How much do we need?

I came here from evilavatar as many of you have, I believe. For about a year it was my first and most often - the last stop at the gaming site for a day.

After encountering GWJ, I`ve practically forgot the EA and my first (and last) stop is here.

And then something hit me in the head: GWJ doesnt even have "enough" of news stream (and half of them I dont even bother to read as they are about tv shows I have never seen). however, i dont miss the endless news flow. What is it - am I getting old? Or...(*hopefully*)..wise?

How much gaming news do we need?

Respect is addicting. Especially if its reciprocal.

Most of what anyone wants is just to be listened to. If they agree with, expand upon or get you to rethink your ideas so much the better.

I dont think it has anything to do with news. The base amount of news is available as proof of a variety of common interests. Common interests sparks conversation.

If in conversation of common interests you are listened to and respected, odds are you''ll continue to visit the site.

I love gaming news. I''ll never end up purchasing 2/3rds of the games that I read about, but I love to speculate and anticipate what the games can be, how they''ll play and what new corner they may turn.

Before you start writing about spoiling the experience by overhyping games, I don''t often expect them to live up to the hype - I''m happy enough with just a tight, enjoyable, playable game. I suppose it''s just a big ol'' game of ''What If?'' with me.

edit: clarification

I''m pretty interested in the responses to this thread. It helps us clarify what you guys expect from us. We keep going back and forth internally, often flat out avoiding news that you can and already have gotten everywhere else.

I love what you guys have been doing thus far, but would love to see a subpage or even a forum with news headlines from elsewhere on the web.

I think that would offer the whole package. I love all your writing styles and opinions on things, as they take a more real world approach on topics. And you always post up important news as well, but I just thought a sub-page or forum for news ""tid-bits"" (i guess) would be helpful as well.

My $.02

I think a subpage news link would be a great idea. Obviously, if something''s news worthy it winds up on the main page anyway but it never hurts and you might pick up some more hits, if that''s even your goal.

Besides, what do Sway and Gaald really do anyway?

I agree with cuebert. The assumption that we''ve ""already read it somewhere else"" is not really true in my case, and presumably others. This is one of only a couple sites I frequent. I would *love* to see all (or most) gaming news right on this site, iff''n it''s easy to procure and present.

I like the sub-page idea some (though, figuring out how to implement that is tricky. Coming this Fall to ABC, two losers who know nothing about web design start their own gaming website. Follow the wacky hijinks!). One of the reasons we''ve avoided doing that on the main page is because we put a lot of work into many of the articles we write, and it''s a bit frustrating when you feel like they''ve been buried under bulk news. I admit that''s sort of self-aggrandizing, but it was always kind of the point. Also, we won''t really be able to fully comment on _every_ news story, so while we are providing more gaming coverage we''re not providing anything new. Not that we''re breaking any posting records these past couple of weeks, either.

Anyway, this is all just a glimpse into our usually internal debate over the direction of the site. I''m really pleased we''re getting some input from you guys.

Out of curiosity, are there any of you that only visit the forums and not the front page. There''s nothing wrong with that, I''m just curious.

What is funny is that, I have changed some what like ""Most"". Before I knew about GWJ, I had a link list of probably 50 sites to get some news on the gaming world... but now that list is kind of down to one or two. One of them is GWJ. Honestly even though there might be small news stream, however I looked at some other gaming sites, after I filter out the articles that I'm interested in, I'm left with the same amount as I do here... I mean, its pointless posting... I don''t care how many Xboxes they sell in Japan or PS2 in US. I rather read one good article rather than just browse through. Plus there is a good balance of news and forum. The forum that we have here added a lot of value... considering that we have a great community here.

So basically back to the question how much gaming news do we need? Well, in my opinion it depends on the individual, because I might say its fine the way it is and some one might say completely opposite. But then again I does not matter how much as long it is interest to be found for that person.

"…I have no clue on to what I just said, I need some coffee or some sleep. Uh! Back to work for me"…

"Elysium" wrote:

Out of curiosity, are there any of you that only visit the forums and not the front page. There''s nothing wrong with that, I''m just curious.

Even thought I''m mostly on the forum, the first stop is the main page... ...the news!

Actually, I have the forum tagged in my favorite''s. I rarely look at the front page. Every couple of days I''ll check thru to see if there''s anything I missed. I agree 100% with what Fang said. I value the input/level of maturity/respect from the other players that gives me a better feel for any particular game.

Quite frankly, I go to other sites to skim ''news of the day'' as far as games go. I don''t think ya''ll can do anything ''better'' then the tons of sites already out there. You can, however, focus on particular subjects with clarity and ''entertainment'' then most (but don''t let that go to your head, you''re still two schmucks, though loveable schmucks).

Anyone can be a US TODAY for gaming news. Finding a place to discuss noteworthy industry news that provides better insight and encourages well thought out and respectful information/education is something else.

Front Page mainly here. I do check the forums, but often as an afterthought (Obviously, look at my second post count).

I just find it... well... a pain in the ass to have to scour multiple different sites just to get some news. I used to do it all the time, hell, I still have all the bookmarks, I just don''t hit them.

That''s why I suggested the subpage with tidbits/links to some of the more ""meaty"" news that you may not want to post about on the front page.

