Support NeoGAF

[AHA-Lambda]

I'm not convinced I like PA, but yeah I see the point of kickstarters should be used for things that otherwise can't get funded (although there are planty of things out there where this isn't the case); whereas to PA this just an option.

And yeah I'm ok with the ads on PA, they're not too bad. It's not like spotify or something after all.

 

[Elginer]

He wouldn't be the first: https://twitter.com/cwgabriel/status/222729574079930369

Fucking hell man. Just holy fucking hell. I cannot believe the shit I am seeing. I sincerely hope this is all just some massive fucking social experiment. If not, then it's some major bullshit.

 

[FStop7]

Honestly though... does anybody here not use Ad Block Plus already?

I specifically turn it off on NeoGAF, Penny Arcade, and a couple of other sites that I support.

The ads on PA are so unobtrusive, anyhow.

 

[ultron87]

Fucking hell man. Just holy fucking hell. I cannot believe the shit I am seeing. I sincerely hope this is all just some massive fucking social experiment. If not, then it's some major bullshit.

It isn't like he is saying that their content is just as valuable as NPR or should be held with an equal level of esteem or that they are even similar businesses. Just that the two funding models are somewhat comparable.

 

[DJ Lushious]

NPR/Public Television provides actual, tangible rewards for pledges on a range of levels that take some modicum of time and effort to produce, not cynical jokes and zero effort propositions. They also are funded by a mix of viewers, sponsors and taxpayers and that's been the deal since it was established. I'm not sure what to think that they feel it's a comparable endeavor.

I think the whole analogy to NPR is so stupidly absurd and misguided, I want to shake my fist in anger! NPR is a non-profit entity that, without its pledges, would cease to exist. Penny Arcade, if they never received any pledges, would be in the exact same position they are in now. And their "our marketing department could be more productive doing something else" is so wildly intangible, I can't even begin to understand how Kickstarter greenlit this. I hope this backlashes, but the fandom for PA might prove to make this a success. :-|

 

[Gintamen]

Honestly though... does anybody here not use Ad Block Plus already?

Maybe that's why they are doing it, because of people like you... or me.

 

[DJ Lushious]

I have a better analogy for what PA is doing than the NPR analogy:

The banks asking for bailouts.

 

[Robert at Zeboyd Games]

And their "our marketing department could be more productive doing something else" is so wildly intangible, I can't even begin to understand how Kickstarter greenlit this.

Jeff Kalles is a big part of PA's marketing department.

He used to work at Nintendo on IPs like Eternal Darkness & Pokemon. He was the producer on our most recent game (On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3) and did a great job even though he couldn't devote his full time to it. Yes, I think he could be doing something more productive than trying to round up advertisers.

 

[border]

Dudes that are rolling in money are asking for.....more money?

I would love to see this crash and burn hard. Seems disingenuous of them to set a $250K funding goal when it's actually going to take one million dollars to actually make their site ad free. All 250K does is remove the banner ad at the top.....a banner ad that most people kinda automatically ignore when they go to a site anyway.

This is probably the least legitimate use of Kickstarter I've witnessed.

They could be using KS for some legitimately good, creative projects too. How about making a new Penny-Arcade videogame that has a budget over $500? How about funding an animated movie or half hour special?

 

[Diprosalic]

Dudes that are rolling in money are asking for.....more money?
?

they don't ask for more money, they ask for different money.

 

[DJ Lushious]

Jeff Kalles is a big part of PA's marketing department.

He used to work at Nintendo on IPs like Eternal Darkness & Pokemon. He was the producer on our most recent game (On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3) and did a great job even though he couldn't devote his full time to it. Yes, I think he could be doing something more productive than trying to round up advertisers.

Okay, but you've not produced any tangible evidence. Just that person A did X work for Z company. If PA wants their marketing department to be more productive, then why don't they hire more people? Why are they asking for handouts from the community? This is just shady business practice all the way around.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

I don't know if this is a joke or not?

 

[Loxley]

PA threads on GAF are always good for a laugh. The rage.

Dudes that are rolling in money are asking for.....more money?

I would love to see this crash and burn hard. Seems disingenuous of them to set a $250K funding goal when it's actually going to take one million dollars to actually make their site ad free. All 250K does is remove the banner ad at the top.....a banner ad that most people kinda automatically ignore when they go to a site anyway.

This is probably the least legitimate use of Kickstarter I've witnessed.

They could be using KS for some legitimately good, creative projects too. How about making a new Penny-Arcade videogame that has a budget over $500? How about funding an animated movie or half hour special?

You haven't seen very many Kickstarters then.

 

[NoirVisage]

I don't know if this is a joke or not?

The fact that people don't this is one is borderline tragic.

 

[Gr1mLock]

There is no way they could have thought this would end well.

 

[bishoptl]

I don't recall anybody from Planet Money or Frontline offering to think about me during sex. Where's my wallet?

btw - I'm fairly certain this venture is supposed to be a joke

 

[LiK]

I don't recall anybody from Planet Money or Frontline offering to think about me during sex. Where's my wallet?

that's the spirit!

btw - I'm fairly certain this venture is supposed to be a joke

they're pretty serious about it. Gabe has been explaining their reasons all day on twitter.

