We’ve been at this for two months or so now, Will and I. It’s time to ask: What do you think? How are we doing? What now?
We’d be grateful if you’d click ahead, read some of the questions we’ve got on our minds, and leave a comment that either answers some of them or goes off on whatever tangent you think tells us what we really need to know.
Here are some things we’re curious about:
How, and how often, do you follow the site? Do you visit GPW directly, follow the RSS feed (what reader?), or some of both? Also, common blogger wisdom suggests we should be spewing content day in and day out, come hell or high water. But you tell us: What’s the ideal post frequency for you?
What do you think of the content? We worry, not infrequently, that we come across as too academic. (Or boring.) Also, how’s the length? Would shorter posts be better? Longer ones? Probably we should be funnier, right?
How about the ads? Do they bug you? Do you ignore them? Can you think of a better way for us to cover hosting and buy a round at GenCon for all y’all faithful readers? Do you know a game, story, company, or service that should be advertising here? (Is it your game, story company, or service? Our rates are quite reasonable.)
Any particular posts so far strike you as particularly good? Or particularly bad?
That’s right, Internet. We’re asking for your opinion. We’ve got our hip-waders and our hard-hats on. Do tell.
Hello Jeff and Will.
It will be a pleasure to answer to these few questions.
How, and how often, do you follow the site?
I follow the site through RSS via Google Reader. The post frequency is excellent for me: I prefer quality over quantity.
What do you think of the content?
I subscribed to this blog for its more “academic” side, something which I missed in the gaming websites I follow. So no, this does not bother me, nor the length. If you have a topic of interest, I’d rather have you explore it than just presenting it at the surface. And well, for the funny part, this is up to you!
How about the ads?
Reading the site through RSS, I don’t see them that often. But we’re used to them in today’s Internet, so I think they are alright.
Any particular posts so far strike you as particularly good?
My favorite so far is definitely (Don’t Just) Let the Computer Do It. As both a tabletop RPG Game Master and someone involved in MMORPG player events, this article brought many interesting points on how online RPGs should put more emphasis on creating unique roleplaying experiences, instead of just static content.
And for bad ones, this is the beauty of the Internet. If you read something that doesn’t interest you, you just skip it and move on. So no, I can’t remember any post that really stroke me as something bad. I guess it’s a good thing!
Kepp up the good work!
How, and how often, do you follow the site? Do you visit GPW directly, follow the RSS feed (what reader?), or some of both? Also, common blogger wisdom suggests we should be spewing content day in and day out, come hell or high water. But you tell us: What’s the ideal post frequency for you?
I found the site after doing searches on RPG theory, and I’ve been incredibly pleased with it ever since. I have the sites feed on my Google Homepage reader, and check it for updates from there. It is a highly convenient way to catch the updates. I enjoy the posts not because of their frequency, but because of their depth. When I read a post from GPW, I usually read it one day, come back to it later in the day, and if I’m going to comment, I do it after digesting. Quality content lasts longer and has a big replay value.
What do you think of the content? We worry, not infrequently, that we come across as too academic. (Or boring.) Also, how’s the length? Would shorter posts be better? Longer ones? Probably we should be funnier, right?
The information on the site does come across as academic, and this does create a fairly large barrier to entry, but it also prevents comments from being “in my game I . ” type of comments. I won’t leave a comment unless I feel I truly have something to add to the conversation going on.
How about the ads? Do they bug you? Do you ignore them? Can you think of a better way for us to cover hosting and buy a round at GenCon for all y’all faithful readers? Do you know a game, story, company, or service that should be advertising here? (Is it your game, story, company, or service? Our rates are quite reasonable.)
I don’t particularly notice the ads, which is good for content, but bad for Ad revenue. I don’t think many readers mind any kind of ads, so long as they are not overpowering or break the site design. The stark white background is excellent for reading, but almost prevents the use of color ads from companies. The website Something Positive (http://www.somethingpositive.net/) does a unique comic sponsoring ad style with a spin off comic. The creator gets a sponsor for each strip he does for it, and runs the ad with that strip every time the strip is shown. Sponsor per post might not be a bad option. Ad revenue/content distribution is always a tricky thing to lock down on a website.
