The Town Hall Archives

Steev75 · Just Moved In Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Posts: 27

Re: Navigation. . .
The rollover ("mystery meat") style of navigation is so clever, it's confusing. How about less icons and more specific, descriptive words or titles that help site visitors find what they're looking for quickly? Give the main sections of the site less ambiguous names also. "Imagination Station" or "Soda Shop" could mean anything. Wouldn't "Games" or "Store" make things easier to understand, especially for first-time visitors?

Also. . .
Why is "ask the producers" material in the restricted access "Wonderworld" section? Granted, online correspondence should be subject to parental controls. But what's so "secret" about the compiled questions and answers?

Prominent references to past characters (Lucy, etc.) makes the site feel outdated.

I'd welcome more "behind-the-scenes" articles. More interviews with the cast and production team. A more frequently updated Odyssey Times.

Take into consideration that a significant part of your audience is older than 8-12.

skygazing · Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2003 7:09 pm Post subject:

I like Jared's idea of a weblog...and the bloopers. Bloopers are always good

hawkeye · Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2003 7:36 pm Post subject:

Nathan: In one of either Jared's or Jacob's info tips on their website, they have a helper on building your own AIO website. I read this a while ago, merely toying with the idea. One of the points is something like a site should be updated regularly if it wants to attract and keep visitors. This is true, and while it means some major commitment, it is something that I think should be considered....

Jacob Isom · Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2003 9:57 pm Post subject:

Nathan, I agree with the "linking to other AIO sites" theory. I understand that FOTF doesn't necessarily have the time to "keep up" with the AIO sites that are out there. That is why, and www.jonahmovie.com (well they don't think you should do it but they do it themselves), believe you should do. A while back www.jonahmovie.com linked to my site called "Just South of Ninevah", a fansite for "Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie." Now... how did they get away with this? The answer is simple. Post CLEARLY that the site visitor will be leaving the site and entering a new one. For example, www.jonahmovie.com used this method:

* By clicking on a link above, you are leaving our site. Big Idea makes no representations about and has no control over the contents of these sites. Always browse carefully!

(taken from http://www.jonahmovie.com/fansite/index.html)

This method involves posting links to OTHER sites (fansites) and makes sure that people know they are leaving. A list of fansites is listed at http://www.jonahmovie.com/fansite/index.html and when you click on a link a popup appears that MAKES SURE you know you're leaving their site. This is a total of two times they let you know that there's a risk to leaving the site and going into "uncharted territory." Then it says "Take Me There" and "Nevermind" for the visitor to decide.

I believe this method is the easiest and safest way for FOTF to have rights to post links to other sites. And this protects the company from getting into trouble if that should happen at one time.

Dave · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 9:01 pm Post subject: Interactive Websites Rule!

What about a quick loading Flash site? Veggietales does it, Disney does it, and almost every other official site moves. There should be a choice between have "non-shocked" or "shocked." I always find a shocked website is great 4 kids and most adults. Of course it would take a lot of time, but it probably took years to put on the stuff in the first place.

Dave

Ferder- · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 9:52 pm Post subject:

Flash is cool. The LEGO site is flash. (I really like how they do it. As long as you have cable it's basically instant and the site is done in a way that it isn't to flashy. www.lego.com ) As long as it doesn't take long to load it would be good. I didn't really like Jonah with it, but as long as you could pick if you wanted it or not it would be good.

Jacob Isom · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2003 10:32 pm Post subject:

I don't really like flash all that much. Usually you have to wait on something to load... watching the percentages slowly add up annoys me and that causes me not to stay at the website for long. Something about flash in general bugs me and causes me to consider NOT visiting the website. Things malfunction a lot and my computer freezes.

I'm a simplicity man. We better keep life as easy as possible or I'm not a happy camper! 8)

Ferder- · Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2003 10:35 pm Post subject:

I don't like waiting for flash to load either. (U usually don't have to ait long with cable though) Sound effects and music get on my nerves. Often, when it come down to it, simple is the best. But not to simple. Hmmm. Maybe the best thing is something that is simple but looks sofisticated.

Elf of Rivendell · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2003 2:47 am Post subject:

I really think that profiles of the new characters be put up, such as Sarah Prachet, Alex Jefferson, Bennett Charles, etc.

Jacob Isom · Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2003 8:44 pm Post subject:

I think the site needs to be swapped and started over. The content they currently have should stay, but they really need to set it up so you can find everything. As they have it now, I can't find (for example) the Clubhouse secret password thingy. You know how many people probably missed out because they took the link off the site so soon? How depressing would that be? The Official Site needs to change the design and organize everything better. www.gileadlane.org recently redesigned. Although I don't like the design one bit (too Nickelodeon for my liking... wait... it was done by Nick!) but they really organized everything very orderly.