Comments on: Inq. of the Week: Non-RPG Content? http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Inq. of the Week: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | Critical Hits http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66559 Inq. of the Week: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | Critical Hits Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:50:08 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66559 [...] Last week, we asked about what non-RPG content you’d like to see here. A strong pluarality of you want to see more about board games, which is fine with me, since I go off and play board games every week (and occasionally design them). Video games were second, which thanks to MDoggie, we have been trying to get more of here. Overall, you wanted more games, which makes sense, except there was no love for poker, so consider it gone! The mysterious “Other” option somehow managed to secure -123% of the vote, meaning we should have more other? Or less other? I don’t know how to process negative percentages, and if I were a computer, my head would explode. [...] [...] Last week, we asked about what non-RPG content you’d like to see here. A strong pluarality of you want to see more about board games, which is fine with me, since I go off and play board games every week (and occasionally design them). Video games were second, which thanks to MDoggie, we have been trying to get more of here. Overall, you wanted more games, which makes sense, except there was no love for poker, so consider it gone! The mysterious “Other” option somehow managed to secure -123% of the vote, meaning we should have more other? Or less other? I don’t know how to process negative percentages, and if I were a computer, my head would explode. [...]

]]> By: Wyatt http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66558 Wyatt Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:57:17 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66558 I voted anime just because I'd be interested in what sorts of anime posts you'd actually do, even if that option would never in a million years win this poll. .-= Wyatt´s last blog ..<a href="http://spiritsofeden.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/might-of-eden-wizards-of-eden/" rel="nofollow">Might of Eden: Wizards of Eden</a> =-. I voted anime just because I’d be interested in what sorts of anime posts you’d actually do, even if that option would never in a million years win this poll.
.-= Wyatt´s last blog ..Might of Eden: Wizards of Eden =-.

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66557 Bartoneus Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:58:00 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66557 Thanks all of you so far for the input! While I don't think Dave or I would ever classify CH as an "RPG only" site, we aren't blind - we realize RPGs are our biggest topic and that especially in the last year and a half other kinds of content have dropped off for the most part. When CH started I was actually reading upwards of 10 different comics a week, but that was one of the first things to get cut when budgeting came into my life. :) Don't take this post to mean that we're trying to shift away from writing about RPGs, or that we'll start featuring other content more than them, but I do believe we will continue writing about whatever interests us. I was just curious how much demand there is for each type of content, specifically I can see right now that if we started featuring a weekly Poker post there would be a huge WTF factor (as it has 0 votes)! Also, this poll serves as a great indicator for what types of things Dave and I should focus and report on at GenCon next week. (holy crap it's next week!) Thanks all of you so far for the input! While I don’t think Dave or I would ever classify CH as an “RPG only” site, we aren’t blind – we realize RPGs are our biggest topic and that especially in the last year and a half other kinds of content have dropped off for the most part. When CH started I was actually reading upwards of 10 different comics a week, but that was one of the first things to get cut when budgeting came into my life. :)

Don’t take this post to mean that we’re trying to shift away from writing about RPGs, or that we’ll start featuring other content more than them, but I do believe we will continue writing about whatever interests us. I was just curious how much demand there is for each type of content, specifically I can see right now that if we started featuring a weekly Poker post there would be a huge WTF factor (as it has 0 votes)!

Also, this poll serves as a great indicator for what types of things Dave and I should focus and report on at GenCon next week. (holy crap it’s next week!)

]]> By: Lunatyk http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66556 Lunatyk Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:08:16 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66556 My geek spheres include Anime, Comics, TV/Film and Webcomics... I can understand people being afraid of you branching out to other subjects. Trying to cover as much as you can could lead to a decrease in quality, so why not just write about what you think is cool? That way you'll instil some enthusiasm in your posts without losing quality... I guess I don't have a problem with you branching out for two reasons 1 - I have yet to hear of someone who <i>never</i> used something from another medium as inspiration to their game: watching an anime does help me with running Exalted and watching Blade (the TV series) helped me a lot with Vampire The Requiem... 2 - From what I'm reading, Critical Hits doesn't have enough RPG to be anything more than a Dungeons and Dragons blog... My geek spheres include Anime, Comics, TV/Film and Webcomics…

I can understand people being afraid of you branching out to other subjects. Trying to cover as much as you can could lead to a decrease in quality, so why not just write about what you think is cool? That way you’ll instil some enthusiasm in your posts without losing quality…

