2 year web project finally ready, feedback welcome.

[Jump_Ace]

I started this project just before GT5 released and it's been through 3 full rewrites and it's second programming language (started with ASP, it's now in PHP). This is something I've always wanted to just try and put some effort into whenever I had free time on the weekend or after work, etc. Something to pad my resume with basically.

It's basically a website similar to mygranturismo.net, only without all the 🤬 advertisements; http://www.consoleracing.net. Hopefully it's a little more streamlined (quicker?) and you can filter for more than one item at a time (always drove me nuts about mygt!).

You can sign up via the wordpress widget and you can click on the My Profile page and manage cars you own in your garage, make and post tunes for cars, even submit hotlaps if you want.

I don't have much of any data for GT5 in it, I stopped entering those in and decided to do a few example cars just for testing and hold off on the data entry until GT6 and FM5 release.

I had to get some help on a couple functions (thank you google!) and I have to work on some of the searching for a few more pages, but it's basically done.

So my question is, would any of you consider visiting this site for car and track info over mygt.net since there aren't ads? I've basically done what I set out to do, but if there isn't any interest in using it over mygt.net, then I'll just store in the vault, no you won't hurt my feelings

But if most guys are tired of the ads at mygt, or actually prefer my site, I'll keep it running and input GT6 and FM5 data in it, at release.

Also, the site is best viewed in Firefox, Chrome, Safari or Opera. For some reason IE doesn't like the stylesheet, go figure.


Jerome

 

[Dean]

Looks really good. As one problem, I experienced the word "submission" being placed wrong, under the profile page, but that's probably due to my browser. One thing I really like is that your website works (except for the "chat") in Opera Mobile. I really like the stylesheet, and I'm planning on using your site, - also over MyGT, if you leave it open .

Cheers.

 

[Jump_Ace]

Thanks buddy.

I had a chat link to a forum chat, but that forum kept getting ad spammers in it and I didn't want to take the time to config that, so I just dropped in a quick chat applet.

I hadn't considered deving the site for mobile (the wordpress pages make the mobile work well), but glad it works for you. I wouldn't forsee too many issues with mobile browsing as they've come a looong way in recent years.

Jerome

 

[Slash]

I think it could be a great alternative when it's complete but I don't really use My GT so I don't really see myself using this. However I think people who are still really avid in the game could use this. Keep up the good work.

 

[mp10]

Not a bad job 👍 Had a quick look around and didn't find any problems really. I have used mygranturismo in the past, but only when searching for cars. I do prefer your filter setup although why do you have the Tune's section in the same Cars?

Also had a quick play around with the race generator, and ended up with Peugeot 908 HDi on the Autumn ring mini and 1 lap ...come to think of it i've never really tried a car on that track with anything more than 200bhp.

 

[Samus]

Content and backend wise it seems pretty good from what you have on there now but the frontend could do with a lot of design work, if I'm honest. I'm also a web design and developer and if I had time I'd offer to design something for you but I don't.

As for me visiting it over mygt well I use an adblocker so that isn't an issue for me, that means for me you would need to improve the frontend a lot more for me to consider it.

 

[Slash]

I agree with Simon it needs some Oomph on the home page. Kind of plain. But it does work.

 

[Jump_Ace]

I do prefer your filter setup although why do you have the Tune's section in the same Cars?

I have the tunes with the cars, so it's more info on one page, more one stop shopping I guess.

Content and backend wise it seems pretty good from what you have on there now but the frontend could do with a lot of design work, if I'm honest. I'm also a web design and developer and if I had time I'd offer to design something for you but I don't.

As for me visiting it over mygt well I use an adblocker so that isn't an issue for me, that means for me you would need to improve the frontend a lot more for me to consider it.

I dig the honesty buddy, thank you. I wish I has more of a creative eye for the front end, but I'm more analytical, but I did want to keep it simple. But if the looks of it is all that you feel is wrong, thats a win for me

Oomph, eh? I'll try and think of something.

Jerome

 

[Samus]

It's on wordpress, right? Perhaps you can look through the multitude of themes available and see which fits? I don't blame you for not going all out on a custom design though, I've made my own WP theme to match a site design before and without in depth knowledge it takes a LOT of work. If you can find an off the shelf theme that you can make some small changes to that may be the best option.

 

[Slash]

It's on wordpress, right? Perhaps you can look through the multitude of themes available and see which fits? I don't blame you for not going all out on a custom design though, I've made my own WP theme to match a site design before and without in depth knowledge it takes a LOT of work. If you can find an off the shelf theme that you can make some small changes to that may be the best option.

