Kinda how I feel, but to me it just is so weird to have things like the map done so beautifully and all, but ten have the main page just be... links. Just links and random images. Kinda weird.

Oh, and I actually DO use the maps, so I guess that's where my opinion comes from.

It will take some getting used to, but I actually quite like the new page with the shops divided in categories. The only thing I'm not too fond of is the big boxes, which makes the page a loooong scroll down, while we could see almost all the shops on one page before. But I can live with that. :)

I notice a new change today (with the categories). Really like this and it's easy on the eyes ^^

Yesterday I hated the clutter, but I'm super happy to see the new organisation! The maps are super hard to navigate so at least we got the shops all gathered together now :D

If that's because places are hard to find on the maps, somebody a very long time ago made a suggestion to have the maps, but also to have the links to the different places underneath the maps. I don't understand why that wasn't just implemented.

The main shop page is just visually unappealing, and makes every single map and the world itself next to pointless. I don't know about anyone else, but if the site becomes mostly single 64x64 images with a link underneath, and it's all just condensed onto a page I'll be visiting a hell of a lot less. What's the point of a pet site with a world and lore, if it's just a bunch of links?

I do support this and I agree the maps aren't the most efficient way to go about things. Imo that's a MAJOR issue when it comes to new players navigating the site :c As lore progresses, maybe it'll become more of an instant thing for players as they spend more time around, "oh, Saggi is obviously in Centropolis, duh" but for now it'd be great to have things organized around with a link alternative, maybe. Or a locations directory page where they're split by world (maybe with colors?) but easily CTRL+F-able? I feel that could be very helpful, don't know where something is, go to that page, find it, and still learn which world it's on!

I don't really have many feelings about this new main shops page, I use the shop widget (lol my sidebar is cluttered in all possible ways, it's pretty much my own site directory since I never know where things are) x_x So far I'm not hating it, but wish it was the NPC's faces (think Tobias and Dolly's faces on the forums during the war) instead of an item, maybe? Most names already allow for instant association with the type of item getting sold, it'd be nice to have more association between NPC and shop!

...when Kain (is that his name? I might be wrong) came out to announce the gelatin war I didn't even know/remember he was the shopkeeper for Defend and Conquer D:

[edit] Upon re-reading this, I want to stress some sort of alternative navigation like that directory locations page, so people are disincentivized from building their own navigation "pages" in their sidebars like me (since that may increase page load and server strain)!

[edit] Edit again because I think having pages with links is helpful/resourceful especially for new people and doesn't technically render the maps useless, it just means lore has to be worked on so that "instant association" between shops/NPCs and world lands is built in our brains. I have to say I'm not crazy about the spacing between things/formatting of the page... but that seems to be the new style for the rest of the site, so idk what I could say about it :x

I hate this layout change, the page is waaaayyy too busy and requires far too much scrolling. While the organization is nice, I guess... Like many others on this topic I preferred the storefronts.

I don't see why the original main stores can't be like on the subby map just like all the locations and their stores? Like have this as an option for those who just wanna go to the stores, but why not make a main subeta-land map with the original stores?

Like I think it used to have it's own location on the map back when I originally played, why was that ever gotten rid of?

I mean I personally don't use the main shops anymore, but after plating a bit I learned where locations are, so I mean sure at first it's tough to figure out what is where but eventually you figure it out, and that kinda makes the site more fun and interesting that you have to figure it out. And if you're really lost you can ask someone who knows. Otherwise why have the rest of the map if you don't have the main shops page as a map page?

I do miss seeing a little store icon instead. But it's nice to see them all in one spot.

It must be even easier for newer members, too. :)

it's ok. i like that everything is there. my problems with it are the big spaces and too much scrolling involved :/

I'm sure you have analytics that tell you how people get around the site, but all I use is explore (maps) to get to shops, training, BC, healing etc. I also restock a lot, BUT yeah, if i am doing a quest and there is an item that costs 200 in a user shop and 2100 in an NPC shop I'll go cheaper.

I mean, I'm kind of wondering what the purpose of this site is at all if we have everything done FOR US?

i never went to the shops page anyway unless it was by accident....not a big deal... lol. i just buy items through shop search when they show up cheaper than user shops.

I miss the little shop items, it was a lot easier to hop around the main shops, now this needs a lot of scrolling. However, I am sure you´ll find a neat solution for this. Btw, since the shops are organized like this, I can´t bide in the shops anymore when doing quests, the item is sold directly for the announced price.

I like the new layout -- especially now that it contains all the shops and I don't have to go Explore -> Arctic Frost -> Icy Goods (for example) just to check if the one or two items I want to restock are there -- but I'd take some of the text or spacing out because wow, you really do have to scroll a lot.

Actually it seems like a lot of the site has gotten huge. Maybe I should just zoom out.

I'm trying to look at this from the point of view of someone who has just joined the site.

It's nice having a separate clothing category but I'd be very confused if I bought a toy, book or something from home appliances etc and discovered that I had an option to add this item to my wardrobe.

Perhaps there could be a brief explanation at the top of the page saying this is only a rough guide because some items have more than one purpose.

PS: just to add to the confusion.

1. The Home Appliances shop description says - "You dont really have a house so these items have no use, yay!"

A lot of these items do have a use because we can wear them.

2. The Grooming Parlour is in the clothing section but many of the items in this shop can't be worn. It still stocks the Ontra and Clawsion shampoos which are supposed to be for washing Ontras and Clawsions. Then there's the Lice Repellent - it can't be worn but is it meant to be for humans or pets?

The categories seem a little confusing because as some people have mentioned, many items have multiple uses. And then there's stores like the Carnival Stand that sells food, books, toys, and clothes, but it's under food. But I'm not sure I'd want to see all the books moved out to Book Nook or all the tacky carnival clothes moved to the clothing shop...it's fun to have some shops that are based around a theme rather than just an item type.

I preferred the older revamp where they were simply all in alphabetical order.

And I'd say that there's no need for shop front images as before, I enjoy the items chosen to represent the shop.

I agree it's going to take a long while, in my case, to get use to. My first reaction was nooo what have they done?!

I did love the little shop icons and think it is a real shame they weren't saved, or even updated. They don't really look like shops just have an item for each one :(