View source for Talk:Coasterpedia The Roller Coaster Wiki

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==Untitled==
Use this page to discuss design and content changes to the '''[[{{int:mainpage}}|main page]]'''. For general wiki discussion, please visit the '''[[Project:Community Portal|Community Portal]]'''.

==Coasterpedia Forums==
We should have a link to the forum. What do you guys think? [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 17:00, July 9, 2012 (UTC)
:I think that once we get everything under control, the place is stable (maybe a couple more users), and has some interesting topics, then it will be ready to be linked here. Let's just give it some time to develop. [[User:MontagnaMagica|MontagnaMagica]]|[[User Talk:MontagnaMagica|Talk]] 07:05, July 10, 2012 (UTC)
:That's true. Also we need some policies on those forums. [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 12:12, July 10, 2012 (UTC)
==Newest Coasters==
Is the newest coasters list for rides that have recently opened or rides that have just been announced? Because I'm not sure if the [[GateKeeper]] should be added to the list, or wait until 2013?{{User:Lachlan5963/SigReal|21:33,15/8/2012}}
:It's for the newest to open. So, wait until GateKeeper opens to add it to the page. Good question. It's about time we clarified that! [[User:MontagnaMagica|MontagnaMagica]]|[[User Talk:MontagnaMagica|Talk]] 04:54, August 16, 2012 (UTC)
::OK and another question, do we add a roller coaster to the list if it is opening after being relocated?{{User:Lachlan5963/SigReal|08:47,16/8/2012}}
:::No, we don't. Only '''new''' coasters. [[User:MontagnaMagica|MontagnaMagica]]|[[User Talk:MontagnaMagica|Talk]] 17:50, August 16, 2012 (UTC)
==New featured page==
What should it be? I like [[Disaster Transport]].{{User:Lachlan5963/SigReal|17:33,28/8/2012}}
:I agree. It's a well-written article. [[User:MontagnaMagica|MontagnaMagica]]|[[User Talk:MontagnaMagica|Talk]] 03:46, August 29, 2012 (UTC)

