Site Discussion

[JPW]

http://www.slicedgaming.com/news9893.html

It's been there a while now

sorry never really noticed these days I just jump to the forums because any news i see on gaming sites i've already read up on IGN. IGN gets a weekly visit from me. the site, not the team.
Also you guys should also report what's on your fromtpage, like a news thread or something. If you really want SG to be taken seriously you need to make it more open and you need to adapt with a style. That's what i've been trying to do lately with the VC thread, and I hoped to do with Everybody Votes thread, or the Hit and Miss Movie thread. It's also really annoying sometimes the first 10 posts I see are just constant product paying out and then you get serious and even then you act like it's no big deal.
 
Of course well all have different minds and this idea should of been done 10 years ago when Sega became third party but maybe they took their time cause they needed sEga to find its form and get established as a third party developer and a partener on Nintendo's side. Dreams don't happen overnight you know. But i'm really amazed a lot of you don't care about this, and just love to rip on Sonic team. I agree Sonic team did a very crap PS3, and X360 Sonic game. However I reckon the Wii game Sonic and the Secret rings is the Sonic game we've been waiting for. It's the best i've palyed in a decade for a Sonic game.  And Sonic Rush DS was very good in my view and made great use of the split screen.

IGN: So we won't see Sonic appearing in Super Smash Bros. Brawl?

Laurent Fischer: That's not on the cards at the moment.

Oh my god they stuffed that up, if that is a true source.
   

[nshady]

With regards to the front site, the forums will be getting a rather radical makeover when the new design goes up.

[Predator]

Ok, I've split this topic out... because I would like some thoughts on this, and I know it's the truth at the end of the day.  The programming is not an issue, as given the time, I can program a lot of the features the whole-team of IGN/gamespot would take a long time to do.

1. How can we exist when sites like IGN and Gamespot do? They have millions of dollars, we don't. We cannot get these millions of dollars and ever expand unless we can somehow pull some of their audience.

2. Don't people want alternative sources to read their information these days?

3. How can we separate our site from the others, and try and compete (eventually) with gamespot and IGN as a true alternative ?

4. What would you like to see? a discussion site? writer thoughts/blog-style site? Obviously reading a small subset of the news you can on IGN/Gamespot doesn't appeal to many, and means they don't even bother reading the front of our site. I agree!

5. If we go out there and tell too much of our personal thoughts to much.. which would I would say differentiate us and tackle 3) - we will never get publisher support, or receive games, the information that would allow us to compete?  Even if a game is dodgy, in a way we still have to give it an even keel. If not instantly a site is branded as 'biased' and you never get any first-hand info, or support, games to review, etc.

sorry never really noticed these days I just jump to the forums because any news i see on gaming sites i've already read up on IGN. IGN gets a weekly visit from me. the site, not the team.

Not that i'm really attacking you - as I know IGN is huge and we are not, but as a general reader interested in your thoughts? Don't you find IGN site's messy and cluttered? and hard to find what you are looking for each day?

Aren't you worried about the integrity and independence of the site when every games company tries to suck up to them to get coverage, and the site relies on publishers to even exist?

TBH I find it painful to visit IGN and Gamespot because there is sh** everywhere and hard to wade through the ads, and stuff being shoved in your face? So I don't actually bother very often at all.

In the new site, every article will be a forum topic, and you won't need to visit the forums at all.. but the forums will remain the backend. Basically the blog style where there is <news item> then <discussion> underneath. Other discussion points will be available as well, for more general gaming discussion. 

[Dash]

Well to be honest,I've never even thought to visit IGN or Gamespot (or any other gaming sites for that matter) to get my gaming news; I've always found this site & it's features to be informative enough  for my own (& my familys') personal gaming needs(being more of the "casual gamer" as opposed to a "hardcore" type I suppose) & not having to worry about the hassle of having to run around all over the place just to get the latest news,and then if there's no new news to read here,I'll just go and troll the forums on our WoW guild website.

