new CA website - 4.3 Site Structure Listing

[V1ntage]

Now we'll define the pages and general structure of the new website. It offers a general overview to decide where the content will be placed afterwards.

It's a best practise in webdesign to keep the amount of primary menu items between 5 and 7. Currently we have 8.




Independant pages
Search results
Legal policy
Copyright statement
Terms of use
RSS

[V1ntage]

The content listing:



HEADER
main navigation
separate secondary navigation for TRAC, PlanetWars and ladder
search box
central login for all integrated sites (if possible)

FOOTER
sitemap
links of CA on other websites such as Twitter, Facebook, ... (marketing)
link to report bugs/faw (redirects to trac)
"bookmark this page"-button
modal window links to legal policy, copyright notice and terms of use

HOME
short and prominent introduction text (what CA is about)
billboard: general screenshot slideshow or short and intense promotional video
event announcement (e.g. learn from the masters! join game "x" 29 august at 8pm)
"we're currently looking for"-box
download links
latest news headlines with RSS-link
short testimonial sentences

NEWS
Extended list of news articles
List of recent revision changes
a weekly 'ask the devs' column
RSS-link
get notified of updates (subscribe by email)
New screenshots
New videos
New artwork
Latest posts on the forums
Links to new battle report videos (similar to starcraft http://tinyurl.com/lmo3s9)
Latest news at Planetwars
Latest changes on the ladder
Most popular articles


ARTICLE
The article
list of related articles
a way to comment on articles
list of replies
List of recent revision changes
RSS-link
get notified of updates (subscribe by email)
New screenshots
New videos
New artwork
Latest posts on the forums
Links to new battle report videos (similar to starcraft http://tinyurl.com/lmo3s9)
Latest news at Planetwars
Latest changes on the ladder
Most popular articles

DOWNLOADS
download links
wallpapers (and other fanbased stuff)
short testimonial sentences
link to the guide

ABOUT
introduction text (what CA is about)
gameplay summary
general screenshots
list of credits
link to the downloads
link to the guide
link to the unit listing
link to the FAQ
link to the wiki

GUIDE
introduction/newbie guide
links to more information at the wiki
link to the downloads
links to unit detail
link to the FAQ
link to the unit listing

UNIT LISTING
introduction text
Main unit navigation listing with thumbnail and/or name
links to more information at the wiki
link to the downloads
links to unit detail
unit of the day with short description/hints
link to the guide

UNIT DETAIL
Main unit navigation listing with thumbnail and/or name
individual unit descriptions and statistics
related units
unit of the day with short description/hints
unit specific videos
unit specific screenshots
link to the downloads
link back to unit listing
links to more information at the wiki
link to the guide

FAQ
FAQs
link to the wiki for more information
link to a separate section on the forums for asking questions
link to the downloads
link to the guide
link to the unit listing

FORUMS
Forums
Shoutbox
Tournament ladder top 5, 10, 20, 50 or 
link to planetwars
link to the ladder

MEDIA
list of general screenshots that open in a slideshow player
list of general gameplay videos that open in a modal window
list of best artwork/concept sketches that open in a slideshow player
battle report videos (similar to starcraft http://tinyurl.com/lmo3s9)

WIKI (=Link to the TRAC wiki)

CONTACT
Main contact information
input box for contacting, so that no registering or email client is required
List of developers that can be contacted with their respective contact information

TRAC (=Link to the development part of TRAC, like for instance bug reports)

PLANETWARS (=Link to the planetwars website)

LADDER
CA ladder
latest battles with their outcome (?)

RSS
An automatically generated XML page for readers to subscribe to

SEARCH RESULTS
Automatically generated search results

[Licho]

Looks like too many things..

also this:
"bookmark this page"-button

is imo useless :)

[V1ntage]

"bookmark this page"-button is a marketing tool. I suggest not to throw that away, seriously

look at this widely used button: http://www.addthis.com/

[maackey]

Heh, I originally thought the "Bookmark This" was just some silly idea just to be put out there so we have everything.

I agree with Licho that it's useless. I've never seen any *worthwhile* sites have "Bookmark Me!" buttons/links on them; all sites that people would actually want to bookmark don't need to beg for people to bookmark them, people just do because it's a good site to go to often.

Also, I'm very wary of having a whole section dedicated to articles. Who is going to write them? What will they be about? If someone is actually willing to make some I can see the effort being made to put them in, but even then I can almost guarantee that people will lose motivation/inspiration and stop writing them.

I also think that there are far too many categories that could easily be merged. I cannot really tell though, as lists aren't really as good as trees for orginization, so it's kindof difficult to see where this is going.

[Licho]

Yeah imo we are extremely unlikely to get any articles at all :)
We are unlikely to even get nice screenshot submissions..

organization should be very simple..
one news,
one about,
one media,
one guides/help

I dont care about bookmark that much now that I learned what it is about.

[V1ntage]

Ok here we go

@maackey:
Bookmark/share-button
If webdesign interests you, read this book: "Don't make me think"
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Common-Sens ... 0789723107

The title says it all.

I do understand that it's not necessarily important to put a bookmark/share-link on every page. Although, implementing such a button reminds people that there's a 1-click way to bookmark something they've seen and found interesting. Moreover, that button does not only offer a way to bookmark, it's also a shortcut to print, e-mail or even add the webpage to my favourites.

When I personally find a new great website, I don't want to do all the effort of opening a new window/tab, typing in the address of my favourite bookmarking service, log in and only then save the bookmark. That's a 4-step process.

It's all about user experience and usability these days, and making things easier is what people like. This button is an example of how to make a certain process easier. We do not beg, we make the process easier, more comfortable. You do like comfort, do you?


