Every once in a while, I find it helpful to remind you that I create things for some other website. Last I checked, that site gets about 100 times as much traffic as GameSpite. But hey! If every single person who reads this clicks through the links below, that’s a 1% traffic spike.
I don’t think 1% constitutes a spike, of course, but never mind that.
1. I’m contemplating the possibility of posting my nightly Swapnote entry on the Handheld blog each day.
2. I’ve reviewed a few games recently, including the excellent Pushmo (which I don’t think I’ve linked here), the very good Mutant Mudds, and the good Final Fantasy XIII-2.
3. We’ve been trying to publish more interesting approaches to previews of late. For instance, I’ve written about Mass Effect 3 in the context of what may lay in store for my Shepard specifically; the complete weirdness and precedents behind FFXIII-2’s Chocolina; the localization subtleties of Kid Icarus: Uprising (which, I was happy to hear from someone in the know, is dead accurate in its suppositions about the thinking behind its choices); and the hilariously over-the-top nature of Army Corps of Hell.
4. We’re also exploring the antipodes of content: One day a detailed, in-depth editorial response to our friend Christian Nutt’s criticism of FFXIII-2 built around an email conversation with the developers, the next a really stupid Superbowl-themed video.
I don’t think very many people have noticed, but we’ve almost completely overhauled 1UP’s editorial approach since the beginning of the year, focusing entirely on commentary, insights, editorials, and opinion in place of coasting along by regurgitating press releases or slavishly obeying the publisher-mandated PR track for media coverage. I’ve personally never been prouder of the site, but it’s been a sort of subtle change that we haven’t made a big deal about, so I don’t think most people even realize it’s happened. Too bad! 1UP is pretty awesome these days. We post less content than we used to, but what we post is more substantial (the occasional goofy, for-fun video not withstanding). If you’re a fan of quality over quantity, you should maybe consider frequenting the place.
I’ve definitely noticed the change and love the emphasis on original content. Keep up the good work!
I do miss writing for that some other website. :( I like the direction it’s taken, and am sad to not be part of it.
I am hoping that we can get you (and our other favorite freelancers) back on board before too long.
Mang I would love that. I’ve been with the site since 2004 and now it’s part of me, like that twin I digested in utero.
I absolutely love the direction the site has taken. I can get my news from anywhere, but having analysis and opinions to digest is much more fascinating and relevant to my interest in the industry as a whole.
I also noticed the change. Good on ya mate!
The one thing I don’t like about 1UP is whatever server software you use. It feels a bit creaky. I assume a site overhaul is being planned?
Definitely enjoying it and the Lunch Break. Keep it coming! We need more breaks from the norm.
I hate to say it, but Lunch Break probably won’t be walking among the living much longer. It was always meant to be an experiment, and it hasn’t taken off like I’d hoped. Unless it suddenly explodes in popularity, we’ll probably move onto a new video experiment.
Aw, that’s too bad. I like it quite a bit, but I have no way to watch it until I get home from work :/
Either way though, I’m really digging the editorial stuff. I hope that stuff takes off in popularity, because I’d hate to see it go…
I’ve always enjoyed 1UP because of your content, Jeremy. Not just your specific voice and writing style, but how you write about video games. I’m happy to see there are now more voices talking about games in a similar way.
It’s appreciated!
The idea isn’t for everyone to write like me, it’s for them to write like themselves. We sat down at the beginning of the year and all hashed out the site’s new direction and come to a consensus that the best way to make 1UP great is to be different from other sites by being true to our own voices.
It’s funny, even as I was playing the demo I got the impression that thirteen two’s story wasn’t going to be great shakes, I think it was around hearing Mr. Purple McSoulEdge say something along the lines of “everything desires nothingness” or some likewise very Japanesey turn of phrase. And I think the most frustrating part of it is how cohesive thirteen was as a full world, I really felt there was a lot of potential to keep exploring, say, the Pulse fal’Cie and what they might make of their suicidal bros. And certainly that can be done with the framing device of time travel, I’m not so far along in thirteen two that I’ve ruled out that kinda thing popping up, but my hopes are not high. I will say that the “funny” responses in Live Triggers are very amusing to me, and let the VA’s stretch a bit, I think. And oh yeah, I like 1up dot com.
I appreciate the “quality over quantity approach”. It’s nice not to have to wade through a sea of junk to find the good stuff.
I am concerned over the absence of Games, Damnit!, I have to say.
My grandmother died unexpectedly, dude. I had more important things on my mind than video game podcasts.
A new episode will be up as soon as Jose has time to upload it.
I’ve definitely been loving 1up lately. Keep it up!