It is a nice perk for us but not the main reason I subscribe each year. Hope this will refocus the conversation on each of the videos and we wont see any more self entitled rants from people telling Whiskey Media how to run their business.
Can someone break down how I can get this on my RSS reader? I'm using Dogg Cather on Android, but I can't get it to work? Thanks, I'm not very good with this stuff.
Edit: Nevermind, got it to work on my own. Not as dumb as I thought I was.
I vote for free HD on youtube. I subscribe to support GB (and to a lesser extent whiskey media as a whole) and for the excellent premium content (JAR TIME!)
If I was new to whiskey media and came accross a 40 minute youtube quicklook I would likely turn it off if it weren't in HD. I for one am really choosey when it comes to videos and I think that allowing HD for non-subscribers is less of a problem than it would have been last year when there were fewer subscriber only videos and whatnot.
100% in favor of HD for everyone. Like everyone else, I care much more about subscriber exclusive videos rather than just being able to watch videos in a certain quality.
I don't suscribe because of the HD videos. I do it because of the mobile version of the site, the archived videos of tnt and the various shenanigans you guys make. So yeah, go for free youtube HD.
HD for everyone sounds fine to me. That's not what I subscribe for (unless I'm downloading videos, I watch in the lowest possible quality to conserve bandwidth). The whole point of subscribing for HD videos (I thought) was because streaming that much content would be one hell of an expensive endeavor, but that's alleviated by the Youtube switch, and it seems downright archaic to not have access to HD video in this day and age.
Also, someone want to give me a pointer for downloading RSS for this via the Zune (yes... I know) software? No gee dee login info I can throw at it seems to work.
Excellent podcast and as usual a very welcome addition to the Bombcast. Let non-subscribers and the youtube audience have HD. The way I see it you've done enough good things for your paying members by providing amazing premium videos and other content like this show right here. I don't subscribe only because I had exclusive HD so it can be free for everyone.
Personally, I don't support Whiskey for the HD video. I give you my money because you produce quality content in a world otherwise filled with shit content. If putting HD video up on youtube helps the business grow, I'm all for it. I'd even consider watching the 720p stuff on youtube if the compression is not horrible, just to save you guys money.
EDIT: Just listening through the show now. I 100% agree with Nicholas. Very well put.
Last year, when premium memberships launched, I signed up explicitly for HD video. However, you guys have created so much great content that I have no problem whatsoever with HD video for all.
I feel 100% okay with you guys giving out Youtube compressed 720 for everyone - even if it really isn't all that compressed and it seems as if the general subscriber consensus is that it's okay to give out HD to everyone. Be wary however, this consensus decision might not be work for financial reasons. When the time comes to it- members who are on the borderline of not renewing for next year may opt out of renewing just because the HD content is available and some of the non subscribers won't subscribe because of the same reason.
Now I don't claim to know too much about what you guys do and the monetary side of it - but it seems to me that the exclusive subscriber video content is the real reason why many subscribers keep coming back. But I remember being a non subscriber just a short while ago and I didn't even really know I was missing out on so much amazing content.
So in my mind, one solution to tackle both of these problems at once is to simultaneously allow Youtube 720p for all while showcasing the subscriber exclusive content on the website more regularly.
In the end it's probably really complicated and there's most likely a ton of logistics to figure out but hopefully my comment has served some purpose and helped you guys out even in the smallest.
I'm frankly embarrassed to link GB videos to my non-GB friends cause all I get in response is "why isn't it available in HD?" and when I mention you only get that if you pay they're all quite understandably shocked. It has a negative impact on public perception of your business.
2. If you guys do "build a machine," I hope it is only in place so you can continue doing awesome stuff like this. Also, don't forget some of us actually like reading the stuff you guys write. I know I personally go out of my way to read Ryan's reviews even if I don't give a shit about the game; I'm just a fan of his writing. Obviously video is your biggest selling point, but I could honestly do without any video reviews.
3. I like the wiki. It has flaws but it's a fun part of the site. I think getting rid of things like the "air" page may be a start in improving it, though.