And anyway, I'd much rather support a local (ie Australian) site as opposed to the larger O/S ones who do have the money to run/spend on theirs.
If the people who run the site are friendly enough,then I don't see any problem with wanting to stay with that one on a regular basis; but then again I'm just biased.

[JPW]

okay maybe I was a bit harsh with what I said, i' just really amazed at where this site has gone in the last 2 years. And why it only looks like we have something like 20 members here out of the supposed 300.

IGN I admit I find it very clustered and most of the time I hardly ever really care about what they report, I've found better resources at other sites now and then. IGN is just a site I kind of grew up on in a way. It's where I used to get all my gaming news and my insight before the whole Gamebiz era. And i've just used it as a source now and then. Before IGN it was N64 Gamer. And I really liked that mag. IGN has also gone a bit too mainstream, but they do a good job with the site, but because of their success i'm starting to think they're just a bit too cocky now. It is an overload on info. But even IGN i'm sure started off rough. But try and be funny and cool. One reason I liked the team of Nintendo/N64 gamer is that it seemed to be cool mag, and you get that odd joke thrown around now and then. TThe nude code, Natayla and her pictures of nintendo characters in funny situations, Natalie Portman pictures, the captions and the funny comments, I guess we got to make a few jokes now and then rather then be negative about everything. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have had some great ideas I feel and you just continue to rip on them and make their channels/whatever look stupid.
 

I guess the reason why I never checked the front is because I always took this site for granted. I'm gonna be honest one thing that won me over with Cube Australia and Gamebiz was that the site had a huge forum following, and people would talk about games and what they were looking too, and we had some great members through time. So I used to always just jump to the forums and start a thread or start posting on what I thought. I've noticed you have made big changes to open your site up, but I guess i'm still living in the past. I always thought thought this site as a forum site.

When you think about this site and its origin you really don't realise the history this site had behind it. Cube Australia to Gamebiz to Sliced Gaming. Members from the likes of Moonunit, Sky Spike, The Nintendo King, Prince, Scar2747, WRIGHT, Vook, Robx, RobC,(god have I really forgotten all the traditional members.) and you guys. There was also a time when Gamebiz was really something special too, something famous if I take you back to the era of those spam posts and the Leet speakers. And those guys that made fun of us.

You've done a good job on the site, I guess it's just really all about getting out there, and finding that sister site to help out your success too. Finding sites and people to put in a good word for you.

Because of this forum I realise Australia is still a growing medium for video games, but australia's coverage is getting better and better, maybe the sites will too.

On a further note i'm kind of in a rough spot right now personally in my own life. There's a lot of things going on in my life, and I could eventually be dropping a few things. Because i'm a geek(i said it, I love video games, and I love talking about them), and while i'm not ashamed of myself being a geek, I'm ashamed of what other people think about that and me. I've been lashing out at a lot of people because of this.

sorry about being so long there, but I don't know how to really explain this. It's your job to find out what works. I'm just one person. But this is what I feel.
i've been contemplating on leaving this site because i've been here too long, and maybe it's time i moved on. I've seen a lot of members come and go, maybe it's my turn soon.

[thug]

Dude you need to chill out..........

sounds like you need a good bottle of booze and a decent root..........

i enjoy talking about games but sh*t anyone calls me a geek i would break there face....

you are always going to have long standing core members and people who float in and out its just what happens.........

i agree with Dash this is my number one games site, if it's not here i ask the question and generally somebody comes up with the answer (normally Pred or nshady)

[Jesusberg]

A few things I have noticed (and will be pointed out for constructive purposes only). I am not privy to behind the scenes stuff so I am unaware if these problems have been noted and will be improved.

The main site looks dated

I think it's the colours that make the site look dated. They're too...neutral.

The site is skimp on features

Both community features, and article features.

There's nothing that makes me think "I want to visit this site on a regular basis" outside of support.

People enjoy reading feature articles, especially when they are thought-provoking.

