YouTube Update: Stuff You; I'd Rather Not Do What You Tell Me.

Fuck you! I won't do what you tell me, motherfucker!

Zack de la Rocha, Rage Against the Machine

Ah, that's more like it :)

Having said that, however, I'm going to ask that you do not interpret the following entry as being disregarding of your opinions and desires as far as my YouTube channel goes. I have an audience, and if I wish to maintain that audience (which I do), then it is my duty to appease them -- that's just how it works with being a content creator. The thing with my YouTube channel, however, is that it does not revolve around the audience. I don't create content solely because other people enjoy it; I produce it because I like producing it, and because (hypothetically) you like watching it. I don't produce content that isn't enjoyable to produce -- forcing yourself to do something you don't want to do just because someone else wants you to (when it comes to producing content, at least) is inane. This is why there is no schedule, no plan, no structure, and no consistency: I make videos when I want and how I want, and I make them about whatever I want. The userbase seems to like what I put out, so it's a win for both parties; but content is never made with me thinking "ooohh! They'll just love this!" Don't bullshit yourself; I don't think like that. Yes, I make stuff my audience will presumably like (hence why I mainly publish LBP videos: because that's why most subscribers subscribed in the first place :P) but I will not go out of my way to suck dicks and fondle balls just because people ask.

When it comes to people making demands, it pisses me off to no end. Requests are fine, demands are not; and there is a clear-cut difference. A request is polite, reasonable, and optional; a demand is (in this context) rude, ridiculous, and seemingly mandatory, at least to the demander. I can deal with people requesting levels and ideas (hence why the facets that allow you to do so are made available), but when I get comments like this:



-followed by comments like this:





-it annoys me that both parties ask for the same thing, yet to appease the polite one is to appease both. People who ask for things as impolitely as that don't deserve what they want as far as I'm concerned, especially when they're getting it for free, on my time. It's just ungrateful. I know not everyone is greedy like that, and that those people may not even be like that all the time; but when they are, it's clear cut in my mind that they're being completely unreasonable.

When it comes to what content goes on my channel, here's how things work:

Someone suggests a quality, original level?
If I have the time, I record and upload it.

I have issues I want to get off my chest, and don't want to type?
I record a random game, and throw my thoughts over the top.

I'm going to perform a new stand-up segment somewhere?
I try to get someone to film it for me, and I upload it.

I think of an idea for a video that doesn't fit the above three criteria?
If I have the time and resources, I try it out.

That's it.

That is the extent to which my YouTube channel operates in terms of planning and development. It doesn't stretch an inch beyond what's written above, and it probably never will.

LittleBigShow, which I began making episodes for about a year and a half ago, was the result of that last item in the itinerary. It began well enough, with positive reception being received due to the combining of my voice (which people like for some reason >.>) and the gaming content: three level previews combined in to one video, rather than a single level playthrough. Sure, there was a "Previews" and "Reviews" section, but when you get right down to it, it was just three levels being showcased, with their qualities highlighted for all to see. There haven't been any episodes since April this year, with the latest episode being featured on my channel since its release, giving the false hope of more episodes to come. There are two reasons why there haven't been more episodes; they are:

1: I haven't had the time to work on the show.

Now, however, my schedule is far less busy, and probably won't be as busy as it was before for a long time. "Why, then, are there still no episodes?", you may ask.

2: I don't like making the show.

I used to like making the show -- I loved the recording, the writing, the editing, all of it -- but it soon became a tedium, one I grew tired of very quickly. I had to adhere to a schedule of one episode a month (which was originally going to be one a week -- get fuckin' real :P), which just became annoying, as I hate working for deadlines. I had to go through a whole slew of levels just to get the good ones (this was before LBP.me, however, whose reviews and comments sections would have reduce the workload significantly). The most prevalent dislike I have for the show, however, is its inefficency in doing its job, which was to highlight hidden gems in the LBP community. Yes, it did do its job, but with no efficiency boost on my end. Sure, it would be quicker for you guys, because you get three levels in one video; but for me came the tasks of gathering and organising suggestions, writing scripts and dot points, recording voice-overs (which took multiple takes due to their scripted nature), and an arduous editing process for something that only ended up running for five minutes. The effort simply isn't worth the return.

