Major Website update in an hour!
by Rick Overman · 12/16/2005 (12:19 pm) · 84 comments
We will be preforming a MAJOR site update in the next hour. During that time the site will be unavailable.
...time passes.
Ok, it looks like it all went as smooth as an update of this size can go. Very few comments so far so betting many of you are still picking your jaw up off the floor and wondering if you are on the right site.
Too many changes to list here. The focus was on core site navigation. Still a few rough edges here and there but I think you'll agree it is easier to find stuff now.
Blog posts now have titles! Also previous / Next blog buttons.
Developer->community page has been totally modified LOTS more info, moved the screenshots up.
New and improved product and demo browsing www.garagegames.com/products/browse/
Over the next few months we will be filing out the Solutions pages and adding case studies.
RSS feeds are a little hosed right now, I'll do my best to get them fixed today.
...time passes.
Ok, it looks like it all went as smooth as an update of this size can go. Very few comments so far so betting many of you are still picking your jaw up off the floor and wondering if you are on the right site.
Too many changes to list here. The focus was on core site navigation. Still a few rough edges here and there but I think you'll agree it is easier to find stuff now.
Blog posts now have titles! Also previous / Next blog buttons.
Developer->community page has been totally modified LOTS more info, moved the screenshots up.
New and improved product and demo browsing www.garagegames.com/products/browse/
Over the next few months we will be filing out the Solutions pages and adding case studies.
RSS feeds are a little hosed right now, I'll do my best to get them fixed today.
#22
12/16/2005 (4:06 pm)
Ugh i cant stand the new design too bad there isnt a way to revert the to the old one :-( 
#23
-Allen
12/16/2005 (4:22 pm)
I'm an Opera user and I confirm Todds issues. Though I like the new look I can't look at any of the forum stuff in Opera.-Allen
#24
I just bookmarked the fourms, and then used the Community link to scan for new blogs/gallery entries.
Now my link to the forum gives me no way to check on new/unread threads and the blogs/galleries are all over the shop.
The rollover menus at the top are going to take some getting used to as well.
Is there likely to be some decent forum software being installed as well? There desperately need to be quote buttons when replying to posts, and being able to jump straight to the latest post in a thread would also be a welcome addition.
12/16/2005 (4:31 pm)
Not too impressed I have to say.I just bookmarked the fourms, and then used the Community link to scan for new blogs/gallery entries.
Now my link to the forum gives me no way to check on new/unread threads and the blogs/galleries are all over the shop.
The rollover menus at the top are going to take some getting used to as well.
Is there likely to be some decent forum software being installed as well? There desperately need to be quote buttons when replying to posts, and being able to jump straight to the latest post in a thread would also be a welcome addition.
#25
12/16/2005 (4:59 pm)
I like it alot. The only problem I can see so far is that everytime you click on a menu item, it forces your browser to the top of the page.
#26
12/16/2005 (5:08 pm)
My eyes, My eyes, Ahhhhhh.... Great job on new features and getting it to convert so quickly but the grey colored side bars just kill my eyes. Just scrap the side bars and stick with the old colors. Great new features though. 
#27
The only thing I have to complain about is that even though much more info is only 1 click away, less info is available with zero clicks. Before, I could see employee blogs, community blogs, associate blogs, snapshots, news, and latest threads with no navigation. It gave me a pretty good idea of what's going on. Now I have to click around a bit more to get an overall picture of what's going on.
BIG step forward in visuals and functionality, small step backwards in casual usability.
12/16/2005 (5:26 pm)
Love the layout, love the tabs, LOVE the search bar on every page, love the fact that more information is only 1 click away.The only thing I have to complain about is that even though much more info is only 1 click away, less info is available with zero clicks. Before, I could see employee blogs, community blogs, associate blogs, snapshots, news, and latest threads with no navigation. It gave me a pretty good idea of what's going on. Now I have to click around a bit more to get an overall picture of what's going on.
BIG step forward in visuals and functionality, small step backwards in casual usability.
#28
12/16/2005 (5:27 pm)
I completely agree with Mr. Schatz 
#29
I had The community link set as my book mark, and could navigate everything from there, now I have to click around to see what had been presented in a single page.
Like the new look and features however.
12/16/2005 (6:09 pm)
Yup, Andy Schatz nailed it, as did Philip.I had The community link set as my book mark, and could navigate everything from there, now I have to click around to see what had been presented in a single page.
Like the new look and features however.
#30
12/16/2005 (6:09 pm)
I think it's a big step forward. It's looks more professional and a little less...um...garage. I could see that box on the store at Best Buy already.
#32
Only bug I see so far is that you can't view the screenshots tab on TGE or TSE product pages. Otherwise this is good!
12/16/2005 (7:40 pm)
Just a couple things. First off - holy crap this is a GREAT redesign, and everything is so much easier to find. There were some things I didn't know were availible, now I do. Asthetically pleasing as well.Only bug I see so far is that you can't view the screenshots tab on TGE or TSE product pages. Otherwise this is good!
#33
12/16/2005 (8:16 pm)
Looks good, displays right at 800x600....slightly longer to load, but that's not a big issue. If I find more issues I'll be complaining in the next .plan :)
#34
I agree with Andry Schatz etc. Nice update in general if it can get all its quirks ironed out. Mathieu said what I've been thinking for a while as well. Maybe a completely different site for selling games will be a good idea when more games start flowing through GG.
I'll give it more time before bringing up any specific complaints :)
12/16/2005 (8:20 pm)
Yea Opera is borked for me as well. Had to bust open Firefox to even find the plans. Hopefully its just teething problems though and they'll fix it up shortly. Would have been nice to have tested it in Opera though.I agree with Andry Schatz etc. Nice update in general if it can get all its quirks ironed out. Mathieu said what I've been thinking for a while as well. Maybe a completely different site for selling games will be a good idea when more games start flowing through GG.
I'll give it more time before bringing up any specific complaints :)
#35
12/16/2005 (8:31 pm)
I likes alot. Just need to get used to it.
#37
Quote from Widgets info at the frapper.
12/16/2005 (9:55 pm)
Also maybe a link to or minimap of the GG Frapper? (just a suggestion)Quote from Widgets info at the frapper.
Quote:Just copy and paste this html code to your own webpage! You can change the five frappr_mapXXX variables to change size of the map, and the default center in (lat,lon) and zoom (1 - street level to 15 - world level) for the map. For example, setting the map to show all of USA would be var frappr_maplon = -98.14, var frappr_maplat = 40.98, var frappr_mapzoom = 13. Setting the map to be 300 pixels tall and 400 pixels wide would be var frappr_mapheight = 300, var frappr_mapwidth = 400
#38
12/16/2005 (11:14 pm)
another way to confuse the jimmy once again :(
#40
Do like the searchbox though.
Nice work!
12/17/2005 (1:43 am)
Looks nice, but dang man! I was still trying to get used to the last "major update" ;)Do like the searchbox though.
Nice work!
Torque 3D Owner Todd Pickens