Is "I Hit It With My Axe" a success?

[PhiMed]

I'd like to begin by saying that I did not start this thread so that detractors and fans could have a flame war. I started this to have a discussion on whether this series has a future.

I don't follow that many shows on the Escapist, but the few that I do have shown the following trend: Huge numbers of comments for the first episode or two, an abrupt drop-off, then a steady exponential increase in comments until each episode brings in at least 500-600 comments each week (more if it's a particularly popular episode).

Now, I realize that comments don't necessarily correlate exactly with views, but I couldn't help but notice a trend in the comments for I Hit It With My Axe. I looked at the number of comments at noon on the Friday after release for each episode, and this is what I saw.

Episode 1: 353
Episode 2: 255
Episode 3: 103
Episode 4: 90
Episode 5: 95
Episode 6: 60

Now, that's a pretty clear downward trend, and I'd like to point out that many of the comments on episodes 4-6 are by people with double and single digit post counts whose only posts have been on IHIWMA episodes, some of whom are actually involved with production of the series.

Obviously, a site is only as good as its community and its original content. If this series will attract traffic, that's good for the Escapist, so I'm happy. It appears a few people are joining the site just to comment on these videos, but even assuming these are all legitimate new members who are enthusiastic about the show, overall interest seems pretty low, and it looks like its getting lower. This is paid content, and considering the fact that the Escapist is asking us to pay for the Publisher's Club, I think the community's opinion is important regarding what types of paid content the editors should green light.

So I ask, is this good for the Escapist? Now that we're being asked to help pay for it, is this worth it?

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Well, it's DIRT cheap to make.

I find it okay...It makes me wanna find a group in my area and play D&D.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I really don't like it. Watching someone play Dungeons & Dragons, especially cutting in and out as it does, is horrible. I also feel slightly stereotyped that, as a gamer and therefore most probably a nerd, I get excited by porn stars playing Dungeons & Dragons, which are obviously my two favouritest things ever.

Sure, porn stars might like to play it, good for them. But I really don't want to watch a video of it.

I don't feel that it really adds to the community as other video series' have. It's just another thing I do my best to ignore.

 

[PhiMed]

Well, personal opinions on the show aside, is interest as low as it appears to be? If so, how much leeway should it be given?

 

[Koeryn]

Honestly? I couldn't make it through the first episode. It's even less interesting than your regular run-of-the-mill geeks playing, and the only selling point it has is that the people who ARE playing are adult entertainers. That's a pretty weak selling point, and it looks like the traffic they're getting is proving that.

My opinion? If the only traffic it's bringing are people who are here because they're following one of the entertainers? I think we're better off without them.

 

[iLikeHippos]

I didn't know they rely on the income from the Publisher's Club to pay for series such as I hit it With my Axe

For all, It's not a series that I want to watch on. It's got low content that stretches to girl humor and D&D playing.
Well, that's my thought of it anyways. Doesn't call to me enough to use 6-5 minutes.

As a low content show, it might have to be canceled, if not enough viewers are given.

 

[InvisibleSeal]

Honestly? I couldn't make it through the first episode. It's even less interesting than your regular run-of-the-mill geeks playing, and the only selling point it has is that the people who ARE playing are adult entertainers. That's a pretty weak selling point, and it looks like the traffic they're getting is proving that.

Yeh... this. I know individual opinions don't really matter for the escapist staff, since they just need enough interest to allow them to pay for the show, but since so many people seem to mirror my views that doesn't bode well.

I don't feel that it adds much to the site in terms of traffic to make up for what they must be paying for it; but on the other hand, the site is free for most people, so they kinda have the most say in what they show. Maybe they will eventually cancel it, but even if the show doesn't break even, it's more their loss: so it is their choice in the end.

 

[Virgil]

I think the community's opinion is important regarding what types of paid content the editors should green light.

