NEW THEME BETA

[Kirby]

I don't have much to say about it, so this will be quick.

You're looking at the new theme, Celestial Dawn. It's taken long enough, and although it might not be what you would expect out of eight months time, it should be better than the old theme we previously had. The theme was a few weeks work by Spero78 and I, and is not the original theme ALPHA101 was working on due to a twist of drama I don't believe is necessary to be explained.

There's still a fair few things about it I still need to change/fix, and chances are that if you see something that's broken or looks weird, I know about it already (but it might not be a bad idea to let me know just in case).

Yes, the forum icons will be replaced. The private messaging module looks unsettling but is still functional, and the Spoiler tag needs to be restyled. I will be making necessary changes whenever I have the time for them; school has kept several constraints on my free time.

Please give your opinions on the new chatbox - whether it should be on the top or the bottom of the forum, shorter or longer, do you like it, etc.
If you don't like the new chatbox, you are free to cite alternatives. We won't be going back to Chatango.

Hope it was worth the wait!

[GuitarG20]

I LIKE THAT CHATBOX!!!!!

other than that, I think it is a great work in progress. I think the icons on the left of each forum folder (is that the "spoiler" thing?) should be changed to something more consistent with the theme.

but really, excellent work!

[Black Cat]

The new forum is damn sexy so yes, it was worth the wait :3

The chatbox is quite neat too. I like that it's at the top rather than at the bottom since I actually notice it when someone writes in it x3
I'd prefer to keep it at the top and maybe a little longer.
Other than that, Good work! :3

[jordesu]

Yeah, I'm liking this.
Nothing has moved places so I don't have to learn it either
and the I prefer the chatbox at the top, it looks more 'professional'.

[RaveComing]

Chat box on top is pretty neat, but my purple writting seems sooooo dark now D: As such, I'll start writting in pink

Also, contact list is still of the old forum's color (blueish-white)

Aside from that, I think it's a good theme, one that will take me a long while to get bored of. Gj Spero!

[Phone]

I like that I can finally use my old font colour again. It makes me absolutely ecstatic.
I do really enjoy that the chat box is at the top, and I like the features the mods have in it. Useful.
Not so fond of the yellow blocks that indicate new posts...I don't personally think it goes. But if no one wants to change it, they work fine.

[Kirby]

The yellow blocks will be changed; they're what I meant by 'forum icons' in the first post. They'll probably be icons with music notes in them unless someone has any other ideas.

[thecad]

it looks very nice i like the dark theme :) and we can use colors :)
i also think that the button needs to be chanced cuz the whole forums are like darker and then you have a YELLOW button :P

i need to chance my sig cuz its to light i think for the new theme XD

o and everybody else RED IS MINE !!!!!!

[Kirby]

I realized the timestamps on the chatbox can be inaccurate if you don't refresh the page. So, I'm letting you guys pick:



The highlighted option is the one the chatbox is using now.

[thecad]

i think the one thats above there will be good :P

[Black Cat]

What Cad said. "less than a minute ago/28 Nov 2010, 13:39" one.

[Kirby]

That's because you're European .. ;_;

[Black Cat]

Sorry... I can't help it :<

Tho I chose it because it was a lil shorter than the current one and I think it's better.

[thecad]

same here :P its just looks nicer :D

[Johannez691]

this is so much better. the chatbox and posts. everything!!

[Kirby]

lol, okay. The Europeans win. The time format has been changed accordingly.

I'm glad you guys like it. I will try to bring one new innovation to the forum each day; yesterday it was the notifications of new posts and topics in the chatbox, just like the old forums. I feel like this does a great deal towards encouraging members to post.

Next in line is probably the forum icons - I, however am still on a strict time budget. I'll try to make the best of what I can do.

[Black Cat]

Quite so. I've been on quite alot since the beta got on so personally I think it's done quite a some. Looks damn sexy now ^^

Looking forward to the updates to come.

[jordesu]

Yeah, since there is more Europeans, makes sense time is set like ours. :3

[Maikel631]

Yeah. Sorry, I'm late. But still.
Epic theme right der.

European time is better, just because I'm used to it.
But I understand that it might be somewhat irritating for US users.
Oh well..

Cool theme. And like.. Everyday something new?
Don't rush stuff. The beta theme itself already is one big improvement.
School is a bitch, we all know. -hugs-

[Kirby]

I'm wondering whether or not I should change the default time format for forum topics/posts as 12 or 24 hour format.
It's only the default, and CAN be changed by the users after they register (unlike the chatbox)

The 'on' that prefixes topic timestamps will be removed, since it's awkward.

[Black Cat]

Personally I'm not having a problem with the different time-formats but I don't know who might be :/

[Kirby]

Since the majority of visitors originate from the United States I will keep the default forum time set to 12-hour format. The chatbox is set in 24-hour format since it is in the best interests of the core community.

Chart in case anyone was interested:

Data Range: 10/30/2010 - 11/29/2010

[Black Cat]

Wow that's quite a some just from the US alone ( if you look at the whole) ,so fair enough. :P

Yay for sweden being nr4!

[thecad]

but when you add all the europe lands together the diffrence isn't that big :P

Data Range: 10/30/2010 - 11/29/2010

total europeans 1516

[/color]

[Black Cat]

They're still the majority :P

[Maikel631]

"Almost" isn't "more than". ;)
Personally, I don't really care that much. It's not that I get like.. confused about the time.
No troubles ;p

So yeah. It's alright.
Btw, not so much Dutch views I see lol ;p. But it seems taht more and more Dutch people are like subbed to me 'n stuff. The stats are more like o.o to me xD

[Kirby]

It's not a big deal anyways, seeing as people can change the time format the forum displays once they register - I shouldn't have brought it up, knowing me and my paranoia.

That chart only displays the top 10 countries; there is data for a total of 102. This chart is better suited to what you're trying to compare:

EDIT:
I finally got around to doing the forum icons! You may need to clear your browser cache in order to view them; the shortcut Ctrl + F5 works in most browsers in regards to single pages. Please leave your feedback.

The icon bases were made by ALPHA101.

[Black Cat]

I think I can see them without removing the cache (woo)
It looks pretty nice ^^

Can't think of much that'd improving it. Maybe some glow to it so it's a bit brighter or something. I dunno xP

[Kirby]

All the icons appear to have a 1px soft inner glow. I think the theme work is pretty much done with unless any of you have other ideas.

I did sharpen up the Private Messaging module although I don't have the knowledge to fix all the little hiccups completely.

[Wolfbrother0]

its a little heard to see new post but beond that I like the new skin, I think the chat box would be better at the bottom that way you know who is on.

[Kirby]

its a little heard to see new post but beond that I like the new skin, I think the chat box would be better at the bottom that way you know who is on.

A lot of members have requested that it is better to leave it at the top.
Anyways, I feel like crap right now so forum additions will have to wait until I get better. Sorry guys.

[thecad]

get well soon :3 :)