Hooray for standards!

Additionally; peanut butter.

Good for you! Now, if you'd be so kind, please take a moment to ponder the age old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Were you getting complaints about the previous format? Does this new format offer significantly more features? Were people upset because this page didn't load slow enough for them?

A lot of sites are rebuilding their format, and for the most part, they've gotten worse.

We want information, not flashy animation and blinky doodads!

Oh, and that Captcha thing...sometimes it's so hard to read that it takes several tries. It seems better now, but please keep that in mind.

Now you just need to fix your comment system. I frequently load a batch of pages from the RSS feed and get to them whenever I have a moment. This means that there can be a long lag between loading the page and writing a comment. I find that I get "text did not match errors" on old pages. Worse, hitting the back button and typing the new Captcha text doesn't work. I have to copy my comment and reload the page--usually I don't bother. But your system really hit its stride when it said I had posted too many comments lately--it was my first comment in at least 8 hours. I don't know if you are counting all the rejected comments against me, or if your servers are traveling a little too close to the speed of light; but that just isn't cool.

I want even MORE cowbell!

Although a blogger myself, frankly, I enjoyed the old-fashioned nature of SciFi Weekly. Please bring it back.

What's flaming? Is that a dumb question?

Flaming, according to wikipedia: "Flaming is a hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users." Also " flames are angry or insulting messages transmitted by people who have strong feelings about a subject."

Sci-Fi Weekly is gone?

That is most unfortunate. No more letters to the editor... no more toy and game reviews... no more cool site of the week.

That is truly sad.

what you need is a dark background and white letters so this screen is not so BLINDING! please thanks! lol

We're still getting news in roughly the same quantity. It's just coming at a different pace now.

More importantly, this way it'll stay free even in a thrashed economy.

Bring back the straight-up news only format!

Goodbye and thanks for all the fish!

I see you haven't fixed what I consider to be format problems. You DO realize that I have a life and cannot spend every day trying to keep up with the site. I also do not want to waste time going back & forth from the lead pages to follow various stories.

Therefore, it's been swell...I'll really miss you (as you were). Please let me know when you come back to a more readable format. Until then, bye-bye!

Mwah!

i have to say i love the new format - much fresher and more appealing. nice work!

If ur lving comments about why u don't have time to read a site then u clearly have time to read a site

What really needs to go are all those lists. I have nothing against lists per se, as long as they are somehow insightful. Sci Fi Wire's lists to date have all been by writers who think they're somehow cleverer than the celebrity they are critiquing. Cases in point: the list of reasons George Lucas should retire and the reasons Alan Moore should shut up and Watchmen. These two men have done more for the science fiction and fantasy community than Sci Fi Wire will ever do. How many people are now science fiction fans and science fiction creators because of the films of George Lucas? Alan Moore is one of the generation of comics creators who proved that superheroes can be used in serious stories. Without Alan Moore and Frank Miller (to name a few) we wouldn't have movies like Dark Knight, Iron Man, or Watchmen. Who are these snarky kids to tell these legends what to do?

The other problem I have with Sci Fi wire is the shameless promotion of Sci Fi channel productions. Yes, Sci Fi wire is owned by NBC Universal but does that mean every other article has to be about Battlestar Galactica or the Stargate franchise? Yeah they're both on Sci Fi, It's not like we're going to forget.

I liked the old site. You could go from story to story and never have to go back to the home-page. And you could easily catch up by clicking any story, scrolling down and finding where you left off... Oh well, I still like the content, even if the website is harder to navigate...

I miss the book reviews. More specifically the archived list of book reviews. Why, oh why are they gone? The inhumanity of it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not one to throw myself across the tracks when something "new and improved" comes along. I will give anything a chance. Having said that, I am having a hard time with the new format.

The whole blog style thing can be a bit tiresome. It does have advantages, such as showing me stuff I would otherwise not bother to go looking for, some of which is interesting.

If I could suggest an improvement, it would be for a better archive search, so I can find book reviews, movie reviews, movie previews, interviews and so forth in their own categories. I'll grant you, though, that this might defy the purpose of the new format. ;)

You should reconsider posting comments altogether. So much pointless whining from people (and lousy spelling too). Your site is largely fine but it seems some people have nothing better to do then complain about *everything* constantly (and that's just sad). I like the intelligent news and discourse on this (and other) sites but the rabble at the bottom of most pages from these so-called "fans" is embarassing for us all.

