If Giant Bomb were to have a premium service offering early Beta to games and perhaps a few other exclusive feature, would you subscribe to it? I'm talking about actual exclusive stuff, not videos that should be available to everyone but kept exclusive for the sake of the subscribers.
If Giant Bomb were to have a premium service, would you subscribe?
No.
I love this site but, The only reasons I come here are
- Gaming Info
- Gaming Forums
And if they made either of those 2 cost anything I would go elsewhere.
If they were to add features that required payment, I'm pretty sure it would be nothing I couldn't live without.
But if it was something completely awesome, That I couldn't even think of right now, Then maybe, I guess.
" No.That's what I mean though, what IGN is doing right now is keeping videos and info that obviously should be available to everyone but is kept exclusive for the sake of subscribers. That's exactly what I'd want Giant Bomb NOT to do. I'm talking about actual things like exclusive betas and other swag. Stuff that's above and beyond what an average user would expect.
I love this site but, The only reasons I come here areThose can be found at countless other sites for free, And if they made either of those 2 cost anything I would go elsewhere. If they were to add features that required payment, I'm pretty sure it would be nothing I couldn't live without. But if it was something completely awesome, That I couldn't even think of right now, Then maybe, I guess. "
- Gaming Info
- Gaming Forums
Well, If the betas were 360," @Coombs said:
" No.That's what I mean though, what IGN is doing right now is keeping videos and info that obviously should be available to everyone but is kept exclusive for the sake of subscribers. That's exactly what I'd want Giant Bomb NOT to do. I'm talking about actual things like exclusive betas and other swag. Stuff that's above and beyond what an average user would expect. "
I love this site but, The only reasons I come here areThose can be found at countless other sites for free, And if they made either of those 2 cost anything I would go elsewhere. If they were to add features that required payment, I'm pretty sure it would be nothing I couldn't live without. But if it was something completely awesome, That I couldn't even think of right now, Then maybe, I guess. "
- Gaming Info
- Gaming Forums
I guess I could be persuaded to part with some cash.......
Edit: And THIS
@ReaperOfLiving said:
" If it lets me use PayPal. "
It really depends on what made it a "premium service." If it meant HD-video and/or other exclusive features, then I'd be interested. If they take away features that have been free for since the site launched, then there would be problems.
As people have said, there is stuff that is the same for free on other websites. I enjoy Giant Bomb but wouldn't really pay for it. If it was 10 bucks for life like Something Awful then maybe. MAYBE but, fuck anything else.
It would have to be something completely awesome and groundbreaking.
Although I would pay like, 2, maybe even 5, dollars a month to use their site if they were in trouble of shutting down or something. I love this place.
I think this has been discussed before when Jeff brought it up at the last PAX.But to answer your question no. I never see the benefits of subscription to a website worth the cost.
Id like to say it would depend on the features for me, but I love the site so much that I know I couldnt resist hitting the Subscribe button as soon as it was there.
I would have full confidence the guys would keep it cheap, and do something to make it worth it.
It would help them finance more equipment, travel assignments, and enhancements to the site.
I think the idea of returning some of the subscription money via competitions and prizes, with a cheap sub fee... say $3 a month would be fine. Add some early beta access, a discount at the store, maybe even access to help test new site componants and most people would be cheering.
I know the guys have said before they dont want to add a user video upload feature, as its essentially paying for storage of millions of not very good videos. They could make that a paid service for people that want that. It would cover their costs, and the people who really want that will get it, which might lead to better quality user content. I would like that this be an additional fee to the sub though, so its not built in to the sub price for people that dont want that. Gear the price to turn a little profit, and put the money into competitions and prizes for the videos, and development of site tools.
I really don't see what they could possibly put as premium stuff. I come to GB for:
- quick looks
- achievement comparisons
- bombcast
- the wiki
- forums
- mailbag
- Endurance Runs
None of that would be premium content. Quite honestly, I think Giant Bomb is the best gaming website around in terms of total content and original content. And the genuinely funny humor. The staff of GB are irreplaceable.
No, I have a strong aversion to paying for things.
I would also feel very upset if they tried to do it. We get all of this great stuff now for free, it would be kinda jerkish to make us pay for it in the future. I know they need to get paid, but that's what their ads are for. We don;t really want this place turning into that other site.
Also because gamespot and IGN do it horribly, doenst mean jeff would make the same mistake. In fact, he would be in the best position to ensure it is done in a manner that is respectful to GBs viewers.
" As Ryan says "No thank you sir!" UNLESS it means special Johnny V treatment and free Swedish candy then I'm all for a subscription. "I would drop bank for more Johnny V bombcasts.
Would I be upset if they did it? No; firstly I don't feel like it's likely to happen; secondly, if it was cheapish, I wouldn't mind paying. But I'm not sure what they could offer. They already offer all I want and more in terms of their audio and video content. They would never take it away for a whim. Because they are good men. Gods masquerading as good men.
Ive listed some in this thread already, but you cant say that these guys, given some more money and resources, couldnt create some awesome shit that wouldnt have existed if it wasnt for the extra income stream. If all it did was cover the money for another video guy to film behind the scenes stuff everyday, edit and upload it for the paid subscribers - I would totally pay for that.
I cant see how anyone could have a problem with that. The key would be that free users lose nothing of what they have, which ive already stressed several times.
Depends on the price and what features were available to premium users. Knowing the guys though, if they were to even do a premium service, they wouldn't cut out core features of GiantBomb that are on right now just for premium users, if anything it'd be extra stuff on top of what it is now.
Maybe.....problem with beta is that then for us Europeans that they'll need beta keys for our region. When it comes down to it, their already offering everything I want from this site (except savefiles....), so unless they withdraw stuff I dont see the need to pay. I'd pay for more Bombcasts though........
Absolutely not, I won't even pay for xboxlive in a billion years, I won't pay for premium stuff here.
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