SSCentral - please review

[Lightning]

I never have posted at a forum requesting a review before, but it's about time I did. I've worked long and hard and would like some feedback and for someone to point out places where change is needed. Mostly because those at my forum haven't given me any and are pretty happy with my work.

http://www.sscentral.net

Please tell me what you think of it. Feedback and where change is needed mostly is what I'd like to hear.

 

[Chris]

**Great Site & Work**

Welcome to NamePros Lightning! Glad you've joined us and hope you will become active here! I'm sure you'll find out soon that this is the best forum and greastest set of members and staff you'll find anywhere.

I think your website looks great and you've done a terrific job with it all. The only suggestion I'd make is using a more customized skin and logo for the forum instead of the IPB default skin that comes with it. Other than that I think it all looks very nice! :tu:

By the way they look like some very impressive water blasters. How long does it take you to make one?

 

[adam_uk]

super soaker modifications?!? you are a ledgend! you need to get an award or something

its a good website, easy to have, good layout, nice one

 

[Lightning]

I was planning a forum skin, thing is, I just don't know too much about the subject. I'd love to have a skin that looks like the site - back when IPB 1.1 was still new we had a skin that nearly exactly matched the site, at least from my recollection. A friend of mine made most of it it (I started), but he's been having some hard times lately and hasn't been able to make one.

One of the hardest things in making a website is finding a subject you enjoy that also is both unique and plentiful when it comes to potential visitors. Mine happened to be about water guns, but I have moved away from the water guns of your childhood and found my own place, building water guns and modifying them.

The homemade water guns can take a few hours to days to build. I've built 3 major ones, my first one I built mostly in one day (except for the cementing), the second one I worked on a bit each day for a period of about a week (school kept me busy), and my last one I am still perfecting but was built in a few short days (much more complicated system). If you're interested, by all means build one! I am rewriting the Air Pressure Homemade article with step-by-step instructions, so maybe you should wait until next year. After all, winter isn't really much of a time for water gunning.

super soaker modifications?!? you are a ledgend! you need to get an award or something

Thanks for the compliment, I never was before a legend. As for awards, if someone feels I should have one they should give me one. The only award I need though is a feeling of accomplishment.

Any other feedback would be appreciated. What I am looking for mostly is criticism - I would like to know where to improve my site.

 

[Lightning]

It's been a week since the time of the last reply. I am in the process of adding a few ideas I've recieved from other forums and this one, but that list is small. If you have something to say, please speak up! I would like some ideas to work on.

 

[thetzfreak]

Nice!!

I really like your website. One idea (and i'm a surfer so I see a lot of sites) is that I like the fact that there are a really nice designs on top of other websites (as the logo, usually) on top of other sites. Try changing Invision Powerboard to something more attractive (if possible lol). BTW, what did you use to make that forum? PHP? A program?

Sorry I wasn't much help.

 

[Lightning]

One idea (and i'm a surfer so I see a lot of sites) is that I like the fact that there are a really nice designs on top of other websites (as the logo, usually) on top of other sites

I don't quite understand what you are getting at. Do you mean putting a frame with our logo over our links like many sites do (such as ask.com)?

I didn't make that forum. Invision Power Board is one of the most popular pieces of forum software, mostly because it was free. Now you have to pay money to get a license, but we are using a "trial" version until we collect enough donations to get a full license. IPB is no longer free.

Please don't say that you are sorry if you were not helpful. Honestly, that sort of stuff annoys me. Most anything would be appreciated.

 

[Lightning]

Again, it's been another week since the last reply. I've been a little busy, but I have started working on the ideas I recieved.

I would like criticism! If you'd like to tell me where you think I did something wrong, please tell me! This is my largest opportunity thusfar to get ideas for my site.

 

[yandig]

Hey lightning,

First of all, I like your site. I would make very few changes to the existing design. I would sharpen the lettering on the graphic in the upper right corner. You want your site to look as professional as possible.
Great job! :tu:

 

[oblivious]

looks good to me

 

[Lightning]

A "looks good to me" is far from what I've been trying to get. Looking at your posts shows that only a handful of them span more than a single line. In the future, I would suggest to make an effort to post quality over quantity. There is a vast difference between post count and helpfulness.

The guy who made my logo I'll need to contact, I find it a bit hard to get him to work. I've been wanting to add some text below it, and while we're at it, I suppose a sharpening would look nice!

 

[wizdude]

This is NOT a short post

Okay...here we go! I love the theme of the site. Killer. Absolutely awesome. Naming the weapons of mass destruction (mwhaha) that you build like the military is sheer genious. But enough of super soakers...lets get to the site. I like the top banner, but i wish the text was incorporated with the picture. Maybe take a picture of one of your guns, and then write the site name on the side as if it was a military label (just a suggestion). Be creative!

I'm not fond of the PHP BB or whatever you used, but it's quite nice content...so I'll let it slide. As you find that all your content is how you want it...maybe you could go back and make your own layout design...something creative with more graphics. Personally, I like the site, and think it has potential if you tell all your friends. Maybe you could organize tournies or something. You should also consider modifying some of the content to be a bit SHORTER. I tried to make the Pressure one...but it was HARD. Just step by step for simple minded fools like me...okay?

I like that you're seeking HELP not GOOD REVIEWS, as I am. I hate one liners, and also, many liners that do nothing but insult. I hope that this critisizm has been constructive and wish the best to you and your water guns.

Best Regards,

Wizdude

 

[Lightning]

Thanks for the help as you put it (and as it would be put best). It seems that many are not very happy with our banner/logo, at the other forums I've posted at I've seen many things have been suggested on our banner/logo. Our graphics guy can be hard to contact, but I'll try.

Organizing tournaments already was underway at the forums. While it is unknown if any of the planned ones will work out, it is a start.

Content changes can be done. I was planning a new APH article with step-by-step instructions, but now it is on the top of my priorities. I'll break it up into several pages for easier digestion too, and likely some other articles as well.

Thank you very much for the help! Any other ideas are welcome.