Any particular posts so far strike you as particularly good? Or particularly bad?
I’ve not found a post yet that has been bad. I’ve found ones that I have to reach a little to grasp the concepts behind, or ones where I’ve had to make a wikipedia run to clarify a definition or concept. That isn’t bad though. Making people reach a bit farther always improves the person. While I don’t always bring this high a level of game theory into play when I’m actually sitting down at the table, it is always in the background noise when I’m designing.
Persude Robin Laws to post a few of his “Let’s Pop the Hood and Unscrew a Few Things on This Whole RPG Engine Thing” observations over here. When it comes to breaking down mechanics into something you can wrap your grubby little fingers around, he’s just jaw-droppingly intuitive.
Visiting the site
I see the site through the RSS feed, using Feed Demon. The advantage of RSS is that frequency doesn’t matter to me – I see new posts when they occur, and I’m not bothered when they don’t. If you’re looking for people to turn up on your site daily, then I can see the wisdom in daily posts. For peeps like me, it does not matter.
Ads
There are ads? I hadn’t noticed. This isn’t uncommon in frequent web users – we learn to edit the ads out in our heads.
Content
The content is certainly academic, and suffers from the usual problem with academic discussions of RPGs. Namely, the need for a descriptive vocabulary within which to work. Normally, people borrow their vocabulary from another, larger art form, and try to make it fit. (In your case, this seems to be primarily from drama.) The problem is that this falls short, as RPGs are not dramas (or simulations, or wargames, or whatever). Before sites like this are really able to discuss RPGs, someone is going to need to develop a vocabulary that’s specific to RPGs. I can see that you’re attempting to do that, and that keeps me reading, but I do feel you need to be bolder before you get there!
Anyway, random thoughts off the top of my head. Hope they’re some use. I’ll keep reading, which is probably the best comment I can give.
Cheers,
Graham
Actually, someone has already created a unique vocabulary to describe RPGs… the Forge has already done this for Indie RPGs.
The only problem is, anytime someone tries to actually use any vocabulary from the Forge, every person involved in the discussion is transformed into a Level 20 Demagogue consumed with an insatiable desire to rip everyone else’s head off so they can use the hollowed out skulls to store their non-polyhedral non-fortune randomizers.
(Ugh, apparently I can’t spell “Persuade”.)
Hi there. I read, but I don’t post comments because I have nothing interesting to say.
1) I read it whenever you post something new, as I have it among my RSS feeds. Your post frequency is fine– I’d rather you post when you’ve got something ironed out than try to adhere to some sort of schedule.
2) The content is fine. It’s a little abstract in some cases. That’s mainly because I’m not an author, so while I understand this stuff in theory, I would have no idea how to implement it. That said, this is one of my favorite blogs to read these days, and it reminds me that I need to read more blogs oriented around RPGs.
3) For the most part, I ignore the ads. It’s force of habit. That said, I do notice what I assume are contextual Amazon ads. They are OK.
4) The posts about Acts in storytelling games were good. I liked the Wii/lightsaber post. Archetypes and pigeonholes was also interesting.
How, and how often, do you follow the site? Do you visit GPW directly, follow the RSS feed (what reader?), or some of both?
I use the Sage plug-in for Firefox to check the RSS feed so I read whenever you’ve got a new post since generally I check my feeds once per day.
Also, common blogger wisdom suggests we should be spewing content day in and day out, come hell or high water. But you tell us: What’s the ideal post frequency for you?
Ideally, you should post as frequently as you’ve got something interesting to say. Start post nonsense for the sake of keeping readership and it seems likely you won’t get that result.
What do you think of the content? We worry, not infrequently, that we come across as too academic. (Or boring.) Also, how’s the length? Would shorter posts be better? Longer ones? Probably we should be funnier, right?
The content so far has been interesting. Academic, yes, but interesting. I would say that if you’re getting comments on a post then you are engaging your audience. If you aren’t . . .
