Support NeoGAF

[WaltJay]

I didn't see anything, so please lock if old.

From Dave's blog:

http://www.giantbomb.com/profile/snide/paid-membership-update-the-basics-and-a-video-test/30-57781/

Some details on what would be included:

OK, so it wasn't hard to figure out the nuts and bolts stuff you guys wanted... HD Video, mobile / iPad support and no ads. Fine. Done. So without further ado lets list out the first 3 confirmed features...

Stream and Download HD Video at 720p (we shoot and receive most source material in 720, 1080 would just be upscale). Here are a couple tests, let me know how they look (Wargames, Portal 2). We plan on doing this for our entire back catalog, but obviously the newer stuff will look better.

A completely redesigned mobile site built in HTML 5 with video-watching, commenting and profiles built into it from the start. It will work on any smartphone with a web browser (iphone, android...etc). The site will continue to work as is for everyone else. Our iPhone app from last year is still free.

No ads (if you go for yearly billing). Sorry but we need to be able to make reasonable guesses against our ad inventory, and we can't do that unless we know for sure what portion of our audience is in it for the long haul.

As far as cost for the membership, that is TBD.

Since Giant Bomb is a popular site, and I often wondered how they plan to pay the bills, I was expecting this to be offered at some point.

Now the question becomes: for or against?

 

[V_Ben]

for. Love the site, love HD video. Win-win for me

 

[ascully]

Don't care about HD video (I watch GB mostly on my netbook), but I will support them anyway as I love the content

 

[Dizzy-4U]

It's an awesome site and I love the staff members. I'll give them my money to support them even if they don't give me anything in return.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Depending on cost, I'd definitely do it for the mobile site.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Depending on cost.

Pretty much.

 

[Giolon]

Day 1 purchase (probably). I like what those guys do, and want them to continue doing it so I can toss a few bucks their way.

 

[threenote]

I love GB, and will support them as long as the price is within reason.

 

[DOBERMAN INC]

I'll buy depending on the cost, Love the work those guys do at GB.

1up should have done this a couple of years ago, I would have paid for that in their prime too.

 

[Crisis]

Depends on cost for me.

 

[Stackboy]

I've never paid a subscription on a game site, but Giant Bomb deserves my money.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

I'm not willing to pay for content I can essentially get for free everywhere else.

Paying for an enthusiast site of a hobby that is already stupidly expensive is something I have no interest in.

 

[~Kinggi~]

Giant Bomb played their cards right by putting up a big initial investment with all the free access and no ads. Now they are slowly rolling out the money orders.

I am fine with this as long as it doesnt become intrusive. What i mean is the site experience starts to casually morph into a scenario where free users get less and premium guys get more. If the paid membership is a benefit not at the detriment of the regular users it is fine.

 

[No_Style]

Read Dave Snyder's blog post and it seems like they know exactly how to manage this paid subscription service.

 

[Keavy_Rain]

Currently I pay about $10/month for Netflix, which I consider an acceptable price for something I use occasionally for entertainment.

Keep it at or below that price range and I'm in.

 

[Chip N Chance]

I already paid for there iphone app, which is now free. So ill wait a few after it launches to see if i want to pay for there content. I love that site, and what they do. I just hope they dont start locking out specific videos, and write ups much like IGN does. Im all ears though. Love those guys.

 

[Curufinwe]

I'm not willing to pay for content I can essentially get for free everywhere else.

Paying for an enthusiast site of a hobby that is already stupidly expensive is something I have no interest in.

Giant Bomb's video content is unique.

Gaming is a cheap hobby compared to many others.

 

[WaltJay]

Read Dave Snyder's blog post and it seems like they know exactly how to manage this paid subscription service.

That's how I feel about it too. Giant Bomb, along with NeoGAF and Gametrailers, are the three video game sites I visit the most. If I was going to pay for any site, GB is definitely one of them.

 

[Karram]

I think as long as they don't take away features that already exists and make it exclusive for users with memberships I'm all for it. The mobile site and HD videos are features I can't miss as long as its $10 a month or less. Also you forgot to mention that they're going to give out T-shirts for subscribers.

 

[Niblet]

For. This doesn't mean that I am going to subscribe to it, but I really really like GB and want this to pan out for them. Now if they add exclusive podcasts or mini podcasts (minicasts) for subbers I may sub.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

Giant Bomb's video content is unique.

Gaming is a cheap hobby compared to many others.

Tell that to my wallet.

I love what the GB guys do, and I respect their need to actually keep their head's above water, but I'm not going to pay for a service just to be altruistic. One would hope making a scalable business model was one of the first things they did.

 

[goldsoundz]

None of those features are appealing in the least to me, but I'll probably end up subscribing anyways just because I love them so much more than any other games site out there. The crew and their personalities are matched by no one. The video content is also by far the best around.

 

[jett]

I'm not paying anything. If I need media in HD I'll go to gamersyde.

