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DIGITISER2000: STATE OF THE UNION by Mr Biffo

17/11/2015

73 Comments

 
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Hello, Brannex. A year ago, give or take a few days, I started Digitiser2000. 

Over the course of the last 12 months, the site has grown from quite literally nothing to having around 40,000 unique users a month. That's some real good brie.

Admittedly, a lot of those users are confused Americans who spend an average of 15 seconds before clicking elsewhere, and we're still tiny compared to the bigger sites, and we have big weeks and quieter weeks, and we're still shrouded in the cloud of nonentity-ness next to the Jim Sterlings of this world... but I'm rather proud that the spirit of Digi managed to rise from the ashes. Especially after my years in the relative wilderness.

However, the anniversary seemed like as good a time as any to take stock, and rattle things up a bit.

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A BIT
​Early on, I thought Digi2000 would be an occasional thing, possibly leading to some sort of Digitiser retrospective book. You all told me you'd rather it was a daily site, and that you were willing to fund it. So that's the road I strode along.

The thought of being paid by individuals, rather than an employer or organisation, was completely alien to me, so I'd wanted to offer a whole bunch of stuff to those who sponsor the site through Patreon or Paypal.


Among those were regular videos, but it was apparent over time that interest in the videos was waning, as I ran out of general things to talk about. Also, from talking to our sponsors, it was pretty clear that they were just happy to support the site. Having Digitiser back, in some form, was enough for them, it seemed. 

As I've done so many times before, I can't thank them enough for their generosity. Everyone who has supported this site from the beginning, or kindly given us a one off donation, should be applauded not only by me, but by everyone who enjoys the site. It's because of them that you get to read Digitiser2000 every day without having to put your hand in your pocket, or tolerate a load of ads.


Consequently, by way of rewarding their faith in me, I've gone out of my way to offer as much content as possible on here - above and beyond what I'd promised. I think, for the most part, the stuff on Digitiser2000 has remained pretty damn good. Particularly since my day job commitments eased up after the summer, I really do feel like the site has been on a roll.

I go through phases of wanting to do more stupid stuff, or more serious stuff - I'm in one of the latter phases at the moment - but I feel that the honesty in writing what I want to write about in that moment, however I want to write about it, is part of this site's appeal.

CH-CH-CHANGES
Looking at other games journo types who are supported through donations, few of them offer rewards, and I think I've made it pretty apparent that I will always go the extra mile in ensuring there's stuff to read on Digi. I suspect I offer more daily content than most.

Consequently, o
ne of the changes I'm looking at making is taking away the tiers whereby I pledge a certain number of updates per week depending on how much money Patreon brings in.

Fact is, as we head towards 2016, I'm starting to get busier with other stuff again. Alas, I've not managed to raise enough funds through Patreon to look upon Digitiser2000 as an ongoing concern full time. I've done my best to make it that - especially in recent months - but at some point I'll have to start prioritising my other work again, as I was having to do earlier this year.

I love writing for TV, but I also love the freedom and immediacy of writing for Digitiser2000, so it's a hard to choice to make.


PAID
Nevertheless, whichever of those is going to ensure my mortgage gets paid is going to win out in terms of my time - though I've genuinely been having anxiety nightmares over the last week about letting one or the other down...! I hope you can continue to trust me that there will always be stuff worth reading on here whatever happens. 

The other thing I'm getting rid of is promising regular video updates for Patrons. I've not done one in ages, and nobody seems to care. Plus I'm already updating the Digi2000 YouTube channel a couple of times a week, and have never felt wholly comfortable with hiding stuff behind a paywall. If Digi2000 is going to continue to grow, I think it's important that my energy goes into offering stuff which helps facilitate that.

Our YouTube channel might not get all that many hits - indeed, it seems less popular than it was at the beginning! - but I really enjoy doing it, and think that it offers something different. I'd love to hear in the comments what you'd want to see from me in terms of video content. 
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HONK!
That said... I do intend to offer occasional spot benefits to our sponsors.

Our higher tier supporters all received a free t-shirt, 16,000 words of a book I'd started writing was given to our Patrons, and something else we're going to be doing - probably over the next week or so - is giving all of our sponsors a brand new edition of The Man's Daddy's Book of Popular Comedy jokes.

It includes hundreds of jokes which weren't in the previous edition, and content that is exclusive to the new version. It's very silly indeed, and I love it, and it'll go to all our monthly sponsors who pledge $2 (about £1.50) or more a month. 