4. Thanks for doing these kinds of shows!
Edit: I also think that "machine" should run on Kessler's dreams.
I feel 100% okay with you guys giving out Youtube compressed 720 for everyone - even if it really isn't all that compressed and it seems as if the general subscriber consensus is that it's okay to give out HD to everyone. Be wary however, this consensus decision might not be work for financial reasons. When the time comes to it- members who are on the borderline of not renewing for next year may opt out of renewing just because the HD content is available and some of the non subscribers won't subscribe because of the same reason.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Other sites offer HD video for free, but those other sites also don't tend to have videos that are an hour long and also have a LOT more advertising and sponsors ingrained in them.
Also, I feel like when non-subscribers aren't complaining about things like the lack of HD Youtube videos or the idea of splitting the Bombcast, they are talking about how they don't think there is enough compelling features to get them to subscribe, so Whiskey are probably tearing their hair out how to find the right balance.
HD for everyone! I don't subscribe to Whiskey Media for the premium content, I do it to support the sites on their quest for awesome. Make it more awesome and I'll be happy.
I gotta agree with the fella that said that 720p is the standard now, it is. Nobody that matters has a low resolution monitor now that still enjoy watching 360p videos. Granted there are situations where this applies, but for the primary drivers of consumption? they are looking at 720p. I say give it out to everyone. Your content itself is worth the price, getting it in HD is just a nice perk that's no longer really relevant, as much. The quality is still gonna be the best direct from the site anyway.
I think HD is the standard and everyone should have it. I subscribe for the content . The video quality should be good for everyone. Content should be exclusive not quality.
I'm fine with giving youtube hd but what were they referring to with "content restrictions?" If they have to reign in their content to meet youtube restrictions that would be really disappointing.
I will join the majority of my subscriber bros in saying tha HD YouTube should be for everyone. It means losing a subscriber perk, but the site needs to do it to stay competitive, and thus it will benefit everyone involved in the long run. A year ago this would probably have been more controversial, but now that we get all this subscriber exclusive content, we're good.
I would also suggest to make HD available for everyone. Your video content makes your site standout and these 360p videos on YouTube just leave a bad impression and video quality just shouldn't distract from the actual video these days. Shouldn't even be something people have to argue about.
Also have no problem with HD for everyone. The extra videos and live things are more important than locked off features. Content is what the people want, so paying extra for content makes sense, paying extra for tiny widgets or an HD upgrade looks weird in 2011.
Though I rarely watch in HD due to bandwidth concerns, so I don't really have a dog in this fight.
One of the reasons I subscribed was for the HD since it is a standard and was something I really needed to enjoy the videos even more than I already did. But, because HD is a standard, I do not mind losing the HD exclusivity subscribers had.
Go on, share the love! Subscribers still have HTML5 video (screw Flash!) and all the other exclusive content.
Plus, the MAIN reason I subscribe is because I feel you guys deserve it. I pay to support, the extra content is just that, extra.
Go with HD on YouTube. It doesn't cost WM a dime and it will bring more fans to the site. Subscribers want the sites to say around, I don't care what has to happen to keep them going.
I was only puzzled why the YouTube vids were not a minimum of 480p. Surely, SURELY Nintendo fans deserve to see every scanline of Wii footage. If that cannot be the baseline for a video game website then fuck baselines, and bass lines too while you're at it. If you won't do it for the dubstep, you're dead to me. :P
Anyway, now I'm not puzzled (thanks Vinny), and yes the math makes sense. YouTube is weird, their defaults were probably geared to accommodate SDTV 480 resolutions and particularly the NTSC D-1 standard of 720x480. Not something we tend to think about with videogame streaming being so easy now.
In the first year of subscription, HD was the benefit. In the second year, now Premium vids are the benefit, which makes more sense because the content is unique, and the technology is and always will be a moving target.
I'm with the majority of subscribers here; HD for everyone sounds fine to me. It's the premium video content that I subscribe for mainly. In any case, I'd pay to support you guys regardless of any benefits.
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