Got a little further this time. The gates opened...

OK -

an update 4 those who r having troubles...

2 navigate simply click and go - b patient!! It may take a while 4 things 2 load

2 return to where u were simply click the vase that is in most of all the rooms

2 return 2 the very beginning click the sun (again in most rooms)

2 hear the new song REFLECTION - simply click the pool of water..i wont tell u where it is "dont u like surprises??"

The VS room is not working? Any1 know what is suppose 2 happen with the sheet music?

The site is a bit buggy and I do agree that Prince has a very bad habit of letting amatuers try to do professional work and it comes off half-ass - but hey I stopped worrying about this along long time ago - just gotta go with the flow

Overall its got great potential and I will b intersted 2 see whats next...

These are the files on the NPGMC so far

Live from Las Vegas 2002:
1. "Pop Life"
2. "Money Don't Matter 2nite" / "The Work Pt.1"
3. "Push & Pull" feat. Nikka Costa

also:

"Jam Of The Year" live in Brixton '98

Ok I think i was one of the first to join. The flash version wouldn't let me renew my membership, so I renewed it successfully thru the HTML version, but under HTML version it wouldn't let me go in! So i reverted back to flash version to log in and it let me in. Nothing exciting for now, very reminiscent of 'Interactive' CD-ROM. A lot of stuff was under construction, the musical instruments had a few secs of samples, the vault actually had the discography plus 30 second samples of singles from the albums. No new music for now except the 'Reflection' song, which reminds me of 'Circle of Amour' or something out of 'The Truth' album. Talkin bout comparing afros and staring at cars. Then my computer froze!!! Then it refuses to let me back in, saying my username and password are invalid. A bad site can get just as many hits as a good site but leaves people frustrated. I'm sure give it some time everything'll be fixed, but since these errors are so obvious, I rather have the site working properly and launched a day later rather than now but with all the frustrations.

WOW ... Great Site!!! gonna have to upgrade the RAM so the computer don't freeze

Budsmoker said:

reflection? jazzy or more acoustic guitar? 25$ hmm maybe have to pay for everything else. $25 just for preferred seating
[This message was edited Fri Apr 18 19:28:44 PDT 2003 by speculator3m]

More acoustic... think of those 'For You' songs

I still can't get In!!!

I'm in

I just renewed! YEAHHH BAYYYBEEE!!
Dial up internet sucks. Have to get DSL. Have to get high speed internet!!! HELP!!!

(hey $25.00 not bad eh?)

OK -

so am I the only 1 having probs with the Cybersingles not loading? The player opens as if its loading and than it says Closed??? what up P???

also...

The site is so reminicient of the interactive CD it gets overall only a B- However, I am still having fun surfin through it and I've been at it 4 a while so the fun value is definitly there and I give Prince props 4 trying...

And I'm still looking for the secret link...P there best b one - if not now - SOON!!!

and finally only 1 new song - its nice but come on homie ...

OPENtheVAULTS beeeatch

Soulsista said:[quote]I just renewed! YEAHHH BAYYYBEEE!!
Dial up internet sucks. Have to get DSL. Have to get high speed internet!!! HELP!!!

Wouldn't matter. I'm on a T1 line here at work and only got as far some gates opeing up.

This is going to be FUN to watch unfold.

My thoughts and critique on the NPGMC new website.

Very, very reminiscent of the '93 Interactive CD-ROM.

The imagery is intersting, the two guards are Funky wierd. I like that. In the Flash version they hold flame swords, in the html version they hold regular swords...hey, what's up with swords?!?? That's rather cold and guard-ish. Hmm.



Also the gate metaphor, that's kind of odd. I don't know. It feels like an institution. Like nothing fun is in there. Don't like it. It may turn off casual fans or people just curious but with a spare $25.

Now mind you, $25 is a great price! No complaints about that. I thought it was going to be $100 or something again!

Whew, I can afford that. Wonder why so drastic from last years price to this? Did they realize more fans would join up if it was affordable? Who knows, but it's a relief on my pocket and I'm thankful!

The intro Flash is interesting if you hang on for a while. It seems to load new quotes after a few minutes. I saw 777-9311 moving across, but didn't make the connection to the Superstition theme.

As for the actual design of the Flash intro...kind of early 90's cheap PC screen saver-like. Not really exciting. Just bad type/font stating superstitions, some of which I agree, are silly.

The message could have been delivered more effectively and interestingly. The arrow at the bottom just seems so cryptic and not intune with the rest of the design. The religious things are expected from Prince so no suprise. No biggy.

The Flash file is huge. On a 56k modem it takes almost 4 minutes to load.

It's not memory you need if you already have enough, it's just maybe allocating more memory to your browser and maybe downloading and installing the latest Flash plug-in. Try switching browsers too.

The HTML version is cool though for those on regular modems. Still kind of large, maybe it's all the Javascript or something.

There's a subtle nature/garden theme too. The sign up page has that nasty font/typeface but the background is like leafs and in the gate page the plants and stuff.

