View Full Version : Renovation of www.chronoplast.net is complete!
Umah Bloodomen
11-21-2002, 11:49 PM
Okay, I am still designing the upcoming Soul Reaver section, but I managed to get the major renovation done.
To pass the time until my SR section is complete, I've added teaser pages to the 3 remaining game sections. 1 New fiction added by Istari. 2 new shrines added to the 'Ancient Shrines' section.
I again touched up the BO menu.
Let me know what you think of the new design. As always, positive feedback and/or constructive criticism is appreciated.
Embla
11-22-2002, 12:53 AM
Great work Umah.
Almost can`t wait for the remaining game sections to be finished. It also felt a bit easier to browse than before.:)
Umah Bloodomen
11-22-2002, 12:57 AM
Thanks Embla!
I am glad the navigation was easier. That was one of my main goals of the renovation.
How was the load time for you?
Embla
11-22-2002, 01:01 AM
No problems. It went very fast. But I`m using broadband connection.:)
Umah Bloodomen
11-22-2002, 01:03 AM
So am I. :p
The bandwith transfer from my hosting space is picky and I experienced a little problems with the pages with numerous images. Nothing totally drastic mind you, but noticable for me.
**shrugs** Perhaps I'm too much of a design perfectionist. ;)
Binky
11-22-2002, 03:39 AM
(Sees the site. Her own words fail her, so she searches the depths of her mind for an appropriate quote. At last, does her best Skywalker impersonation:)
Impressive. Most impressive.
Should you decide to accept the opinion of an utter design laic, it's... in plain words, splendid.
(My connection is not too fast, but everything loads quickly and I have no problems. I'm sorry I can't offer you any more feedback, save that I will love to see what you will come up with next.)
it's an awesome site!
but the load time, for me and my 56kb modem, were slooow...
the layout is kewl! and i like all the text, and buttons!
chinese-soul-eater
11-22-2002, 12:34 PM
very nice umah
but it maybe my computer thats messing up but at times when i go into page it has no scroll to go down or up
it happened to me at the signature gallery
it maybe my PC for its been giving trouble lately
:cool:
but all in all its an improvement great job:cool:
Umah Bloodomen
11-22-2002, 05:09 PM
What browser are you using?
I am seeing the scrollbar on every page including the sig image gallery.
I need to put a notice on the front page stating you need to have the latest versions of IE and NS to view this. Some of the Javascripts I've used are designed for these versions.
Thanks for the feedback all. I had the opportunity to check it out on both a dial-up and another broadband connection and it loads well for me in either case.
Anubis_Orr
11-22-2002, 05:13 PM
I like the new backgrounds :D
When reading the fan fictions when you click on the story it opens an "attached" webpage that you can't keep on the screen unless you remain where you are on the main page, is there any way to keep the fanfic open in the second window and still surf on the main page?
Umah Bloodomen
11-22-2002, 05:17 PM
Originally posted by Anubis_Orr
I like the new backgrounds :D
When reading the fan fictions when you click on the story it opens an "attached" webpage that you can't keep on the screen unless you remain where you are on the main page, is there any way to keep the fanfic open in the second window and still surf on the main page?
Took me forever to score those images for the backgrounds. (And edit them accordingly).
What is your browser? I haven't experienced this problem. It is supposed to open the seperate page containing the fic once you click a link to a fic from the main table of contents. From there you are able to sift through the fic, which remains open in this new window. The main window should remain open. As I said, I haven't had any problems with this.
Anubis_Orr
11-22-2002, 05:21 PM
Latest version of IE.
Ok, here's an example; I get to the fanfics and pick Istari's (read the part I, quite good, though was confused by the ending) now if I click back on the main page to look at different parts of your site the window closes by itself.
Umah Bloodomen
11-22-2002, 09:15 PM
Well since you put it that way. LOL. I had a difficult time understanding what you meant. I thought you meant that the site closes. As far as the window closing itself. It is supposed to do that, seeing how I scripted it that way.
I will check and see if I can keep the window open, but I think it is doubtful.
blincoln
11-22-2002, 09:16 PM
The new look is great! I love the new shrines =).
Umah Bloodomen
11-22-2002, 09:57 PM
Thanks Blinc. I figure this way the site will be easier to manage. I love the professional feel I managed to pull off.
I figured the shrines would go over well. I think that's one of the best sections to work on.
Wait until you see what else I have in store. :D muhahahaha
Power reaver
11-22-2002, 11:41 PM
Gr8 site Umah , u have done excellent work . :)
The only thing i noticed , well actually didnt notice , was the links , i think they are a little too dark , juss make em a little more lighter , thats all i thought that needed correcting ...... :)
Cant wait for the other game sections . :D
Umah Bloodomen
11-22-2002, 11:49 PM
I made the links dark to emphasize them more with the roll-over effect. Something along the lines of having them appear from basically nowhere.
Abstractness is a virture. :p
SR Section teaser info:
I am playing around with intro ideas involving the game section intro. With any luck it won't take me 73 hrs like the BO one did. :p
73HOURS!!!!
all that work paid off!
i just wish my internet wasnt so damb slow!
Ardeth Silvereni
11-23-2002, 03:56 AM
The site is looking great. It has a very polished, professional feel to it. I'm looking forward to seeing future updates. I had no problems with the navigation, and I think that aspect has been improved quite a bit (not that it was bad before! ;)).
I'm glad you're happy with this renovation. It's better to do any major overhauls sooner rather than later. It becomes a massive task if you wait too long. :)
Umah Bloodomen
11-23-2002, 12:42 PM
I figured I would get it done now seeing that I have a lot of content to still add. (That and a new game section to add when it is available).
I liked the organizational feel to it as well. Things are easier to access and keep track of.
