New RLD web site status, updates
I'll hopefully be updating this thread often with updates as I continue working on the new Redline Derby web site. It's been a very productive few months in terms of getting the new site foundation pretty solid. There's still a long way to go but once the foundation and plumbing is in place, things should stack on top of it pretty quickly (just like any project).
I apologize for not having any screenshots to show off yet, most of the stuff is just studs and bare wires - no drywall up yet
However, as I was putting things together the other it kind of hit me how much different the site will appear be once the new site launches. The RLD web site as you know it will be no more...we'll be moving from a trailer park to an upper-middle class house (don't want it too fancy, ya know). But I'm guessing (like me) the Redline Derby crowd is one that typically fears change but I do believe the changes being made are for the better and the long term. I'll try to get some sort of preview up once there's enough to show.
The backbone of Redline Derby is the forum and all the great topics we talk about and share, and that will not change - ever. The new web site is being designed to better feature topics and organize them so it's not only easier for people get information but better highlights the great stuff we're sharing - from build tips to car photos to tournament results. If I achieve my goal, the site will feel less like a message board and more like a good web site with lots of great articles.
At the core of what I'm building are tools that will allow me (and a select few) to manage the content generated on a daily basis. You guys are the stars of this show and right now great things are buried on page 16 of a message board. The changes coming will hopefully solve this type of problem while making reading articles a lot more enjoyable. The web site needs to work for long-time members and new visitors at the same time.
The other big part of the update is, of course, the Fantasy League game. The fantasy league is more or less getting a paint job and little else. The core game won't be changing much shy of the things discussed last year. There will be a few new features at launch but otherwise new features (like personal tournaments) will come later.
The new web site won't be perfect out of the gate. There will be problems and there will be complaints, but hopefully there will be some praise too once we all get used to things. It'll be new for me too so we'll be on this road trip together.
So there you go, status update for January. Look for more real soon.
Discussion
Thanks for all the work you are putting in Brian. I do have one question. I think I recall someone asking if the new website might contain a live chat so that members can converse instead of using PMs. Is this a possibility or is it something that you think would be good for RLD?
That idea sounds like fun! The only problem is that the most members on here at one time is only about 3
We did talk about having a chat night or something but I never got around to setting it up. Nice thing is that doesn't require waiting for the new site at all. It's a quick thing to setup so I'll add that to my list to do soon and then we can have a Friday or weekend night scheduled as a "gathering" but the chat room can be open all the time so if there's a chance a few guys are on at the same time you can talk. Thanks for bringing it up!
Another quick update on the new web site...
Unfortunately, my self-imposed deadline of March/April for the Fantasy League is going to be missed. Time is just tight and when I stand back and look at priorities for the site, the forum is first, game second, then everything else...and since the forum update isn't done yet, that needs to be the focus. The game will come along after the forum.
Fortunately, the forum update is coming along quite nicely. I'm having to cut back on some new features to get the basic features done but that's all well and good. In time things will get added. I'm getting happier with the balance between forum and blog, and little things that have annoyed us for a long time are getting solved (image sizing, for one).
One new-ish features that will be part of the first update is tagged posts and collections. This will be an admin-only feature right now but will let me organize posts in groups so people can find things quicker and get everything at once. For example, there would be a collection of "BluTrack" posts so you can do all that reading in one spot. No more searching and hunting. Eventually I want to expand this so each person can make their own collections.
Another enhancement that is shaping up nicely are featured posts, similar to what "sticky" posts are now. Featured posts will be organized by me or moderators and push interesting posts to the front page and other landing pages with a little more pizzaz behind them - think headlines on a news site. These will rotate and guide visitors to the most interesting posts, collections and links.
However, the new forum will not be as "full featured" as the one we're using now. Like many software packages, they give you 1000 tools but you only use 10. Well, I'm trying to boil things down to the few we use the most. The result should be a much better writing and reading experience for everyone. Of course, just like everything around here, it will evolve based on your feedback.
Last but not least, once the forum update is ready to go the site at large will go down for what could be an entire weekend while I migrate data from old forums to new forums. That's gonna be a pain but necessary. I think one casualty of the data migration will be private messages. I can't save those into the new forums so if there are any messages in your inbox that you keep for reference, PLEASE SAVE THOSE ON YOUR COMPUTER or print them out or something. Copy and paste into Word or whathaveyou. I'll be posting more warnings as things draw closer.
So my apologies for the dragging deadlines. I'm not even going to set any more since I keep blowing past them despite my best efforts...but that's how it goes. Family > Career > Hobbies - but hopefully sooner than later.
Here at the end of March, the site rebuild is entering the home stretch - at least for the community. I'll try to post some screenshots soon. I have to figure out the site Beginning of May is my target for the base redesign, which lines up with the Colorado Museum dates. It sounds like RLD will get some good exposure through that event so I want the site to be shiny for any new visitors.
If the first phase of the new site gets done by May, there will most certainly be a break-in period while you guys smoke out any bugs and problems. Once those are settled, the next update phase will include the Track directory and a new Trophy Room feature. Following that will be Fantasy League work, which includes bringing over the car database. I've thought about bringing over the car database on its own...that might happen, will have to see.
However, while I will be rebuilding the Fantasy League, the first "come back" season might have to be held on circuit tracks as we've decided to put our house up for sale in the next couple months, so all my Hot Wheels stuff is getting stashed until we sell and find a new house. When that is, who knows? I wish I knew, hopefully soon if the market smiles upon us. So those of you that were Fantasy League hosts in the past, you might be called up to break in a new Fantasy League game. Just because my track is out of commission doesn't mean everyone else should suffer. I'm anxious to redo the game and enhance that experience.
Here's a screenshot of the new RLD home page. The titles and images are all placeholders but you get the idea...
Nice thing is this new design will adapt to your viewing device, so if you're on a phone or tablet it will be very readable and usable. Never miss a moment...or a tournament!
Looking sweet Brian! Liking the new look and keeping the logo front and center.
Thanks for the feedback...I know this only one page and looks are only half of the equation. One big motivator for this redesign was to figure out how to remove the barrier between the message boards and other site sections, like the Fantasy League. Most people just go to the message board and don't see any fantasy league stuff, or vice versa. Hopefully this design will lend itself to more "cross traffic" between sections and visitors. I'll post more screenshots as I get other sections done but they all follow this same pattern. And hopefully a demo site will get up soon and you guys can log in and kick the tires a bit.
Here's a screenshot of the general post page. Two major points to highlight here. 1) It's a hell of a lot easier to read now, bigger text, nicer font. 2) Notice the "thumbs up" icon and the lines immediately below it - the intent of that feature is to let everyone give their kudos on the post without having to make a "full" post or quote.
Often someone posts a car shot or something and several posts after it are basically "good job" or "atta boy" type posts, which are great, but such quick responses don't need to take up all that space at add to the page. (Yes, it's a spin off of Facebook's "Like" feature but I find that a little too passive.) Hopefully this thumbs up will help reduce page length somewhat, leaving the replies to be more meaningful and discussion-based. It'll take some time to get used to it but in the long run I think it will help and make things a lot easier to read and find information.
And for what it's worth, here's the same page on an iPad...as I think it shows well, very easy to read
The new design is up in beta right now, please come help test it out.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1755&start=0
Please post feedback on that post if you remember, thanks!
Thanks for all the work you are putting in Brian. I do have one question. I think I recall someone asking if the new website might contain a live chat so that members can converse instead of using PMs. Is this a possibility or is it something that you think would be good for RLD?