PAX Love and why the Donate Link is Back
matt chandronaitWe had an amazing time at PAX! In spite of the kerfuffle of events that conspired to keep the majority of the team San Francisco-bound, I think the panel went exceedingly well. Wondering what a room of something between 250-300 CO-OP fans looks like? Well thank you, "timothygarcia"! I don't know who you are and have no way to email you, but hopefully you don't mind us linking to your Flickr stream that has a bunch of CO-OP Panel pictures. Let me know if you want me to take this link down and I will. You have to go about 5 pages in before you start seeing our panel. Fortunately the other pics are pretty cool and will give you a good idea of what PAX looks like.
If you've seen the pictures, you can tell that we were able to MacGuyver up some serious web-cammage in order to bring in the rest of Area 5 to say "'sup" to the crowd. Only they didn't really say "'sup" 'cause that would be lame. Even though the net connection crapped about with about 15 minutes left in the panel, everyone seemed to have a good time and we're really into the idea of sharing their Dreamcast stories with us and with the rest of the audience. Next week's show is our Dreamcast Anniversary Special and we will have footage from the panel included as a part of the show. A big, phat, THANK YOU to everyone who attended! I was seriously afraid no one would show up being as it was so last-minute and that there was this giant, see-all-this-exclusive-stuff-revealed-for-the-first-time panel happening at the same time. But, apparently I underestimated you as the room was full and they had to turn people away (sorry 'bout that :( )!
Jason and I couldn't believe our eyes and the emotional pick-me-up and support you get from something like that is really indescribable. I really wish the rest of the team could have made it just to have experienced that as we did.
Someone asked us, literally, how they could give us money to support the show. That floored me. We're always hearing from people that are supposed to be in-the-know about Internet stuffs about how no one wants to pay for entertainment online. And perhaps that's right, from a certain point of view. From another point of view, it means a lot more to be able to support, directly, the stuff you care about and I think that's where that question came from.
We've been trying not to put the donation link back up. Asking for contributions is never easy but the plain truth is that we're running out of cash. Yes, we've signed a deal with Revision3 for CO-OP, but the ad market is very tough during a recession and we're only seeing a percentage of that tough market. On the positive side of things, our viewership is on a steady incline and Revision3 loves us and our show. Still, they can't squeeze blood from a stone; so we've been doing contract work. Ryan just finished up an awesome video for Turn 10's Forza 3 announcement of the Bugatti Veyron which you may have seen online and we've done some other work for them in the past. We've had other off-and-on-again contracts and we're essentially working double-time so that we can do great work for our clients so they'll pay us and come back to us again as they acquire more video needs. Then we're using that money to keep us afloat. Without that contract work we'd have been out of business months ago and CO-OP would have died in the cradle. Ugh, kind of a lousy mental image, that. Sorry. Looking at the numbers, it turns out we're facing some equally tough times ahead and all the meals of ramen and/or peanut-butter sandwiches can't stave it off (believe me, we've tried).
So, we're putting the donate link back up. I'd rather we could give you something for your contributions--T-shirts and other gear--but we're not there yet. We haven't had the time or money to invest in their production. We're close, though! If you'd rather wait until we've got some merch online so that you've got something to show for your support, more power to ya! For now, if you want to contribute directly, the PayPal link is going to be resting in the sidebar on this site from now until such a time as we don't need it any longer. We took it down once before when the future was looking up, I'm a positive person and I think we'll get to do so again!
Thank to all of you that have gotten us this far and that especially includes our friends at Eat. Sleep. Game./RebelFM. Since our sponsorship for PAX pulled out and our plane tickets got screwed up, no one from Area 5 would have been able to have been at PAX if it wasn't for that crew letting Jason and I hitch a ride up. We couldn't afford to buy tickets or spend money on hotels without the sponsorship, so not only did they drive us up there, bought us dinner and a few drinks, but they let us crash on the floor of their hotel room! I love you guys!!
And that was pretty much the feeling that summed up PAX. It's my favorite convention of the year because it shows, once and for all, that the community of gamers is far broader and far better than any of the common stereotypes associated with our ilk; online or off. Thanks for coming out and saying hi!
Reader Comments (49)
hey guys,
unfortunately i couldnt make it to pax. being in the uk is kind of a downer. glad to see a new video every week in my itunes folder, im getting up eagerly every tuesday to grab each and every episode of the podcast before this seriously relaxing summer ends and i head off to uni. thank-you so much for the fantastic show, and i look forward to each and every episode. as i have no job at the moment, i cant donate anything, except for my undying gratitude for such a great programme.
looking forward to anything you guys do,
Ben
Glad Pax went well guys. I love your work and once I get some cash (overseas with no money right now :S) I'll donate what i can. Keep it up and keep your chin up!
