I don't think any of the content across the entire site measures up to where it was just over a year ago, when Ryan was part of it. I am impressed with the effort the team has made in the last year in the wake of his passing (something I can almost not fathom being able to overcome, if I were in the same situation). I just don't think it has the same joy and life to it that it used to.
I think the new blood may help with that.
I'm also not really aware of what content is premium and what isn't. I just pay my money (I'm subscribed up through 2016 or later) and watch whatever as it fills my RSS feed.
Even at its worst, GB is the best place I've found for gaming discussion and entertainment and coverage. It has a little of everything, but not too much of anything. For example, while I appreciate all the "social justice" stuff, it is not something I come to gaming for (and as I am not part of the gaming industry, it is only peripherally relevant in most cases). I like that GiantBomb covers some of that, but they are not excessive, like certain other rhomboid sites. When GiantBomb does it, it feels like it is of legitimate personal interest and not pandering or click-bait or part of a platform. It just "is". In fact, while it is not a thing I like to get too much into, I would actually love to have some industry women be contributors to the site on such topics and see articles from them on occasion (though I do appreciate Patrick's pieces on it, too).
Though... DOTA. I could do without the DOTA. I gave it a shot and everyone who plays it is a fucking twat. All the DOTA coverage here just makes me wish I could be part of that, but it's not a hurdle I'm willing to fight with. I'm too old and too busy to content with shitty thirteen year old kids balling me out because I did something while the other thirteen year old across the map balls me out for *not* doing the same thing, later.
I do, however, feel that there is a real sense of "group" that is wavering. There was something really great about everyone being together and getting together regularly for content. It feels so spread out and sparse, geographically, that now any "special events" or "bonus shows" just feel like they have to pull people in off the street just to warm chairs. I think everyone sitting in the office together in the same city brought a certain distinct energy that was rarely found elsewhere.
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