My latest brainchild ... twinflicks.
I have, after years of grovelling at my client's feet, decided to make a website for myself. Something I want to do for a change (Don't get me wrong, I've had a lot of success in the groveling, and I'm greatful for it!). I decided to do a website for one of the major loves in my life ... movies.
My company name is Twin Design (twindesign), and we're (my twin and I) making other sites using the twin brand name type thing, so twinflicks was born.
Here's the deal. You, the noble and proud members of the AGS community, are being given the privelage and honor to be the first folks to check it out!
- Check out twinflicks (http://www.twin-flicks.com/index.cfm)
What I'm looking for...
I want opinions basically. Likes and dislikes. What should I change, add, delete? How is the format, the search feature, the content. Is it "user friendly". Please be as picky as you want! The more critiques I get, the better I can make the site!
Things to note:
- The site is not finished yet! The layout and design is, basically, final, but there is MUCH more content to follow.
- There are only a few reviews actually written, and those that are there are by no means the final essays. I'm working on a format to follow.
- The articles have only one article that is written (about Netflix) ... the rest are just silly fillers I was using to fill it out while developing the site
- most of the "special" parts of the site require a membership (not to worry, it's FREE of course!) but for now I've set up a temporary cookie to prevent you from having to login You are all able to view the entirety of the site.
- Once I remove that cookie, it'll require a membership to make suggestions (links, review, easter eggs, movie mistakes, and posting on the forums)
- The forums aren't up and running yet.
Lastly
Even though Google frowns on it , when you visit the site (if you do), click on a google ad or two. I want to see what kind of results I get to determine if it's worth keeping the Google ads on there or not. I'm not crazy about how they fit in ... I did a decent job (I think) of blending them in ... but they still stand out a bit. Don't go crazy clicking on them (I might get banned for that!) but just click 1 or 2 times. If the results aren't good enough for my tastes I might just remove them!
Thanks for looking! Now hit me with some honesty!
It looks really well-done. I havent really dug into it yet, besides taking that cheesy poll and clicking around like you said, but looks nice. I had a hard time spotting the ads at first, si they are blended in quite well....wonder if that will give you less clicks on them though?
Anyway, I thought this was funny:
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/funnycrap.jpg)
They kinda battle each other a little heh...
Hehe x 2!!
That's one of the things I don't like about Google's Ads ... you can't control what goes in there.
As for the "cheesy" poll thing :) I meant to put an actual poll in there ... I just did that one as "filler" as well! There's so much here that some things got over looked.
yay, it's finished! You need any writers, just call :-p
I think that this a a non-original site. I'm not exactly judging that, I'm just pointing out that there are lot's more sites like this. I'm a composer and always try to be original. I don't know if it is good to be original overall in your life or not. That's a question to think about...
The moment I went in, I was perfectly comfortable with the options, the links, the buttons on the bottom. Everything seem to be on their right place.
I guess that you will need many more movie critics to have a something really usefull. I know that it;s not functionable yet, but still there were like 15 movies only. There should be hundreds...
The google ads are ok. Not something special, but ok... I owuld prefere if the new windows (for the ads only), opened up in a new window and not leave the site everytime I click on them, or is this not possible?
Just my thoughts...
Oh, and try to find better quality pictures for each movie. The Willow and Serenity screenshots were not so good. But I don't know how this thing works, it may be difficult to do so...
Well, what can I say. You make really good looking sites! Oh, and I joined just for the sake of it.
Nice job! :)
Quote from: [lgm] on Sun 13/11/2005 05:11:45yay, it's finished! You need any writers, just call :-p
We (my brother and I) are strongly considering have "guest" reviewers. If we decide to go that route, I'll let you know! Thanks!
Quote from: Nikolas on Sun 13/11/2005 08:00:00I think that this a a non-original site. I'm not exactly judging that, I'm just pointing out that there are lot's more sites like this. I'm a composer and always try to be original. I don't know if it is good to be original overall in your life or not. That's a question to think about...
I have found, over the years, that originality and "comfort" compete with web design. What I mean by that is ... there are certain designs that the world at large are comfortable with. While most times I would like to do something very original, I must consider what people are comfortable with. I call it web trends (and I'm sure I'm not the first to use that term!)
Quote from: Nikolas on Sun 13/11/2005 08:00:00I guess that you will need many more movie critics to have a something really usefull. I know that it;s not functionable yet, but still there were like 15 movies only. There should be hundreds...
And there will be! As I (and you) said, it's still very incomplete right now.