The news is generally late

"we don't sit on the Internet all day" is a common response from gaming sites when this is brought up. That may be the case, but the whole point to a site is to inform readers as soon as possible. If news can't be posted asap, at least make the news article interesting enough to warrant a read.

[nshady]

I'll tackle these.

1. Rest assured, the site is being completely aesthetically redesigned.

2. Yep, that's true. A couple of reasons are a small number of staff, all who work or study during the day, and then have limited time to get other stuff happening. Hence, reviews/news take priority over features.

Secondly, we're small, and we're in a tiny corner of the gaming industry. I've been working on trying to get a Sony Feature Week happening, much in the same vein as the Nintendo one from last year. I've been working on it for two months, in fact. I've sent emails all over the damn place, but have received literally no response from Sony or any first party developers. I've got two features from third parties, however. One of which is Australian (omg who is it?).

We're small, and hence have to really struggle to get the attention of the larger companies for features. However, if we got said features or support from these companies, our site would no doubt grow as people visited us for our unique articles. It's a catch-22.

I'll also throw out there that Activision have been real champs, and have been really supportive of us. Props.

In terms of the future, I believe our new format of site will give us a way to both present facts and "cut the crap" - a phrase that we've bandied around before now should mean something. Hence, I'd hope people would eventually visit us for our insights into the latest news. That also covers number 3.

It'd be interesting to see why Pariah, one of the new members that just signed up, has joined.

[Batman]

I hardly ever visit the main site, jftr. I just hang out around the forums.














WHOOPS

[Dash]

 

Because i'm a geek(i said it, I love video games, and I love talking about them), and while i'm not ashamed of myself being a geek, I'm ashamed of what other people think about that and me. I've been lashing out at a lot of people because of this.

Nothing wrong with being a geek imo & I suppose that there's a bit of geekiness in us all;after all I live with one who has to be the biggest geek of them all;so screw what other people think & just be yourself ps they're just jealous that they can't be one as well.

[Jesusberg]

We're small, and hence have to really struggle to get the attention of the larger companies for features. However, if we got said features or support from these companies, our site would no doubt grow as people visited us for our unique articles. It's a catch-22.

Indeed. This is probably the biggest hurdle a site needs to overcome if it wishes to establish a fanbase. It's particularly hard when the site is multi platform too.

Perhaps you could have opinion columns? It's similar to a blog, but less... blog-like if that makes sense.

[Master Chief]

We're going to basically have blogs on the main page in the next version, should be basically like an opinion column too, going to have to make sure our blogs are more professional though =)

[Predator]

Perhaps you could have opinion columns? It's similar to a blog, but less... blog-like if that makes sense.

Yeah, I have thought this just the other day. We will have blogs on the front for general crap, but I was thinking we could have PODS (points of discussion?) intermixed with the news, designated a little differently. So they may not be strictly 'news' or anything in particular, but more a talking point where people can discuss. Maybe facility for any registered user to add them? so it's not just restricted to 'us'.

So you might get

<news> (10 comments)
<news> (5 comments)
<news> (5 comments)
<is gaming bigger than tv?> (11 comments)
<news>
<does wii require more big titles?>
<news>

I think the overall focus of the new site will be more discussion and feature articles/opinion, and less news. However if it requires news stories to spark the conversations, then we will continue posting these daily.

I am working on it now, amongst a multitude of other projects I have to work on during my 'off' time at home, so interested in thoughts.. although i know we have had many of these in the past - don't worry, these are/have all taken into account with some features of the new site.

[jango]

i agree that the site looks dated- but i think that will be alleviated with the new design which looks great...the place is understaffed and i'm not sure why you just don't get more people involved- I buy a few games a month and if I find the time I have no problem reviewing them- sure they maybe a little late but until we get serious support from most distributors it'll have to do...having more writers also eases the pressure on nshady- who is a f**king trojan! It also helps promote discussion in the forums as more people to spread the word...

[Ant292]

As a new staff member here, I'm very much excited by the new site design that'll hopefully be appearing soon. It will help Sliced Gaming break away from the Gamebiz days, but still keep the tone we've set now.

