FOFC Front Page Redesign Coming. Your Ideas Wanted.

[Ben E Lou]

With VPI97's permission, it is my pleasure to announce that he has agreed to redesign the front page of FOFC!!! First off, BIG thanks to Todd. Having seen his handiwork, we know that it will certainly LOOK good and professional.

Now, we need content that will make it worth people visiting. Here's the content that I'm thinking of having:

Latest News From Solecismic Software (release notices, patch notices, etc.)
FOF Downloads (utilities, player files, logos, with explanations of what they do)
Hot Forum Topics (if I can mark these to be placed on the front page, rather than the just having the latest really long political or Werewolf thread getting linked because of its number of views/responses.)
Other Sports Text Sim News (releases and patches)
Text Sim Reviews (I want FOFC user participation here)
Text Sim Links
Multiplayer League Links (with a link to the matchmaking forum here, too)Any ideas/feedback?

FYI, with regard to downloads, I still own the web space that we used for the super-fast mirror of FOF2K4. It did not belong to YL. I have 500MB of storage space there, and unlimited transfer. (I didn't even get in trouble when the first patches came out, and a buttload of FOFC people downloaded from there.) I'd like to host everything there, purchase an appropriate domain name for it, and give utility writers and roster makers user names and passwords to update their stuff themselves. That way, we can avoid the broken link issue of the reference thread.

Also, just so you know, the "Hot Forum Topics" section isn't really in my mind designed for those of you who check in every day. I'm thinking it is for the more casual readers. If someone only checks in once or twice a week, I'd think it would be nice to have highlighted, say, the DDS: Pro Basketball thread. It is currently on page 4 (at maximum number of threads per page), but not yet four days old. Someone who only checks in once or twice a week might have missed that. If that encouraged some of the text sim threads to get bumped more often (because people were viewing them several days later), and therefore less "noise" threads on the first page of the forum, then that's a great side effect.

[path12]

We have a front page?

[Ben E Lou]

We have a front page?

http://www.frontofficefootballcentral.com/

I'd like to make it something actually worth visiting. I believe that there's potential there. If nothing else, having a central location for utilities and whatnot would be valuable, I would think. Also, as I hinted, I'm thinking we could make it have GREAT value to those who don't visit the forums every day, and perhaps even grow our community and the text sim world in general in so doing.

[SirFozzie]

There's a front page? I just visit here.

[rkmsuf]

If there is anyway to incorporate cleavage, I vote for that.

[Bee]

I think we need a front page link to the latest Kodos poll.

edit: Nevermind...it would probably crash the server trying to keep up.

[Anthony]

make it worth people visiting. Here's the content that I'm thinking of having:
[LIST]
Latest News From Solecismic Software (release notices, patch notices, etc.)


HAHAHAHAHA. who wrote that piece of comedy for you?:D

[Bee]

HAHAHAHAHA. who wrote that piece of comedy for you?:D

At least it would only need to be updated once every couple years. :D

[Easy Mac]

I think you should copy SportsDigs or whatever FNB's page is.

[Desnudo]

faster

[gottimd]

At least it would only need to be updated once every couple years. :D

Why so often?

[MikeVic]

Would it be updated? If we had a new design right this second, what new/updated information would be up there that isn't being put up now?

[Ben E Lou]

Would it be updated? If we had a new design right this second, what new/updated information would be up there that isn't being put up now?Most of the stuff I mentioned in the first post isn't up there.

[MikeVic]

Most of the stuff I mentioned in the first post isn't up there.

Yeah, that would be nice actually. As long as someone (you?) really wants to update the main site regularly. :)

[cthomer5000]

If you can make headlines dymanically update like VPI does with press releases/sports journal stuff at IHOF, i think that would be a good move. Then you make a read-only "announcements" forum or something that only mods can post in.

[Router Help]

Maybe a blog/CMS system where people from the community can submit reviews, walkthroughs, or whatever.

Maybe an area where Jim, Mar V., Arlie, etc, can post news about upcoming games or just write about interesting aspects of the running a text sim business.

[MikeVic]

Maybe a QOTM on the main page too? Show the cocky and funny side of FOFC to casual viewers?

