Updated forum (DS Ultimate), reviews wanted

[cheat-master30]

Not sure when exactly my last topic in this forum was made, but I'd like some feedback on a few new things such as some new images made by certain members. First up, here's the site in question:

http://dsultimate.net/Board/upload/

Secondly, here's what's changed since last time:

1. New moderator crowns by turpinator (such as this http://dsultimate.net/Board/upload/admincrown.gif)
2. New images for the arcade add on, from I think Mario All Stars.
3. New images for the blogs (control panel especially, icons which are here so people don't have to register):

http://dsultimate.net/Avatar/Blogcontrolicons.PNG

New images for 'Blog this Post' and the like have also been added, and I'd also like opinions on some of the colour changes that are the styles at the bottom of the screen (there's about 40 of them by now).

So, any opinions on the site in general, the even more added Nintendo based sprites and icons, the new moderator crowns and various post buttons, and anything related to community management?

--------------- Added 1239189719 at 1239189719 ---------------

Added new post icons and some new blog icons.

[Winterworks]

You have way too many styles, none of them are even updated. On every one, the navigation bars, and everything look different (have different links, way too crowded).

[cheat-master30]

I know, I ought to update those styles. The reason for many of them still existing though is because a good three quarters have members using them, strangely enough.

What I mean by used:

http://dsultimate.net/Board/upload/showthread.php?t=16147&highlight=style

I'll get to updating templates soon or later though (I wish vBulletin used CSS for layout at this point in time).

Any other comments?

[iogames]

mainly the styles is my problem ;)

[Caddyman]

it, it, its just bad man...

the style is crazy all over the place, no color pallette, icons are rough, header is rough, the postbit....are you kidding? people actually need scrollbars cause their sigs are so big. i have a big monitor and peoples sigs are filling it, totally unacceptable IMO.

i literally felt like i was going to have a seizure if i didn't close the page......

[kevcj]

Header image is a little big - both size and weight.

Meta description - ok

Theme and layout - ok to good.

Too much use of images in the forum descriptions.

[cheat-master30]

it, it, its just bad man...

the style is crazy all over the place, no color pallette, icons are rough, header is rough, the postbit....are you kidding? people actually need scrollbars cause their sigs are so big. i have a big monitor and peoples sigs are filling it, totally unacceptable IMO.

i literally felt like i was going to have a seizure if i didn't close the page......

For the signatures, there are actually signature rules, I just haven't really enforced them in a darn well long time. There's actually meant to be a sig limit, just it's become a complete pain to moderate with such a semi young member base and the like.

As for the icons, those are by a certain member on the site, not by me:

http://dsultimate.net/Board/upload/member.php?u=103

He's a spriter by the way.

mainly the styles is my problem ;)

I'm fixing it, slowly. So far, about 14 of the needed template edits changed, just another 20 to go then sorting out the damn navbars. This could take a while.

Header image is a little big - both size and weight.

Meta description - ok

Theme and layout - ok to good.

Too much use of images in the forum descriptions.

Thanks for your comments. Yeah, I agree, I have got to possibly downsize the header a bit, especially in file size and the like. As for images in forum descriptions, I guess maybe making some forums sub forums might help, right? I've been suggested to make two inactive forums sub forums, and the rest is partly due to using the category icons mod from here. But thanks, and I'll take your comments to consideration, especially the header and description ones.

[Winterworks]

Nah man, you don't need to fix your templates, you need to remove some of them (styles, whatever).

A lot of them are very ugly, and rough, and you should just stick to around 5 of your best.

I'd say the best style you have is Clean Red style (http://dsultimate.net/Board/upload/index.php?styleid=40), I'd delete most of the others and use this as a main style. Although is doesn't really match your content, it is much cleaner, and doesn't have those rough status icons.

[cheat-master30]

I've been removing some, yes, the others are due to demand (as in, about 10 members demanded it and as an artifact of the contest used to get the current logo).

[Winterworks]

You still have way too many styles. I have more advice, but if you're not going to follow it, then I will not be giving you the advice.

That many styles, and having them all look like that, with the rough/ugly status icons and banners, and way over sized banners... Will turn people away from your forum.

Who cares if you have a few unhappy members. At least edit the ugly status icons and banners.

[cheat-master30]

You still have way too many styles. I have more advice, but if you're not going to follow it, then I will not be giving you the advice.

That many styles, and having them all look like that, with the rough/ugly status icons and banners, and way over sized banners... Will turn people away from your forum.

Who cares if you have a few unhappy members. At least edit the ugly status icons and banners.

I'm not ignoring the advice, just saying the reason while currently asking members which aren't used to remove them elsewhere. I've already removed about 5 when updating templates.

[Winterworks]

5 is nothing when you have around 50...

[Xtrato]

ok , well im sorry to hmm join the C&C , but man that site is a bit ugly... Honestly , hmm its bad , the header takes like my whole screen . And the announcements , thats buggy for me at least.

You have NO IDENTITY! , like Winter said, you have plenty of designs ,and none is defined . i tried to find some good stuff in your site, but im not sure i can find much other than members and content.

IN any case , you need an overhaul on your site , the design .. its just bad , colors may be good for what your site is intented but , the layout is bad , tetra ugly .

Get someone to do a skin , hire someone , buy a skin , dont know , but you need to really get creative with that site.

3/10 !! , sorry , but you need to pump up the brain.

[EWGF]

Your server lacks too

Fatal error: Out of memory (allocated 8912896) (tried to allocate 311296 bytes) in /var/www/vhosts/dsultimate.net/httpdocs/Board/upload/includes/class_bbcode.php(172) : eval()'d code on line 339

[Winterworks]

Your server lacks too

I got that too with some styles...

[Shelley_c]

Just looking at your multiple selection of forum status icons. Is there any reason why they have jagged edges? (looking at the default style). I think the sprites and the nintendo icons look nice, they add character to the style. But I will say that's I can think of a good reason why you have jagged icons (forum status icons) implemented on your forum. Perhaps these are cropped from a dark background. Regardless of that, there are many icons on the internet you can use which will blend into the background which have smooth edges resulting in cleaner and sharper icons. I'd advise either changing them for higher quality icons or clean the existing icons up so the edges aren't as jagged.