==We need to rethink the newest coasters...==
{{K/word|We have had this conversation before, but it's time to revisit it. The newest coasters table in the home page is horribly out of date. We had a system set up in the past, but it's just not getting updated. Anytime I see it, I don't want to update it cas it's such a pain to work with those 'tables.'  I'm not sure if we should remove it, change it to an easier format to edit, replace it, or keep it. Any idea's?}}
:I'd agree, no-one ever creates the pages either, so it's just ten meaningless red links. What to replace it with? I have no clue, but it '''will not''' be replaced by a photo slidewhow LOL. [[User:Lachlan5963|Lachlan5963]] ([[User talk:Lachlan5963|Talk]]) 16:04, February 20, 2013 (UTC)
{{K/word|Hey, that's actually a '''good''' idea. I was thinking that we link it with CoasterPedia's Twitter page, so the feed is on the home page. I know a lot of Wikis are doing that.}}
:I'm not a fan of Social feeds implemented in websites, but maybe I'm just old fashioned. The problem with adding a Twitter feed is that it won't be wide enough. Widescreens are rapidly becoming the norm. I have a good idea, I'l photoshop it up when I'm at my normal computer. I guess we will have to do a vote. [[User:Lachlan5963|Lachlan5963]] ([[User talk:Lachlan5963|Talk]]) 16:18, February 20, 2013 (UTC)
:Actually, I've had an idea! Why don't we replace it with ''nothing''. Also,  we should remove Recent Blogs because it looks ugly, takes up too much vertical space and hardly anyone ever writes blogs anymore. [[User:Lachlan5963|Lachlan5963]] ([[User talk:Lachlan5963|Talk]]) 16:19, February 20, 2013 (UTC)
{{K/word|I really don't want to remove the recent blogs. I think it looks nice, and that's the only way I find out if a new blog was posted. And about the twitter feed, just an idea. I don't think the new wide screen computer stuff should make a big difference. If we do that, I'll look at the home page on my desktop computer because its a 2011, widescreen Lenovo. [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 16:30, February 20, 2013 (UTC)}}
:Sorry, I should have explained. I'd love to keep our site as nice as possible in Monobook, as it is a superior, more powerful and easier to use skin. I'm sure we can find ways to make something that looks good in both Monobook and Oasis.  Recent Blogs looks better than I remembered actually. About it being the only place to find the newest Blog, I find that Recent Changes or Wiki Activity work just aswell, but each to their own. Photo Slidewhows, Twitter widgets and even Newest Coasters all look really small on my screen. Twitter widgets might look good in the right-hand column (which is fixed-width, no matter what skin you use) but that would  ve at the expense of Recent Blogs.  My idea was to make some images that link to pages. Images can flow into the extra spaces. [[User:Lachlan5963|Lachlan5963]] ([[User talk:Lachlan5963|Talk]]) 16:49, February 20, 2013 (UTC)
{{K/word|Yeah, on my laptop and desktop it looks fine, but depending on your computer it could really get messed up. Also, we should make the site look nice in Mono, however, only contributor's use that. Reader's will be seeing everything in Oasis, so that's more important. Let me switch to Monobook and look at the main page. [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 20:23, February 20, 2013 (UTC)}}
{{K/word|Okay, your right about the main page. It isn't how it looks in Oasis. But, as I said above, the reader's will see everything in Oasis, and it looks fine in Oasis, so I see no reason to greatly change our format. [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 20:30, February 20, 2013 (UTC)}}
:I do think we can find a layout with elements that wok for ''all'' screen sizes, from 1024x768 to 2000+. Wikipedia manages it, so we can too. What I'm going to look into is switches based on the skin being used. This will allow us to have fixed elements for Oasis and ones that expand for MonoBook. If it were my choice, I would stylise the main page for MonoBook, and encourage users to switch their skin. Then people will learn which skin is superior.[[User:Lachlan5963|Lachlan5963]] ([[User talk:Lachlan5963|Talk]]) 21:03, February 20, 2013 (UTC)
::I've posted a thingie on Community Central about switches based on skin :) [[User:Lachlan5963|Lachlan5963]] ([[User talk:Lachlan5963|Talk]]) 21:17, February 20, 2013 (UTC)
{{K/word|Well, 'encouraging users to switch to monobook', again, would be counterproductive. The wiki isn't about us user's, but about the people who use this site for quick information. And, they have to use oasis. However, your right about trying to find a way that balances Mono with Oasis. Let me try to scale the left side of the main page down... EDIT: Never mind. That's a lot of work, and I ain't got the time. [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 19:21, February 21, 2013 (UTC)}}
::I'm fine with changing it, but we need a good replacement. I suggest a newsfeed from a reputable coaster news website. (COASTER-net is definitely an option, being our partner already) [[User:MontagnaMagica|MontagnaMagica]]|[[User Talk:MontagnaMagica|Talk]] 20:12, February 21, 2013 (UTC)
{{K/word|I would love to do that if we could find a way to do that...[[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 20:23, February 21, 2013 (UTC)}}
::I think a feed would work, however I just don't think it will look nice or in the right place. We're not a news website, and I don't think we should try to be one. COASTER-net, Theme Park Review and Screamscape already do news, and I think a feed would just make us look like we're trying to be them. No-one's going to start visiting us instead. Also, it would jut be advertising, and COASTER-net have never linked to us (Correct me if I'm wrong).

::I personally think the main page is actually rather outdated, style-wise. I think it's time that we stop "retro-fitting" this layout and build a new one from the ground up. This way, we'll be able to make it look nicer and also incorporate all the features we want (Featured Article, Blogs, Poll etc). This will solve the problem of replacing Recent Coasters, and make us look even better :) [[User:Lachlan5963|Lachlan5963]] ([[User talk:Lachlan5963|Talk]]) 21:58, February 21, 2013 (UTC)
{{K/word|That's actually not a horrible idea...If we go that route, we can use Water Ride Wiki as our test site. (But that's up to mont. Personally, I don't want to have to completely re-do the home page) Your right about the new's feed to a point...I do think that if we have it, some people may come to our site more often because they get roller coaster facts, and new's mixed into one. Also, if we go that route, (and if we could figure it out) we could get a feed from multiple sites, so we're covering more than just one.  [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 13:10, February 22, 2013 (UTC)}}
{{K/word|Another idea, why not have a photo of the day/minute? We just put in a bunch of our favorite pictures and everyday at mid-night, it will select one. It seems like we can do that. If not, there is the photo of the minute, where everytime you update your browser, it will select a new photo. [[User:Kata89|Ruler of the Coasters]] ([[User talk:Kata89|talk]]) 13:20, February 22, 2013 (UTC)}}

== A new look for the main page ==

So it's been five years since the last major overhaul of this page. While I still like it overall, IMO it's feeling a bit stale. If not the style, I think the entire content needs a refresh. What do you think? If you're reading this and have any ideas/input please share them! [[User:Lachlan|Lachlan]] ([[User talk:Lachlan|Talk]] | [[Special:Contributions/Lachlan|contribs]]) (an admin) 20:39, 21 May 2018 (UTC)