What? Not a good idea?

[Anthony]

Maybe an area where everyone other than Jim can post news about upcoming games or just write about interesting aspects of the running a text sim business.


fixed :)

[Anthony]

in all seriousness i like the idea. i haven't checked the front page in about a year, if that. acutally, the only time i've been to the front page in the past year was for the links to the various MP leagues. otherwise i haven't even looked at anything else on the front page. even a mild effort to make the front page more relevant again would be an improvement.

[Kodos]

I think we need a front page link to the latest Kodos poll.

edit: Nevermind...it would probably crash the server trying to keep up.


Polls are up during the tournament, but otherwise it's less than one a day! ;)

[MikeVic]

What about separate sections regarding strictly text sim information, news, tools, etc. and community-related stuff?

[Dutch]

As long as we lose the 1980's green grass background and the post that says "FOF2k4 Patch Released!!!!" dated over a year ago, I'm all for it. :)

I actually switched my favorites link to go to the front page upon request, but it remained static for so long, I couldn't take it anymore and just switched back to the forum.

I think all the suggestions laid out by SD looks good, fwiw.

Skydog - "Text Sim Reviews (I want FOFC user participation here)"

I'd like to see a review section that has users grade text games. Like any gaming review site where the number of votes and the average are displayed (A+, A, A-, B+,...etc). But specific focus for our community (and Maxahmum Football of course!).

[vex]

Make sure a TCY Helper link gets put on there, because I can't find one:)

[Bee]

Polls are up during the tournament, but otherwise it's less than one a day! ;)


Obviously you've been slipping. :D

[Ben E Lou]

Make sure a TCY Helper link gets put on there, because I can't find one:)


FYI, with regard to downloads, I still own the web space that we used for the super-fast mirror of FOF2K4. It did not belong to YL. I have 500MB of storage space there, and unlimited transfer. (I didn't even get in trouble when the first patches came out, and a buttload of FOFC people downloaded from there.) I'd like to host everything there, purchase an appropriate domain name for it, and give utility writers and roster makers user names and passwords to update their stuff themselves. That way, we can avoid the broken link issue of the reference thread.

Yes, that's precisely the kind of thing I want to have in the "FOF Downloads" section.

[SunDevil]

more cowbell.

[johnd2442]

http://www.frontofficefootballcentral.com/

I'd like to make it something actually worth visiting. I believe that there's potential there. If nothing else, having a central location for utilities and whatnot would be valuable, I would think. Also, as I hinted, I'm thinking we could make it have GREAT value to those who don't visit the forums every day, and perhaps even grow our community and the text sim world in general in so doing.
i actually think it's great now. i look at it often right now as i'm just getting into FoF and i've looked at the homepage to look at leagues and other data, but especially the leagues.

[MizzouRah]

the_meanstrosity has TCY helper.. he just sent it to my email!!!!!

[vex]

the_meanstrosity has TCY helper.. he just sent it to my email!!!!!

Same here last night. _0_

[Ben E Lou]

the_meanstrosity has TCY helper.. he just sent it to my email!!!!!Todd:

Will you send it to me, please, so we can begin building the library?

benlewis AT comcast.net

[MizzouRah]

Todd:

Will you send it to me, please, so we can begin building the library?

benlewis AT comcast.net

It's on my home pc. Vex, could you send it or I can tonight when I get home.

Thanks!

[vex]

It's on my home pc. Vex, could you send it or I can tonight when I get home.

Thanks!

Sent

[Ben E Lou]

Sent
Received. THANKS!

[MizzouRah]

Thanks Vex!

[Crim]

More Jennifer Connelly

[Ben E Lou]

Bump. Good stuff so far. Other thoughts?

[Peregrine]

Sounds good, but I didn't even know there was a front page.

[Ben E Lou]

Sounds good, but I didn't even know there was a front page.My hope is that we can eliminate that ignorance once and for all. ;)

[gottimd]

My hope is that we can eliminate that ignorance once and for all. ;)

Where is this crazy frontofficefootballcentral.com front page located on the internets?

[JeeberD]

Just follow the tubes, gottimd, you'll find it eventually...