Leg End said:
In short, yes. No one seems to have access to the actual site code so we're basically on autopilot until something goes so wrong, the site breaks and won't be fixed.
Dang....
So the site is basically a zombie. No wonder bits and pieces are falling off. Reading the open letter, I got a little hopeful that maybe the forum could continue to run as a volunteer effort, but if no one has access to the code then even the grace of a benevolent programmer won't help.
I just noticed that this autumn marks the passing of ten years since I started lurking. I like to come back here and reminisce once in a while. It is quite amazing how Zero Punctuation rocketed this site out of obscurity. Google's data speaks for itself.
https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=zero%20punctuation,escapist,the%20escapists
The same data makes obvious the grim reality of the current state of affairs as well. The site is sinking into obscurity, and Yahtzee is keeping pace. His popularity is at 3% of what it was at its peak. I guess I can't blame people for tuning out. Although his videos are all I watch here, I rarely do. I don't know if his material has become less inspired or if it is I who has become tired of it. In any case, it doesn't make me laugh like it used to.
For the record, the apparent spike toward the tail end of the graph is not actually a spike in interest for The escapist. It is caused by the release of a video game called "The escapists". That game is shown as the yellow line. Note how it exactly matches the red line.