Want to work on GU Gaming... SO bad!

[Woody]

I've really been feeling the itch to work on the Gu news site GUGaming.Com. But, with the partial failure of all the work that went into he GU Store, I'm a bit apprehensive. Not to mention I'd have to wrangle some area specific volunteers that could do some editing duties. Tall order that.

See, what I was thinking was to use members of the GU community to actually produce/link/write about gaming news in each of a few different sections here in the forums. Then myself and my group of volunteer editors would pick the best written, most GU-like articles and flag them for inclusion on the site. In that way the news site will be tied to the forums just like the comic is. If we're lucky and the site started motoring the editors would become payed positions.

But the whole idea is to make a news site by gamers for gamers. There are others out there that do similar (Destructoid for one). But this is GU.

[Breandan]

I think it's a damn good idea (especially speaking as one for whom GU is generally the source of my gaming news), but caution is not a bad idea. Any new venture involves risk, and when engaging in such risks the formula is simple- balance the cost-vs-benefit ratio thoroughly, and if the benefit exceeds the cost to a comfortable level, go for it. I've had to do it with two businesses, and am doing it now as I radically restructure my current business. It ain't easy, but if it's worth the risks then run with it. You only live once, better to wind up at the finish line battered, haggard, and saying "Hot DAMN! That was fun!" :D

[Woody]

The risk is so trivial though. It's time and nothing more. If a volunteer dropped out, that section might go unupdated until I found someone else to fill in. Or, I would just try to cover the section myself.

We already own the URL. We already have a site host. I can do the coding. I've already done most of the work for sections of the GU site anyway. It's all just a matter of time.

[Breandan]

Oh hell, then I'm all for it

*ponders doing Crotchity Old Fart reviews of them newfangled games* :D

[Takara]

Now if we can figure out a way to make each day about 4 hours longer...

[Woody]

4 more hours and some anti-procrastination pills.

[DashCat9]

I think a community driven GU Gaming site would be awesome. I'm in no way a journalist and couldn't even vaguely consider myself as a writer, but I'd love to help contribute if it got up and running.

[Gumblackwood]

If someone invented some anti-procrastination pills, they'd make a fortune and they'd certainly have some of my money.

Anyways, I'd be happy to help in any way I could. I'm no coder, but I'm a decent writer and researcher and I try to stay informed.

[Radial]

Maybe you should do some of the easy work first. Like finding volunteers and forcing them to write articles, before you set up the news site. That way you'll be more motivated to do it.

I know that's what it'd take for me. I don't do anything until people are depending on me to do it.

[Woody]

You consider finding volunteers the easy work? For me the coding is the easy work as it's already been done for the main GU site. Finding reliable volunteers with the skill required to be a decent editor that could take months.

[Radial]

I guess I was just thinking along the lines of a forum topic with the title of "Who wants to write stuff."

Then make them all write stuff.

What kind of process are you thinking of for finding people?

[Woody]

Lots of people want to write stuff. All of them are not great writers. And even fewer can be reasonable editors. Hell, I'm not an editor in the least. And, I'd really rather not have to read every new news item that is posted.

[Radial]

Maybe you could use a community rating system. Some one posts an article, every one reads it, and then rates it. If it achieves a certain rating after 2-3 days it gets uploaded to the news page.

That'd be a step away from what ever one else is doing.

edit- and, after a while, if some one is constantly getting qualifying ratings, they can just upload directly to the news site. Eliminates the need to find a writer, the community can find one for you.

edit2- if you haven't noticed, I'm all about pushing the work on some one else. Makes me feel like I'm not procrastinating if some one else is working for me.

[Woody]

Then every piece of news is 2-3 days late. Not really the direction I wanted to go with the site.

And I didn't say "volunteer writers". I said "volunteer editors". Everyone would be a volunteer writer. Meh, just re-read the 2nd paragraph.

[Radial]

Fair enough.
I was really just trying to tac on some added motivation since you mentioned your main problem in getting it done was motivation. I thought if people got the jump on throwing out articles you'd be less inclined to procrastinate, since the community would allready be moving forward with the idea. And then I mixed that idea with community driven news and... ended up in a tangent that wasn't related to the orignal post.

Finding "volunteer editors" would be a lot harder than just finding writers. They'd need to have a solid writing background, a good grasp of readers want to... uh... read, and understand what is/isn't allowed under GU rules. That last part requires you to put a lot of faith into some one you don't really know. All-in-all a pretty daunting task. Maybe you should just do it yourself for a few weeks?

And I guess my way would be "every one is a volunteer editor."

[Da_Dude]

I think branching GU out as a gaming news site would be a brilliant move on your part, Woody. As Breandan stated earlier this site is already a main source of gaming news for a lot of your readers.