The format change has had a major impact on how I read scifi wire. I would download the latest news onto my PDA via AVANTGO and read it during my commute to work. Since the changes nothing. It could be that ensuring to AVANTGO/PDA users did not lose out was not considered a necessary investment; please prove me wrong.

The format change has had a major impact on how I read scifi wire. I would download the latest news onto my PDA via AVANTGO and read it during my commute to work. Since the changes nothing. It could be that ensuring to AVANTGO/PDA users did not lose out was not considered a necessary investment; please prove me wrong.

There's that Change I promised ya!

I HOPE you like it!

President BarryO

Skiffy, I've posted on io9. I know io9, io9 is a friend of mine: Skiffy, you're no io9

I like content very much. Keep up the good work.

I'm trying to accept the changes SciFiWire has made, but one thing is really making me reconsider how regularly I read your page. Spoiler issues from the older format, when about a sentence would show above the cut, are greatly exacerbated by the new format.

SciFiWire seriously needs to get better about following a strict spoiler policy:

- NO spoilers above the cut! [E.g., the BSG plot point you put right up front in "Ron Moore liked this so much, he's going to do it again" is a week old for the US TV audience. However, not everyone in the US gets to watch episodes immediately and international fans won't have the show for a while but can read this page.]

- Saying Spoilers in the headline and leaving them above the cut isn't enough - it's almost impossible to not read text that your eyes skim over.

- When there are spoilers under the cut, mark it when you post. [Readers have had to suggest you put up a spoiler warning via comments when it should be done automatically.]

I've read this page for years, and I'm trying to like the new format, but please consider addressing this issue. Thank you.

I like one aspect of the new format and that is that as an old-fashioned (Luddite?) dialup user the new page(s) actually load within a reasonable time without being bogged down by pre-loading broadband-targeted content I didn't want (and couldn't use) in the first place.

However... I am greatly disappointed by the loss of SciFiWeekly, specifically the quality of the book reviews by Mr. Di Filippo (mondays) and various other reviewers (wednesdays). Regardless of whether I bought any of the books, I enjoyed the writing and the depth of detail in summarising plots, character development, themes, and other related info such as similarity to (or differences from) other works (by the same author or not). They would often provide historical references within the genre hearkening back to past genre works whenever appropriate.

With this new format I have noticed A) a scarcity of any emphasis on actual books (as opposed to movies or TV shows related to original books), and B) that what book reviews there have been appear as if they were written based upon a simple publisher's promotional blurb or press release. They are too brief and do not seem to convey anything of the feel of the story involved.

The new book reviews don't really seem like reviews at all, but ads designed with the intent to promote rather than inform.

Please, if you salvage anything of the old SciFiWeekly, let it be the quality and effort of the old book reviews Without those, this new and improved combination version of your site just doesn't feel all that improved to me. In fact it's something of a step back for me and I find myself viewing any content here less and less.

Personally, I don't want fluff promotional pieces about genre works. I want informational writing---be it praiseful OR critical---based in a knowledge, love, and respect for the overall genre.

Thanks for the opportunity to share this opinion.

Well, I for one like the new format. Before it was all news and only news. Half the news was never any interest to me. Now with the opinion pieces I find myself reading more. It's more entertaining, like some of the other blogs I read. I also appreciate larger pictures (and more of them) Before, an article would have a small thumbnail of whoever the article was about and maybe some links to more pics. This way is much better. One thing I do miss is the list of articles under each article. I was easier to navigate than having to go back to the main screen each time. I also think the new color scheme is much easier on the eyes.

I'd like to see comments removed altogether as the internet doesn't need another place for poorly-educated, semi-illiterate teenagers to be snarky. Yes, there are many commenters who make valid points written with little or no spelling errors, but SciFi wire doesn't need comments at all.

On a visual note, please get rid of the white background. I feel silly wearing sunglasses when I read articles here. I'd also like to see more concise headline listings instead of this larger, real estate hogging format.

What I'm trying to say is what an earlier poster said in a far more succinct manner: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Please just put things back like they were before you, ahem, "improved" the site.

