New Site Layout (Split #2)

[ahoteinrun]

http://www.pinkpt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33102

Old Thread.

27th April

* SITE UPDATE! - Okay, so the Meepit from yesterday was just a diversion tactic. Truth is, as you might have already gathered by the new surroundings, Neopets has gotten a HUGE facelift and we didn't want to let the Kadoatie out of the bag too early.

Here's a bit of info on the big changes... as much info as we could fit in New Features, anyway.

Site Layout
Neopets has gotten a whole new look (while keeping our famous eye-popping yellow, of course)! We've cleaned up, re-coded, and generally gotten out of the 90's. Hooray!

We've streamlined the navigation and added short cuts to some of the most visited places in each section. Don't be discouraged if you get lost while looking for your favourite pages or activities. (It took most of us a bit of time to get used to it, too.) If you're ever stuck, look for this graphic: Clicking on this will take you to our FAQ section, and that should help you find your way again!

More Info: (a bunch of links to FAQ sections)

Customise Your Neopets!
Ever since we started Neopets, the requests to dress and accessorise your Neopets have only increased. We've always said we'd never do it because of the work load, but we're allowed to change our minds and work ourselves to death if we want! As such, you can now dress and accessorise your Neopets with items you find around the site!

You can start by visiting Quick Ref and clicking on the "Customise" button. There are too many new features to explain here, so be sure to read the FAQs and the tutorial!

We've had to update some of the Neopets art to make them compatible with the customise system. In cases where we felt the change was very drastic, we've added the option to choose. If you and your Neopet are eligible for that option, you'll see a "Convert this Neopet!" link on Quick Ref. Click that for more information.

We would also like to mention that if you aren't happy with the change to any of your Neopets, don't go hunting for a morphing potion just yet! You may find justice early next week. If in the meantime you need to get out some anger or aggression, may we suggest playing a round or two of Whack-A-Staff-Member?

More Info: (a bunch of links to FAQ sections)

Beta Beta Beta!
To be honest, the site is HUGE and there are many, many more pages to update, so we're not nearly done. Expect more updates, and don't be surprised to see some strange occurances here and there. Please report any bugs so we can get them fixed right away!

All this will take some getting used to, we know... especially if you're a long-time user, but don't be afraid to jump in. We think these changes make Neopets even better, so we really hope you enjoy them, too!

We'll return to our regularly scheduled New Features tomorrow!


* Oh, right... we're also launching a new game today - just in case all this new stuff doesn't cure your boredom. We thought ahead.

Here's the FAQ page they set up about the changes: http://www.neopets.com/s/index.phtml?cat_id=50

A few things Neopets seems to have missed:
- If you have to side-scroll, change your resolution to 1024x768. Everything will seem to look smaller, but everyone has been switching to it anyway. See the trends here: http://www.pcpitstop.com/research/vidres.asp
- Premium needs 1280x1024 to get usage of both sidebars in the site-in-portal feature. (As of right now, 1 PM NST April 26, it's still buggy, though.)
- Sidebar themes are now just site themes (or "top-bar" themes, if you'd rather.)
- The primary-colors Games Room has been taken out.
- As was noted in the news, some drastically-changed Neopets have the option of keeping the old look - but only some.[/quote]

Now then. Let us all repeat before we post.

1. I will not belittle other peoples feelings.
2. I will be respectful of all members on this thread, new, old, or ancient
3. I will go visit the PPT Gallery after viewing this thread.

Now then be good. Or else I will have to tap you with my Sorceress queen and then make you attack with my Norrit, but oh wait, you can't, so you will be put into the grave yard. LOL PWNED!

Last edited by ahoteinrun on Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Rubywinged]

Please be aware that you are using beyond the recommended at the 'normal' resolution. This is NOT neo's fault they are going with the majority of peoples screen resolution.

1024x768 is quite exceptable for an 18 inch monitor - which mine is, but I have My Favorites anchored to the left hand side for easy navigation to sites.

Why can't the pages automatically resize to your screen setting?

I don't know the tech. side of it, but when I have My Favourites anchored, every other site will automatically adjust to the reduced size.



There should be a link to your guild - how do you easy get to the guild without a link or going to your lookup?

Thank you for stating that nicely Daze. I dont think Neo took into account people who anchor there favorties. Honestly I didnt think people did that very often myself. I personaly use a toolbar and they are in a drop down style menu.

I really do think if people request it that the size of the site might become something you can personalize for your computer. I don't know much about modules but seems like they would allow for different size resolutions. Meaning they could set them to strech to the page size.

[Mongrel]

As for those who have mentioned boycotting neo over the weekend why not spend the time writing to neo and telling them what you like and don't like. Boycotting will not change anything, how will they know what you want changed if you dont mention? Will they go back to the old style probably not. Will they make it optional maybe. Mostly I think they would like feedback on the site and how you would like to see it changed or what you think good or bad.

I don't know if you've attempted to contact Neopets in the last few years regarding site problems or suggestions, but I have, and every time I've tried I've gotten only an automated response.
Boycotting the site will at least show Neopets how many people are unhappy with the changes, and they'll respond to a significant drop in pageviews more than they would a thousand emails from a thousand different users.

