Pix3licio.us

[Aceman]

Heck I've reviewed several other sites on here. So it's only fair that I offer up one of my own for review and comment.

Preface: My site's "web" side isn't opened just yet but it's close. It's running on a Joomla backend that's been integrated into VBulletin's user database. Which means if your registered on the forums and your on the staff you'll have access to Joomla's admin area. The forums are open and that is what I'm asking a review of.

Pix3licio.us - Gaming and Gadgets site - Focusing on the gamining industry and high end technologies.

LINK: http://www.pix3licio.us/forums

Website: (closed atm) is Joomla. I've attached a screenshot.
Forum: Vbulletin.
Skin: Titanium from Extrempixels which has been modified to meet my needs. Several custom graphics have been created to brand the forums to the website.
Hacks used: Custom made featured threads image bar (forumhome); BBCODE Staff Notice; BBpixel jvbPlugin; Cyb - Advanced Forum Statistics; gXboxLive; nCode Image Resizer; Ultimate Side Columns; vBadvanced CMPS used for custom pages.
Addtional Tools: Openx to run my ad campaigns.

As with any review. I'm looking for suggestions on improvements visually, and how I could better organize the site. This is my 3rd Vbulletin site so I want to make this as success from the start. So I'm really look for the help. Thanks again for taking the time to consider my site.

[Oyobiia]

Your site looks amazing!
Maybe you should make a custom theme so your forum will match your site?

Your forum looks empty at the moment. Maybe if you started making some threads then others will start posting on them. Then just give it all time.

Love,
Bamboo

[Aceman]

Agreed. I've been working on graphics so much it's been hard.. But I plan on posting something to each forum very soon. I have a game review of Forces Unleashed I'm getting ready to post.

[gamerfu]

To many boards, narrow your focus.

Very nice design. i like it!

From the website title, I didn't think "games", I thought Pictures, Digital Photography, 3D rendered images, Digital Photo Technology News, Photoshop Tips and Tricks, and Video Clips.

Seeing the games, I didn't understand until I read your site discription. Sorry, the web url didn't scream games to me nor did I expect that topic.

Best thing to do is start small then expand the topics when they become more popular.

[Wazran]

Very good job. I like the way you modified the skin, although perhaps a little wider?

Did you make those register logo's yourself? If so, great job. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if I used the one or two, for the same reason you're using them. If not it's okay.

[Aceman]

Go for it.

I've updated the buttons so you may be looking for this file.

[gfxhelp.com]

Looks pretty good, make a fav icon and replace the old/new post icon with something that matches (http://www.pix3licio.us/forums/image...n/post_old.gif). Also the background of alternating lines causes bad strobing on some LCD monitors when scrolling down, so I would maybe keep it a solid color. The forum could use a little less gray text, maybe a link color for the thread titles?. The buttons look great...apply, register etc etc.

[Aceman]

gfxhelp - Thanks for the review. I'm going to tweak that background this evening and see about making some more custom icons. More along the lines of the register/join buttons mentioned before.

Also I'm work on the link color too.. thanks for the suggestion.

Background update - Trying out something new.. I like it... I think.
Icon update - Made new icons for post_new and post_old.. maybe too bold. Going to try a gold and silver version. (Seen in top 5 stats).
Link update - set decoration to none, and change the color to a gray/gold which I think works.