​Nevertheless, given that our Patreon sponsors have dipped of late - we've gone down beneath $1,000 for the first time this year, unfortunately - we're having to think about other ways to fund the site, and justify the time it takes. 

I'm now writing for Techradar on a weekly basis, in return for a generous plug, and though t-shirts have sold well for us - thank you to everyone who bought one -  that's probably not something that we can make much money from on an ongoing basis.

Something I'm also toying with is putting the aforementioned new edition of The Man's Daddy book on sale as an e-book, for anyone who doesn't want to sponsor the site on an ongoing basis. I'd love to know if that's something people are interested in. Please comment below if it is. 

LASTLY
There are a few other things I'm considering, which might also help support the site. Among these is still doing some sort of book. I'm not sure I've enough readers to be able to crowdfund it, so it might be something I'd offer as an e-book, or print on demand. Or I might look into chasing a publishing deal. I've a couple of different ideas I'm toying with. 

One of those is a history of British games journalism. The other is taking ten or so games that have meant a lot to me, and using that as the backbone to a sort of personal history of British gaming, as I experienced it. Again, I'd love to know if there's any interest in either of these - and whether they're something you'd be interested in. And therefore worth my time.

Lastly, after the success of the Play Expo talk I did, I've considered putting together some sort of event - a sort of Evening With Mr Biffo/Digitiser type of thing, with a strong focus on games and stupid stuff. I've enough anecdotes and scandalous stories to easily fill an evening, but we could look at make it something more special than me just rambling on. 

Anyhow... Enough. If you fancy supporting us through PayPal or Patreon, you know where the links are. Either way, your feedback on all of the above is invaluable. I'd love to hear your ideas as to how we can keep Digi2000 going into 2016 and beyond. And thanks again for reading, supporting, sharing, spreading the word, buying a t-shirt, and tweeting. Every little helps.

Cheers, ears.
73 Comments
Mary Foo
17/11/2015 02:19:52 pm

Will the evening with Mr Biffo be held in his house? And can we go in to his neighbour's garden and throw a wheelie bin, full of cooked pasta, through the french windows?

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 02:22:54 pm

V.useful. Ta.

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DrDagless
17/11/2015 02:22:14 pm

My feedback: You just keep doing what you want to do. Seriously, you make me laugh on a daily basis and I thank you for that.

I'll admit I haven't been able to donate just yet, but plan on doing very soon. Unless of course you accept donations of Jaffa Cakes, in which case I can send them to you today. TODAY. Think about it.

I also know I'm probably in the minority when I say this, but unobtrusive advertising would not bother me one bit. I whitelist websites/YT channels I believe in, and would gladly see (and click) some adverts if it helped you to move the site forward.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:14:05 pm

Cheers, doc. That's handy to know. Especially about the ads thing...

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combat_honey
18/11/2015 03:56:13 pm

I'll second that on the ads - I'm keen for Digi to make all the money it can so I can certainly live with them if they're unobtrusive.

As for everything else, I think the content balance has been great so far, and I'm enjoying the serious stuff as much as the silly. The only 'criticism' I have is that I miss the sort of videos you were doing a couple of months ago, like the ones about ASMR and Virtual Reality etc., but I understand that they're dependant on you finding something to talk about, and I've reaallly enjoyed the review-type videos you've been doing lately too, so I don't miss the other videos *too* much. Just keep on doing videos, in any form whatsoever. Your voice is soothing and welcoming, like that of a kindly uncle.

Either of the book ideas you mentioned would definitely be something I'd be interested in reading, with a slight preference towards the 'personal history of British gaming' one.

Stoo
17/11/2015 02:45:31 pm

It's been great having digi back. It's refreshingly different from most other gaming sites. In some ways I actually wouldn't want it to get too big and popular, for british gamers aged 30-40ish it's kind of "our" thing without getting crowded by youngsters or redditors or something. But that's just me being selfish, and of course you need this to help pay the bills.

Just a thought, you seem to be using your cast of characters like Chip Shop Man less these days. Are you just feeling less inspired by them? Maybe they could be incorporated into the satirical-listicles.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:18:55 pm

Yeah, I absolutely agree that part of Digi's appeal is it feeling cult-y. It's basically only me, so being unable to cover everything would ensure it never gets too big.

