When did irrelevant site-skin ads become a part of Giantbomb?

I say that with the highest amount of respect.

Sorry if old.

From Jeff on Formspring.

jeffgerstmann responded to QAsking41m
Do you guys have any input on advertisements that go on the site? I have no problem with stuff like site skins, but I browse the black version of Giant Bomb for a reason - and a bright yellow skin is incredibly uncomfortable on my eyes.


No, not really. Or at least not at the level that you're probably asking about. Our largest bit of input was to develop a membership tier that disables ads.

@geirr said:

@MooseyMcMan said:

If you don't like it, then become a paying subscriber. I know that might not be an option (I know I'm not a paying subscriber solely because of lack of funds), but that's the way it is.

I don't like it and I am a paying subscriber. The subscriptions did not feel this forced when they were announced way back when.

(edited a typo)

I like the video where they depicted non-subscribers as second-class citizens. Also, the podcast thing.

@LordAndrew: What video podcast thing was this? (sorry i dont listen to the podcast.)

Yellow front page?

I'll never love again.

CBSi did this I would imagine.

@Brodehouse said:

Was all that great talk about 'community driven, we're in a relationship with you, not advertisers' was that just to get a metric so you could then sell to advertisers?

It would appear so, though it's more likely due to CBSi's purchase. That talk came from Whiskey Media, Long Live The King!

Wow, businesses trying to make money? THE SHOCK AND SHAME!

So I just took a screen shot of the ad with the infamous black text on white background layout, and behold!

@CosmicQueso said:

Wow, businesses trying to make money? THE SHOCK AND SHAME!

GBDF ASSEMBLE.

Giant Bomb was so much cooler when it was underground. Corporate shills, etc. Yawn.

@Carryboy said:

@CosmicQueso said:

Wow, businesses trying to make money? THE SHOCK AND SHAME!

GBDF ASSEMBLE.

Oh fuck off with that shit, and with the "white knight" bullshit. It's a fucking business. Grow up.

@CosmicQueso said:

Wow, businesses trying to make money? THE SHOCK AND SHAME!

The shock and shame is from the promises of not having exactly these sort of ads by said business.

@tsiro: Thanks for the info! Unfortunately none of that is relevant to what I'm talking about.

My point was that its nothing like stealing like someone else said. Like not even close. And, if GB doesn't want people to 'press mute' or 'change the channel' then they need to be displaying content that makes sense for their viewers. And hey...like you said its 'easy' to tell what type of people view their site...so should be a breeze! Maybe with all the analytics they'll be able to figure out this crowd likes games.

PS I don't use adblocker -- but with vomit inducing ads like these it makes me think about it :)

@Twistation said:

By allowing these ads on their site, they have already compromised their integrity in a way. They said this site was going to be free of ads, but obviously they have not stuck to their guns

They have never, ever said that there wouldn't be ads on the site. Advertising was always a key part of the site's business model. And there have been ads on the site off-and-on since the very early days of the site. Ads aren't a new thing. The homepage has never been skinned bright yellow, and I agree that it's very garish, but to claim that Giant Bomb has lost it's integrity based on a fictitious claim that the site was going to be ad-free is ridiculous.

@MattyFTM: It's bad enough this sort of ad exists in the first place. The idea wasn't that Giantbomb was too cool for advertisement but it was "better than this."

Why not just become a premium member, then you don't have those.

end times comin'

@MattyFTM: I don't think its lost its integrity but I think you can say its very hypocritical because of comments Jeff has made in the past regarding advertisement on other sites.

@Jumanji: Huh? What did I do?

@Carryboy said:

@MattyFTM: I don't think its lost its integrity but I think you can say its very hypocritical because of comments Jeff has made in the past regarding advertisement on other sites.

I don't want to assume, but I bet if it was up to Jeff, that ad wouldn't be there.

@MaxxS: So would you therefore say that they sold out? For the record Im not saying i think selling out is bad.

I'm torn on this thread. On one hand, it's important for viewers to give their feedback on things like this -- after all, if an ad is distasteful to your site's following, then it's good for them to let you know so you can avoid it in the future.

On the other hand, we've got people looking at a single Sprint Ad and coming up with "BETRAYER!! ALL THESE YEARS WERE A LIEE!!!!!!!"

@Carryboy said:

@MaxxS: So would you therefore say that they sold out? For the record Im not saying i think selling out is bad.

No, I'm saying that it's probably out of their control.

So every one loved the black on yellow in persona 4, but now it sucks?

C@MaxxS said:

@Carryboy said:

@MaxxS: So would you therefore say that they sold out? For the record Im not saying i think selling out is bad.

No, I'm saying that it's probably out of their control.

Control which they forfeited for money?

That seems pretty terrible. Ads are one thing, this is ugly, distracting, garish you name it. If I was not a subscriber i would be pissed off. So chalk one more voice up for getting rid of intrusive stuff like this.

Been like that for a while for me. Ads everywhere not just homepage, doesn't bother me that much. Really should get to installing adblocker though.

-Just installed adblock, pretty easy, oh well people have to find out about the EVO some way.

The more important question is why is there still premium content? You don't get big ass adverts like that on a site like this for free. Every other site in the world gives me all there content in exchange for there big ugly adverts.

