Sports Lounge Central

Forum URL: www.sportsloungecentral.com

Forum Name:Sports Lounge Central

Launch Date: 4 Months Ago

Posts/Threads/Members: 83,216/5,921/312

Forum Software: vBulletin 3.8.3

Description: A Sports Forum - Discuss everything sports

Other Info/Points of Interest: All sports, Arcade, Forum Games (ReDrafts, Mocks, SIM Leagues, etc)

 

Overall the site looks okay. Not really a fan of dark background websites because people rarely take into account contrast. If you're going to use black backgrounds, you need to use white text so that it readable especially for those with color vision problems. To me the gray text is very difficult to read and I wouldn't be able to participate for long without eye strain and headaches. Took me a few minutes to even see the red text in the form fields. Would take me forever to login simply because I can't see what I am typing. Overall the graphics are good. If you get the contrast worked out then you'll be golden. Check out ESPN to see how they handle these issues.

Finally, one thing that is often overlooked is attention to detail. Some of your animated smilies are matter to a white background. This makes them look amateurish on your black background. You should look for black matted images if you're going to use GIFs. You also should disable style and language switching if you're not going to additional custom choices. As difficult it is for me to use the designated style, having me switch to the vBulletin default isn't going to help build your brand or online identity.

That said it seems your site is active so it may be that younger people don't have any issues with the colors. Or better contrast can only increase activity. Now I need to go offline for a bit and rest my eyes.

 

Generally, awesome designed site!

A few flaws, though-
1. Top 5 stats is out of alignment.
2. Why are the username colors not coordinating with your style?
3. Where are your buttons?
4. Would you consider adding the Important Threads modification? This way, stickies aren't highlighted.
5. The navigation bar looks weird.
6. Have you considered centering ESPN's ad?
7. Have you considered merging a few forums?

Really, that's it. The forum can still go on without the changes, but with the changes, the forums may be a bit more visually-awesome.

 

First Impressions: Ohh, me like. I like the site design, looks attractive

Forum Content

Quantity of Forums: You have a lot. but being a sports forum, there are many aspects of sports that could be separated, which you have done.

Content: You have your users well informed of the standings on each league [Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey] and you also have sections for all USA teams divided by cardinal points. It's glad to see that you guys know what you're doing and inform people 'right'.

Forum Look

Favicon: As I say, it's not needed, but it would be nice! Specially in a sport forum.

On, Off icons: Original! <3

Design: You have a few bugs. On the main page, the top 5 stats is not aligned with the actual forum, also sometimes the header makes it hard to read in some areas [please see the screenshot]

The post icons could be replaced, they have that pesky white matte. Also, the color ranks for the users and admins can be blinding at times in that gray background.
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Overall Impression: The site is very nice and well thought out, it just has a few bugs that can get fixed, hopefully.
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Ugh, I guess I have to do everything around here, FMB.

Changed to "Reviewed".

 

x.x I forget..Sorry!!! ><

 

What's a favicon? Do you happen to have a link to the modification?

 

Thanks Wayne I appreciate the feedback. We have gotten complaints about the skin because of the eye strain it causes. We will be getting a new one soon though. We've gotten some better GIF's without the white background but were not finished.

 

1. I'll look into that but so far I can't figure out how to fix it.
2. We had the colors before but never thought of changing them
3.Buttons?
4. Have a link?
5. The coder tryed to redo something and screwed it up. I won't be using him in the future.
6. Not a bad idea.
7. Yeah but we would need to find some forums willing to do so.

 

1. vB.com/org
2. Oh, okay.
3. New thread/post reply/etc
4. No, will look, though.
5. Oh okay- do you have a backup?
6.
7. No, merging your current boards, I meant.

 

You don't need a modification, just add
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="link to image" type="image/png" />

to your header template, remember to use PNG and transparent for best transparency. The image should be 16x16.

 

Ohhhh now I understand what it is!


Awesome thanks.

 

No backup..I was away when it happened and forgot to backup.

Team forums are something we need as a sports forum but what other forums do you think should be merged?

 

I don't think the team forums should be merged, I think they look fine like that.

 

First View:
When first getting to your website I was impressed, although I do not like the color scheme (I am not a fan of dark themes) things were set out well.

The post icons you use are well done, they are custom and unique and that is something that is important to help set yourself apart from others.

The navigation bar looks weird, and think it should be something you look into fixing as soon as possible.

You have many boards however all are relevent to a Sports website and can understand where you are coming from having them.

All and all you have a good looking website and one I will be interested in keeping an eye on.

I do agree you should change the colors used for admins etc my eyes are now sore but you have done a good job.

 

To be honest alot of people like it but also alot of people don't like it. I plan on finding someone to make our site a new skin.

Thanks

It got messed up some how and the person that made the skin doesn't know how to fix it. That is why I will not be going there to get more skins.

Yup.

We might change the colors but we would need a good set to change too. Any ideas? Admins, Super Mods, Mods is what we would need colors for and possibly GFX team.