04/20/03 1:08pm
I just can't understand:
Prince could easily find a super webdesigner and for free if tried to get the best in life!
I just saw the flash space-intro, and, well, it's just bad taste! The letters don't go from the same point: it's too bad, to cheap and almost crap… and that blue button! A secretary would have done the same job!
You click and then you suppose that you are going to get in a space ship! Logical. Not at all: it's a palace!
Does this picture come from an old CD-rom or what? This is just too old and untasty work! I would have done a wonderfull picture if Prince asked me, and for free!
And what about that "join" page: brrr…

God, is it that the 'BIG THING"? Come on, it's ugly!
Remember:
Loveforoneantoher.com
npgmusicclub.ocm first version

That's was fantastic at that time, and very pro! Not that cheap! I already regret the flashy previous site!
Guess Prince will get a real 2003 manager to kick his ass!
If Prince needs a real webdesigner, he can surf on: www.calhoune-square.fr
www.pureviolet.org
www.housequake.com
www.cybersingle.com

Dear Mr Webdesigner.

Why didn't you compress the graphics for the Web?

Sincerely

(design student. Even us students know this..lol!)

Lleena x

LMAO!! For real!!

And all the Prince-fans saying how great the site is - lesson number ONE in webdesign is ease of navigation.

It looks pretty, but ease of navigation is AWFUL!! :LOL:

[Edited. Ian]

I like the site... I am just having difficulty loading it..I shouldn't be getting ANY black screens..but that's all I am getting. The navigation is interesting..if the graphics were not so heavy. I am digging the rugs and furnishings!

Call me what you want, but I've had no problems with the navigation on the new site. And it looks quite nice too.

VelvetSplash said:

The savvy don't need navigational instructions. I learned my way around in less than 10 min. and I love the site. P.S. I'm hetero. Thank you very much.

jtgillia said:

Come on now, stop being silly - how can you NOT have had any problems with the navigation? The navigation links are not laballed AT ALL - not labelled, and the navigation links, besides not even telling you where they are going, do not even present themselves in the design - the only way to find them is by running your cursor over the whole layout to findout where they are - that is a terrible design.

DeVaniti said:

I'm savvy hun, I'm a web-designer by trade, so let me tell you, the navigation of this site (especially since it's commerce) is dreadful.

And the remark about you being herero??? WTF was THAT about??!!!

DeVaniti said:[quote]

VelvetSplash said:

Come on how can the navigation be fine? It's fine when you run your mouse cursor over the entire screen to see what is a link and what isn't - but this is 2003, not 1997, the web is no longer a novelty - For commerce, I expect a clear representation, and clear terms and conditions.

[Snipped. Ian]

I like the way it took some thinking about to work my way around. Kind of made it more of an 'aware' experience rather than having it all spoon fed to me.

I guess it is a case of preferences, eh?

Maybe we want different things from the site, that's all.

I don't go there for mystery and intrigue - I go there for the latest music from an artist who's product I like.

Therapy said:

Exactly...some just lack the imagination to appreciate it for the adventure that it is...Oh well...I certainly enjoy myself...when I'm there...as I'm sure more do than don't.
[This message was edited Sun Apr 20 15:50:41 PDT 2003 by DeVaniti]

Therapy said:

oh you guys get on my tits.

Ah well, these things happen. I'd definitely say that the new NPGMC site was designed by graphic artist types and not by web designers. It takes far too many clicks to get from A to B... They'll probably figure that out eventually and do a more "lo-fi" version. All-flash websites are just impractical.

Anyway ultimately Prince is no expert in web design himself I'd imagine - all he can do is trust the people around him. The whole "virtual house" with clickable hotspots etc... it's a nightmare from a web design point of view, but for a non-techy guy like Prince it obviously looks a lot cooler with all the flashy graphics etc, so I'm not surprised they went for this style. From the look of the new site, I'd say it'll take a lot of work to sustain it, keep it updated etc. That'll all cost money... I have to believe that NPGMC is operating on a loss. Still, it's cool that Prince still wants to do it, I guess it's his baby... shows that he is committed to the idea of distributing his music like this.

Overall the site has obvious areas that are unfinished... parts of the site still need a lick of paint, and the look and feel of the site is inconsistent. But these things will be fixed in time I'm sure. It's a nice change from the old site (which I quite liked anyway) and all the exploring is fun... although in time people will know where everything is and not bother exploring anymore.

