Content starts here
CLOSE ×
Search
Reply
Community Manager
Community Manager

AARP Games: Red Bar (Website Header)

We just recently introduced our new website header (the red bar at the top of the screen) to provide a consistent user interface with the rest of the AARP.org website, improve website familiarity, and increase the speed of page load.

We’ve noticed some desktop users are having trouble with the website header bar impeding gameplay. We have determined adblocking software might be interfering, causing the header bar (red bar) to move down the page as you scroll (see photo below). This issue is remedied for some by turning off adblocking software.

red bar.png

 

For more information on the new website header, read AARP Games: Mega Menu (Website Header)

13,992 Views
116
Report
Periodic Contributor

Agree!  I turned off my ad blocker and still have the problem.  You need to fix it on your end.

 

3,511 Views
1
Report
Regular Contributor

I also did this and the Red Banner still gets in the way.

3,037 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

Look, the games are the only reason I came onto this site. Since this stupid issue with the red header, the site has been completely unusable, so I simply have gone over to Arkadia.com to play the games there. And I know I am not the only one. You are losing customers in droves because you refuse to fix this issue. 

3,304 Views
1
Report
Contributor

 I too went over to the Arkadia.com website to play. Too bad-- I enjoyed seeing some familiar names on the leader board at AARP and the competition was good. See you over on Arkadia.com!

3
Kudos
28496
Views
3,106 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

Turning off ad blocker doesn't help. And for your information, my ad blocker reported 110 ads in just a few minutes; when I turned it off, I couldn't even use the website because so many ads were appearing all over the place. This is absolutely the worst website because not just games are affected. In other words, it's not worth using your website.

3,521 Views
1
Report
Contributor

Please get rid of this bar.  It wrecks game play.  If I need to access the rest of AARP it it easy enough before.  I usually quit playing because I get sick of trying to get rid to the games bar.

 

 

3,289 Views
0
Report
Contributor

The failure to correct the faulty floating red banner is ridiculous. A 'top priority' that they might fix 'some time this month'?  Are you kidding?  It's not that hard to disable a poorly planed coding change.

3,676 Views
6
Report
Regular Contributor

It's actually pretty easy. 

3,331 Views
0
Report
Regular Contributor

Agreed. Clearly they don't care, or it would've been done already.

3,386 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

Exactly. I have web design experience, built sites, took college courses, etc. and this is an easy-peasy fix. Takes about one minute, if that. Not a month.

3,574 Views
1
Report
Periodic Contributor

I find it so frustrating. It blocks the scores and sometimes parts of the game. Whoever thought of this does not play the games and is more interested in advertising both of which they already had.

 

3,383 Views
0
Report
Regular Contributor

This was my first thought.  They easily broke it and can very easily fix it.  "Some time this month" doesn't cut it.  Even the very tech unsavvy know this.

3,553 Views
1
Report
Periodic Contributor

What is the difficulty in returning to the old format? They messed up a good thing

3,328 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

    Hannah, you should know by now that ad blockers are not the reason, this needs to be fixed asap. Myself and enough others have expressed our frustration concerning this situation, hoping I will soon be able to play my games without having to deal with the intruding red bar. Thanks, Jim.

3,560 Views
0
Report
Newbie

Turning off ad blocker didn't help.  This is so frustrating!  

3,561 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

I'm having issues with the red header bar while playing games. My ad blocker is off and I can not play games due to the banner blocking my screen. Tell me another way to fix this problem, this has been going on for almost a week. Thanks, Jim.

3,651 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

The problem is NOT just that red bar. That seems to be replaced with a white bar with red logo. ABOVE that bar are several bars.All the bars seem to be 1.5" on my screen.

My screen is 15" wide and about 8.5" tall. There is a white bar across the top of the screen where Google places ads. That takes up 1.5". Even when you report the ad to google as blocking content, it never goes away. The next bar is the AARP bar, red logo, white bar, 1.5' on my screen, so there's 3.5" of bars blocking my screen,

The next bar is white with the word GAMES displayed and a search bar. That's another 1.5", so total of 5" unusable screen.

Next is the 1.5" white bar with the "ALL" drop down menu in the upper half of that bar. The rest is white space.

6.5" of unusable space blocking my 8.5" vertical space leaves a useful area of 2-3" where I can play a game. To view the Arkadium games section I must scroll up and down trying to view the game screen, or, leave the AARP website. go to the Arkadium website and play games at their website.

Compare the way the games are displayed on both websites. It seems Arkadium is using AARP to lure customers away from AARP's website using the fact that older people have vision problems.

