That's the most awesome error message delivery in the history of error messages.

Posted by: Maurs at December 31, 2004 01:51 AM

Haha! I'm going to do all my error messages like that from now on!!

I am writing a 3D app, so the my error messages will be displayed is awsome 3d text!! Heheh

Posted by: Dr. Evil at December 31, 2004 02:06 AM

I can't seem to open your pictures anymore, Mark. All I get is an empty, black pop-up window when I click.

Posted by: PlantPerson at December 31, 2004 07:30 AM

Is this really broken, or a "Just for Fun"? Did it tell you what the error was? If not, it's broken.

Posted by: Jay at December 31, 2004 09:06 AM

This looks like a server configuration error or something of the sort. In that case, you definitely do not want to let the end user know the precise nature of the error -- because server error messages contain information that reveals the site architecture, and that's a security risk. So, not broken, because it failed very gracefully (and humorously) and provided necessary information (an error occurred) without disclosing too much.

Still, a "contact us" link -- built into the crossword? -- would be helpful here.

Posted by: Chris at December 31, 2004 01:09 PM

I couldn't be mad at an error message like that....context sensitive graphics.....

Posted by: Please Stop Me at December 31, 2004 07:32 PM

The user doesn't have to know the precise nature of the error. However, the image give to us tells me nothing, not even basic informatioin, about the nature of the error. Was it something I did that I need to correct? Is it a temporary glitch that will go away if I refresh the puzzle? Or is it something serious that the techies will have to work on? What should the user do next so he can resume working on the puzzle?

That's all the user needs to know, but you can't tell any of that from the image given.

Posted by: Jay at January 3, 2005 08:52 AM

It's a fun way to deliver an error message, but not quite creative enough. Building on Dr. Evil's comment, I think that it should generate clues and require you to *solve* the crossword puzzle in order to get the error message. ;-)

Posted by: Me at January 10, 2005 04:31 PM

FAKE!!!!

I call shenanagins!!

Posted by: miked at March 22, 2005 09:58 AM