This issue's headlines:

Website Spotlight - CreatureSPACE
Desert Realm News - Add search to your site
Web Design Tip of the Month: Movement - Use Sparingly
Related Links
Newsletter Info

CreatureSPACE
http://www.creaturespace.com

Although CreatureSPACE's main aim is to promote firstly its art, and then the artist, it does have a more meaningful purpose. The whole site is about opinion, even the art.

The design emphasizes that events taking place around us influence fantasy and science fiction, in particular that fantasy and science fiction are not in a void; Politics, social & environmental issues, even the people we meet on the street all influence it.

The design is derived from a piece of experimental art called 'metamorphosis'. The clash of a clean white layout and the rough rendering of the train and text creates a sense of incompleteness, and of motion.

If a visitor only goes away with one idea, it may be to re-think what fantasy and science fiction is, and where it fits into the bigger picture.

Utilize the Power of Search

Give your visitors one more reason to come back to your website by providing them with the ability to search for other fantasy and sci-fi websites.

This feature was added on October 8th.

For more info, please visit:
http://www.desertrealm.com/addsearch.php

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Forum

The forum is growing in popularity. Several new sections have been added such as a place to post art, and the play-by-post roleplaying game is underway with several active players.

There are currently 62 members and approximately 2000 posts.

For more info, please visit:
http://www.desertrealm.com/forum

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Featured Links

There are currently 19 links in the Featured Links Section. This has been going for about a month now and I'm very pleased with the websites listed.

The best are listed at:
http://www.desertrealm.com/top5.php

TV, Radio, Billboards, Buses, Park Benches, Signs, Mailboxes, Blimps, Airplanes, Cars, Bumper Stickers, and Adopt-a-freeway signs are all are trying to get our attention. We're bombarded by ads wherever we go, no matter what we do. It's a necessary virus. We accept that it is needed to keep commerce flowing so that we have jobs to make a few dollars.

All ads have one thing in common: They want to get our attention. The problem lies when they got our attention, we read what they had to say, and are now ready to move on.

For a webpage, getting attention usually means movement: Flash, DHTML, JavaScript, or Animated GIFs. While this is fine, it should stop moving after the first iteration and only move after that when the user does something such as a mouse-over or clicking a button. If the person is interested in it, they will proceed with what is intended the first time. On the other hand, if they are trying to do something else, all it will do is annoy them.

There are many more subtle ways to get somebody to read what you want them to. Color, layout, font sizes, and static graphics can be more effective when used right.

For example, on the main page of http://www.desertrealm.com the layout was set up so most people look at the words "Desert Realm" on top of the castle first, then follow the arrow-like graphic with the text "www.desertrealm.com" to the monk image. Then their eyes follow the arrow with the headline "Your portal to Fantasy and Sci-fi" back to the main navigation buttons. After that the circular graphic points their eyes down to the rest of the navigation.

This allows most visitors to skim across the main points of the website while allowing them the freedom to view anything they want without annoying distractions.

The reason that most people follow this order is because each item has a different visual weight to it. The words "Desert Realm" is the largest and brightest text on the page which gives it the most weight. Each main anchor point is smaller than the last which forms a subconscious linear path for the eyes to follow.

The next time you want to get somebody's attention, consider using different techniques to achieve the same or better results.

The Desert Realm Fantasy and Sci-Fi Home Page
http://www.desertrealm.com

Add your website to the search engine and featured link section:
http://www.desertrealm.com/content.php?contentId=68

The Desert Realm Forum (discuss this newsletter or many other topics)
http://www.desertrealm.com/forum/

Add Search to your website
http://www.desertrealm.com/addsearch.php

Contact Me
http://www.desertrealm.com/content.php?contentId=49

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http://www.desertrealm.com/news.php