/How we built/ The new CVG site
09/01/2007 | Filed under Design > How we built
Gamers want their favourite sites to be robust, usable and good looking. NOWWASHYOURHANDS’ Bob Silver explains how they struck the right balance with the redesign of gaming site CVG
.net: Why did the site need a redesign?
BS: CVG began life in 1981 as Computer and Video Games magazine. When it was disbanded in 2004, the title went exclusively online. The website inherited the mantle of the original publication and soon gained a reputation as the place to go for up-to-the-minute news stories, reviews, interviews and previews. A redesign was required on a number of levels, as the site desperately required a contemporary look with improved navigation.
.net: What are the key elements you’ve added?
BS: The rebrand is our pièce de résistance. Because the CVG logo has always been an iconic emblem, we had to employ some creative mastery and sensitivity to modernise it and incorporate our contemporary feel. We also wanted the logo to reflect what it stands for – ‘edgy gaming content’ – so we made it flexible enough to sit over graphics and act as a visual masque at times. The new ident protocol is backed up by a new visual system to complement the array of platform-specific content. Each channel has a tailored colour palette associated with specific platforms. For example, Xbox inherits its LED luminous green and so on. Plus, with attention to the smallest detail, we designed new icons to flag specific content detail from platform model to specific channel news. The mouth-watering visual spaces we’ve set up combine with a ‘pacey’ visual hierarchy that allows our new editorial style sheet to cleanly convey its message.
.net: What styles influenced the new design?
BS: A whole mix of stuff really, the games themselves and the environments they create kick-started our thinking. The trick was to preserve the unique voice of CVG and really focus on making the content sing, particularly the breaking news features.
.net: How do you go about doing the first mock-ups
BS: Often, as with CVG, a working Flash prototype allows us to balance our gut instinct design ideas and interactive flow. Then it’s back to the drawing board. Our client scoping procedure fuels the content review and helps us plan key functionality and future site expectations, which are guaranteed to meet every business requirement. We then choose key pages to best describe how the site will work and the users’ experience. We’ll apply our thinking to creating real content and establish editorial parameters, content hierarchy, page grids and CSS detail. Every detail is then poured into first round of creative mock-ups. Detail is refined and our branding vision is then applied including new logo, tone of voice, colourways, typography and graphical devices.
.net: What were the tools you used and what were some of the challenges in the design?
BS: Design was established and produced in Photoshop, where all grids and guides underpin the visual structure. Flash was used in the early prototype stages for page walkthroughs and establishing animation timings for the feature panel, which was eventually hard-coded. Flash was a winner in aiding us to describe our vision for future site developments, one being a potential ‘My CVG’ section with personalised Ajax functionality.
The biggest challenge (rearing its ugly head in the final stages) was how to accommodate the late inclusion of banner advertising in our defined design.
.net: How does the new website achieve the ‘wow’ factor?
BS: Online gamers are a notoriously tough crowd to please and it was a daunting challenge to redesign a site that was held in such high esteem by that community. The trick was to preserve the voice of CVG and focus on making content sing, particularly with breaking news. There’s a fine balance between feeding a gaming audience with delectable graphics while satisfying a need for compelling content.
.net: As games move more and more online, how will sites like CVG continue to grow?
BS: It’s paramount for any content provider to carefully syndicate content to remain true to enthusiasts, and promote users’ ability to add reviews, comments and promote linking. They should stay true to their site brand and beliefs, sticking their necks out to get leading previews and news.
.net: What are some of the best sites you’ve seen?
BS: YouTube and Delicious get our thumbs-up on an almost daily basis. We’re hooked on user-generated stuff, personal fads, and anything remotely funny or nostalgic. Coco de Mer’s erotic emporium is one of my personal favourites. Its all-immersive full-screen Flash interface, beautiful illustrations, adult and somewhat bizarre products hit the spot.
.net: What’s hot and what’s not at NWYH towers?
BS: We’re very proud of our super-enhanced creative technology environment at NWYH HQ – Intel Macs with Parallels make our life a dream, and we now have an integrated development area to ensure our products look the best on any platform. Our Flash gurus have got their heads embedded in Flash ActionScript OOP, which can only mean we’re moving into new frontiers when it comes to combining gameplay know-how with technical stuff.
.net: What would your ideal project be?
BS: To redesign Agent Provocateur’s website. I feel it has regressed from where it was a couple of years ago. The current site is a very comprehensive catalogue, but it is no longer individual enough.
.net: What would you like Adobe to release next?
BS: A spell and syntax-checking tool across all its products, expeling the mith that desiners can’t spel.
Comments
Josh / 11/01/2007 / 16:38 / http://www.joshbuckley.net
I really love how that cvg site works, the javascript in the header is perfect. I hope to implement some of those ideas into my future sites
KEP / 18/01/2007 / 13:25 / http://www.Freewebs.com/keps/
HAHA BAD!
Jonathan / 09/02/2007 / 15:41 / http://www.logoguru.co.uk
Usually the sequel is below Grade than its predecessor ...
but this one ... is Convincing !!
tomek / 24/03/2007 / 11:29 / http://www.profesjonalna-reklama.pl
Thanks for another great article here on netmag btw. I agree with Jonathan it is really Convincing!!
Flenov / 23/05/2007 / 13:50 / http://www.flenov.com
Redesign needs to receive attention from pressmen and get new visitors. It’s a good ads for WEB site owners.
ksiegowosc / 03/07/2007 / 12:08 / http://ksiegowy.org
The more attractive the site is, the more people will visit and consequently more money will be generated, whic can be than used to improve the site even more. It's all connected...
Sebastian / 12/07/2007 / 16:45 / http://www.online-games-zone.com
A rebrand of an normally branded and well known site is one of the most difficult action you can imagine. There is not a small chance to lose customers ;-)
I think the redesign went well. Congratulations!
Thank you for that informative article.
David Berry / 03/05/2008 / 17:41 / http://www.thechandeliercompany.co.uk
I think the new design is fantastic, i also like how you have included the box advertisement, by including it this way it does not overshadow the content, but fits in nicely.
One thing that i find a shame is the constant black background, but then again, it goes with the feel of the site.