You're right that I've not been using the characters as much. I'm not totally sure why, but yes - perhaps I've not been feeling them as much (matron). I'm sure that'll change. There's always time for Man's Daddy, Mr T, and The Living Bum. I'm sure the others will come back in time. I just go through these cycles of feeling inspired about different things, I guess. I'll see what I can do though...

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John Kiely
17/11/2015 02:51:25 pm

Is there any way you could do a direct Facebook page? There are umpteen Digitiser fan groups (mine included), but they all have different members with only a few in all the different ones. If you created one yourself it would definitely get thousands of people joining. I'd be more than happy to spread the word.

I'd love to see you in the flesh, as would everyone else, so that's a definitely great idea.

If you were on Facebook then you could get your videos to auto play, which always gets more people watching (I'm afraid most people are on their mobile and don't want to open a new window).

Don't change anything about your review style or anything else, it's absolutely perfect and incredibly funny! Just great to see you back 😆

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:20:07 pm

John, we do have a FB page, though admittedly I mostly use it to pushing people onto here. I'm reluctant to spread the audience over FB and Digi2000... but I could look into it.

Seems like there's actually some interest in me appearing in the buff (flesh) somewhere, so that's something I'm going to look into further.

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Matt N
17/11/2015 02:54:37 pm

As a Patreoner-type, I don't mind that the videos aren't coming as thick and fast as a mutated Usain Bolt might. What I care about is the quality of the writing on here, which has always been stellar and really does make me remember the old Teletext days extremely fondly. Long may this shindig continue.

I'm personally prepared to accommodate a dip in the quantity of output as I understand that whatever pays the bills has to take priority - all I'd ask is that you keep going at a level that works for you and that you not feel pressured into trying to write tons to satiate the bloodthirsty punters and risk burning out. Some of us adults can appreciate the situation you're in.

I think DrDagless up there put it best, really. Do what you want to do, because sometimes it's bloody funny, sometimes it's stone cold serious and sometimes it makes me think. Worth every penny to be honest.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:21:18 pm

Cheers, Matt. Duly noted. I like doing the videos, but it seems people mostly want me to keep writing... which I will do until I drop. I'll aim not to burn out, best as I can! Ta for the feedback.

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Monkeymanbob
17/11/2015 03:06:09 pm

Random thoughts.

1) Book on British Games (journalism or industry) is something I'd pay for.
2) Didn't know about the YouTube channel
3) Would you accept (more?) contributions from readers. Some up and coming wanna be journos trying their hand. Just to keep some content coming in.
4) Drive traffic by writing inflammatory articles accompanied by pictures very young women in bikinis. Works for the Mail.
5) Gorrilas and Dinosaurs. Possibly in bikinis. Fighting
6) Write a sequel to Pudsey. Pudsey vs ISIS
7) Just watched the Coroner on BBC 1. Fuuuuck me. Like a more shit Doctors. Send something in on spec, money for old rope. Might not drive traffic but it'll pay the bills.
8) Could you do something with Gamecentral? Raise some awareness? Regular column?

That's all.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:24:02 pm

Bobbus... that's all useful. I could certainly approach GC, though I don't actually know anyone there. Something we've discussed is having a section for people who want to contribute - like a separate part of the site almost. We've had some great contributions, but as people are effectively paying for me, it's sometimes felt weird to give them someone else... but I'm keen to introduce some new voices somewhere in the site. Cheers for all that!

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Hoboerotica
17/11/2015 03:19:50 pm

I think you should get the word out more that Digi has returned and Uncle B is back "in the saddle" I know loads of Digi fans who had no idea about this site and I only found it by accident when I was looking for back issues of "Super Play"

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:28:31 pm

Hobos... it's tricky to know how to do that, really, without making an irritant of myself on message boards. I don't really know where all the old Digi fans are lurking, and I'd kind of hoped our readers would help spread the word. Unfortunately, I'm realising that because our audience is sort of a bit older than most, they seem a little less active on social media than they once were. Open to suggestions, though!

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Steve McBadAdvice
17/11/2015 10:15:27 pm

Start a fight with someone popular on Twitter. That'll get the word out.