If they can keep the site updated frequently, provide new things for people to find around the house and things to make them come back regularly to explore, it'll be a lot of fun. Like an episodic version of the Interactive CDROM.

It'll be a learning experience for them... especially running the chat and the forums, they've never provided that sort of service before (which is why sites like Prince.org and others came along to fill the gap).

So far, it looks cool and I've no complaints. The message they sent to everyone regarding the early problems they had was a nice touch. That kind of honesty is appreciated more than the constantly unhelpful cryptic Princebonic messages we used to get from the old NPGMC....

you can set the ammount of memory the npgmc will use on your computer, so if you give it more, it'll load faster the next time you open the site because most files will be in your temp internet files already.

This is not a site put up for normal commerce, its too form a stronger prince cult!

and I'm a designer too... and they're a dime a dozen... just like lawyers...

UPDATE?
… What about the HTML version: it's impossible or very very heavy and boring to update both flash and html websites in the same time. Can't even understand this html version. Does prince think about his fans lost in the countryside of west india? So why heavy loading pictures?

Prince never had chats and forums? You missed loveforoneanother and npgmc.com previous version…


The only good new (not an artisitic one) is the member fee. 25 dollars. Sure any fan has good reason to become a member… if the site doesn't freeze oneday and get a better navigation. But when?
I must admit that I am VERY DISAPOINTED about this actual site and wish it will change or improve very soon, so I will be proudly able to show it to friends. (u know, you prefer to show the SOTT video rather than Grafitty Bridge…)

In addiction, I was choked 2 see that the "join" page did not show any secure sign for paymment…

ufoclub said:[quote]This is not a site put up for normal commerce, its too form a stronger prince cult!

and I'm a designer too... and they're a dime a dozen... just like lawyers...


That may be true, but since I actually "own", and not work for my company, I have a vested interest in knowing what works and what doesn't for my clients also I stay on top of the current trends and for the most part the site is imaginative with endless possibilities, the way I'm sure Prince intended it to be.
[This message was edited Sun Apr 20 16:45:09 PDT 2003 by DeVaniti]
[This message was edited Sun Apr 20 17:01:03 PDT 2003 by DeVaniti]

VelvetSplash said:

[This message was edited Sun Apr 20 17:09:22 PDT 2003 by Lleena]

TheP said:

yeah, forget the fact that there's zero content on the website... and that the $25 is to cover the costs it took prince to pay the graphics designer... and that you aren't getting anything else for the $25 (unless you're going to the celebration this year, assuming their is one.)

you want me to send $25 unsecurely over the net? try again.

suomynona said:

somebody loan the man $25...hehheh...



sure seem to know a lot about it for somebody that didn't join...

To those of you who complained for the site to come, and it finally did! Now you complain about the way it is set up, and the problems to it. Get a grip for Prince just shuts the site totally down!

Moaning bastards!

ian said:

Very nicely stated. Balance, critical thinking and fairness all in one post.

This thread is giving me a headache..

I don't have a fast internet connection so the site loads very slowly, that's all. Other than that i like it.

If this site were designed for any other purpose, I would find the navigation unbearable. But it's a music club site! Not ever website has to be designed like a corporate site/message board/info resource sort of thing. It's exactly the type of site where you can have fun and do something creative and sacrafice some efficiency.

I too have been a web and graphic design student, and I know where some of y'all are coming from, but one thing they aren't good at teaching in school is that breaking the rules is important and appropriate sometimes. In this case, it fosters a sense of fun and discovery. I dig it.

My only complaint, from a creative point of view, is that the look and feel between areas of the site aren't consistent. . .it looks like different people were given different areas to design. It breaks up the sense of exploring a given spaace. But it's not a huge deal.

And, ok, half the features don't work, but I'm willing to give them time on that.

TheP said:

NPGMC hasn't provided chat or forum facilities in previous years. In 2001 and 2002 (the first two years of the club's existence) they never provided such services. So that's quite a change for the site, to become more like a "fan community" like Prince.org and other sites.

L4OA probably had a chat page, but that has nothing to do with NPGMC. NPGMC has never provided chat or forums before now. Long overdue, I reckon

Bambi319 said:

Tits?