Reviewed: 2009-09-25

Randy Blue

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Excellent Site: 9 out of 10 Videos: Videos rating: 8 Claims: Claims rating: 7
Pictures: Pictures rating: 8 Uniqueness: Uniqueness rating: 8
Site Size: Size rating 10 Navigation: Navigation rating: 10
Updates: Updates rating: 9 Value: Value rating: 9

Click here to visit Randy Blue. Find out more about ratings, read the score criteria.

Videos

672 exclusive videos, newest shown at 960x540 @ 2.05 Mbps, good quality, rest of the videos shown at 640x480 with a 1.04 Mbps bitrate, good amateur quality or better, videos offered with 2 or 3 smaller sizes, videos are downloadable full scenes, to save Flash videos you must install the site's downloader, WMVs use DRM.

Pictures

1143 sets of exclusive digital stills, shown at 768x1024 and 1 smaller size, good amateur quality or better, also 672 sets of exclusive vidcaps at 640x480, slideshows and zoom tools offered, no zip files.

Extras

Weekly live shows plus 145 archived live shows, 115 DVD titles, 2 bonus sites, 17 bonus feeds, 4 ezines, blog.

Issues

DRM is used on downloadable WMVs, Belator video player/downloader must be installed to download Flash vids, bonus sites not available for trial members.

Prices

  • Trial: $19.95 (5 days, non recurring)
  • Monthly: $24.95 (recurring)
  • Monthly: $39.95 (non-recurring)
  • Other: $74.95 (4 months non-recurring)

Click here to visit Randy Blue, or read the full review below for more information:

Randy BlueRandy Blue has been around for a while now, and it's one of our favorite sites here at Gaydemon for many reasons. The variety and quality of the men, the large collection of exclusive content, the frequent regular updates. All the videos here are large and good amateur quality, the pics are also downloadable and good quality. And photographer Randy Blue is at the heart of this site. He's a real person (I've met him several times) who's got an eye for fit horny guys of all types and does photo/video shoots of them in solo and hardcore scenarios.

The Randy Blue member area is intuitive and easy to use, but it's also packed with features and links to updates. Running across the top of the page is the member menu, with links to all the important sections in the site. Next comes the site news followed on the left by the new Live Show menu and on the right by the latest episode. Beneath is the latest video updates, pic updates and live show archives. All updates include the dates they were added, 3 videos and 3 pic sets added each week, and there's a live show every week.

There are 672 videos inside Randy Blue, 323 more than there were 2 years ago. Each video is offered in streaming and downloadable Flash vids and downloadable WMVs. The WMVs are offered in full scenes in 3 sizes, the largest new videos shown at 960x540 @ about 2 Mbps at good quality and the rest of the videos shown at 640x480 with a bitrate of about 1 Mbps at good amateur quality. These look good at their original size and only lose a little quality if you go full screen. The Flash videos are are also available in 3 or 4 sizes, although the newer ones are lower in quality than the WMVs, but since they don't use DRM, you may prefer them.

Randy BlueOne feature you may not be so thrilled about is that Randy Blue uses DRM. It's not intrusive as some sites DRM is - you don't have to input your username and password and hit play over and over and over. Also the license says the videos I downloaded will play for a year and a half, which is better than many, but it still won't play for Mac or Linux users, or those with older versions of Windows Media Player.

The site has are a lot of pic sets - 1143 sets (344 more than 2 years ago) plus each video comes with a set of vidcaps. The digital stills come in 2 sizes, large @ 768x1024 and medium at 640x480 at pretty good quality. Each pic set comes can be browsed as a thumbnailed gallery or as a slideshow, and there is a zoom tool which allows you to click a pic and get closer, seeing details bigger and better. Because Randy Blue is a photographer who is really into the guys he photographs, he catches the action and the models' best looks, and the sets have a good mix of closeups, full body shots and medium shots. The vidcaps are shown in galleries the pics range from 640x480 to 836x470.

The Randy Blue models are a mix of amateurs, guys who were amateurs till they started shooting for Randy Blue and now have some videos under their belts, a few pornstars and semi-pro or pro models. All the guys here are fit, lean and mostly athletic. There are some who are muscular, some twinks - this is a good mix of types of guys overall if you like variety but want well-lit videos with fairly good production values and plenty of action. The Randy Blue model index allows members to browse models by date they were added to the site, by name or by niche, including hung, muscular, twink, black, hairy - you get the idea.

Randy BlueThere are a few more features inside Randy Blue. One is the Live Shows. These are done by schedule and you can watch and talk with actual Randy Blue models as they do their thing. There are 148 archived live shows to watch or download, too. There is also the DVD section where you can watch 115 DVDs - each multiple scenes - in the same video sizes and options as the exclusive vids. The DVD section is no longer updated. Last is the bonus content page. This is where members will get access to 17 bonus feeds, 4 ezines and 2 bonus sites - not available for trial members - and a link to Flirt 4 Free, which is fun but charges by the minute if you want full nudity or action.

There are a few issues at Randy Blue. One is that the downloadable WMVs are DRM-protected. It's less annoying DRM than at many sites, and videos can be played for over a year, but it's still DRM and won't play for Mac or Linux users. Then there's the claim on the join page that a new DVD scene is added weekly. The most recent DVD was added over 9 months ago. The other issue is downloading the Flash videos. I had to download and install the Belator Media Player, and also install Adobe Air, and honestly the Flash vids aren't as good quality-wise as the WMVs, so unless you object to WMVs or DRM, I'd stick with the WMVs.

The bottom line is that Randy Blue has tons of content, hot guys in hardcore and solo shoots, 3 updates per week as well as a live show about once a week. The videos can be streamed or downloaded, and they look good, but DRM is used on the downloadable WMVs and the downloadable Flash vids require you install their downloader. There are 672 videos and 1143 pic sets featuring big pics. You can browse content by type - pics or videos - and there's a model index that allows you to browse by model. You can even read Randy's blog to find out what's new. I consider Randy Blue one of the few sites on my "Must See" list, and if you've never visited, I suggest you head on over and check it out!

Things we liked:

  • Exclusive content
  • Cute, athletic guys
  • Lots of content
  • Frequent updates
  • Model index
  • Videos are downloadable

Things we didn't like:

  • Site uses DRM
  • Must install software to download Flash videos
  • DVD section hasn't updated in months
  • No right-clicking allowed in member area

Click here to visit Randy Blue


User Feedback

Jarek | 02 Aug 2010 | My rating: 1 out of 5 stars

You know, with so many great comparable sites out there without DRM, there is absolutely no reason to get this website. The downloaded videos don't work after 60 days and I can attest to that. Why bother?

I subscribe to other site and I never have so many shitty problems with error message and even mess my computer up. I just cancelled once and for all for good until they decide to remove the DRM then I may decide.

GayDemon | 15 May 2010 | My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I did notice that last time I visited RandyBlue. But not beena able to test it. I can't quite see how it's technically possible to do, but on the other hand can't see why they would put it in the terms of service unless it works that way. DRM can expire, but they don't use that...

See previous comments here, someone else did test it and couldn't seem to figure it out either as the videos played fine.

mark | 14 May 2010 | My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I found this on their website:

"Will I have access to videos after my membership is over? After 60 consecutive days of membership, any videos you download or view are yours to keep for life. Keep in mind that previously downloaded movies before the 60 period, need to be watched again while your membership is active in order to get unlocked for you to own."

has anyone tried this to see if it's for reals?

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