Guess I'll install ad block.

I like this pay or take it! mentality some users have of course all of them paying members , I guess I've been a thief all my life because I don't look at billboards and skip the channel when there's a commercial on.

@Jensonb said:

Also, I'm sick of people saying "just use AdBlocker". If you use AdBlocker, you are a thief, period. You wouldn't go around telling people to "just take" a loaf of bread if they didn't want to pay the $2 to buy one.

Are you fucking dumb?

Advertising is a reality of life. I generally have no issues with them.

HOWEVER, advertising becomes a much more aggressive beast when it's interfering with what I came here to do. For me, any ad that re-formats the page or animates even slightly (by which I mean moves the entire page rather than animation within the ad itself, like those that expand slowly) is more or less unforgivable. I had hoped that GB was above that.

@Superkenon: My thoughts exactly. I think the problem is that this community is mostly made of reasonable people that either don't care enough to post things or most times get drowned out by the unreasonable crazies who have created an unrealistic idea of what they are speaking of. Then the people who are trying to be reasonable and care just lump everyone that is complaining (even those who have good arguments) as one crazy mob of lunatics (more commonly known as the internet). When everyone 'screams' no one can listen, and then what we have is the United Nations (or forums, pick or chose). I love this community, but it's super difficult to ask everyone to play nice.

Also to anyone who wants to take short snippets of what I said out of context and not ask for any clarification, feel free to do it.

If you aren't willing to pay for a sub, then deal with having to see ads. It's one or the other. The money has to come from somewhere.

I think the only complain worth leveling is that the ad is an eyesore and because of that is a bit garish. I don't understand how anyone is citing this is as irrelevant. For years now people in advertising have figured out a thing called, say it with me now, demographics. Those demos, when they think they have a handle on them, tend to buy certain products not just video games.

I remember a Game Informer article years ago lamenting the fact that publishers advertising games to people already reading a game magazine it bordered on illogical. Why would they need to advertise games only if that's not the only product that the audience buys in their lives? Counter-programing middling reception is the only one I can think besides the obligatory wide net marketing roll out to remind everyone your game exists. People visiting a site like this though don't need to be told a new AAA title is coming because they already know that. Gamespot I can kind of understand because they deal in big and broad traffic. Giant Bomb on the other hand would only benefit from smaller or more obscure games since our audience here already knows about the majority of big games coming out.

So back to my original point, the ads targeting smart phones to people visiting a video game website is completely relevant given target demo information. Is it still bright and kind of garrish? Sure. Since the ad is the same on GS, I would hazard a guess that there was a meeting by the ad team first and then people like Dave and the other engineers were brought in to implement it on the back end. I'm sure the editors have an opinion but it could go either way really with them. On the one hand they may still want to see better ad implementation but on the other hand dismiss all this as people not wanting ads on Giant Bomb because they liked their little grassroots basement website when it started out. Keep in mind I was here from day one but we have to recognize that they gotta grow in order to keep doing what they're doing or get more stuff to do more stuff.

Wondering how long Giant Bomb is going to exist as a seperate entity before the pretense is dropped entirely and they are just straight up GameSpot again. 12, 18 months?

@Jimbo: 8

@Jimbo said:

Wondering how long Giant Bomb is going to exist as a seperate entity before the pretense is dropped entirely and they are just straight up GameSpot again. 12, 18 months?

Giant Bomb has a recognized and followed brand. Why would they dismantle it? Especially if they are spending the time and resources to relaunch the site?

@mtcantor: Drop in subscription revenue.

@mtcantor said:

If you aren't willing to pay for a sub, then deal with having to see ads. It's one or the other. The money has to come from somewhere.

Correct. The money has to come from somewhere. Either they raise money from subs or from adverts. Like every other site on the internet. One or the other - right?

@Carryboy said:

@mtcantor: Drop in subscription revenue.

This makes no sense. Even if subs dropped, having an extra outlet provides more ad revenue at little to no extra cost.

Haha, people calling those who use AdBlock thieves. Hilarious, maybe when your house gets jacked you'll learn what a thief actually is.

My eyes are burning from that yellow.

Who the fuck thought a bright yellow background would look good on a computer screen? Or any screen, by that matter.

@mtcantor: If the subs becomes more a niche doesn't it make sense to roll giant bomb into gamespot have there own tab for giant bomb sub exclusive stuff ie random pc games, and have the other guys cover games on gamespot/let go.

@Sooty said:

Haha, people calling those who use AdBlock thieves. Hilarious, maybe when your house gets jacked you'll learn what a thief actually is.

no man its totally the same u r STEALING

@GunslingerPanda said:

@Sooty said:

Haha, people calling those who use AdBlock thieves. Hilarious, maybe when your house gets jacked you'll learn what a thief actually is.

no man its totally the same u r STEALING

Hey is that you in your avatar? I sure hope so if not you better have got permission/payed royalties to use that picture.

THIEF.

i use adblock. im not a thief or a scumbag. im just a guy who doesn't want annoying ads shoved in my face. i get enough of that from other places.

@Clonedzero said:

i use adblock. im not a thief or a scumbag. im just a guy who doesn't want annoying ads shoved in my face. i get enough of that from other places.

Are you sending this from jail?