Redesign Launch - Stage 2 in progress

[oldphart]

In response to post #55724561.

ApocNizmith wrote: Suggestion, change the grey backgrounds to black. The font is very hard to red, or at least darken all of the backgrounds used on the sight

I find white on black to be one of the worst combinations. On my calibrated display, the current white on warm gray is quite pleasant. Maybe include a calibration page for people with incorrectly adjusted monitors? That might improve their game experience as well.

[sellingit]

I think feedback can be a Good Thing, so here's mine...

 

I don't like the new design. It's probably better suited to tiny screens than the old version, but I play Skyrim and browse Nexus Mods on a big screen.

 

Not everyone has a 4k screen. I personally like to have two browsers side by side on my 1440p monitor. The new design is less functional and wastes so much space. Research has shown that users navigate flat UI designs 22 per cent slower.

 

It would be interesting to here the statistics about related to the new site. I wonder if people will now actually spend less or more time per visit with the new site.

Edited December 4, 2017 by sellingit

[Voldearag]

For me personally, the new design makes everything I do here harder and doesn't offer any enhancements that I appreciate. Improvements and changes are cool, but, I think forcing everyone who's used and appreciated this site as it is to use something totally different is a really not-cool thing. I also generally warm up to new ideas faster when they're offered as alternatives without any "Now we're taking away the version that you already have" stipulation. Sorry for griping about a thing people have put work and thought into, I get that, just... it's kind of shoving me over and taking something I like from me.

[DiaborMagics]

Alright, I see there are many people with (mostly valid) complaints, others whom just say 'I hate it', without offering any constructive criticism and lastly, people whom actually help with usable feedback. And more than I could add at this point, because I must admit I have not used the new layout for more than 5 minutes.

 

Instead of doing any of that, I would like to ask a question (and okay, state 1 thing clearly, even if I know it's in vain: I would very much like it if the old.nexusmods.com would not disappear and for us to get the option to turn it on or off by default. If we are logged in, www.- will redirect us to old.- if we desire that).

 

The question is: why is there this much focus on mobile use?

 

The reason why I ask you this, is because Skyrim is a laptop/desktop game, not a mobile game. I use the website on my phone, too, but that is only to quickly check things. I believe that the new design takes us away from the heart, the main focus of the website: to find mods quickly, along with all the needed information and to download and track them when wanted.

 

The downloading part - I don't think any user does this on their mobile devices, correct me if I'm wrong. And even if some do (although I wouldn't know why), I think that is only a really small percentage there.

 

I personally feel like the new design impacts desktop/laptop use negatively, for as far as I have seen it - it hurt my eyes in a litteral, non-exaggerated sense when I first saw it, as there was too much strain put on them all at once - everything is designed in tiles/images too big for good usability with a mouse and everything is slower and harder to find.

 

In my opinion, desktop/laptop use should always take priority for sites such as these, because they are mostly directed at computer gaming and thus computer users. Not mobile users.

 

In short, we are moving too far away from what I believe this website should focus on and that is a waste of time and effort on not only your part, but on everyone's. I must admit I have not even used the new website on even my phone yet, because I have old.nexusmods.com/skyrim on its home screen. I almost have no doubts about the new design working very well (maybe too well (too big images and buttons perhaps, if the desktop version is any indication)) on phones and tablets, but again, that should not be the focus in my opinion. Even if I check the website with my phone, the previous version was easy enough to navigate on a smaller iPhone 4 and it is also easy to navigate on a tablet, or bigger Galaxy A5 2017. All I have to do is zoom in and I can use the old version perfectly fine, no matter on which mobile device I use it.

 

And even though I use it on my phone, 95% of my time spent on this website, is through Google Chrome and Firefox on either a desktop or laptop.

 

Do with my explanation as you will, but I would very much appreciate an answer to my question.

 

Just to be thorough: The question is: why is there this much focus on mobile use?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

DiaborMagics

[Madrias]

Well, I found out this much by accident, but for me at least, I've improved usability for myself with a simple little trick.

