Happy Anniversary - Six Years of GWJ

Six years seems, simultaneously, small and huge. Small in the sense that I still get energized about the site on a regular basis and it seems like we’ve only just scratched the surface of what we want to do. Huge in the sense that there is a lot of history here, and personalities that shine brightly while populating a world I enjoy living in. Though imperfect, I am proud of the community that congregates under Stan’s daydreaming thought-bubble, and it has provided me far more rich entertainment than I deserve.

As always, I am reminded that this, our sixth anniversary, is not so much about us as it is about you.

It has been a significant year for GWJ. We completely revamped the look and feel of the site. We had some amazing guests and conversations on the podcast. We hosted absolutely amazing content from writers that I look forward to working with every day. We were shown overwhelming support by a fantastic community. As I look back over 2008 I find much to be encouraged about moving forward into our seventh year.

Every year, I ask you to bear with me for a day as I become maudlin and over-serious about what has been a long and rewarding project for me. This year is no different, and as I think back on an eventful year, I find a few highlights distinguish 2008.

The Conference Call -

I’m not certain when the podcast became a cornerstone of the site, but it has. I recall well when GWJ Radio, a show of which I was a sincere fan, recorded its final broadcast, I thought quite clearly, “well, it was nice while it lasted.” We floated the idea to resurrect some kind of broadcast for a good year, always certain that the exercise would likely be short-lived, before Rob finally goaded us into action. The results have been surprising.

As I suspect many of you know from listening, it’s not about the guests or the games. Really, the Conference Call is just an opportunity for me to sit back and talk about games with friends every week. Even when I go into the show feeling overwhelmed and uninspired, it becomes a highlight of my week.

Yes, I know many of you would like to listen to those oldest shows, and we are still trying to find a solution that will allow us to work that programming back into the official canon. There are complications that have to do with libraries, feeds and words that mean nothing to me. It’s on our list.

User Supported Content -

Perhaps the most significant highlight of the year, for me, was being able to take down much of the advertising. I was never comfortable with our solutions for advertising partnerships, and it won’t surprise anyone involved in online publication to know that finding good advertisers is a full time task to which I was not adequately equipped. Then, you guys stepped up in a donation drive that allowed us to reach our financial goals without having to rely on ads for smiley faces or pirates that solve puzzles.

I know the user-supported model isn’t an option for every site, or even all that many sites, but I feel like it organizes priorities in the right place. We are beholden to you. Our support of the community and ability to deliver the content you want decides our fate. It’s not about writing articles that generate the right kind of viewership or advertising options, it’s about staying current with what’s important to you.

That was a good change for us, and it means that when you see an advertisement on GWJ now, it’s not just an attempt to cash in on traffic but an actual endorsement. There’s a valuable distinction there.

The Community –

As I read over Rabbit’s most recent article on Braid, and find a discussion on gaming that seems unparalleled, I can’t help but continue to marvel at the folks who make up our community. I say it every year, and I mean it as sincerely now as ever before, you guys are what makes GWJ worth visiting. I love the articles and content produced by our talented pool of writers, and I take great pride in the work we do, but the community is what makes the site worth visiting throughout the day.

This site is yours in some very real ways. So, whether you’ve been here for a few weeks or since January 15, 2003, happy anniversary!

Comments

As a very new member - congratulations on what seems to be a great site and community.

I tried out the conference call for the first time a couple of weeks ago and am now eagerly awaiting each new one. Really interesting insight into the different games - great to hear about games outside the few big name games (Gears of War 2 etc etc) that you hear about everywhere else. Plus, when you started talking about driving minivans, (sadly) I started to feel right at home....

Looking forward to reading more and being a part of the community.

When I picked up my 360 in the middle of '07 I thought to myself "where the hell am I going to find some non-douchebags to play with?". A year and a half on, I'm still playing Gears every weekend. Thanks for building such an awesome community, and keeping us all entertained with content that's clever and witty beyond words.

LupusUmbrus wrote:

Happy Birthday, Goodjerdom! Butt pats all around. :D

This says it best. A comfortable home online where awkward homo-eroticism is understood and welcomed. I've only been here for 1/4 of the sites life, but will be here until the end of days.

Prozac wrote:

not exactly climbing the corporate ladder :)

Some people are just meant to stay in the mail room. :p

Is there any other place where strangers will happily tongue you and vomit on you nightly?

I think not!

Happy birthday!

I can't believe I'm here for over half of GWJ's existence. I still feel like a noob everytime I post. That's what you get when most posters here mop the floor with my "eloquence".

Not to mention those that even like to rub my face in my grammatical inferiority. I'm looking at you Wordy!

I only became aware of GWJ in 2008 (I've been a bit slow getting things since I turn 30 a few years back ) and only flirted with the site for most of last year. However listening to the podcast of late has really inspired me to make the site a much more reguar appearance on my browser. Here's to a sucessful 7th year, I'll be listening and hopefully reading a whole lot of it

Six years! I'm just shy of visiting here three years myself, so this makes me feel.... younger!

