Your Quick Review
Pros:
The skin does look really good. I like the blue colors used over the darker theme. I'ma fan of dark skins, and seen many, but yours does have a very unique appeal to it.
The banner and category bar colors having matching looks is a very nice, and professionally looking touch. I really admire how that looks ... although, I have issues with the baner, which I;'ll explain later.
The board icons work magnificently here. They seem a little basic ion design, but I think they work perfectly without being over done, and look tailor made for the forum.
Cons:
First thing catches me off guard, is the banner. Why does it not fit the forum? It over stretches the forum body by 150-200 pixels off to the right. The extra slogan text coulda been put under the forum title; and helped make it less wide. Also, the comma at the end of the forum title just doesn't look right.
Also, you have a big news table for guests to register or sign in, which I really don't see the point, and looks really bad with that huge red X image. Reason being, is JUST below this unattractive box, you do have a quick log-in for registered members. Then, just below that, your first board is a long description explaing to guest why they should join. If anything, I would remove the quick login, and place the description you have in this "Click here to register" board, and add that to the news box. Either way, one or the other has to go, in my opinion.
Your forum has no "official" announcements board. I see nothing that has to do with rules, staff team, or anything that let's members know of anything that is going on with the forum. This should be your veru first topic of the forum, folowed by Site Suggestions, then member Introductions.
( Now that I have logged in, I see "Town Hall" ... which SHOULD be the very first board anyone sees. Even "guests" ... I would change whatever guests restrictions you have on that board, so all can see it. )
As much as I hate to suggest this, but you need a new category for the 2 General Chat sections up top. Have the first category as Community, then the next as General Chat. then, place both of those general discussion boards in this new category.
Final/General Thoughts:
I went into this as a fresh look, with no knowledge on your previous review, or changes. I wanted you to have an idea on what a guest, then a member, would think on the forum. It's a good forum, and I also don't understand why the audio/video section is hidden from guests; that seems like it would be a popular board, that would peek more interests from guests ... but they can't even see it until they register.
What was most liked about the website/forums:
The matching theme, all around. Was very impressed with some of the details put into the design and look.
What was disliked most about the website/forums:
All the "Hey, guests" messages, and log-in tables, both on top of each other. Just seems like it was really over doing it. Also, the banner size needs looking at, as well.
Final Score : 7 - (Out of 10)
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