Quote from: Nikolas on Sun 13/11/2005 08:00:00The google ads are ok. Not something special, but ok... I owuld prefere if the new windows (for the ads only), opened up in a new window and not leave the site everytime I click on them, or is this not possible?
No can do. Google doesn't allow the modification of their AdSense code in ANY way. I can't even widen them (which'd make them fit in much better)
Quote from: Nikolas on Sun 13/11/2005 08:00:00Oh, and try to find better quality pictures for each movie. The Willow and Serenity screenshots were not so good. But I don't know how this thing works, it may be difficult to do so...
I have found a "screenshot" website which'll be providing much better images now. Those were done before I found this website and will eventually be updated.
Quote from: Pablo on Sun 13/11/2005 10:47:41Well, what can I say. You make really good looking sites! Oh, and I joined just for the sake of it.
Nice job! :)
Thanks! And your membership won't be activated just yet, as the mechanism isn't yet in place! Probably should have mentioned that! But I'll make sure anybody who signs up here and now (before it's officially launched) will maintain their account!
Thanks for all the help! Keep 'em coming guys!
Very impressive.
I recommend you add some type of system which shows how much language, violence and/or nudity there is. Perhaps there could be a rating for 1 - 10 on each, or something. That way, it can help me choose who I take with me to certain movies... Don't want old Grammy seeing stuff she shouldn't ;)
- BTW, which Blockbuster did you work at?
Quote from: Tiki on Sun 13/11/2005 15:21:45- BTW, which Blockbuster did you work at?
None of the ones in Coral Springs :)
And thanks for the idea ... I'll consider adding that in!
this looks great chief!
can't wait to read some more reviews, the war of the worlds one was good!
maybe some kind of preview thing though, like, trailers for upcoming films? do you need special liscenece to host trailers?
Site looks great Darth! Here are my two drachmas:
Clicking the header banner (or at least the logo) should always take the user back to the front page.
The "Return Home" link on the top should either be moved to the far left, being the first thing in that menu, or removed (in favor of the previous suggestion). I say this because after answering the poll, I wanted to go back to the front page, immediately clicked the banner, and when nothing happened, I looked up to the top, saw the "Movie Reviews" drop down menu and quit looking assuming that the rest of the links up there would be similar site navigation tools. As an unfamiliar user, I always assume that a menu will use a top down design with the most important links on the top (or left). Not seeing the most important link at the top-left, I assumed it wasn't there at all and went for the back button.
I would drop the "We're two guys who love watching, talking about, and reviewing movies! We're just vain enough to..." introduction or at least move it to an "about us" page so that we can get to the content faster. I would also shrink the "The twinflicks Movie Spotlights" or move it to the top of the right sidebar.
It's important to keep the latest updates as close to your site banner as possible so the flock of regular readers that you're out to attract don't have to scroll down to find the latest content. Depending on how often you update the site, I'd say you should keep blurbs/links to the 10-or-so most recent updates (reviews, features, etc.) blog-style on the front page with the "Join our site" bit pinned to the bottom or moved to a sidebar. Just make sure that you have one fairly-unobstructed column that is dedicated to the content that makes your site unique.
In my opinion, poll results aren't so important that they deserve a page to themselves. A lot of sites handle these little fun polls just by refreshing the page and changing the voting option to the results. To see what I mean, check out the poll at my favorite TV site: TV Without Pity (http://www.tvwithoutpity.com). You'll also need to stop me from voting multiple times (go Keyser Soze!!!).
The changing of bold face on twinflicks is cool and I like how it makes the word stick out when written among non-bolded text (as I just demonstrated) but I don't like how it sticks out among bolded text (see below for example) which you use frequently in section headers and such.
The changing of bold face on twinflicks is cool and I like how it makes the word stick out when written among non-bolded text (see above for example) but I don't like how it sticks out among bolded text (as I just demonstrated) which you use frequently in section headers and such.
I don't really have a solution for this. Just wanted to point it out.
I do not stink!
Other than these issues I like the site's look and layout. It's easy to use and familiar (with the exception of navigating back to the front page) all it needs is adequate content. But, since you're not making your site stand out with it's layout (a good thing from a usability standpoint) you're going to have to make it stand out from a content standpoint. If you keep the content interesting and funny or in some way differ yourself from the hundreds of similar sites, you should be able to get a following. Remember, I can get cast and crew lists anywhere, but I can't get opinions from you and your brother anywhere. There has to be a reason that I trust you to tell me what films to see.
