Retro coding

Odd client... wants a 1990s look

[tangor]

Seriously, do have a client that wants to emulate a 1990's look.

Sadly there's no 1990's music that fits. Pumping Blood, Sweat and Tears (with sub woofer turned up) while coding to have the mind frame of that era (I was there, remember that, both 70s, my "youth", and the 1990's coding "early" web sites. And the love was (Musically) that earlier time....

Everything new has been tossed out for this project. This is a table based site with inner tables and all that happy krap we thought deprecated. I guess some of us old pharts still have a reason to code....

If the client wants it, of course.

Aside: There is a reason for the attempt and if they can pull it off, will be "rad retro". As one of the officers in the client says: "The old stuff hits better than the new."

Don't know if that is true, but they have spent upwards of multiple thousands in research and gone through two other "coders" to get what they want. The "younger guys" just can't get there.

There might be something to this. Meanwhile, I'm the lead, having fun, and listening to David Clayton, too. Can't get much better than that! (the rest of the band too! Met Bobby Columby in an airport 1972)

[topr8]

emulating a 90's look and using actual 90's code are two different things.

[tangor]

Actual 90's code. I was there, one of those been there done that kind of thing. :)

I loved table layout (still do to this day) but have moved on to CSS and fluid and all that other stuff. RWD, too.

But I have never forgotten where I came from.... 1980s BBS sites, well before there was a "web". That puts me in the "older than dirt" category.

[topr8]

tables were/are a form of fluid layout anyway.
i think the main difference between then and now is the speed of the end user's connection, shaving another couple of k off image files etc just doesn't seem so important today (i still do it though!)
sounds like an interesting project tangor, have fun with it!

[incrediBILL]

You can build a retro look without using retro coding methods

Considering that the search engines don't consider table layouts a mobile template, this is just stupid unless the client doesn't care about mobile, which is dumber yet.

They can do all the research they want but I've never heard anyone say "gee, I'd love to use those crappy hard to use sites of the 90s that didn't do squat".

FWIW, I'm not sure a 100% 90s site would pass muster today because of the requirements for handicap accessibility, etc.

I'd let them do whatever the hell they want but I'd get a waiver that stated you have informed the client of the folly of his ways and the fact that the site may not rank, esp. for mobile, and may not meet modern usability standards. As long as they sigh away all liability for doing stupid stuff, the pay is the same.

Just make sure the check clears the bank before you waste too much time as I too once had a wackadoodle client that didn't listen to squat and his sales, as I predicted, went right down the toilet before the project was completed. The last check ... ah well....

[LifeinAsia]

Sadly there's no 1990's music that fits.

Beck's "Loser" seems fairly apt.

[Hoople]

Don't forget the Comic Sans font at 72 point size, multiple H1's, a scroll length that just keeps going and going and going....Some text that blinks and a sound that starts immediately <G>. Marquise are an nice touch too.

Color style the scroll bar too. Might want to put it in a frameset for extra thrill. Java script menus that close before you can click on the first try are fun too <EG>.

The original Front Page web editor (before MS started changing it) can be found on the Internet Explorer 3 CD if you still have one.

[not2easy]

Don't forget the GuestBook and the well padded stats widget. Lots of gifs, blinking at various frequencies if possible. See if you can find an old "Best Viewed on Netscape 800x600" too.

[tangor]

Grins! Thanks guys!

Actually, this is coded to 320x200 and 640x480 and then ... the surprise! Can't say more, but it is a clever idea and I'm on board!

[LifeinAsia]

And of course, you need the "Under Construction" animated gif!

[Hoople]

And the 'created by' icon for the web editing program in use.

A 'country visited by' stats is a bit late 90's but would give some color (flags) too.

A link (around it's icon) for them to download your choice of the 'best viewed with' web browser.

[tangor]

You guys forgot all the "award" images and their links, too. :)

Project is done (seven pages total, all a transition from A to G) to get to the meat of the site. And, despite what iBill said, there's no substitute for the real thing. :) (And all tests fine with mobile, too, certainly coded small enough to fit!) I've marked this thread for an update when the site rolls out. It is a hoot!

[londrum]

I know of a beatles website that has pretty much everything everybody has mentioned — blocky animated gifs, guestbooks, a links page, counters, frames, tables.
I hope the mods don't mind the link, because its a good bit of 'research'
[jpgr.co.uk...]

It looks like it is still being updated too!

[tangor]

A hoot, londrum! My "retro" pages are ever worse. :) And there is a reason, three clicks and you are there kind of thing. Think Steve Wright and a product to sell.