Name of Site: The Game Zone Site Genre: Video games, Gaming news Site URL: http://thegame-zone.com Type of Review (Full/Quick/Questionnaire): Quick Opening Date: December 19, 2013 Additional Notes:Thanks a lot for doing the review, any comments and criticism you {the reviewer} have will be used to improve our site
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On-spot theme design
The first point that strikes visitors' eyes will definitely be the current default appearance/theme of the forum. While the color combinations have been widely used, and perhaps used in game-related websites the most, there are more elements added to the colors. From background image to banner to categories/forums images to thread-related images; the attempt to customize the theme to match the niche. Comparing it to the other themes available under theme selector, the current default theme ("FancyBlack") is definitely the winner. Some elements may seem out of place, like the default MyBB new topic/reply buttons which are only customized a bit, or the misalignment of the background of "Latest News" bar because it looks different to the header of the categories below it, or the links in "Latest News" bar which turned black thus unreadable when I move my mouse over it, and this strange black bar. I think those are details which need to be improved on to make the appearance even more tidy. I also notice that the theme is made to be a fluid one. The structure of the forum was somehow distorted when I browsed with another computer before I made this review in my own laptop, probably due to resolution problem. With the huge elements provided, you may need to reconsider the setting of theme.
Wide content coverage
The forum actually has many sections which give members broad area to talk about. It is an important aspect being a general game-related forum, since it is not specific and thus needs to cover area as big as possible. The concern regarding this is mainly about organization; the non-game sections are placed above game-related sections, which look weird. It is best to put the on-topic sections of the forum at top, so visitors and members can see it right away before looking at other area provided.
Weaknesses:
Overwhelming forum layout
I decided that this is the first thing you may want to look over once again. I am not sure if "overwhelming" is the correct term, but it is the closest to what I feel, I think. There are so many elements from top to bottom. Unfortunately in my opinion some of them are unnecessary or repetitive or placed at the wrong places, which makes my eyes and fingers tired rather quickly. For example, from the top, the double "log in" button and the quick log-in box. The "Overview" box is a nice addition, but I am in doubt if the column "newest members", "top posters", and "favorite threads" are necessary. Perhaps they can be relocated to the bottom of the forum where it will not drain attention too much but still provide exposure intended. Shout box may be a point of interest for guests, but I think allowing registered users only to see them can benefit the community better. There are so many categories, some only has one forum. Technically speaking it is not efficient; they can probably be merged under "Others" category and saves the trouble for scrolling down. Those are the examples. I guess the summary is that the additional elements made me feel not focused on the forum itself. Reducing unnecessary details and re-organize their placement may help to avoid this situation.
"Home" and "Portal" page?
I am a man of efficiency. It tickles me to see features which are not used to its maximum capacity. In The Game Zone's case, it is the WordPress page (home page) and portal page. Both usually serves as the introduction to the site, summarizing important points happening around and to also show how much the website covers. However, when clicking the default address of the website, I was automatically redirected to the forum. I am not sure if the blog is meant as a side project; it can be used to pump more activity and interest from the community so it is rather a shame to see it died. There doesn't seem to be new articles since May. Portal page can be programmed from administration control panel, but a blog takes more effort to maintain so it will be a waste to see them not getting the exposure they need.
Final Remarks:
The Game Zone has done well to manage this far. Efforts have been shown in various aspects of the forum, which is a good indicator that the forum is being taken care of. The problems seem to lie at organization and exploration of the features being offered, to maximize interest and enjoyment while browsing the forum. Get members involved to raise interest and input about what the community actually needs. Good luck from now on!
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