The Town Hall Archives

Nathan Hoobler · Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2003 10:31 pm Post subject: Whits End.org changes/additions

Hello all.

I mentioned this in a Whit's End chat recently, but I thought I should make a more formal request here on the Town Hall.

The Official AIO site is going through something of a transition and I'm looking for your ideas for any changes/additions. What bits of navigation should be changed a bit, etc?

Also, I'd like to hear your ideas for future features and new stuff. Don't only say things like "an hour long video showing the behind the scenes process." I love the big ideas (and want to hear them, too!), but how about we also have some manageable ones that won't take months of production?

What do the Townies think?

Nathan

mak1457 · Seasoned Veteran Member Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 503

First, get rid of character profiles who have long since gone. Not that seeing the Barclay's and Lucy Shultz's profiles on the web is a bad thing, but truthfully, does anyone really care that much any more since they're long gone, probably never to return again. And how about technical information thats not in the "Complete Guide". Personally (my humble opinion only), I don't visit sites often that basically have material on them thats in the complete guide. They're rather (no offense, please) boring. All in all, my overall opinion of the official site is that there's usually no compelling reason to go to it because most of the material on the official site is the exact same as"The Complete Guide".

hawkeye · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2003 9:08 am Post subject:

Perhapse FOTF should do a review of some of the AIO oriented sites, like TH, And put up links to them. In my months here, I cannot se but very minor things here and there that would or should cause concern for the parents of AIO's intended audience...

Or they should put up a message board of their own....

I wonder how many AIO fans out there don't even realize the community we know about even exists...

I do realize FOTF does has some legal responsibilities concerning sites they link to and their content, but I feel the Odyssey sites I have seen are safe enough, and most of them FOTF has known about and even worked with for a while....

And yeah, another idea. FOTF could set up a online streaming radio station to air KYDS stuff and AIO! That wold be so awsome, and shouldn't require a ton of work... Just gather stuff to play and make a playlist.... No other human intevention should be required afterwards...

And that would expand AIO a little, because then whole KYDS programs could be produced....

Yeah, kinda a big dream... But definately feasible, and it could be started out small! (Play good, cool Christian songs for filler)...

And I do believe a judge recently ruled such stations, just like real stations did not have to pay royalties.... So it could be operated for pocket change....

Jared · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2003 10:21 am Post subject: Whit's End Site Ideas

Nathan,

I mentioned some of these to you before, but repetition never hurts.

Group Weblog.
Create a "weblog" in which those who work on the show can quickly and easily update site readers on just about anything just by typing something into a form and posting. Everyone associated with the making of the show (writers, producers, directors, foley artists, production engineers, etc, although I would think probably not actors, as they are not directly responsible for the show and wouldn't all agree with FOTF's values, etc.) has a username and password to post to the "blog." They could talk about all kinds of things, ranging from life at AIO headquarters to a specific sound design in the foley room that took some interesting work to talking about the writing, production, etc., of a recently-aired episode -- and a lot more. I mean, as Odyssey fans, we'd be terribly excited if the writers and producers were talking about their dogs! It's instant communication with the fans. I think it would be really popular.

Short Videos.
I was tempted to ask for 60 minute films, but really, all I'd like to see is occasional 2-3 minute webfilms on production work, or a look inside the studio or just about anywhere. I've always been interested in foley work... setting up a video camera in the room as they work on some of their crazier sound concepts would interest quite a few fans. All it would take is a video camera, a video transfer card and a little editing. Very managable. And great fun for the fans!

Photo Essays.
Not just photos, but series of photos that tell a story or relate to one theme, be it acting out an episode, working in the studio, a brainstorming session, whatever. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what might a series of a half dozen of them be worth? A lot of interest in the site is my guess.

Bloopers.
The actors are good, but even though they sometimes can seem it, they're not perfect. Surely there are some funny moments in the recording of lines for just about every episode and I believe all of it remains on tape somewhere in the Focus archives. Right? Some of the better mistakes have appeared in some of the recent lookback episodes, but there's probably some funny errors in every episode, so why not put them up in an audio clip on the site following the airing of an episode? As in, the new episode goes on the air on Saturday and sometime in the middle of that week, fans can head to the site to hear some of the takeouts. There'd be plenty of time to prepare them, as episodes are recorded long before they air. Besides, since it doesn't require perusing the archives, it probably wouldn't take too long and it would give the more devoted listeners a reason to head to the site in the middle of the week.