I just donated a couple bucks to you guys, which I didn't do when the donate button was up before. Thanks for making such a great show!
Hey guys I've been following ya'll for a long time now so yeah I donated a couple bucks. I'll keep on dropping a few bucks here and there, if I can blow 6 bucks on a bad waiter, then why can't I do the same for something I look forward to every week. Keep it up. Huge fan.
This might be more of a Revision3 comment, but I would be more than happy to pay for the HD version of the show. I realize that podcasts on iTunes can't charge, but maybe the company has enough clout to get in the TV section and sell season passes.
Anyways, it was cool to meet the two of you and PAX itself was overwhelming.
Just gave a fistful of $$. I really hope you guys will be able to do teeshirts and other swag real soon - I'll be all over that :-)
Payday is next week. And since my friend's dinner event got cancelled, I figure I'll spend that money on something anyhow. The Co-op project will get that.
Also, you should get yourselves on gigpark.com and on guru. I think guru does soho stuff now. There is no shame in freelancing in this economy, believe me!
I missed donating to you guys the first go around, so I tossed what little I can your way. Your show is something really unique, and worth supporting.
Hey guys, unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to PAX either as my high school in Cleveland started a week before (I'm a junior).. I love the show and will drop you guys a donation sometime soon once i acquire some kind of weekend job..not because I feel its an obligation but because I am behind you guys 110% and love the direction you are taking the show. I hope I'll get to come see you guys in person at some future meet-up (Hopefully at PAX, because it sounds like the most awesome venue).. Good luck with the show and the contract work. I hope we can all sit back soon and relax hopefully having gained some kind of financial security instead of trying to pay the rent by looking for small time gigs all the time.
Anyway have a great week and keep up the good work!
pffftt!!! Ramen noodles! you guys are always eating like kings in your videos. Keep mixing in the classic stuff, and it would be awesome if you can squeeze in some sort of arcade stuff, I'm sure there are some great arcade game collections out there.
honestly, thanks for putting that donate link back up. i'm always impressed with the quality of the stuff you guys produce and think that is some of the most intelligent stuff being done in game journalism right now. i'll gladly chip in some cash now and periodically. hopefully others will do the same! man can not live on ramen alone.
I will be dropping you guys some cash for sure. Might be a day or two but I will be able to offer a lot more this time.
Can I also just say that I would be more than happy to pay for the HD version every week.
@ V_Ben ... hey man, just watching is thanks enough! We really appreciate the kind words and I just hope we continue to deliver a show that's worthy :)
@jeff ... Thanks man! A couple of bucks is more than we could hope for and you're awesome for doing so.
@peter ... no worries man. Get back home safe, first :)
@Corey ... hahaha! Yeah, I hope we can measure up to mediocre service at some restaurant ;) -- totally appreciated!
@Matthew Klundt ... Agreed! I'd love to get us in the HDTV section of iTunes and start charging, but you're right in that Apple won't let podcasts charge. They told us that by the very nature of podcasts "they are free." Blargh. Also, I really appreciate your help at PAX! IT was super awesome of you to take time out of your day to boom for us and you did a great job! Hopefully we'll see you again next year if not before!
@Dave G ... Oh man, thank you!! And yeah, we're getting on the T-Shirts thing as soon as possible. We've got some of our designer friends working on 'em right now. Gonna be rad!
@OsakaJack ... Nice! Never heard of those sites before. Any outlet for exposure of the contract side of the business is a good one, so thank you, sir!
@Will B ... Many thanks man. We'll do our very best to continue to be worthy!
@Taylor H ... Just the thought counts for a ton, man, and we really appreciate it! Yeah, definitely look for us the next time you're at some mutual event, sorry school kept you away from PAX! But yeah, that convention's just going to get bigger and better every year so you've not missed your last chance to attend :)
@Tim ... haha, those videos of us "eating like kings" are totally the exception to our daily lives, not the rule! Which is probably a good thing. If I could afford to go to Dynamo Donuts every day I might start expanding dangerously. lol! Some arcade collections is a pretty good idea actually.
@rye ... Thank you so much!! But, you'd be surprised how long you can live on ramen alone. As long as you avoid the pure-sodium packets they include, the noodles are actually pretty filling. Drop in an egg and you've got some protein. Not too shabby.
@mats effect ... you, sir, are an officer and a gentlemen! Thank you! And yeah, at some point charging for the HD show might be the way to go. Of course the ad market could bounce back and that could become unnecessary--that wold definitely be the ideal. Either way it's going to be the generosity of people like you that get us to that point.
