site review: http://www.gamesonline4free.net/

[GiorgosK]

Please review my free arcade site (http://www.gamesonline4free.net)
(yes hosted on POWWEB)

Let me say that I am aware that the site has probably lots of validation errors, I just want to focus your attention mostly to the usability of the site (point of view of a user)

The code behind it (AV arcade) has code that does not allow me lots of freedom but my main focus on creating something that was uncluttered looking (unlike most game sites I see around) with the intention of having return visitors

What do you guys think, all reviews will be appreciated.

Thanks

[Kitchensink108]

Well, it seems usable. It's just rather bland right now. I suggest trying to make the banner a bit more interesting. Also, the site would look a lot better if you styled the container box a bit, as right now it's just a flat gray rectangle with hard edges. I tend to think any site would look better with rounded edges and a dropshadow, if you want an easy way to make it look better. Granted, in itself, that's an overdone design, that doesn't mean it's bad:
http://kyle.barr.name/files/example.jpg

I only tested one game: zoo keeper. Got a score of 630. Clicking "submit score" caused a Javascript error, though:openHiscore is not defined
javascript: openHiscore('/content/highscores/hs-connector.html?1042_1068_1080_1072_1044_1039_1032_ 1093_1082_1082_1078_1072_1072_1083_1072_1085_1015_ 1041_1088_1081_1070_1087_1076_1082_1081_1055_1092_ 1083_1072_1032_1086_1088_1069_1080_1076_1087_1015_ 1054_1070_1082_1085_1072_1032_1025_1022_1019_1015_ 1055_1076_1087_1079_1072_1020_1032_1061_1082_1082_ 1003_1046_1072_1072_1083_1072_1085_1015_1054_1070_ 1082_1085_1072_1039_1072_1086_1032_971');
Line 1

[GiorgosK]

Thanks for the review,
The problem was from inside the flash game since there is no such functionality on the game script itself.

[Hostalot]

I would suggest you make sure you don´t infringe copyright. I've seen at least one game that I am pretty sure shouldn't be on there.

[ffholy]

Since there are many gaming sites, including one that I'm starting up, I would put some more spunk into it. Google other gaming sites and check out how the average designs fair out. It's in order, and simple, but gaming sites just tend to have a more detailed design :p It's just my preference. :o

[GiorgosK]

Thanks Hostalot, if you could point out the game in question I would appreciate it.
I certainly don't won't to have trouble.

ffholy, if you could actually give me a design that you like I would probably understand what design you are in to it. I am basically fed up with all the gaming sites looking so alike and most of them being very ugly. Don't you agree ?

[phlembol]

gaming sites just tend to have a more detailed design

IMHO, Just because both examples are "gaming sites" doesn't mean they are related any more than that. If I read correct, the FF site would be considered a "fan site" which is a whole different crowd than the script-gamers.

[ffholy]

Ya, I mean mine is a fan site, but it doesn't have to be like an ultra design. Just some kind of game geared design. It just matters how you look at it. I'm a heavy gamer and I'm so use to flashy games sites, it's been the norm for me. It may work for others. Just another suggestion, but then at the same time, he keeps his site simple and easy to use :p

Ya phlembol, your right also. Most game sites have a similar design. Sometimes simple works best, sometimes flash works best. It probably just depends what your audience is geared towards. Something that helps for game related sites are polls. I use to ask questions like, what do you think of the design and etc. That helped me in the past. Have a good one. Like the concept :p

[YvetteKuhns]

Yet another gaming site. (sigh) That means my son will want to play YOUR games for hours. Is this a family site? Someone else here has a gaming site that had Whack the Sack which shocked my family when my son spanked the poor guy. Be sure to explain your site purpose (in the brief paragraph on your home page) in more detail to define your target audience. If there are adult games, keep them separate where you validate that the visitor is an adult before entering that area of the website.

Too much grey is like a rainy day. But the rest of the website is colorful, so I can live with the background color here. There is a bit of horizontal scrolling at 800x600 screen resolution. If the page had the top and left margin set to zero or close to zero, the page should fit without making the top banner smaller. You may need to set the right margin to the same as the left to look nice.

Darn. Now I need a new monitor. I just "whacked the boss" and broke mine. :D I have to get back to work. If you say this is safe for kids, I can let my son visit and give you a better review. He is the major gamer in our home. Personally, I like simple design that doesn't compete with the contents of a website that contains animations like this does. But I am not your target audience. Yes, I should ask my son.

[Doc C]

But Yvette, aren't you your own boss? :)

[YvetteKuhns]

But Yvette, aren't you your own boss?