Haven't commented until now. But think your doing a great job with the new look. And continue to be a great source of science fiction and genre news.

I enjoyed the 10 reasons why George Lucas should retire. Thanks for the giggle.

mmmm, peanut butter

I think that this relaunch sucks

Now that the point is clear... you can hug it beotch... :)

PLEASE!!!!! Bring back Scifi Weekly. So much information in such an easy to use site. Scifi Wire seems to much of a mishmash to muddle through to get the news and information I have gotten for years through Scifi Weekly. Please sir, can I have some more?

I miss the old format of Sci Fi Wire, the dry delivery of straight facts without author's opinions or feedback from posters. But I doubt that format is ever coming back so most likely neither am I.

I was very disappointed to see that you do not promote or market or advertise your Original Movie for Sci Fi projects like The Immortal Voyage of Captain Drake.

I saw nothing being done for this movie on your website. What a shame!!

I agree with Doc Quantum. State the news, and keep the snide jibes and opinions to yourself. Every time there is editorializing in your article, you are showing that you are unprofessional and immature. Grow up.

So the nytimes is unprofessional because it editorializes? Great news sources have always editorialed. I say, keep it coming!

"However... I am greatly disappointed by the loss of SciFiWeekly, specifically the quality of the book reviews by Mr. Di Filippo (mondays) and various other reviewers (wednesdays). Regardless of whether I bought any of the books, I enjoyed the writing and the depth of detail in summarising plots, character development, themes, and other related info such as similarity to (or differences from) other works (by the same author or not). They would often provide historical references within the genre hearkening back to past genre works whenever appropriate.

With this new format I have noticed A) a scarcity of any emphasis on actual books (as opposed to movies or TV shows related to original books), and B) that what book reviews there have been appear as if they were written based upon a simple publisher's promotional blurb or press release. They are too brief and do not seem to convey anything of the feel of the story involved.

The new book reviews don't really seem like reviews at all, but ads designed with the intent to promote rather than inform."

I second that. SFW had educated writing that fit those of us with attention spans longer than twenty-two seconds. The kind of writing you see in good magazines. A book review should be a REVIEW, that is an essay on the book, its impact, its inspirations and its quality, not a blurb.

Agree with other posters here; the old Sci-Fi Week format was much easier to navigate.

I miss the book reviews. I cant stand this new review format and I am now looking for another site for sci fi news and reviews. SciFi weekly was to the point and easy to read.

And please delete any comment containing the claim of 'First!" - regardless of other content. The practice is stupid and irritating, and it'd be great if the various sites that allow comments made it known that it's not acceptable.

Oh, also, I'm actively dislking the new layout. It's challenging, if not impossible to find content now. It's just bad. Also, I liked a lot of the old content that seems to have vanshed; but then, maybe it's there, but the layout is so bad I can't find it.

SciFi-Wire is dead. All that's left is this SciFi-Blog that's just pathetic. Boo hooo hooo! People on the internet hurt your feeling.

Have to say I liked the old format better. I really just want news not someone's bloggy opinion of the news.

I used to read scifiwire 2x a day, and then go the forums and then scifi weekly. I've tried it, but I really don't like this new format. It takes too long to find the things I want to read, and too much space is wasted on pictures on comments. Can't find reviews. It's difficult to move around effectively on this site without taking a lot of time that I don't have.

Ok

Okay, great, now we have comment standards. What about bringing back Sci-Fi Wire's *article* standards? You've proved you listen to the people who comment, so why not go a step further?

I am a longtime reader but....
I miss the book, film, etc... reviews. This new format is lacking. We need substance not frivolous adds. Sorry but if things don't change you'll lose quite a few viewers.

Whatever happen to Freedom of Speech?

Whatever happen to Freedom of Speech?

No Book Reviews? Goodbye.

This is way better. Keep it as is. DO NOT GO TO BLACK WITH WHITE TYPE EVER. Just bad Web practice.

Please fix Avantgo SciFi channel- as of January it no longer works.

I miss sci fi weekly, I really don't understand this site, maybe I'm old style but I find it really messy. I want the movie reviews and the book reviews back in a ordered way.

Book Reviews!!!!! I need them. It was just about the only reason I went to the SFW site. Without them, I have no reason to come here.