Last edited by Mongrel on Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Morningstar]

My suggestion is that everyone write TNT about this. Whether you like it. Whether you hate it. And give concrete reasons. Not just TNT, you rock. Or TNT, I hate you. But why you hate it, why you love it, what changes you think they need to do, what you think they failed to think about. The only way they will hear us is if we write. Perhaps, some will read the boards or Neo fansite forums, but the only real guarantee is writing them. So make your voices heard. And be clear and concise in your mail to them.

Oh, and Moongewl, I plan on boycotting them too. And writing them as to why. But, it helps to let them know why you are boycotting. Otherwise, they might think you are out of town on vacation or something.

[Pink]

Already wrote to the editorial

[anjuna]

We should all just mail them a list of these PPT threads. Maybe they lurk?

I wrote to the Editorial but all I put was "You officially no longer rock."

[Rubywinged]

My suggestion is that everyone write TNT about this. Whether you like it. Whether you hate it. And give concrete reasons. Not just TNT, you rock. Or TNT, I hate you. But why you hate it, why you love it, what changes you think they need to do, what you think they failed to think about. The only way they will hear us is if we write. Perhaps, some will read the boards or Neo fansite forums, but the only real guarantee is writing them. So make your voices heard. And be clear and concise in your mail to them.

I must say exactly to that. While yes not coming on the weekend would bring down page views there are tons of people who dont come on, on the weekends. And how is just not coming to the site going to tell them what you dislike. No I haven't tried to contact TNT but I would think with this big of a change they would have a few extra people checking the mail to see what people are liking and disliking. No you may not get a reply but they are most likely being read. Because while TNT is not as user friendly as they use to be they still want to make the site user friendly or who is going to use it?

[ahoteinrun]

I vote that we all shake our rumps at them in defiance and then ride off onto the sunset on our redrawn uni's shouting EULALIA whilst they cower beneath their plushies.

[Yoshi]

Whew. Finally caught up.

I think the idea is ambitious in concept, and I'll give them that. The execution is just bleh, but I'm giving it time. The pets do look ugly (all my Bruces have been ruined), and the layout is messy, but it's beta, right? I'm gonna see if they have any solutions in the upcoming weeks; if not, I'll just slowly drift away and get on with my life...

[Mongrel]

I guess this is a difference of opinion, but I feel like the emails pertaining to usage of the site go unread. I attempted to report a bug with Jhudora's Cloud, and gave up after four tries. Have you heard of any user suggestion getting a personal response? I haven't. I honestly don't think any human being looks at user emails anymore.
Edit: EULALIA!!

Last edited by Mongrel on Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

[ahoteinrun]

Whew. Finally caught up.

I think the idea is ambitious in concept, and I'll give them that. The execution is just bleh, but I'm giving it time. The pets do look ugly (all my Bruces have been ruined), and the layout is messy, but it's beta, right? I'm gonna see if they have any solutions in the upcoming weeks; if not, I'll just slowly drift away and get on with my life...

Not the bruces... won't somebody please think of the Bruces?! *cries*

[Morningstar]

I vote that we all shake our rumps at them in defiance and then ride off onto the sunset on our redrawn uni's shouting EULALIA whilst they cower beneath their plushies.

Our redrawn uni's? You mean our My Little Pony's, don't you? Have you seen the Halloween Uni???? Poor thing. I bought the PB and morphing potion for a friend and now feel like asking him if he'd rather have a koi. Nightsteed my butt. Nightsteed with a food fetish maybe.

And those pudgy Bruces. Poor little guys. Obviously they all have gift cards at McDonald's. Time for some Jenny Craig.

Last edited by Morningstar on Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Friskysquirt]

I've already written via the ideas/comments report and I would seriously encourage everyone else to do the same.

I think boycotting is an excellent idea as I have a ton of course work to get through

[Daze]

Thank you for stating that nicely Daze. I dont think Neo took into account people who anchor there favorties. Honestly I didnt think people did that very often myself. I personaly use a toolbar and they are in a drop down style menu.

I really do think if people request it that the size of the site might become something you can personalize for your computer. I don't know much about modules but seems like they would allow for different size resolutions. Meaning they could set them to strech to the page size.

Thankyou Ruby

My style of playing Neopets has been adopted by the changes in computer - I had too much white space when playing on the big resolution so having the Favorites anchored 'pushed' the Neopets page to the right, there fore taking up the white space.

I have hidden all my menu/tool bars (except address bar) and F11 my screen - this allows me maximum viewing of Neo without changing any resolution settings.

If I choose to use My Favourites from the Toolbar, I will but it is readjusting how I have set up my computer for my 'style' of playing.

Not everyone likes the same settings, my kids don't use F11 and have every toolbar known to man showing. At least these are easy adjustments, not like having to adjust screen resolution everytime we want to play Neo.

I will adapt - but I was really comfortable in my setup, and it will take awhile to get use to it.

[Rubywinged]

I really do wonder if we can expect pet redraws for the customization. They come right out and say that some of the pets are not good looking anymore. So does that mean they will get around to makeing them look better. Some of the pets may have been a quick redraw to make them fit what was needed.

For everything I dislike I remember this is Beta and I'm sure there are still huge changes to the main pages and side pages of the site.