I remember the first Flash intro that I made back in 1999 for a mom and pop shoe store. I was young and wanted to flex my pixel-pushing design muscles, so I tried to put every design trend, style and tactic, including the “how can I work in this metallic sphere with wrap around text on it?” kitchen sink. Needless to say, it blew. And I didn’t even put a Skip Intro button on it!
Flash splash pages and intros have been known to cut traffic by 50%. Auto-on sound which often accompanies these Flash animations makes them even more dangerous. Below are some intros that are questionable. Do they work for or against the site? I’m not 100% sure. Some of these examples are great-bad and others are bad-bad…you decide, and let me know if you find any other awesomely bad Flash intros lurking around the Internet. Click on the images to go to the site.
Stretch those letter forms:
Use way, way too much lightning. For an added bonus, let the intro play through and hear the rock guitar wail!:
This next one has been on Digg with the headline The Most Intense Web Site Intro Ever.It is intense — some would call it Flashturbation. It seems like lots of churches have heavy flash intro budgets. Is this Religion 3.0? If so, it seems to consist of lightning, woosh sounds and seizure-inducing effects:
God’s flash designer has some other gems in his portfolio. Try this church site, Mime Ministries or check out more laser etching text. One of the intros actually has a “replay” button instead of the “skip intro”.
We get it, the Alps, your name is Alps… but lose the dance music and pixelated spinning earth already:
This is a sweet couple I’m sure, but they need to see the problems with this one:
“What the flash intro did to our site…”
If an intro is short, sweet and subtle, it can be effective in setting a mood. But in case you’re still wondering: “Do I need a flash intro?”
These are amazing but why are so many from churches? Not criticizing … just wondering….
That's a great question, maybe they are focused more on that initial appeal and think that technology and format is the best way to do it? Not sure.
I noticed all those church sites were designed by the same site designer. Go to their site and check out their portfolio for more of the same: http://www.sharperfx.com/portfolio.htm
I think this is a case not so much of churches in general liking this sort of thing (the vast majority of church sites are MUCH simpler) – it seems a few ministries found this designer, who seems to specialize in this sort of thing.
Lolzz
I think you are right, I do not want to be offensive but I guess this is how most of the websites are today. But still flash was a great technology to work on.
Quite informative, Thx
I love Flash Intros… they are so awesome and so 1999.
"Making Flash intros like it's 1999!" in my best Prince impression
And the winner is Seniors Music Ministry. Love the use of quick, red arrows and rectangles.
So crude…so effective
As for the church question, it's probably because they think they may be able to capture younger audiences with awesome music and effects? Because going to church IS just like seeing the Crue you know.
I think you are spot on
however it makes me think, most MTV style culture doesn't look like that though?
I’ve seen way worse than some of these…
Flash intros are just plain dumb anymore. They were cool when the technology was new, but anymore, they’re an eyesore and a detractor. Users want content, not seizures!
Some of the problem, they think that having so much flash stuff is cool, cutting edge, etc… I have been a long time church goer, and found them to be somewhat behind the culture in what is really 'cool'
I liked the MIME Ministries site the best. I didn't know anyone really did mime professionally – thought they just worked on sidewalks in big cities.
Plus that intro reminded me of the old radio spots for a demolition derby and monster truck rally. I kept waiting for "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday….come see Truckzilla and Big Foot"
I love gods flash designer