 

[Nakazato]

20 dollars a year and more quick looks and they can have my money

 

[dimb]

I'm not willing to pay for content I can essentially get for free everywhere else.

Who else does quick looks? Especially at the quality level Giant Bomb does.

 

[The Faceless Master]

well, it's not like i went there for HD video anyway, i went for their unique content and take on things.

i'll stick with gamersyde, gametrailers and youtube for hd videos and still visit giantbomb just as much as before, but i'll stick to being a silver member.

 

[BobTheFork]

I just want my bombcast and HD videos don't matter.

I too have wondered how they pay the bills, especially after people complained about their ads.

 

[Y2Kev]

I wonder what their hosting fees are.

 

[eznark]

Who else does quick looks? Especially at the quality level Giant Bomb does.

where does it say you have to pay for quick looks?

 

[Van Owen]

The only thing that interests me is the mobile site which I refuse to pay money for.

 

[Brobzoid]

I love their video content, but I already watch it in the lowest quality available to get better speeds, so.... :\

 

[sykoex]

They said that everything that is free now will still be free, so I can't see myself paying for "extra" stuff. But really I have to see exactly what they'll offer, the "obvious" stuff they mentioned like 720p isn't enough as it stands.

 

[Blueblur1]

This $10 per month idea some of you guys are perpetuating is pure fuckin' madness. It can't be more than $20 for a whole year if I'm going to bite and more than $20-something if they want more than 100 people to sign up.

 

[eznark]

This $10 per month idea some of you guys are perpetuating is pure fuckin' madness. It can't be more than $20 for a whole year if I'm going to bite and more than $20-something if they want more than 100 people to sign up.

Yeah. I pay that for the Wall St. Journal. As great as Giant Bomb is, $120 a year it ain't. I'll subscribe for the t-shirt. If the sub costs significantly more than a t-shirt, I'll just buy a shirt.

Right now there is really nothing worth paying for. I get the videos via the Android app, don't care about 720p videos and can't even remember what the other "perks" are.

$3/30 a year. What does IGN charge for their insider stuff?

 

[the nightman cometh]

For of course, you can't blame a great website for having a business plan and trying to make a little money. Any other gaming website does this I have no interest at all but for Giant Bomb I'm thinking of joining out of principle.

 

[dimb]

where does it say you have to pay for quick looks?

Nowhere, but watching them in 720p would be great.

 

[Technosteve]

if they make it 20 bucks a month i expect a members only tshirt once every three months, member ship in to dave's physical message board with thread making capabilities, priority for a spot when they do thursday night smack downs and free candy from the orient.

these are my demands

 

[eznark]

Depending on pricing, I look forward to going back and listening to old podcasts where they discuss PlayStation Plus.

 

[Barrett2]

I don't imagine I'll actually get much use out of the paid stuff, but I'll pay for it IF reasonable, just to support them.

But anything > $5/month is just too much, IMO.

 

[seat]

Not interested in pay-for memberships.

 

[Mrbob]

Need to know a cost first.

This $10 per month idea some of you guys are perpetuating is pure fuckin' madness. It can't be more than $20 for a whole year if I'm going to bite and more than $20-something if they want more than 100 people to sign up.

This right here.

 

[lastplayed]

Who else does quick looks? Especially at the quality level Giant Bomb does.

I love the quick looks, but they can be pretty selective and not always out before a game's release. I've used youtube for raw gameplay videos for years, but it doesn't come with witty commentary of course.

I don't have any mobile web devices, so it's probably not something I'd pay for anyway.

 

[Struct09]

I'm a heavy user of giantbomb.com, so I may find value in this. Just depends on the price.

 

[Various Artists]

Would buy for $20 a year. Anymore is a slippery slope. Would pay more if you are invited to the GiantBomb Bar and Arcade once a year.

 

[Chesskid1]

giantbomb is one of my favorite sites just because they are so funny/real in their videos.

slightly offtopic, but does anyone know how many hits their site gets? it always seemed like a small site to me, so i'm curious to how it compares to like hits received by IGN. I always thought it was more of a niche site, so a niche site with a paid membership will be even more niche or whatever, haha. thanks for the info if anyone knows.

i know i won't be subscribing, but i love the site <3 and i've turned off adblock for it if that means anything, i dunno.

 

[Brazil]

Will their video player show up on my Mac if I pay them?

 

[Barrett2]

Will their video player show up on my Mac if I pay them?

Why doesn't it work on your Mac?

 

[Novella]

Will pay.

 

[GitarooMan]

Eh, The HD does little for me (I just enjoy the comedy and viewpoints more than the quality of the video) and I have a shitty phone and the ads don't bother me so I doubt I would buy in.

 

[Flavius]

Not sure I really care about any of that, but I'll pay for the same reason that I donated (several times over in some instances) to most of the ex-Ziffers when they started their pet projects: love what the do, and selfishly, I want to support that which entertains me.

[Baldur]FOR![/Baldur]