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Post by teddykongcountry on May 4, 2016 2:23:37 GMT
I'm just going to go ahead and reflect on "the good ole days" for CGR (while I sip an Anchor IPA out of my classy CGR mug) or at least what I thought they were anyway. Granted, CGR is a business which is a business that is a business but when I watched CGR, it was all about "DA BIDNESS." This Mark III stuff is outright purportedly about business and while I have no problem with the success of his fandom funding his show, I do not like how transparent his appeals have become and were starting to since latter 2015 (you could see this visibly rubbing off on Derek). Whereas I used to see an exceptional journalist constructing elaborate reviews via segments of alluring in-the-moment commentary, I now can not see past the veil of contribution dependence. Great work speaks for itself and there is a right way to go about inviting fan funding to span longevity in realistic terms. Although I can't say Mark has handled it sloppily, I will say that I'd prefer he had kept the monetary aspects secondary because it has had a drastic impact on his current reception and my personal ability to stomach his new content. I shed no qualms about the #WhoDefeatz style videos but they increasingly demonstrate a further ineptitude on his ability to cater to his target demographic and have in no doubt in my mind contributed to his spike in fan funding. The (not-so) funny thing is that he still puts out a full time number of reviews but the sheer proliferation of these "lazy" and purpose-lacking videos has confused his fanbase (I think this is also in combination with how archaic his choice of games to review have been but that's a personal point anyway).
Now I don't think he's in an irreparable slump. By the sounds of the update alone, it sounds like he's getting back on track by reopening the store and doing what is economically sustainable for him and his family while appeasing the fans. I don't think he'd introduce a new forum on his site because if he did, he might as well reopen the old site and I don't think he will considering as he knows how much work it is to run it having had Brandon and Julie paid to maintain its upkeep. I'm just hoping he doesn't burn out his resources considering as how now he has two Patreons running and a potential Kickstarter all whilst monetizing thousands of videos and about to reopen a store. Personally, I just think that's pushing his luck.
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stratogustav
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Post by stratogustav on May 4, 2016 6:53:27 GMT
He is under 10K, he just said he is doing it for the revenue stolen from him by copyright infringement oriented channels.
This tells you he loves the show and wants to keep it going, but he is doing it on his own. Doing all that work for one person is not easy.
I feel the expectations can affect anyone. Specially if you already worked a lot, when you already worked a lot for many years, it is natural to expect a result.
If all of the sudden you have to start from scratch on your own, it feels unfair. It also feels overwhelming because you already know how much work that takes.
Those are not positive feelings, unfairness and overwhelming work, plus worrying of expectations going down, it is hard to keep motivation.
So if at least the expectations were met, he could at least have some piece of mind, and that would motivate him to do the extra work.
However fans don't see that, they only expect 8 minutes reviews 5 days a week. It is hard, I wish there was a way to help, but I can't think of anything, he is at least trying something.
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Balder
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Post by Balder on May 4, 2016 7:43:15 GMT
teddykongcountry there are 3 Patreon campaigns: Mark III, Magnum Skywolf and Disco 8-Track. The reason he has had such a successful Patreon campaign is because he has stayed true to his nature by making awesome content, but now lately it has strayed of a bit. And that hurts his campaign more than it helps in the long run. I get it, it's a business, but if it truly is as bad as he says all the time (podcasts etc.), then why bother? Why bother making videos he hates and becoming what despise?
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Post by Imperial Khador on May 4, 2016 8:29:50 GMT
I'm amusing by the WhoDefeatz videos. They exist basically as something Mark can film in 30 seconds and one take that will get as many views as his well-done, well edited reviews, and thus serve as a more efficient means of having youtube contribute a bit to the business of CGR. As a side benefit, I think they highlight his problems. Basically that for income purposes, the service favours short, unedited content that are click-bait. I only occasionally watch them myself for a chuckle.
If someone doesn't like them showing up in their feed, I would suggest switching from the Lord Karnage youtube channel to the dedicated CGR one, which only features reviews (https://www.youtube.com/show/classicgameroom/videos).
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Balder
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Trying to cut down the amount of movies I watch
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Post by Balder on May 4, 2016 8:44:01 GMT
I'm amusing by the WhoDefeatz videos. They exist basically as something Mark can film in 30 seconds and one take that will get as many views as his well-done, well edited reviews, and thus serve as a more efficient means of having youtube contribute a bit to the business of CGR. As a side benefit, I think they highlight his problems. Basically that for income purposes, the service favours short, unedited content that are click-bait. I only occasionally watch them myself for a chuckle. If someone doesn't like them showing up in their feed, I would suggest switching from the Lord Karnage youtube channel to the dedicated CGR one, which only features reviews (https://www.youtube.com/show/classicgameroom/videos). They are around 3-4K views mostly. While his reviews are in the 10K area. |
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Post by Imperial Khador on May 4, 2016 9:26:48 GMT
4K for 2 minutes filming vs...what a day or two for 10k views on proper reviews, counting playing, filming and editing? Still a much better return on investment from that one specific viewpoint.
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stratogustav
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Post by stratogustav on May 4, 2016 10:34:03 GMT
The reviews end up on the 30Ks after a few months.
I don't know how the Who Defeatz would do in the long run, but like I said before I think they are a cool idea and very clever too, except that they are too short.
If he goes for more than 5 minutes YouTube rewards that, and I'm sure the patrons would also feel more engaged too.
I just hope everything works out for him so we can keep getting his awesome reviews in the future.