Without commenting on anything else, you're totally wrong here. The Escapist is an oligarchy, not a democracy, and adding a paid membership option doesn't change anything about that.

You're welcome to play in our yard, and we're happy to have you, but our decisions aren't made based on forum threads.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Meh. I already play D&D so i don't need to watch other people playing it. I especially don't believe the people in that genuinely play the game outside of the video there.

 

[Nivag the Owl]

I disapprove. It's just kinda... creepy and... uneasy. There's something about the desperation for females that just makes the entire concept pathetic. But what's worse, is it feels almost like 'gaming females' is some kinda crazy fetish. And I'm supposed to be watching it? No, no and NO!

 

[Moosh50]

I have yet to watch a single full episode, mainly because it is SO boring. I did download some porn starring Satine Phoenix though.

 

[PhiMed]

I think the community's opinion is important regarding what types of paid content the editors should green light.

Without commenting on anything else, you're totally wrong here. The Escapist is an oligarchy, not a democracy, and adding a paid membership option doesn't change anything about that.

You're welcome to play in our yard, and we're happy to have you, but our decisions aren't made based on forum threads.

I realize the staff dictates the content. I'm sorry for whatever I said to elicit a response like that.

 

[BonsaiK]

I'd like to begin by saying that I did not start this thread so that detractors and fans could have a flame war. I started this to have a discussion on whether this series has a future.

I don't follow that many shows on the Escapist, but the few that I do have shown the following trend: Huge numbers of comments for the first episode or two, an abrupt drop-off, then a steady exponential increase in comments until each episode brings in at least 500-600 comments each week (more if it's a particularly popular episode).

Now, I realize that comments don't necessarily correlate exactly with views, but I couldn't help but notice a trend in the comments for I Hit It With My Axe. I looked at the number of comments at noon on the Friday after release for each episode, and this is what I saw.

Episode 1: 353
Episode 2: 255
Episode 3: 103
Episode 4: 90
Episode 5: 95
Episode 6: 60

Now, that's a pretty clear downward trend, and I'd like to point out that many of the comments on episodes 4-6 are by people with double and single digit post counts whose only posts have been on IHIWMA episodes, some of whom are actually involved with production of the series.

Obviously, a site is only as good as its community and its original content. If this series will attract traffic, that's good for the Escapist, so I'm happy. It appears a few people are joining the site just to comment on these videos, but even assuming these are all legitimate new members who are enthusiastic about the show, overall interest seems pretty low, and it looks like its getting lower. This is paid content, and considering the fact that the Escapist is asking us to pay for the Publisher's Club, I think the community's opinion is important regarding what types of paid content the editors should green light.

So I ask, is this good for the Escapist? Now that we're being asked to help pay for it, is this worth it?

I personally think I Hit It With My Axe is the best content The Escapist has ever had, for all sorts of reasons (that I won't go into because it's getting off-topic and would require a small thesis that I don't have time for - this post as-is is lengthy enough). The only problem with it in my view is that one day it will end. It's obviously a show with minority appeal, but that doesn't make it "bad" per se. Perhaps it's not trying to appeal to everyone? Is popularity the only indicator of something worthwhile?

I think people should be more tolerant. For example, I think Game Dogs is absolutely awful but I'm not going to campaign for its removal, if other people like that kind of thing they're welcome to it, I just choose not to watch it these days because for me its entertainment value is zero. If someone doesn't like I Hit It With My Axe, they can always not watch it. Your argument is a bit like saying "because some shows are less popular than others, they should remove the shows that aren't popular, because we're paying". All well and good from a marketing perspective, but a TV channel that doesn't occasionally cater to different audience tastes gets pretty bland and monotonous.