Even thought I''m mostly on the forum, the first stop is the main page... ...the news!

I''m with Nei here I''m also mostly on the forums but always start with the front page. Ok it doesn''t have the sheer amount of news articles of other websites but a lot of those articles on other websites are lightweight filler articles of little newsworthy value, at least here the news is a little more in depth with good editorial pieces as well. You guys,for want of a better term, filter the crap.

"kegboy" wrote:

You guys,for want of a better term, filter the crap.

LOL, I think we just found our new slogan. ""GamersWithJobs.com: We filter crap."" Look for the multi-dollar ad campaign coming to a flyer under your windshield wiper.

Well, I think a ""News"" forum would be a swell thing.
And I''m in the ""Forum First, newspage later"" camp. The news page is not updated enough times for me!

Well first Id just like to say I spend the majority of my time in the forums. Nothing beats a good discussion about pretty much anything.

Second, I like the news subsection idea, and this link may help you guys.

http://spy.g-spotting.net/

Its like Google News for Gaming websites. Here is the list of sites the browse and pull stories from. They have an RSS feed too. While you guys may not want to just pull thier RSS feed and whip it into a GWJ page, you may want to write some sort of module that takes the RSS feed, displays a page where you can select stories and comment on them. That way, you get the news, and several links to go in order to learn more, and you can still comment on it. I can probably voulenteer my services with PHP after I get out of school if you want, it just sounds like a pretty cool project.

"Pyroman[FO" wrote:

""]
Second, I like the news subsection idea, and this link may help you guys.

Add Pyroman to the list of those who go directly to the forum. (Check out the homepage, Pyro.)

Check the times, I beat you by like 10 minutes! HA!

"Pyroman[FO" wrote:

""]Check the times, I beat you by like 10 minutes! HA!

*scratches his head* That''s weird. That can''t be right. I was reading the forum as you posted and after I posted. Certis? Did you break the clock again? How many times have I told you that if it''s flashing 12:00, just leave it alone and I''ll fix it when I come in.

Theres no telling, as I remember checking the news and then coming in and posting (thought there was a bit of a gap there). I''d say its probably Certis'' fault though.

At any rate, making thier RSS feed useable in the typical GWJ style would be cool in and of itself. I figure the script could probably take the RSS feed and post a news story about it in a standard format, but before posting let you edit the post. So that way not all the stories have to go on the main page, and you can comment/remove/add whatever you want to it. The standard format would be the key though.

Itd need links at the bottom to the other news sites, but not so obtrusive that itd get in the way. Maybe just a link to the g-spy story. I think Im gonna look at thier RSS feed, to see what it looks like.

Pyro, you''re hired! We pay $0 dollars an hour and you don''t get coffee breaks but once a month you can throw a saddle on Sway and ride him around the office.

"Certis" wrote:

Pyro, you''re hired! We pay $0 dollars an hour and you don''t get coffee breaks but once a month you can throw a saddle on Sway and ride him around the office.

And you get Elysium''s brewing experiments as he takes grad school at Barrista Tech. There''s a very good reason why he doesn''t charge for them.

"Certis" wrote:

Pyro, you''re hired! We pay $0 dollars an hour and you don''t get coffee breaks but once a month you can throw a saddle on Sway and ride him around the office.

Wow, thats way better than my current job. As soon as I graduate, Ill get to codin.

Even thought I''m mostly on the forum, the first stop is the main page... ...the news!

Same here. But I don''t think it needs to overwhelm us with a bunch of industry minutia. I like the more ""personal"" topics on the news page. Articles like Hoochie''s ""She Said: Anita Blake Kicks Ass."" Elysium''s long-winded rants can also be quite entertaining.

And Sways comics!

The main page is great for the ""somebody thought this was a good idea and actually spent millions to build it so we can all laugh at them now"" articles.

The articles pointing out the rediculous things people with money do in the game industry are great. You know the kind that are written with the attitude, ""why does anybody let this guy make any decisions?""

Also tributes to the hidden gems in the games industry are great. (Divine Divinity)

Online RPG articles would be great

Besides, what do Sway and Gaald really do anyway?

I love how somehow I am considered to be part of the group who runs the page.

What do I do? I visit the sight like most of you others, kick Certis in the butt when his head gets to big, and play games with a great group of guys. Oh yeah and occasionally swear over GV while playing, but only occasionally.

... i think some inside info sliped out on the forum!

I like the idea of maybe an RSS feed or something like that, as was mentioned on the front page. The way I see it, if GWJ starts posting piles of links to every story out there, the site will fall into the same mass as most gaming sites. Just having a sidebar with some linked headlines would be enough I think. I like looking at the front page for articles, and editorials personally.

I tend to visit the main site first, check the articles and then progess to the forums especially when I have some spare time at work or need a break your articles are really a good read.

As for the subsection: If you or rather Pyroman[FO] need another coding slave for this, I know my way aournd PHP and would happily volunteer as well to build this up. Btw which content management system do you use for GWJ? I am asking because I used phpnuke some time back for a site and that had a slew of plugins and additional scripts, so maybe there are similar ones out for your CMS as well and that could save you a lot of work.

Btw which content management system do you use for GWJ?

We use Postnuke which is very similar to PHPNuke and the rest.