Whiskey Media (Giant Bomb) Starting Paid Membership Service
- Thread starter WaltJay
- Start date
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
You get access to the secret QL where they actually liked Scott Pilgrim if you pay.
GitarooMan
Member
I'd be really surprised if it was more than something like IGN Insider (which I believe is 19.99/year or so) given the content they are offering.Garryk said:
I would pay, I guess. Id also like to pay for GAF to have the Ads removed (I know you can just disable them by using AdBlock, but Ads are there for a reason).
My problem with GiantBomb is how focused they are on the Xbox. I love my Xbox but the fact that they have a QuickLook up for almost every XBLA Game but skip most of the games on PSN (lets not even mention WiiWare) is pretty sad. I hope theyll change that in the future.
Then Im willing to pay.
My problem with GiantBomb is how focused they are on the Xbox. I love my Xbox but the fact that they have a QuickLook up for almost every XBLA Game but skip most of the games on PSN (lets not even mention WiiWare) is pretty sad. I hope theyll change that in the future.
Then Im willing to pay.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
I'd be very interested in seeing what percentage of IGN/Gamespot actually pay for their content.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
Writers and video content creators deserve to get paid, too. People bitching about sites that start charging money are woefully oblivious to that fact.
MmmSkyscraper
Unconfirmed Member
DAY ONE. ALL UNITS.
Didn't think about PC, sorry. But you're right, of course.Dynoro said:
Do you really think IGN (for example) pays their writers and video editors with the money they get from people who subscribed to Insider? Or 1up writers and video guys have to work for free, because they don't charge anything for their site?WanderingWind said:
GitarooMan
Member
You act as if they don't already earn a salary.WanderingWind said:
Neuromancer
Member
For, these guys bring so much joy into my sad, bitter life (and make me look forward to my commute every day).
Hopefully this will be pretty cheap, I have to imagine it will be.
Hopefully this will be pretty cheap, I have to imagine it will be.
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
snap0212 said:
Do you really think this business model is sustainable?
hmm I'm 50-50 over this, HD video is nice and i can appreciate paying for the privilege because of the extra demands at their end.
Ad-free, fine, I've seen zero ads on giant bomb as I'm in the UK, but I assume its a matter of time, I'm happy with the idea of paying to get rid of them.
Mobile version of the site? The iphone app works fine, infact their website works fine in general with the HTML5 video stuff in now, that to me seems like something they should be giving away for free, and putting ads on, because looking at the video Dave shot, it would be really easy to just but a standard Admob type ad at the top of the page.
Just in terms of marketing $$$$ I'm surprised they aren't doing that to be honest.
So really, the big part of me that wants to sign up for this is thinking it mainly because the Giant Bomb guys rock (and Screened and Tested for that matter), not because there's real value in it...for me that says they aren't offering enough yet. Really though, if there was just more varied video content I think I'd start to see the value, trying to think of what that might be, maybe SC2 commentary (by Brad) or other E-Sports events? I tried to watch some of the streams from Gamescom yesterday and it was pretty terrible on the whole, that video feed + Giant Bomb commentary = I want to watch that.
I think they are going about this the right way though, so hopefully they will start coming up with ways to increase the value proposition without alienating the cheapskates.
Ad-free, fine, I've seen zero ads on giant bomb as I'm in the UK, but I assume its a matter of time, I'm happy with the idea of paying to get rid of them.
Mobile version of the site? The iphone app works fine, infact their website works fine in general with the HTML5 video stuff in now, that to me seems like something they should be giving away for free, and putting ads on, because looking at the video Dave shot, it would be really easy to just but a standard Admob type ad at the top of the page.
Just in terms of marketing $$$$ I'm surprised they aren't doing that to be honest.
So really, the big part of me that wants to sign up for this is thinking it mainly because the Giant Bomb guys rock (and Screened and Tested for that matter), not because there's real value in it...for me that says they aren't offering enough yet. Really though, if there was just more varied video content I think I'd start to see the value, trying to think of what that might be, maybe SC2 commentary (by Brad) or other E-Sports events? I tried to watch some of the streams from Gamescom yesterday and it was pretty terrible on the whole, that video feed + Giant Bomb commentary = I want to watch that.
I think they are going about this the right way though, so hopefully they will start coming up with ways to increase the value proposition without alienating the cheapskates.
HamPster PamPster
Member
Rez said:
There are a ton of free games... so why is your hobby stupidly expensive? I'm not talking piracy but about indie games, free to play mmos, flash games, etc...
You're already paying for what you can get for free everywhere. Just because there are alternatives to GB doesn't mean people would enjoy them equally... and to get that extra enjoyment some people are willing to pay
I like what GJW did. Buying the apple app gets you a extra shorter podcast each week... I'd pay for more bombcast! (it sucks that the GWJ thing is locked to apple but the basic idea is something I like)
WanderingWind
Mecklemore Is My Favorite Wrapper
snap0212 said:
With the massive layoffs in the news industry, I'm not sure the people who write the checks agree. Even the websites called out above (1up and IGN) have went through massive downsizing.
I'd like to be optimistic, as I hope to work as a civilian journalist one day. I just don't see it happening without a massive change in how news agencies supply the news.
I'm all for supporting good sites but I'm curious if GB needs this revenue? They seem to operate fine for the past 2 years without paid membership and have had numerous upgrades in the mean time (in terms of equipment and office). I doubt they could afford these without making some kind of a profit to warrant them? I really don't know their financial situation but it just doesn't seem like they are hurting, unlike other parts of the industry.
