Doctor Who Figures Online

Doctor Who Figures Online (http://www.drwhofigures.co.uk) is a large website centred around the Doctor Who (new and classic) and Sarah Jane Adventures 5” action figures produced by Character Options, as well as the 5” Torchwood action figures produced by scificollector.co.uk

Updated every day the website boasts more action figures content than any other and visitor numbers and ratings rise every Month. Strong connections with Character Options and scificollector.co.uk, as well as ones with influential action figure collectors mean that the website has become the best place for figure news for hundreds of collectors and fans.

Run largely by fan and collector Sebastian Hamilton, who writes reviews on each individual figure, much content is sent in by users as well.

Main site and Forum
The site launched on 10th May 2007 under the domain www.themasterweb.co.uk/figures. The content ranged from action figure collection galleries to reviews on most action figures available at the time. It was in a very basic state and webmaster Sebastian Hamilton called upon users to help improve it.

Over the weeks and Months following things improved dramatically with the notable addition of games, more pictures, and the ‘'upcoming figures'’ page with all the information on where to get the figures.

During November the Doctor Who Figures Online Forum was set up for conversation centred around the action figures.

Over the advent period of December 2007 a special advent calendar was set up with a new figure appearing behind the number each day, whereupon clicking it took you to that figures new review.

On January 1st 2008 Sebastian released plans and hinted at a big future for the website. This was followed up on March 1st when the ‘figure capsule’ scheme was introduced and the whole website had a revamp. The figure capsule scheme awarded individual pages to each figure containing pictures, reviews and information. A complete checklist was also set up listing every release and re-release alongside variations.

Following on from this two Months later Sebastian upgraded the design of the website, reshaping the page and using new banners and images to create a better look. These changes, and the fact that the site was updated every day lead to visitor ratings soaring over 200% what they had been just three Months before.

The future of Doctor Who Figures Online has been described by Sebastian as "making sure the website still provides the users with the best content possible, as well as improving visitor ratings even more. These visitors should in turn leak into the forum, already a popular place with many friendly, eager posters and a dedicated moderating team.".

Fanzine
The Doctor Who Figures Online Fanzine is released every four weeks and covers the news from the previous weeks, often with bonus information not yet released, in a new online magazine format with exclusive pictures.

Since edition 3 special feature articles have been included looking at life as a figure collector in detail.

It is free to read and attracts thousands of hits.

Timeslip

In January 2008 Sebastian launched his Timeslip comic series to much interest on the website.

The setting of the comic takes the reader back to the 2005 episode Rose, asking what would have happened if the Doctor had arrived one minute earlier and saved Chief Electrician HP Wilson rather than Rose Tyler.

Since then the series has expanded to pictures and more special extras. Sebastian says “Future comics will see new planets and horizons but also stay true to the original series, some stories may have the same basic plot at heart but by taking things from a new angle this could prove even more interesting for Doctor Who fans.” He added, “Expect new friends and foes, as well as some unexpected blasts from the past.”.

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