By Gamebistro on

I am the publisher over at gamebistro.com, a still unlaunched games industry Web site. The reason the site is not launched yet is because I can't get Drupal to do what I want it to. The basic design/theme is set up just fine. But a major part is still not right. If you're good with Drupal/design and want to make some easy money, read on.

Here's the problem. I want to have multiple different "front pages" on my Web site. Go to ign.com, another leading games site. Notice how they have ps2.ign.com and xbox.ign.com....they have a "front page" for every major game system. That is what I want to do with my site. I know there is the front_page module, but there is not a module that will allow me to have multiple different frontpages... I need a front for gamebistro.com/ps2, gamebistro.com/xbox, gamebistro.com/gamecube and so on. When I say "front page" I mean the middle part of the page. The main content section. I'm not asking for help with the blocks on the sides or the overall design. Just the middle part.

I've tried creating a drupal "page" but that doesn't quite do want I want either. Go to gamebistro.com/ps2. Notice that I started setting up the same template there that's on the front page. But also notice that the background color is different (the same color I designated for stories) and that I am required to put a "title" on the page, which I think looks out of place.

Now go to gamespy.com Notice how they have a top story with text and everything....but then underneath that they have a TON of pictures and links and all kinds of stuff.

That's basically want I want. I want the middle part of the "front pages" to look just as colorful and packed with content as a site like gamespy. But I can't figure out how to make up a template like that. Someone suggested phptemplate, but I don't know php so I can't do anything with that.

Also, is there any way to make the content in the middle section (the front pages) dynamic? So that I don't have to keep going into Drupal and editing the page's code by hand?

Basically, I'm looking for someone with design experience to design a "front page" template for me and then install that template at multiple different aliases. And then show me how to edit the template (we're a DAILY news site) with as little pain as possible. Again, I don't need help with the blocks on the sides or the overall design. Just the middle main content section. Go gamebistro.com and you'll see what I mean.

I'm looking for someone who can help my site look as professional as gamespy, ign or any other of the big gaming news sites that are out there. E-mail me at jmgallagher@gmail.com if you're interested in the job.

Comments

ixis.dylan’s picture

ixis.dylan commented

It sounds like what you need is several different categories for your content, not different front pages. Create a category for each console, then promote important stories from each onto the standard Drupal front page.

You could then show the nodes posted in each category by visiting gamebistro.com/taxonomy/term/, where number is the category ID. You could alias these links with the path module, so for example gamebistro.com/xbox could be an alias for gamebistro.com/taxonomy/term/3 (assuming your xbox category was term 3).

I hope this makes sense. Send me money and/or beer. Alternatively, if you want more help creating the site and are willing to pay for our time, mail us at Leafish and we'll help you out.

demolicious | leafish

venkat-rk’s picture

venkat-rk commented

Also, is there any way to make the content in the middle section (the front pages) dynamic?

Just do a search on 'code snippets' (without the quotes) for more links. I think you will find what you are looking for. Here are a few links that will get you started:

http://drupal.org/node/23220
http://drupal.org/node/20630
http://drupal.org/node/23223

There used to be a sections module for seperate themes for your content sections, but it's gone missing now.

laura s’s picture

laura s commented

If you create different content types (flexinode-1, flexinode-2, etc.), one for each of your "front pages", then you can give each their own template (node-flexinode-1.tpl.php, etc.) and, thus, look. You need phpTemplate and Flexinode for that. You can leave out the title, whatever. By using different divs for each template, you can create different color schemes, too.

.:| Laura • pingV |:.

_____ ____ ___ __ _ _
Laura Scott :: design » blog » tweet