ZAM Network-Wide Redesign and Update

To all of our loyal ZAM readers and users, we've recently launched redesigned versions of all our sites. Because many of you have utilized our sites and tools for years, we wanted to give everyone an advance look at what's changing. All of your favorite features are still available on your site of choice, but we’ve tweaked the themes and designs to make them more usable for current and future ZAM users. Keep on reading to find out more about the redesign and how it has implemented throughout the ZAM Network.

If you go to one of our individual game sites, you'll notice that the primary change is a unified format that spans all of our sites, something that we've always lacked.  This will allow us to spend far less time making network-wide changes and give us more development time to make cool tools and additions for all the sites.

Additionally, we've been going through our sites making sure a lot of the older pages are presentable and all the tools that existed previously are working.  You'll find various smaller changes when you dig around the sites.

Finally, our new base design allows us to create new sites with greater ease - so you'll begin to see a lot more sites launching for new and upcoming games, something that we know you've been asking for.

To ensure that your voice is heard, please leave your thoughts and comments here or in our Feedback Forum. We hope you like what you see!

Tags: News

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It's fine
# Apr 19 2010 at 9:30 PM Rating: Decent
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As long as all the information is all still there, I am fine with it. And using the same design for all sites is a good idea, so I know where to look for stuff on all the sites.
We'll See
# Apr 18 2010 at 7:05 PM Rating: Decent
The new format isn't immediately reaching out and grabbing me. Well, unless you call annoyance as reaching out and grabbing me.

I only use EQ since I only play EQ. We'll see if this is an improvement or a vanity change.

I don't like the limited width I'm seeing on the front page and on various other pages. I run 1920 x 1200 resolution on my computer and it's like looking at a tiny, tiny window in the middle of my screen.

At least I don't see the advertising that 'bled' onto the premium pages that I saw on the old format.

not a fan
# Apr 15 2010 at 1:49 PM Rating: Decent
I am not digging the new format. Maybe it will grow on me with time, but everything seems less organized for fast one click links on main page.

I am getting a head ache trying to find my way around, and site seems sluggish, slow response. Main page has gotten a few Error's also while I took my advil.



Edited, Apr 15th 2010 3:53pm by skytraffic
Alternate
# Apr 14 2010 at 8:11 PM Rating: Decent
Any alternate site now that this one is fubar'd?
add
# Apr 14 2010 at 4:55 PM Rating: Decent
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Please add back the featured image box.
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Why!
# Apr 14 2010 at 3:49 PM Rating: Decent
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I was really hoping that there would be a wide screen option.

On a 22" wide monitor, the site is only taking 1/2 of the screen, the rest is wasted space.

Please tell me this is not permanent.

I like it !!!
# Apr 14 2010 at 12:09 AM Rating: Decent
So far from the brief overview I took of the pages and layouts presented it looks like you have the right idea and after people get over the initial shock of changes... since most people loath change.. I believe the over all user response will be very posative. The layouts are easier for people to find and locate their favorite researches and it appears there will be more versatility upon the pages which is definately a posative factor over all.. some of the color schemes do look a bit drab.. but I am sure as it progresses that could change.. but other wise very well done and I for one am looking forward to seeing the changes.

sincerely

carnagedragon
Nice
# Apr 13 2010 at 11:44 AM Rating: Good
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1,080 posts
They all look pretty good.
FFXIV.zam also looks great, good job, I just needed to find my sunglasses til I found the settings for the blue background lol. -.-

Edit: inability to spell

Edited, Apr 13th 2010 1:51pm by Vorkosigan
could have waited
# Apr 13 2010 at 9:23 AM Rating: Good
Instead of redesigning the who network, why not update the various pieces first.

How long ago did Everquest II change the spell/combat art naming? Still hasn't been updated. They also still only go up to lvl 80.

