Big Bold Text Ads? UGH

[Fyron]

Why are there now big bold text ads for the game in question when viewing a forum? This is overkill... One of the great things about this forum is that, unlike big sites, it is not bombarded with ads... Lets not ruin the atmosphere please... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

And the worst part is that it is in the area where forum announcements are made, so I was suckered into reading it... really shady...

[Sivran]

Adblock extension comes in handy, but I have yet to see the text ads...

[Fyron]

Order Space Empires IV GOLD here


In large, bold font...

[Gandalf Parker]

Post deleted by Gandalf Parker

[Fyron]

Gandalf Parker said:

This caught you off guard? Should I link to the thread where you asked me to stop bringing up the subject?

I asked you to move it to a new thread so that the topic that was being discussed would not be derailed...

[geoschmo]

Are you talking about the short single line of bold text right below the banner that says "Buy (gamename) here" and has a link to the order page? If so you really have a chronically low tolerance for this stuff. Do you complain about all the labels on the cans at the grocery store too? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I wouldn't even call this an ad. It's just a conveinent link to the order page. This isn't a free site like spaceempire.net, they are trying to run a business here.

[Gandalf Parker]

Imperator Fyron said:

Gandalf Parker said:

This caught you off guard? Should I link to the thread where you asked me to stop bringing up the subject?

I asked you to move it to a new thread so that the topic that was being discussed would not be derailed...



Right. The subject of "why move things around" which led to comments of "I dont ever look at anything but this forum" which led to me commenting on in-forum ads.

[Fyron]

geoschmo said:
Are you talking about the short single line of bold text right below the banner that says "Buy (gamename) here" and has a link to the order page? If so you really have a chronically low tolerance for this stuff. Do you complain about all the labels on the cans at the grocery store too? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I wouldn't even call this an ad. It's just a conveinent link to the order page. This isn't a free site like spaceempire.net, they are trying to run a business here.

It is big, ugly, and annoying. The same purpose would be served by integrating such links into the forum design, such as next to the Game Room link. Sticking it up at the top is not a good design implementation...

And yes, I do have a chronically low tolerance for spam/advertisments...

[Captain Kwok]

Oh geez - 14 pt single line text below the banner that is not even visible most of the time? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Suicide Junkie]

A prettier font couldn't hurt, but wow, man. You are hypersensitive.

[Puke]

Yeah, its sort of pointless. The bold text-link goes to the exact same place as the banner does, but it bypasses the ad affiliate asp.

I cant think of why two links are needed to the same place, unless you are trying to bypass the affiliate program. in which case, you could just change the banner link to be the same as the text link, and not use the redirection at all.

OR, if you are trying to make sure that people with banner-blockers are actually forced to look at the ad. and thats just not going to make ANY friends. Theres times when good PR is better than good advertising, ya know.

[Fyron]

Captain Kwok said:
Oh geez - 14 pt single line text below the banner that is not even visible most of the time? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

It is visible on every page. Posting, editing, thread reading, etc. As I said, it would not be so bad if it were integrated into the forum layout, rather than standing out at the top... there is already enough up there as it is...

[Captain Kwok]

It takes you to the Space Empires IV gold order page, while the banner will take you to the game being advertised.

[Puke]

oops, i was wrong. i was coincidentially looking at a SE4 add at the time i checked the links. the text link is forum dependant.. how curious.

I guess I dont care, then.

[Captain Kwok]

I'd hate to see Fyron's reaction if it were blinking. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Suicide Junkie]

Personally, I think a nice standard 12 point font without extra space between it and the banner would be better.
The whole bit of text should be a link, rather than just the "here" which is superfluous.

There's no need to be pushy with it, since the people who are going to click on it will be looking for it.

[Fyron]

Suicide Junkie said:
Personally, I think a nice standard 12 point font without extra space between it and the banner would be better.
The whole bit of text should be a link, rather than just the "here" which is superfluous.

There's no need to be pushy with it, since the people who are going to click on it will be looking for it.

Exactly. However, I still say that building it into the forum interface would be better than the line at the top...

[Richard]

Captain Kwok said:
I'd hate to see Fyron's reaction if it were blinking. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif



Don't give us ideas.

[Fyron]

Richard said:

Captain Kwok said:
I'd hate to see Fyron's reaction if it were blinking. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif



Don't give us ideas.

Jokes aside... what is your position on this issue? Will the text ad remain as it is? Be reduced in size? Moved? What?