As always, it's fun to decipher what Prince is communicating even in the small details. Much like MTV VJ's were analyzing the Raspberry Beret video for secret or subliminal messages way back in '85!

Overall, the design gets a C- from me. It lacks sophistication in execution. The ideas are there but, just kind of dated in someways, like it would have been great in '96.

But again, the typography is yuk, the galaxy superstition flash intro, enh, But the two guards are interesting yet odd, since they are guarding the club with...swords?!?? Can't get over that. And if you mis-login, they point the swords at you! What is that?! Eeeew.

That's kind of not good, people may take offence to that or something subconsiously.

Streaming Cyberclips? Okay. Sure. But I want Vault Clips! In lo-ffi and h-fi downloadable files!

There are no pictures of Prince anywhere before entering. That's cool, he may think he's over exposed or something and fams might be tired of photos, but it would have been cool to see a photo before or something.

I just think Prince has a great idea but it's done cheaply. With designers that...I don't know...aren't there yet, you know?

The price of membership gets an A+++!

The ease of use get's a hopeful B-. Ease of sign up could improve, but I like what the description says you'll get and how workers won't stop working on the site. That's nice. The "Home" metaphor. I think the sign up could be much better and be somewhere in the first homepage of the site or in the early navigation.

I will be joining, but I rather do it from a DSL or T1 connection. Can't wait!

So Until then have fun, hopefully it's a warm creative beautiful place this NPGMC "Home" since it looks rather daaark and cold from the outside.




////
[This message was edited Sat Apr 19 11:23:46 PDT 2003 by FlyingCloudPassenger]

one problem 4 us downunder: . . .. . releases maybe xpensive thru NPGMC (unless we get discounts) . .. . & if u dont buy it thru npgmc site retail,then it takes 4ever 2 come out in stores here ie; TRC & ONALive!. .. . . .preferred seating is near useless here cos P wont tour australia. (but after 11 years he is bloody due! )

im not sure if i SHOULD join but i do wan2.

i'll see in the next couple of days if i do.

Can we actually DOWNLOAD the song and Videos or just view them as streaming ???

You can only stream them and I can't even do that!!

Two new discoveries:

The chat room (again mine not working) but cool idea - I like the idea of discussion of weekly or daily topics from P for us to discuss and 4 him 2 join us


The Backstage Room - does anyone know the password? I like the feel of this room as it has the whole Prince vibe. But U only get 3 chances 2 get in...what happens if U get 2 zero???


I think the overall fel at the beginning is a bit instituional and the guards are somewhat goofy...I would have rather have seen an aieral view coming over the place and than having a hostess greet us and ask for us 2 login

When I first saw the audacious building through the gates, I thought, "hey, Prince has taken over one of Saddam's palaces!"

On the first scren, you can click on the 3 birds and make them stop in mid-air, but I can't get anything to happen beyond that (with the birds). Also, it seems like you should be able to click on the fountain, but it does nothing. Maybe they will add this later. On the main screen, all I can do is enter the bldg.and go from there.

does any1 keep on getting redirected after they log in 2 commonname.com?

The "U Tell Us" message area should be interesting. I wonder if people will "behave" a bit better on there than they do on Prince.org and alt.music.prince. I mean most people behave everywhere, but there are always some troublemakers. I just hope people a bit more respectful in Prince's online home than they are elsewhere.

Thank god it's back. Kinda reminds you of Interactive game

1. couldn't get my original name - partyman
2. can't view videos
3. can't find song
4. slow as hell
5. 1995 technology, but slower design.
6. paid my $25...now what?

I look at it as gambling now...went to Vegas...played $25...sort of fun, but also frustrating with hope of a big payoff...the DVD.

I just hope Prince releases a few albums worth of material on the site so we can buy it. I wish he would relese another Crystal Ball type of album, darnit.



.
[This message was edited Fri Apr 18 21:20:47 PDT 2003 by TonyC]

i got my name back, but i cant log in!!! ive tried 1000 times, its sending me to commonname.com, any1 have any tips?

2020 said:

now that is bullshit.
u can only stream videos???

it aint launch.com its NPGMC.com!

that is disappointing.
same 4 the songs

Joshy84au said:[quote]

2020 said:

I'm sure some kind souls will record the songs from the stream and make an mp3 out of them. I may do this myself for my own use. I guess you could do the same with the video if you have a program like Camtasia.

I got in using the same name and password but I can't watch the videos. They got a lot of fixing up to do.

i just joined the NPGMC ($25) and the site is AWESOME BABY!!

Ifeel like a Princess, finally being invited to dance!!
THANK YOU PRINCE!

NESCI

Joshy84au said:

Not True: Assuming you have paid to subscribe the songs can be directly downloaded from their server -- they just haven't added direct links. For example, I have downloaded "Reflection" (it is a 96kb CBR mp3!!!). The site is using a simple Flash player to play the mp3 but it is an mp3 without a doubt -- it even has ID3v2 tags! I wish he would release them at a higher bitrate but it sounds good using my Sony MDR-7506 headphones. So just to clear things up -- the original songs can be downloaded directly.

javier