Support NeoGAF

[RiggyRob]

In light of EviLore being denied an E3 Media pass and the discussion that arose from it, I did a quick search for NeoGAF's history and found an interesting 3 part interview conducted by Alex Donaldson (who is also a GAF member - APZonerunner) in May 2013 for VG247.

Part 1: http://www.vg247.com/2013/05/15/the-story-of-neogaf-part-one-humble-beginnings/

Influential, disruptive and notorious, NeoGAF has been called many things. Alex Donaldson sat down with owner Tyler Malka to discuss the site’s birth, influence and growth over the years.

Tyler Malka likely isn’t a name many gamers are familiar with, and yet he’s a surprisingly influential figure in the video game industry. He’s the sole owner of NeoGAF, one of the most dominant gaming communities online.

In the world of invested gamers with a keen eye for news, NeoGAF is notorious. It counts among its members the likes of David Jaffe and Cliff Bleszinski as well as scores of gaming community managers, media and other industry alumni.

While other corporately-owned forums such as GameFAQs rival it on size, NeoGAF is the largest and most successful independently-owned video games community around.

Part 2: http://www.vg247.com/2013/05/16/the-story-of-neogaf-part-two-scandal-and-control/

One of the key contributing factors to NeoGAF’s astonishing growth since 2006 has been due to the site becoming a hub for a wide range of activity. It’s a primary source of news and traffic for many gaming websites, and a site visited by famed developers or their representatives.

Combine that with 100,000 members and some 50,000 posts per day and you have a recipie for anarchy and scandal. As part of my ongoing discussion with NeoGAF’s lone owner, Tyler ‘EviLore’ Malka, we discussed how on earth managing such a vast number of people works, keeping the boards free and functional without hitting legal trouble or turning the them into landfill.

For Malka, finding the balance hasn’t always been easy – but the path to NeoGAF’s current moderation handbook is one decorated with well-publicised bumps in the road – the most famous of which are a collection of damaged industry figures – a stark warning to others wanting to get involved on the gaming world’s most notorious message board.

Part 3: http://www.vg247.com/2013/05/17/the-story-of-neogaf-part-three-money-money-money/

The line of questioning at that point was obvious; how often, who, and is Malka ever tempted? He chuckled as I ask all three at once, and is pleasingly clear and honest in his answers. “On average, I get … I think I would say a buy-out offer on average every two weeks. I’ve been thinking we’d run out of corporations, but maybe not.

“It’s been happening extremely frequently lately, and I generally don’t respond. If I do respond, it’s a polite reply saying that I’m happy with doing what I’m doing, and I’ve had exorbitant offers before, and, y’know, you’re gonna have to do better than that. So let’s just move on, go our separate ways.

“I’ve had some really lucrative offers – $5 million offers,“ he revealed, but the sound of my shock forced him to pause and chuckle again. “Kind of insane, isn’t it? But – I’m passionate about what I do.

There are also a couple of old threads where EviLore was interviewed by various sites including the original interview thread:

GamePro, 2010: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388014&highlight=evilore+vg247

Edge, 2013 (probably the same interview as the VG247 one): http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=538437&highlight=evilore+vg247

VG247, 2013 (the original thread the interview was posted in): http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=557918&highlight=evilore+vg247

NeoGAF stats as of May 2013 (all found in Part 3):
Page views: 70 million per month
Unique visitors: 2.6 million
Total number of posts: 50 million

NeoGAF stats as of today (from front page):
Threads: 598,013
Posts: 67,027,529
Members: 132,083

Fun fact: EviLore hates bronies.

Props to him turning down that kind of money, I know I would've just taken the deal and ran.

EDIT: Looks like he's been offered even more since then.

As a bonus, have some gifs! Plus a quality WebM from Nibel.

Mods, feel free to lock or merge this thread with an existing one, I didn't feel like I should necrobump the original year-old thread.

 

[Snuggles]

I would have taken the money and never looked back.

 

[Dead Prince]

In 2014 E3 denied him access

 

[Tripon]

Should this be in gaming? Might be a better topic in off topic considering how meta this is.

 

[Broken Joystick]

In 2014 E3 denied him access

"We'll have our own E3, with blackjack, and hookers."

 

[anexanhume]

In 2014 E3 denied him access

The Terrible Cost.

 

[Doc Evils]

Sony bought out gaf right

Spoiler

/s

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Evil ore, manning up for us.

 

[ComputerMKII]

 

[TacticalFox88]

Would've taken the money and would've asked for permanent mod status.

The power AND the dolla!

 

[BigTnaples]

Crazy.


Awesome.

 

[Wario64]

Should this be in gaming? Might be a better topic in off topic considering how meta this is.

