Here's you chance to make your voice heard!

[Christian]

I'm in a dilemma and need your input!

The current RBE website is being heavily redesigned to make it a much better customer experience. My designers have confronted me with 3 designs and I decided since it is you guys who visit the site, you should have a say. If you'd find the time to quickly give your feedback, I'd be very grateful...

The 3 designs:
http://www.redbarent.com/rbe-design1.htm
http://www.redbarent.com/rbe-design2.htm
http://www.redbarent.com/rbe-design3.htm

a) I prefer design [1/2/3] :
B) I like the 'Red Baron Entertainment' writing on design [1/2/3] :
c) I like the logo (plane vs FSX) from design [1/2/3] :
d) I like the top part of the page using design [1/2/3] :
e) I like the bottom part of the page using design [1/2/3] :
f) I like the slogan 'Flight Sim eXperience' over 'Flight Sim Xtreme' [yes/no] :
g) I like the slogan 'Making your flight simulator really fly' more than 'the world's best flight simulator scenery' [yes/no] :
h) changes, changes, I like the present site (www.redbarent.com) best [yes/no]:

Any further comments/opinions are of course welcome!

Thanks for taking your time to supply this input. It's really appreciated and will have an impact on how your future RBE web experience is going to look like!

Thanks,
Christian

[Zöltuger]

I prefer design" 3
I like the slogan 'Flight Sim eXperience' over 'Flight Sim Xtreme': yes
I like the slogan 'Making your flight simulator really fly' more than 'the world's best flight simulator scenery': yes
i like the changes

for me, its a choice between 2 and 3. i like 3 the most, because its really crisp, but 2 is good because its original and probably easier to navigate.

[squirrel350]

I prefer design" 3
I like the slogan 'Flight Sim eXperience' over 'Flight Sim Xtreme': yes
I like the slogan 'Making your flight simulator really fly' more than 'the world's best flight simulator scenery': yes
i like the changes

I agree 3 was the better design that I prefered

[steelsporran]

a 3
B) 3
c 3
d 3
e 1
f yes
g no #

1 Like the screenshots in design 1 and think there should definitely be a place for your current slideshow.
2 How about giving the red biplane the third wing?

[toprob]

I actually prefer #1, the other 2 are quite derivative and 'corporate', which is a good way to establish yourself on the web but I don't really think you need it -- can't think what they remind me of, Geographx maybe?
I'd like to see your branding based on something really Red Baronesque -- maybe a war-comic look, you know the sort of thing, black and red ink on old newsprint, screened at about 3 dots per inch:)
This would allow a very distinctive logo. I wouldn't even look at a web design until I've settled on a logo and branding.

[ZK-MAT]

1 & 2 won't load for me on IE or Firefox

3 loaded but took a while, I notice that the main banner and the thumbnails of the scenery produts are 160kbs each. Thats 640 kbs of images to load, which is a bit big for a front page of a website in my opinion. I do like the layout of 3 though.

Edit: Tried again and they loaded .... sigh, I swear I tried a dozen times before posting!! Anyway, I like number one the best now

[HardCorePawn]

a) I prefer design 2: But I like blue, and it gives it that 'Sky' feel Although I do agree with steelsporan... might want to give Mr Baron his third wing

b ) I like the 'Red Baron Entertainment' writing on design 3: I just think its a better font, and it makes REDBARON stand out more

c) I like the logo (plane vs FSX) from design 2&3: but again, he really needs the third wing

d) I like the top part of the page using design 2:

e) I like the bottom part of the page using design 2:

f) I like the slogan 'Flight Sim eXperience' over 'Flight Sim Xtreme' [yes] : i am a bit of 'Xtreme'... everything is Xtreme these days... my toothpaste, my chocolate bars, my burgers... and lets face it, realistic mountains and scenary are not really Xtreme, they just look cool and really make the flight sim eXperience

g) I like the slogan 'Making your flight simulator really fly' more than 'the world's best flight simulator scenery' [no] : You do scenary. And from what I've seen it IS the worlds best. Besides, technically, your scenary makes my flight sim die, not fly

h) changes, changes, I like the present site (www.redbarent.com) best [no]: I like the new designs better

just my $0.02

regards,
HCP

[Jimmy]

