Video Games without all the boring bits

MR BIFFO'S WEEKEND ROUND-UP: Hussssssssss!

9/10/2015

We're away at the excellent PlayExpo in Manchester this weekend, where I shall be doing a thing on stage, for pity's sake.

We're going to do our best to post vlogs from the event (or a comprehensive round-up on Sunday evening if we don't have time), so please subscribe to our YouTube Channel to ensure you don't miss out. Hopefully I'll see some of you there. I've no idea what I'm going to talk about, so that should be fun...

Normally around this point in a round-up I'd start begging for money.

While we'll gladly still take your donations, and we're still hugely grateful to everyone who IS supporting the site either through sponsorship or from buying t-shirts, what we actually need is your help in another way.

FRANKLY WHAT?
Frankly, Digi's stats were way down this week. It does tend to be somewhat up and down, but following a spectacular couple of months where it looked like we'd turned a corner, it has been a bit of a shock. Therefore, the thing we need most from you right now is - without being annoying or spammy - your spreading of the word, your sharing, your telling people about the site.

We're not one of those big gaming sites, we don't have the budget to advertise, and we don't want to be shameless self-promoters, because that makes people hate us even more. But Digi2000 is as much about its fine readers as it is about the site - it exists because of you. Yet it can only continue existing, as it has been of late, if people read it, and it continues to grow. So, if you are able to share our stuff on Twitter, FB, or other places you frequent... that'd be majorly ace. Thank you.

In slightly more cheerful Digi news... the t-shirts sold really well, and we managed to make a small profit (which will be ploughed back into paying for the next batch of merch). We're almost out - there are just a few left. But! Next week we'll hopefully be putting two BRAND NEW designs on sale, along with a new sticker design...

Anyhow - here's everything that has been on here in the last week. We think it's some damn good stuff. We hope you do too.

21 Comments

dan de la peche

9/10/2015 12:42:34 pm

It's kind of hard to advertise Digi to my friends though - the humour's odd and maybe a touch insular, the list articles (although I know they're done ironically) are the sort of thing that is all over the internet, and I don't know many people who like video games. And those that do already know about Digi. I like what you've done (and continue to do) but it is the very definition of niche.

I can't explain to people why Mr. T suggesting that you stay away from his bins is funny, even though I think it is.

Mention Gamergate every day, that'll drive your page views through the fucking roof.

hamptonoid

9/10/2015 12:50:48 pm

Totally agree with dan, especially on the lists.

Mr Biffo

9/10/2015 01:03:39 pm

Oh god... you sound like my old bosses at Teletext, when they told me to take all the humour out of Digi because it excluded people.

But I totally appreciate what you've said, and get where you're coming from.

I'm comfortable in our niche and cult appeal, and if it was all about the stats I'd be doing something a bit more mainstream. I stopped doing games news coverage because I know we can't realistically compete with the bigger sites, and because I think it's important that I write in a way that's true to me, and I don't compromise that. That's the day job.

Of late, we've had very respectable stats - just this last week seemed a bit of a shock coming off the back of that, and neither the couple of "proper" games-related things seemed very popular, and then the other stuff was apparently considered too weird to be shared or clicked on.

So I dunno. I don't want to ever start second-guessing the audience, or just chasing views for the sake of it. Or, really, listening to too many opinions, as everyone is going to like different things and I might inadvertently try being all things to all people, which would water down what I think makes Digi unique.

There just seemed a noticeable drop-off in engagement this week, which seemed a shame after a few months of seeing the readership soar - and which was the encouragement needed to really focus my time on the site. Personally, I've loved this week's content - it might be the most true to me that Digi has ever been! But that's me: I'm stubborn, and I know I've got a niche sense of humour. Self-sabotaging to the bitter end!

9/10/2015 01:18:26 pm

It's an odd one - I really enjoy the humour, that is what makes the site, that's why we all read it. But it's a hard sell! I could show it to my partner, for example, and she can't understand why I'm chuckling away like a schoolboy. Maybe everyone was just busy this week or something.

I'm almost in tears that you've likened me to your old Teletext bosses. This is the biggest cuss I've ever had laid on me. I forgive you though.