[Will]

Looks like they made it smaller, and have the whole thing as a link instead of just the tacky "here". And the space is still there. Looks nicer now, though.

[geoschmo]

Jokes aside? Never. I got one.

Richards positions are him and Mindis business. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I really think that 90% of the people wouldn't even have noticed it if you hadn't brought it up Fyron.

[Ragnarok]

Wow, I knew Fyron could overreact but this much?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I would hardly have noticed the text being up there if it had not been for this thread.

On this issue I agree that perhaps a prettier font would make it better but still it is not that big of an issue as is.

[PvK]

I have been thinking that the forum could use a link somewhere back to www.shrapnelgames.com (http://www.shrapnelgames.com), especially now that the forum has its own domain name. Is there a link somewhere?

PvK

[Ragnarok]

PvK, I just noticed the same thing. Towards the top they need something in the form of a banner showing that this is the shrapnel community but still have a banner or something similar linking back to the main Shrapnel page.

[Mindi]

geoschmo said:
Richards positions are him and Mindis business. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif




http://www.designpros.org/images/trout.gif

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Actually the font sizing issue is my fault. I have a wide screen laptop and didn't realize that it was a little large until I had a moment to look at how it looked on a normal screen.

[Fyron]

Mindi said:
Actually the font sizing issue is my fault. I have a wide screen laptop and didn't realize that it was a little large until I had a moment to look at how it looked on a normal screen.

It is definitely better now... Any possibility of moving it into one of the table cells of the forum layout? Maybe above where it says "Welcome Username," which is currently blank?

[Mindi]

PvK said:
I have been thinking that the forum could use a link somewhere back to www.shrapnelgames.com (http://www.shrapnelgames.com), especially now that the forum has its own domain name. Is there a link somewhere?

PvK



Hey Peter, long time no see! I recently came across a picture of you from E3 1999! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

As for your question, GMTA, we were already working on remedying this issue. Look for some changes in the next day or two.

[Richard]

Imperator Fyron said:

Mindi said:
Actually the font sizing issue is my fault. I have a wide screen laptop and didn't realize that it was a little large until I had a moment to look at how it looked on a normal screen.

It is definitely better now... Any possibility of moving it into one of the table cells of the forum layout? Maybe above where it says "Welcome Username," which is currently blank?



Actually Fryon I am thinking of making a specific Version of the board just for you and you alone. Can you give me a full list of requirements?

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif. Just kidding.

No I think where it is fine. And we are planning on adding a link back to the home page, we were discussing that today.

[Fyron]

Richard said:
No I think where it is fine. And we are planning on adding a link back to the home page, we were discussing that today.

Where is this link going to be? Perhaps the bar at the bottom that has links such as Contact Us and a link back to the root forums page?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Gee, Fyron, where did you get tweezers that small? You know, the ones your using to pick nits with?

[Ed Kolis]

Speaking of links...

You know on the press releases when there's a new patch released for Dominions or something? How come there isn't a link to download the patch? I have to go back to the main page, click on Dominions, and wade through about six pages of advertisements for Dominions to get to the patch for the game that I already own and thus don't need to be reminded to buy http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Not to bash on Shrapnel or anything, I just find it a bit annoying http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Atrocities]

Hey guys as a personal request, could we leave "WTF" out of thread titles. I mean you don't have to if you don't want to, but if you would I personally would be thankful. WTF should only be used in the post, not the title. WTF is well known and well kind of over kill IMHO. Again this is just me speaking so feel free to ignor me.

[Aiken]

Just noticed that ad text (I swear!) and I think that... it's not big enough. Should be at least 5 times bigger to attract my attention. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Kamog]

It looks better now compared to what it looked like earlier today... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Fyron]

Gandalf Parker said:

This caught you off guard? Should I link to the thread where you asked me to stop bringing up the subject?

Yes, please link us to that thread.

[Mephisto]

Fyron, please drop the quarrel with Gandalf. The thread exists as you very well know.

[Ragnarok]

Where is this link going to be? Perhaps the bar at the bottom that has links such as Contact Us and a link back to the root forums page?



Actually IMO it should be near the top somewhere. I do not want to have to scroll to the bottom of the page to get to the link. But perhaps both would be good. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif But I will not complain once it is put up...

[tesco samoa]

I like it. Good Location. It does not Stand out but at the same time it is there... So if your looking and reading and go hmm... lets check out how much this game costs... one click...

What would be cool as well would be if you add the mouse over and it would show the price http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I also like how what ever game forum I am in it switchs for that game.

Very good ideas.