 

I reduced the zoom from 100% to 80%. Yeah, I know it's nothing special, but it did two things I didn't expect: It put the search bar next to the drop downs (something I'd asked for in my main list) and gave me some 'blank space' on either side of the main content (another thing that was on my list), so it's gone from 'barely tolerable' to 'mostly usable' at this point for me. Font sizes are a little small, but not unreadable, so it'll work for the time being.

 

I know not everyone can do this, but it works for me. I still think there's room for improvements, but it's not too bad at this point.

[twowolves80]

 

 

Alright, I see there are many people with (mostly valid) complaints, others whom just say 'I hate it', without offering any constructive criticism and lastly, people whom actually help with usable feedback. And more than I could add at this point, because I must admit I have not used the new layout for more than 5 minutes.

Instead of doing any of that, I would like to ask a question (and okay, state 1 thing clearly, even if I know it's in vain: I would very much like it if the old.nexusmods.com would not disappear and for us to get the option to turn it on or off by default. If we are logged in, www.- will redirect us to old.- if we desire that).

The question is: why is there this much focus on mobile use?

The reason why I ask you this, is because Skyrim is a laptop/desktop game, not a mobile game. I use the website on my phone, too, but that is only to quickly check things. I believe that the new design takes us away from the heart, the main focus of the website: to find mods quickly, along with all the needed information and to download and track them when wanted.

The downloading part - I don't think any user does this on their mobile devices, correct me if I'm wrong. And even if some do (although I wouldn't know why), I think that is only a really small percentage there.

I personally feel like the new design impacts desktop/laptop use negatively, for as far as I have seen it - it hurt my eyes in a litteral, non-exaggerated sense when I first saw it, as there was too much strain put on them all at once - everything is designed in tiles/images too big for good usability with a mouse and everything is slower and harder to find.

In my opinion, desktop/laptop use should always take priority for sites such as these, because they are mostly directed at computer gaming and thus computer users. Not mobile users.

In short, we are moving too far away from what I believe this website should focus on and that is a waste of time and effort on not only your part, but on everyone's. I must admit I have not even used the new website on even my phone yet, because I have old.nexusmods.com/skyrim on its home screen. I almost have no doubts about the new design working very well (maybe too well (too big images and buttons perhaps, if the desktop version is any indication)) on phones and tablets, but again, that should not be the focus in my opinion. Even if I check the website with my phone, the previous version was easy enough to navigate on a smaller iPhone 4 and it is also easy to navigate on a tablet, or bigger Galaxy A5 2017. All I have to do is zoom in and I can use the old version perfectly fine, no matter on which mobile device I use it.

And even though I use it on my phone, 95% of my time spent on this website, is through Google Chrome and Firefox on either a desktop or laptop.

Do with my explanation as you will, but I would very much appreciate an answer to my question.

Just to be thorough: The question is: why is there this much focus on mobile use?

Thanks in advance,

DiaborMagics

 

 

I can't speak for Dark0ne or the admins, but I certainly appreciate when someone takes the time to write out a well-thought out critique. A lot more pleasant to read (not to mention less likely to make me shut down and not hear the rest) than some, "I hate u, ur site sux balls, I'm not giving u any money," type post. Kudos to you.

 

Also, that is a good question.

 

Personally, I don't think the picture tiles are necessary. Bring back the sidebar, and put the list of games on that, perhaps as smaller icons (similar to the Skyrim.exe icon). Instantly frees up space in the top which then allows the News and Announcements to take front and center where it belongs since this is the section that will have important (and possibly critical--remember the hack?) information for members not only about mods, but about the site itself. Thicken the text on the buttons for greater visual contrast, add a delay to the drop down effect (one second should do), add a bit of shadowing to the buttons to make them more 3D, and add the chat-flag to the bottoms of the image tiles in the Manage Your Images section so we know when an image received a comment at a glance as the Updates notification doesn't always work.

 

Well, I found out this much by accident, but for me at least, I've improved usability for myself with a simple little trick.

 

I reduced the zoom from 100% to 80%. Yeah, I know it's nothing special, but it did two things I didn't expect: It put the search bar next to the drop downs (something I'd asked for in my main list) and gave me some 'blank space' on either side of the main content (another thing that was on my list), so it's gone from 'barely tolerable' to 'mostly usable' at this point for me. Font sizes are a little small, but not unreadable, so it'll work for the time being.