I guess I don’t have a problem with you branching out for two reasons
1 – I have yet to hear of someone who never used something from another medium as inspiration to their game: watching an anime does help me with running Exalted and watching Blade (the TV series) helped me a lot with Vampire The Requiem…
2 – From what I’m reading, Critical Hits doesn’t have enough RPG to be anything more than a Dungeons and Dragons blog…

]]> By: Dark Young http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66555 Dark Young Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:46:05 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66555 I've been reading CH for a long time. And while I am an avid RPG player I'm not nearly as big of a fan of DnD as I am many of the other subjects that you posted on with some more regularity in the past. I think you guys have an excellent fan base for RPGS (DnD in particular) and that you supply insightful commentary and useful recommendations on the subject. Even as a non-foaming-at-the-mouth-barbarian I enjoy reading posts about how to make a good one. I would love to see an occasional review on other subjects though. I miss posts on books and movies that were more prevalent in the past. Perhaps you could limit these non-RPG posts to your name sake and only post on "critical-hits/misses" in genres. That might find a happy medium for the folks who don't want to see you spread too thin, but allow those of us who like a little spice to get good reviews on some other items. Also it wouldn't force an unwanted "weekly" item. By-the-by, I log on every Tuesday JUST to see your youtube selection. I’ve been reading CH for a long time. And while I am an avid RPG player I’m not nearly as big of a fan of DnD as I am many of the other subjects that you posted on with some more regularity in the past.
I think you guys have an excellent fan base for RPGS (DnD in particular) and that you supply insightful commentary and useful recommendations on the subject. Even as a non-foaming-at-the-mouth-barbarian I enjoy reading posts about how to make a good one.
I would love to see an occasional review on other subjects though. I miss posts on books and movies that were more prevalent in the past.
Perhaps you could limit these non-RPG posts to your name sake and only post on “critical-hits/misses” in genres.
That might find a happy medium for the folks who don’t want to see you spread too thin, but allow those of us who like a little spice to get good reviews on some other items. Also it wouldn’t force an unwanted “weekly” item.
By-the-by, I log on every Tuesday JUST to see your youtube selection.

]]> By: highbulp http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66554 highbulp Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:18:27 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66554 I voted for Board Games and Video Games, as I feel they have potential overlap with RPGs (and I've seen their coverage before :p). While I'm not necessarily interested, I think the discussion of game design coming from other games could be interesting and relevant. I also (and I feel kind of bad about this) voted for anime. I don't feel anime is really appropriate to this space, but I selfishly would like a set of nice, intelligent people to talk about anime with :p So even though I voted for it, you shouldn't do it--but if you did, I wouldn't mind ;p In general, I think this blog is awesome as is and I'd just stick with about the level you have now--occasionally talking about other content, but generally from an RPG angle :) I voted for Board Games and Video Games, as I feel they have potential overlap with RPGs (and I’ve seen their coverage before :p). While I’m not necessarily interested, I think the discussion of game design coming from other games could be interesting and relevant.

I also (and I feel kind of bad about this) voted for anime. I don’t feel anime is really appropriate to this space, but I selfishly would like a set of nice, intelligent people to talk about anime with :p So even though I voted for it, you shouldn’t do it–but if you did, I wouldn’t mind ;p

In general, I think this blog is awesome as is and I’d just stick with about the level you have now–occasionally talking about other content, but generally from an RPG angle :)

]]> By: Kameron http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66553 Kameron Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:01:48 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66553 As much as I fear it will get me back into the hobby, I'd like to see more comic book/superhero content. I think it's a natural addition, seeing as there are superhero RPGs. .-= Kameron´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.pathsofadventure.com/2009/07/30/4e-quests-for-sunless-citadel/" rel="nofollow">4E Quests for Sunless Citadel</a> =-. As much as I fear it will get me back into the hobby, I’d like to see more comic book/superhero content. I think it’s a natural addition, seeing as there are superhero RPGs.
.-= Kameron´s last blog ..4E Quests for Sunless Citadel =-.

]]> By: Michelle http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66552 Michelle Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:52:04 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66552 Stick with RPGs. If you MUST branch out, movies/TV and videogames. I actually care about them, and good criticism (neither obsequious nor sneering) is very hard to find. Stick with RPGs. If you MUST branch out, movies/TV and videogames. I actually care about them, and good criticism (neither obsequious nor sneering) is very hard to find.

