Why no ads?

[agewar]

I wanted to know why the decision to have no ads on this cite was made. Like, I'm not a fan of ads in the slightest. Video ads are about the worst thing in the world, and I often use adblock on cites with video ads. But ads on the sides of the screen, less intrusive ones, are fine by me. They're there to make money for a cite that is providing a service I want.

Again, intrusive ads like videos or pop-ups that interrupt the experience of an actual forum would be terrible. But no ads for income when it wouldn't get in the way doesn't make sense to me. What do you guys think? Am I missing something, or is it bias against ads in general that make cites have to refrain from them? Or is it something else entirely?

[Valkenr]

I'm fine with adds, I'm not sure where this "add free" desire comes from. Simple static images are fine, as long as the advertising agreement is no-strings-attached. The problem with the main-stream video game "news" sites, is their reliance on ad revenue from sources they should be criticizing. And you can't blame EA/Activision for not wanting to advertise on a platform that speaks negatively about them.


Jeremy did talk about letting "adult games" get reviewed, and that's a slippery slope for mainstream advertisements, even Amazon links have a no "adult content" clause.

I think the EG crew may be over-correcting in the monetization category. There's moral monetization, just look at the top IDW personalities, those guys are raking in cash, they're upfront about it, and nobody cares, because they earned it. Monetize until it becomes intrusive, then stop. That's what business-types don't understand, or have to ignore because investors want large profits.

[Aidy]

They'd probably only bring in pennies anyway. Look at sites that need ad revenue to function, they are littered with adverts, with "promoted" clickbait links to other sites, things trying to trick you into this, trick you into that and so on. If that's the level you need to stoop to to fund a site then why bother? If you plan to only show a single non-intrusive advert maybe at the top or whatever, then the money it'll bring in is probably just not worth it.

[aileron]

We were writing our comments at the same time. I have no idea how much money is made from ads on websites. I assumed in my post below that most of it comes from them but I could be wrong.

[agewar]

The hope is that there will be enough people on the site that the ads will make enough money to run the website. They don't necessarily need top make a big profit, but at the very least it can cut costs down. At least in my opinion it would help out. Maybe they'd get less donations that way, though I don't know for sure.

[Valkenr]

You just have to run adds that link to more ads and nest them infinitely, so every add is a click tunnel with 50+ clicks!
</sarcasm>

[aileron]

The community came through big time on the Indiegogo. That's the startup cash. But long term? Sorry bub that's up to you. I don't know how he's going to do it without ads. If he can with just fundraisers and Patreon and subscriptions that's great. Also, I'd echo previous commenters that I don't mind non intrusive ads, i.e., silent, static, not infront of text, not X rated.

[agewar]

Agreed. Ads may be the way. I know that if I was a game company, I'd want my gaming related ad on a gaming website that cares about gaming and not politics, so it will be reviewed for what it is as a game and nothing else. Especially if this website blows up once it's completed.

[fenrif]

I'm fine with ads to be honest. I never see any of them anyway.

Why do people use the internet without an adblocker? It's a complete mystery to me.

[Aidy]

I'm fine with ads to be honest. I never see any of them anyway.

Why do people use the internet without an adblocker? It's a complete mystery to me.

That's one of the reasons using ads to fund a site is pointless.

[Arabica]

Not everyone is aware of adblockers. In fact, I'm willing to bet that the greater portion of internet users don't use them.

[Saskia]

You're right, a lot of people don't use them, and that's mainly because they are oblivious to nefarious stuff which goes on behind the scenes on the internet.

[Saskia]

Here's one good reason: Malvertising

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvertising

Malvertising (a portmanteau of "malicious advertising") is the use of online advertising to spread malware. It typically involves injecting malicious or malware-laden advertisements into legitimate online advertising networks and webpages. Malvertising is attractive to attackers because they can be easily spread across a large number of legitimate websites without directly compromising those websites.

The interesting thing about infections delivered through malvertising is that it does not require any user action (like clicking) to compromise the system and it does not exploit any vulnerabilities on the website or the server it is hosted from... infections delivered through malvertising silently travel through Web page advertisements. It is able to expose millions of users to malware, even the most cautious, and is growing rapidly.

[Saskia]

Keep in mind also that Jeremy is pretty savvy when it comes to marketing, so I trust he knows what he's doing. Plus, there are lots of ways to monetise a website besides running ads.

[PriestTroit]

I hope so.

[isturbo1984]

Probably because they fucking suck

[PriestTroit]

Banner or side panel advertisements are fine by me. Heck, I used to play F2P Runescape back when you had a giant advertisement above the game screen and had no problem with it then either.

I just hate pop-ups, ads that appear within the post section and video ads with audio. My God, audio ads are the absolute worst...

[agewar]

Agreed, pop-ups and audio playing would be unacceptable.

[aileron]

No f ing audio. My browser should only be making noises when I tell it to, like when I play a video.

[ethansito]

/tts REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[Spect3r]

I dont see why not.
I use adblock and ghosteery so wont be bothering me at all.
But in case they use safe, non intrusive ad network i am even open to disable adblock in this site.

[k4far]

Revenue from ads would be low with the amount of publicity this website is getting right now. Some could jump to conclusions like "before you upgrade the visuals you are already milking this, damn I am out." I have nothing against advertising if your ads are not persistent popups spreading malware.

You should presume Google WILL be discriminating the Exclusively Games through the fake "alt-right label." Google is pushing "alt-left" agendas and being neutral is not good enough if you would be taking publicity from their propaganda.

[agewar]

You're right about doing so before the site is fully up and running. I feel that - Some money > than no money - in terms of the low publicity it's currently getting. I have a feeling when the website is fully up and running, more people are going to be joining.
As for Google I have no solution for that, but worst case scenario advertisers back out and the site would run with the same model it's already planning to. Though if the worst case scenario doesn't happen, the site would benefit imo.

[PriestTroit]

Eh. I've never once thought to myself "What, this new website already has advertisements? I'm out."