With Zero Punctuation puttering--will the Escapist survive?

[Basement Cat]

Like many if not most Escapists I first came to this site because someone I knew had drawn my attention to Zero Punctuation. After watching ZP here for years (lurking) I started paying attention to the rest of the site and joined up late last July.

But here's the thing: Yahtzee's stuff is still entertaining but it hasn't had the zing it did years ago. Fair enough. Yahtzee's run has been more creative and funnier and it has gone on much longer than most TV series.

Now they're having write ins: [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/121401-Help-Choose-Which-Indie-Speed-Run-Games-We-Send-to-Yahtzee?utm_source=latest&utm_medium=index_carousel&utm_campaign=all]. That's never a good sign. Hopefully it's just a New Year thing but I've seen this sort of "audience participation" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.398180.16281343] invitation pop up usually when a show has Jumped the Shark. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JumpingTheShark]

With the massive draw that ZP has been for the Escapist it's a reflex to wonder if ZP's slowly going downhill could take the site with it.

On the other hand the site has had time to develop and mature. It has been quoted in media everywhere from Cracked.com to WoW's Panderia trailer to Scientific American (which I have a subscription to--I grinned when I saw the Escapist mentioned there). It's got a large body of loyal members. Heck, I even jumped the broomstick and spent $20.00 to join the PubClub recently.

What do you think about ZP's slow decline and the Escapist's development/survival?

 

[repeating integers]

ZP's slow decline? What slow decline? I enjoy it now as much as ever.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'll admit I haven't followed ZP for a while (not because it was bad, just well, because), but I had no idea it was actually doing badly. Even it were doing badly, I wonder how much traffic Jim, Bob and the LRR guys are bringing in.

 

[TheFunPolice]

I haven't noticed any decline in the overall quality, I think Yahtzee's still as funny and insightful as he's ever been

 

[Screamarie]

....I still like Zero Punctuation. I look forward to it every week and am always happy when I see the bright yellow of a new one on the front page. I don't think Zero Punctuation is going any time soon. Just because you're not enjoying it as much, doesn't mean no one else is.

 

[Pink Gregory]

So they're using a write-in to get Yahtzee to review a few games that he otherwise wouldn't do in Zero Punctuation.

and this is jumping the shark, is it?

Also, it doesn't have the zing that it used to because it's a weekly series and it's essentially a shtick, nothing that's been running weekly for five years on the steam of one man can't stay fresh forever. I still enjoy it, I reckon the problem's more that there's been very little fresh IP this year, and there's only so much you can elaborate on 'it's like the previous one'. Can't last forever, though, I know that.

I felt that maybe he dipped a little earlier this year, but really picked it up with ZombiU.

As for longevity, I reckon the Escapist would find a way, give another fledgling webseries their break, probably.

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Yahtzee's stuff is still entertaining but it hasn't had the zing it did years ago.

Says who?

I don't think Yahtzee has lost his charm at all. It's still the staple of the Escapist it has been for years.

Quite frankly, I don't like this kind of doomspeak. Nothing has happened that would cause me to believe the Escapist is going anywhere but up in recent memory.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

I watched his Paper Mario: Sticker Star review just the other day and really enjoyed it.

 

[DJjaffacake]

I get what you mean, when I go back and watch old ZP episodes the newer ones feel much less entertaining in comparison, but the site won't die just because one contributor, even the most well known one, isn't as good as he used to be.

 

[mad825]

What do you think about ZP's slow decline and the Escapist's development/survival?

Prove it first then we'll discuss the ZP's slow decline.

There are some good and there are some bad episodes. There's nothing wrong of with a bit of variety.

 

[Queen Michael]

I've stopped watching it, but that's mostly because after 100 episodes I'm not as eager to watch more as I was after the first time I saw it.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Everything ultimately becomes mundane. Deal with it. It's hardly the end of the Escapist.

And here's another fact; Even the Escapist will one day go the way of the dodo. So enjoy it while it lasts.

[sub]I think I just depressed myself - I need to go change my underwear.[/sub]

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

While the older ones have a different feel to them, that doesn't mean they're more funny than the current ones. He's been here since 2007. He's allowed to evolve over time and I'm glad he's still here. I enjoy him. True, I have fallen in love with LRR more than Yahtzee since the introduction of Feed Dump but Zero Punctuation is still a staple of my week.

If you can provide me with viewer data that proves he's in decline, then I might be inclined to say he's losing his appeal with his audience. I find that highly unlikely though as I laughed at this weeks episode at his joke about the Paper Mario broom closet.

 

[JochemHippie]

Like most things that are on air too long, they tend to stale at some point. Not saying that it's happened to ZP just yet, but it does feel like it to me.

Though the man has more to do then sit on his arse and play/review games all day, ya know. Owning and running a bar and all.

 

[mechashiva77]

I'm with everyone else here, I'm not sure what decline you're speaking of.

Where from the pits of hell did the idea to put ads in captchas come from?

 

[redknightalex]

I don't see the decline and, unless the Escapist staff decide to release the traffic data for the site, there will be no way to see if ZP is declining in viewers. You are guessing, at best.

Second, I actually didn't know about ZP until after I became a member. Heard about the site through other means. Still enjoy the hell out of it though.

and this is jumping the shark, is it?

Reading this in Yahtzee's iconic satirical voice made me laugh.

 

[Fappy]

I just think he should look into branching out a bit. I've grown very complacent with his material. I still think he's funny as hell, but he could use a new spin.

 

[Artina89]

I haven't noticed a slow decline at all. There are weeks that I haven't watched Zero punctuation but that's usually due to work commitments and I always watch it when I have the time. I really enjoyed his Paper Mario: Sticker star review.

 

[Smolderin]

I really don't know what your talking about. I haven't seen any decline of the sort. All of my favorite people are still funny and informative and the forums are as active as ever. Of course the Escapist is going to survive...it wasn't even in danger of dying off to begin with.