makes the most sense. You're bringing in other browsers- I can't do anything about those, I only have the latest IE. You're bringing in coding issues- it gives me no problems, and (for the most part) noone else problems; my code is validated (offline). I guess I was looking for a consumer-end review from people who know wtf they're talking about, not people who like to nitpick on my (admittedly somewhat flawed) code.

Oh well.

Also, I used paint so i could use the rounded shapes tool- Photoshop doesn't have one of those to my knowledge. But some image making tips would help. Also, I wasn't planning on carrying the layout to the story pages, then I would have to update every one everytime I added something new, and PHP isn't available to me. Any advice on having automatically updated layouts without PHP or any programming language would help (i.e., a javascript solution)

[Daniel T]

Originally posted by omega
You're bringing in coding issues- it gives me no problems,

hmmm, let's see. 6 billion people in the world. 1 in every 300 people have access to a computer:

6 000 000 000 divided by 300 = 20 million

1 in 10 of which have the internet:

20 000 000 divided by 10 = 2 000 000

you are 1 person, therefor:

20 000 000 subtract 1 = 19 999 999

that means that there are approx. 19 999 999 people in this world who have acces to your site. i'm pretty sure they dont all use internet explorer. u gotta take the general public into consideration while making ur site, not just u and a couple of friends. just a thot,
-Dan

NOTE: statistics from a year 1999 almanac

[pyro]

Originally posted by omega
I guess I was looking for a consumer-end review from people who know wtf they're talking about, not people who like to nitpick on my (admittedly somewhat flawed) code.You don't think we know what we are talking about, eh? Guess a 13 year old would know better than those of us who do this professionally. I'm LMAO over here...

[Paul Jr]

Originally posted by omega

Also, I used paint so i could use the rounded shapes tool- Photoshop doesn't have one of those to my knowledge.
You have Adobe Photoshop, and you're going to M$ Paint for some simple shapes?!

[ray326]

Also, I wasn't planning on carrying the layout to the story pages, then I would have to update every one everytime I added something new, and PHP isn't available to me. Any advice on having automatically updated layouts without PHP or any programming language would help (i.e., a javascript solution)
The things these people have been sharing with you are exactly the things you need to know and do to get to that situation. Look at this if you still don't understand the power behind CSS page layouts: http://csszengarden.com/ .

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by pyro
You don't think we know what we are talking about, eh? Guess a 13 year old would know better than those of us who do this professionally. I'm LMAO over here...

That's not what I meant at all!!!! I know you know what you're doing, and that's why I came to this forum to ask that question. But I was looking for what to do.. like you say my graphics are cheap, how do I make them better. Not just: Your graphics suck.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by ray326
The things these people have been sharing with you are exactly the things you need to know and do to get to that situation. Look at this if you still don't understand the power behind CSS page layouts: http://csszengarden.com/ .

ok... 1 sec *screams into pillow* what do u mean by Layout?!? It's a story! There is no layout, just text! And that's already formatted via CSS. So what do you mean? Clarify,

[Daniel T]

Originally posted by DanieLTomaS
hmmm, let's see. 6 billion people in the world. 1 in every 300 people have access to a computer:


6 000 000 000 divided by 300 = 20 million

1 in 10 of which have the internet:

20 000 000 divided by 10 = 2 000 000

you are 1 person, therefor:

20 000 000 subtract 1 = 19 999 999

that means that there are approx. 19 999 999 people in this world who have acces to your site. i'm pretty sure they dont all use internet explorer. u gotta take the general public into consideration while making ur site, not just u and a couple of friends. just a thot,
-Dan

NOTE: statistics from a year 1999 almanac

my mistake, 1 in 30 people have access to a computer

[The Little Guy]

I personally felt that your Intro page and your home page were the best looking they had more color than the others

[spufi]

For your images. I believe you could use the eraser tool to make corners if you want, but I'm sure there is an even easier way of doing it, but I don't know off hand. I would say you have an over usage of the noise effect. Your "reborn for 2004" is really hard to read because of it. Here's some logos I made using the noise effect.

http://www.matts-website.net/geek/psnoise.html

Notice the images are still clean looking and you can easily read the text. That's what you are shooting for.

Pick a font for your images and stick with it. Don't keep changing the fonts for all of your images because it creates a lack of consistancy.

