Meet Yahtzee at PAX, Get Stuff

[Estelindis]

Why not scrap this and just do it proper for the next PAX rather than try to do this at the last minute in a complete and total scramble? At this point I can't get a pass to enter PAX anyways; so even if I were interested in throwing money at you guys, it wouldn't serve me any purpose seeing as how I literally cannot possibly attend the event. You are asking people to fund an event that they cannot go to.

You can call the efforts to get him here whatever you want. But the execution here is spectacularly shoddy.

Actually, based on a comment on the RocketHub page, the fan meet-up won't require a PAX pass. Janelle Bonanno wrote:

Yes, you must already have a PAX badge to attend PAX. You do NOT need a PAX badge to attend the community meet-up since that will be held in a different location, off-site and independent of PAX. I hope this clarifies

 

[dyre]

I wonder who would pay $5000 to get their game ripped apart by Yahtzee >_>
Also, couldn't the $10-for-a-question thing lead to ridiculous number of questions?

Pretty interesting, and I really don't see anything morally offensive about it, but the cheapest reward relevant to my interests is $75, which I can't really afford to shell out for a poster

 

[The Virgo]

I won't be able to make it! :'-(

*cries*

 

[Xanthious]

I think what sticks out to me the most about this mess is not how haphazardly it was seemingly thrown together or that it reeks of pandering but how grossly they are overvaluing their product. So let me get this straight, for 100 dollars I will get the pleasure of being in the same room with a guy that makes funny videos on the internet and would probably prefer chewing off his own arm if it meant he could get out of doing this event? Where do I sign up to never have to have something like this presented to me ever again?

Look I like Zero Punctuation as much as the next guy but for the 20 grand your looking at dropping to get Yahtzee over here you could probably get someone with actual celebrity to show up. Twenty thousand dollars! Let that sink in for a minute. That's more than a good chunk of this site bring home in a year just to fly someone to PAX.

I get why you don't to spend Escapist's funds on this, because it's an absolute waste of money in every sense of the word! Seriously, you'd rather spend 10k to fly a guy out rather than spend 8k less and maybe fly him out a day early so he can rest prior to the event. I don't know how much a hotel costs per night but I bet it's a hell of a lot cheaper than 8 thousand dollars.

I get you want to do something special for the fans. I do. However, look at a site like spill.com, an animated movie review site . They have a pretty big fanbase probably a bit smaller than The Escapist. They throw a FOUR DAY gathering once a year and bring in guests like the guys that do Red vs Blue, well known music acts, hell they even manage to rent out entire bars/theaters for panels and parties at night and you get to mingle with the guys that run the site the entire four days. You know what they manage to bring this in for? About 40 bucks a head for a four day pass. Yeah, they can do a four day event like that for 40 a head (less than you are asking for a signed poster no less) and you expect people to drop 100 bucks a head to spend an hour or so with Yahtzee. Good luck with that.

 

[deserteagleeye]

Call me naive, but I think that the money going towards The Escapist is a good enough cause. I believe that the funders will use the money to benefit the site and get the name out there. I'm mean it's not like they're IGN right? Although, I don't like the idea of paying for someone else's company. That doesn't sit right with me.

 

[scott91575]

Oh man. What can we learn from this adventure?

This reminds me of how Socialism doesn't work, but maybe it's all in the phrasing.

Socialist Example: Contribute to the party, for the benefit of the team! Get a reward!

Capitalist Example: Buy this autographed poster! Proceeds go to this big party we're throwing at PAX!

Capitalism win: http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Economic comprehension fail

Socialism win:

 

[deserteagleeye]

I mean... if all you're saying is "I don't think getting a poster at PAX is worth $20" or "meeting Yahtzee isn't worth X" or whatever, well, OK. Um...then you shouldn't participate. I personally think women's shoes are overpriced, but I don't get morally outraged at the idea that some women's shoes are $500.

http://us.christianlouboutin.com/shoes/platforms/bianca-botta-calf.html

Worth. Every. Penny.

Also more than my rent. Sigh...

Sorry to interrupt the moral outrage.

Those are really hot shoes. We should RocketHub that. Maybe we can get our users to pay for you to model sexy boots.

Second that.

 

[Powerman88]

I guess I'd feel somewhat more assured if I knew exactly where the money was going. Even if the Escapist were to say, "We're taking the money so we never have to run another fscking SlimJim ad," y'know, I'd give that serious consideration.

If users were willing to contribute enough for us to publish The Escapist without ads, I can assure you we would be willing to run the site without ads. Perhaps we could do a $250,000 Rockethub project - if we hit the target we'll turn off ads for a month?

