Name: Alex
Site: Paradise Cloud
Review completed on: 08/06/08

And I'm suddenly wet because...? Surely not due to any kind of excitement, more like the fact that I've inadvertedly dived into a splash page. Wasn't expecting to see one here that's for sure. Such a...a vintage inclusion. Such a pointless one at that.

Why is that, you ask? Well, splash pages are considered nothing but an annoying hindrance to your visitors. An unwanted gateway if you will, an unnecessary obstacle.

Back in the day (we're talking 2003-2004 here) some webmasters used splash pages as a means of providing visitors with any site requirements needed to view their site. Said requirements were complete bollocks most of the time - 'ability to sign guestbook', 'respect', and 'an open mind' to name a mere few. In addition to these there were viewing requirements, such as 1024 x 768 / IE 6+ etc. These days it's a given that peoples' websites should display and function correctly on all resolutions and browsers, so stating these requirements on a splash page is now redundant. Yours merely contains an enter sign, a tagboard, some buttons and an Extreme Tracker. You can so easily store the buttons and the tracker on the main page of your site, and the tagboard in the same area or on a separate page.

The colours used on your tagboard are nice - they go together well. Pity then that they clash horribly with the enter sign and the background, eh?

This useless splash page is better of being removed. Why annoy your visitors when there's no need to?

And now - with more than a little trepidation - I will enter your site.

I'm presented with what I'll politely refer to as an eclectic mix of colours. Your header image is very 'out there', very bold. I quite like it, actually. It's different and it makes a statement. Also, it's heartening to come across a layout that doesn't involve celebrities - I've had it up to here with those believe me.

I'm not too fussed on the font you've chosen for your site title. Some spin off of the Action Jackson font by the looks of it. Yuck. It gives off a 'kiddy' look, which doesn't go with the polished, professional look of your header image design.

Using the Official PSGR Weborexia Ruler (yes, the very same) I discovered that your sidebar is 2.5 centimetres wide on my 1024x768 12 inch laptop monitor. Congratulations, I've been exposed to the Victoria Beckham of sidebars. Your content area is on the skinny side too, but not enough to be classed as weborexic. In case you were wondering, weborexia is a name I gave to describe skinny layouts.

Any reason why you can't make your layout a little wider? While it looks kind of acceptable on 1024x768 and no doubt ideal on the increasingly obsolete 800 x 600, I shudder to imagine how it looks on larger monitors. Monitors are getting bigger and better, and as a result an increasing amount of people are using monitors sized 1280x1024 and above. 1440 x 900 and 1680 x 1050 are also becoming more popular.

Your navigation has been placed in a prominent location and the link size is adequate. How come you haven't specified a hover background colour?

Oh gross, you've included javascript back / home / etc buttons on all of your pages. This is a usability no-no for two main reasons. Firstly, people who have javascript turned off (for whatever reason) will not be able to utilise these buttons. Secondly, you may get visitors to your site who are using browsers that do not support javascript. Besides, you already have a "Home" link on your navigation, plus back, forward, and refresh buttons exist on web browsers. This tacky feature needs to be omitted.

One last niggle before I delve into your content - the "Ignore Please" section of your sidebar. The two links here lead to login pages for Cutenews and Wak's Ask And Answer (an unsafe script by the way). Obviously since you've bothered to whore out these links on your sidebar with an "Ignore Please" header, people are going to do the exact opposite and go a-snoopin'. Why don't you just bookmark these links on your browser instead of including them on your sidebar? Only noobs do the latter.

Visitor

Pixel Adoptables - the page that contains, quote "the cute little images you can't get enough of!" Yeah, I'll say. These are bloody terrific! I liked the kitties and the cameras best, but really I liked everything available here. So creative and cute. If anyone reading this is into adoptable pixels this page is definitely worth checking out.

The Big Pixels page proved to be a disappointing contrast. For starters it only contains one pixel, one of a toaster. While the toast itself may have been pixeled (can hardly see it, no real way of telling) the toaster looks like it's been whipped together quickly with the paint brush tool.

Your Scribbles are quite creative and I liked the majority of them, especially the rainbow. I'm a big time rainbow fan, hehe.

The Hatchlings is an interesting idea. Pity they hatched over a year ago.

Avatars / Icons - 47 items on the one page! Yikes. You could always divide the avatars up and put the remaining half on a separate page, as a means of catering to your visitors on slower connnections.

And now for the Fun sub-section. Fun, eh? We'll see.

The Games Room page consists of a pasted flash application that contains several games. All you've done here is cut and paste a generated code from a games site. How unoriginal, and how appropriate that the Reflex Tester link follows on. *Rolls eyes*

Web Polls - where visitors can participate in polls you're conducting. The current poll asks visitors what their favourite animal is. I voted for cats, naturally.