More Articles.
I'm sure those who work on Adventures in Odyssey have a lot to say... so let them! On the old site, there were a few articles and interviews from the AIO team. I would like to see more of them. Also, consider the fact that the majority of those who visit the website are likely to be older listeners. Sure, you have to appeal to the younger ones who stop by as well with the little games and stuff, but don't ignore your prime site audience. Teens are far more likely to be online than eight to twelve year olds and if I remember an old poll at whitsend.org correctly, they make up somewhere between 2/3rds and 3/4ths of your site audience. And in my opinion, it would be a HIGHER number if you did something to keep them there. In other words, we don't need to see Whit sitting across the table from Paul McCusker, interviewing him. A regular interviewer would do just fine. Also, don't ignore the workers with less name recognition. They may have a story to tell as well, besides which, it's fun to learn about new people.

-----

Some Other Notes.
One poster said that they would like to see less Complete Guide information since we already have the guide. I disagree. First of all, most of your listeners - even the dedicated ones - do not have the guide, I would imagine. Secondly, the complete guide doesn't cover recent episodes. And thirdly, the information's already in the system... so what does it hurt to keep it around? The site needs to be a lot more than just an online Complete Guide, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping that part of the site up!

Also, I think I'm speaking for most fans when I say that I don't care if the sun will be shining during the next S.M.I.L.E. convention, if Connie's hosting an Alaska Party or anything else like that. To most fans, the only "real" Odyssey stuff is what comes across the airwaves and those silly stories detract from what we want to hear about the characters. Now, I know you have to keep stuff around that appeals to your younger web audience and it may well be a popular feature, but personally, I really don't care about that stuff.

And finally... please, no more polka-dots!

Ferder- · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2003 11:47 am Post subject:

So far when I go to the part on the site about the actors all I get is cartoons of the charaters. I would really like to see some (recent, the once in the Complete Guide are getting a bit old) photos of the cast.

Jeremy · Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2003 2:29 pm Post subject:

I think the KYDS streaming is a great idea! 8)

Jeremy

Bennett Charles · Town Villain Joined: 24 Nov 2002 Posts: 2410

They really need to update that timeline. It's getting on my nerves.

Corey Willis · Guest

The design is way to cutsie. I know it is a kids show...but you don't have to make it that cutsie. Or maybe even have seperate areas for older and younger listeners.

- Corey

paschott · Just Moved In Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 9 Location: DFW

Looking over some of the replies, I have to admit I like the idea of the outtakes/bloopers. I'd like to see the ability to list all episodes (including those not in any albums) in order, with an option to order an individual episode. Even the ability to pay for and download an episode would be cool (at a reasonable price).

If you're going to keep the Odyssey Times, it would be great if it were updated regularly. It's still showing content from 6+ months ago. Ditto the Drama stuff.

Links to this forum might be cool, but understandable if that's not permitted because the site is beyond FotF's control.

I like the Easter Eggs there now - very amusing!

As others have said, remember that a lot of your visitors will be approaching teen/adult age. While you shouldn't remove the stuff for younger people, keeping things interesting for the older folks is important, too.

I guess my last thing would be to have more interaction between the AiO staff and the web visitors - chats, interviews, forums, feedback, voting, etc. While there's a limited amount there right now, it would be great to have something where people can tell you what they think and interact with each other. Obviously a moderator or two would be needed for the more public areas, but it would still be great to see that not only are we able to give feedback, but that someone is actually responding to it. We definitely need more than "Thanks for your response - we appreciate it" type answers, too. They do that in one of the support newsgroups I read and it frustrates users to no end because their "comments are forwarded to management for review" and they never hear back again.

(rant mode off)

Hope that helps somewhat. I look forward to the new format.

-Pete

OdysseyFan · Junior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2002 Posts: 172

Why were the Teasers/Trailers changed? it's now much harder to download them. I liked the direct RM links instead of the SMI