So is the Escapist dead?

[The Lunatic]

We've been told constantly that the forums were a small part of the website.

Now we're told that the forums were responsible for the entire downfall of the site?

... Doesn't quite add up.

More likely is that the content creators who brought people to the site moved on, and thus The Escapist found itself without any reason for people to come here.

It did well to last as long as it did, but, the reality is times change. And the idea of a website such as The Escapist, which hosted a few content creators isn't one that works in this new era. With monoliths like Youtube around.

Even Roosterteeth, as popular as they were has declined a bit and had to trim the fat. And The Escapist was nowhere near as eager to adapt as RT is.

 

[gsilver]

Yahtzee is probably kicking himself for signing such a long contract.
I don't know what they're paying him here, but he'd probably earn more on Patreon, easily.

Though there's also the question of ownership. People like Jim Sterling were able to buy the rights to their series, but Yahtzee may not be able to. Especially because ZP is about the only thing left on The Escapist proper.

 

[BaronVonVaderHam]

Getting rid of Good Bad Flicks didn't help.

 

[Tsun Tzu]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.1024592-An-Open-Letter-to-The-Escapist-Community

Although even the letter is partially outdated as the Community Content is essentially dead in the water as most of us have lost our ability to post news and articles (which is why I stopped doing the "New Game Releases" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/171046-New-game-releases-for-the-week-of-December-17-2017] if anyone was wondering).

Does anyone know why the Escapist was gutted like this? It seemed to me to be one of the most well-known videogaming-related sites with some of the best content producers out there, so why was it decided to let everyone go, stop producing everything except the flagship format and let the site itself rot? It just seems like such a strange decision.

Because this site was tainted and became damaged goods after Gamergate. That's why.

Though to be honest there were some behind the scenes issues going on with the site even before Gamergate became a hot button topic to discuss. I mean the whole Extra Credits scandal and a bunch of writers and contributors not getting paid comes to mind.

From what I understand this had more to do with it than anything. Nobody but me bothers with this shit because its stupid and boring but every Wednesday I use up all the new porn on the internet and have nothing to do. Basically if you slowly track back through the content, more than 3/4 of all the shows were cancelled or not renewed due to finances. Some were big kabooms like extra credits, others were a lot quieter like llr or the webcomics, but whether it was dropping interest in video aggregator sites or low investments, the escapist appears to have been slowly leaking money for some time. I'm sure there are plenty of contributing factors but personally I think youtubes improving usability and increasing market share lines up well with the escapists decline.

Nailed it.

Or, ya know, the bogeyman did the thing.

 

[darkrage6]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.1024592-An-Open-Letter-to-The-Escapist-Community

Although even the letter is partially outdated as the Community Content is essentially dead in the water as most of us have lost our ability to post news and articles (which is why I stopped doing the "New Game Releases" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/171046-New-game-releases-for-the-week-of-December-17-2017] if anyone was wondering).

Does anyone know why the Escapist was gutted like this? It seemed to me to be one of the most well-known videogaming-related sites with some of the best content producers out there, so why was it decided to let everyone go, stop producing everything except the flagship format and let the site itself rot? It just seems like such a strange decision.

Because this site was tainted and became damaged goods after Gamergate. That's why.

Actually it's because the owner is a bigot who happens to be a Milo fanboy and who openly admitted to hating the readers(at least according to Susan Arendt)

 

[Wakey87]

The place is on life support just no one is willing to pull the plug.

 

[zombiejoe]

You know sometimes I wonder what Yahtzee's feelings about the Escapist's dying state are.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.1024592-An-Open-Letter-to-The-Escapist-Community

Although even the letter is partially outdated as the Community Content is essentially dead in the water as most of us have lost our ability to post news and articles (which is why I stopped doing the "New Game Releases" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/171046-New-game-releases-for-the-week-of-December-17-2017] if anyone was wondering).

Does anyone know why the Escapist was gutted like this? It seemed to me to be one of the most well-known videogaming-related sites with some of the best content producers out there, so why was it decided to let everyone go, stop producing everything except the flagship format and let the site itself rot? It just seems like such a strange decision.

Because this site was tainted and became damaged goods after Gamergate. That's why.

Though to be honest there were some behind the scenes issues going on with the site even before Gamergate became a hot button topic to discuss. I mean the whole Extra Credits scandal and a bunch of writers and contributors not getting paid comes to mind.

From what I understand this had more to do with it than anything. Nobody but me bothers with this shit because its stupid and boring but every Wednesday I use up all the new porn on the internet and have nothing to do. Basically if you slowly track back through the content, more than 3/4 of all the shows were cancelled or not renewed due to finances. Some were big kabooms like extra credits, others were a lot quieter like llr or the webcomics, but whether it was dropping interest in video aggregator sites or low investments, the escapist appears to have been slowly leaking money for some time. I'm sure there are plenty of contributing factors but personally I think youtubes improving usability and increasing market share lines up well with the escapists decline.

