News: Editorial: Decline of Fan Sites

[Hamma]

http://www.planetside-universe.com/n...sites-2962.htm

[Hamma]

By the way I wrote this ages ago - has nothing to do with my post earlier this morning as I'm sure some will claim. :P

[VaderShake]

You trying to tell us something Hamma?

Truthfully, like everything else technology will become cyclical. There is a younger generations who will one day discover this cool retro idea called a "fan site" and flock to them. Right now it's trending to Facebook, Twitter, ect. social media is still young and most importantly "free". However the old addiage will ring true, you get what you pay for... On the other end the internet has been bought up by larger companies that aquire fan sites to eventually shut them down.

I think the videogame industry is at a cross roads of technology and lack of developer imagination. With the new consoles we will all be basically playing on PC's with the same processing power for a few years until once again the PC starts to distance it's self but that may take a bit longer now.

[Hamma]

Naw just my view on things - not trying to tell anyone anything Good points as well!

[Mastachief]

Good read and pretty much spot on if very depressing

[Crator]

Good article. I think that the fan sites need to evolve. Those sites need to ask the game companies, "What is it I can do for you that you can't handle on your own site?". SOE introduced the Road Map which gives them a nice feedback interface with the community. That's what they want to use to interface with us. Facebook/Twitter are interfaces too but those are more quick and dirty interactions.

[ChipMHazard]

I was kinda hoping for a subtle "wink wink, nudge nudge" to developers all over the wide world to stop flipping using Twitter!!


Aye, informative if not also sad. But time stops for no man and the world is ever changing... blah blah blah, yadi yadi yada, etc. etc. etc. and so on. But darn it I'll just end up a bitter middle aged man who spends most of time screaming "Back in my day we didn't use birds or books with human faces to communicate!".

[Striker KOJ]

Hamma,

I don't know you personally, and I rarely post on this site, but it's a little hard not to connect this post with your recent thread, and I think that is the biggest issue with Fan Sites today.

You mention that a lot of "fan sites" are being gobbled up by larger companies, and the "fan" portion is being twisted or removed, and the "site" portion is being changed into another advertising medium for the company. You seem to indicate that you aren't really fond of the trend because it cheapens the whole reason a fan site exists in the first place. I think the reason why you got such a reaction from a few PSU members in regards to your recent thread about planetside 1, is that it seemed like you are advocating exactly what you don't want to happen.

Was your intention to make Planetside Universe the exclusive location for ALL information about Planetside, above all other websites and magazines, and even above the official company locations? Or did you make Plansite Universe because you are a fan of the game and wanted to share your love and enthusiasm with other fans? Based on your thoughts about fan sites, I would suspect the latter. And if that is the case, why do you care how “relevant” this community is. Does it make you less of a fan if Smed and Higby no longer browse your website? Do you become less enthusiastic about a product you love if SOE no longer gives you any exclusives, behind the scenes, up and comings, etc.? Again, I would suspect no.

The more you try to attract the attention of the "company" the less of a fan site you become. It becomes less about coming together to discuss a mutual affinity for a product, and more about being the golden child of the company. Less about what people are saying, and more about how it is said, because we don’t want to upset the company, because….

Because why?

Summary:

Fan sites, like the games they are devoted to, used to born out of love and enthusiasm for the product. Now they are more concerned with image, and ultimately, how to monetize it.

[maradine]

If you're going to softball in that connection, it's worth pointing out the hilarity of doing it from a site that has to take donations to make its hosting bills, and is otherwise run out of pocket.

You're a piece of work, mate.

[Striker KOJ]

Originally Posted by Crator

Good article. I think that the fan sites need to evolve. Those sites need to ask the game companies, "What is it I can do for you that you can't handle on your own site?". SOE introduced the Road Map which gives them a nice feedback interface with the community. That's what they want to use to interface with us. Facebook/Twitter are interfaces too but those are more quick and dirty interactions.

**Sorry for potential double post**

I think the bold part of the quote above is exactly the wrong attitude. Granted, I have no desire to begin a fan site, nor the ambition to keep one running, but as a FAN of things myself, I don't want to be "doing" anything for the company other than enjoying their products.

What is puzzling to me is how can company's like SOE, with significantly more capital and resources than someone like Hamma, for instance, be in a position to "not handle" something on a website? Other than advertising and general enthusiasm, what can a third party website possibly add to a product that cannot be accomplished via official company means?