As for the news, I try to get in as much news as I possibly can (I'm getting news in from 6-7 sources, every single day), but there are times when I'm just too pooped from Uni to write out an article, so apologies on a couple of the delays.

Having said that, I've noticed that we do sometimes get news in before some of the other major Australian sites post them, so that's always heartening.

Anyhoo, the new Sliced Gaming will establish some new ground for us, hopefully making it a successful website for Australia gaming. I stand by and support all the hard work that Predator, nshady and the others have put in to date: they've kept this site alive, so kudos to 'em!

[nshady]

It's hard to just "get" writers. We've had that banner up on the main page for months, and also that topic in the general discussion (which I unstickied last week, I think). We had two potential people who were interested. We made them news guys, put them as writers in the forums, and never heard from them again.

[Predator]

What he said..

Obviously, and hopefully our new and more professional site would attract more writers. When they don't get anything out of it, true, it is difficult - but we need money from banners (or other sources) to pay writers. But not everybody just does things for money. And anybody with wealth will tell you (Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Richard Branson, etc), often the payoffs may only be several months, or years, into the future of making no money, or doing something for free.

Will need artists, template skinners & programmers too..

[thug]

Looks like we all need a good bottle of booze and a decent root.....

i still think you should have a reader review or amateur review section.......
with games we review our selves.......perhaps a max of 30 words with a score out of 10

Not that theres anything wrong with the way you guys write......

This would increase your reviewed games without any extra work from you guys.....(once it was set up)......which intern would increase traffic

you would then have small review's on the site of games you guys have not done yet for free.........

we would be happy coz we got our 5mins of fame and i think the big companies would be interested in what the joe average gamer is thinking......

[Predator]

you got a sister?

yeah.. reader reviews is another thing we're going to do.. I think it will be interesting part of the site.

[nshady]

We have a huge title database that no-one ever really sees (it's how all the previous news items on that game are displayed next to a news article - they're all attributed to a game when posted). That will hopefully be fleshed out with release dates etc. in one central hub, from which our news/reviews can be on display, beside YOUR reviews/comments etc.

[Master Chief]

Most of the games that aren't out yet have accurate release dates too... I know the games i've put in the database have as accurate as possible.

They're just not available for the public at the moment.

[Predator]

Yeah, I try to get them accurate when I add it as well, they're just not used much.

In the new site, I'll be creating a script to grab the release dates from online retailers. So this should make it an almost automatic process to keep it up to date. This'll be on the front of the site as well.

[JPW]

As for the news, I try to get in as much news as I possibly can (I'm getting news in from 6-7 sources, every single day), but there are times when I'm just too pooped from Uni to write out an article, so apologies on a couple of the delays.

Having said that, I've noticed that we do sometimes get news in before some of the other major Australian sites post them, so that's always heartening.

About this news finding job, how does it actually work out? Cause I could give you a hand if you need it.
I'm kind of refreshed from the other day. (I guess the hieneken did help me.) And after hearing that your turning this site around soon, I figure I should at least pitch in. After all i've been here for what seems to be like forever. And all i've been doing is taking care of posts.

[nshady]

Basically, we get a few press releases, which would be forwarded to you. You'd put those up pretty much as is - it's not very hard. Then, you'd have a look around on other fansites, larger networks etc. for more interesting news, stats etc., and write it up.

No HTML is required. We've got a great CMS.

[Master Chief]

set up by lordy lordy it's gordy!

[G-Train]

Basically, we get a few press releases, which would be forwarded to you. You'd put those up pretty much as is - it's not very hard. Then, you'd have a look around on other fansites, larger networks etc. for more interesting news, stats etc., and write it up.

No HTML is required. We've got a great CMS.

LIES! The code hates me and f*ks with my paragraphs just because it can!

[Master Chief]

Did someone say bump!

[Predator]

I just type it in what I'm going to say?

[G-Train]

It showed up in blue, so I scrolled through and threw in a comment - I didn't say you had to reply.