OT: A request to the FOFC community at large.

[SackAttack]

As a preface, I've never been a 'bang my own drum' type of person. I don't mean that as an attempt to sound modest, because that wouldn't exactly ring true. What I mean is that generally, when I do something, I'm typically content to let it stand on its own two legs, and let people take from it what they may.

What I'm about to put forth here is a little bit different, in that it affects not just me, but a virtual community, as well.

Some of you folks know about my gig as a game reviewer. I think I may have, once upon a blue moon, posted here to the effect that the site I currently write for, Gamenikki, was/is hiring (that's still the case, by the way), so at the very least, that little revelation shouldn't come as a total surprise.

Thing is, Gamenikki is an ad-free site. We don't do pop-ups, pop-unders, banner ads, anything. We have an affiliate program, but that's more a link exchange than anything else. The long and short of that is, in addition to being an ad-free site, we're also a revenue-free site. We review what the game companies send us, but we also have to supplement that with stuff that they don't send us. Sometimes it's because the game flat out sucks, and damage control is in full effect, sometimes it's because a particular publisher can't afford to send product out to sites that aren't at the very top of the scale, traffic-wise, and sometimes it's simply a matter of not having a relationship with a given publisher at all, and needing to start that journey of a thousand miles with a single step, and all that.

That's tough to do with no revenue, when you're dealing with approximately a half-dozen freelancers. To that end, I've been in contact with the online game rental service, GameFly, and have negotiated an agreement with them: they're providing Gamenikki with a rental account so that we can cover some of these games that we otherwise wouldn't be able to, and in return, any review we publish on a game they loan us includes an acknowledgement of their assistance, as well as a link (specially generated so that they know the referrals are coming from Gamenikki) to their free 10-day trial through their website.

It's a great thing for Gamenikki, because we can cover a greater range of titles now, and also for our readers, since it means more content on what are really very reasonable terms.

I don't know how many FOFC'ers read Gamenikki, although I'd certainly hope you all do, or if you don't, that you will.

My request, or rather, my hope, would be that there are those of you who are willing to help us out, here. If you're not already a GameFly subscriber, and you'd like to give them a try, risk-free, for 10 days, it would be greatly appreciated. It won't cost you a dime, unless during those 10 days you find their service valuable enough that you want to continue using it, but it would mean a great deal to our ability to provide expanded coverage, particularly in one area where we're very weak - Game Boy Advance coverage.

I won't twist anybody's arm, and other than perhaps one or two bumps over the next few days (since I'd imagine the long weekend means lots of folks will be out of town), this'll be my only post on the matter, since, as I say, this isn't the sort of thing I'd normally do.

If you're interested, and you want more information about their service, you can find the article I've written for Gamenikki on the matter here, with the link appropriately edited for work concerns:

hxxp://www.gamenikki.com/Pages/StaffPages/Josh/PressStartVolumeThree/

The article contains our rationale for the arrangement, a description of the GameFly service (as well as the monthly costs), and at the very bottom of the article, the special link to their 10-day free trial.

Thanks for sticking with me this long, and a double helping of thanks to anybody who follows through on the 10-day trial. It means a lot to us.

[Vince]

Sounds good...I might have to give that a try when I'm more financially soluble.

I always knew you reviewed games, I had never bothered to find out where. I've got gamenikki bookmarked now, and I'll check it out more often. Keep up the good work!

Incidentally, you have a PM from me as well.

[SackAttack]

Vince,

I appreciate it. If nothing else, give the free trial a shot. It won't cost a thing as long as you cancel within 10 days, but it'll give you a better feel for how they operate, as well as an idea of whether or not you want to do that long-term.

I haven't gotten the PM notification yet, but I'll keep my eyes peeled.

[Vince]

Heh, I wasn't sure you were going to be around afterwards. Just finished the PM. I think I will try the free trial...I'll just have to make sure to cancel within the ten day period...I'm notorious for late fees at the local blockbuster

[SackAttack]

Heh. No late fees involved here, although that's really only relevant if you *intend* to roll over into the regular account.

PM received and replied to, sir.

[Vince]

And to continue the two person conversation...

Rolling into the regular account is my worry...but it wouldn't be 'intentional' per se...more like unintentionally intentional, if that makes sense

Another PM, right back at you.

[BishopMVP]

I get the feeling like this entire thread was an attempt to get around the no-pinging about PM's rule. Bastards.

[Vince]

Rule? What rule...

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

I get the feeling like this entire thread was an attempt to get around the no-pinging about PM's rule. Bastards.

There was a rule?

Honestly, while it may have gotten off-track a little bit (thanks, Vince!), the intention behind the thread is legitimate. Don't worry your pretty little head.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Vince

Rule? What rule...

It's unofficial. Since most people get pop-ups to let them know about PM's, pinging is kind of unnecessary.

Originally Posted by SackAttack

There was a rule?

Honestly, while it may have gotten off-track a little bit (thanks, Vince!), the intention behind the thread is legitimate. Don't worry your pretty little head.

[Best Will Ferrell impression]I'm messing with you. I'm messing with you.[/Best Will Ferrell impression]

[Noop]

I'm in

[SackAttack]

Thanks, Noop. It's greatly appreciated.

[SackAttack]

Just a quick bump, as it looks like activity picked up a bit today.

[SackAttack]

Final bump.

[Franklinnoble]

I'll check it out...

[Draft Dodger]

I don't own any consoles, so I can't help you there...but I'm curious as to where the name "gamenikki" comes from

[SackAttack]

I couldn't answer that, honestly. The site was originally established by a couple of Brits years ago, and over time, it migrated into an NTSC-centric site (I'd imagine because most of the writers who contributed were American).

It's sort of a relic of our past, but it's part of who we are, even if we don't understand it.