New retro style Forum, please let me know what you think.

[jp2]

Hey guys,

I have just finished working on my retro style forum. Please let me know what you think.

http://www.jonwheatley.co.uk/forum

Cheers,
Jon

[amykhar]

I love the style and colors on the forumhome page. The welcome message is cute but a bit whiny :D

I don't like that you use the default envelopes on your forumdisplay page. I think your little squares on the forumhome are much more original and could be adapted for use instead of the envelopes.

Likewise, I would probably not show the message icons on forumdisplay, but that's just me. I like the spartan look.

I really like your newreply and newthread buttons, etc. I think I would kill or change the other default vbulletin icons in the postbit though. They just don't match.

All in all, I think it's very pretty. Hopefully, you'll get some more members and won't have to keep talking to yourself. :)

[eva01_]

i like it, a bit bright for my eyes, causes more of a headache for me, but that is a problem i have anyways, so good job ^^

[jp2]

Thanks for the replies. They are much appreachiated.

I think i might follow your advice and changed the rest of the defult buttons.

[DR?@M W?@V?R]

It looks very good, however I would just a darken the #FFFFFF white a small amount.

[yinyang]

i like it. i also think you should customize some more buttons, but very original and simple. good job!

[Polo]

i like it.. .nice and original :) ver well customized ;)

[lasto]

can i just say something here :

its not what your site looks like - its what content it holds forthe end user to keep them coming back that matters.You could have the worse color scheme in the world but if your board has anything people want they will always come back.
People spend way to much time on gfx which in end just slows the board down.
I also know of a site that has the worse colors and i swear it looks like Invasion board - is yuck to look at but yet it has about 600 odd members on at any one time - so they gotta be doing something right.

[Polo]

can i just say something here :

its not what your site looks like - its what content it holds forthe end user to keep them coming back that matters.You could have the worse color scheme in the world but if your board has anything people want they will always come back.
People spend way to much time on gfx which in end just slows the board down.
I also know of a site that has the worse colors and i swear it looks like Invasion board - is yuck to look at but yet it has about 600 odd members on at any one time - so they gotta be doing something right.
I agree with you lasto..... i definetly agree... however I think that if that specific site had a good style... members could easily double or even triple... that is what i think...

but yes.. you have a really good point there ;)

[jp2]

Thanks for the replys.

I also agree with what your saying. If I was to ever make a serious go of this forum I would need to probably change the domain name, decide on a specific theme, and get some more forum topics up.

I was however only asking for an opinion on the style. I have wanted to make a retro forum layout for a while now and after my last website sale I had a spare vbulletin licence left over?. So I thought why not.

At the moment the only use the forum has is for me and a few friends can meet and talk. That is what its there for and I think it does that quite well.

I am looking forward to hearing more comments. :)

[Dean C]

It's nice and all but it has no contrast whatsoever, I'd leave right away struggling to read everything on this laptop screen :)

[Lemac]

nice

[She Unlimited]

Looks awesome. It loads a little slow for me though. The main header banner. I really like the style. I would customize the small graphics though, like the folders, and icons.

[The Geek]

I think it looks very very cool. In fact - id love to talk to you about a skin job (!) when you feel like taking one on.

Along with what everyone else was saying:

I think that the vb icons let it down. Ditch the AIM, rep blip, message icon, online status, etc... look very much out of place (along with the envelopes as amy mentioned). Then again I guess Rome wasnt built in a day ;)

Also - I think that the drop down menus could use some work - they look out of place.

Finally - There is something funked about the various shades of blue. The biggest funk is between your page background blue and your td background colours - they just look slightly odd to me.

Those are just one mans opinion though - I do have to state again I really like the general look and feel though. One of the more original skins that I have seen for awhile - clean and simple and fresh.

[Sean James]

i love it dude, its different and its unique ;) good work

[She Unlimited]

Great luck on building your portfollio, you are doing an awesome job! I like it, and different always works well! By the way I love retro!