Keep in mind as well that I Hit It With My Axe would have cost peanuts to make, so it's hardly a drain on The Escapist's resources or anything. The whole "these people being paid money to bring us this content could have been bringing us something else instead" argument doesn't cut it given how little effort would have actually been involved in getting the series up and running. You could probably make ten I Hit It With My Axe episodes with the amount of labour that would be needed to create one Game Dogs, Dorealus or ZP. It's bonus material. Whining about it is kind of like eating a great restaurant meal and complaining that the after-dinner mint tastes bad.

 

[Virgil]

I realize the staff dictates the content. I'm sorry for whatever I said to elicit a response like that.

It wasn't anything in particular, I just want to make sure that people don't assume that offering a paid membership is also handing other people control. We're very particular about the content we produce and promote, and proud of all of it.

It's obviously a show with minority appeal, but that doesn't make it "bad" per se. Perhaps it's not trying to appeal to everyone? Is popularity the only indicator of something worthwhile?

You're very correct. We know that not everyone likes everything, but one thing we can easily see (that you guys can't) is that there are a lot more people looking at any piece of content than is reflected on the forums.

I Hit It With My Axe isn't for everyone. It might not even end up being considered a success. But Zak [http://dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com/] is an extremely talented gamemaster, with some very good ideas about tabletop gaming, and that's why his show is running. The staff like tabletop gaming. There are at least three different regular gaming groups (that I know of) in our office of >30 people. So we do push content about tabletop gaming pretty frequently, including two currently-running regular columns, because we think it's a) awesome and b)important for gaming and gamers.

At the end of the day, we're happy to take on something that has a limited audience if we're doing something we believe in. That's why we're working on a gaming site, and not programming financial software, designing advertisements, being lawyers, etc....

 

[child of lileth]

I tried to give it a chance. I watched the first episode, because I was interested in seeing a D&D game in action. I wish I didn't waste my time like that. I figured I'd watch episode 2, because a lot of the time, pilot episodes suck ass. Same problem. I just couldn't get interested in the people playing, or anything. The whole porn star gimmick didn't work for me either.

 

[jpakaferrari]

I watched the first episode and tried to watch the second. It was unbearable, and I even watch game dogs which also blows but I keep watching. I hit with my ax is so TERRIBLE I can't even bring myself to do it.

 

[Skratt]

Since subscriptions help pay for all content (good or bad) your calling this content to the carpet would appear to be a veiled personal objection or I failed my Sense Motive check.

 

[Poomanchu745]

I think the community's opinion is important regarding what types of paid content the editors should green light.

Without commenting on anything else, you're totally wrong here. The Escapist is an oligarchy, not a democracy, and adding a paid membership option doesn't change anything about that.

You're welcome to play in our yard, and we're happy to have you, but our decisions aren't made based on forum threads.

But I would be willing to bet the number of views that something draws accounts to how long it continues to run. Its a simple internet business model: if something gets a lot of hits advertisers are willing to pay money to put ads up there. If it gets no traffic it won't be around much longer (unless its free to make) because nobody wants to spend money on advertising. So while our "input" is not considered our "views (hits)" are.

I disapprove. It's just kinda... creepy and... uneasy. There's something about the desperation for females that just makes the entire concept pathetic. But what's worse, is it feels almost like 'gaming females' is some kinda crazy fetish. And I'm supposed to be watching it? No, no and NO!

I kinda agree with this. It seems that the stereotype of gamers being nerds and nerds never getting real GFs is being propagated constantly by gamers themselves. I mean yes I love the hell out of my games and have enough computer knowledge to build, upgrade, and work on my computer, yet I have a girlfriend and don't think that because a show has porn stars that it is what I want to watch regardless of the content. No, Im just not that sad or stereotypical. To be honest, it sort of offends me that us gamers get lumped into that category of people who are so sad that anything with a girl in it instantly draws attention. Although, this definitely can be seen and I've seen it first hand in WoW vent when a girl would hop on. It felt like everyone in there was fucking obsessed with her all of a sudden and it kinda made me sick and annoyed that people were like that.