The Icecreamie Maker has to be the stand out page in this section. How awesome is this? You've created a drag and drop thingy where people can create their own 'icecreamies', using the cones and toppings you've provided. I've never used a drag and drop before, these are alternatively called makers aren't they? I might try and find some more later because I really enjoyed using yours. As you can see I chose to opt for one scoop, with a smattering of rainbow spinkles and a cherry on the top. Good to know that extra scoops were allowed though, lol!

How to speak gibberish was disturbingly detailed and lengthy. Apologies for coming off as a killjoy, but I think saying "how are you today" is much easier than "Ho-the-gow ar-the-gar yo-the-gu to-the-go-da-the-gay?". Ah well, whatever turns you on dude.

APRENDES HABLAR ESPAÑOL - a Spanish Guide in other words. Me interesa! It's so detailed and informative. You've done a smashing job with this and I'm thoroughly impressed. Big thumbs up from me.

Now for some reads. The Quotes section was okaa-y, the Airplane quote was quite naff though. Your Babysitter Tips and Tricks page was original and well thought out - you've listed some very worthwhile tips here. I'm not a babysitter, but I'm quite familiar with the Babysitters Club series by Ann M. Martin. The girls used to bring along 'kid kits' on their sitting jobs, filled with toys and books to entertain the kids with. I see you've covered this too!

Recommended Reading - or, "Some Novel Suggestions to Read". Haha, nice pun from you, made me smile. You've listed some of your favourite books and well as a summary for each. I love pages like this. Your reviews were well written; you've got me interested in a few titles that I'll look for next time I'm at the library.

Site Of The Month - always a popular page with the visitors. How come it's closed until further notice?

Owner

While the collection of pixels stored here is eye catching, I was expecting to find out more about you. I've found out next to nothing, apart from information about your cat Collage, your name which I already know, your favourite animal, and your favourite songs. You've left out so much here! Where are you from? If you're safety conscious, just provide the country. Your age? Your hobbies? Etc?

You've listed a few song titles under My Playlist, but you've neglected to provide the band names next to them. Who are the songs by? I know the artists of Suddenly I See, Help and Here Comes The Sun, but none of the others. Good to see some Beatles tunes in there - Here Comes The Sun is one of my favourite tracks from their Abbey Road record.

I see you've included your own icecreamie here - it looks nice. I'd love an old fashioned ice cream sundae right now, in a cute dish with sprinkles and a cherry on top.

I can't believe this section is over with so soon. What a shame! You really ought to provide some more information here, as it is now the page is way too short.

Website

Site History - reasonably detailed and informative, as it should be. Can't complain here. Just change revampped to revamped on the fifth paragraph of the long version.

Link Me - my my, what cute buttons you have! All the better to link you with m'dear. Just trying to pull some Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood thing, just ignore me, I know in advance that I have failed to amuse you.

Affie Gifts - wow, you have heaps here. Lookin' good.

Tagboard - ah, here it is. You don't need the same one on your splash! You could always link to this page on your sidebar instead of having it on the splash.

Pink Bubblegum - "Hey, I'm Pink Bubblegum! This site is copyrighted by Alex! You may see me around the site! Later ^^". Lol, okay. A cute piece of gum for sure, but what is its purpose? Has Pink Bubblegum been placed on a random page on your site, treasure hunt style? I haven't come across it yet...

Old Site Layouts - an interesting mix of designs here. I really really like version 7, Sunny Skies. It's big, for a start :P

Well that brings me to the end of your review. I leave your site with a smile on my face - I've had fun, I've enjoyed myself. From the outset I was wondering what I'd gotten myself in for, as your splash page did not provide me with a positive first impression. Splash pages never do. Your site doesn't need a useless, bothersome barrier at the beginning. I strongly recommend you get rid of it!

Your layout image was generally pleasing. The design is unique and interesting to look at. However, I had issues with the font you decided to use for your site title as well as the width of your sidebar, and really the width of your layout in general. I really do encourage you to increase the width of your layout, or at least make sure the next layout you put up is wider than your current one.

I had a great time going through your Visitor section which is chock full of cute pixels and interesting, original content. What a pity that an otherwise original section such as this has been tainted by shitastic reflex testers and cut and paste games. Eww, please just get rid of them, they're not doing you or your site any favours. The Owner section also needs an increase in content. You've failed to provide the visitor with any real idea of who you are and what you're about.

Other than that, your site was a pleasure to review and at times I was very impressed. Paradise Cloud can be 100% original once you've removed the questionable content I've mentioned. It won't take much effort to do so, and your site will be all the better for it.