3 ms·

Ask HN: Feedback for new virtual worlds tech web magazine

2 points by jpirkola 18y ago

We are just about to launch a new web magazine "Max Ping", focusing on open source virtual world technologies. Small glitches and typos, we will fix those before launch, Would like to get your comments on it if you see any major problems - or if it looks good. http://www.maxping.org/

jlees 18y ago
First: I can't really tell from an immediate glance, design-wise, what the subject matter is. The design, pictures, etc, don't scream 'virtual world technologies' to me at all, and it takes a fair while of staring at the palm tree pic to figure out what's going on. Second: A few things stand out after I get over that hurdle. The text on "Adventures on the New Frontier" is tiny, I can't read it. "Technology feature"/"Business feature" etc; do they really need the word "feature"? Looks repetitive when it's laid out like that. Now in no particular order: Why is 'The Sandbox' black and why am I told to register before I find out what it even is? I really like the idea of 'get started' being immediately clickable from the intro text and I assume it'll be a detailed HOWTO when finished. Personally that's the first thing I'd read. I'd probably also link first occurrences of terms like OpenSim to the HOWTO - well maybe that's too basic for your expected readers, but to engage new ones who might not understand what any of the articles on the front page are about. Generally, though, I think I'd like to see more pictures and possibly better use of the pictures you do have (http://www.maxping.org/virtual-life/avatars/projecting-the-virtual-you.aspx http://www.maxping.org/virtual-life/avatars/projecting-the-v... - the images are so untidy). Images are one of the best ways to lead people into content. Excerpts are also good, and I don't really think you're making the most of them. For example the excerpt on your 'business feature' assumes I've read the headline thoroughly. I haven't, I've skim-read it, so interrupting my reading to go back and re-read it to figure out what "the answer" refers to is painful. (Disclaimer: I'm a MMO blogger & techie, but have no experience with open source virtual worlds, only commercial ones. So I might not be your perfect audience in terms of wanting pretty pictures and the like.)

2 points by jpirkola 18y ago

jlees 18y ago

First: I can't really tell from an immediate glance, design-wise, what the subject matter is. The design, pictures, etc, don't scream 'virtual world technologies' to me at all, and it takes a fair while of staring at the palm tree pic to figure out what's going on. Second: A few things stand out after I get over that hurdle. The text on "Adventures on the New Frontier" is tiny, I can't read it. "Technology feature"/"Business feature" etc; do they really need the word "feature"? Looks repetitive when it's laid out like that. Now in no particular order: Why is 'The Sandbox' black and why am I told to register before I find out what it even is? I really like the idea of 'get started' being immediately clickable from the intro text and I assume it'll be a detailed HOWTO when finished. Personally that's the first thing I'd read. I'd probably also link first occurrences of terms like OpenSim to the HOWTO - well maybe that's too basic for your expected readers, but to engage new ones who might not understand what any of the articles on the front page are about. Generally, though, I think I'd like to see more pictures and possibly better use of the pictures you do have (http://www.maxping.org/virtual-life/avatars/projecting-the-virtual-you.aspx http://www.maxping.org/virtual-life/avatars/projecting-the-v... - the images are so untidy). Images are one of the best ways to lead people into content. Excerpts are also good, and I don't really think you're making the most of them. For example the excerpt on your 'business feature' assumes I've read the headline thoroughly. I haven't, I've skim-read it, so interrupting my reading to go back and re-read it to figure out what "the answer" refers to is painful. (Disclaimer: I'm a MMO blogger & techie, but have no experience with open source virtual worlds, only commercial ones. So I might not be your perfect audience in terms of wanting pretty pictures and the like.)