Anyway, regarding other concerns here:
1) I was the one who recommended that Extra Credits use RocketHub. RocketHub's attorney is a close personal friend of mine. We have been monitoring crowdsourcing as an opportunity for a long time.

2) Suggesting that this idea is somehow "wrong" because its not for charity tells me you have no idea what RocketHub is actually for. RocketHub is not meant to be primarily for charitable causes. In fact RocketHub specifically rules out using RocketHub for charity.

If you don't believe me, read RocketHub's official FAQ:
http://rockethub.org/profiles/blogs/your-project-description
"#5 ? Disclaimers: It?s important to explain that RocketHub is neither an investment nor a charity. It is an exchange ? Rewards for RocketFuel. Trade, not aid."

REPEAT: RocketHub is not a charity. Traid, not aid. We're not asking you for your charity for Yahtzee. We came up with some things we thought you might like, such as an exclusive poster. We're offering those things for sale. If enough of you take those offers, then we're promisng to use the funds to send Yahtzee to PAX and do a big meet-up with his fans. if not, then... we won't do that.

Put another way: The Escapist might have just offered signed exclusive ZP posters for sale, like we normally sell our merchandise. Rather than offer to use the money to send him to PAX, we might have used the money to just throw ourselves an office party with bacardi and strippers.

Are you seriously going to argue that (a) selling posters while promising to use money to send Yahtzee to PAX is NOT acceptable, but (b) selling posters while making no promises is acceptable?

Or is the position that The Escapist ought not sell anything, because Capitalism is EEEEVIL?

If you want to sell things to raise money why wouldn't you just say "here is some merchandise for sale?"

I have been a fan of the Escapist for years now and have been coming back every Wednesday since 2007 for ZP. I have grown to really like a lot of the Escapist's other features. This, however, is just kind of offensive.

Are you guys PBS? (Sorry for the reference you wouldn't get non-Americans!)

I have no problem watching the stupid Slim Jim ads or having the popup come up in the bottom half of the screen because I know ads pay for me to be entertained week after week. I have even considered a premium membership because I do get a lot of enjoyment out of this site. This, however, really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

You guys messed up. This was/is a terrible idea that is alienating a lot of fans. I understand you were trying something new, I understand how maybe one could think this is a good idea, and I understand that this site needs to make money, but it really came off as a dick move.

Admit it, cut it out, and move on.

 

[Roboto]

This thread has now taught me that next time I argue with my girlfriend about anything, I should have pictures of shoes and boots at the ready.

Shoes will fix a LOT, my friend.

I guess this means that Yahtzee is the Christian Louboutin* of the gaming world. ;-)

* Yes, I had to look that up too.

Wait. Everyone keeps bringing up the Allison thing. Wasn't most of the money that was "donated" to her surgery used for the EC guys to open up some indie game studio or something along those lines? How is this any worse?

The purpose of the donation drive was to raise money for Allison's surgery. However, fans gave much more money than was actually needed. Accordingly, Extra Credits are using the surplus funds to further innovation in gaming. Given that anyone who watches Extra Credits does so because of interest in that topic, there's absolutely nothing to which one could legitimately object.

I think it mainly boils down to nobody wants to believe their favorite, beloved website is broke. We associate ourselves with our hobbies, and a call for money can ruffle people's peace in the stability of the whole situation.

 

[Podunk]

Escapist, I love you, and I've decided for a while now to join the Pub Club as soon as I get some cash...

But still, the first thing that came to mind when I saw this is that one Penny Arcade comic:

And before anyone gets all outraged, yes I know it's not the same.

 

[Radelaide]

I mean... if all you're saying is "I don't think getting a poster at PAX is worth $20" or "meeting Yahtzee isn't worth X" or whatever, well, OK. Um...then you shouldn't participate. I personally think women's shoes are overpriced, but I don't get morally outraged at the idea that some women's shoes are $500.

http://us.christianlouboutin.com/shoes/platforms/bianca-botta-calf.html

Worth. Every. Penny.

Also more than my rent. Sigh...

If you're my shoe size, we can share them! You have them one month, fly them to Australia, I'll have them for one month and fly them back!

If I don't glue them to my feet permanently because they're so pretty *_*

 

[Micalas]

I mean... if all you're saying is "I don't think getting a poster at PAX is worth $20" or "meeting Yahtzee isn't worth X" or whatever, well, OK. Um...then you shouldn't participate. I personally think women's shoes are overpriced, but I don't get morally outraged at the idea that some women's shoes are $500.

http://us.christianlouboutin.com/shoes/platforms/bianca-botta-calf.html

Worth. Every. Penny.