They should have updated the various databases across all games before worrying about changing what the various sites look like.
FFXIV
# Apr 13 2010 at 7:41 AM Rating: Decent
The preview for FFXIV looks kinda boring, I think.
Don't know if it's just because the preview is from one of the wikibase sites but the colorscheme is odd.
FFXIV
# Apr 13 2010 at 10:40 AM Rating: Excellent
Webmonkey
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710 pandas
The FFXIV design is staying very close to the same. If you're used to seeing a dark blue FFXIV it's because you have the dark theme enabled, which will carry over to the new layout.
Well done
# Apr 13 2010 at 6:53 AM Rating: Decent
Cool I like it!
The EQ page needs attention
# Apr 13 2010 at 1:01 AM Rating: Decent
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The design for Everquest is not particularly attractive. The color scheme is very bland, particularly the colors used to identify the various "links" to information, nor are said "links" boldly presented to catch ones attention. Poor layout and design with informational links scattered all over the place rather than neatly listed along one side.

I do hope the "preview" isn't the actual way we shall see the site. What ever happened to a full screen view?

In addition, the Allakhazam name and logo are conspicuously absent. People in-game rarely if ever refer to the site as "Zam". It's "Alla" or "Allakhazam" when we refer players to the site. Not a very wise nor logical move to abandon the "Allakhazam" name and logo, considering the name recognition across the gaming world.
The EQ page needs attention
# Apr 13 2010 at 10:44 AM Rating: Excellent
Webmonkey
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710 pandas
Adani wrote:
The design for Everquest is not particularly attractive. The color scheme is very bland, particularly the colors used to identify the various "links" to information

The colors of EQ (and all the other sites) we're leaving the same, and the sites will essentially be the same, aside from getting dropdown menus and a new front page. Also, these screenshots were taken before EQ (and Aion and WoW) got a fancy background added to it.
The EQ page needs attention
# Apr 21 2010 at 11:21 AM Rating: Decent
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In other words, so what if 90% of the posts and comments, not to mention the poll seem to agree that the so-called "new look" is awful? Well, at least you are honest enough to say too bad, that's the way we did it and that's the way it will stay.
The EQ page needs attention
# Apr 13 2010 at 11:52 AM Rating: Good
Why don't you use the tiered reply system for the normal message boards? I like it because it's nice to be able to see exactly what people are replying to, and also because a conversation isn't so one-dimensional. People can go back and address older points without feeling the conversation has moved on.
site updates
# Apr 12 2010 at 6:39 PM Rating: Decent
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191 posts
I do hope there will be an option to use a widescreen setting for the sites.
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site updates
# Apr 13 2010 at 11:26 PM Rating: Excellent
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Quote:
I do hope there will be an option to use a widescreen setting for the sites.


It's funny that you mention that; I never noticed how relatively narrow the mainsite news column was until I recently bought a new laptop with a 1920x1080 screen res. My old one was 1280x1024, so everything on the Web looked crazy-different after five years of using that resolution.

For the time-being, I've found setting the page zoom at around 150 percent renders pretty accurately and looks pretty good, even if it's not native.
alla?
# Apr 12 2010 at 6:05 PM Rating: Decent
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811 posts
and where is the alla logo gone? Fine that ZAM bought the lot, but Alla and Ilia still founded this, and as such should be remembered for it
alla?
# Apr 13 2010 at 10:47 AM Rating: Excellent
Webmonkey
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Renaissance wrote:
and where is the alla logo gone? Fine that ZAM bought the lot, but Alla and Ilia still founded this, and as such should be remembered for it

The transition to the ZAM name was conceived and started by Allakhazam and Illia themselves long ago, this is a continuation of the same plan.
alla?
# Apr 20 2010 at 7:39 AM Rating: Decent
26 posts
http://lucy.allakhazam.com/gfx/lucy_heading.gif
Hmm
# Apr 12 2010 at 4:54 PM Rating: Default
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I like it, but why confine the sides? Most everyone today is using a wide-screen monitor and not a junky one that runs at 1024x768.
Hmm
# Apr 13 2010 at 9:42 AM Rating: Excellent
Bad j00 j00
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Only the front page and full news story views are fixed width. Those pages have to be fixed width to maintain formatting of news stories.

The rest is scales with your browser width.
Good work
# Apr 12 2010 at 3:05 PM Rating: Decent
Ty to the staff I've been on alla since you took on a site for DaOc!
ahoooga
# Apr 12 2010 at 1:33 PM Rating: Decent
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73 posts
cool beans!
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