TheRPGSite

MySpace for gamers:

Gleemax

http://www.gleemax.com/articles/announcement001.html

http://games.ign.com/articles/795/795519p1.html

(I was informed by Berandor, thanks)

I don´t get it, I´m too old for this shit.
I can only come up with criticism along the lines of some old, grumpy, Hex & Counter Grognard.

I feel very, very old.

The times they are a´changing.

Will this shit work?

Do the young ones like this?

I don´t understand MySpace´s appeal, so I´m now officially a gaming relic.

Sad day for me personally.

I´d love to see it fail, because I think it´s childish and moronic.

And this is most probably a good sign that I´ve lost touch.

"Strategy gaming destination". Wrong forum.

I hate Facebook, MySpace, and all the rest.

I will probably sign up for this one, though.

Why?  Because if I'm going to get my feet wet in community building software, it might as well be at a safe place...like a gaming site!

Here´s an interview:

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10728.html

And they said Gleemax will be about D&D too.

QuoteIn 6 months, 12 months, people will look at WotC as having three big brands, we've got Magic, D&D, and we've got Gleemax. Gleemax is its own separate brand; it's a product created by Wizards of the Coast. It's a little different in that this product supports the Magic player and the D&D player and it's full of a bunch of features and tools sets that support gamers of all shapes and sizes, but it is its own brand and its own product produced by Wizards of the Coast. That's the relationship. D&D will still have its own web presence, D&D will still do its own thing, but there will be a lot of cross references with Gleemax. We'll be trying to drive Gleemax customers over to the D&D Website, and we'll be trying to drive D&D players over to the Gleemax Website, but they're not the same thing--they are distinct initiatives.

I really don't see how this is going to work since the majority of gamers don't go online or visit forums to talk about gaming.

Sure, maybe a part of the miniority will but I just don't see how this is going to work nor how it is going to be profitable for WOTC.

I don't know if it will fly but it's a great idea.  The issue is getting a critical mass and keeping them there.  Many of those online are leery of WOTC or have their own websites.  Many current WOTC customers are not online and also present little room for increased sales.

But if it works and they get several tens of thousands on it, then it could become the source for gaming info to trickle into the larger gaming community.   It also help customers feel connected and less likely to drift away.

Quotebut it's a great idea.

Please explain!
I totally do not get MySpace. What´s the point?

I must be getting old.

I don't get it.:o

Quote from: SettembriniPlease explain!
I totally do not get MySpace. What´s the point?

The point is to meet other folks with shared interests.

Not much difference between a Myspace page and a blog really. A lot of people learn about new music, movies, comics and so forth through Myspace.

Quote from: SettembriniPlease explain!
I totally do not get MySpace. What´s the point?

The point is having a free presence on the web. It's like Geocities or Angelfire were in the 90s.

Quote from: SettembriniPlease explain!
I totally do not get MySpace. What´s the point?

What Chuck said.  It's a way of connecting to people in your area and/or with similar interests.  It's also a way of putting up pics, and posting what you're up to for friends and family.

There's nothing particularly revolutionary or great about Myspace but they managed to catch on and being big helps you grow bigger.  I don't do Myspace because the interface isn't that great and it's populated mainly by teenage idiots who are barely literate.  If Gleemax had fewer idiots and a better interface, I might give it a try.

By the way, where does the name Gleemax come from?  It sounds really lame to me.

Quote from: NicephorusI don't know if it will fly but it's a great idea.

They haven't exactly been forthcoming with features other than a few hand-wavy "pro-gamer" things. Whether or not it's a great idea will depend greatly on the end product.

Quote from: NicephorusBy the way, where does the name Gleemax come from?  It sounds really lame to me.

It comes from taking glee to the max, baby!

Yeah, lame name.

Will it be the hookup spot that MySpace supposedly is? There was even a big segment on one of the morning "news" shows about it that later turned into a big segment on The Daily Show about making fun of the big segment on the morning show. :)

What I don't get is people posting on an internet forum to complain about an internet phenomenon. Go and read a book if you don't like it.