Also more than my rent. Sigh...

Sorry to interrupt the moral outrage.

I am a man seeking a woman wearing these.

 

[LobsterFeng]

This thread is hilarious, I love how cynical everyone is here.

I actually don't think I'd like to sit with Yahtzee I mean even if he was joking, he doesn't exactly hide the fact that he can't stand us fans (and any other human beings for that matter) so sitting and chatting with him while eating just seems awkward to me.

 

[MaximillionMiles]

MASSIVE SNIP

This guy's post is long, but says it all, really. The only thing I would add is that the timing of this was really, really bad. With the two donation drives so close together, comparison between the Extra Credits and this offer is inevitable, although I appreciate how this kind of thing is a lot more obvious in hindsight.

The fact that extra Credits are ridiculously idealistic and wide-eyed, while Yahtzee is cynical and misanthropic (even if he is trying to change that image lately) may have been a factor too.

Still not paying anything myself, for the same reasons as many others. I can't afford a flight to Australia myself, much less help pay it for someone else, and the rewards are just too expensive and not that attractive. Then again I'm poor as a church mouse, so not the target of this campaign, certainly.

 

[Formica Archonis]

I think you mean sparse, though now I am having visions of Russ Pitts dressed as either Master Chief, or King Leonidas

Please, no, I'm still drinking to try forget the Russ/Lady Gaga thing (that was my fault to begin with). Oh, look, there's still a beer in the fridge. Come here, beer....

 

[ResonanceSD]

This thread has now taught me that next time I argue with my girlfriend about anything, I should have pictures of shoes and boots at the ready.

Shoes will fix a LOT, my friend.

I guess this means that Yahtzee is the Christian Louboutin* of the gaming world. ;-)

* Yes, I had to look that up too.

Wait. Everyone keeps bringing up the Allison thing. Wasn't most of the money that was "donated" to her surgery used for the EC guys to open up some indie game studio or something along those lines? How is this any worse?

The purpose of the donation drive was to raise money for Allison's surgery. However, fans gave much more money than was actually needed. Accordingly, Extra Credits are using the surplus funds to further innovation in gaming. Given that anyone who watches Extra Credits does so because of interest in that topic, there's absolutely nothing to which one could legitimately object.

I think it mainly boils down to nobody wants to believe their favorite, beloved website is broke. We associate ourselves with our hobbies, and a call for money can ruffle people's peace in the stability of the whole situation.

I doubt they are broke, they just put a job offer out for a new newswriter.


EDIT: Audition, still not the right word, but closer than "offer"

 

[Sixcess]

The dates for PAX Prime were announced in January. It's now July. If this wasn't thought up in the last couple of weeks why leave it to the last minute?

If it was thought up in the last couple of weeks then it's hard not to draw cynical connections between this and the Extra Credits thing. Like "holy shit, some of our members have a lot of money. Hey, maybe we can get some..."

If you'd pitched this two or three months ago, and in slightly different wording, I think it would have worked. As it is it looks bad.

And pimping out Yahtzee at ten bucks a question is just tawdry. I know that games have microtransactions now, but that doesn't mean gaming websites should.

 

[NecrolordGR]

If users were willing to contribute enough for us to publish The Escapist without ads, I can assure you we would be willing to run the site without ads. Perhaps we could do a $250,000 Rockethub project - if we hit the target we'll turn off ads for a month?

While the original post left me a little disappointed with the escapist, this for me seems worse. It seems to suggest that either:

a) The Escapist currently makes $250k a month by ads on average, but can't seem to put 20k together for the event, or

b) The Escapist makes way less than that, but likes the sound of 250k.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Virgil]

Am I missing something here?

Yeah, you're missing:

c) That's how much it costs just to keep The Escapist running for a month.

It's not something we talk about, but it is not cheap or easy to keep a site of this size running, and producing the amount of content that we do. We get by, we don't get rich, and we don't have piles of money laying around to do lots of fun extra things. Not sure why people think we do.

 

[puffy786]

To be honest, I don't think that Yahtzee is that funny IRL. He mentioned taking around 2 days to write a script for a review. I don't think that he is a person that can make entertainment while in front of fans. Also, I don't think that Yahtzee really wants to go, and that he is just being pressured by Escapist so that the site can turn a profit, and the fans that would appear would be very big and plane out annoy Yahtzee. He has mentioned his dislike of fans.