About the CSS Zen Garden site. You said that you have the one pages with no layout because you didn't want to have to change every page if you changed the layout. The CSS Zen Garden site uses the the same HTML for all the different versions. The only thing that is different is the externally linked CSS file and the background images. If you wanted to change your layout out around, with a HTML/CSS layout all you would have to do is upload a new version of your CSS file and then the images that you use for your backgrounds.

[iniquity101]

another point about intro pages:

many search engines dont like them, like google (http://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html)

[Ben Rogers]

I didn't make my banner, it was made by Black Ghost, who did it for credits on A3. It's the only image with text, pardoning the "Games" logo, which I've been planning to turn into <h3>Games</h3> anyways. I did add the r3b0rn for 2004 to the "banner" but it was even MORE illegible before I inversed it on MS paint, purposely creating a noise effect. I have little to no control over editing it anyways, because I only have a .gif version of it.

Also think about it. The home page is the only real page, all others are just content with a link back to the home. I'd have to add every game to every story everytime I added anything!! It'd just be pointless work.

Also as for all the csszengarden pages? If it weren't for those images, they'd suck. No offense but they would. I can't get images of that calibur, so I don't depend on intracate designs like that, I rely on text, color, - images are only for somewhat subtle shape.

[Paul Jr]

Originally posted by omega
Also as for all the csszengarden pages? If it weren't for those images, they'd suck. No offense but they would.
You're missing the whole point of the website (http://www.csszengarden.com that is)

[spufi]

Originally posted by omega
Also think about it. The home page is the only real page, all others are just content with a link back to the home. I'd have to add every game to every story everytime I added anything!! It'd just be pointless work.

Also as for all the csszengarden pages? If it weren't for those images, they'd suck. No offense but they would. I can't get images of that calibur, so I don't depend on intracate designs like that, I rely on text, color, - images are only for somewhat subtle shape.

1. Yeah I have thought about, and I know of ways to make it very easy to update a site content wise. One solution is using some sort of server side code. If you couldn't do that, You could use iframes.

2. As Paul said, you are missing the point of CSS Zen Garden. It's content isn't really the point of the site, but it's showing what can be done in CSS.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Paul Jr
You're missing the whole point of the website (http://www.csszengarden.com that is)

ok then, what is the point? Not sarcasm, I really am asking.

[pyro]

The point is to show the power of CSS. If you read the page, it really explains it quite well.

[ray326]

Originally posted by pyro
The point is to show the power of CSS. If you read the page, it really explains it quite well. You ask so much, pyro.

[pyro]

lol :p

[PhillMc]

Omega, instead of getting insulted for feedback you asked for, step back and look at this in a 3rd person, non-biased POV.

1. There is no doubt, you coded the site for all to see, right? Well, the elements you've used makes it so only certain browsers can view. (A) Tables are useful, but only in the right places. Some browsers do not handle tables well. (B) JavaScript is useful, but again not all browsers support it and script support may be disabled on browsers that do.

2. A quote from one of my favorite sites, "...don't put images on your site just because you can". That comes from HTMLGoodies.com (I probably didn't quote it directly, but the point is the same). You said in one of your previous posts, "without the images, that site would suck, it's nothing but text". SITES DO NOT REQUIRE IMAGES TO BE GOOD. Dont get me wrong, images are nice and have their place in a site, but if you add too many, you MURDER the effect.

3. As for your layout, take the advice of those who posted; lay off the tables. You can acheive the same layout with the use of CSS (from what I have seen). The good thing about CSS ------ All browsers support it.

4. The colors............ I agree with Pyro, cut back on BOLD and go more subtile. I reviewed your site for roughly 5 minutes and I still have a headache. Bright, Bold colors are an eyesore if used too abundantly.

5. The point of CSSZenGarden...... IF you are indeed "proficient" (your words) in CSS, you would know the point. Before joining this forum, I knew NOTHING about CSS. However, when I was refered to that site, I immediately saw the point. CSSZenGarden's point is to show the power of CSS and all it can do.

[PhillMc]

After my headache went away:rolleyes: I went back to look at the content of your site, Omega.

---------------------Downs-------------------------------------
1. With scripting disabled, your games do not work:(

2. A few of your games have broken images, which renders them unplayable. This should be easily remedied.;)

3. A typing test with only one (1) sentence? I don't see the point. I think you should lengthen the test if you plan on keeping it.:) Also, on keying [Enter], the test restarts rather than completing or cycling to a new line.

