I love Giant Bomb. I've followed the current crew since that other website was called videogames.com. Since the full site launched in July of 2008, GB has provided awesome commentary on video games and other crazy stuff the gang is in to. From Endurance Runs, to Quick Looks, to the Bombcast, to freaking Mailbags; any time a new video is posted here, I have to stop what I'm doing and watch the whole thing. It's been really cool watching this little site grow into one of the most influential gaming sites on the internet. 
 
That being said, I worry for the future. 
 
The GB crew several times has harped on companies who overcharge for DLC and content that should be on the disc. Yet, at the same time, they are going to start charging people a monthly fee for a t-shirt and the ability to access the new and improved mobile website. If that's not hypocritical, I don't know what is. I can download movies and trailers by using a Firefox plugin. I can get HD videos from Gametrailers for free. No advertisements? Once again, there's Ad Block plus. Everything they're offering I can already receive, and for the amazing price of free. What exactly am I paying for here?
 
How is this any different from publishers charging for game modes that are already on the disc? For GB to get on their soapbox to decry the money-grabbing methods of game companies and come right back and do the exact same thing is off-putting and disgusting.
 
And what about for the people like me who paid for the iPhone App? Are they just going to stop supporting the paid membership  when it's not profitable anymore? 
 
I don't get it. It seemed like the Whiskey Media group knew what it was doing. Sadly, I was wrong.

They added the payment option because a lot of people wanted it.

Apples and Oranges

if you don't want it, don't pay for it? It's not vital stuff they're selling, it's just HD videos and no ads; The only reason they're not doing more is to not alienate the people who aren't paying. Tell me, what exactly would YOU pay for?

Don't like it? Don't pay. No one is forcing you to. The fact of the matter is, if GB is going to continue to deliver content to us with minimal, relevant ads, this is what has to happen, and there are plenty of people aside from your bitter ass who are willing to shove out a little dough to help the guys out. It's not hypocrisy, it's business, and it's absolutely not the same thing as companies overcharging for DLC. The site as it is will not change, and the extras won't be necessary to enjoy the content you already have access to. 
 
So quit fucking bitching, you entitled sack of shit.

Cry me a river. I heart Giant Bomb. The Bombcast alone is worth hundreds a year, and that's free. I am all for helping them with a revenue stream.  
 
I just hope the t-shirts come in girl sizes. 

People here actually WANT to pay for this site and expressed their opinions on the subject.
We're not being FORCED to pay, because this site is/has been made by gamers themselves too,  I suggest you take a little step back and review the situation again, Giantbomb is doing a good thing in my eyes, and I'm a cheapskate to the very end.
 
But they'll get my euro's!

I won't exactly deny the charges because on any other site I just might agree with you. But I love this website so much I'm just looking forward to supporting them no matter what the benefits are, really. I don't like to get preachy on the internet but your damn sense of entitlement is even pissing me off.
 
If you don't want it, don't pay for it.

1. A bunch of people on the internet create a joint and make it seem really cool and different and incredibly awesome 
2. internet residents, lonely and in need to socialize and feel that theres something in common between one another, use that joint to gather and watch the funny videos together and claim to love this joint 
3. those residents get carried away with their cyber affection, to the point where they'd put money down on the table to be able to continue to be a part of that internet fad. keep feeling like they belong  
4. they can subscribe now. take their love and devotion and dedication to a higher level and love the giantbomb more, together.

You don't need to pay for it, and for the paid membership they aren't taking anything away from you, they're just adding stuff for the membership

" if you don't want it, don't pay for it? It's not vital stuff they're selling, it's just HD videos and no ads; The only reason they're not doing more is to not alienate the people who aren't paying. Tell me, what exactly would YOU pay for? "

Go away.

While I have worries, this isn't one of the things I'm worried about. I'd prefer that what they offer be minimal, so that you only pay if you want to support the site. Otherwise, it would seem like they were detracting from the experience that non-paying users are having.

