SpyOrama site- any ideas?

[on:]

As you know, I created the Futurama spin-off SpyOrama and I want to do my own Futurama site, and introduce SpyOrama to a much larger audience.  I've been visiting many James Bond sites and I want this site to be sort of like that, but still be as good as other Futurama sites.  What stuff should I have for a Futurama site?


any suggestions?

I'm asking webmasters of TLZ, CGEF or anyone else who has their own Futurama site for advice as what makes a good Futurama site.

[Reply #1 on:]

im no pro but maybe backround music, downloads. stuff like that

[Reply #2 on:]

NO background music - opinion of a consumer.

[Reply #3 on:]

not even the theme tune

[Reply #4 on:]

Layout.  Layout is about 90% of everything.  It's the first thing people see when they come to your site, and if it looks good, then they are pleased 

The other thing about a website is content.  But your website already sounds original, so I'm sure content won't be a problem 

[Reply #5 on:]

   

Originally posted by jerkberg:
not even the theme tune

Nope. 1: People like to listen to their own MP3's while browsing. 2: All website background music are badly compressed, trainwreck abominations of the original. Often you can't even recognise the lyrics. Combine those two things and you have something utterly irritating that will effectively chase visitors away.

Other bling-bling fluff, like mouse pointer "thingys" (example here), is equally effective in chasing repeat visitors away.

And that's what it's all about: repeat visitors. Everybody can make a website and con people into visiting it once, but when people start coming back voluntarily, then you know you have something good.

As Winna said you need a decent layout. Something wellorganised with some Futurama images and a nice, uplifting color scheme. Whatever you do, don't use the pre-made templates offered by various hosting companies, they look crap. Take a look at CGEF, TLZ, TFP, FSAC, SSF, The Fry Hole, Omicron Persei 8, The Neutral Planet, etc. for examples of good layouts. And here, here and here are examples of bad layouts and color schemes.

Secondly find original content, that's what people want, not just the same tired framegrabs and official pictures. You allready have a unique starting point with your SpyOrama world. I haven't read your stories (sorry), but you could put up biographies of their SpyOrama versions, describe gadgets, places, enemies, etc.

In the beginning you'll have to create everything by yourself (or with the help of co-webmasters), don't expect fanart  submissions to start from day one. Once your site is known by a big group of fans, and is considered stable/good, some will probably start making SpyOrama fanart.

Oh, and having a basic understanding of HTML doesn't hurt. For everything else there's DreamWeaver.   

Anyway, good luck to you.

[Reply #6 on:]

Lots of content and regular updates are what will make a site successful. A decent Layout is also important, but I'd still say that content and regular updates are tops, simply because they get people to return again and again to see what's new.

[Reply #7 on:]

What about episode guides?  I'll have character bios, but it will feature Futurama characters in their spy forms.  This will include Futurama characters that haven't been done in fan art.

[Reply #8 on:]

There's no need to have episode guides. I mean, you can have them, but they're not really going to get used much. CGEF is probably the first stop for anyone wanting them.

[Reply #9 on:]

Okay so no episode guides.  What about comics? 

How do you guys do those links to other Futurama websites?

I want to have links to PEEL, TLZ, FSAC, CGEF and others.

[Reply #10 on:]

How do you do links? Do you mean how do you do them in HTML? If you're asking that, go through a HTML tutorial and learn HTML properly.

Comics? Do you mean your own comics? You can do whatever you want really, just think about stuff you would go back to a site for.

[Reply #11 on:]

If you look below this page you'll see links to other Futurama sites, I sort want something like that.

The one thing I like about TLZ, is the fanfic zone and how they rate each fanfic and fan art.  I wished they had a thing that allows you to post review for each fanfic and fanart.  I think I'll have that.

[Reply #12 on:]

i ahve a template to get you ideas, the buddie buttons were random, and i didn';t put a lot of effort into it, so, try.

also, i agree, no mp3's in the background, i hate it when i go into a website while i'm listening to cartoons and they come up.

better done version of template:


you know, i'm going to do more page templates and work hard on the front page. Finally, i'm helping!

fan-fiction page:
[thumpnailed for easy load:]

[Reply #13 on:]

Ooy, would you like to help make the site possible?  I just love your design, if only you could make it more James Bondish.

[Reply #14 on:]

sure thing man!

[Reply #15 on:]

Looks like you've got some interesting stuff going on there. 

[Reply #16 on:]

That looks really cool Ooy! I can't wait to see the site when it's finished, Fryfanspyorama.