No, my clients are bosses. I am just bossy. ;)

[GiorgosK]

Wow, thanks guys for all the reviews,

Yvette I am pretty sure, the games in there are decent but to tell you the truth I did not hand pick them (they came as a package 2200+)

And as I probably said already, the gaming site script was not one to let me work out some nice CSS layout. I actually had to clean lots of php code for some hours. But now that I have something functional (not XHTML/CSS compliant actually) and after you valuable suggestions I will probably try to throw in some more color into it since its a Gaming site after all.

[Hostalot]

Well, according to the game author, who I had emailed a while ago "Whack the boss" should only be on addictinggames and newsgrounds and he doesn't want to see it on other sites.

[GiorgosK]

I did not see anywhere on the program saying that this program should only be displayed on a particular domain. If anything it says whackyourboss.com. But certainly I don't won't to be illegal or anything and if the person with the copyright to the program ask me to take it down I will. Thanks for the warning.

[Doc C]

Giorgos, add a copyright infringement policy to your site. Just do a Google search for "copyright infringement policy" and you should be able to put one together.

The only people who can make you take anything off your site is the hosting company and the proven owner of the copyright.

You might want to contact AV Arcade to let them know there may be a violation in their gamepack.

[Hostalot]

The guy who made it is called "Doodle" just google for his site. There´s an email address on his site. If you're so sure you can put it on your site just email him.

His other stuff is on newgrounds under his username doodle.

[Doc C]

Uh, no he's not. His moniker on NewGrounds is "doodieman" and his site is doodie.com.

If you're going to post things, check your facts first.

Let's get back on topic, this is a site review.

[HalfaBee]

I find the fuzzy header a bit blahh, makes my eyes try and refocus.

[GiorgosK]

Thanks everyone for review and all related tips, its definetelly a lot more comments than I had hoped for, and its all for the good. I appreciate them all.

@keyplyr I said in the beggining
"Let me say that I am aware that the site has probably lots of validation errors"
Thanks though for confirming

[phlembol]

So many new webmasters only consider ascetics and not web standards... like the chap who wears snappy clothing but eats poorly, suffering from bad health.

Obviously a true statement, but then there is an opinion that says, "If it looks good, it will be assumed to work well." (unless experience proves otherwise)

But also there is the adage, "No matter how good she looks, there is someone tired of putting up with her crap." Not sure if that applies here, but maybe. :)

[Doc C]

Yes but as Fernando always used to say, "It is better to look good than to feel good."

[GiorgosK]

So I see everyone likes proverbs, how about starting a site with proverbs instead ? he he

Here is mine: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In line with what Fernando said, but

Don C: who is Fernando ?

[YvetteKuhns]

who is Fernando ?

Abba sang about him. ;)

[Doc C]

Yvette is both right and wrong on this one. Abba did sing about Fernando but I was referring to the character played by Billy Crystal back in the days when Saturday Night Live was actually funny. :D

[YvetteKuhns]

Yvette is Thursday!

I hope it doesn't rain. We could drive in your convertible with the top down. You can watch the wind blow my long hair all over my face. I didn't have a reason to look forward to Thursday until I met you! ;)

Yvette is both right and wrong on this one. Abba did sing about Fernando but I was referring to the character played by Billy Crystal back in the days when Saturday Night Live was actually funny.

Did you ask Abba if they were singing about Billy Crystal? ;)

:D

[Doc C]

OK, let's make a right turn at the next light and get this back on topic.

Thanks.

[YvetteKuhns]

Doc, you are the one that got us off-topic. ;)

What will you be wearing?

We could discuss that in the chit-chat forum, if you like. ;)

My son was playing the games last night which let me watch a television show. I will try that again to watch tonight's results for Dancing with the Stars. Hey, even I need a break from the computer some time.

[GiorgosK]

You guys are funny in these forums, I think I will hang out in here more often


My son was playing the games last night which let me watch a television show.

I am glad someone found a use for them ;)

[Doc C]

Don't blame me. It's not my fault. See post #22. :D

[YvetteKuhns]

You guys are funny in these forums, I think I will hang out in here more often

Thanks. Who says computer geeks don't have a sense of humor? :cool:

Mark was laughing hysterically when he whacked the teacher, I mean boss. ;) He played other games until 9 PM when I made him go to bed. He is 9 years old and should go to bed earlier. Mark enjoyed the website which was no surprise to me. And he didn't have to install a bunch of software on my computer to clutter my desktop with icons. :)