And not even any archives. Why would you take away valuable content that pretty much available no where else on the web in that depth? Interface is not content! It could be a text file and I'd read it if the information is useful.

I too am missing the reviews and other content from Sci-Fi Weekly. I used to visit every week. It was a great unique site. This SciFi wire place has nothing that interests me. By SciFi.com!

Only 3 Avangto references? Hey SCIFI! I miss your updates on AVANTGO! I can't go to the website at work, so I was using my mobile device to download the news. You've got the iPhone app, how about sharing the love with other PDA users.

add my name to the list..
i liked the previous version of sci fi wire
better then this...

Hey what happened to the little survey polls we had every week? When you switched to this new format the polls went away. I liked those, please bring them back.

I've been reading scifi news on my AVANTGO client for almost six years now. It helped to make my commuting time much more pleasurable. But soon I will remove this channel, because it is too frustrating to check it twice a week only to find out that this @*#! thing is still not working.

You can get Avantgo if you use Create Personal Channel feature and use www.scifiwire.com/news/ as the URL. It takes LOTS of space - at least 2Mb, and 3 link depths.

I received the following from Patrick Lee, News Editor (SCI FI Wire) in early February.

Thanks for your note about the new Sci Fi Wire. We appreciate your feedback and are not only listening, we're also planning to make some changes in the coming weeks based on the e-mail you and our other readers have sent in. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and let us know if you have any other thoughts.

I thanked him for the update and asked him when he thought the changes would come about. I have yet to hear anything back...

Buck Rogers
Space: 1999
Planet of the Apes
Quark
Logan's Run
WITH RESPECT. With the exception of Quark, Which lasted only 8 episodes, the rest of those shows are drek. If you want quality shows from the past try 1st Brirish TV series and TV movies not usually shown on US TV:
The Quatermass Experiment 2006 remake with David [Dr. Who] Tennant)
Survivors (both old & new series)
A For Andromeda
The Andromeda Breakthrough
Day of the Triffids (TV)
Quatermass ll (dated but intriging)
Quatermass and the Pit (Also dated but still holds up)
Quatermass Conclusion
Tripods
Astronauts (SF comedy)
The Airzone Solution (4 Dr. Who actors in 1 show)
Auton, #'s 1, 2 & 3 (Dr. Who spinoffs)
Doomwatch
Invasion (very Quatermass feel)
Plymouth
Space Island One
Space Precinct
Star Cops
Star Maidens (it's drek, but it has that Space:1999 feel)
Don't want British? Try other English speaking countries:
Starhunter (Canada)
Charlie Jade (South Africa)
Welcome to Paradox (Canada)
Mercy Point
Century City
VR.5 (US)
Voyagers(US)
Fantastic Journey (US)
Time Trax (Australia)
Tek War (Australia)
Overdrawn At the Memory Bank PBS-US)
Men Into Space (1950"s scifact based SF)
First Wave
Dark Skies...
and these are just TV related. I could give a list three times as long of GREAT scifi movies from around the world rarely seen in the USlet alone on USTV.

Look, let's be honest - the people who run "SciFi"/"SyFy" are well known for not only not understanding what good science fiction is, they actually HATE science fiction. Why on earth put on "professional" wrestling when there are so many scifi shows just begging to be put on.
And don't start me on things like "Ghost Hunters" & "Caprica". I don't need space battles and aliens, but I do want my intellect challenged by science fiction that is not a soap opera with a minimum of SF overlay.
PLEASE, don't give the suits a chance to pervert the genre any more. Turn off "SyFy" and rent a good SF video. I know I have.

I admit it. I don't like the new name. I still don't. But, I was also absolutely certain that no changes would come with it that I would like.

But apparently I was wrong.

In the last days of SCIFI the SCIFIWIRE Staff saw fit to let loose with what could only be politely summed up as a "Do as we say and not as we do." admonishment with an extremely ill-timed coda of "If you don't like our actions go fly your kites, elswhere."

But apparently, cooler and wiser heads have prevailed as, quite suprisingly, you have deleted yourselves, and a far more tolerant hand now seems to rule the comments.

I note it. And I intend to sing its praises for as long as you can remain even-handed and tolerant - remembering that even readers who don't praise you for every little thing are still readers and their numbers matter too.

Kudos.