All of the interaction between developers and players on this site is nice, but ultimately frivolous because SOE can always say "well nothing we said was official because it was just a conversation with some people on some website that has no official connection to us." Similarly, statements on the official company forums are also often disregarded as "discussion", and not concrete plans.

So I ask again, what can be accomplished on a third party website that cannot be accomplished on an official company website? And to take it a step further, why should we, the consumer, take care of the things that the company "can't handle"?

Not trying to attack anyone, I'm just a man asking questions.

[Striker KOJ]

Originally Posted by maradine

If you're going to softball in that connection, it's worth pointing out the hilarity of doing it from a site that has to take donations to make its hosting bills, and is otherwise run out of pocket.

You're a piece of work, mate.

Except for the part where I never stated that Planetside Universe is doing that...

I "softballed" the connection because that's how I see it. Obviously PSU was created out of a love for Planetside. So when the creator and owner of the site devoted to fans of the product tells the fans to not talk a certain way about the product because someone might no longer think us "relevant" as fans seemed counter to the original intent of the site...

Maybe I wasn't very clear?

[maradine]

Perhaps not. But I certainly read it more harshly that your clarified intent, so I apologize.

[Crator]

Originally Posted by Striker KOJ

Not trying to attack anyone, I'm just a man asking questions.

By all means, continue. I'm shaking my head in agreement with most of what you are saying and questions you are asking. I was just trying to address Hamma's article off the top of my head.

[Striker KOJ]

Originally Posted by maradine

If you're going to softball in that connection, it's worth pointing out the hilarity of doing it from a site that has to take donations to make its hosting bills, and is otherwise run out of pocket.

You're a piece of work, mate.

Originally Posted by maradine

Perhaps not. But I certainly read it more harshly that your clarified intent, so I apologize.

Which is funny, because that is exactly how the other thread got out of control.

Isn't text fun? Who needs tone, inflection and body language...

[Rahabib]

I love Planetside Universe, but I am still not sure what you are are asking us to do. Its just a lament for days of yore. Well I kinda miss newspapers - but is it really the public's fault that the way people receive information has changed?

What I am getting from this article is that you are worried your role in the community is unimportant - so let me talk you off the bridge for a moment .

First, off let me tell you why I spend countless hours on this site every day. First, I have a boring job and lots a free time . Second, I don't know where to find half the information you get. I follow you on twitter, and some of the devs but you have a better understanding of where this information is. I dont like the noise of redit so I am glad there are people available to post it here for us. Youtube vids, twitch tv, this community brings the resources to me rather than me trying to find it. Third, this site caters more to the dedicated players of the community. The PS2 forums - well suck. They are not helpful in anyway. Its just people bitching and moaning with no substance. I feel that sometimes it gets that way here too, but not as bad.

So what can you do to fill the PS2 communities niche.

• instead of worrying about creating content constantly, the main service in my eyes is the aggregation of information. In fact, since this is a forum based community, you dont have to do it all - continue to let others post info. Contribute when you want to, not when you feel you have to. If you constantly worry about content or what people think of your site, its becomes a stress not a release.
• Believe it or not, some people still view you as a leader of the community. If you post a video it does mean more than Joe Shmoe. There are levels of reliable content you can provide thats more than others do. Its like an encyclopedia vrs wikipedia - sure people use wikipedia, but an encyclopedia carries more clout. I am bad with analogies today.
• Let features come naturally. I can see the frustration getting the PS2 stats running, but instead of trying to do it yourself - maybe its ok to let go of it and let another site do it. Then link up. I remember running an old Warhammer gaming website in the early 90s. There were those who were competing to be THE main resource and wanted to cut off all other websites. What happened was the smaller sites banded together to link to resources using "web rings." I guess it was because we were much younger (most of us were in high school at the time), but it didnt matter as much if we were the premier site or not. We watched as all of our sites increased as we linked to one another rather than competing. Honestly, I don't know if there really is a competitive site to this one other than the main ones. What I am trying to get is, if people don't care about the PS2 stats, then don't force it or drop it or hand it off to someone who cares. Now that the code is out there someone will run with it. Its ok to let it go once in a while - thats hard I know. Don't let people steal your content, obviously.

Anyway, I will still continue to use this site even if its just for the forums and AGN. If theres something more you want from us, you gotta tell us man.