Put it this way: it would be far quicker for me to simply record three levels, edit them separately (a process which involves nothing more than importing, clipping, and a few nips and tucks), encode them separately, and upload them over a period of time, than it would for me to make LBS. It's just quicker! If you want my opinion of the level, I leave a snippet in the description -- always have, always will. That's another thing I disliked about the show: I told you what I thought of the level. Who gives a flying fuck what I think of the level? It's your opinion of the level that matters, not mine! If you think it looks good, you'll go and play it, regardless of what I think or say! There isn't even a point to the voice-over -- as I said (and I'm not being conceited; people have said this to me on YouTube, more than just a few times) people just liked listening to me speak. If there's no substance or worth in the words, there's no point in speaking them.

-but I liked LittleBigShow!

Your prayers have been answered (for a number of months now, in fact :P).

LittleBigPicks has been operating since June of this year, and they've already produced nine episodes of their program, in the form of both levels in LittleBigPlanet 2, and YouTube videos (which are essentially recordings of the levels they make for their show). I am not affiliated with the group behind the content -- I actually hadn't really investigated them until earlier this week -- but, from watching their work, it's presented beautifully and professionally, and has voice work, if you just have to hear someone talk :P  It's done by a team of at least two players (the hosts of the show), and the format is similar to LBS, but different in ways that make their show more engaging and engrossing. Their show is longer, and the hosts build their own set to use in-game -- it's essentially machinima. They not only feature levels, but do other cool stuff as well from time to time -- they recently had an interview with steve_big_guns, so they're evidently being noted for their talents, and getting attention they wholeheartedly deserve. These guys are doing great work, and are featuring incredible levels, so if you want something like LittleBigShow, this is where you should go. It will make LBS seem like child's play :P

As for what I'll be doing on my channel, I've been watching a few Let's Play channels (namely NintendoCapriSun), and thought I could give that a shot once my computer's fixed. Before really watching an LP, I was like "man, what the fuck is the point of watching someone play an entire game, start to finish!? Would that not be the most boring shit ever!?" Well, no, it's not the most boring shit ever, provided you've got a good commentator at the helm; a bad one fucking ruins it (I'll probably do an entry on the LP 'culture', because finding a good LPer is like finding a needle in a haystack coated in shit :P). I'm not saying I could do any better (hence why I'd only be willing to try it out without making any commitments), but if people like watching me play games, and listening to me talk, this is the fastest way I can provide you with a video combining those elements.

I'm not sure what game I'll do though. I am not doing LittleBigPlanet (the acing videos are practically an LP if you string them all together :P), nor do I want to do any game that's been done a million times (Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, etc). I'd love to do Donkey Kong 64, as I love that game and know my way around it fairly well, but I only have an emulated version, which is a little glitchy -- I'd rather do it on a real Nintendo 64 (which I will be buying :D). I could do Ratchet and Clank as well, and for now, that seems to be what I'll be doing if I decide to try it out. It's a short enough game to do, but isn't so short that it'll be over before you know it. DK64 is a damn long game, so it'd be better to do if I know it'll be worth doing; I don't want to quit halfway through (hate leaving projects unfinished).

As for my computer, I've found a place that might be able to diagnose (or better yet, fix) the machine, but as it's the Christmas break, the place won't be available for a few days, and I also have to find transport for the box to the place and back (I don't have a license, and I sure as fuck can't walk 30 minutes in to/back from town with this mammoth under my shoulder :P). I can't tell you when it'll be fixed (I may have to purchase replacement parts, which I don't have money for at the moment), but progress has been made to some extent.