Quote from: NicephorusBy the way, where does the name Gleemax come from?  It sounds really lame to me.

That's how people from Saxony pronounce "climax".

Quote from: droogWhat I don't get is people posting on an internet forum to complain about an internet phenomenon. Go and read a book if you don't like it.

(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j192/paulcu007/722000032_l.jpg)  (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s279/ElectroKitty/owned6.jpg)

Yes, MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, LJ, and all that stuff are huge with the teen demographic. For the most part they're an opportunity to freely indulge in narcissism, which also happens to be really popular among kids these days. At least in this case there will be an assumed interest in specific hobbies to tie it all together and hopefully give it some meaning besides "look at me."

I'll admit that I don't exactly understand what they're doing, though, since words like "community," "content," and "experience" are largely meaningless web-marketing fluff. We'll just have to see how this plays out. One wonders, is this what they didn't want Dungeon and Dragon competing with? I can't imagine how they would..

I've read the announcements, snooped around on the early site and don't find anything the least bit appealing.

For the record, I don't have a myspace page, and I can't see any reason someone would want one. I have a friend who is on myspace, when the topic comes up I point at him and sling derogatory comments.

The whole idea seems ridiculous to me, but that could be largely due to the fact that I'm in my mid thirties.

All that being said, I hope this project is a huge success. This crazy sort of stuff may just reach out to a younger audience, and help to bring a new generation of gamers into the RPG fold. I think the industry could use an injection of new gamers, even if they are "those damned kids".

Quote from: SosthenesThat's how people from Saxony pronounce "climax".

Gestern hatt' isch een kleen Gleemax aber nischt mit meener Frau...

I knew it was a gaming porn site. We need more of those.

Quote from: GoOrangeI've read the announcements, snooped around on the early site and don't find anything the least bit appealing.

Yep, I have a regular website that I can create and shape and add whatever features I want without annoying ads.

Don't see the point either

Quote from: droogWhat I don't get is people posting on an internet forum to complain about an internet phenomenon. Go and read a book if you don't like it.

What I don't get is a person posting on an internet forum complaining about people complaining on an internet forum about an internet phenomenon.

I couldn't resist

Quote from: Black FlagYes, MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, LJ, and all that stuff are huge with the teen demographic. For the most part they're an opportunity to freely indulge in narcissism, which also happens to be really popular among kids these days.

And adults. I, of course, have a page and with one exception, all my MySpace Friends are adults.

Seanchai

This could be fantastic if it takes off. Thing is getting the critical mass, and  getting more than just d20 fanboys involved. But a one-stop-shop MySpace type thing where pretty much every gamer has a gleemax page would be great for the hobby. Probably a pipe dream, but still.
And yes, it is a crapola name...

good gaming to you,
TheShadow

Quote from: The_ShadowThis could be fantastic if it takes off. Thing is getting the critical mass, and  getting more than just d20 fanboys involved. But a one-stop-shop MySpace type thing where pretty much every gamer has a gleemax page would be great for the hobby. Probably a pipe dream, but still.
And yes, it is a crapola name...

good gaming to you,
TheShadow

I would think that if WOTC is doing it that they would only care about the D20 fans since the are the ones making them money

Hmmm.

That is a very unclear press release.  I'm not sure exactly what that site is supposed to be doing.  A lot of stuff, evidently.  Are the "portals" they refer to portals for electronic games or tabletop games?

As far as the MySpace comparisons, those of you who "see no need" for such a thing should get ready to accept that there are gadzillions of people who do. It is extremely popular and becoming more than just a narcissistic outlet.  It is becoming a fundamental social activity for many people.  So making a gamer one (if that's what it is) could make some sense. Think, you can really easily have your own page, where you share what games you are playing, your GM skills, your gaming preferences and you can customize the crap out of it, making it look all kewl, but probably with lots of fun Wizards art and stuff.

