A New Web Site Cometh

[MongooseMatt]

Hi guys,

After about eight years, it is time for us to retire the current web site, and produce a new all singing, all dancing version. This all ties in with our, frankly sublime (!), new mail order/warehouse/stock software that will be tightly integrated into the new site (and offer such things as free shipping and guaranteed 24 hour turnaround of orders, amongst other things. . .).

Anyway, what we would like to know is. . . What would you like to see on the new web site? What features do we not provide already that you would like to see?

This can be as basic of as fanciful as you like. All good (and doable!) ideas will be taken on board. . .

 

[Burger]

Ability to leave reviews/comments/questions about products, and Mongoose staff can reply. For example under P&P might appear:

Greg: "I bought this and it is great!"
Burger: "Is the new Gaim list the same one from S&P?"
-- Reply by Matt: "Yes it is"
LBH: "Does this come with a free Claudia standee?"
-- Reply by Matt: "No it doesn't"

There is no such thing as not doable in web development... there is just timescales :lol:

 

[McKickaha]

A working gallery section for mini pics

 

[McKickaha]

How about a real time viewing archive for S&P so that you more easliy find that "old article you vaguely remember back in issue 20 something."

 

[shotgun-toting chipmunk]

I kind of like Burger's idea, it's like combining some of the neat features of Amazon and Ebay.

Also, and more importantly, I'd like better product descriptions. For people who came to the website knowing nothing about Runequest, Traveller, etc, the pages do nothing to sell the system. Okay, you've re-released Traveller. Great, what the heck is it? There is nothing on the website to introduce me to the "Classic Traveller" setting, and convince me I want to try this game out. A high-quality free download would be nice. (Check out the "Classic Battletech Universe" pdf offered by Catalyst Game Labs.) The Product Previews currently offered are neat if you already know what you're getting into, but they only help sell the individual books, not the "universe" as a whole. Actual web pages going more in-depth in the settings would be great too, but either would be nice.

 

[soulman]

A webcam in your office, so we can see you guys working hard to bring us great new games..?

 

[No. 1 Bear]

A couple of really simple things.

1. A site map. Simple easy to use.

2. A specialised Online store, instead of it being intergrated into the whole site make it a seperate part. You could have links back to say a "traveller" page with all traveller info etc.

 

[lastbesthope]

A webcam in your office, so we can see you guys working hard to bring us great new games..?

Damn, I was going to suggest that.

More info on coming releases, i.e. page count, B&W/Colour, HB/PB, ISBN, Pub Ref number (MGP#####)

Makes it easier to find and order from channels other than the website.

LBH

 

[Magistus]

More MRQ products.

 

[Evil_Trevor]

Hi Matt,

How about integrating an on-line roleplaying system to run some games ? it can be done.... (except for runequest)

And loads of good graphical stuff for our favourite game Macho Women with Guns !


And loads of nice pdf downloads, like maps, short adventures, optional rules and the out-of-print stuff (perhaps for a small charge like some well known online games sellers do ?) including 'user contributions' very Web 2.0

I like the office web-cam plan, perhaps a couple of 'goose pod-casts ?

 

[Samvail1]

DOWNLOADS! DOWNLOADS! DOWNLOADS!

Loads of free content to support the game liines such as character sheets, adventures/plots and maps. Include fan produced material and some sort of rating system for said material with the highest rated fan download getting some sort of (minor) prize.

More competitions to win stuff. Simple stuff like getting your name used as an NPC, or something unique like that.


Sam

 

[MongooseMatt]

A webcam in your office, so we can see you guys working hard to bring us great new games..?

We briefly considered this in the past - however, there are _so_ many reasons not to do it (like the conversations that tend to take place). . .

 

[AndrewW]

A webcam in your office, so we can see you guys working hard to bring us great new games..?

We briefly considered this in the past - however, there are _so_ many reasons not to do it (like the conversations that tend to take place). . .

Sounds interesting, now where can we hide one that you wont notice? Need to make sure it has a microphone as well.

 

[captainjack23]

Forums with an ignore option ?

Hey !

 

[steffworthington]

maps.
possibly mine. lol

 

[Jame Rowe]

Will the changes affect the forum in any way?

 

[BP]

Eight years?! – I’d say you've had a great ROI!

Ok, many of these are probably a given with a modern make-over…

• Improve site navigation - make all parts consistent and linked - i.e. Mongoose Publishing logo should always link back to main page.
• Fix series navigation images - combine small ones, use map and sitewide link (for caching).
• Make sure it is unobtrusively navigable without java script or flash.
• Provide thumbnails for PDFs and Signs & Portents.
• Better layout of series overview pages (less redundant – drop ‘details’ links etc.)
• More organic eye-candy – i.e. less square edges and no simple line borders

For the forum –

• Place initial post (and previous) at the top of each page to help maintain focus and continuity. Use background color to differentiate and possibly make expandable/collapsible after line limit reached to conserve space.
• Lose the header ‘Posted: … Post subject:’ and place in left border without labels.
• Remove the Profile and PM buttons and make available when clicking on author’s name.
• Drop the Joined:/Posts:/Location: fields those can be seen if clicking on author’s name.
• Change ‘Back to top’ to ‘To top’ and put Quote button along side.
• For Edit button use author’s name [get to our own profile other way]
• Also remove waste space at top of page – Mongoose Publishing logo takes to home.
• Make ‘Latest News’ an icon.
• Get rid of extraneous white space (non-separating/balancing).

These simple changes should result in reduced bandwidth and faster, smoother customer experience.

P.S. Hats off and Thanks for pursuing what you love and sharing it while you do!

 

[lastbesthope]

A webcam in your office, so we can see you guys working hard to bring us great new games..?

We briefly considered this in the past - however, there are _so_ many reasons not to do it (like the conversations that tend to take place). . .

No sound, and low enough res to avoid lip reading?

But still, high enough res so that I can read CCs number off your mobile though :wink:

LBH

 

[AndrewW]

A webcam in your office, so we can see you guys working hard to bring us great new games..?

We briefly considered this in the past - however, there are _so_ many reasons not to do it (like the conversations that tend to take place). . .

No sound, and low enough res to avoid lip reading?

LBH

Now you are taking away most of the fun, trying to decipher new products coming out.

 

[Mr Evil]

id like to see a running banner everyday that highlights stuff the staff would like to draw our atention to or a joke they heard in the office that day..lol... some thing fleshy....

id like to see a more dedicated section to modern combat..

id love to see a terrain section with maybe downloadable buildings to be made, for both rpg and wargaming.. ie get the site as a resource for gamers, this may drag new players to try your games as well.

what about a cooky jar cam,,, so all we get to see is when you raid the jar and how many biscuits are left ? you coul do some realy original stuff with a live cam, have a bit of humour.