]]> By: The Chatty DM http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66551 The Chatty DM Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:41:10 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66551 I started reading CH while it's content was varied across the geekscape. There were things I didn't read, like Comic Books, but I'm always open to see the Geeky youtubes, the Ultimate Showdowns, reviews on Movies and Videogames. Yes I prefer RPG content, but there are other things that I like too. So write whatever the hell you feel like, I'll stick around for the stuff that I want to see... .-= The Chatty DM´s last blog ..<a href="http://chattydm.net/2009/08/03/handling-a-legion-of-padded-supermen/" rel="nofollow">Handling A Legion Of Padded Supermen</a> =-. I started reading CH while it’s content was varied across the geekscape. There were things I didn’t read, like Comic Books, but I’m always open to see the Geeky youtubes, the Ultimate Showdowns, reviews on Movies and Videogames. Yes I prefer RPG content, but there are other things that I like too.

So write whatever the hell you feel like, I’ll stick around for the stuff that I want to see…
.-= The Chatty DM´s last blog ..Handling A Legion Of Padded Supermen =-.

]]> By: Jeremy http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66550 Jeremy Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:32:30 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66550 I agree with Mark: stick with RPGs and things related directly to them, with an occasional rule-breaker if it's really warranted. It is better to do less, and better, than try to do more, and do it poorly. Spreading yourself too thin will lead to the latter. Right now CH, I believe, is the best comphrensive RPG blog -- I read all the new posts, and I use the Skill Challenges repository a great deal, too. I have made book-buying decisions based on your reviews, because your knowledge of the games is obvious, and therefore you are credible. I used to really like dungeonmastering.com, too, but with the addition of those sorry cartoons and other non-game posts, I'm about to delete that feed (gasp! he deleted the RSS feed!!). They've overstepped the boundaries of their expertise, and have lost that all-important credibility - sure, the site is fat with posts, but where's the quality? All that nerd-watching and geeks next door and such is fluff, and it has seriously detracted from that blog's usefulness to me as a DM. Please don't go the same route. I think it's important to recognize who you are, where you come from, and who your audience is, and in the highly diversified world o' the web, stick with those things, seeking to grow in your area of expertise for the benefit of your target audience. I agree with Mark: stick with RPGs and things related directly to them, with an occasional rule-breaker if it’s really warranted. It is better to do less, and better, than try to do more, and do it poorly. Spreading yourself too thin will lead to the latter. Right now CH, I believe, is the best comphrensive RPG blog — I read all the new posts, and I use the Skill Challenges repository a great deal, too. I have made book-buying decisions based on your reviews, because your knowledge of the games is obvious, and therefore you are credible.

I used to really like dungeonmastering.com, too, but with the addition of those sorry cartoons and other non-game posts, I’m about to delete that feed (gasp! he deleted the RSS feed!!). They’ve overstepped the boundaries of their expertise, and have lost that all-important credibility – sure, the site is fat with posts, but where’s the quality? All that nerd-watching and geeks next door and such is fluff, and it has seriously detracted from that blog’s usefulness to me as a DM. Please don’t go the same route.

I think it’s important to recognize who you are, where you come from, and who your audience is, and in the highly diversified world o’ the web, stick with those things, seeking to grow in your area of expertise for the benefit of your target audience.

]]> By: Mark Caldwell http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66549 Mark Caldwell Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:44:54 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66549 None of the above (stick to RPGs) .-= Mark Caldwell´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.impworks.co.uk/2009/08/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-08-02/" rel="nofollow">Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-02</a> =-. None of the above (stick to RPGs)
.-= Mark Caldwell´s last blog ..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-02 =-.

]]> By: Todd http://critical-hits.com/2009/08/03/inq-of-the-week-non-rpg-content/#comment-66548 Todd Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:43:07 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=4534#comment-66548 I said board games because, while I love Board Game Geek for the discussion, I'd love to see them covered on a blog, especially one where I'm already sure of the quality. There's something to be said for a more unified voice. .-= Todd´s last blog ..<a href="http://twitter.com/toddster/statuses/3101704127" rel="nofollow">toddster: @MKupperman Crap, now that's stuck in my head. "Junk sailor wing OHHHH..."</a> =-. I said board games because, while I love Board Game Geek for the discussion, I’d love to see them covered on a blog, especially one where I’m already sure of the quality. There’s something to be said for a more unified voice.
.-= Todd´s last blog ..toddster: @MKupperman Crap, now that’s stuck in my head. "Junk sailor wing OHHHH…" =-.

]]>