Big changes :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_window

This wikipedia write up does an ok job of explaining why modal windows should be used sparingly.

Give the user freedom of choice without sticking a dialog box in their face.

I think to get rid of the 'issue' of where the new game menu pops up is to just move it, if possible/easy. You could move it underneath the "lichess.org" button, and in this case you would be able to
see options for making new games, games already available, and options like play with computer/friends/etc.

image of what i mean: http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6515/lichess.jpg

I think he is talking about the list of invitations, with the transparent background.

I think it would be a bit confusing to put the "create a game" window on the left side when the button is on the right side. Also i think there would be too much stuff on the screen then. It might be
an option to put it on the right side, so when someone clicks the "create a game" button, it grows larger and shows the game options while the other buttons vanish (once you choose to create an own
game the "play with a friend" and "play with the machine" button become obsolete anyways.
Have another badly done mockup: http://i52.tinypic.com/5f57au.jpg

That way, you would need only two windows in total.
Also, I made background of the lobby opauqe (is that the right word?). I think it's more clean that way. Doesn't look as cool though. Dunno about that.
Also also, I wrote "Select a game" on top of it. I think that clarifies things.

another idea. http://i56.tinypic.com/2hfkplf.jpg

The "create a game" thing could be changed to "enter the lobby". That way you could hide the lobby if you want.

The "create a game" button would be in the lobby now, like it is when the lobby is empty.

Also i had the idea of implementing an option to make preset games. Would make the process easier in the long run.

The create a game-window could just be the same as the lobby window: http://i51.tinypic.com/2dbl65l.jpg . When you create a game, you don't need the lobby.

cheers

Interresting ideas... and man you are a pro when it comes to mockups.

I want to let the actual lobby live for like a week to take the time to see how it feels. Then I'll consider improving it.

alright! and sorry for flooding you again, the modal window thing just got me thinking :)

oh oh oh and it would be cool if the players' names in the lobby would be clickable.

wirasdt out

thibault,

as usual things keep on getting better and better here. so first of all: my praise.

after that, a couple of comments.

what is most annoying to me with this new system occurs when i launch a game against a random opponent and then say i'm waiting for someone to reply and i see a game launched by someone else that i
want to participate to. if i click on the link and someone has anticipated me by some millisecond... then i have to start all over again: my launched game is not there any more!

couldn't there be a system that controls if you have actually been accepted to a game before erasing your entry?

the other thing is this: with the old system one could set a game with multiple options, now this is not available any more. even though i totally understand the principle, i don't think it is an
improvement. many times i'll be ready to accept games of both 2 minutes or 15 (and of course, as you used to say: the more options, the quicker you will find someone matching them).

one last thing, which is actually a question: if one launches a game and someone else launches another game with the exact same options, are they matched together and a game starts? if not, this could
also be an improvement (obviously with the multiple choices back, the matching possibilities would increase).

just some food for thought.

again: great site, great community and great developer!

ciao!

Hey talsune, thanks for the feedback.

"couldn't there be a system that controls if you have actually been accepted to a game before erasing your entry?"
Good idea, I've implemented it.

"with the old system one could set a game with multiple options, now this is not available any more."
Suppose you want any game between 2 and 15 mins. You create a 2min. Someone sees it but do not want such a rapid game. He creates a 10min game. You click it. Done.
That's why I think multiple choice is not required anymore. Plus it makes the interface more complex.

"if one launches a game and someone else launches another game with the exact same options, are they matched together and a game starts?"
No, and it's quite unlikely to happen. If it happens, just click the other guy game.

When you join someone's game, it automatically deletes the game you created if you had one.