Don't jump to dumb conclusions either -- I won't stop making LBP 2 videos, and I'll resume recording levels once my PC is back up and running. For the meantime, I've got another couple of levels in the vaults that (with any luck :P) I can encode and upload (provided the machine doesn't explode).

You're free to leave your thoughts on the subject here, or on my YouTube channel, or any one of my videos. I read and appreciate all feedback :)

HollyTube: Bringing Unrivaled Favouritism to Homes Everywhere

I've been an avid YouTuber for a number of years now, and the last year has been fantastic for me as a content producer. 450,000 is a number I never thought I'd see next to the word "views" on a video of my own :P The subscriber count just toppled over 3,000, which is also fantastic. I'm not the sort to obsess over figures like that, but I won't hold it back when I say it makes me :D to see my userbase grow, and in the times I'm going through now, it really fuckin' helps :)

One recurring issue I see and ponder on with regards to YouTube is that of attention. As I just mentioned, there are 3,000 people who hypothetically, at one point or another, liked my content enough to make the effort to enlist in automated reminders whenever new content of this variety was released. That's what a subscription is: a service that allows you to automatically receive new content, or be notified of its arrival, depending on what you're subscribed to. This is why people bug the fuck out of you to do it: it's the first step to getting (and maintaining) more attention.

We've all seen it: "Rate, Comment, Subscribe," sometimes with the less popular "Favourite" thrown in if the advertiser has no concept of the "Rule of 3." These people are the blunt form of attention whores, pure and simple. It doesn't matter if their content is good; one mention of RCS and they've put it out there. They're honest people; they want big numbers, and they will happily ask, over and over if necessary. I don't do it, simply because as far as I'm concerned, the video should be given the task of enticing you to do those things. My numbers are a pure representation of how many people do those things because they do them of their own accord, without being asked. The figures are a natural tracking of my success. People are free to ask for subscriptions, comments and ratings, and although this doesn't bother me, it does ironically persuade me to leave the video without subscribing, commenting or rating most of the time.

Partners are notorious for doing this. The partnership program is built on a moviestar-esque fame platform, carefully constructed to slowly bring people in and get them "hooked" on the videos that have ads next to them (and they all will, because who doesn't like ad revenue?) YouTube is one big agent, and we're the public, getting all wet for these people. I saw a video a while back, and I tried to look for it to no avail, but, in addition to things I've noticed, the video makes it clear how partners make videos "efficiently" to maximise revenue.

The biggest example is how they always want you to "thumbs up" (used to be "5 star" which you'll see and hear in older videos) their videos. Fuck you; I'll thumbs up your video if it deserves it. That's what the rating system is for: so I can judge good content from shitty content, not popular content from everything else. I'll only thumb a video up per someone's request if they promptly stick it up their arse after receiving it. Most partners also love "comment questions," usually simple ones easily answered by the absent-minded drones that watch their videos. Stuff like "what's under your bed?" or "what's Lady GaGa's gender?" Simple shit that takes 2 seconds to answer and makes everyone feel smart and/or funny. As a wannabe comic, looking at the responses to these questions makes me feel smart and funny. It's all about bumping good ratings and comment figures through the roof, which get them on the pages that are dedicated to showing people those things. The viewers feel involved, like they're part of something, and add their username to a list of millions, as well as 1 to that 7 figure "Subscribers" number (which, to many, represents how "good," "funny" and "talented" they are; it doesn't.)

Before we get all angry, let's get this straight: there are plenty of partners who don't do any of the negative shit you may think I've just tarred them with, as well as plenty of non-partners who do this shit all the time. It's up to you as an individual to sort good content from bad without automatically labeling people. Letting your opinion of an individual mirror that of a group they're a part of simply because of their part in that group is, as far as I'm concerned, lazy and unjustifiable. Being a partner does not automatically make a content producer an arsehole, but just going off what I've noticed and things that have been shown to me, there are some really fucking desperate people out there who can and will take advantage of whatever they can to get everything for themselves. YouTube is no different.