I feel for you guys, I know what your going through. I would love to donate but with me being on the verge of being homeless it is not possible. I hope we all find some level of success during theses difficult times. You should not feel guilty about the donate link at all because we all understand how hard it is to keep little gems like coop going. Good luck to everyone and their future
Hey Matt, we talked for a while after the CO-OP panel at PAX and I asked if it was cool if I could try to create some shirt designs for you guys for free, when would be the best time to get on that? I got a lot of time on my hands at the moment and would love to do some graphic work outside of school for a change. :)
I love the show and I just donated some money. I am totally down for supporting you guys anyway I can. I really enjoy listening to your take on games, and it would be a shame if you guys couldn't keep doing your thing because it is obvious you love it and we as viewers love it. So, take it easy guys and keep doing what you guys love, and people like me will love you for it.
@Chris ... hey man, in situations like these we're all just happy that you'd take the time to watch the show at all! It really is the thought that counts and thanks for sticking with us :)
@Eric ... yeah man, definitely! You should hear from JayFresh if you haven't already. We'll pass along vector versions of our logos. Cheers!
@Ryan Heffernan ... thank you so much Ryan! Your generosity is very much appreciated and it's going to be because of our viewers, fans, and donors that we continue to keep it going.
Dude, matt, here's what you do: You said you don't currently have any way to re-compensate people for their donations. Well, what if you kept track of them and named them like, special donators or something, call them something cute on the shirt like.... uh.... well, "I PREORDERED LOVE FOR CO-OP"... you know, something like that. Sort of a thanks for getting in with donations before there's any real infrastructure in place.... I dunno, it just popped into my head while I was reading that.
Just letting you guys know that I look forward to your show every week. I am always willing to donate to those who love and are passionate about a project. I hope my Lincoln will help out. Good luck, stick with it.
You guys rock. CO-OP is something the culture of videogames definitely needs. I am happy to support the show, and would also like to donate this hug. HUG!
Donated a couple of bucks. I'm more than happy to help out my favorite show. Please keep it up.
There isn't anything else like Co-op. Thanks so much. Every episode I watch makes me feel like a part of something, even if its just passively. Giving us the opportunity to donate is actively making us a part of what you guys do. Anyone who would consider clicking that DONATE button knows all of this as much as I do. The only way we can know if you guys need help is if you tell us. I know I can't speak for all Co-op fans, but if they're anything like me, they want to help any way possible. If only for just a couple bucks
You guys work so hard Matt. Every week you entertain gamers with amazing content. When you talk about games and your experiences with them it evokes the kid in me. Much like playing a game, I get just as much joy seeing people talk about games and share their feelings and laugh about these crazy pass-times that we have. A good example is the laundry day episode. I thought I was the only person with a huge video game t-shirt collection. I even have a couple of old school Zelda and Mario kids shirts and backpacks. That's what 8 years + at EB or working in the industry will do to you.
Going forward I will make it my duty to press that donate button everytime their is a new video posted. I know how tough it can be to get into the industry and especially how hard it is to stay here. We want to keep you guys around. Definitely JayFresh too. He's a good actor. :P
Just donated some bucks guys...anything to keep you guys going! I'm looking forward to the show every tuesday! Shirts also sound cool...would definitely like me a CO-OP/Area-5 shirt!
There has to be some way to get the HD version of the podcast into another section of the iTunes Store. Another category perhaps. That worked for Ricky Gervais, who originally had a 12 episode podcast that was so popular he realised he could make a boatload of cash, so he released later series in the audiobook section with a price tag. There's always a way, and I can't see there being any issues with rebranding this as a "TV show" rather than as a podcast. Because, well, it is a TV show. 400 MB of high-def video a week isn't your typical podcast, there has to be a loophole to exploit somewhere.
I continue to wish you guys all the best, you always knew this wasn't going to be easy, but no-one can say you've ever given less than 100% effort into keeping your dream alive.
Just donated $2 i know it ain't much but i hope it helps.
Love the show and keep the great work up.
Well...I just donated 15 bucks. It aint much but I hope it helps.
I love your shows , keep 'em comming .
Greetings from Sweden.
@Gathaway ... More than you can imagine! Thank you thank you!!
@Louie ... I feel like a broken record, but thank you!!
@MrGYourSwell ... Is a thank you enough? Hopefully so :) -- Here's to hoping that the show can continue to entertain!
@Helen C ... hugs totally count! Thank you! HUG BACK
@Bigska ... Haha! Yeah, everyone loves the 'Fresh (and rightly so!). Thank you so much for sharing your hard-earned cash with us. We'll do our very best to live up to all expectations!