 

[DJ Lushious]

I don't recall anybody from Planet Money or Frontline offering to think about me during sex. Where's my wallet?

btw - I'm fairly certain this venture is supposed to be a joke

I'm no lawyer, but if it's a joke, then wouldn't tricking people into giving their money carry some sort of legal repercussion?

 

[Gouty]

btw - I'm fairly certain this venture is supposed to be a joke

It's such a bad idea I can't take it seriously and yet they're cutting it awfully close for a joke aren't they?

 

[border]

You haven't seen very many Kickstarters then.

Even the Kickstarters that are clearly just a "take the money and run" scam are trying to sell actual, creative products. At least they put some thought and effort into the scam, and tried to offer something people would want to buy.

By comparison, "Give us a quarter of a million dollars and we'll remove the banner ad (for a year)" just seems utterly useless and cynical. There's very little ambition behind it, very little benefit to the backers.

If a videogame website or a big game publisher (EA) tried something this corny, you know they'd get eviscerated in a Penny Arcade strip.

 

[Clevinger]

It isn't like he is saying that their content is just as valuable as NPR or should be held with an equal level of esteem or that they are even similar businesses. Just that the two funding models are somewhat comparable.

The reason no one cares that NPR does it is because they're a non-profit.

 

[GamerVoice]

It's such a bad idea I can't take it seriously and yet they're cutting it awfully close for a joke aren't they?

Double joke: We proved a point AND got a million dollars for nothing

 

[Raging Spaniard]

There is no way they could have thought this would end well.

65k in the first few hours means that it WILL end well

 

[NoirVisage]

they're pretty serious about it. Gabe has been explaining their reasons all day on twitter.

 

[itsgreen]

What's there to complain?

They give the choice, make the site as much ad-free if you like, or don't.

There are a dozen people working at PA, so that costs money. The building costs money etc etc. Why not see if it works? Either it does or it doesn't. No drama if it doesn't...

 

[Hero]

I don't recall anybody from Planet Money or Frontline offering to think about me during sex. Where's my wallet?

btw - I'm fairly certain this venture is supposed to be a joke

I hope it's a joke.

 

[mavs]

Gabe isn't going to shout out 5,000 names while chasing ducks. There'd be no ducks left in Bellevue.

 

[Clevinger]

I just saw this reward:

"$7,500 +
Intern at Penny Arcade for a day! You'll be put to real work under the supervision of Khoo. (you will need to arrange travel)"

lol, you get to pay $7.5k (plus travel) to work as their intern! For a whole day! This has to be a joke. If it's not, holy shit.

 

[ultron87]

I really really doubt that this is a joke. As was mentioned earlier in the thread, they seem to really like Kickstarter: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=39716934&postcount=103. And the backlash to saying something along the lines of: "gotcha! thanks for the money" would be catastrophic.

Gabe isn't going to shout out 5,000 names while chasing ducks. There'd be no ducks left in Bellevue.

They'll probably cover that request with a really big comic panel of comic-Gabe chasing ducks with a huge speech balloon filled with names over his head.

 

[border]

You know what I would want more than the removal of the banner ad?

A video of Gabe chasing ducks, having to shout the names of all 1000+ backers as he does it. That would actually be worth money.

 

[FyreWulff]

He wouldn't be the first: https://twitter.com/cwgabriel/status/222729574079930369

Gabe's account is now protected. What did this tweet say?

 

[iammeiam]

What's there to complain?

They give the choice, make the site as much ad-free if you like, or don't.

There are a dozen people working at PA, so that costs money. The building costs money etc etc. Why not see if it works? Either it does or it doesn't. No drama if it doesn't...

I think their tone is a huge problem here--a lot of the page comes across as kidding, which winds up seeming lazy when you realize they really want the project to succeed.

There are aspects of it that make sense--Doing a Kickstarter vs subscription model means they don't have to handle the payments directly and dump admin time into maintaining accounts; either it succeeds and they make a blanket change, or it fails and they do what they've been doing. Non-rewards make sense, because they want the bulk of the money to go towards their goal, not halving pledge values to print shirts or books.

But they don't really dig into specifics of what they'll do beyond yanking ads. They have ideas, but their jocular tone doesn't really pitch a thing they think they'll do beyond remove ads. It'd have gone over better if they were kickstarting something specific they'd do with the extra time, and threw in no ads as a bonus. Right now it's just weird and unfocused and going to succeed just on brand recognition, not because it's an actual product.

I'm not mad about it, and I appreciate the idea of more content for all instead of tiering the site with a pay wall, but I understand how the whole thing feels off to some.

 

[Clevinger]

Gabe's account is now protected. What did this tweet say?

Still works for me.

"@cwgabriel
yes I think the NPR analogy is a good one. A yearly pledge drive to keep the site ad free would be the model."