However, the branding itself is very weird.  It's so dark and green, looks more like MyGammaWorld or something.  And their message is so garbled. What are they talking about when they mentioning "distributing independent games"?

It could be interesting.  I wish it was a little clearer.

Oh yes and that name really sucks. It sounds like a cleaning product.

Who is Randy Buehler?

There is actually some kind of cool stuff there.  That Gleemax guy is actually a big brain in a jar.  I like that.  And there is a fun poll on the homepage (though it doesn't show the results).  However, beyond that all I can find is a message board.

Quote from: walkerpOh yes and that name really sucks. It sounds like a cleaning product.

(http://www.therpglounge.com/gleemax.JPG)

Wish I could do better but I am not an artist

Quote from: SeanchaiAnd adults. I, of course, have a page and with one exception, all my MySpace Friends are adults.

Seanchai

I'm the same. I grew up with that, and I find it a valueable way to keep track of friends I can't see all the time. I could just email, and do, but it's easier to chat with everyone at once.

It's a good strategy on Wizards part. It's kind of a lame name, but I know for a fact M:tG fans will recognize it. It's been around for years. Mark Rosewater references 'Gleemax' as the head of the company, a brain in a jar that's responsible for research, devlopment, and marketing when Wizards does things in a suddenly different way.

It's cute, but a little sinister. Clever.

Quote from: walkerpThat is a very unclear press release.  I'm not sure exactly what that site is supposed to be doing.  A lot of stuff, evidently.  Are the "portals" they refer to portals for electronic games or tabletop games?

Beats me. I've trolled through the press release and the site. Clearly it's just "an idea" at this point. We'll have to wait for a finished or at least beta product (or maybe an actual feature list) before we can comment any further.

There are dozens of "gamer-portals" out there. If it's just another one, meh. If it has uber-cool tools and wizbangs, maybe.

Quote from: walkerpWho is Randy Buehler?

Anybody? Anybody?

Quote from: ElectroKittyThere are dozens of "gamer-portals" out there. If it's just another one, meh. If it has uber-cool tools and wizbangs, maybe.

Well it does have the money of Wizards behind it so they may be able to create something that the other ones (created by normal gamers using the software available to them) cannot.

Quote from: walkerpWho is Randy Buehler?

Randy Buehler is, I believe, the head of Magic: the Gathering R&D, though he may play musical chairs in the boardroom there, I dunno.

For a long time, he was a top-ranking tournament player who actually played professionally; he and his team ranked consistantly high enough to take money away from many events yearly. As a respected player and theorist, he was invited to work for the company. This is not something new; Wizards frequently tap people who have a clear and powerful grasp of the rules and game in order to head up development of future expansions and test for issues of balance.

Does that help?

I think it was ill advised to roll out the site and that half-assed press release when so much is still unknown about the D&D Digital Initiative.  I can't be the only person who immediately mistook the whole thing for the DI project.

Quote from: Blue DevilI would think that if WOTC is doing it that they would only care about the D20 fans since the are the ones making them money

I think it would be the opposite to some degree.  The typical gamer started with D&D and has sampled other things after a while.  There isn't much to be gained from those who are already all D&D all the time, except to maintain their loyalty.  If they could get non-D&D people to hang out there (and it's a huge IF), then some they will hear about all the new WOTC products and may be enticed back.

Plus, if it's where most gamers hang out (another huge IF), then it will be THE place for other companies to place ads.  I'm sure ad revenue played big in their minds when they were creating it.

Whatever. I can't see the attraction, but I'm freaking old.

Meh.

-clash

Gleemax sounds like a fictional drug from the show Joe Somebody, or from the Kid's in the Hall Movie. (Brain Candy)


That's just WRONG, on so many levels.


*Side effects include blurred vision, slurred speech, anal leakage, and possibly even death.

Gleemax, IIRC, is an inside joke at WotC.  Apparently there was a comment about who was running the show, and somebody or other said it was a big brain in a jar controlling the company.  Someone name it Gleemax, and it stuck. I think.

