Flash Ads

[Michael Morris]

A lot of sites these days use Macromedia Flash to do their ads. This is because a properly done flash file can have a better visual impact than an animated GIF and can even be smaller - plus the ads can be set to rotate even if the page isn't reloaded.

Our current ads are JAVAscript based or static as demanded by the browser (Post Nuke & VBulletin makes this determination).

Javascript can be used to query the browser to determine if the browser is equipped with the Flash plug in (most are these days). If this condition evaluates to try then the plug is loaded.

The question then is this: is there sufficient interest in this to go to the trouble to implement it?

 

[LightPhoenix]

A lot of sites these days use Macromedia Flash to do their ads. This is because a properly done flash file can have a better visual impact than an animated GIF and can even be smaller - plus the ads can be set to rotate even if the page isn't reloaded.

The question then is this: is there sufficient interest in this to go to the trouble to implement it?

Well, since my primary interest is in the size of the front page, and loading times and speed and whatnot, I'm generally in favor for it. But, I do have a few questions, that hopefully you could answer.

One, you state that a properly done Flash file can be smaller. That implies to me that they may not be in all cases. Who's responsible for getting the file down to size, the ENWorld staff or the advertiser?

Two, and on a related note, who will be making the Flash files in the first place?

Three, I really like the idea of rotating ads, and I think the advertisers will too. How often would it have to reload new Flash files? Every time it switches to a new one, right? Preloading doesn't seem to be an option to me, since that will increase the amount of stuff downloaded by the user when the page is first loaded.

 

[Michael Morris]

Well, since my primary interest is in the size of the front page, and loading times and speed and whatnot, I'm generally in favor for it. But, I do have a few questions, that hopefully you could answer.

One, you state that a properly done Flash file can be smaller. That implies to me that they may not be in all cases. Who's responsible for getting the file down to size, the ENWorld staff or the advertiser?

We would probably need to set a cap on the file size and prohibit ads with sound (most large flash files are large because of sound).

And you are correct, flash files can get into the megabytes in size.

Two, and on a related note, who will be making the Flash files in the first place?

I'm willing to build the loader and the control software for free, but I'm not too keen on preparing the ads for free as it takes about 1 hour / second of animation to do a flash file, and often longer - depending on the frame rate.

Three, I really like the idea of rotating ads, and I think the advertisers will too. How often would it have to reload new Flash files? Every time it switches to a new one, right? Preloading doesn't seem to be an option to me, since that will increase the amount of stuff downloaded by the user when the page is first loaded.

Flash is pretty smart. It can determine the connection speed and time its preloads accordingly. Typically a flash control file will wait for the browser to finish acquiring images before loading it's daughter movies. This is why when you visit flash sites the flash parts are the last part to get up and going.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Flash is pretty smart. It can determine the connection speed and time its preloads accordingly. Typically a flash control file will wait for the browser to finish acquiring images before loading it's daughter movies. This is why when you visit flash sites the flash parts are the last part to get up and going.

Cool. I have absolutely no experience with Flash aside from seeing it in action, so that's good to know.

 

[Mercule]

We would probably need to set a cap on the file size and prohibit ads with sound (most large flash files are large because of sound).

Technical reasons aside, I just find sounds that load unbidden to be annoying on the web. Avoid them, please.

 

[Michael Morris]

Technical reasons aside, I just find sounds that load unbidden to be annoying on the web. Avoid them, please.

Agreed. Especially when they are MIDI's, cause people tend to choose the most god-awful midis for sites :\

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

My questions is rather or not they’re going to take up anymore room...

Those ads that pop up in the middle of the screen are too annoying.

 

[Michael Morris]

My questions is rather or not they’re going to take up anymore room...

Those ads that pop up in the middle of the screen are too annoying.

Yes, those are Flash's fault, and God I hate those things. No way will I have any part in bringing THOSE god awful things to this board.

No, what I was thinking about is adding a flash version of the banners we already have.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I couldn't care less one way or the other. I have a cable modem, so size isn't an issue 'till you start pushing a few hundred K, and then I only have to wait a few seconds.

I imagine the dial-up segment might care a bit more than I do for a few scores more kilobytes.

I pretty much filter out ads at this point anyway. If I'm surfing, and theres an image the size and shape of a banner, my eyes don't even bother focusing on it. I know it's not what Morrus wants to hear - he probably would prefer I notice the banners and click on them to support EnWorld, but I honestly don't notice them. It's like I have a banner-blind spot.

If anybody brings pop-up ads to EnWorld, I swear I'll never forgive them. Man, I hate those things.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

If anybody brings pop-up ads to EnWorld, I swear I'll never forgive them. Man, I hate those things.

Forget forgiving... I'm going to rage and kill them when I roll my natural 20.

Michael, thanks for the quick answer, and I'm on dial-up and if their about the same size (psychically and file wise) as they are now I wouldn’t mind a change.

I've clicked on a few ads, but only cause they deal with RPG material.