But anyways, that response really has nothing to do with the show. If the show is getting hits and people like to watch it I don't really care if it is up or not. Its not my cup o tea but thats not to say lot of other people don't wait anxiously for it to come out. Im sure the people running the website know what they are doing and the content they put out is drawing people old and new alike to the website.

 

[primitivescrewhead]

I really don't like it. Watching someone play Dungeons & Dragons, especially cutting in and out as it does, is horrible. I also feel slightly stereotyped that, as a gamer and therefore most probably a nerd, I get excited by porn stars playing Dungeons & Dragons, which are obviously my two favouritest things ever.

Sure, porn stars might like to play it, good for them. But I really don't want to watch a video of it.

I don't feel that it really adds to the community as other video series' have. It's just another thing I do my best to ignore.

Agreed on all you said sir.

 

[PhiMed]

I'd like to begin by saying that I did not start this thread so that detractors and fans could have a flame war. I started this to have a discussion on whether this series has a future.

I don't follow that many shows on the Escapist, but the few that I do have shown the following trend: Huge numbers of comments for the first episode or two, an abrupt drop-off, then a steady exponential increase in comments until each episode brings in at least 500-600 comments each week (more if it's a particularly popular episode).

Now, I realize that comments don't necessarily correlate exactly with views, but I couldn't help but notice a trend in the comments for I Hit It With My Axe. I looked at the number of comments at noon on the Friday after release for each episode, and this is what I saw.

Episode 1: 353
Episode 2: 255
Episode 3: 103
Episode 4: 90
Episode 5: 95
Episode 6: 60

Now, that's a pretty clear downward trend, and I'd like to point out that many of the comments on episodes 4-6 are by people with double and single digit post counts whose only posts have been on IHIWMA episodes, some of whom are actually involved with production of the series.

Obviously, a site is only as good as its community and its original content. If this series will attract traffic, that's good for the Escapist, so I'm happy. It appears a few people are joining the site just to comment on these videos, but even assuming these are all legitimate new members who are enthusiastic about the show, overall interest seems pretty low, and it looks like its getting lower. This is paid content, and considering the fact that the Escapist is asking us to pay for the Publisher's Club, I think the community's opinion is important regarding what types of paid content the editors should green light.

So I ask, is this good for the Escapist? Now that we're being asked to help pay for it, is this worth it?

I personally think I Hit It With My Axe is the best content The Escapist has ever had, for all sorts of reasons (that I won't go into because it's getting off-topic and would require a small thesis that I don't have time for - this post as-is is lengthy enough). The only problem with it in my view is that one day it will end. It's obviously a show with minority appeal, but that doesn't make it "bad" per se. Perhaps it's not trying to appeal to everyone? Is popularity the only indicator of something worthwhile?

I think people should be more tolerant. For example, I think Game Dogs is absolutely awful but I'm not going to campaign for its removal, if other people like that kind of thing they're welcome to it, I just choose not to watch it these days because for me its entertainment value is zero. If someone doesn't like I Hit It With My Axe, they can always not watch it. Your argument is a bit like saying "because some shows are less popular than others, they should remove the shows that aren't popular, because we're paying". All well and good from a marketing perspective, but a TV channel that doesn't occasionally cater to different audience tastes gets pretty bland and monotonous.

Keep in mind as well that I Hit It With My Axe would have cost peanuts to make, so it's hardly a drain on The Escapist's resources or anything. The whole "these people being paid money to bring us this content could have been bringing us something else instead" argument doesn't cut it given how little effort would have actually been involved in getting the series up and running. You could probably make ten I Hit It With My Axe episodes with the amount of labour that would be needed to create one Game Dogs, Dorealus or ZP. It's bonus material. Whining about it is kind of like eating a great restaurant meal and complaining that the after-dinner mint tastes bad.

Glad you like the show. I would like to respectfully request that you chill out. I didn't say anything derogatory about any of the people involved, so your message of tolerance is a little over-the-top.