There are RPGA/Living Greyhawk players who got little brains in the mail from WotC with the website name on them but in som sort of code (it might have been lame enough to just be written backwards or something).

And Black Flag - narcissism is popular with kids these days? I think that's been universal since about 1958 or so, particulalry in the US.

Could this be the response to all of these forums and live journals and so forth? Could WotC be putting up it's own resources to grow the hobby overall? Could someone at Hasbro have said "Great, but you've worn out the 3.5 market, and they are not going to go for 4.0 yet - you need to get more people playing!"

That's my conjecture.

I'm curious to see if they'll go beyond MySpace to other social networking sites - Facebook, Livejournal, Xanga, Orkut, Friendster, etc.

Hah. :) Well, I'm very excited about Gleemax, and I've been on it since it opened to the public. I did the brain and the quiz.

Here's the attraction, for all you old people.

Your'e a gamer, you have a personal website. Ok. That seems simple. It could have some personal graphics or little bits and bobs, but it isn't that extensive. It could have a blog, but you don't usually go there to blog.

You link to other gamers, who have websites in the same fabric (this is kinda like Livejournal or Xanga or Myspace). Usually these other people are people you know, like your friends or whatever.

Ok. You aren't impressed yet.

You can also link to other gamers you don't know, discovering them via connections and proximity. Like in my game group, one player is in another gaming group that meets on Friday, with 4 other dudes. And another player has two housemates who are gamers. And there's a guy I met at an LG Gameday last year that I gave a ride to GenCon, and he has his own gaming group. Well, I've eventually managed to meet all of those guys. We even had a barbecue once. I call them my "Sister Campaigns", and I've even guest appeared in a couple of them.

The way I used to manage all these connections was with a rolodex type deal on my computer. But I had to work really hard to build a lot of these connections. I have an email listing on my computer called "Recruit_all", that I send out when I am casting around for new players for a campaign. It's just full of email addresses for people I know locally that I have gamed with in the past. And I sometimes meet friends of friends that way as well.

This eliminates most of that.

Outside of my realm (apparently I'm a social butterfly), I realize that gamers have a very fearful, paranoid culture in a lot of ways. They don't want to end up inviting the crazy guy or the obnoxious guy or whatever. The people that are most concerned about this? Often, they are the craziest and most obnoxious. And they don't host games, and they don't get invited very often, because they are terrified.

But online, you can kind of get to know people. To a degree, anyhow. Yes, This Is A Hook Up Site. Think of this site we have here. Is there anyone you would invite to your game just based on hearing them post? Of course there is.  

This is a way to discover and meet people, to coordinate games, and to organize gaming. Like I would make my page, and I would link to Settembrini, Jrients, Seanchai, and James Skach in a second. Maybe we aren't colocated enough to matter for local gaming, but maybe the network grows just a little, and maybe I move one day.  I also have been running stuff on FantasyGrounds lately (I've hosted players as far away as the UK).

Also, the power of hyperlinked tags on a single userbase is kinda impressive. On Livejournal I have an interest list, right? One of my interests is the MC-303 synthesizer. Does that seem kinda odd? Right, well, I can click on that tag and pull up like 9 other users who are also interested in MC-303 Grooveboxes, and vsit their journals. I also found an LJ-community that lists that tag as an interest, and I've been a member there for years. Not everyone knows what an MC-303 is, and out of those people, only a few people really *love* that little box. But I do, and I've met people in Japan and Sweden who feel the same way I do. Thats very cool!

Ok, now imagine a userbase with a few thousand gamers.
...and Imagine your favorite game which nobody wants to play as a hyperlinked tag. Would you click the tag...?

Finally- the advantage of a Myspace type enviro: It's not especially verbal, it's visual. The usual forum-blather, swine flim-flammery and theory-squawk aren't going to fly. I suspect that is part of what is what is behind the photographic scavenger hunt going on right now- it's a community that emphasizes real people. By contrast, forums (even our own, which I love so much) are just fiefdoms.

