Redesign of LordOfTheRings.net

*Emmie* · 03-01-2010, 09:57 PM

A while ago, they had that sort of "splash page" up advertising the blu-ray release, but you could still click through to the old site. It seems as though they've finally put up an entirely new site: http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.htm

On the one hand... I'm sad to see the old site disappear forever. On the other, it was beginning to feel rather dated, and I'm glad it wasn't abandoned completely the way some movie sites are. (I believe I read somewhere that Narnia.com, for instance, was completely unavailable for a period between the last movie and this upcoming one.)

I do think there could have been a lot more information added. It'd have been nice to have more, not less, than was on the original site, and at the moment half the links on the menu are "coming soon."

Lanyare · 03-17-2010, 04:54 PM

You know, it may sound a bit silly, but want to know what I really miss? The actors bidding you welcome at Lord of the Rings.net! Always thought that one of the coolest things about the website, and now they're gone.

*Emmie* · 03-17-2010, 10:07 PM

Oh yeah! I'd actually forgot about that, since the last couple times I visited the old site my speakers were turned off.

I'm not sure how to put this, exactly, but I think the old site (along with the voice thing) very much belonged to the early 2000s - to a time when Internet Explorer 6 and 800x600 screen resolutions and dial-up internet connections were common, and there was no facebook or even myspace and the idea of "web 2.0" sites hadn't been invented yet.

In some ways I get nostalgic for that time - sure, we didn't have anything like streaming HD video, but without these centralized social networking sites a lot of smaller communities sprang up and it almost seems like it was more common for people to create their own fansites back then. Anyway, I didn't mean this to get so long, but my point is that if it was done today I think it would seem dated.

(On the other hand, maybe if the rest of the site was done in a more modern style the recorded "welcome" thing would fit in fine. I'm just thinking aloud here...)

Lanyare · 03-18-2010, 06:30 PM

Hehe, the smaller communities were definitely a lot of fun. That's exactly what I like about forums.
Ah well... Times change. If everything always remained the same, we'd probably all be terribly bored.

MithrilBox · 04-03-2010, 10:02 PM

I liked the actors welcoming you too... really nice addition.

Anyway it looks like their media section is no longer "coming soon" and only three days until the bluray is released! for those who are planning to buy it.

*Emmie* · 04-05-2010, 06:19 AM

I just noticed that as well, though I'm not sure how much use the photos and videos will be.

The way the photos are displayed seems badly designed to me, because the photo becomes part of the page background and the navigation is covering up part of it. And, it's not easy to copy it to your computer if you wanted to save it for some reason. There are better Lord of the Rings image galleries around.

As for the video, well... I suppose it could be a nice addition. But it seems like the vast majority of people viewing the website will have already seen the films by now.

Lanyare · 04-05-2010, 07:13 AM

If I'm really really honest, I liked the old site better, even if it outdated by now. I don't know, this new one seems to have been whipped up in a hurry, almost.

*Emmie* · 04-06-2010, 05:40 AM

So I just realized that you can still get to parts of the old site! For example: http://www.lordoftherings.net/index_cast.html

I do personally like it better too, I think. It was nice and simple and without so much flash. And it was much more impressive for its time than this one is.

Lanyare · 04-06-2010, 05:56 PM

Oooh! And if you click 'HOME' on that link, you actually get to the old welcome page. I just had Peter Jackson himself welcoming me... Awesome!

Hehe, I refreshed and refreshed just for the heck of it, just to hear them all. Did take me a while before I finally heard Viggo, but oohh....
I saved it to my favourites... It's still accessible. Wooooot! Me happy.

If you ask me, the simpleness is exactly one of the things that makes it so appealing.That, and at least it looks and feels like they put work and though, and caring into it.

*Emmie* · 04-07-2010, 07:51 AM

Haha, now that you said that I had to hear Viggo myself, and it did take quite a long time.

It was fun to hear all the others too, though. Like Ian Holm.

I suppose, in a way, it's understandable that more effort was put into the old site. It was created to promote the theatrical releases, which made billions in the box office. The new site was created to promote Blu-Ray/DVD versions, and they won't make nearly as much money. The official Hobbit movie website will probably be much more carefully designed.

Also, if there's anything from the old site that you want to screenshot or download to remember it by, you might want to do that in the near future just in case. I have no idea how long it'll be left up for, and it may not be forever.

