Redesigning my site. Need some input.

[Lindline]

I'll be building a new front page for my site so that my stream is at the fore-front with a blog, a forum, and even an specialized Amazon on different sections of the site. For now, I'm focusing on the frontpage. I have the design looking good on paper (literally drawn out on paper). What I'm looking for are general tips concerning design.

General design:

Sizing - This is based on a 960px-wide resolution.

The header - I'll have the banner and next to it a 468x60 Google ad. Directly below I'll have the navagation bar.

The Stream - Right now, I'm shooting for a 540x400 stream window. This might have to change if I cant work the 400x700 chat window beside it.

The support module - I'm shooting for having this as the main source of income for the site. So, I'll be placing it directly below the stream. In it, I'll have 3 ads. First, a section of my Amazon store that will display the game I'm currently playing (hopefully, I'll be able to display a link to each version of crossplatform games). Then, a banner to signup for Gamefly (which is a huge reason I'll be streaming a variety of games). Finally, a bar to signup for a newsletter Ill be making.

One major goal is to combine the stream, the chat, and the support module into a giant flash applet. Ill probably be looking for a flash author to write this up for me at some point. Heck, I might even do it myself.

Then, I'll have a large section of text that will include the channel rules and a bit of information. Mostly, this is going to be used as a section written for Google to pick up search terms.

So, my question is, what sort of things can I add or change that could improve the frontpage.

[CAPO]

I recommend you do the layout in photoshop or any program you like first, and post it here for suggestions.... it is hard to visualize without something graphical.

[Psylence]

If you need some graphical stuff lindline I'll help you out.

[Lindline]

Actually, I'm looking for a banner. Actually 2 banners. I'll need one for my jtv channel and one for the actual site. I'll post more about it in the next few days. Tim has me distracted with a side project.

[Psylence]

Yea just let me know what you'd like on it and I'll whip something up.

[Lindline]

Alright, I'm working on the rebuild. So far, I just need to polish up the broadcast page to finish that up. Deciding on whether or not I want to put it as my main page or not (looking like not at the moment).

Check it out

[Psylence]

Sweet, looks awesome rosh

[CAPO]

Can I suggest another theme?

http://wordpressthemesbase.com/detail/766.html
Free Anime WordPress Theme | New WordPress Themes
MmoPress | New WordPress Themes
GamesWorld | New WordPress Themes

or go directly to WordPress Theme WordPress Themes | New WordPress Themes , they really good themes...

Any of those themes will work, you just need to change a few things like background image to something more related.. or just create a collage of the games you will be playing or talking about and then any them will work.

[Nghtmr9999]

Looks good. However, I think it needs more cowbell.

[Poyzon]

Nice, simplified layout, but too much white for my taste.

The borders around the page elements are doubling up in places (top, bottom, left) and missing in others (right). Some sort of edge treatment would be nice for each section to set it apart from the others.

I'm thinking take the light kevlar texture of your header and make that a background pattern (light colored) for the section. Then, border each section (maybe 5px or so) with the darker kevlar texture of the header. Throw a drop shadow around that so that each section stands out a little from the page.

Of course, I haven't played with WordPress themes/templates before, so I'm not sure how possible those types of changes are, but maybe that gives you some ideas.

Just one guy's opinion.