I like number 2 the most, the flightsim eXperaince wins over the flightsim xtreme for me and then there 2 and 3 to pick from but 3 has the munu up away hard to see and 2 is a nicer colour

Just my opinion.
James B)

[Charl]

I agree with toprob about branding, and I'd turn the Junkers so you see the fin.

a) I prefer design [3] :
I like the 'Red Baron Entertainment' writing on design [3] :
c) I like the logo (plane vs FSX) from design [3] :
d) I like the top part of the page using design [2] :
e) I like the bottom part of the page using design [3] :
f) I like the slogan 'Flight Sim eXperience' over 'Flight Sim Xtreme' [yes] :
g) I like the slogan 'Making your flight simulator really fly' more than 'the world's best flight simulator scenery' [yes] :
h) changes, changes, I like the present site (www.redbarent.com) best [yes]:

I actually always liked the look of the present site - it has a noncommercial look which is quite appropriate to the product.

Absolutely just 2c worth B)

[steelsporran]

  Although I do agree with steelsporan... might want to give Mr Baron his third wing

There you go Christian, it's unanimous!

[Christian]

Thanks guys! This has been one valuable excercise. And it confirmed my gut feeling also, which is great...

About the 'third' wing. I tried that early in the logo design and it didn't look any good (logo too cluttered). While the Fokker Tri-plane may be more famous, the Albatross is in my opinion more suitable. It's the first red plane in WWI (Manfred von Richthofen decided one day to paint his Albatross red, which was the birth of the Flying Circus - lots of other Germans started to paint their planes in bright colours afterwards). It's also the plane that Manfred von Richthofen had his most victories in (as far as I know). Finally, he was shot down in the Tri-plane - not a good omen

@ZK-MAT - The website designs were plain jpgs (for ease). The real websites will load a lot better!

@Robin - strangly enough the red/black war comic design also popped into my head. However, I think the popular voice confirms my gut feel: A sleek designer look might feel appropriate to designers, but fact is that 50% of all people like the colour blue (and like a red writing on top). A black/red design probaly attracts younger people, whereas the majority of FS nuts is over 30. I'm certainly not going to argue with my customers And don't worry about the branding. I'm working on that!

I think the dice are cast. I sent my designer your input and I'm sure he'll come up with a crowd pleaser. Many thanks for all the feedback. It certainly has been valuable!

Cheers,
Christian

[Codge]

I agree it's either 2 or 3 for me too but erring towards 2 as it is uncluttered and looks simple. The business school I went to drummed the KISS theory into us!

ZK-MAT, you do seem to have alot of trouble logging onto things.Maybe something in your cache or firewall and are cookies turned on and all those things I can't think of right now?

[Christian]

he, he, read a lot about KISS over the last few weeks... And when it comes to web design it makes a lot of sense too.

Christian

[Codge]

I forgot to mention good on you for your Croc Hunter support. I have been flying around Gt Barrier Reef all week since the shocking news,and now Peter Perfect (Brocky) too.
So I downloaded the new Hamilton Is scenery package too. It will be part of the next VOZ release. It's OK,well quite good actually I have been spoiled by the 20m so when I go overseas I am immediatly disapointed. I suppose the meshes in VOZ are 76m which I used to think were great! Yep you have ruined us!

[ardypilot]

Hi Christian,

You already have my answers via e-mail, but just thought I would add this:

Why not include a link to your part of NZFF for the RBE support forums on the main site?

[Christian]

Hi Trolly

Why not include a link to your part of NZFF for the RBE support forums on the main site?

There already is a link on the support page

Christian

[ardypilot]

Hi Christian,

Just wondering if the red Junkers 52 that is screenshoted (is that a real word?) in your FSX web page design, is available to the public?

[Christian]

Hi Trolly

Do you have the Ju?

The paint was done for me by Chris Brisland (who did an excellent job). I have changed my logos a bit again, so it's not 100% up to date.

I probably should make it available for download - I'm just too busy with other more exciting things. In any case, Chris should give his ok, as he's the author of the skin. Maybe just ask him if he can give you the paint...

Cheers,
Christian