Chart and structure
I normally use organisational charts to present the way the site is structured. In this case I wait because changing a pictures takes a lot more time and effort than changing text in the first forum post of this topic. When the structure is finished I will add a chart.

Don't let the amount of content intimidate you. It becomes intimidating because all content is listed in just one single post. For instance, there's a lot more information on many quality websites than you may think in the first place. Related content is displayed to give the user an incentive to continue reading the site. Primary content takes the most prominent place on the page, while secondary elements are stacked away in the right column. That's how many websites are structured and it's a very effective way to keep our readers on the site for any longer than just 2 minutes.


Articles
With the news and article page I try to implement a mini-blog. Blogs are immensely popular and tend to attract and keep visitors due to the regular and interesting news.

The type of content I'd like to present as news may not do justice to the word 'article'. What I mean by an article, is a short paragraph, maybe 2 about something new and interesting. No more, no less. Even me, who writes relatively slowly in English would write such a post within less than 30 minutes.

Are you sure nobody is willing to write such a mini-article on a regular base? Once every 2weeks? That can't be hard, can it. I'm sure there's someone out there willing to help us out with his/her writing skills.




@Licho: Yes, I understand, the short-term goals are not to create a website the size it is presented right here. A mini-blog is a serious plus though, as mentioned above. It's a way to help increasing the size of the community. And increasing the size of the community is a short-term goal, right?

[Licho]

re: Articles - that cant be hard, but check how we fare so far :)

We made 2 community news posts - one me and one maackey, then all lost interest..

Our files on jobjol dont havey any description at all..
CA news thread here does not have proper news posts etc :)

Basically CA devs are very lazy, most of them idle most of the time. So we would need highly motivated people which stay with the project for long time to be able to really add articles every 2 weeks..

[V1ntage]

Well yes, exactly, until we've found dedicated writers we may not be in the most ideal situation to implement such a "blog". It's listed because it's a solution to our demands. That doesn't mean it needs to be implemented in the first version of the website.

The idea of the listing above is to present the website as if it would exist in its full glory. It remains flexible/modular, also due to the fact that we have short and longterm goals. I would suggest we start by implementing a series of the pages above, and gradually add more when the time comes around. It's a similar process to software development. Iterations make it better.

[V1ntage]

Added a chart. I'm convinced that the current structure is hard to improve.

[Licho]

Looks good!

[V1ntage]

Ok, adjusted the content listing in the second post a bit. We're almost ready to move on to create the flowdiagrams.

[maackey]

I like the chart. I still don't like the bookmark thing

I'm also trying to think of a different word than "About". It just doesn't seem to fit. Right now I've got "Guide" as the top-menu item, but I don't think that fits very well either.

"Help", "Info", ?

Perhaps it could be changed to
Help
- Introduction
- FAQ
- Guide
- - General
- - Logos Units
- - Nova Units
- - Economy
- - Combat
Just an idea.

Also, I would prefer "Contact" to be at the bottom of the page. I don't really think it should be in the main menu. The "News" I would also prefer to just be on the main page, unless we actually do get some contributers to write articles and stuff. Until then its not really deserving of a place on the main menu.

I'm also assuming the Trac, PlanetWars, and Ladder links would be on the front page? I was thinking that each could have their own little info box on the right, (I've already got a couple things up on the test site.)

How would you link/get to the Independent pages? Links at the footer of the page? (its what most of those are currently)

[Licho]

About is pretty standard... i expect it on game pages..
even spring has it.

[maackey]

I suppose, but I'm not sure if I would expect a game/unit guide in the "About" section of the website.

The spring site's "About" page has an intro thing (like what we have on the front page) and some system requirements (ohnoes! we forgot those they might be good to include) but nothing about how to play, guides, etc...

[V1ntage]

The wording "about" can be replaced when there are enough people wanting to change it. Currently it serves its purpose.

I've started working on the flowchart. The current structure stays as is. We need to move forward.

[maackey]

The wording "about" can be replaced when there are enough people wanting to change it. Currently it serves its purpose.

I was merely brainstorming to come up with something better.

I've started working on the flowchart. The current structure stays as is. We need to move forward.

lol, I am utterly perplexed. Move forward with what? Isn't this thread supposed to be for coming up with the structure of the site? Am I missing something here? I recall you mentioning something in the lobby that we are "working independently" when I've been trying my best to work *with* you. Do you already have your own version of the website coded already? Is my help not wanted?

I fail to see how developing the site in a strictly linear fashion is beneficial. I've already got a rough prototype here that had most features in it before you even listed out all of the possible needs.

I can't say that it's been *easy* working with you. If we're even working together at all. If you don't want to work with me that's fine, I would just like to know. I don't want to waste time when I am currently very pressed for time as it is.

[Neddie]

I wrote a large amount of articles and requested others for the now defunct CA Zine I wanted to launch in a two-pack with KP Zine in 2008. I might write a few articles when I have the time to play again, but I make no promises.

Go on, V1ntage.

Added a chart. I'm convinced that the current structure is hard to improve.

You can merge Downloads and Media, or drop the Wiki under About, but I agree, for this sort of project this should work better.

[V1ntage]

@maackey
Don't understand me wrong, your feedback is well appreciated, but
1) you replied after I was already convinced the structure was more than good enough to continue the analysis with. We can always make changes in a later iteration, but not now.
2) I don't see a reason to implement it when I'm not convinced that these changes are worth the effort and time.

And yes, I explained you both in a PM (from 27th August) and in the lobby that I indeed prefer to work independantly. I also mentioned that I hope you don't mind me doing so, because it is how I work best.



@neddiedrow
Thanks mate :) Having some small articles would be a great help!

[V1ntage]

adapted content listing according to new flow