Keep us posted. I would love to submit an article. Though, could you give us a little more detail on what kind of article you are looking for, or even if you have any specific kind in mind?

[Woody]

I said my problem was procrastination. Motivation and procrastination are not really the same noun. I have plenty of motivation to do it, as made obvious by this thread. I procrastinate for any number of reasons. But, procrastination aside, I already don't have much time outside of the comic. It's a full time job. And you're suggesting I add another full time job (probably more) on top of that? I guess I shouldn't be surprised though, other people are always very liberal with my time.

The fact is though, I've already been over how the whole thing should work 100 times. I've even talked it out with a few people. So, nothing personal but, unsolicited advice isn't really something I need.

---

Da_Dude, I'm not looking for articles, just people reporting gaming news. Examples are everywhere on the net: gamestop, destructoid, joystiq. All I'm really looking for is people with that aggressive GU syle of saying it like it is to provide news who expect the news not glossed over... without it being fanboi negative and virtually useless like other venues. Articles, assignments, etc. can come later.

Editors would just correct punctuation, spelling, and make sure sources are cited. But anyone that's done real world editing will tell you it's a thankless job that isn't exactly easy. And here I am asking that they do it for free.

[Shiqra]

Hee - I have to edit my advisor's papers...for free. Graduate student = forced volunteerism of a sort.

I am a habitual proofreader - I can't help myself. I manage to find errors in books I read. Course I was also homeschooled and had spelling and grammar beat into my head since I was 5...

I really like the idea of a GU Gaming news site. I won't go near some of the other gaming sites as I have been told (and cleaned the mess off my friend's computer) they are notorious for spy/adware. I trust GU - so gaming news comics/writeups are my news source.

Hehe - as an Older gamer, I like Breandan's idea of column /giggle.

I really hope you get this off the ground Woody - I'll come read it :)

[Ashuraa]

I have been a lurker of GU for years. I think at one time I might have had a name, but I cannot remember, it has been so long.

I would be willing to offer my services as an editor for you Woody. I admit that I do not have very much experiance in editing, but would gladly give an hour or two a day at reading and editing articles each day to start with.

I am hoping to use it as a stepping stone for myself. If I can edit well for others, then I can write better myself, and perhaps someday get something actually pupblished.

[magi7456]

A GU Gaming site would be awesome, the only other place I get gaming info is in PCGamer and they seem, and the main word is seem, to be unbiased in their reviews.

If you need more assistance, let me know.

[Larington]

Personally, I'd probably suffer from "use British English darnit" syndrome. It's colour, not color, etc.
So I probably wouldn't be a great choice for editor either.

[Nólaquen]

I'd be really happy to see a GU News. Destructoid is really hard on the eyes. But I can see what you mean by it being hard to find the editors. It'd be more than the standard editor's share of work. It seems like in order to legitimize GU News as a reliable news outlet, the editor would probably have to do some sourcing research on every potential post.

I know a gaming community with a few English majors, out of which one of the community was hired by Destructoid (and later became Editor-in-chief at Japanator). I'll ask around and see if any others there are interested.

[Shardith]

If you cranked up a GU news site, would you spoof your own site with comics?

*evil grin*

[Woody]

But... I don't spoof news sites with the comic.

[Drakonin]

I finally stopped procrastinating myself to sign up on these boards. Been a reader and a fan since the early EQ comic days. That said I am going to be a naysayer here and say leave the news to the news sites. As awesome as it would be to read/edit and share the news with GU fans others are already doing it and doing it well. Stick to the awesome comics with quick blog as to what your thought process was and why, I'm sure that is hard enough.

[EmpireGuard]

You could always just contact some large gaming company and they will write you News reports and pay you to do it. However you would end up giving some really bad games great reviews and lots of hype. Just joking

From reading you comic I know you have better ethics than that. I'm afraid I can't help you with proof reading as I'm a really a poor speller. I'm just glad Firefox has sell check or I would have said some things more like "I'm afread I cant help u". Now If I can just get NWN to have spell check the amout of times I have said reday (ready) is just depressing.

[Elraidal]

I do realize that this is (checks calendar) 4 months after you started this topic, but if it's still in the works, I am so severely anal-retentive about spelling and grammar that I've often been asked in-game if I'm an English major. (Doesn't hurt [help?] that I was a senior editor on a youth community newspaper after high school.)
But seeing as I can't figure out how to email you, this was the only way to express my interest. *shrug*

[Livistos]

Woody, I consider you already a source of news in the gaming industry. More importantly you do comics on subjects that most gaming news sites would just pass up. You're already a journalist more so than just a comic artist. That's why you have such a loyal fan base I think.



Unsolicited advice removed.