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Post by yar2084 on May 4, 2016 13:15:47 GMT
I haven't watched any of the WhoDefeatz videos, they're like a minute long and I follow him on Twitter and they just don't interest me in the slightest.
I also don't like how much he plugs his patreon. I understand he needs to fund his work, but I watch LGR, Metal Jesus, Gaming Historian and others who use Patreons and they might mention it once a video or something like that.
#CGR4Life though, right?
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centipede
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Post by centipede on May 4, 2016 13:43:25 GMT
I haven't watched any of the WhoDefeatz videos, they're like a minute long and I follow him on Twitter and they just don't interest me in the slightest. I also don't like how much he plugs his patreon. I understand he needs to fund his work, but I watch LGR, Metal Jesus, Gaming Historian and others who use Patreons and they might mention it once a video or something like that. #CGR4Life though, right? Personally, I think he could do a better job plugging his Patreon. Instead of starting off with "brought to you by Magnum Skywolf", it should be that it was "brought to you by all you who backed me on Patreon". I think it'd show a little more gratitude to his audience at the same time as plugging it. |
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Post by yar2084 on May 4, 2016 13:55:04 GMT
I haven't watched any of the WhoDefeatz videos, they're like a minute long and I follow him on Twitter and they just don't interest me in the slightest. I also don't like how much he plugs his patreon. I understand he needs to fund his work, but I watch LGR, Metal Jesus, Gaming Historian and others who use Patreons and they might mention it once a video or something like that. #CGR4Life though, right? Personally, I think he could do a better job plugging his Patreon. Instead of starting off with "brought to you by Magnum Skywolf", it should be that it was "brought to you by all you who backed me on Patreon". I think it'd show a little more gratitude to his audience at the same time as plugging it. That's what Gaming Historian does, "partly funded by patreon backers" either at the beginning or end of the video, I forget. I have no issue with that. The roll call at the end annoys me, the constant "If I can get this much, I can do Truxton to Truxton to Truxton" etc etc etc. I've just checked his Patreon, per month he's making most of what I earn in a year. |
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Post by yar2084 on May 4, 2016 13:55:28 GMT
I don't mean to sound bitter.
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Balder
Supreme Overlord
Trying to cut down the amount of movies I watch
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Post by Balder on May 4, 2016 15:04:44 GMT
I don't mean to sound bitter. I get what you mean, but it doesn't bother me. I just want him to stay true to what CGR is. |
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Post by spidershinobi on May 7, 2016 1:46:39 GMT
So, I'm not in a CGR mood, which is why I don't know what those new videos are about. Mark has a bunch of challenges he naturally has to deal with, but he definitely doesn't seem to be the man for at least one of them: selling his product. Let's face it, it isn't for everyone, I know that because my father also has a huge trouble regarding a side-project he has, and I feel both him and Mark just aren't acceptable salesmen.
In Mark's situation, my biggest issue is: how come I never see him on accident? You know what I'm talking about! Sometimes you are just minding your business, decide to play a random game, and BAM! Zubaz is in the game! Why doesn't this ever happen with Mark? Investing in guest-appearances and collabs is an obvious (basic, really) choice.
For example, did you know that in the Game Sack youtube channels parody I could only recognize their stellar impression on Mark and the AVGN moment? All those other guys are complete unknowns to me. The difference is that AVGN did have his moment of exploding popularity, but right now he has to invest on guest appearances to remain relevant (well, he's kind of becoming irrelevant).
Think Jontron, AngryJoe and his buddies, they have guest appearances here and there. Now think the Zaibatsu and Ustabiaz, those guys really share their popularity among themselves, this only helps whoever is involved.
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Post by teddykongcountry on May 7, 2016 2:09:19 GMT
There is a reason for it, you know, and that's reflected in Derek and his purported stubborn incapacity to use the internet. But Derek and Mark are electrons and protons repelling each other you say? Why yes but they also exist in the same atom. You see, for the longest time, Mark and Derek got comfortable existing in their own Classic Game Room zone and viewers got comfortable expecting those videos so there wasn't any general reason for them to leave that zone of "life in the office" (ever wondered what drove Derek so mad?).
Sadly, the lines of that "Fantasy Zone" grew weaker exponentially fast with the outburst of adblockers and surge of Youtube personalities in the past few years leading to the inevitable demise of CGR Undertow and a drastic overhaul of CGR as we knew and grew comfortable to it. Currently, Mark is groping at all avenues in desperation to maintain relevancy and a constant stream of revenue and now at the monetary and temporal expense of the viewers and for many, that has been a painful trek for a favored channel. I haven't been in a CGR mood for months now and while he still maintains some of the best audio/vocal quality in the business as well as twirling a magic marker pen with style and grace, his content has lost much of its charm.
But alas, that is but one man's observations and can only be understood as such.
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Cervantes
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Post by Cervantes on May 7, 2016 3:17:02 GMT
On a patreon post, Mark said he'll not be doing any WhoDefeatz videos... At least not publicly! He said that there's a just a few of them ready that he'll release only as "inside jokes" for backers. So, if anyone was worried about them, well, no reason to be worried anymore! spidershinobi - On his second podcast he had some other good youtube reviewers as guests (including MetalJesusRocks, which Game Sack also parodied, and Lazy Game Reviews). There's also a recent video in which he answered a challenge from Gamesack - the "Great Select Button" challenge. So, yes, I think he's slowly getting more engaged with these other channels. |
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