This is not hypocrisy on the part of Giant Bomb. Their argument against publishers is that they charge considerable amounts of money for content that is already on the disc you have purchased, however the paid subscription service that Giant Bomb is offering presents a number of new services for a price, without restricting peoples' access to any existing or upcoming content. Additionally game publishers charge you for the base content in games to begin with and then charge fees on top of that whereas the base content and services on Giant Bomb are available for free.

" @Laketown said:

" if you don't want it, don't pay for it? It's not vital stuff they're selling, it's just HD videos and no ads; The only reason they're not doing more is to not alienate the people who aren't paying. Tell me, what exactly would YOU pay for? "

Good question. The problem was the fact that they didn't charge money from the beginning. That's the only way paid content can work for an online commodity. Newspapers are going through the same dilemma. It's not my job to figure out what should be included in a paid subscription. How about they do what lots of other sites do and use ads to make up for the cost of running the site. Crazy, right? "

" if you don't want it, don't pay for it? It's not vital stuff they're selling, it's just HD videos and no ads; The only reason they're not doing more is to not alienate the people who aren't paying. Tell me, what exactly would YOU pay for? "

" @pbhawks45 said:

" @Laketown said:

" if you don't want it, don't pay for it? It's not vital stuff they're selling, it's just HD videos and no ads; The only reason they're not doing more is to not alienate the people who aren't paying. Tell me, what exactly would YOU pay for? "

Good question. The problem was the fact that they didn't charge money from the beginning. That's the only way paid content can work for an online commodity. Newspapers are going through the same dilemma. It's not my job to figure out what should be included in a paid subscription. How about they do what lots of other sites do and use ads to make up for the cost of running the site. Crazy, right? "

Why bother if people like you are going to adblock them anyways? "

" Don't like it? Don't pay. No one is forcing you to. The fact of the matter is, if GB is going to continue to deliver content to us with minimal, relevant ads, this is what has to happen, and there are plenty of people aside from your bitter ass who are willing to shove out a little dough to help the guys out. It's not hypocrisy, it's business, and it's absolutely not the same thing as companies overcharging for DLC. The site as it is will not change, and the extras won't be necessary to enjoy the content you already have access to.  So quit fucking bitching, you entitled sack of shit. "

" if you don't want it, don't pay for it?  "

Not to be a party pooper, but if you're going to spell hypocrisy, do it right.

" @Laketown said:

" if you don't want it, don't pay for it?  "

"

They want to support the crew. These guys entertain us and we want to give them money!

Don't like GiantBomb subscription? Don't eat. Or more likely, Whiskey Media won't eat.

The difference with bullshit DLC is that you just paid $60 for the game, which obviously covers the DLC development costs, and the disc you just paid for already contains the 'extra' content they intend to nickel and dime you for.
 
With Giant Bomb on the other hand, you haven't paid for fuck all.  Ever.  You can't claim you are being nickel and dimed before you've ever had to pay a single cent.

Pretty sure they said barely anything was going to change. Not going to do sub payer only forums and the like. You just get some new features, nothing gets taken away.

" @Meteora: I have no idea what you mean! :)  I have a good connection, but with multiple tabs open (4), playing a video is often sluggish on my laptop. It's less than a year old, so the tech isn't obsolete, either. That's what I'd be worried about. "

" Don't like it? Don't pay. No one is forcing you to. The fact of the matter is, if GB is going to continue to deliver content to us with minimal, relevant ads, this is what has to happen, and there are plenty of people aside from your bitter ass who are willing to shove out a little dough to help the guys out. It's not hypocrisy, it's business, and it's absolutely not the same thing as companies overcharging for DLC. The site as it is will not change, and the extras won't be necessary to enjoy the content you already have access to.  So quit fucking bitching, you entitled sack of shit. "

Everyone should do everything for free and we should all live at a big hippie-commune and have sex with everyone all the time and eat pies and make love and not war.
 
