Video reviews?

[Maxximum]

Did you guys ever consider doing video reviews? The site has already grown a lot, and this just seems like the next logical step in its expansion and bringing in an even wider audience. I know that there may be certain constraints and drawbacks that I may not be aware of, but I'm throwing it out there anyway, just out of curiosity.

[Tooker]

Yeah, it's come up before.  We're all in favor of it as a concept, but it requires equipment and software we don't have.  More importantly, it's a significant time investment, and we're all volunteers with jobs and families.  Thanks for trying to help us grow, though!

[Yoda]

I'd love to see video reviews, even just simple youtube uploads from staff or users would be cool.

[Tooker]

I don't think we'd feel good doing something like "hey, this is me sitting in front of a webcam talking!"  It just isn't up to the level of professionalism we want to produce.  We'd want to do things more like Gamespot or The Escapist.  Video capture, etc.

[Yoda]

I hear that.

Gamespot has pretty good production.

Many a time I've seen Kevin von ord stand in a cool CG-room

[Lazlowe1984]

I don't think we'd feel good doing something like "hey, this is me sitting in front of a webcam talking!"  It just isn't up to the level of professionalism we want to produce.  We'd want to do things more like Gamespot or The Escapist.  Video capture, etc.

I understand.RPGFan already has this really unique site layout and it deserves a proper custom video capture setup.

I hope you guys have something completed soon since some of your reviewers definitely need to get some spotlight.

[Maxximum]

Yeah, I figured something along those lines. I've been looking for some good open source screen capture and video editing programs. Found a few but can't get them to work properly yet. If I ever do, is there any chance reader reviews will be making a comeback? I could use a creative outlet.

[Ramza]

Maxx,

Yeah, GOOD screen capture is hard to come by. I have a TV Card in my ancient PC, and just still screens came out crap. Video was even worse. I think that, maybe someday, RPGFan will give it a try, but this site remains text-heavy in a sort of a intentional way.

As for reader reviews? That was shut down mostly due to lack of submissions (or, at least, lack of readable submissions). I don't think it will come back, at least not in the form it once was. Depending on the direction of the site as it continues to evolve, something akin to reader reviews could exist in the form of elongated comments or user blogs. But that's not anything that would happen in the next year. I'm just speculating as a former staffer who has seen this convo come up perennially. :)

Ramza