 

I know not everyone can do this, but it works for me. I still think there's room for improvements, but it's not too bad at this point.

...I'll...be damned. It does work! lol Nice trick! :tongue:

Edited December 4, 2017 by twowolves80

[somerandomsheepthathops]

Honestly, I don't really mind the design. Once you get used to it, it isn't really that bad in my opinion. I quite like that the download history section how has images, and is in the modding tab. Makes finding something easier, and I don't have to go to user area, then download history. Minute at best, but given how often I visit it, it does save me some time, and is convenient. The only complaint I have so far is that I don't like how when I go to a new comment page, it leaves me exactly where I was. I liked it better when it scrolled me to the top, it was more convenient that way. Haven't tried the forum side of things, I never really use them anymore; but my initial fears of this being awful were unfounded, fortunately enough.

[Ruhadre]

Ya know what really grinds my gears? The fact you guys are going through with this update to the site and IGNORING major things that would not only drastically improve site performance, but improve the quality of usage for the screenarcher community. What I speak of are limits that need to be established on posted image sets. Currently, screenarchers are capable of uploading TONS of back to back sets, effectively pushing the sets of less prolific posters out of the spotlight to be seen by others. Naturally, this has to have a huge drag on the site. It is my belief, as well as many others, that a time limit, and a daily number limit on uploaded sets would turn all of that around. For instance, only allow a set to be uploaded per user every 15 minutes. Allow for a maximum of like 10 sets a day. Just establishing those limits would also encourage screenarchers to produce quality over quantity, and many other screenarchers would get more exposure for their sets. I respectfully ask that you please consider these limits, if improving site performance is really the goal and not just a "new look". Edited December 5, 2017 by Ruhadre

[Samulis]

In response to post #55747751.

Ruhadre wrote: Ya know what really grinds my gears? The fact you guys are going through with this update to the site and IGNORING major things that would not only drastically improve site performance, but improve the quality of usage for the screenarcher community. What I speak of are limits that need to be established on posted image sets. Currently, screenarchers are capable of uploading TONS of back to back sets, effectively pushing the sets of less prolific posters out of the spotlight to be seen by others. Naturally, this has to have a huge drag on the site. It is my belief, as well as many others, that a time limit, and a daily number limit on uploaded sets would turn all of that around. For instance, only allow a set to be uploaded per user every 15 minutes. Allow for a maximum of like 10 sets a day. Just establishing those limits would also encourage screenarchers to produce quality over quantity, and many other screenarchers would get more exposure for their sets. I respectfully ask that you please consider these limits, if improving site performance is really the goal and not just a "new look".

I agree! Some sort of limitation would definitely be in order. Doesn't make much sense to me that users can spam the image section non stop when there is an option to include multiple images in the description anyways. Edited December 5, 2017 by Samulis

[Ethreon]

In response to post #55747751. #55747886 is also a reply to the same post.

Ruhadre wrote: Ya know what really grinds my gears? The fact you guys are going through with this update to the site and IGNORING major things that would not only drastically improve site performance, but improve the quality of usage for the screenarcher community. What I speak of are limits that need to be established on posted image sets. Currently, screenarchers are capable of uploading TONS of back to back sets, effectively pushing the sets of less prolific posters out of the spotlight to be seen by others. Naturally, this has to have a huge drag on the site. It is my belief, as well as many others, that a time limit, and a daily number limit on uploaded sets would turn all of that around. For instance, only allow a set to be uploaded per user every 15 minutes. Allow for a maximum of like 10 sets a day. Just establishing those limits would also encourage screenarchers to produce quality over quantity, and many other screenarchers would get more exposure for their sets. I respectfully ask that you please consider these limits, if improving site performance is really the goal and not just a "new look".

Samulis wrote: I agree! Some sort of limitation would definitely be in order. Doesn't make much sense to me that users can spam the image section non stop when there is an option to include multiple images in the description anyways.

One user can upload up to 5 images a day, or 15 with Premium. That's quite limiting already, and I see no point in limiting it anymore when you can filter images yourself by type.