NeoGAF is primarily a gaming forum. Don't kid yourself

 

[PhatSaqs]

Should have took the money and re-opened Gaming-Age Forum

 

[x-Lundz-x]

Much more restraint than I would have. 5 Million, I would have taken it and ran.

 

[lensoftruth]

I would have taken the money and never looked back.

So you'd have kept the site as he has done then?

 

[Sami+]

EviLore is the shit. Respect.

 

[Altered Juice]

Should this be in gaming? Might be a better topic in off topic considering how meta this is.

 

[Laconic]

I would have taken the money and never looked back.

He's a betting man, methinks. And I'd say he's looking at a pretty bright and lucrative long-view.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

With the traffic here, this sounds like a good move, both financially and integrity wise for the site

 

[Xpliskin]

Kinda old

 

[Ape]

He's probably made close to 5m in ad revenue since.

 

[captmcblack]

NeoGAF will be more valuable than that sooner rather than later.

Props for keeping it independent, though. The current revenue is letting him ball hardcore already, and the independent-ness of the forum keeps its status pure. Best of all worlds.

 

[clockworkinyou]

I'm sure NHL-GAF has already pointed this out, but me being from Pittsburgh; Tyler looks like he could be a cousin of Evgeni Malkin.

 

[silver.tongue]

I remember something like this happened. Never knew the money figure tho...

I would have taken the money lol

 

[Syf]

Really good to know he values the integrity of the site so much. Also I had no idea there's 2.6 million unique GAF members.

 

[PsihoPerihelion]

Smart move. Neogaf will be worth way more than that in the future. Then he can sell it and retire for life.

Remember, there's always money on the Neogaf stand.

 

[rjc571]

He's nuts, I'd take the money and run

 

[Diablohead]

I'm happy that EviLore has not sold, most things break when changing hands for the worst.

 

[Verelios]

I remember that, but I STILL LOVE YOU EVIL.

BROS OVER CASH

 

[Hot Coldman]

$5 million to nuke a gaming forum.

...Hmmmmm. Fuck it, I'd sell out.

 

[Corky]

I love Gaf.

 

[K.Jack]

You crazy Evilore, unless the ads are paying major bread.

 

[Lambda Pie]

i assume you made this OT down on one knee, surrounded by candles.

 

[RiggyRob]

Really good to know he values the integrity of the site so much. Also I had no idea there's 2.6 million unique GAF members.

There isn't, there's 130,000+ members. Unique users mean people who visit the site who aren't members. Should I clarify that in the OP?

Threads: 598,013
Posts: 67,027,529
Members: 132,083

 

[Syf]

There isn't, there's 130,000+ members. Unique users mean people who visit the site who aren't members. Should I clarify that in the OP?

Ah, gotcha. Maybe change it to unique visitors?

 

[Dragon1893]

I would have taken the money and never looked back.

He did the math, it will pay off in the long run, if it hasn't already.

 

[Darksol]

You may hate BronyGAF but we still love you

 

[Hollycat]

EviLore, can I have like, $10,000. I'll draw you a picture of a kitty cat for it.




I really like this place, and wouldn't want to see how it would change, so I'm glad he hasn't sold it.

 

[Tenchi Ryu]

I like video games, but not that damn much to turn down 5 million. Stronger man than me.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

That Hot Fuzz .gif... I like it here.

 

[Uncle Rupee]

Speaking of all these game devs and journos with accounts, it would be cool if they were color-coded or something. Like blue for developers and green for journos or whatever.

 

[Mengy]

Tyler's passion and dedication is part of what makes NeoGAF so incredible. I'm not surprised he hasn't "sold out", it's not what he set out to do when he started this place so long ago.

Edit: also, anyone who loves Kohan gets kudos in my book!

 

[TheWorthyEdge]

This guy is god. Literally, god.

 

[ggnoobIGN]

What an idiot

 

[TangoAlphaLima]

He's probably made close to 5m in ad revenue since.

Based on the estimated page views from OP, and using an ad revenue calculation I found through Google (though I can't verify the accuracy of it) of $1.20 per 1,000 page views, EviLore would be pulling in $84,000 of ad revenue per month. Obviously you have to take out operating costs to determine the profit from that, and I have no idea what the operating costs would be.

Regardless, just based on gross revenue alone, it would take EviLore nearly 6 years to earn $5 million.

 

[SniperHunter]

Who was trying to buy out neogaf for $5 million? Thats the real question

I hope he doesnt sell it

 

[Elginer]

I woulda taken that damn money. EviLore is a better man than I.

 

[enzo_gt]

Oh god that Bombcast was so awkward.

 

[Syph Medwes]

Should this be in gaming? Might be a better topic in off topic considering how meta this is.

hahahahaha

I like how Tyler is offered a seat and Patrick has to stand in this gif lol

 

[Chocolate & Vanilla]

I would a sold you fuckers out in a heartbeat.