The crappy concept art; crude but more descriptive then words:

http://mwace.a-g-f.net/craptacular_conce..._index.jpg

The fundementals:

• Provide the content the user is looking for
  
• Be as direct as possible in providing content
  
• Eliminate as much static content as possible
  
• Provide an intro page similar to http://mwace.a-g-f.net/ to present visitors with the title to the site and then avoid presenting the title again
  
• List latest thread names on the index page, unread is bold
  
• Display the #AGF IRC chat on the index page
  
• Display post previews on the thread listing, unread posts are bold
  
• Hybrid text forum / imageboard
  
• Text postbit has user information to the right and content assuming the focus at the left, avatars, no signatures, custom title or staff title, no other information
  
• Image postbit contains a max 800x800 thumbnail in place of text on an otherwise identical postbit, with a smaller unfocused area for an text comment to optionally be included
  
• Linkbar is fixed from scrolling at the bottom pages above content with as few links as possible
  
• Include flashplayer for an optional "AGF Soundtrack"
  
• Aesthetics remain pleasing to view and unintruding, black background white content blue highlights blue hexagons will remain but with more complex angles and some use of photorealistic textures

I will happily hear suggestions in hopes of hearing a good one. We may hack a MyBB code in order to make this work, however Apetard may write an original forum code using princaply AJAX. The AGF soundtrack will be coming fairly soon. More concept art will becoming.

This post was last modified: 07-02-2008 09:41 PM by mwace.

The first question is this: Do people...

Want to see the blue hexagons fixed from scrolling at the bottom of the page? (read: You will always be able to see AGF in your browser's viewport, it will appear above content. Like the title/navigation on http://scenariopile.net/)
Want to see the blue hexagon title at the top of all pages?
Don't want to see any title title at all while browing content?

While it may feel strange to not always have a banner at the top of the page, realize that I suspect you'll get used to not having a banner there very fast and come to prefer it that way.

I would work on a second version of that concept art that's just a bit sexier. Having the hexes follow you would be interesting, but they'd have to be less tall. I think that it'd be interesting to see the IRC window and maybe a mini version of the Index page (just links to subforums, nothing else) to the side of it. On the scenariapile site, theres a lot of empty space to the right that could be used, so something like that, with the space to the right being utilized would be acceptable. One of the most important things to me would be an option to choose which version you look at. That way if it left something to be desired, or I just felt nostalgic, I could switch back to this.
and the idea of having 3 recent topics for each subforum, with unread ones in bold is incredibly appealing to me. That would save me the trouble of having to open up a tab regardless of whether there is new content other than the most recent one.
and that concept art definitely needs a bit of beautification. The concept is good, but the art isn't. If we have any photoshoppers here, someone could work on it a bit. Or you could press gang vlad into it

I personally am not a fan of static logos in most cases.  To me, it just seems like wasted space on my screen that could otherwise be filled with content.

Corey, you underestimate me - don't forget, I made this skin and I've gotten a hell of a lot better since then. I have now begun developing the new skin but I still don't know whether I want to include a title or were its placement will be. I am determined to include a fighterjet, maybe a Macross fighter....

Also, it looks like we will not be using MyBB for the design. Instead we'll be using the core of code of a PunBB forum to power the new board, viewed through originally written pages that will make heavy use of AJAX. Because of the scale of the project, I will be looking to expand our dev team...

This post was last modified: 07-03-2008 06:20 AM by mwace.

What are you looking for for the dev team?

Know Javascript or be familier with XML. Any experience working with AJAX is perfect. An interest in learning AJAX is cool too, if you can catch up to the tier of what we're doing. I've posted on the PunBB forums, and will probably be writing posts on PhpBB and MyBB boards. I probably should have saved PunBB for last so by the time I post there I've managed to figure out how to sound more presentable/convincing...

I would like to help.

I am familiar with HTML, PHP, XML and Java.

It seems as if Hazard knows JS and is also willing to work on the team.

In the meantime, the first screenshot of the new board has been posted!
http://a-g-f.net/showthread.php?tid=429&...79#pid4079

This post was last modified: 07-05-2008 07:40 PM by mwace.

I would love to help out, but I won't know Javascript until start of 2nd or 3rd trimester or god forbid, the end of the year. (yay for comp prog classes). I can offer my services as a critic though. I know what I like to see.
and fighter jets are boring. How about a star destroyer? those things are sexy.