4. Several of your scripts generate RTE's, and a few have incorrect syntax. Go through your code and check for programattic and logic errors (if you are going to keep the current scripting)

5. The game 'Arrange' does not properly fit in the new window which was made unsizable. Perhaps you could lose the 'new window' and go with an <IFRAME> if you are keeping the current layout.

6. The abundance of bright and bold colors makes this site, dare I say, a bit of an eyesore. No matter how nicely coded a site is (script, layout, etc), if it is hard to look at, people will not return for another visit.

7. My headache has returned.:rolleyes:

-----------------Ups--------------------------------
1. Some of the games (the ones I could play) were entertaining. Good job on battleship.

2. I see potential in this site, that is, if you take the advice of this forum and see what changes need to be made. If you are insulted by our feedback, you shouldn't have asked.

Overall 2.9 out of 10

Keep working at it.

[PhillMc]

Originally posted by omega
... and I also like blue, and think that sites should match (in my opinion this one is a**-ugly.) And C'mon, I'm trying the best I can with the graphics, stop trashing me! Maybe tell me how to make them better... I'm willing to learn....

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
You have a link to the 'Artistic' page on your site. If you honestly created the images on the 'Artistic' portion of your site, then certainly you can create images of better quality for 'The Omega Portal'.
0100011001110010011011110110110100100000011010000110100101110011001000000110001101101000011011110110 1001011000110110010100100000011011110110011000100000011101110110111101110010011001000111001100101100 0010000001001001001001110110110100100000011101000110100001101001011011100110101101101001011011100110 0111001000000111010001101000011010010111001100100000011010110110100101100100001000000111001101110100 0110111101101100011001010010000001110100011010000110111101110011011001010010000001110000011010010110 0011011100110010000001100110011100100110111101101101001000000111001101101111011011010110010101101111 0110111001100101001011000010000001110011011011000110000101110000011100000110010101100100001000000110 1000011010010111001100100000011011100110000101101101011001010010000001101111011011100010000001110100 0110100001100101011011010010110000100000011000010110111001100100001000000110100101110011001000000110 0011011011000110000101101001011011010110100101101110011001110010000001101111011101110110111001100101 01110010011100110110100001101001011100000010111000100000011011000110111101101100:)

[Ben Rogers]

Well first of all, don't cpmpliment me on the games, I got the games from javascript.internet.com, which is why I link to it. They are javascript, so I don't want non supporters to be able to view the pages, errors galore.

Also, it's two different things, artIstIc and the bg images. Those aren't art, and are only low quality because I'm clueless on how to make those kind- the ones on artIstIc were a lot more fun, :) and weren't in need of technical prowess- 1 save, never touched 'em again. Also, some of 'em were luck pure and simple (i.e.:Cloud Road).

Also, I know the power of CSS, so zen garden is useless to me. I already use it!! Just the layout is an exception... maybe this weekend I'll redo it.

Oh yeah, also I've been meaning to do the the thing with CSS and somewhat of a new layout for a while.... a social life gets in the way (no offense meant, 7th grade, homework, a gf u like talking to (phone only :'() and your best friend's parents having no problems with having people over kinda gets in the way.

Any advice on images, like something to put in would be good. Also on one of the zen garden pages I saw a trick that made a background image just a darker version of the body's bg..... think anyone'd mind if I ripped off that effect?

[spufi]

Originally posted by omega
Also on one of the zen garden pages I saw a trick that made a background image just a darker version of the body's bg..... think anyone'd mind if I ripped off that effect?

Give us a link to what design you are talking about and we will go from there.

[PhillMc]

Omega, look, I understand that it's two different things, but you missed my point. If you created the images for 'Artistic' then you can create images of that calibur for the 'Omega Portal'.:)
0100001101101111011011010110010100100000011011110110111000100000010010110100100101000100001000010010 00000101011101100001011010110110010100100000011101010111000000100001

[Ben Rogers]

it's called Project Epsilon. The original intent of "Omega Portal" was I'd link to Project Epsilon, an entertainment site, artIstIc, which'd be well... artistic, and then webby central, for webmasters. But i couldnt think of ideas for wc, so i junked it, and artIstIc was small enough to be a subpage so I made it one.

as for the link... http://csszengarden.com/?cssfile=/069/069.css&page=0 i dont no the vBscript stuff, so c+p if it doesnt turn into a link, ok?