Hoboerotica
18/11/2015 01:59:32 am

If we Digi fans are now all so old and decrepid, then maybe a targeted ad campaign on mumsnet or stormfront?

dacanesta
17/11/2015 04:11:32 pm

We are all different. Did you know this? Here is my stuff:
Top 10 things are fine, though is quite a lot. When I read them they make me laugh but i have to say i dont read them all. If theyre quick for you to do then 'as you were', and i know they pull in hits, but just thought there were a tad too many.
Love and trust your reviews. I know you have to buy your own games so cant really be helped how many you do, but they are great and I feel i look at games the same way as you do, so yeah, trust your opinion and love your reviews.
Unless im missing stuff, dont recall much character stuff recently!!!! Characters, man! Dave, Sow, Fisho, T.......the other Dave......more!
Love the serious stuff too. Youre my Mark Kermode of games. Basically, I dont question anything you say and take it all as gospel because i am weak and ticklish.
As i once said......doing less is fine (im trying to wean myself off the bloody internet anyway) but dont you go disappearing on us again. Do you hear me, young man?
I also said before: im sure you could muster up a man diary each day! As good as it is, it must be quick to write! I prefer the short ones anyway. The restraint (word limit) of old worked fine!
And as for a Digi night, id be there in an absolute shot but im away for a while. Just saying so you know that the interest is definitely there, even though I cant go. I want you inside of me. Or yapping in my vicinity.
Ive just secured my star wars tickets so im off to write 'is it fence?!' on my steamy bathroom window......

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:32:30 pm

Dac - hear you on both the characters (see above) and the top 10 lists. I always try to balance the latter out with other, more meaty, stuff, but they really do justify their place in that they bring people to the site. It's a bit cynical, admittedly, but click bait is proven to work unfortunately. I at least try to offer something more than just some pictures, mind, when I do them.

Man Diary is actually more time-consuming than you might think, and I sort of only feel inspired to write it when I can piggyback it off of something topical. I know, I know... I used to do it every day, but I think my creative process has changed a bit as I've gotten older.

The Mark Kermode of games? Oh the irony! Don't you worry, though - I won't be going anywhere...

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PeskyFletch
17/11/2015 04:31:35 pm

The other is taking ten or so games that have meant a lot to me, and using that as the backbone to a sort of personal history of British gaming, as I experienced it

That, to me , would be vastly more enjoyable than a more 'overview of british games journalism. I would definitely buy a physical copy, not so sure about an e-book. I'd be up for an evening with mr biffo but there might be a geographical issue with that(i live in lincolnshire and am a full time foster carer so would need the missus to come up trumps with childcare) I got my wife to make a one off donation, and i ll probably keep that up on an annual basis. Please don't go though, i'd forgotten how much i loved digi and your writing style and would miss it terribly if it went again.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 04:35:48 pm

Cheers, Fletch, on all counts there. And thank you for your donation. I'm thinking seriously about doing some sort of live thing - and a book - and if it went well I'd see about heading elsewhere in the country too.

I won't go. Don't worry. I've loved being back.

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James of the North
17/11/2015 06:06:34 pm

If you wrote a book about your experiences on Teletext as a whole (Digi, Turner, etc) and shoehorned in some anecdotes from working in film and telly (for comparison's sake) then it could attract a slightly broader, portlier audience.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:40:28 pm

Really??? You think I'd shift enough if I wrote about those things, to make it worth the time? Not sure sure, sir!

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James of the North
17/11/2015 09:05:27 pm

You're in a better position to judge than I, of course, but I reckon the whole teletext (with a small t) medium holds a special, untapped place in the nostalgic hearts of those who lived through it, man.

If Amazon search results are anything to go by, you'd be first to market with a fun, credible trip down memory lane and behind the curtain for all those Brits who remember reading frames out of sequence and wanting to punch each and every member of Bamber Boozler's smug yellow family in their smug yellow faces.

Baldon Nook
18/11/2015 12:55:53 pm

If you maybe get in with someone like the TV Cream bunch who milk the ol' nostalge with books and the like. It could be a 2016 Christmas stocking filler.

Barry Barry Barry Barry
17/11/2015 06:12:01 pm

HELLO

Other people are saying stuff. I felt left out.

I would definitely buy a book - I love the idea of that one with what you said about 10 games that what you liked. I think that'd be great. I bought the chatroom freak book too. I thought it was BRILLIANT. Although, I lent it to my other half and she didn't seem to have a clue what was going on.

