LAN and gaming blog

[TheStranger]

Hey so this thread is related to a new LAN and gaming blog called Hazardous LAN, we're only starting up but when we have enough people we'll see about hosting LAN events and giving out LAN fixes just to make your lives easier :) Go to www.hazardouslan.blogspot.com you'll enjoy it! :) drop a comment or like us while you're there.

[malmarius]

no dislike option?

[Toxxyc]

Not a bad idea. I'd keep the colours down a little though, and make the page a little easier to read (black on dark grey hurts my eyes and subsequently my head). Also arrange online games more, in a structured way. Comments on a blog doesn't work. Polls, man, polls. Everyone can join a Steam game - just create a Hazardous Lan group on Steam and you're on your way. People who join should visit the blog to vote on the week's poll to see what game is being hosted by the Hazardous Lan group at a set date.

Also, focus on newer stuffs. BF3, CoD: MW 3 and the likes are mainstream now. Host/discuss them.

[TheStranger]

Hey there Toxxyc, thanks for the advice, I do see what you mean about the colours I was actually planning on changing them :p any colour that you would prefer? I was thinking white, I like your suggestions. I will start implementing them asap. And btw I was also wondering would you guys like to see console games as well? For example reviews on console only and console versions of games?

[TheStranger]

no dislike option?

Any particular reason you didn't like it?

[TheStranger]

Hey guys, new post out. Fans of Blizzard and Diablo should really check this one out! and fast ;)

[charly]

A tip or two:
1. Remove the Blogger bar. It looks geeky and nerdy
Tutorial
2.Get your own domain name. Blogger offers a service that you can get your own domain name for only 7$ a year (The price when I bought it)

Here is my Blogger site: www.charliestech.com I don't really ever use it anymore. Good luck. Remember, all big companies start off small.

[CyniKill]

1. Remove the Blogger bar. It looks geeky and nerdy

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[charly]

No offence to the people that are nerdy and geeky but the appearance of a website is very important.

[Zoop]

No offence to the people that are nerdy and geeky but the appearance of a website is very important.

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[GeometriX]

charly, your site is hardly the benchmark for what can be considered good looking, or even halfway decent. It's also a pain in the ass to navigate and contains about 90% copy pasta text walls (which you've blatantly ripped from other sites without even quoting your sources) that I can guarantee nobody reads. If you can't give useful advice, rather don't bother. We're all nerdy and geeky here, including you. Not sure who you're trying to fool.

TheStranger: the changes you've made already have made a big difference. You could still stand to change the dark grey text that's almost invisible. I'd also recommend a more neutral background, one that doesn't overshadow the main site Personally, I'd try to incorporate the "hazardous" theme in there somewhere but be as subtle as you can. Get yourself a header image, ideally one that ties into your background and/or overall theme. I find your main font difficult to read, I suggest either increasing the font size or choose something a little smoother.

Stop misusing apostrophes! If you're going to share your writing with others, make sure that it's of a decent quality. Anyone can write, and everyone seems to think that they can write. That means there are thousands and thousands of blogs like yours. If you want yours to stand out from the crowd, pay more attention to your writing. At least take some time to learn the basic rules of punctuation.

In terms of content, how about some actual LAN info? Or more applicable gaming content? Since you're just starting off, try to keep your content specialised and focused. If people want to read about The Walking Dead or Diablo III, they can go to a million different sites. If they want to read about LAN gaming, there are fewer sites that offer that sort of catered content.

[Wesley]

No offence to the people that are nerdy and geeky but the appearance of a website is very important.

Dude, the fact that you ripped that entire article from both Hardware Canucks and Guru3D and didn't edit your font or text size is annoying enough to normobs. Plagiarism is bad enough without making it look neat - I spend half my time editing and re-checking my article to make sure everything's in the right place.

Stranger, I guess that could apply to you as well - your pictures block your text bodies and it isn't easy following the articles without getting lost in the wall of [insert image] occupying half your viewing space. Learn how to resize your images and make sure things like text alignment and font are all sorted. Making your article look professional is important for that first impression you're trying to make.

[charly]

This was more of a personal blog for my friends and family. I know my layout is pretty basic but those 2 tips are still good tips.

[Zoop]

According to whom? Cool people who aren't nerdy and geeky?

[Kharrak]

What exactly is the blogger bar? >_>

Personally, grey canvas is an issue - but mostly for links, which simply disappear. Doesn't mix badly with the white text.

I agree that a header image is needed, as well as a more "flat" back drop pattern - a bit of a table cloth that you place your info on.

As usual, spell check, etc!

Also, lawl at "nerdy and geeky".

[Zoop]

I think the Blogger bar is that blue bar right at the top of the page.

[GeometriX]

Indeed it is. It can be found on most Blogger-powered blogs, including the super geeky and nerdy (and thus obviously awful) official twitter blog:

[Kharrak]

ORITE.

I didn't even notice... it's kinda par for the course >_>

Woah, that search bar is huuuuuuuuge

[TheStranger]

Stranger, I guess that could apply to you as well - your pictures block your text bodies and it isn't easy following the articles without getting lost in the wall of [insert image] occupying half your viewing space. Learn how to resize your images and make sure things like text alignment and font are all sorted. Making your article look professional is important for that first impression you're trying to make.

Wesley: ya sorry for the text going into the images, it didn't look like that while I was writing it. It seems like blogger altered it a bit when I posted it. I'll change that ASAP.

GeometriX: Thank you for the critique, I appreciate it and will start working on what you suggested. Sorry about the apostrophes, I was quite tired when I wrote it ,so that might explain it but none the less I'll fix those and be more careful in future.
I will change the font and size. I'm also going to change the colour theme, what do you think about black, red and white?

Kharrak: I know! I'm trying to figure out how to change that and will shortly :).

There won't be any posts today and maybe tomorrow while we work on fixing/implementing the new suggestions. Thank you all for the help :).

[TheStranger]

Hey everybody, the changes seem to be taking longer than I thought they would so we probably won't post today but will post tomorrow whether they are done or not. Hopefully they will be but if not they will be done shortly after that :) Thanks guys.