I say milk that "twin" aspect and have dual reviews and opinions on just about everything. I can think of a few ways to do that: 1) Point-counterpoint format if you disagree. 2) Conversation format if you agree 3) Side-by side (using two different columns) reviews of the same film + two different ratings scales. I would also like this duality aspect to be reflected in the site's design, with two colums on the front page (one for your features/reviews, one for your twin's), but I guess you're past that point now...
I like that you both have a review of Minority Report (or at least one of you does and the other has a copy/paste) but having the two reviews side by side or integrated into one would be more interesting. It would allow your readers to figure out which of the two of you have tastes similar to their own and follow that one. Having one review following the next means that most people are going to read one and then stop, skipping the other twin's opinions.
Good luck with this project. I'll be following along!
Quote from: Zooty on Sun 13/11/2005 17:27:08maybe some kind of preview thing though, like, trailers for upcoming films? do you need special liscenece to host trailers?
If the site starts getting enough visitors (thus generating some revenue) I plan on adding trailers. The problem as it stands now is the cost of the bandwidth assocaiated.
Vince - now
THAT'S what I'm talking about! That's the kind of critique I was looking for!
Here goes :)
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/11/2005 05:55:04Clicking the header banner (or at least the logo) should always take the user back to the front page.
Most definitely, and it will. I fogot to mention that the banner, as it is now, is just temporary. The actual banner is flash animated (though not distracting) and clicking on the logo does more than just "take me home!" :)
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/11/2005 05:55:04The "Return Home" link on the top should either be moved to the far left, being the first thing in that menu
Interesting ... I shall consider that. I've
always put them over on the right and, not suprisingly, that's where I always look for them!
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/11/2005 05:55:04It's important to keep the latest updates as close to your site banner as possible so the flock of regular readers that you're out to attract don't have to scroll down to find the latest content. ... Just make sure that you have one fairly-unobstructed column that is dedicated to the content that makes your site unique.
I originally had a "latest news" type column over the "latest reviews" ... perhaps I'll put that back now.
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/11/2005 05:55:04In my opinion, poll results aren't so important that they deserve a page to themselves. ... You'll also need to stop me from voting multiple times (go Keyser Soze!!!).
Good points ... I think I'll keep the seperate page for the archival aspect, but you're right, the voting should just come back to the page you voted from. Good idea! Also, it is planned that only members can take the polls, and after you've taken it once, you can't take it again :)
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/11/2005 05:55:04The changing of bold face on twinflicks is cool and I like how it makes the word stick out when written among non-bolded text (as I just demonstrated) but I don't like how it sticks out among bolded text (see below for example) which you use frequently in section headers and such.
I struggled with this! I wasn't sure if I should just make it all bold. Hmm ... I'll have to ponder that some more ...
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/11/2005 05:55:04I say milk that "twin" aspect and have dual reviews and opinions on just about everything. I can think of a few ways to do that: 1) Point-counterpoint format if you disagree. 2) Conversation format if you agree 3) Side-by side (using two different columns) reviews of the same film + two different ratings scales. I would also like this duality aspect to be reflected in the site's design, with two colums on the front page (one for your features/reviews, one for your twin's), but I guess you're past that point now...
It's never too late! We've been considering many of the very things you've just suggested actually! We want there to be "something" that makes people interested. And the twin thing is what we decided would do it. I originally had a JP and Robb's columns, surrounding the content, but it gave me few places to put the affiliate crap ... I shall ponder this is well.
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Mon 14/11/2005 05:55:04I like that you both have a review of Minority Report (or at least one of you does and the other has a copy/paste) but having the two reviews side by side or integrated into one would be more interesting. It would allow your readers to figure out which of the two of you have tastes similar to their own and follow that one. Having one review following the next means that most people are going to read one and then stop, skipping the other twin's opinions.
This is something I had considered ... because it tends to go very long on the page. My first thought was a TABBED system ... both reviews occupy the same space and you click back and forth ... but perhaps a merging of the reviews would be better ... almost like an interview between us about the movie.
Yummy ... food for thought!
Thanks Vince! You've been a big help!
Edit - somehow left out the part you mentioned about the opening blurb. I really need to keep that in there (on the homepage) because it's part of the SEO. It's a CSS redefined <h1> tag which will improve my search engine placement by about 30%. Also, because of the way I structured the page (using what I call the "reverse" table) it's the very first text that will be parsed when the page is accessed by the crawlers. So that's another 10% or so. I'm not overly fond of it (and it'll be changing once I tweek the keywords I'm using to optimize) but I'm afraid it's there for good :)
Ahh... I know next to nothing about optimizing a site for search engines. I always got mad when business stuff got in the way of usability and design. That's why you can't find my site on search engines! And... consequently why no one ever visits my site.... :'(