Site redesign: What would you like changed in the reviews section? Discuss

[sothis]

I'm going to be re-coding/structuring/designing most of the site, and need suggestions. I was going to write a usability study but have never finished it, so I figured I'd just write a bunch of announcements instead and hope you guys fill it out. I'll break it down by section. This one is related to the reviews section.

I'd like more people to be aware of the reviews section (http://www.anime-planet.com/reviews) and to read them. So, I’m interested in hearing the things you like and dislike about the section.

Here are the things I plan on changing:

1. The format is going bye bye. I’m nervous about this because I do want the points in the current format to be mandatory, but at the same time, only a handful of people post formal reviews anyways. I know these folks will be sure to cover each of the points (story, music, animation, etc) in their reviews even if the format goes away.
2. Partial reviews will be allowed/added. So, if a series is new and one of the reviewers wants to add something anyways, they can. There will be fairly strict rules on this… for example, if a series is completed, the partial review will be deleted after a short period of time. A full review can be added in its place. I think this will be good, as well, for me... I watch and add so many rare things to the AniRec, and would like to give an overall idea of what the series is about and if I enjoyed it. I figured this might help bring attention to rare gems that could be subbed someday. Please note that I’ll be making it very clear a review is partial when it’s added.

Things I’d like to address:

Is there anything you really like seeing in other review sites that Anime-Planet doesn’t have? I know everyone wants screenshots, but this is a hard one. So many people find the review pages from the web, and I want them to realize that the AniRec page has screenshots, the helpful info section, and more. I feel like if I just put the same screenshots in the review, they wouldn’t NEED to go to the AniRec entry, and thus, they wouldn’t go there. Also, the site uses an enormous amount of bandwidth and reusing the screens will just make it worse. So, what I think I might do is only put two screenshots, let’s say, in the review. I might allow funny captions for the pictures. Or, maybe I’d do something like say “For more screenshots, check out the AniRec entry” and have it link there? Do you guys have any ideas?

What else would you like in the reviews? Is there anything that would make you want to read them more?

Also, how about the DVD reviews? Do you guys read them? Anything you’d like in them that would make you want to read them? I don’t really like DVD reviews, myself… we just do them for ADV so we have to have a section ^_^. I’ve been thinking about making them more visible and such, or maybe linking them somehow from the reviews list? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance… I need all of your help so I can make the site much better than before!

[DS AP]

i thik that thier should be a link for screeanshots that would point to the anirec entry (anyway to make it show the screenshots AND the entry at the same time when that link is pushed)

honestly though i liked the idea of seperate formal reviews and just reviews made by the geneal rabble though

[tardo]

i had a rather amusing idea pop up in my head. how about an anime-planet 'critics panel'. you know, like for regular hollywood movies we have "robert & epert give it two thumbs up" and "chicago times says fabulous" and stuff like that. we could have select AP members in a panel making one-line comments. e.g.

Shinji: "<3 <3 <3"
Masakari: "Great"
Tellu: "WTF is this shit!?"
Sothis: "God dammit, another harem show"

and well, the list goes on :p

[sothis]

honestly though i liked the idea of seperate formal reviews and just reviews made by the geneal rabble though

it still will be seperated :) i'm just talking about the new format of the formal section

[CodeWordChobits]

I don't think that more than one screen shot would be necessary, if you pick out a good picture then it should drive people to want to check out the rest at the Anirec. And if you link it right from the screen then there is no excuse not to check it out. =)

[sothis]

yeah, probably what i'd do is have the pictures be links AND have a "click here" link in the captions. most captions are boring but i know there have been some rare things i've seen where i would have LOVED to make funny captions, so it might be an option. the thing is though, i don't know if i'd want to have a choice of pictures or just pull the first two from the anirec entry by default...

tardo's idea is fairly amusing, though i'm not sure who i'd choose to do such a thing.. in addition, it would depend on if enough people have seen the show in question.

the one thing i know is that i definitely don't want to give up the formal reviews section, so i'm not sure how i'd seperate them... i think, how it is already, people get confused as to why there are sections both on the site and here in the forum... so adding a third section might REALLY confuse them :)

ideas?

hmm... well... hmm... if you have the review section up for everyone you could break down the catorgies you want them to review in different text boxes like:

Music: (text box for what they'll write how good or bad the music is)
Animation: (text box for animation qualty)
Story: (text box for what the story is about)
Overall: (text box for overall of the anime)

Of course you could add more or little that you want and then when they click submit it'll automactly combind them with each catorgery that you set... Then again, it's up to you how you want to program this.

Just my 2 cents

Oh... btw... you could also put a little section on who's subbing it and/or licensed it, that is if you want to go a little further.

[sothis]

well it already is set up like that :)

but, if people want to write a more flowing review without sections, it wouldn't work to have it set up like it is now..

[DistMan]

I'm gonna be a bit boring here by saying that it's quite alright as it is.
But I will comment on the format.

I think it's a matter about styles basically but a format which I've rather fond of is the one which is used over at animeondvd.com where you simply have a "content" + summary. But those reviews doesn't really go into detail about soundtrack, animation and all that. They do mention it, but only very briefly

Another idea could be like with anidb where you have a small 1/10 scale where you grade aniamtion, story characters etc then you write freely (content+summary)


Not helping much here I know, I'm just brainstorming

[ralphp2]

Originally Posted by DistMan

Not helping much here I know, I'm just brainstorming

At least you can work up a storm. Over the last week, I'm afraid a "brain dew" would have been too much effort B)

RwP