Fifth Dimension | Interactive Media Solutions

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds website

Client:

ORP

Solution:

Internet / Intranet
Online games
Design

First launched in April, 2005 TWOTW website has exceeded all of the client's expectations with the quantity of visitors, official members and a most exciting and passionate Forum that thrives simply because the fans want it to.

2008 heralded the 30th Anniversary of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds, one of the best known and best selling musical works of all time. (It remains today one of the most consistent best selling albums in the entire Sony/BMG catalogue.) In recognition of this significant milestone, Fifth Dimension was proud to be asked to re-invigorate the website for the eleven-times platinum album.

Some of the key objectives of the site re-launch were:

Support the release of the album with a revised, re-invigorated site
Support the site users, with new user focussed functionality
Provide more information in a cleaner, more user-friendly approach
Update site content and ensure that the new additional content is available and easily found
Offer an in-house ticket experience
Communicate to the site users more easily

The new website was launched at midnight on August 12th, (the date the first cylinder landed on Horsell Common in 1898!) and in addition to existing sections being updated and improved, several new ingredients were added, including:

User generated content
Site community features
A live events section
Historic documents

Transferring the inimitable look and feel of the classic album to the World Wide Web, the website brings the phenomenon into the 21st century, giving fans the chance to interact with each other and many of the people who made TWOTW what it is today. With an online shop for the vast array of TWOTW products, up to the minute news, forums, gallery and a whole host of other features, this is the definitive, official TWOTW website.

Fifth Dimension also acts as TWOTW brand guardian, having developed the official style-guide – a set of brand guidelines that help to keep internal and external communications and products consistent across various media. A consistent visual identity and style also helps aid recognition of the brand amongst its worldwide audience.

What the users said on the forum:

Really great design. Its breathtaking good.
German Martian Fan, Posted 13/08/2008

“Dazzling...I felt a shiver of excitement”
nicki042, Posted 13/08/2008

“WOW,WOW and triple WOW LOVE the new look of the site,its just totally amazing,love the images and the red weed curling round the top corners,like i said WOOOOW”
nicki042, Posted 13/08/2008

“...WOW!
WOW!
WOW!
ZOMFG!”
bagnewauckland, Posted 14/08/2008

“WOW! I think the site was due a good re-vamp and a darn good one its got! Looks like a lotta work been done here.. just off to have a look around!”
potatoprince, 13/08/2008