Sacred Symbols+, Episode 238 | Microcommunity Means Power
Added 2022-11-01 16:00:21 +0000 UTCWhat's a so-called microcommunity? Well, Last Stand Media is a good example: A new kind of outlet that doesn't rely on volume, but rather a dedicated core of engaged customers. Sorta like a country diner; nothing too splashy, not a lot of growth for the NASDAQ types... but sustainable, useful, and meaningful, with really good omelettes and crispy bacon each and every time you go. Writer Nick Calandra runs a similar sort of outlet, one far older than Last Stand, one that's gone through a few metamorphoses of its own: The Escapist. And while Nick has been on Sacred+ in the past, he actually pitched today's episode to us, and we were happy to oblige. Together, we talk about our experiences navigating the modern gaming landscape with two rogue media companies, ones reliant on hardcore users who love the content and would rather be off the beaten path. From managing and hiring philosophies and pay structures to coordinating relationships with developers and publishers and earning money outside of subscriptions, it's a real grind to 'make it,' and we share notes with each other -- and the audience! -- about where we think this whole thing is going in the future.
Comments
This episode gave me big "Colin Was Right" vibes. Technically all the + episodes are in that vein, but this one passed the vibe check, as it were. Keep it up, homie.
Dennis Johnson
2023-01-06 15:21:59 +0000 UTCI meant to vote, forgot to when I had to start setting my fantasy football lineups. I’ll vote next time.
TL
2022-11-19 23:19:14 +0000 UTCThe real honest reviews come from people who play the game on release day, GoW 2 has 100 positive early reviews 94, if one of those is not in tone with Sony standards they won’t get the early reviews , I’ve notice this on Sony games in the PS4 era.
Hose A Contra Razz
2022-11-07 23:25:48 +0000 UTCOh man MovieBob is a name I haven't heard in a long time, I used to watch him, although his videos became more and more insane with time, but then he said in a video "there are no bad tactics just bad targets" and that was very profound because that is how the twitter mobs act they don't care what heinous thing they do just to whom. It's the same reason, I think, Collin you were viciously attacked by the mob for a vanilla dad joke while adam sessler can say the fucked up things he has and nobody bats an eye, because he is not a target. Also I didn't really watch Bob after that. Mostly to laugh at his stupid takes.
Fotis Lyto
2022-11-05 09:04:26 +0000 UTCI don't think I went too hard on him at all, but I do appreciate the input nonetheless.
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-05 00:19:18 +0000 UTCI really like this guy. I think you went a little to hard on him about how much he pays employees. Some of these positions are probably for people trying to get there foot in the door. I've don't work for little to no money and I would say it's paid off. Thanks for the content
Clint
2022-11-04 13:08:11 +0000 UTCYou are very right, the public's interest in the details on why a game's development was troubled is very different from their interest on whether the government lied to get us into the Iraq war or something like that.
Mike Po
2022-11-03 16:37:13 +0000 UTCHey Mike! I totally get what you're saying. But this is the math: You have Something. You tell the owners (as an example) that you have Something. They say, we really don't want Something to become public, but we can give you Something Else. This is a fairly common bargain, especially in entertainment journalism, where we're not breaking, say, the Pentagon Papers. Now, at that point, it's up to you and yours what you do, but I don't see keeping something under your hat in order to get something else as necessarily untoward. The public 'has a right' to know that the Vietnam War was fucked up; I'm not so sure they 'have a right' to know a game exists. I get your point, and I actually felt that this was coming when I was talking about it, because it really gets into the gritty reality of transactionalism. But anyway, thank you for writing in. =)
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-03 16:26:11 +0000 UTCThanks! =)
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-03 16:24:10 +0000 UTCThere was a comment made in this conversation that stuck out to me. Colin I believe you said something like it's "totally normal" for journalists to have background conversations with the subjects of their article and engage in bargaining. I think the example was "if you don't publish X we can give you Y." Something about this rubbed me the wrong way. In a perfect world, isn't the ideal goal of journalism to speak truth to power and educate the public? If a publisher took some nefarious action and a journalist has the goods to back it up, then the journalist should publish. It is in the public's interest. This bargaining seems like it is putting the publisher's institution ahead of the public's right to know. I recognize I am speaking in normative idealistic terms. Perhaps the response to this is just "I'm sorry Mike Po but we don't live in a perfect world and these business considerations are how things are really done" and I can understand. Great conversation, keep up the good work!
Mike Po
2022-11-03 15:27:07 +0000 UTCAs a recovering journalist, I will never get tired of this gaming media discussion. Will always find it fascinating.
Will Hernandez
2022-11-03 00:51:08 +0000 UTCThank you.
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 18:28:49 +0000 UTCFinally got to the end. Lmao fuck movie Bob!!’ Haha
Gene Park
2022-11-02 12:43:26 +0000 UTCA really wonderful episode
Brian
2022-11-02 05:34:13 +0000 UTCHey Gene! =) I will say: It comes from experience. If it was more 'in the culture' to talk salary openly at IGN, I can promise you they wouldn't have gotten away with paying me what they paid me. And I don't want that to happen to others.
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:47:06 +0000 UTCI'd like to do that, yes!
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:46:34 +0000 UTCGlad to hear it. <3
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:46:26 +0000 UTCThanks for listening. =)
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:46:21 +0000 UTCThank you!
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:46:16 +0000 UTCI'm glad he's doing well, too.
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:46:12 +0000 UTCThank you for listening.
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:46:07 +0000 UTCMe too. We got one we go to in our neck of the woods. =)
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-02 02:46:00 +0000 UTCColin is being pretty progressive in advocating salary transparency lol
Gene Park
2022-11-02 00:54:56 +0000 UTCWould be pretty cool to see you, Gene, and Nick so an episode together. Any plans to bring Nick back for like a spoilercast or something?
Tonys_Always_Write
2022-11-01 23:12:38 +0000 UTCGreat episode LSM! I’m usually cooking dinner while listening (tonight it’s a big batch of homemade bolognese and pasta) and always I enjoy these types of episodes.
Drew Lee
2022-11-01 22:30:39 +0000 UTCLove Nick and what he's done in reviving/revitalizing The Escapist. Good to hear he's back on!
Devin Taylor
2022-11-01 22:29:37 +0000 UTCGreat work as always!
Whitewinwolf
2022-11-01 19:09:37 +0000 UTCGreat interview, I noticed a while back that Marty had popped up over there and was doing some good stuff. Nice to hear he's doing well/going full time, always enjoyed him at IGN and when he came on Beyond :)
Martin
2022-11-01 19:01:14 +0000 UTCCalandra is the man, albeit a big-time nerd at the same time lol. The only other videogame podcast I listen to is "The Escapist's Breakout" with him and Marty. He knows how to respect the audience while putting out great, informative content based on Breakout and a few 3-minute reviews I've watched. Marty is still fantastic and fun to listen too. I think Calandra and company are here to stay in the industry with or without corporate heads. I would say Jaffe, Calandra, and Park are my favorite guests on Sacred Symbols Plus. Thank you for another good one.
Mitchell Lundsberg
2022-11-01 18:52:02 +0000 UTCLove a good country diner 😊
drew
2022-11-01 18:51:09 +0000 UTCSEO. :)
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-01 18:28:53 +0000 UTCI love the conversation but I don't know what SCO it was never explained and i cant find it on google.
NotYurRealDad
2022-11-01 18:04:33 +0000 UTC<3
Colin Moriarty
2022-11-01 17:02:19 +0000 UTCWelcome back, Nick! Going to check this out once I finish SS proper.
Joe Perez
2022-11-01 16:53:19 +0000 UTC