 

[Gouty]

I think their tone is a huge problem here

It was the setup. They came in saying how PA was on the ropes and that because of their wonderful fans they managed to pull through. So now you think, cool, they're going to do something to thank their fans.

Then they ask for money......wtf

for the removal of an add.....wtf

 

[FyreWulff]

Still works for me.

"@cwgabriel
yes I think the NPR analogy is a good one. A yearly pledge drive to keep the site ad free would be the model."

Oh god.

 

[inky]

btw - I'm fairly certain this venture is supposed to be a joke

You'd be wrong.

 

[x3sphere]

Would've come off much better if the Kickstarter was for a new PA game or something, with the site going ad-free as a bonus if the goal was surpassed.

Joke or not, this whole thing makes them seem like dicks.

 

[notworksafe]

There is no way they could have thought this would end well.

It will most likely end with the kickstarter being funded.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

Zuh? They already have a bunch of money, they don't need any of this. It has to be a statement on Kickstarter.

Honestly, it's their comic strip come to life

I guess technically the kickstarter on the strip isn't dishonest or misleading either.

Yep.

 

[Forever]

Yep.

Nope.

 

[Slair]

$525k to remove all ad's on the homepage? Maybe it's because i have no experience running a popular website but that seems alot. Are ad's really that intrusive that people would come together to dump $525k on it? I would rather they kept the ad's and told people to use their disposable income on gaming kickstarters that are having trouble getting exposure and deserve the funding.

 

[Kusagari]

Nope.

It doesn't matter if they've supported Kickstarter in the past. That comic in particular was an obvious statement on how some of them were being run.

And, funny enough, their kickstarter looks exactly like the ones they were deriding.

 

[Alchemy]

This is a really sketchy and ultimately selfish way to use Kickstarter. Yes, using Kickstarter in general is "selfish" if used for business goals, but at least those generally involve a production of some kind. This really only changes basic interaction with their website for users (by removing things most users do not interact with) and mostly just freeing up the PA guys from having to deal with advertisers for a year.

If it fails, nothing changes and these guys still make comics and run PAX. If it succeeds, they still make the same comics and run the same convetions. No actual content change. I don't see why anyone would support this when there are better things to invest in on Kickstarter, like actual products.

 

[notworksafe]

If it fails, nothing changes and these guys still make comics and run PAX. If it succeeds, they still make the same comics and run the same convetions. No actual content change. I don't see why anyone would support this when there are better things to invest in on Kickstarter, like actual products.

Actually if it succeeds there will be more, new content and if it fails everything stays the same.

 

[Shao Kahn Going Shopping]

$525k to remove all ad's on the homepage? Maybe it's because i have no experience running a popular website but that seems alot. Are ad's really that intrusive that people would come together to dump $525k on it? I would rather they kept the ad's and told people to use their disposable income on gaming kickstarters that are having trouble getting exposure and deserve the funding.

It's about what their web space is worth, moreso than the ad price. It's a result of how popular they are, and the price they can command that they are now shifting the onus onto their users instead of advertisers.

 

[Forever]

It doesn't matter if they've supported Kickstarter in the past. That comic in particular was an obvious statement on how some of them were being run.

And, funny enough, their kickstarter looks exactly like the ones they were deriding.

This is a new level of pathetic. Even Jett didn't have the gumption to dig the hole any deeper. Has anyone actually checked the post that came with that particular comic? No?

What happens with Kickstarter typically is that a person will have an idea for a new wrist-strap or a proto-scarf or an Indie RPG port or even an all-video extravaganza. Because of how dumb the world is, there are barriers to the completion of these crucial scarves - and this site allows for people to aggregate enthusiasm in such a way as to make them possible.

The idea is that you would then sell these scarves, generating wealth thereby. But that seems like the long way around the fence.

The "obvious" joke here is that the character of Gabe, being the simpleminded personality that he is, would simply skip right to the money rather than bother with the rest. It's not a fucking statement. It's called a joke.

People are so desperate to see some kind of nefarious attack on Kickstarter that they're losing their minds in here.

 

[TheOGB]

Umm... okay.

I'm actually tempted to donate a dollar

15$ reward is sketchy. I don't think he'll have enough sex to recall the thousands upon thousands of individuals who will be donating.

Massive mind orgy

He wouldn't be the first: https://twitter.com/cwgabriel/status/222729574079930369

Mongoose ‏@balexandr
"MT @cwgabriel yes I think the NPR analogy is a good one." NO IT IS NOT NPR IS A NON-PROFIT ALSO NOT A FUCKING COMIC YOU IMMENSE SHITLORD

 

[Sir Garbageman]

Joking or not they come off sounding like assholes imo.

 

[FyreWulff]

Joking or not they come off sounding like assholes imo.

They're pretty much cashing in on the cult of personality they both have with their fans.

 

[border]

People are so desperate to see some kind of nefarious attack on Kickstarter that they're losing their minds in here.

Probably because this project makes no sense as anything other than a comment on Kickstarter.....or maybe a test of their fanbase. How much money can we get while promising as little as possible in return?