Thank you for the fantastic articles; the fun, informative and perspective-opening forum banter; the shared gaming moments; the laser-sharp grammar correction; the partience with OCD forum post editing; the fair moderation; and the occasional ban-hammer to liven up a day.

Congratulations guys. My gaming and my working week are much, much richer experiences thanks to you and the GWJ community.

Cheers fellas. My gaming life would not be the same without this site. You've helped rejuvenate my hobby, to be frank. To my comrades, huzzah!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

This year was the first year that I actually started to listen to podcast and GWJ podcast was the first one that I really wanted to hear every week. I look forward to my first full year on these forums and podcast and hope I can engage other members of the asylum in some TF2 madness.

Keep up the good work, it's appreciated.

GWJ is one sexy six-year-old.

Then stand to your glasses, steady,
And drink to your comrade's eyes.
Here's a toast to the dead already,
And hurrah for the next who dies.

dejanzie wrote:

I'm looking at you Wordy! ;-)

How'd I get so popular around here, anyway?

wordsmythe wrote:

How'd I get so popular around here, anyway?

I know it's not because you're terribly cool.

wordsmythe wrote:

How'd I get so popular around here, anyway?

Everyone appreciates the chiding Grammar-natrix in you?

Quintin_Stone wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

How'd I get so popular around here, anyway?

I know it's not because you're terribly cool. :D

You do realize that construction insinuates that I'm terribly cool, don't you?

That's why I made sure to quote it.

Let's try an edited version:

Quintin_Stone wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

... ?

... You're terribly cool. :D

wordsmythe wrote:

You do realize that construction insinuates that I'm terribly cool, don't you?

Nah, that's just what you're inferring.

so does that mean you guys are going to renew your vows to each other?
Sounds like the decent thing to do lol

(doesn't that term 'you guys' actually make youc ringe ?) (thanks for correcting lol)

wordsmythe wrote:
dejanzie wrote:

I'm looking at you Wordy! ;-)

How'd I get so popular around here, anyway?

I think it was because you were the only person watching the spondees.

Duoae wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:
dejanzie wrote:

I'm looking at you Wordy! ;-)

How'd I get so popular around here, anyway?

I think it was because you were the only person watching the spondees.

You have to be careful with shotguns.

I remember when Robear joined, something like 14 weeks after I did, and thinking, 'Sheesh, who is this clown?' Which, I am quite certain is exactly what Rat Boy was thinking when I joined something like 14 weeks after he did.

Turns out I was wrong and Rat Boy was right. Boy, I hate that...

Congrats fellas. Still the best place on the net.

Congratulations and thanks, to the big bosses, for six great years of games and hilarity

Gamers With Jobs. You'll come for the games, but you'll stay for the grammar lessons!

JohnnyMoJo wrote:

Turns out I was wrong and Rat Boy was right. Boy, I hate that... ;-)

You owe me a non-beer stained monitor, buddy.

momgamer wrote:

And several tables full of guys in pale blue dress shirts and Izods. ;)

What are Izods? And what's a dress shirt?

McChuck wrote:

What are Izods?

Offbrand Chinese iPod knockoffs...

I'm 100% serious.

Awwww. Warm fuzzies all around. Is it just me, or does everyone hear Sand's voice in their heads when reading his posts?

wordsmythe wrote:
Duoae wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:
dejanzie wrote:

I'm looking at you Wordy! ;-)

How'd I get so popular around here, anyway?

I think it was because you were the only person watching the spondees.

You have to be careful with shotguns.

You can never be too careful with shotguns.

Elysium & the other bosses of goodjerdom, thanks for all you do. But there's one thing that's been missing this year, to make it perfect. And that is the pervert article. Are we gonna get one? Please? I'll donate more in the donation drive this year if you do.

I remember the first podcast that brought me here.

It was the old GWJ Radio when they interviewed Todd Howard in the lead up to Oblivion's launch... I was hooked then and was saddened when it moved on.

Then I came back much later... and am now a hardc0r3 GWJ'er (or whatever =P )

it's a fantastic community...

McChuck wrote:

What are Izods?

I don't know, but I think you're supposed to kneel before them.

McChuck wrote:
momgamer wrote:

And several tables full of guys in pale blue dress shirts and Izods. ;)

What are Izods? And what's a dress shirt?

Izods are those tan Dockers-looking pants that all the MBA'ers/marketing wonks/corporate clones wear. See http://www.izod.com/ (warning: site is Flash-soaked and heavy as all heck). Slightly less androgenous than Abercrombie, hipper than JCPennys or Macys. They seem to have gone towards the REI end of the continuum.

Dress shirt - what your wife makes you wear to a wedding/funeral. What you wear into the office on days when you know a client is going to show up. The blue ones are a particular favorite of those MBA'ers or a tech guy who is trying to pretend to have business-savvy.