Layout flexibility

The only real issue I had with the previous version of this mod was the inability to make any real changes with the layout. I realize the old code was by necessity layers upon layers of changes, and I'm hoping since this new version has been built from the ground up that the 4.0 version will allow us non-coders to more easily make significant layout changes.

Is this true?

[stangger5]

What kind of changes are you talking about ??

[Hippy]

Originally Posted by stangger5

What kind of changes are you talking about ??

what he said ..

[doubleclick]

Wow! Thanks again for your enthusiasm and willingness to help. I think this is a great mod, but the layout doesn't make it readily apparent to a new user. There are a lot of small tweaks I'd like to make, but to pare it down to what I consider essential are as follows:

Champions
I'd like to move the Highscore Champions and the The Champion of the Arcade/Leader of Leaderboard off this page, and to the top of the Leaderboard page (arcade.php?&act=Arcade&module=league).

I'd like to change the center column to make it more obvious that there is activity in the arcade, and how to participate. Both the show of activity and the way to jump in affect a much higher percentage of visitors than the 5 users who are champions.

Center Column
I'd like to change the center column to contain these items in this order:

1. Latest Arcade Score
2. Newest Champions (with avatars)

Below that would be:
Game Categories with search box and alpha index
Tournaments - this would display the two tables that currently are on the stand-alone tournament page, and a Create Tournament Button.

The Games categories table and the search results would act differently than it does now. Currently, when you click a category, it refreshes the page, and then displays the results at the bottom. This is not very user-friendly to a newcomer. Instead, I'd like a click to either open up a pop-up of results (the kind that doesn't get blocked by browsers) or have the results expand above the categories block in the center column.

I've attached a screenshot of what I'm talking about in case my description isn't clear.

[stangger5]

Thats a good bit of changes...lol

Is that from a real site ??

To get some more ideas for your arcade,,,have a look at mine ( link is in my sig) or Mark.B`s arcade..

[doubleclick]

Originally Posted by stangger5

Thats a good bit of changes...lol

Well, you asked I even pared it down from my real wishlist!

Originally Posted by stangger5

Is that from a real site ??
The arcade is. The way the blocks are arranged is compliments of Photoshop.

Originally Posted by stangger5

To get some more ideas for your arcade,,,

As if I don't have enough already?

Originally Posted by stangger5

have a look at mine ( link is in my sig) or Mark.B`s arcade..

Will do. I've been to your site in the past, but not lately. Where is Mark.B's arcade?

[doubleclick]

stangger5! You've done some work since I've been there last. Very sleek and modern looking. Sorry to see Mario and Pacman broke up, but I guess their compatibility issues were too much to overcome. Mario likes to jump, pacman has no legs, and that's probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Mark.B You've really moved stuff around. I like the way you bring the life to the forefront like the scores comments at the top, and new activity. You guys have given me even more food for thought.

I do know html and css, and in fact design websites when I'm not shooting bubbles. However, with two files in the filesystem where code and layout is intertwined plus a template in the forum admin area, "it's not your father's css". (hmm or maybe it is...)

You both have done great things with your arcades, far beyond my wanting to move pieces around, and have given me even more things to think about.

--------------- Added [DATE]1333019447[/DATE] at [TIME]1333019447[/TIME] ---------------

You already made some changes I was looking for in the layout. When you guys move stuff around, have you somehow broken out the boxes so all that has to be done is copy a section of code and paste it somewhere else to make the layout more modular?

The thing frustrates me the most from a UI perspective is when a user searches, clicks a category, or clicks a letter, rather than the results of the search popping up in their face as one would expect, it just appears to simply refresh the screen. Only after a few times (if they stay around long enough), do users realize they have to scroll all the way to the bottom to see the results. Has anyone figured out how to change this?

It's great to find people who are digging into the layout. As I've said before, this script has many hidden gems and buried headlines (sorry for mixing metaphors), and I'd like to bring them more to the surface.