Quote from: jrientsI think it was ill advised to roll out the site and that half-assed press release when so much is still unknown about the D&D Digital Initiative.  I can't be the only person who immediately mistook the whole thing for the DI project.

Huh?

So this isn't the same thing as the D&D DI?

I'm completely confused at this point.

Quote from: Abyssal MawThis is a way to discover and meet people, to coordinate games, and to organize gaming. Like I would make my page, and I would link to Settembrini, Jrients, Seanchai, and James Skach in a second.

First - I'm honored.
Second - I'd love to hear about your Fantasy Grounds shit, someday.
Third - I'm trying to figure out how a game with all of those people would go; that would be interesting. What would we play? Who would GM? Most importantly, who would bring the beer?

(If its a beer-type game, I always bring one sixer of the most obscure beer I can find in bottles.  Long-standing policy. )

But to GoOrange.:I think this is the digital initiative. When it's up I think it's supposed to look like a gamer version of MySpace, somehow tied in with one of their web-games (the goblin game). D&D incidentally, is already on the real Myspace. I have it on my personal MySpace page.  The Buehler guy is a program manager of some kind, listen to the podcast (which is messed up and starts repeating itself at the end). It seemed clear to me last night.

I listened to it last night. The user-accounts for the forums are actually just tied into the regular Wizards/Magic/RPGA forums right now, but I think that might change.

Quotewho would bring the beer?

I´d do that.

Abyssal, thanks for your explanation.
I´d also be honoured to roll some dice with you.

Maybe we should all meet up for a Good Gaming Congress in Montevideo.

Settembrini:

Yes, MySpace is full of shit. So tacky, to five years ago. Gleemax: teehee. However.

There may be a potential here, once you hook up a gaming board like rpg.net with a much better designed social network like facebook, on which yours truly does have a page (and a fanclub, I should add*).

To quote the wisdom from my rpg.net post on the subject:

Quotea bundle of the two, which according to Shannon does already exist as a vBulletin plug-in--and which I guess means having a personal page instead of your typical message board profile--could be really effective.

I agree MySpace is horrible--super-clunky because of all those video and music add-ons. But facebook was (still) clean and fast last time I looked, and a facebook-ish page for every rpg.net member would be a major thing... you're looking for GURPS gamers in their 20s in North Carolina--do a search, drop them a line, join/form a group.

That said, there may be a tension here between the desire for relative anonymity on a message board and the desire for identifiability on a social network.

On reflection, the last sentence does give me pause. I like the idea, though, I really do.

*OK, so it only has 2 members.

Quote from: Abyssal MawThis is a way to discover and meet people, to coordinate games, and to organize gaming. Like I would make my page, and I would link to Settembrini, Jrients, Seanchai, and James Skach in a second. Maybe we aren't colocated enough to matter for local gaming, but maybe the network grows just a little, and maybe I move one day.  I also have been running stuff on FantasyGrounds lately (I've hosted players as far away as the UK).

Y'mean like NearbyGamers?

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceY'mean like NearbyGamers?

-clash

Yup. But bigger.

Imagine NearbyGamers with a huge amount of resource$ behind it.

Quote from: flyingmiceY'mean like NearbyGamers?

-clash

The problem with them is that they have only 2000 members, which makes the picking slim in most areas.  If they had advertising and other things to increase membership, they'd be great.

Quote from: GoOrangeHuh?

So this isn't the same thing as the D&D DI?

I'm completely confused at this point.

I was too.  The DI will be a totally separate deal, apparently.

Quote from: Abyssal MawYup. But bigger.

Imagine NearbyGamers with a huge amount of resource$ behind it.

And hopefully a better web site design.  The Site design of Nearby gamers makes it practically worthless as its difficult to navigate.

I am sure there are people who look at it and loose patience quick.

Quote from: jrientsI can't be the only person who immediately mistook the whole thing for the DI project.