MikeE21286
Member
confliced here....LOVE the Giant Bomb guys and the site is cool, and I woul like to be able to use nice looking videos on my ipad rather than the shitty ones ipad users get now, but I don't really think I care enough to pay for premium content of information I can probably get for free somewhere else.
Really depends on the price.
Really depends on the price.
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
For. I love the GB crew and have no problem tossing a couple bucks their way if the price isn't stupid. Out of curiosity, will this sub also work with the other Whiskey Media sites? If so, that makes it even better.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
YOU decide what Jeff thinks of Zelda Wii. Giant Bomb Platinum.
So the .com bubble never burst in your world? Is Clinton still president?snap0212 said:
Even if you don't have value for these features, if you love the Whiskey Media sites you should pay up, because it will allow them the ability to expand the level of content they're producing now. It's possible the upcoming live show exists because they're sure to make some money off these subs, even if it's not sub-only.
Simply, if someone does something you love, you should do what you can to be sure they keep doing it.
GitarooMan
Member
It's not a charity. You're paying for certain services. I don't understand the concept of paying just because you like the site and the staff, it's like donating something to a charity. If you only like the free stuff and have no interest in the subscription stuff, why would you get it? It's not like they're coming out and saying, "Hey, we're going out of business if you don't subscribe!"Aaron said:
They are trying to generate more revenue through offering premium services, and yet people seem eager to jump to the conclusion that they absolutely need this money to survive. What if they are simply trying to make more money? I fully respect that, but it doesn't mean I'm going to treat it like a charity and simply throw money at them everytime they ask even if I don't have any interest in the feature.
As a UK user, all I'm paying for if I get this are HD videos and that's just not enough. People slated Playstation Plus, yet that offers far more for users than Giant Bombs 'premium' service, but people are loving it. Doesn't make sense.
The GB guys made it sound like they were throwing some really cool shit into this, but I'm disappointed. They're smart enough to know that a premium service needs to offer more than this.
The GB guys made it sound like they were throwing some really cool shit into this, but I'm disappointed. They're smart enough to know that a premium service needs to offer more than this.
TunaMarshmallow
Member
GitarooMan said:
But you answered your own question. You ask: "If you only like the free stuff and have no interest in the subscription stuff, why would you get it?"
And the answer is: "Well, if they absolutely need this money to survive" (i.e., to allow me to continue to get the free stuff that I like).
I won't get much use out of the pay content. And I don't want to give them money just for being swell guys. Ideally, I'd just indefinitely continue to get the free content that I enjoy (podcasts, quick looks, etc.). But *if* it turned out that they needed a big shot of cash in order to keep the site running (including the free stuff I enjoy), then I'd chip in. I'd pay for the pay content.
Of course, as you say, they may not be having any financial problems. Things may be running smoothly. They may just be trying to make more cash. Indeed, I think that this is *probably* the situation. (After all, they've been opening new sites, moving to a sweeter office, etc. It doesn't look to me like they're against the ropes.) And, in that case, of course I'm not just going to hand them money.
But, still, I think you answered your own question. People who don't need/want the 'special' pay content would be willing to pay for it *if* it turned out that the cash was needed to keep the free content afloat. That's all.
GitarooMan
Member
I agree, my main point is that I think people are jumping to the bolded with absolutely no basis for doing so, and that while they seem to assume that they are helping to "save" the company, they may just be lining their pockets by purchasing content they don't want. I'd pay for some of the currently free content for sure if they needed it to survive because I like it a lot, but that's not what they are presenting here.TruthJunky said:
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
It's less than 44 GB when converted to MP4 though.Dizzy-4U said:
TunaMarshmallow
Member
GitarooMan said:
I don't think we're disagreeing, really.
I think some people are thinking like this: "GB is setting up a pay-for service. But they're doing it because they really need money. If people don't buy into the pay-for service, GB won't have enough money to keep producing the free content. Of course, they can't just monetize the currently free content, because that would be a disaster. People wouldn't pay. It would cause a huge amount of fuss. So they're creating a separate pay-for stream, the purpose of which is to try to keep the site afloat. Of course, they can't just tell people what the situation is [i.e., that they need money badly], because that would scare away investors, it would damage ad sales, and so on. But really, at the root, GB -- including its free content -- won't survive unless people buy into the pay-for service. So I'm willing to buy into the pay-for service."
Of course, there are a whole bunch of assumptions in there. And it looks to me like GB/WM is doing just fine, at least for now. (Again: they've been hiring, opening new sites, moving to a better office, etc.) But I don't think that the above-outlined thought is *crazy* or something. It's just assumes a whole lot.
MyOtherBike
Member
I'm in. I've followed Jeff after he left Gamespot, then was unemployed with Ryan doing the Arrow Pointing Down podcast and then to Giantbomb. I've never missed a single bombcast, though I turned off the Leigh Alexander ones (I really wouldn't mind a t-shirt referencing those podcasts though - Like "<>" or "$775m is illegal")
Dudes need some of my money, they got it.
Dudes need some of my money, they got it.
GitarooMan
Member
Yeah, I think we're on the same page, I guess I just think the assumptions are a bit too much of a leap based on what we know. Certainly I think the "charging for previously free content (which is almost inevitably the best content)" conundrum is a very challenging issue. I guess I'm just of the mind that, "yeah, I'll put money down for additional features, but it has to be features I have an interest in." Otherwise, I'm just encouraging the continued promotion and development of features that don't interest me.TruthJunky said:
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