New Gaming Blog

neo2010

Hi everyone,

I'm a student, currently on a year out and I've set up a gaming blog.

The address is www.updat8.blogspot.com. I set it up three days ago and I've been providing regular updates.

I've achieved over 3000 page views in the time since setting up and I'm wondering can I get some of your opinions on the blog.

Please bear in mind the blogs design will be radically overhauled over the next few weeks. Thanks everyone

GothPunk

Your background makes it very difficult to read your blog - it's like a very distracting optical illusion. I was reading your Twisted Metal article and as I scrolled down it hurt my eyes. Heaven help anyone who is epileptic. I think if my display resolution was different it probably wouldn't be as much of an issue, but at 1440x900 a lot of the background shows around the posts.

Simple things like this will turn away people from a blog, so my suggestion would be that a simple clean design is much better. I would choose 3 or 4 colours as your main 'theme' and work them into something. For example, Joystiq use white, charcoal grey and yellow as their main theme, with blue for highlights.

Good content though, although it's possible you and Sony need to get a room. Some of your comments in the articles make it come across like a Sony fan site and not a gaming blog, a little bit of objectivity wouldn't hurt. I guess it's hard to come across as objective when you're so passionate though. :pac:

Hope this reads as constructive criticism and not flaming... Anyways as you say the design will be overhauled so you've probably considered this stuff already.

Clever name for a gaming blog too - it seems the domain www.upd8.com is available.

tonydude

The articles are well done , but as GothPunk stated the background is very distracting. Apart from that its very good.

johnny_ultimate

Well my one tip when it comes to blogs: opinion, opinion, opinion! (although I back up the change the background voices!).

It's fine to provide news and everything, but throw in a witty comment or personal opinion or two and the blog will become something much more interesting to read. Having a unique personal slant will differentiate it from the vast amounts of blogs on the internet. It's the difference between a blog and press release.

Keep at it, there's always a place for people talking about games, but make sure your site is unique and not drowned out in the vast sea of the internet

kensutz

As soon as the page loaded and the background jumped out at me I closed the window. Articles seemed lost in it.

neo2010

Hi guys,

Thanks for the opinions. They are all very helpful.

I'm more on the writing side of things so I'm basic when it comes to website design. I am definitely removing the background as it seems very distracting to me.

Hopefully the site should be looking and running better very soon.;)

sarumite

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Well my one tip when it comes to blogs: opinion, opinion, opinion! (although I back up the change the background voices!).

It's fine to provide news and everything, but throw in a witty comment or personal opinion or two and the blog will become something much more interesting to read. Having a unique personal slant will differentiate it from the vast amounts of blogs on the internet. It's the difference between a blog and press release.

Keep at it, there's always a place for people talking about games, but make sure your site is unique and not drowned out in the vast sea of the internet

I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. I tend to go to gaming websites for news etc, though for opinion I do read blogs.

T-b0n3

Much nicer now.

Sephiroth_dude

Will check it out

JBnaglfar

I didn't comment before because it would have just been to agree that the background was distracting. Very nice job changing it, looking much better.

Is it a blog dedicated to Sony consoles related news or will there be other game stuff going on later? Just curious.

neo2010

Hey everyone,

I've been out of the country for the last week and a half so I couldn't really change the design.

The site has been overhauled to be more presentable and hopefully some of you can visit and give your opinions.

Thanks again for all the helpful tips.:o