@Coheno ... thank you so much!! We've been getting some great designs in from some friends of ours, so hopefully the T-Shirts are going to happen relatively soon :)
@Parkingtigers ... yeah, that may be the way. I'm still not sure how we can make that happen as Apple has already told us "no" on that front, but that's no excuse to not keep trying!
@Elliot ... it ain't much? Of course it's "much!" Just the fact that you would take the time to donate at all means the world to us and I can't thank you enough for sharing what you have!
@ Niklas J ... more than we could every ask for! Thank you!
Hello from London!
$25 as a thank you for all the shows you put together with passion, creativity, insight and professionalism.
You guys on my iPod Touch make my journeys to work (via The Tube) a pleasure.
Let me know if you ever need a favour from the UK - I work for Newsweek over here (and am in charge of advertising revenue for "international" business on www.newsweek.com) so am also very conscious how there are very few advertising $$$ around.
Remember: content is king, and people WILL pay for content: look at me (and the other guys here that have donated)!
Whilst a donate button is not ideal, it is a start - and I hope it is JUST the start of what is a truly entertaining, interesting and amusing show.
As we say in London: "Nuff Respec".
Cheers!
Christian Cecchi
Hey Matt!
I sent you guys $20 because I love what you do. All I ask for is a show Muramasa: The Demon Blade! Get Mangod, if not in person, then on the phone! And if it's not too late, a BlazBlue show.
I'd also echo that I'd be happy to pay for the HD version of the show. Whatever it takes man, whatever it takes.
--Giolon
I'm glad you guys have the spirit to trundle ever forward, I enjoy the show - so have a few UK pounds to carry on the good work. It should pay for a sandwich at least :)
Hey guys, been watching most of you guys since the 1up show and when you guys went onto Co-Op I just naturally assume you guys must have struck a sweet deal. Although I did kind of wonder how much they could have possibly offered several guys enough money to sustain themselves, I guess this answers that notion. As an upstart blogger myself it really does make out the entire industry to seem even more human than at first glance. When you're on the outside you just naturally assume everyone inside has it made in the shade. You hardly ever hear about the hard work and effort behind the articles, videos and podcasts today. I don't think I'm putting this in the right way, but it's "encouraging" to see that everyone out there is trying hard to spread their opinion about their hobby, in the media spotlight or not.
~ Brian
Co-Op saves my Tuesdays... or something like that :)
I love the show, it's amazing and you guys are doing an awesome job.
As a true gamer, I love to see real gamers talk about games and the video game culture, so 25$ is on the way.
Thanks again for a great show.
More love from the UK here, donated so I can get my weekly CO-OP fix. I am constantly impressed you guys can get a show out on time every week. Part of my job involves filming and editing, so I know how time consuming and frustrating it can be at times.
Have you guys thought of releasing the standard edition of co-op for free, and releasing a paid extended edition? I am sure a large number of the co-op community would love to support you in this way.
Apple should support you guys, with the amount of product placement during co-op and you featuring an iphone game most weeks.
Regards
Al
You should charge. My suggestion... charge a subscription for the HD. I download Co-Op often times on my PS3 and watch it in beautiful High Def on a 40" Sony. It looks better than most things I watch. My friends come over and we watch together. I would pay. They would pay. People love you... so much that they take photos outside of Ryan's apartment (possibly).
That or do fund drives. There are local college stations here in NY area. They provide the BEST radio you can get. They survive on member donations and have fund drives. They offer rewards, like a CD of their best live performances of that year (you could maybe offer a CO OP DVD season for like a $100 donation... shirts for $30... different levels). There's no shame in asking to be paid for something you produce that is of such high caliber as your guys show.
Here's $15 for this month. Keep the donation link up and I'll keep giving whenever I can afford it. I'm sure many others will too!
Hey Matt. First off, congrats on the great work you all do. I know what it's like to be on the ropes. I've been running a startup business with a friend since May, 2008 and we've had nothing but struggles. We've had lousy customer growth and some of the partnerships that seemed really hot on working with us before we started suddenly went cold after we wanted them to commit. We've tried marketing, including several things that have worked wonders for our competitors and they've all flopped for us. We're both living off reserves and if things don't pick up in about two months, I'll have to start picking what bills get bounced every month or give up and find other work. I'm glad you guys have stuck it out and continued to push forward and keep making great content. I wish I had a fraction of the video editing talent you guys did and I hope that talent gets you more contract work.
