Posted: Thursday, May 31st 2007

Right now I'm scrambling to connect the GU dots. Not really knowing how to sell the site, or really even having the time to try, I've looked for other companies to pick up my ad inventory and run with it. I've even put out feelers for companies to purchase the site, whether they want me to continue producing the comic or not. I figure if someone wants to buy the site and pay me to continue working on GU, cool. If not, they can have the assets and I'll move on to another cartooning project. Probably with a storyline this time.

Now, don't take that the wrong way. It's not my preferred option. I'm not fond of the idea of giving up my business. I've been doing it for 7 years now and I'd like to see atleast 7 more. I'd like to think that with that much time invested, I'll be able to somehow turn it into an actual career. That's kind of hard to do when every improvement you make to the site actually serves to reduce page views while the readership stays pretty much the same.

Submitted by Woody | 6 Comments - last comment by: Radial

Posted: Sunday, May 27th 2007

Taks and I went to Target in the hopes of acquiring a second Guitar Hero controller for the 360. No such luck. But as we walked up the aisle we noticed this white box, easily recognizable for it's simplicity and my personal acquaintance with its relative rarity. There sitting lonely in the bottom of a locked display case was a Nintendo Wii. I immediately turned and headed for the electronics sections' checkout counter, got the attention of the cashier who was busy on the phone with another customer, and secured the box as quickly as possible. Where there was one in the display case, there were more locked into the cabinet under his work station. For a moment I considered buying a second system, specifically to give away on GU. But the groan of my credit card was damn near audible. Now I have the distinct pleasure of being able to pay three times too much for it over the course of the next 5 years. Hooray for me dammit. Hooray for me.

Submitted by Woody | 7 Comments - last comment by: LordKivlov

Posted: Friday, May 18th 2007

I was updating my Gamespot Profile when I noticed a "game collection" section. I added a few games for the hell of it, and realized that Gamespot had a method of tracking the "estimated value" of my collection. Now, there's no information on how this total is calculated, but it piqued my curiosity none the less. So, I dug out my console "game" box, pc game case, and all the MMOG game boxes I have stored neatly on my bookshelf.

I entered the 100+ games I had physical evidence of and checked the estimated value. $4,518.90. And I only have a little over 100 games (110 entered). I can only imagine the estimated value of some of the more hardcore gamers/collectors.

Submitted by Woody | 4 Comments - last comment by: KaiTenSatsuma

Posted: Thursday, May 17th 2007

If this were a regular year I would have just gotten back from E3 a few days ago. I'd still be sweating as I talked about upcoming gaming hotness while picking through my swag bag to show off the various goodies. But, this isn't a regular year. E3 is dead and those events that are rushing to fill its place just aren't.

The new "E3" is a series of meetings that one must be invited to. But, as I understand it, each company has a limited number of invitations they can offer. This clips the wings of smaller sites like mine. We're passed over so that "news" sources with a larger readership draw can be invited. In this way their invitations aren't wasted.

Ultimately, I'm fine without the swag. And E3 had gotten far too big for its britches. It was no longer catering to pure industry professionals, merchants, journalists, etc. And it certainly wasn't supporting smaller gaming entities anymore. It had become a bloated noise machine with one booth trying to outdo the next who was trying to outdo the next.

Beyond that, the event pushed developers to whip up a version of the game that was playable on the floor, in most cases far before the release date. That crunch often caused games to be delivered in a state that got the product slammed by game "journalists" who ignored the process completely.

Even with all the flaws though, I miss it. That blinking, noisy press of gaming goodness is gone for me. Other conventions might hint at it, but it's not going to be the same again. I guess that leaves me to find a new gaming Mecca. I'm open to suggestions.

Submitted by Woody | 1 Comment - last comment by: lakoda

Posted: Thursday, May 10th 2007

It's not often that I'm willing to discuss the inner workings of GU; it just feels like I'm pulling back the curtain to expose the man at the controls. That example is probably far closer to the truth than I'd like it to be. Meaning, as the sole person responsible for GU if I pull back the curtain too far, people will be looking directly at me. And, apparently, I'm a touch uncomfortable with that level of scrutiny. But GU is first and foremost a community. Everyone here is part of it. So, this blog section is supposed to help me get over my trepidations and keep you guys informed as to how GU is doing, and where I intend to take it next.


Traffic
In the spirit of blunt honesty, I will say, without equivocating that I am concerned. For the last couple of years the traffic through GU has begun to stagnate. Our readership is still growing but the curve is flattening out. But, (and this will be a theme throughout this entry) I am an artist; I have no idea how to grow the site. It's never been a focus of mine. In the field of dreams style of thinking, I always figured if I drew it "they" would come. And they did; but, we certainly haven't experienced the level of success that some newer sites have enjoyed. I'd like to change that; but, do not know how.

Advertising
When I first started GU, advertising was not even a consideration. But, as the site grew and I began dedicating more of my day to it (eventually making it my full time job) the need for advertising dollars became apparent. In a couple of years it became my primary source of income. But there have been some missteps. On two different occasions I've put control of GU advertising in the hands of other people and the end result was not what I'd hoped for. Since the beginning of last month GU has not made a single dollar from advertising. I'm an artist, not a salesman. I do not know how to cold call/email companies and successfully ask them to give me money.

Taxes
Last year was a really good year for GU. But, because of issues beyond my control, all of the money I earned slipped away along with my reserves leaving me with a significant tax bill that I couldn't pay outright. This has been driving my decisions lately. And as much as I hate to do it, it's an issue that I will have to beg for help with. As it stands the plan is to open the site to panel sales, original artwork auctions, and commissions again. Donations are much appreciated, but I prefer to feel like you folks got something for your money.

xViews
xViews is a project to support the writing endeavors of the GU readership and to provide a place for industry professionals to speak their mind and discuss issues related to their field. This section is currently in the works and should be opening at GU soon.

Donations
I'm currently working on a new donation system at GU that would associate levels of reward with levels of contribution. The idea is not fully fleshed out. So, I can't go into tremendous detail. But, this would let us get back to giving away artwork from wallpapers, etc.

Writing
I've contended since the beginning of GU that I am not a writer. I don't think the comic is terrible. I've read worse. But, I'm a perfectionist. I want the best for the comic AND for the readership. If I ever found a writer that seemed to share my views and understood the true nature of my characters, I'd bring them on board to write for GU in a heart beat.

Forums
The forums are strict; they always have been. The purpose is to make a safe place for people to post their views without feeling like they're going to be attacked. And though some folks consider the rules too limiting, others have found that they can say anything they like as long as they learn how to apply the rules to what they say and how they say it. There are a few holding points such as politics and religion, but this is because every thread we've ever had about one of those two issues has degraded quickly into useless, rule breaking strife. And, that's just not what the forums are about. That being said, the forum rules need to be changed a little bit. The Easy Ways aren't all easy ways to get in trouble any more. A handful of them are considered minor issues these days and should be "Unspoken" Rules instead. That particular shakeup will happen in time and we'll deal with it as it comes. There will be a forum announcement when they're done.


So there you have it; GU's first blog post. A little bitching, a little whining, and a whole lot of info about GU that I wouldn't typically share (particularly the money stuff so don't give me crap about it). Other than that, comment away. And if you're a person with the knowledge/time to help me on one of the issues listed above, please let me know.

Submitted by Woody | 9 Comments - last comment by: Woody