As for the SR intro, I am only expecting this one to take no more than 20 hrs. :p
Anubis_Orr
11-23-2002, 12:46 PM
Will you be putting up all the SR2 Extras on your site eventually?
Umah Bloodomen
11-23-2002, 02:40 PM
All that I am currently at liberty to divulge is that there are plans for an extensive multimedia section at www.chronoplast.net
;)
okay here's my 'indepth' review...
The intro is kewl! well done on the sound! it's a great choice!
The BO1 section is amazing! It must have taken you eons to take all those in game pics...The main section here, is awesome! and easy to navagate...
I'm eagerly awating the SR1, SR2, and BO2 sections!
a few things though...is it really necessary to put all the sigs u made up? a few of them are very similar, and have only been edited slightly...
Please correct me if im wrong, but in the Community section. Isn't the LegacyofKain.de site french? not german... i could easily be wrong...just asking...
One other thing that i didnt really like, was the fact that when u click on the sig collection, for example, it opens that new window, but you can't work in the previous one...
and this is probably just my pc...but i couldn't see the writing in most of the links, until i clicked on them...
Great site otherwise!!!
Umah Bloodomen
12-01-2002, 05:48 AM
Originally posted by dago
okay here's my 'indepth' review...
The intro is kewl! well done on the sound! it's a great choice!
The BO1 section is amazing! It must have taken you eons to take all those in game pics...The main section here, is awesome! and easy to navagate...
Thanks. :)
As you've seen me mention before, there is roughly 73 hours of work in the inventory menu alone. I only spent about 2 at most on the toolbar (this includes taking my shots, editing them in a graphics program, scripting it and putting it together and playing around with it until I was pleased with the final result.
Originally posted by dago
I'm eagerly awating the SR1, SR2, and BO2 sections!
The SR section work is currently underway. As for the intro, I have been playing around with a few ideas (one of which was including the actual game intro, but that has not proven to be functional - the quality is horrible and I simply don't think it fits with what I want with the sections). I am looking at about a month max on the completion of this section - this estimate is based on my recent lack of motivation. If I really go at it I can knock about 2 weeks off).
Originally posted by dago
a few things though...is it really necessary to put all the sigs u made up? a few of them are very similar, and have only been edited slightly...
Because I designed this site as one of the main focal points of my portfolio (for independent web development and graphic editing) I have included all the versions of the sigs I have designed. The reason that one does this, is that when people check out the site as they sift through my portfolio (more specifically, those interested in providing me with a career opportunity) can see what I have done, compare the techniques and ask questions and evaluate/critique my abilities. Now if I only offered one basic design, there wouldn't be much for comparison and I could lose out on an opportunity because I simply cut a few out. It is amazing, dago, that what you (and a lot of other people) would consider "edited slightly", actually contains a lot of techniques done in my graphics program. It demonstrates layers, transparencies, shadowing and text effects just to name a few. If I were looking for an opportunity in lets say, advertising, these would be evaluated by my potential employer. If they like the styles and what I've demonstrated in the works, then they are more likely to consider to (or actually) employ me.
So in other words, yes I feel it is necessary. If I didn't feel it was necessary, and this was "just a site" then I wouldn't have put it up there. I take a lot of pride in my work, especially for being 100% self-taught and without a degree.
Originally posted by dago
Please correct me if im wrong, but in the Community section. Isn't the LegacyofKain.de site french? not german... i could easily be wrong...just asking...
It's German (if you want to get technical, it's Austrian). :p Sekhmet is from Austria. I am not very fluent in the language myself, but there are some aspects I can understand. Also, .de is the German version of a .com (as .co.uk is the Brittish version and .fr would be the French).
Originally posted by dago
One other thing that i didnt really like, was the fact that when u click on the sig collection, for example, it opens that new window, but you can't work in the previous one...
I scripted it that way to better display and manage the sections with the window (sig gallery, fan art, fan fiction). The reason for this is that it is intended to be a focal point for visitors. Again back to potential employers, they can focus on the work presented there in the sig gallery for example). I expected my visitors to spend a lot of time in these sections, either analyzing or reading, whatever and I also feel that these areas are better left in a seperate window without browser navigation. For functionality purposes, it works well. Especially with a site as big as mine. I know it doesn't seem that big, but there are nearly 100 HTML pages alone at this point.
Originally posted by dago
and this is probably just my pc...but i couldn't see the writing in most of the links, until i clicked on them...
Great site otherwise!!!
Actually I believe it was Darakari who had a similar problem. The reason - your monitor settings are too dim. I can see them fine and they are actually just about a shade or 2 darker gray than the submit reply and preview reply buttons below where you post in this forum.
wow...that's a huge reply!
about the sigs...i just thought it would be easier if u just posted the final product...but it's up to you!
i think the intro is perfect as it is! and that pic of kain was done really well!
Darakari
12-01-2002, 05:26 PM
I just checked out every single link in the BO1 section! Words fail me. I can't imagine how many hours of work you put into this project. I don't have the words to express how impressed I am with your work.
I just wish some of the links had some color to them against that jet-black background. Those dissappearing links are a pain. And your pictures need to be lighter, they dissappear into that black background.
Besides that, the BO1 area is awesome. Now, when I get some more free time, I'll have to come back and check out your "Shrines" area. I'm really interested in your theories on some of the murals, statues, paintings, etc. found in the games.
Umah Bloodomen
12-01-2002, 08:32 PM
Originally posted by Darakari
Besides that, the BO1 area is awesome. Now, when I get some more free time, I'll have to come back and check out your "Shrines" area. I'm really interested in your theories on some of the murals, statues, paintings, etc. found in the games.
You're going to be a little disappointed then because that information hasn't been included in the site yet. I am saving it (and my character thesis') until after the main content is complete.
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