9/10/2015 01:09:11 pm

Yeah, I get you about the lists... but... they're sort of the stuff that the rest of the site piggybacks on - and a means to an end. For whatever reason, they're hugely popular. It's shameless clickbait, but it made a massive difference to the audience. I've this week tried to find ways to do something a bit different with them, and... splat. Nada. Nothing.

9/10/2015 01:36:12 pm

That's possibly the worst insult that I've ever received! But I guess that my point wasn't made clearly. I generally love the content, but find the lists hit and miss. But I understand why you do them, so don't really have an issue, but prefer "proper" articles. The article on holograms was great, finstance.

The humour is fundamental to why I love digi, so please don't remove it! Yes it's odd and very niche, but that's the appeal. The more that you try and cater to the masses, the more you risk losing this appeal, no?

I tried explaining my Mr t sticker to the wife yesterday, resulting in general confusion and concern. This is why I share digi stuff selectively and sporadically.

9/10/2015 01:47:03 pm

Oh, completely. Don't worry - I can't write Digi any other way - it nearly killed me that year when I had to take the humour out, back in the day. The whole point of Digi2000 is doing something that's true to me.

It's odd though... I think with the lists I've been fishing around with them to find a way to make Digi work in a 2015 Internet format... This has basically been one year-long experiment, and only hit overdrive since August, and I finished my other work.

It was odd, though, as this last week or so it felt like I finally understood - for my own purposes - how to make the listicles (which are shared far more than anything else on here) work with the existing Digitiser style, so I don't feel too shameless about running them!. Alas, that utterly backfired in terms of readership, it seems! And then when I did a more serious gaming feature I had a few people say it was too heavy and deep for them. So... I dunno! Maybe it was just a bad week, and there's no deeper meaning to it all.

9/10/2015 01:26:40 pm

Dan - worry ye not. I don't think you're literally like that. I can't defend Digi's style. It's my style, my taste - it's what appeals to me, and I know it isn't for everyone, and never was! The weirder and more obscure it gets, the funnier I find stuff. What I like about it - and I can't speak for the rest of you - is that it feels like you shouldn't be laughing at it, because it's so stupid. The fact not everyone likes it is part of its appeal for me. But that's automatically going to exclude some people, obviously.

Anyhoo... it wasn't some edict from on high to order our readers to tell every single person they know. Just if, y'know, they do know someone who might like it... to give it a share occasionally. We're still doing alright. Donors are keeping us going, the tshirt sales were solid, and our hits are still better than there were six months ago. So... y'know. All good.

Nacy Olls

9/10/2015 02:30:55 pm

Lets not forget, when you took the humour out, the views went down. I think people forget just how much silliness was in the orginal Digi. Trying to make Biffo do less of that is like the scene in Frank, where Brendon Gleeson's son tries to make Frank play generic indie rock and it all goes tits up. Don't make Biffo retreat into a agrophobic world of misery and dressing up as the woman from "Keeping up appearances".

9/10/2015 02:40:16 pm

Yesssss. Yesssss... I wish I was omniscient.

RichT

9/10/2015 05:24:38 pm

I LOVE Digi2000. Abso-ruddy-bloody-might-swear ADORE it! I had given up reading video game jurnalism - it was all PR releases; little real content; videos instead of the craft of writing; and certainly no individual voice - and I missed Digi more than anything else. And by the luck of a RT a few months back I saw that this site was running and.. It takes me back to happier times, sitting in bed before college, pressing 'Reveal'... Mum thinking I'm wanking when I'm actually reading Biffo... YEAH, MUM... MR BIFFO..!

She probably thought that was a euphemism, looking back.

But this is not a nostalgia thing for me. Not really. Not unless you call hankering to read individual voices in the games press again "nostalgia". I think you're doing absolutely the right and splendid thing on here and I SALUTE YOU FOR IT SIR and cry real tears of joy. I can only speak for my own reading habits, but due to the Internet format I tend to put off reading Digi until an end of the week treat - then it's the listiciles and older content I tend to binge. But I jump to the site the moment I see a "deep" piece.

What I (personally) would really enjoy reading more of your thoughtful, critical pieces: they are REALLY good. I know it probably takes time to get into the mindspace to write these. But, alongside the irreverent Digi humour, they represent a unique authorship and voice that is serviced in little-to-no other places i can think of.

Your video pieces are also fantastic, by the way. So if you can combine cultured criticism with a man puking a string of sausages then I'm even more bought in than I am already.