Sorry, my mind drifted away. And I'm sure the $3 (or was it 2?) you paid for the iPhone app is burning a huge hole in your probably over-sized wallet.

That's your problem with the site? Not the biased reviews, general insult flinging and the state of the forums? 
Well...at least it was mildly original, I'll give you that.

" Don't like it? Don't pay. No one is forcing you to. The fact of the matter is, if GB is going to continue to deliver content to us with minimal, relevant ads, this is what has to happen, and there are plenty of people aside from your bitter ass who are willing to shove out a little dough to help the guys out. It's not hypocrisy, it's business, and it's absolutely not the same thing as companies overcharging for DLC. The site as it is will not change, and the extras won't be necessary to enjoy the content you already have access to.  So quit fucking bitching, you entitled sack of shit. "

In the words of the great Snide: 

 We're in the not pissing off the Internet business    

No one is taking features away/splintering the user base like DLC and stuff that's on disc. This is just a way for people who actually like the content on the site to support the team. Because we don't look at Giant Bomb as "just another business". In the eternal words of Ryan Davis, "Don't like paid memberships... don't eat".

" @pbhawks45: The title was spelled "hypocracy" when I came in. It was incorrect. Now its changed for some reason. :3 Besides the point, the community was literally begging for premium service, and so Giantbomb delivered on that end.  and the HD player isn't going to slow your computer down as long as you've got a decent internet connection. "

" I love Giant Bomb. I've followed the current crew since that other website was called videogames.com. Since the full site launched in July of 2008, GB has provided awesome commentary on video games and other crazy stuff the gang is in to. From Endurance Runs, to Quick Looks, to the Bombcast, to freaking Mailbags; any time a new video is posted here, I have to stop what I'm doing and watch the whole thing. It's been really cool watching this little site grow into one of the most influential gaming sites on the internet.   That being said, I worry for the future.   The GB crew several times has harped on companies who overcharge for DLC and content that should be on the disc. Yet, at the same time, they are going to start charging people a monthly fee for a t-shirt and the ability to access the new and improved mobile website. If that's not hypocritical, I don't know what is. I can download movies and trailers by using a Firefox plugin. I can get HD videos from Gametrailers for free. No advertisements? Once again, there's Ad Block plus. Everything they're offering I can already receive, and for the amazing price of free. What exactly am I paying for here?  How is this any different from publishers charging for game modes that are already on the disc? For GB to get on their soapbox to decry the money-grabbing methods of game companies and come right back and do the exact same thing is off-putting and disgusting.  And what about for the people like me who paid for the iPhone App? Are they just going to stop supporting the paid membership  when it's not profitable anymore?   I don't get it. It seemed like the Whiskey Media group knew what it was doing. Sadly, I was wrong. "

" Don't like it? Don't pay. No one is forcing you to. The fact of the matter is, if GB is going to continue to deliver content to us with minimal, relevant ads, this is what has to happen, and there are plenty of people aside from your bitter ass who are willing to shove out a little dough to help the guys out. It's not hypocrisy, it's business, and it's absolutely not the same thing as companies overcharging for DLC. The site as it is will not change, and the extras won't be necessary to enjoy the content you already have access to.  So quit fucking bitching, you entitled sack of shit. "

@pbhawks45 said:

"I don't get it. "

No shit.

" @punkxblaze:  Why do they need supporting? It's quite pathetic that they're taking money from hard-working people like some sort of panhandler. If they can't make money on their own, then come up with a better business plan. "

I didn't even know there was a paid subscription thing to Giant Bomb. And I think that's a good thing that I didn't notice because I've been enjoying all the features and videos the site has been offering  since before it.

" @punkxblaze:  Why do they need supporting? It's quite pathetic that they're taking money from hard-working people like some sort of panhandler. If they can't make money on their own, then come up with a better business plan. "