How about the ads? Do they bug you? Do you ignore them? Can you think of a better way for us to cover hosting and buy a round at GenCon for all y’all faithful readers? Do you know a game, story, company, or service that should be advertising here? (Is it your game, story company, or service? Our rates are quite reasonable.)
The advertising is noticeable but I have no problem ignoring it.
Any particular posts so far strike you as particularly good? Or particularly bad?
Posts that generate discussion = good, IMO.
How, and how often, do you follow the site?
I’m just starting to visit the site, so I’d say twice a week or so. I usually catch updates through MyYahoo page (I’ve got the RSS feed there).
What do you think of the content?
It is a little academic, but really that seems to be the “style” of the site. I’m not looking for rants or jokes here, I’m looking for good discussion of stories and games.
How about the ads?
I use Amazon on my site as well, so no big thing. What about putting up a Paypal or Amazon donate button?
Jeff/Will,
Great stuff. I appreciate you both taking the time to share your thoughts.
How, and how often, do you follow the site?
I check in every day and am very grateful for the less frequent, more in-depth discussions. Every couple of days, even once a week, would be fine with me.
What do you think of the content?
I keep returning to the site because of the academic bent. Funny is great, but it’s also a lot of work. Do what’s necessary to keep it fresh for you and I’ll gladly follow along.
How about the ads?
Site seems very clean and easy to read. Don’t notice the ads much.
Any particular posts so far strike you as particularly good? Or particularly bad?
I enjoyed Jeff’s Act-Structure analysis (and Matt C.’s take on it) and am looking forward to more of Will’s gameflow presentation. I’m interested in any discussions about trends in and critiques of RPG and board game design. Occasional “guest speakers” might be a nice way to keep things fresh. I always enjoy folks like Laws, Hite, and Forbeck, but if you can tease out some of the designers who we don’t hear from as much (Wilson, Hensley, Pondsmith, any of a dozen folks at WotC or GW), that would be cool too.
Thanks again,
Alex
I follow on RSS (Feedreader), which seems to be the norm, round here anyway. All the attributes are fine.
Sadly as talky and opinionated as I am, for whatever reason I don’t often comment on blogs. I don’t know why, perhaps lack of time due to kids, hobbies, and work chewing up enough time I feel bad enough just following all the sites I do.
I read via RSS on Google Reader. I especially like the way it’s set up to give a teaser on the RSS reader, yet bring me to your site for the full article: well done.
Blog as often as you have something to say. That’s why I use RSS. I don’t much read sites that don’t have RSS feeds anymore, I haven’t got time to check individual URLs all over the web.
All of the articles have been interesting. I wish I’d read them while I was designing my game, instead of afterward.
I don’t notice the ads, especially at home where I use AdBlock on Firefox. When I read at work I don’t block the ads, but they aren’t too intrusive to disturb my reading.
Thanks for the answers, everyone. Keep them coming!
In the meantime, you can see we’re trying a few new tactics. The ads, crass though it might be to talk about them, weren’t doing anything for us, ideologically or functionally. For now, they’re gone.
We’re trying a few other things in their place.
Watch for cosmetic and a few substantive refinements in the coming weeks and do let us know what you dig and what you loathe.
In the meantime, seriously, I’m going to try to be funnier. Better funny than happy, Henry Rollins used to say.
I use Sage RSS feed reader to check for posts. Once it notifies me of a post, I go to the site.
Content is good. I don’t mind academic, and I don’t demand humor. I have two main requirements: tell me something worth knowing that I don’t already know, and do it on a subject that I’m interested in. The subject part is well covered, the other part is tougher. Article length isn’t important to me, I just don’t want to read something of dubious quality or something I’ve read twice before. For example, you can talk about games and narrative for pages and pages, but say something that Henry Jenkins, Greg Costikyan, Robin Laws, Jerry Holkins, etc haven’t said.
Advertising seems fine.
You’re doing pretty good, otherwise you wouldn’t be in my RSS list. 🙂
Just a heads-up that I gave you guys a little plug on Flames Rising:
http://www.flamesrising.com/gameplaywright
That’s fantastic, Matt. Many thanks!
(And Matt’s a fine example that there’s no need to wait for an invitation to pimp GPW. If you like what you read, spread the word!)