ChorltonWheelie

10/10/2015 10:20:44 am

Stay unique.
Don't let the bad vibes here change your direction.
I command it.

Hamptonoid

10/10/2015 07:12:55 pm

Oh no...no intentional bad vibes from me...can we all just have a cuddle and have things carry on the the way they are...
I may have messed up.

10/10/2015 09:14:49 pm

No bad vibes detected by me! I appreciate the feedback - I actually don't get that much one way or another - so worry not, Hampton. Chorton and Rich - thanks for the lovely words. Means a lot. I sincerely appreciate it... more than I can say on a train with virtually no phone signal or wifi. Moc-on, chaps. Glad you're enjoying the site. I'd rather a few people loved it than a ton of people just sort of liked it.

Old Red

10/10/2015 11:43:34 pm

Whilst the main draw for me is your writing style, it does make me sad that you are reigning in the video gaming commentary. It's not really the element of competition you need to think about, it's the different spin you can offer that could work in your favour.

Being able to get the news and reviews mixed in with general silliness makes it all so much better to read. If there's nothing to write about in the games industry, then don't. That's a position you're in with the Digi project. I know in an ideal world you'd make a shed load of cash to go with it, but as with anything of value or that's any good, Digitiser is going to struggle to bring in the masses straight away.

Hang in there Mr Biffo, if you write it people will come... then you can ruin it with loads of adverts and pictures of cats in things.

12/10/2015 09:06:11 am

Worry not. The reviews won't stop - in fact... we'll have a few this week. And gaming commentary won't stop either - the longer, more serious features, are a part of the site, in my eyes. Ultimately, though, I think I need to go where the muse takes me - otherwise, Digi2000 risks becoming a job, rather than a joy. That's why I'm slightly loathe to lock myself into doing - say game news on Friday. I know there are things you "must" do to properly generate hits and build loyalty, but I'd rather this was a site that was true to me, than something that cynically chases stats. Obviously, though, that makes it more of an uphill battle...!

Terrence McPringles

11/10/2015 02:35:51 am

I love the weird humour, and some of the listicles recently have been hilarious (the payoff on the dog one was worth the scrolling), but I would admit that one of the things I always loved about teletext Digi was the way the regular games news was there, but turned into a springboard for madness. Having the serious stuff made the surreal funnier, at least to me.

That said, I don't think anybody could reasonably expects Mr Biffo alone to keep up with the pace of games news today, with its constant round-the-clock feed of press-releases, teaser trailers, and increasingly bizarre and expensive preorder bonus reveals. And even sites larger than Digi that do have the resources to do all that regurgitation are realising they can't really just do that model anymore when people could get the same by refreshing the games news page on Reddit, and turning to commentary instead.

So I can see why the regular games news pieces have dropped from the agenda a bit. Maybe there's some midpoint, like having a brief single end-week roundup of a few of the more interesting pieces of news to catch Senor Biffo's eye in a given week, along with some character's commentary?

12/10/2015 09:07:32 am

I don't think there's going to be any lack of gaming stuff over the next few months, as we head towards Christmas. In fact - I'm worried how I'll find the time to cover everything in depth...! So we'll see - I'll do what I can to keep both the funny and gaming bones tickled...

Euphemia

11/10/2015 03:42:05 pm

More salt, less garlic. And titties. And beefcake. Lots of beefcake titties. There's your Internet cheat codes right there.

stay

12/10/2015 08:24:30 pm

As you said in a previous article this site is where you come to play and write the stuff the way you want: As Icecube said "Stay true to the game".

okeyblokey

14/10/2015 07:50:14 am

Never change, Mr. B.

As I parade through the drudgery of middle age (mine, not Henry VIII's) I continue to look over my shoulder to happy, care-free times. You, my friend, are a large part of those times, and the highlight of the day was reading the pages every day. Sometimes more than once because they were so enjoyable.

I read your pages now in a part-time lurky-fashion and don't contribute because I don't have time, as I'm always on bloody Facebook or working. My FB visitations are largely into two co-habiting Digi & Gamecentral fan pages, where your irreverence (with added cobblers) still exists. Links to this kingdom are shared occasionally by the indigenous loons, but would you like to join us and then spread the word first person-stylee? There are over a thousand of us in there.

MR BIFFO'S WEEKEND ROUND-UP: Hussssssssss!

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