mrpsychotic

I am creating a website and I already have: a stream of content, a domain and web hosting, and a general idea of what I want. I am only in need of one thing: a proper layout for my website. So far, this has been the hardest part for me. I would like for my layout to be in html but I am open. The problem is that simple things are very easy but look like they're from the 1990's, and there is a large spike in the learning curve to get to a modern design. I am working on it through cpanel if that helps you to help me.

I would like to create a game website. Not game reviews but free flash games. I am having trouble finding/creating a website layout that would fit my needs.

I would like 3 types of pages that I could just change the content in to create a new web page. 1st: a main page that has links to the "category page" where the links are pictures arranged in a grid fashion. 2nd: a category page with individual game links arranged as pictures in grid fashion. 3rd: I want an individual game page where games are actually played.

Is there a comprehensive tutorial you could give me? I find may are very very basic or complex small parts of a website.

Is there a free layout that can be easily fashioned to my needs? I find many that are very purpose built and hard to modify or have a lot of junk attached to make it free.

Is there a website where you can "create a layout"? (Say you want it to be red, drag a certain element, add an image, copy code to your website.)

Would anybody be personally willing to help me with this?

Also, for my website, I would like some help with server side things (I think it's called?). Don't you need that to have comments or a rating system?

I am trying to put a couple small banner ads on my website as well but I run into another problem. Ad companies don't take sites under construction. Is there a way to save a small space for them and then when I am accepted, apply the ad to that space without personally going to each page and modifying the code?

Thanks!