I would also pay good money to see more phoning honey. I can't tell you how much I laughed the first time I read them. I mean, I could tell you, but a visual demonstration would work better. Even then I'd struggle. I'm not much of an actor, you see. So, basically, I could tell you. But I don't want to. I'd much rather witter on for a paragraph about nothing in particular. Sorry.

Oh, one more thing (hooray! Columbo!), I would concur with the chap above in that I would definitely not be sad to see adverts. As long as they weren't those type that pop up and cover the entire screen like a big angry buffalo made of words and colours.

OK LOVE YOU BUBBYE

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:41:10 pm

Cheers, Barry. All good. I'll try to do some new Phoning Honey soon...

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Dr Kank
17/11/2015 06:35:41 pm

I would buy a book if it was about Amigas. A500s, A600s, or even A1200s.

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Barry Barry Barry Barry
17/11/2015 06:59:00 pm

Some of us still use them. They're better than PCs, you know. Also, definitely not dead.

I still use my CD32 to run... something amusing. OK I'm tired now

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drunkndandy
17/11/2015 06:56:24 pm

some sort of digi-fest would be awsome, maybe in a local village hall with a few amigas set up... and cider.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:41:35 pm

Maybe I'll destroy an Amiga live on stage...!

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Hamptonoid
17/11/2015 07:13:26 pm

People stopping patreoning is pretty direct feedback, have you asked them why they've stopped supporting? People that are willing to read the article above and feedback are probably going to be supporters and be positive (me included).

I'd buy a book, gaming journalism would be my preference.

Keep up the good work!

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:45:11 pm

Yeah, we lost another Patron today, in the wake of this article, which is a bit of a cuss. I did ask if people could let me know why they were stopping supporting us - just so we could get a sense of it - and while a few have taken the time to do so, most just cancelled their monies. I mean, I get that we're a year on and the novelty has worn off. But I would've hoped that as we got more popular, and - I think - better, more people would've joined in. Instead it has gone the other way, which is a shame.

It's a pisser really, because as a direct way of people showing their support, it's kind of the encouragement I need. And it has meant that I've not panicked this autumn, money-wise, as I've done in previous years. But It does take the wind out of my sails the days we lose a couple of patrons, and I start thinking about the site in less-than-helpful ways.

Cheers though, Hampton.

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ChorltonWheelie
17/11/2015 07:21:23 pm

Just don't change.
I don't care if there's less of it. Don't fill it out with shit or earnest imitators.

One of the best surprises of the last year was getting Digi back. Chuffed to bits for us old time farts (fans) and for yourself.

The "Evening with Mr. Biffo" would be a go'er for me (the RPS local Manc do's were fun).

And.... more Amiga coverage obvs.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:45:42 pm

Bless you, Chortlon. Looking into the live event as I type...

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Dr Kank
17/11/2015 07:32:57 pm

I'd like an Art of Digitiser book. Or any of the other book ideas really, but illustrated with the blocky Teletext graphics style.

Perhaps a collection of the Edge columns as an e-book?

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:46:28 pm

Oh gawd. All good ideas, but I've got very little of the original art, and absolutely none of my Edge columns anymore (which might actually be owned by Future, I think)...

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Gonebeface
17/11/2015 07:49:19 pm

Has it really been a year already?! I'm enjoying having Digi back... I'd much rather you didn't update daily if it meant less quality stuff, and I like the swing between serious and fun, makes it more interesting then if it's not the same type of stuff churned out all the time... Also agree re adverts, I don't mind them if they're small. Thanks for all your hard work :)

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:46:52 pm

Cheers, GBF. All useful.

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Hadron Cork
17/11/2015 08:17:05 pm

I demand MORE work! More than is humanly possible or worth the effort! Cartoons on the YouTube channel! The Digitiser album! A Future Tactics: The Uprising musical! Etc.

(Actually I want you to enjoy, make a few quid on the side and not burn yourself out)

(And also all of the above)

X

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:47:29 pm

Thanking you, Hadruss... I'll do my best not to self-immolate...

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Paddy Hill
17/11/2015 08:32:59 pm

Keep on doin' what you're doin'. I've read your musings since the very first digi - i happened to stumble across it on it's first issue, and haven't looked back since. I still read digi's offspring - GameCentral and although I appreciate it's candor and honesty - it's certainly not the same.... atmosphere. So yeah - whatever you have time for, go for it. There will always be people wanting to read/watch/absorb.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:47:53 pm

Cheers for sticking with me since the beginning, Paddy.