YES! Thank you. Everyone likes to blame Gamergate, IceForce in particular, but the site was in decline long before then. Remember when we had Apocalypse Lane, Doomsday Arcade, Doraleous and Associates, Game Dogs, Escapist News Network, Top 5 with Lisa Foils, Extra Credits, Feed Dump, and I'm sure there's some I'm forgetting. All of these were dropped before Gamergate was a thing.

 

[Chewster]

This place is like David Caruso's career. Just when you think it is over, it lurches up again.

Any day now....

 

[EscapistAccount]

It did well to last as long as it did, but, the reality is times change. And the idea of a website such as The Escapist, which hosted a few content creators isn't one that works in this new era. With monoliths like Youtube around.

I'd also say that being a gamer is less of a niche hobby now, which makes it harder to base a subculture site around and means you naturally have more competitors.

 

[Warhound]

The Escapist is dead.

You are in a coma.

This is just a radical attempt to get you to wake up before its too late.

Come back.

Or not.

Ima a comment, not a cop.

 

[McMarbles]

It shambles ever forward, dead, but not knowing it's dead.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

You know sometimes I wonder what Yahtzee's feelings about the Escapist's dying state are.

He doesn't give two fucks as long as he gets paid. Although to be quite fair, I don't think he ever did anyway.

 

[bjarni19]

Now that I think about it, who exactly is maintaining the site?
What does the current staff of the escapist look like?
is it just a zero punctuation bot?

 

[tippy2k2]

Now that I think about it, who exactly is maintaining the site?
What does the current staff of the escapist look like?
is it just a zero punctuation bot?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.1024592-An-Open-Letter-to-The-Escapist-Community

Presumably SOMEONE is behind the scenes actually posting Zero Punctuation and making sure the site still exists but I don't think anyone knows for certain.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/6.1024592-An-Open-Letter-to-The-Escapist-Community

Presumably SOMEONE is behind the scenes actually posting Zero Punctuation and making sure the site still exists but I don't think anyone knows for certain.

Yahtzee himself is probably posting them.

 

[tippy2k2]

Although even the letter is partially outdated as the Community Content is essentially dead in the water as most of us have lost our ability to post news and articles (which is why I stopped doing the "New Game Releases" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/171046-New-game-releases-for-the-week-of-December-17-2017] if anyone was wondering).

What's stopping ya from posting those in the Gaming Discussion thread? I missed those threads :c

I missed this one evidently

There is nothing stopping me. But in large part, it's become an apathetic thing. If DEFY is going to make it that hard for us to help keep their site up and running, I'm not going to do it. Even now, I only really come on to bop SPAM and answer "Is The Escapist dying" threads?

 

[The Almighty Aardvark]

As long as people keep making these threads, it will never die

EDIT: By the way, I'm assuming this is something other people noticed, what happened to the "Quoted" inbox? I noticed that I haven't been getting notifications when someone replies to me

 

[Drathnoxis]

I assumed the other creators left The Escapist because Patreon was becoming a thing and they'd get more money that way
Nothing to do with GG.

This.

Also I'm probably on my last year of the premium membership. I'm not paying for one Yahtzee video a week, the privilege of reading idiotic arguing and having the annoying video ad at the bottom right. Sorry.

People are still paying for premium membership? You mean you didn't get it free with everyone else last year?

I was in the neighborhood and thought I would check out the dead smell..

*poke* *poke* still some life there

Why did you ban yourself?

As long as people keep making these threads, it will never die

EDIT: By the way, I'm assuming this is something other people noticed, what happened to the "Quoted" inbox? I noticed that I haven't been getting notifications when someone replies to me

They are broken. Quote notification turns off once a week, Sunday I think. You have to turn it back on manually from your profile.

Although even the letter is partially outdated as the Community Content is essentially dead in the water as most of us have lost our ability to post news and articles (which is why I stopped doing the "New Game Releases" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/171046-New-game-releases-for-the-week-of-December-17-2017] if anyone was wondering).

What's stopping ya from posting those in the Gaming Discussion thread? I missed those threads :c

I missed this one evidently

There is nothing stopping me. But in large part, it's become an apathetic thing. If DEFY is going to make it that hard for us to help keep their site up and running, I'm not going to do it. Even now, I only really come on to bop SPAM and answer "Is The Escapist dying" threads?

Nooo! The mod curse strikes again!

Screw Defy! Post in threads because WE like you!

 

[springheeljack]

The smell of death permeates everywhere from the windows to the walls...to the sweat drop down my balls