03-01-2010, 09:57 PM	#1
Emmie Administrator Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 376	Redesign of LordOfTheRings.net A while ago, they had that sort of "splash page" up advertising the blu-ray release, but you could still click through to the old site. It seems as though they've finally put up an entirely new site: http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.htm On the one hand... I'm sad to see the old site disappear forever. On the other, it was beginning to feel rather dated, and I'm glad it wasn't abandoned completely the way some movie sites are. (I believe I read somewhere that Narnia.com, for instance, was completely unavailable for a period between the last movie and this upcoming one.) I do think there could have been a lot more information added. It'd have been nice to have more, not less, than was on the original site, and at the moment half the links on the menu are "coming soon." __________________ Home is behind, the world ahead; and there are many paths to tread through shadow to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight

03-17-2010, 04:54 PM	#2
Lanyare Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Imladris Posts: 201	You know, it may sound a bit silly, but want to know what I really miss? The actors bidding you welcome at Lord of the Rings.net! Always thought that one of the coolest things about the website, and now they're gone. __________________ All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander, are lost

03-17-2010, 10:07 PM	#3
Emmie Administrator Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 376	Oh yeah! I'd actually forgot about that, since the last couple times I visited the old site my speakers were turned off. I'm not sure how to put this, exactly, but I think the old site (along with the voice thing) very much belonged to the early 2000s - to a time when Internet Explorer 6 and 800x600 screen resolutions and dial-up internet connections were common, and there was no facebook or even myspace and the idea of "web 2.0" sites hadn't been invented yet. In some ways I get nostalgic for that time - sure, we didn't have anything like streaming HD video, but without these centralized social networking sites a lot of smaller communities sprang up and it almost seems like it was more common for people to create their own fansites back then. Anyway, I didn't mean this to get so long, but my point is that if it was done today I think it would seem dated. (On the other hand, maybe if the rest of the site was done in a more modern style the recorded "welcome" thing would fit in fine. I'm just thinking aloud here...) __________________ Home is behind, the world ahead; and there are many paths to tread through shadow to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight

03-18-2010, 06:30 PM	#4
Lanyare Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Imladris Posts: 201	Hehe, the smaller communities were definitely a lot of fun. That's exactly what I like about forums. Ah well... Times change. If everything always remained the same, we'd probably all be terribly bored. __________________ All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander, are lost

04-05-2010, 06:19 AM	#6
Emmie Administrator Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 376	I just noticed that as well, though I'm not sure how much use the photos and videos will be. The way the photos are displayed seems badly designed to me, because the photo becomes part of the page background and the navigation is covering up part of it. And, it's not easy to copy it to your computer if you wanted to save it for some reason. There are better Lord of the Rings image galleries around. As for the video, well... I suppose it could be a nice addition. But it seems like the vast majority of people viewing the website will have already seen the films by now. __________________ Home is behind, the world ahead; and there are many paths to tread through shadow to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight

04-03-2010, 10:02 PM	#5
MithrilBox Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 67	I liked the actors welcoming you too... really nice addition. Anyway it looks like their media section is no longer "coming soon" and only three days until the bluray is released! for those who are planning to buy it.

04-05-2010, 07:13 AM	#7
Lanyare Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Imladris Posts: 201	If I'm really really honest, I liked the old site better, even if it outdated by now. I don't know, this new one seems to have been whipped up in a hurry, almost. __________________ All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander, are lost

04-06-2010, 05:40 AM	#8
Emmie Administrator Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 376	So I just realized that you can still get to parts of the old site! For example: http://www.lordoftherings.net/index_cast.html I do personally like it better too, I think. It was nice and simple and without so much flash. And it was much more impressive for its time than this one is. __________________ Home is behind, the world ahead; and there are many paths to tread through shadow to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight

04-06-2010, 05:56 PM	#9
Lanyare Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Imladris Posts: 201	Oooh! And if you click 'HOME' on that link, you actually get to the old welcome page. I just had Peter Jackson himself welcoming me... Awesome! Hehe, I refreshed and refreshed just for the heck of it, just to hear them all. Did take me a while before I finally heard Viggo, but oohh.... I saved it to my favourites... It's still accessible. Wooooot! Me happy. If you ask me, the simpleness is exactly one of the things that makes it so appealing.That, and at least it looks and feels like they put work and though, and caring into it. __________________ All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander, are lost

04-07-2010, 07:51 AM	#10
Emmie Administrator Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 376	Haha, now that you said that I had to hear Viggo myself, and it did take quite a long time. It was fun to hear all the others too, though. Like Ian Holm. I suppose, in a way, it's understandable that more effort was put into the old site. It was created to promote the theatrical releases, which made billions in the box office. The new site was created to promote Blu-Ray/DVD versions, and they won't make nearly as much money. The official Hobbit movie website will probably be much more carefully designed. Also, if there's anything from the old site that you want to screenshot or download to remember it by, you might want to do that in the near future just in case. I have no idea how long it'll be left up for, and it may not be forever. __________________ Home is behind, the world ahead; and there are many paths to tread through shadow to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight