Why hello there! The site’s looking a bit different today, isn’t it? Allow me to welcome you to this new version of The Sonic Stadium, modernised for today’s discerning blur blur fan! Incidentally, it’s the first design change for this website since 2013, making this the longest time time it’s taken for a layout refresh. I think you’ll agree that it was totally needed though.
With more people using mobile devices to view their favourite sites, I wanted to make a layout that fully represented our personality and fun on any screen.
We almost went with a design that looked closer to what the SSMB looks like today, but decided to go with this slicker look for the site. You can see the alternative look below.
This new design isn’t the only thing that’s changed either. We’ve also changed our categorising and archiving philosophy. After years of split-personality (are we a site? Are we a blog?), we have fully transitioned into a blog format, and will be spending the next few months re-categorising and re-formatting our content to suit the new system.
What does this mean to you? For a start, it means that you can actually FIND content again, instead of having to rely on the Top Stories bar at the top of the homepage (from now on, we’ll be using that Top Stories bar for what we originally intended – to keep important features and news stories floating at the top so it gets some extra exposure during periods where many posts are being made).
Now, you can simply scroll down and browse through the pages of our entire history of posts. You can also filter by categories and tags, depending on what exactly you’re interested in looking to read up on.
Take a look at our navigation menu at the top. Under ‘News’, you’ll find nearly all of our post categories (‘Features’ appears under ‘Info’ and ‘Sonic Show’ appears under ‘Video’). All of our content will live in one of these categories.
To drill down into specifics you can use Tags – to find Sonic Generations screenshots, for example, use the following url:
http://www.sonicstadium.org/tag/sonic-generations+screenshots
Tags are listed underneath each post, and popular tags for each category can be found on the ‘List Page‘ of each category, which you can find under the ‘Info‘ menu (click here to go to the Game List, for example).
I’ve re-organised all of our content from the last couple of months (and will be going back through to the start of 2016) to suit the new design, but please bear with me while I spend some time re-formatting all of our legacy content in one big update (including rescuing some long lost material, if I can help it) later down the line.
The Sonic Stadium is one of the biggest, longest-running fan sites on the web, giving you great news and info since the year 2000 – so we have a lot of good stuff to preserve. Some of this will pop up on our YouTube channel too (which you can head to by clicking here), so keep an eye out there!
We’ve been running for 15 years, and we have no plans on stopping! I hope you enjoy the new look site and take the time to explore it!
Love the new Look!
Awesome!
When are you lauching the sonic stadium store so we can buy the ltd ed sweet 16th tshirt like the sonic show did this year for their 10th!
Bravo on the redo!!!
Looking good! So glad you decided to go with something that works on mobile devices; it has been bugging me for awhile when using my smartphone to browse the site. Then again, changing the design isn’t something that should be rushed and I think you made the right call.
That’s a pretty neat logo! 🙂
Wow, this is awesome. Everything feels so clear. Although, it does look a lot more similar to TSSZ. I don’t suppose that’s a bad thing. 🙂
I love the design change! Now it’s gonna be easier for me to read an article on here! 🙂
Finally no wrighting disappearing of the edge of the screen. Really love the update design!
^
Huh, it really evokes a more anniversary-ish vibe with all the classic Japanese boxart confetti everywhere. I like it!
I like the new look alot, it matches Sonic’s eyes quite nicely black or green whatever the color may be!
Wow I love the new design Sonic Stadium looks pretty sick & amazing DreadKnuk!
The new look reminds me a little of TSSZ, what with the dark blue accents on white background and similar font choices. But it does set itself apart from TSSZ enough to be distinguishable so the similarities are fine with me.
Besides, its more accessible this way. I like that we’ll be able actually find news in, y’know, categorized lists instead of doing fruitless google searches for articles. Its a heck of a lot better than trying news tabs that haven’t been updated since 2013. Plus its nice not to see articles from 2014 featured on the home page. As good as TSS’s RoL coverage was, I think its better that the home page showcases more relevant stuff now. 🙂
The only real complaint I have is that the use of all-caps letters on the top bar. Never been fond of that kind of design. But that’s just a personal, nitpick-y thing. Good job guys! 🙂
well we can only what it is.
I don’t care.
(edgy)
So glad it’s mobile friendly now. Been a fan of TSS since 2005.
This does look very mobile-friendly and efficient, I’ll give you that…but I’m a contrarian asshole by nature, so I’m already missing the old one. This shit is too bright and empty.
No sir, I don’t like it.
Its sweet, sexy, and smooth. What is there to complain about? I know I love it.
I can’t wait to use this layout in the future.
Oh my! I just noticed it; I love the “recent comments” box on the side. It highlights where current activity is. I like it a lot.
the new layout was pretty awesome no wonder why they wanted to change it.
About time we got mobile support. Nice job, guys!
Finally,I don’t have to find news that I missed anymore!