 

 

3,655 Views
0
Report
Regular Contributor

Hannah: Thank you for the update on the plan to revisit the recent changes to the navigation menus.  I'm certainly happy to see that there is a desire to address the concerns of the community.  Please understand that the, sometimes sharp-elbowed, comments are not directed at the Community Managers such as yourself.  Website design and functionality decisions are always a challenge and even small changes can create unexpected problems.  

Clearly these recent changes struck a chord and I'm happy to see that a solution is in the works.  

Thank you for your efforts to raise these issues with the powers-that-be in support of your, obviously passionate, community. 

3,581 Views
0
Report
Contributor

Thank you for response to the community regarding AARP's solution for this issue.  Unfortunately AARP's solution highlights an equally troubling issue.  Your solution to members who experienced the banner problem is to turn-off ad blocking software on our computers.  Your answer informs us that AARP intentionally re-programmed the games pages to "enable" the banner to interfere with users who have ad blocking enabled on their computer.  Shame on AARP !  My very elderly mother looks forward to playing these games on a daily basis.  She doesn't otherwise understand how to use a computer, she just knows how to access her games.  I am a long-term member who also contributes to AARP causes.  I didn't join AARP to be constantly bombarded by advertisements while using the AARP website.  This speaks volumes about how AARP feels about their members.  This is a matter of principle with me.  I am considering cancelling my membership because of this.  

3,615 Views
6
Report
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hi @4flmr, thank you for reaching out to share the issues you’re experiencing playing games. We are actively working on addressing two issues, i.e., the red bar and the expanded menu. Our technical teams are giving them top priority and it is expected the solutions will be rolled out this month, as each is available. We know they are paramount to a positive gaming experience. Thank you for your patience as the issues are corrected. As more information is available, it will be posted here.

3,528 Views
4
Report
Contributor

Hi. Any updates on correcting the games website header problems? AARP games is my daily mental exercise platform.  Unfortunately, now it is my daily source of frustration and disappointment.

Please emphasize to the teams the importance of restoring this valuable resource.

Thank you.

2,236 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

Thank you, Hannah

The one thing that I looked forward to was the AARP games. Now it is hard on my eyes and if you are holding the pointer and it goes off the game moves. Very frustrating. Why did they change the format.?

2,934 Views
2
Report
Community Manager
Community Manager

That's a great question, @9442758. The menu was updated to be cohesive with how the menu displays across aarp.org, and to increase the speed of page load. 

0 Kudos
2,899 Views
1
Report
Contributor

We just want to play games.  Not access AARP.  It is easy enough to find other ways.  Also if you barely move across the bar it brings up the menu even if you didn't click on it .  Extremely frustrating.  Why change a good thing?  Moving to another game site.

 

2,696 Views
0
Report
Newbie

 

Thank you for posting this.  Many of us are experiencing this problem.  Obviously, AARP does not care about the people whom they, purportedly, assist.  Thank you AARP for your hypocrisy.

3,368 Views
0
Report
Newbie

Unfortunately, I can't get the banner to go away.  Frustrating because I do lots of word games.  Please help!  Thank you.

 

3,415 Views
1
Report
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hi @AngelaP524839 thank you for reaching out to share the issues you’re experiencing playing games. We are actively working on addressing two issues, i.e., the red bar and the expanded menu. Our technical teams are giving them top priority and it is expected the solutions will be rolled out this month, as each is available. We know they are paramount to a positive gaming experience. Thank you for your patience as the issues are corrected. As more information is available, it will be posted here.

3,344 Views
0
Report
Regular Contributor

This isn't a solution, as it still doesn't work. And here it's several days after I initially posted about the issue, and it's still an issue. Guess I won't be playing on this site anymore...and maybe I'll be reconsidering my membership, too. Your site designers clearly didn't test this.

3,484 Views
0
Report
Periodic Contributor

  I do not have ad blocking software and I still cannot play.

3,659 Views
1
Report
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hi @SallyG390361 thank you for reaching out to share the issues you’re experiencing playing games. We are actively working on addressing two issues, i.e., the red bar and the expanded menu. Our technical teams are giving them top priority and it is expected the solutions will be rolled out this month, as each is available. We know they are paramount to a positive gaming experience. Thank you for your patience as the issues are corrected. As more information is available, it will be posted here.

0 Kudos
3,096 Views
0
Report
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Users
Need to Know

"I downloaded AARP Perks to assist in staying connected and never missing out on a discount!" -LeeshaD341679

AARP Perks

More From AARP