I did donate a few bucks before and will try to do so again this time to keep seeing Co-Op. I am curious about something though. If you can't answer this for business reasons, I understand. I know the ad market is tough right now but like every other Revision3 show I watch, Co-Op has had 3 ads per episode since you guys signed with them and it has never been lacking one. Are these sponsors just not paying what they used to or does Revision3 really give you guys only a tiny slice of the revenue for the content you produce for them? I just find it interesting that signing with them hasn't been able to provide enough to keep you guys afloat at least, especially since you are doing all the production and all they're doing is hosting it and putting their branding behind it. Obviously, I am not familiar with this new and evolving industry which is why I ask out of curiosity.
Keep up the great work and best of luck!
July and December are bonus months for us living in Peru. And some of those bonus $$$ are definetly going your way. Keep it up!
Hey guys,
Just dropped $10 into the kitty, and will continue to do so as often as I can. You guys do great work, and the video game community is richer for your contributions.
Hi,
I'd just like to say that personnally I'd rather pay for the show than donate. Don't know why, but it always seems tricky to donate because people don't know how much money you need to stay afloat. Anyways, I know nothing about internet business models, but I'd pay for sure for your show. I've been watching you guys almost from the very beginning on the 1up show and always thought it was a very good show. I'll donate now to you, although not a huge sum for now, but really I'd pay if that meant I could watch your show every week for times to come. Thanks guys and long live area5.tv!
Matt, how about putting Amazon links to the games you cover? If anyone here buys from Amazon.com/.co.uk or Play Asia anyway, it would cost them nothing extra, and those referral links might provide a few pennies for you guys. I don't think anyone would object to some Google Adsense words appearing on the site either.
Just put 15 in for the cause. Loved the show as the 1up show, Love it just as much as COOP. Keep the donate link up I'll definitely give when I can. When school fees and books aren't killing me.
Looking forward to when you have you have your shirts and other apparel made!
just wanted to say that i love your show alot. it is bloddy greate. an as soon as i got my next paycheck i am gonna help you alittle. i dont have alot but your show means alot to me and i just love watching it. the way you produce it and the way you cut it and have those small storyes in. just love it, and when you get up some t-shirts and other merchs i hope you support posting to norway couse i really want some.
Sorry bout the crappy english but cheers guys.
Greeteings froom Norway
skål (cheers in norwegian)
Trym
SDGTR23YHT234FD
i'm darned high-ranking google.com
Haw are you?
Hey guys !
I donated a few bucks because the show is absolutely worth it and because I didn't the first time the button was up, since I had already donated to RebelFM !
Keep up the great work !
PS: Is there any chance that you guys could use your journalistic prowess to find out if the US 360 version of Modern Warfare 2 will be region free, since that would be the only chance to get a Prestige Edition !
Hey Guys!!
I don't have a ton to spare but I threw in $20 because I love the show and have been following you all since the start of the 1UP show. Your show is, along with whats left of 1UP Yours(we will miss you Garnett), by far the best discussion of video games and the culture that goes with it I have come across, so anything I can do to help keep it on the air is tops in my book.
And to my friend Ryan who I have not talked to in almost 10 years since we kicked it together while working at EB games in San Diego, I am totally stoked to see that you are pursuing your passions and I think you have done a great job, both with CO-OP and the 1UP show. Keep up the good work, I have not missed an episode yet. I will keep donating as long as you need it, anything I can do to help.
I just took my first trip to the Bay Area a couple weekends ago, and, based on one particular episode of CO-OP, made a long trek from the top of Nob Hill to Dynamo and scored a bacon apple maple doughnut -- ohhhh damn was it awesome. I can't think of another webcast/podcast/online media outlet of any kind that I would trust enough to travel an hour by MUNI in a city I've never been in to check out something I was told was "worth checking out." If that isn't a testament to how much I've enjoyed The 1UP Show and Area5 over the years -- I don't know what is :) I donated back before Area5 was a reality because losing your guys' eclectic perspectives and 'open table' show format would have been a catastrophic loss to the industry. We gamers are privileged to have access to unadulterated insights into the games we buy and play -- we can't have it snuffed out because the global economy decided to go nose-skyward... with people's entertainment budgets constricting, we need the value your show provides more than ever! Even when/if the show goes commercial, paying a nominal fee to know to avoid that digital disaster with the pretty bow, or to check out that unsung indie-studio gem that would otherwise be doomed to obscurity, makes it totally worth it.
Hi Guys,
while downloading Episode 0302, I put up another donation for your awesome show and I might donate again from time to time, if my account allows it ;)
Just to let you know that I would have no problem with paying a regular fee for your show (my weekly highlight and NO it is not as sad as it may sounds ;)) if it helps you to going on.
So not that I only donated some bucks... you even made me write a comment , which I usually don't do!
Greetings and Salutations from the country of the green blood!