Author Topic: Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based  (Read 2445 times)

Offline PyroMenace

  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3,930
Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based
« on: Thursday, September 09, 2010, 01:09:08 AM »
They have mentioned it before, but I think it all rolls out tomorrow. I don't believe they are locking anything away from non subscribers, the sites will be the same, but they are adding HD videos that are downloadable, mobile versions for all the sites, and a free T-shirt. From what I saw its going to be $50 a year, a little bit steep, more than what Gamespot first started with, I don't even know what they charge now but the T-shirt thing is cool.

Offline Xessive

  • Gold Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9,920
    • XSV @ deviantART
Re: Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based
« Reply #1 on: Thursday, September 09, 2010, 05:11:41 AM »
That's not too bad. It's in-line with most other online game mags. I appreciate that they're adding content for subscribers and not taking anything away from non-subscribers.

Offline W7RE

  • Post-aholic
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,780
Re: Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based
« Reply #2 on: Thursday, September 09, 2010, 07:13:19 AM »
I've been looking at info and reading chats and listening to the "let's talk about memberships" special podcast. I was a little aprehensive at first, but after listening to them talk about why they're doing it, I really feel better about the whole situation. (Especially the part where Dave Snyder was talking about how the page itself was originally designed with no ads in mind: longer pages for less page jumps, which means less ad views. Since bringing ads to their site, they've always tried to keep them relevant to gaming, and they express that with their particular audience, they often hear from advertisers, "why would I advertise to the hardcore crowd, they already know what they want."

The one thing that seems to have everyone up in arms is the Bombcast. The Bombcast will be split into 2 parts. The first half is for everyone, the second half is a timed exclusive for paid members. The second half gets a 1 week delay for non-paid members.

They mention multiple times in the "let's talk about memberships" podcast that the format will change. I really wouldn't be surprised if most of the free podcast is the meat, like what people have been playing, news, and new releases. Then the second hour would probably be a lot of shenanagins, maybe emails, and probably the Nintendo downloads dramatic reading (I think they even mention that this wouldn't be in the free one, since it's a joke segment and not real news usually)


Anyway, if the Bombcast change seems like it's going too far, I suggest listening to the "Let's Talk About Memberships!" podcast. You get some honest info on why this is all happening. I'm not saying it will change your mind, but I'm more optimistic after listening to it. We'll see in time how things actually turn out though.

Offline gpw11

  • Gold Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7,182
Re: Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based
« Reply #3 on: Thursday, September 09, 2010, 05:24:12 PM »
They originally envisioned no advertising and no subscriptions?  How did they plan on making anything?

Offline W7RE

  • Post-aholic
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,780
Re: Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based
« Reply #4 on: Thursday, September 09, 2010, 09:21:28 PM »
Well, i don't know if they originally envisioned no advertising, but they designed the site without catering to the shitty extra page loads that most ad supported sites do (like minimal info on each page to make you load more, and lots of top 10 lists with 1 item per page).

They did operate for a couple years with zero ads, and when they finally added them, they tried to keep them to a minimum and make sure they were game related and catered to the type of audience that visits the site. The hope was that since there would be ads, make them as unobtrusive and tolerable as possible. But I guess that doesn't sell products, which brings us to where we are now.

Offline W7RE

  • Post-aholic
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,780
Re: Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based
« Reply #5 on: Sunday, September 12, 2010, 12:35:11 AM »
Sometime Wednesday night, the official Whiskey Media twitter account said that if they get 5000 paid members by 10 am Friday, Bombcast would be 100% for for everyone. Looks like they got enough, because that's what's happening now. I'm guessing they're gonna just keep it the same and not split it in half now.

Quote:
Quote
The Bombcast is officially free for everyone... Forever. Thanks everyone! A replacement for subscribers (something new!) coming next week.

Offline PyroMenace

  • Senior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3,930
Re: Giantbomb and Whiskey Media sites to go subscription based
« Reply #6 on: Sunday, September 12, 2010, 02:21:24 AM »
That's great news. Obviously a lot of people didn't like it and even I was a little indifferent to it but I can understand why they would try doing it. No one has successfully found a way to make money off of podcasting so I can't blame them for trying something.  Anyway glad they got enough support to drop it.