Believe it or not, some people think I'm famous. It's all about relativity: compared to them, perhaps I am famous, but compared to these people with hundreds of thousands, even millions of followers, I don't even touch them. I had one guy send me a friend request on the PSN saying he would be "honoured" to have me on his list. Why? What the fuck is so special about me? Is my self-respect too low to recognise my supposed talent and greatness, or are this guy's standards low enough to think some dude who makes YouTube videos every so often is someone to be honoured? I guess it's a little bit of both. I look up to people too; (dead) comedians primarily, but YouTubers too.

Take SeaNanners: here's a guy (a partner, I might add :P) who I think is funny, insightful and very entertaining. I don't know if I'd be honoured to talk to him or meet him, but I would be very appreciative and delighted, because he seems like an interesting fellow, and knowing his userbase, lots of people would want to do the same. Without SeaNanners and his (awesome! :D) Minecraft videos, I probably would never have thought about improvised commentary. I suppose we all look to someone for something.

You know a blog is good and hearty when you look at the clock and 50 minutes have silently walked right out the door... wait, do you? I'm too new here to be making such assumptions :P

B-Log? What's a B-Log? Where's the A-Log?

So, here we are! The blogoland-tube-sphere thing.

Let's get straight to it: I've got a sore throat which is why I haven't been making videos as of late, of any variety. Once this bastard is healed (and no, I don't know when it will; I don't own a DeLorean) I will resume making videos ASAP. Time is still, and always will be, an issue with my upload frequency, so just be patient and you will see videos in that box soon :D The acing videos will be priority one; you guys have been asking for the last few (the most important :P) so they'll be the first videos to be uploaded. My "Minesweeper: Behind the Scenes" video will probably follow, and while I was sick, I started a new level, so I might give you guys a sneak peak of what little there is of that too. It's another remake, so don't get your hopes up for "new ideas," but it'll be complicated; mega-complicated ;)

I've also been contemplating a lot of subject matter for commentaries (if I'd been at home not sick, I would have been talking my judgmental arse off :P) and this has mainly been along the lines of YouTube partnership (my lowly opinion of its transformation of YouTube in to Hollywood through subversive manipulation, not my "road to stardom" :P), women, the education system, and a bunch of other shit. After thinking it over, I realised that I simply don't have the time to say all those things in videos, nor did I see the point in putting video game footage behind my ramblings (are we that simple, people?) This way, I can quickly type something and let you guys read it. I'll definitely keep doing commentaries; I love doing them, and you guys appear to love listening to me talk (just going off the comments here :P) but I feel that non-gaming subject matter need not interfere with the gaming footage, so I can stick that stuff here without any dilemmas.

Speaking of commentary... LittleBigShow; we've gotta talk. LBS was highly successful and extremely well received by you guys. It was also a pain in the arse to script :P Going through 50 levels (the majority of which aren't up to scratch at all; just the law of averages speaking here) and picking 3, only 3, to feature was painstaking and overbearing. If you guys like that kind of production, then I should keep doing it, but it just takes too long to script. This is where the improvised commentary idea came from: it was a way of cutting down production time. If I can just make it up as I go, why write it down and then say it? Fuck that :P LBS can continue with this change with only minor side effects. First, levels would still be submitted by you guys via Google Moderator, personal messages and channel comments, but I would now simply request LBP.me links and look at the happy/sad face ratio (not how big/small those figures are, the ratio of happy faces to sad faces) to decide which levels to feature. Levels would therefore have to have been played at least ~50 times for them to have enough ratings for me to judge their worthiness, but from there, I can just stick them on my queue, commence playing/recording/talking, and cut out irrelevance and dead silence during editing. Simple :D

Well, that was a shitload of words. Take a breather - a nap if you need to - and I'll catch you guys later :)