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Thrills
17/11/2015 08:42:35 pm

I'd definitely buy or help fund a kickstarter for a book about your favourite games and how they relate to a personal history of British gaming. I love that kinda thing much more than say a gamespot article about how the latest sandbox game only has 9.3 for graphics. I much prefer the more personal kinda games writing, like all that 'new games journalism' stuff the Kieron Gillens were into to a few years back.

Keep meaning to chuck some funds Digitiser's way. It's about the only games website I read these days, as it's not full of folk calling each other salty scrubs and shouting about censorship. Except maybe that gamergate article comments section, that is, but that's to be expected, eh/

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 08:48:57 pm

Cheers for all that, Thrillius. Book has been put on the middle-burner...

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Penyrolewen
17/11/2015 09:15:10 pm

Hmmm.

We all seem to want the site to continue as it is, and like others I'm more up for less content rather than a dilution. I'd prefer less stuff to any adverts too, unlike some others. No idea how much ads would help you in your situation though biffmeister- I'd rather ads than no digi. I'd be up for seeing biff's travelling circus (oim in devaaaarn) and probably up for a physical book - not an ebook though. Like others I have meant to cough up and in fact tried but couldn't get Paypal to work; I will try again.
Keep it up biffla, we love it!

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:19:56 pm

Don't worry, squire - definitely not talking about a dilution. Would rather there was quality over quantity.

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Penyrolewen
17/11/2015 10:28:00 pm

Sorry guv, not specific enough- by a dilution I meant other writers. If part of your team, great (I wasn't a teletext era reader - weren't there more people/2 of you then?) but I'd rather read Biffsta stuff than guest columnists- less is more and all that.

Kelvin Green link
17/11/2015 09:47:39 pm

I would love to see this hypothetical Ten Games That Made Me thing and I would consider turning up to BiffoCon.

In general, carry on. I have loved reading the site over the past year and I think it's got even better in recent weeks.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:20:23 pm

Thanking you, Kelvin. Duly noted about your thumbs-up to those two things...

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MrPSB
17/11/2015 09:54:44 pm

Hello Mr Biffo. I don't have any useful feedback because I like how things are, and if you change things around that'll probably be OK as well. So do whatever, and I'll keep Patre-on and on. I hope that's precisely as helpful as my constant barrage of tiny spelling and grammar corrections.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:20:44 pm

This is why I love you.

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RetroResolution link
17/11/2015 09:59:37 pm

As with everything you write, interesting and illuminating thoughts and insights Mr.B.
I've been a fan since the days of the original Teletext Digitiser, and love your work wherever it crops up (was that your Super Bug piece in Retro Gamer #138?)
Generally online advertising is anathema to me, but only as it is often desperaterly unsubtle, intrusive, and, despite all the insidious tracking, irrelevant. That sasid, I'm all for moderate and modest ads on Digi2000 to help pay the bills.
I must admit that your State of the Union comments have given me pause for thought, given that presently I'm in the throes of toying with a career shift into games / computing journalism (or some such freelance writing).

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:21:59 pm

Ta, RR. It's a tough market out there, with a lot of voices competing for space these days, but rewarding once your foot is in the door. Just make sure you do it because you love it.

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RetroResolution link
17/11/2015 10:26:27 pm

Sage advice Mr. B - thanks. Keep on keeping on!

Super Bad Advice
17/11/2015 10:00:31 pm

One probably quite rubbish idea - have you considered doing some twitch stuff? I've seen a few channels where people play absurd sums to just watch quite often pretty charmless types play games regularly, so someone with writing talent playing a game for actual amusement of the viewers (effectively, a 'live review') could work?

Also, webcam nudity obviously.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:23:08 pm

Interesting. It had briefly flashed through my brain. I might give it a crack with Battlefront...!

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Steve McTopicrelatedname
17/11/2015 10:03:52 pm

I would happily buy the Man's Daddy joke book and a book on British games journalism, and attend Biffocon 2016.

As for steady jobs, do whatever you have to keep being able to eat and have a roof, and the Digi readership will likely read whatever output you have time for.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:24:26 pm

Ta muchly, Stevo. Considering doing the Biffocon 2016 as a 10 Games... thing... with a bit of audience participation.