I agree. I've made a few sites before (some of them heavily travelled) and keeping them updated with a good design, especially from scratch is a tough task.

 

[Jump_Ace]

Yea thats basically what I had to do was make a wordpress theme (I used Artisteer) and then do a makeshift duplicate for the non-WP pages. That was so tedious.


Jerome

 

[ShaZZa]

Jump_Ace - I would gladly use that site, even if it was purely just for the ability to upload an compare times with other people (similar to GT3 days @ racing-line, RIP). You've got an awesome filter system there to go with it.

Nice work with the site.
Hope it sticks around. 👍

 

[Grayfox]

Keeping Forza Planet link is intentional i take it

 

[Jump_Ace]

Jump_Ace - I would gladly use that site, even if it was purely just for the ability to upload an compare times with other people (similar to GT3 days @ racing-line, RIP). You've got an awesome filter system there to go with it.

Nice work with the site.
Hope it sticks around. 👍

Thanks for the feedback 👍 Yea I used to be a big fan of GTTimes.com (GT3) and also wanted to make something similar to that as well...since, you know, we don't have any online leaderboards yet

Keeping Forza Planet link is intentional i take it

Yea, I can remove it, but the redirect works taking you to the Forza section here. I'm on the fence about removing it or not *shrug*


Jerome

 

[Darren.]

Looks really good. I don't mind ads if they aren't intrusive (GTP's good with placement of its ads). Mygt.net has ads all over the place, rather than in one allocated part of the webpage and is quite annoying. The UI on MyGT is a bit confusing at first as well. Console Racing is very simple to use I think, I like how its not as cluttered as MyGT too. I also like how you can view tunes that people made for each car. Only complaint is the background needs some styling. Maybe a few cars from each franchise perhaps? When this gets all the data it needs, I'd happily use this over MyGT.

 

[Jump_Ace]

I totally agree, I've gone through dozens of backgrounds for this site and I'm no graphic artist, so I settled on something plain. I'd be open to trying out user created backgrounds and such as I agree with needing to jazz it up a little 👍


Jerome

 

[Grayfox]

Why are there GT6 car prices?

Have there been pictures of it?

 

[Jump_Ace]

Why are there GT6 car prices?

Have there been pictures of it?

No, those are GT5 prices and GT5 pics. They are just for demonstration so I could test the ins and outs.

Update:

I added a section for Project Cars since there is a list of cars and tracks (not a final list I know) that I could get started on 👍

Once I get all the images of each car (hopefully I can get consistent/nearly identical pictures of all of them) I think I know how to quickly add the cars to the profile garage. But no way except the long way to enter the specs of each and every car :S

Update 2:

I'm assuming the Premium cars in GT5 will port right into GT6 so I've added the Premium cars to the GT6 Car List and Garage List. I'm also assuming the specs will be identical (HP, Weight, etc.).

I have to essentially check each car in the garage to make sure it brings up the right car, one-by-one, but I've got nothin' but time. Pics will come when GT6 gets released.


Jerome

 

[Jump_Ace]

I added something to the background to make it 'pop' as suggested.


Jerome

 

[mp10]

New background helps, but when i checked the website on my phone, using Google Chrome, the Logo seems to be missing, just a blank space. I'll post up a screenshot in a couple of mins.

EDIT: Screenshot from Google Chrome

 

[Jump_Ace]

Yea thats handled by Wordpress. It's having trouble layering things to fit on your screen. But I didn't really intend for it to be used on a phone, the screens are so tiny, haha. I get the same thing on my Droid Razr.


Jerome

 

[Jump_Ace]

Thanks for the feedback guys!



Jerome

 

[Jump_Ace]

I've decided to just focus on GT6 and Project CARS (when it comes out) for Console Racing.Net.

I modified the site a little, I changed the car settings pages to include a car settings sheet similarly designed like the car tunes of the week in the GTP Weekly Rewind articles.

I still have yet to enter in the car and track pictures (those will be taken from within GT6) as well as entering the rest of the car data (assuming it won't change much from GT5 > GT6?).


Jerome

 

[Jump_Ace]

I added a new section for GT6 Events that will include License Tests, Coffee Breaks and Special Events that are in the game. So if you want to submit your license test times and compare them with other people you can Of course at this point its just basic functionality. Only 14 more days!


Jerome

 

[Jump_Ace]

Still have to update the events page, but I have all the pictures and data are entered for the GT6 tracks, trophies, rewards and just about every item filled in for the cars 👍

Finally there's light at the end of the tunnel.


Jerome