TORDFC Transformation

The Red Dwarf Fan Club's official website undergoes a major revamp - and a change of address.

12 April, 2002

As the internet becomes an increasingly vital part of any fan community, it's hardly surprising that the Official Red Dwarf Fan Club are moving with the times. The latest update from Fan Club HQ is the total revamp of their website - right down to the address.

The club's website - which you'll now find at www.reddwarffanclub.com - has all the features that made the original so successful, plus a whole load more. Reddwarf.co.uk spoke to website co-ordinator and Dimension Jump host Den, fresh from the latest Red Dwarf Weekend in Coventry:

"I had an absolute blast at DJ this year. There were no last-minute disasters, plain sailing all along. All the cast who turned up were brilliant, as usual. All the fans loved it. The feedback has been terrific. I'm completely thrilled. But, indeed, I still need to catch up on four days' worth of sleep. Thank God for ProPlus!"

How did the website transformation come about? "I think the transformation has been long overdue. Following feedback from some of the site users we decided to go the whole hog and re-design. The site has been developed by myself and web designer Paul Gannon, who came up with the concept, design and all the technical wizardry. We've basically gone for a really fresh, minimalist look. Everything that was there on the old site has been kept, but much of it has been tidied up so it's easier to find and better designed."

"On the public site, the whole content has been updated to best promote the club. We felt it was necessary to streamline both the main public site and the members only pages, BTLi, to make give them the same look and feel. The premise behind BTLi is interaction. The most popular sections of our site have always been the forums and the chat rooms, so we've elaborated on that by making them the centrepieces."

So what's been changed and added? "The major addition is a six-month tournament to find the biggest Red Dwarf Mastermind. Club members will have the chance to compete against each other in quizzes, and everyone will be able to choose a specialist subject as well. There'll be heats, semi and grand finals, the overall winner becoming TORDFC Mastermind 2002!"

"We're also reviving 'SmegChat', our monthly chat parties. The main premise behind BTLi is interaction; we've built up a brilliant and expanding community online and its great to offer the chat service for them to get together and natter away about everything to do with their favourite show. We set fixed times and dates for chat parties so we can make sure we're all chatting at the same time. Sometimes we set a discussion topic, sometime we just let the chat take its course. Whatever we talk about, everyone always has a great time!

Users are also given the opportunity to get their own 'SmegMail' account, an e-mail account where their address will be username@reddwarffanclub.com. The new Fan Club site launched last week - members of the club can enter the BTLi section by using codes published in the latest issue of Better Than Life magazine.

You can link to the site from our Links section. Remember, only Fan Club members can access the mass of features on BTLi - you can grab an application form on their site, or from the Officers' Club.