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Sunteam link
17/11/2015 10:32:54 pm

I'd like to see more of the old style Ceefax graphics instead of the chunky 8-bit style that you use here and there. I know they take some time to do but if the site was skinned a little more like that it would boost its unique personality.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:40:35 pm

Annoyingly, there isn't a teletext editor for Mac (which I use), so to do teletext-esque graphics I have to fake it, which takes more time than you'd think. I totally get your point though, but I am in two minds about doing it. Aside from not being able to do Digi-style graphics easily, the 8-bit thing was also an attempt to evoke retro Teletext, while not looking completely dated. But... if I get some time I might do some more visual stuff on here. Can't guarantee it'll be blocky, though...!

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Keith
17/11/2015 10:40:15 pm

Just to echo what others are saying, really; I support through patreon, but I don't particularly feel "owed" anything as a result - if the site stopped updating completely with radio silence, obviously I'd stop then, but generally I feel that the spirit of it is to just trust that the person you're patreoning is doing their best with what resources the support gives. For me, as long as the site stays active and communication is maintained, that's alright by me - the odd quiet period is fine, don't feel like you have to make up for it with rewards, the reward is in knowing we're helping keep the site an active thing, I guess.

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Mr Biffo
17/11/2015 10:43:18 pm

Thank you, Keith. That means a lot to hear/read.

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Stay
17/11/2015 11:26:40 pm

I like the current mix of listicles, stupid stuff, characters and serious stuff along with reviews because it brightens up my day. Its nice to have a site written by and read by people of a similar (middle) age to me rather than young whipper-snappers who have never played Chaos or witnessed the true horror of a mullet.

But what makes it great is you write depending on how you feel so it can give each day a different feel.

I haven't subbed via PP or Patreon because I couldn't get the payment past the gatekeeper (wife) but I would snap up ebook/book/tat as a way to help support this site (I have bought a t-shirt). But I can imagine how much work and time writing a book would take compared to paying work (day job) so you can continue to pay the mortgage and eat proper branded breakfast cereal and biscuits.

If you need to then I have no problem if you want/need to add adverts.

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Paul Morris
17/11/2015 11:32:01 pm

I'd happily pay oodles of cash and travel however many miles to see you smash an Amiga up Mr B.

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Stay
17/11/2015 11:35:55 pm

Just to see the looks on the Amiga fans faces when mr Biffo smashes up a A1200 while wearing an ST rules T-Shirt.

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Frank Chickens
18/11/2015 01:59:22 am

As a Patreon-er I'm happy with the site and would be fine with less articles if it meant the site kept going. The non-list articles are great (the Pudsey piece was excellent) and would love to attend An Evening With Mr.Biffo.

As for the book one about your time with Teletext (with a section on the technical side of things) would make it a must buy.

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FEoD link
18/11/2015 07:00:44 am

Dear Website purveyor,
I was the one who cancelled my Patron donation with immediate effect after reading this article. While I owe you no explaination for my action, I feel I owe you an explaination for my action, thusly:
Having clicked the link in anticipation of an in-depth overview of Allium cepa L and its related vegetable genus only to find to my anger and embarrassment that I had misread the title.

Yours,
Bemused of W1

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Euphemia
18/11/2015 03:41:35 pm

Despite the lack of male nudity, dead tramps, Bieber-lyrics and pics of fat ladies exercising, still worth $5 a month. I was surprised by how much I liked the recent gameplay videos. Usually those are a big pile of wank, but the genuinely interesting commentary mixed with attrocious multiplayer skills is a hoot.

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Virtual Hermit
18/11/2015 09:33:40 pm

Just keep doing what you do, I have less and less time to read Digi at the moment but I know I will do some binge reading once real life slows down a bit. Sorry I had to lower my Patreon donation amount, it is not related to Digi content and more to do with tightening the purse strings due to house expenses.

I have one suggestion though - Please check the sound levels on your videos, I find your commentary to be too loud or up and down too much, cheers much love kiss kiss.

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Dangleberries
18/11/2015 11:39:23 pm

Having Digi back is awesome. I visit the site daily. If ads helped fund it, then do it. I would very much like to attend a digitiser event to see mr biffin talk. I've put a Digi t shirt on my chrimbo list. That is all. Fzzzzzz

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Mr Biffo
19/11/2015 07:44:15 pm

Thanking you all, you lovely boys.

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DD
20/11/2015 02:09:31 pm

What about guest columns from readers like you did on the original Digi? It would be great to see the likes of Violet Berlin back too!
It would take the load off you quite a bit.

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