Nope, I did, too.

Seanchai

Whoever designed that website hates people who are not blind. Sheesh!

Quote from: jrientsI was too.  The DI will be a totally separate deal, apparently.

Good.

Quote from: JongWKWhoever designed that website hates people who are not blind. Sheesh!

Are you talking about Nearby gamers?  If so I am glad to see I am not the only one who had problems with that site.

To be of any real use they will need to include some sort of digital table top to allow gaming in real time with your online friends.

Quote from: RockViperTo be of any real use they will need to include some sort of digital table top to allow gaming in real time with your online friends.

I like Openrpg and I hear screenmonkey is very good (I haven't had a chance to try it yet).

Quote from: Blue DevilAre you talking about Nearby gamers?  If so I am glad to see I am not the only one who had problems with that site.

Uh, no. I'm talking about Gleemax. My poor, poor eyes scream for justice...

Quote from: JongWKUh, no. I'm talking about Gleemax. My poor, poor eyes scream for justice...

Gleemax is better then Nearby Gamers.  NG's site just sucks

Quote from: Blue DevilI really don't see how this is going to work since the majority of gamers don't go online or visit forums to talk about gaming.

But I imagine most of them do go online; it's just a matter of bringing them to this site.  I think the potential is very much there, but I don't know if WOTC will be able to pull it off.

Quote from: Blue DevilI like Openrpg and I hear screenmonkey is very good (I haven't had a chance to try it yet).

Yes something like that needs to be incorporated directly into the interface so that if you happen to have 2 or 3 buddies online and  some time you can play a quick game. If they are shooting for a google type model (E Tabletop, Dice roller, char sheet, map storage and display, and a campaign blog) they could actually make some money off of the project.

Quote from: RezendevousBut I imagine most of them do go online; it's just a matter of bringing them to this site.  I think the potential is very much there, but I don't know if WOTC will be able to pull it off.

I have heard from various game insiders (It may have been Ken Hite) that the majority of gamers dont go online.   So I don't know how useful it will be.

Who knows? Maybe it will attract the people that are online and others and be successful.

Right now I can only speculate

Quote from: RockViperYes something like that needs to be incorporated directly into the interface so that if you happen to have 2 or 3 buddies online and  some time you can play a quick game. If they are shooting for a google type model (E Tabletop, Dice roller, char sheet, map storage and display, and a campaign blog) they could actually make some money off of the project.

I agree.

The nice thing about Screenmonkey is that only the GM has to install the software.  The players go through a Browser interface

I recently evaluated a bunch of virtual gaming tabletop programs. (This is really a better topic for another thread..) and settled on FantasyGrounds as my favorite. It isn't as cheap as ScreenMonkey (and I'm all for cheap), but it has some dynamic features I like. I have now logged about 9 sessions with it, and I think I could get used to running a game with it. Doesn't replace my weekly group yet, though!

But to bring this back to topic: I don't know if it will have much of a tabletop emulator on there- it's pure web. That would be very cool. There's defintiely the potential because even now, they have sponsored games running on the Wizards chat-server.

I'm hoping it has all kinds of features though.

I think a lot can be done with a community website. The one I hang out on waaay too much is the Animal Crossing  (http://www.animalcrossingcommunity.com/acchome.asp) website.

Is it just me or does Gleemax totally sound like a gay porn cable channel?

What the hell were they thinking?

It's gleeful to the maxxx!

Little known fact: you can actually overdose on glee, and some people are naturally allergic.

When I saw it I thought it said Gleemonex, which I think was the name of the drug from Brain Candy.

Quote from: David JohansenIs it just me or does Gleemax totally sound like a gay porn cable channel?

What the hell were they thinking?

I hadn't really given it any thought to it until you said that.  While it doesn't sound like a gay porn chanel name to me it is an aweful name and really make much sense.

At least MySpace gives you an idea of what it's about- giving you space on the internet to put up a profile, pictures, etc.  Gleemax tells me nothing about what the site is about.