Comments on: Petopia: Hard to Navigate? http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/ Flotsam from too many sites Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:22:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mania http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-282 Mania Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:45:46 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-282 I didn't mean you had to write one up for me! That's supposed to me by job. :> Although I won't turn down the help. I just know that I'm a bit close to the site and I often can't see where the tricky bits to using it are. I didn’t mean you had to write one up for me! That’s supposed to me by job. :> Although I won’t turn down the help. I just know that I’m a bit close to the site and I often can’t see where the tricky bits to using it are.

]]> By: Znodis http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-280 Znodis Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:25:09 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-280 I'll try to write up a preliminary one this week. I'll let you know when v0.1 is up. Going to be a busy week tho. I’ll try to write up a preliminary one this week. I’ll let you know when v0.1 is up. Going to be a busy week tho.

]]> By: Mania http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-269 Mania Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:28:09 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-269 Just to be absolutely clear, I'm talking about making small changes just to make things more obvious -- like, say, maybe rearranging the links in the menu bar so that the stuff you use more is at the top. Maybe changing the names on some links to make it more clear what they are. (I just hooked up Google Analytics to the site a few days ago and already it's gathering some interesting data about how people use the site.) Certainly I'd never try to add flash (or Flash) to Petopia! *grin* I want to use CSS primarily to standardize things like the color and the size of the font for headers, so that I don't have to do it all by hand and I can easily make a small tweak across the entire site at once. CSS lets you pull all the fiddly bits, like exactly how wide your margins are, out into one place so you can deal with it more easily. But I agree that the uncluttered-ness needs to stay. :> Znodis: I think a 'Start Here' FAQ is an excellent idea! Are there any particular hints or answers that you think would be important in that? Bulldazhor: Yeah, I hated the frames too. Not using frames means you have to scroll up to the menu sometimes on long pages, but I'll take that over not being able to link directly. Just to be absolutely clear, I’m talking about making small changes just to make things more obvious — like, say, maybe rearranging the links in the menu bar so that the stuff you use more is at the top. Maybe changing the names on some links to make it more clear what they are. (I just hooked up Google Analytics to the site a few days ago and already it’s gathering some interesting data about how people use the site.)

Certainly I’d never try to add flash (or Flash) to Petopia! *grin* I want to use CSS primarily to standardize things like the color and the size of the font for headers, so that I don’t have to do it all by hand and I can easily make a small tweak across the entire site at once. CSS lets you pull all the fiddly bits, like exactly how wide your margins are, out into one place so you can deal with it more easily. But I agree that the uncluttered-ness needs to stay. :>

Znodis: I think a ‘Start Here’ FAQ is an excellent idea! Are there any particular hints or answers that you think would be important in that?

Bulldazhor: Yeah, I hated the frames too. Not using frames means you have to scroll up to the menu sometimes on long pages, but I’ll take that over not being able to link directly.

]]> By: Bulldazhor http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-268 Bulldazhor Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:32:01 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-268 WHat i don't like in petopia is the use of frame, which make a little difficult to link to a page ...... Oh wait, it have been modified and the frame removed. so i guess i have nothing to say anymore :) i guess i am too familiar with the site now to be very objectiv on the ergonomy Bullda WHat i don’t like in petopia is the use of frame, which make a little difficult to link to a page …… Oh wait, it have been modified and the frame removed.

so i guess i have nothing to say anymore :)
i guess i am too familiar with the site now to be very objectiv on the ergonomy

Bullda

]]> By: Zebbriz http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Zebbriz Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:19:42 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-267 I agree with Remillard about being able to sort an individual pet family by level. That's the one feature that I've always wanted to see here. Otherwise the site is amazingly straight forward and easy to use. It's the simplicity of navigation and lack of fancy web effects (clutter) that make it such a great and helpful site. By all means, make it easier for you to maintain and update, but please don't make the Petopia more complicated to use. I agree with Remillard about being able to sort an individual pet family by level. That’s the one feature that I’ve always wanted to see here.

Otherwise the site is amazingly straight forward and easy to use. It’s the simplicity of navigation and lack of fancy web effects (clutter) that make it such a great and helpful site. By all means, make it easier for you to maintain and update, but please don’t make the Petopia more complicated to use.

]]> By: Znodis http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Znodis Fri, 06 Jul 2007 13:23:40 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-266 I found what I wanted very easily as well on my first visit, but then I knew what I was looking for. For the level 10, newb hunter, it might be good to have a 'Start Here FAQ' page explaining the initial pet taming quest, the 2nd quest to get 'feed pet' (yes I made it an entire level before doing it myself way back when), recommended pet families, and then open up the rest of the site to them in a summary. I found what I wanted very easily as well on my first visit, but then I knew what I was looking for. For the level 10, newb hunter, it might be good to have a ‘Start Here FAQ’ page explaining the initial pet taming quest, the 2nd quest to get ‘feed pet’ (yes I made it an entire level before doing it myself way back when), recommended pet families, and then open up the rest of the site to them in a summary.

]]> By: Tiiaa http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Tiiaa Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:59:48 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-265 I never had troubles either. I like the plain and straightforward design with short loading times an quick maneuvering. I don't need some blinky flashy stuff - would't fit I guess. I never had troubles either. I like the plain and straightforward design with short loading times an quick maneuvering. I don’t need some blinky flashy stuff – would’t fit I guess.

]]> By: Dave Johnshon http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-259 Dave Johnshon Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:35:37 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-259 I personally had no problems navigating through petopia. It may not be the "flashiest" site out there (and I would argue that is a REALLY GOOD thing) but it is simple to navigate, takes seconds to find what I'm looking for, and provides everything in a way that anyone can navigate through. I wouldn't worry about a redesign at all, unless you personally want a change :) I personally had no problems navigating through petopia. It may not be the “flashiest” site out there (and I would argue that is a REALLY GOOD thing) but it is simple to navigate, takes seconds to find what I’m looking for, and provides everything in a way that anyone can navigate through. I wouldn’t worry about a redesign at all, unless you personally want a change :)

]]> By: Remillard http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/comment-page-1/#comment-258 Remillard Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:07:56 +0000 http://www.maniasarcania.com/2007/07/05/petopia-hard-to-navigate/#comment-258 Personally, I knew immediately how to get to what I wanted. If I want to look at all the cats, I click on cat. If I wanted to see all the wolves, I click on wolf. If I want to look at skill bases there's the big list of pet skills. Then that cross references to the pets that have them. So I can't say I've suffered at all. The only thing that's ever been a little confusing is the list of pets by level, and there sometimes I want it a little more segregated by type (say owls in order of levels rather than pictures.) But thst's just me. Personally, I knew immediately how to get to what I wanted. If I want to look at all the cats, I click on cat. If I wanted to see all the wolves, I click on wolf. If I want to look at skill bases there’s the big list of pet skills. Then that cross references to the pets that have them.

So I can’t say I’ve suffered at all. The only thing that’s ever been a little confusing is the list of pets by level, and there sometimes I want it a little more segregated by type (say owls in order of levels rather than pictures.)

But thst’s just me.

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