PokéSins Plans
Added 2018-01-01 21:43:58 +0000 UTCHelllllo Rivans and welcome to 2018! I hope you all had a good New Year and Christmas and are ready to look to the future. I'm confident we can hit the $600 milestone this year and, hopefully, the one or two after that as well.
If you've been following my G-Logs on PokéSins for the last few months, you'll know where we are; ShoPro isn't responding and the series has ground to a halt. I've been thinking very long and hard about how to move forward with the series and I'll be presenting you all with the 3 options I've found.
Note that each of these options has several variants available and are summaries of much deeper workings. Note also that this isn't a vote on which I do... I just want the thoughts from the people who support me the most. With those thoughts on board I can determine the best path and give it a go. Also be aware that whichever I pick will be on a trial basis to see how it works out. If it doesn't appear to be panning out, I'll try another.
So time to reveal the options. I'll be presenting each with Pros and Cons lists so you can fully understand how they impact me and how they impact you.
OPTION 1 - ShoPro Resolution
This is essentially what I've been doing for the last few months. I will try any tactic I can to get through to ShoPro and resolve the issue as quickly as possible so that PokéSins can return to YouTube as we all want it to. In the meantime, $10+ Johto episodes will continue, but the main series will be suspended. I have new methods to try and I will be pursuing these in the background should I take another option as the primary tactic.
Pros:
- If successful, it is the absolute BEST outcome possible.
- YouTube is still the best platform for viewing/uploading.
- More time to devote to gaming videos (even if some disagree with that being a pro, it certainly is for me).
Cons:
- There is no guarantee that it'll work.
- If it DOES work, it could be a long time.
- As things are, I cannot survive this level of income for much longer.
OPTION 2 - Post PokéSins To New Monetised Platform
This entails finding a new video platform (i.e. a website where I can upload videos) that also supports reliable monetisation. This will essentially replace YouTube as the primary home of PokéSins until Option 1 works.
Pros:
- Upon finding a platform, the series can continue quickly.
- Monetisation means I can earn from the ad revenue.
Cons:
- Finding a platform could be difficult.
- It directs viewers away from my passion (my YouTube channel).
- The monetisation could be unreliable.
OPTION 3 - Post PokéSins To New Unmonetised Platform
Similar to Option 2, but notably different. This entails finding a new video platform (or potentially self-hosting episodes) and making that the new home of PokéSins. As I would have no incoming ad revenue, I'd need to earn another way; the most likely way is by changing a low-end reward to 'Main Series PokéSins Episodes'. I'd make 1/2 or 1/3 of episodes unavailable to the public and, instead, like the $10+ Johto episodes. Currently replacing $5 seems the best option. The other 1/2 or 2/3rds of the episodes would still be free to the public so the audience can still grow.
Pros:
- Upon finding a platform, the series can continue quickly.
- If self-hosted, I'd have complete control.
- The series would be more or less immune to copyright issues.
Cons:
- I have no idea how many or how few will sign on for the other episodes.
- Too few people signing up would make it unsustainable.
- Finding a platform could be difficult, but less so than Option 2.
- I have no idea if/how I can self-host.
- Depending on where I host, it could direct viewers away from my YouTube.
And that's the gist of it. I have some other tweaks I'd like to make to my Patreon, but I'll wait until we've settled this and are on our new course before bringing them up.
I'd really like to hear what you all think of these ideas as patrons and as viewers. I have visions of someone saying 'if you pick this one, I'll stop pledging' and that kind of thing wouldn't be helpful at all, so kindly keep that to yourself. If I lose some patrons with my choice, I will have to live with that, but I need to do something and these are the only options I can see. I'm open to hearing OTHER ideas, but I apologise if I seem to dismiss things out of hand; I've thought about this a lot and I have a lot of experience doing what I do.
What do you think?
Comments
Yeah, I'm planning to upload link videos like the Episodes 1 and 42 ones so the playlist stays complete and to try and keep my YouTube channel as the hub. That link looks promising, so I'll definitely be reading that soon. Thank you very much for it.
Geran 'Gar1onriva'
2018-01-03 20:39:33 +0000 UTCThen I guess Option 2 would be best. Finding it will be a big task. But if you find the most sufficing platform, I reckon you also put the link to that episode on YouTube. And there will be a couple of thousands who'd do that. So you kind of have two videos (YouTube + alt platform) that generate a small slice of income, I think. May this link help? <a href="https://www.brid.tv/7-best-alternatives-youtube-video-monetization/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.brid.tv/7-best-alternatives-youtube-video-monetization/</a>
Absolitetion
2018-01-03 18:32:00 +0000 UTCI don't know if it was how I wrote it, but I don't see Option 3 as instantly rejected. It balances out to the same general issues as 2... Finding a platform (easier for 3 as it doesn't need to be monetisable) and drawing the audience away (which is actually lesser than 2's as self-hosting I may be able to host on my own website with my other videos). The big rubbing point is how many people would come over to pledge. Potentially, very few could. On the other hand, each person who does is worth more than their equivalent in ad rev. As I see it, it is a very balanced choice.
Geran 'Gar1onriva'
2018-01-02 19:49:50 +0000 UTCI'm not sure that Option 2 is necessarily 'quicker and better'. I have no idea how easily it'll be to find a monetised platform; Vidme was a solid alternative, but it recently died because it couldn't compete with YouTube. And as you rightly point out, a monetised platform could be at the mercy of broken copyright enforcement.
Geran 'Gar1onriva'
2018-01-02 19:46:15 +0000 UTCIf you can fins a monetizing platform, then option 2 would be the most logical, while still trying to do option one. Unfortunately, the only way I believe you'll be able to get ShoPro's attention is by filing a lawsuit, but that could cause you a lot more issues. I also don't know what you and your support network talk about, so that's all I'll say on that. Don't bother with option 3, there are too many cons and unnecessary risks.
Gavin Walker
2018-01-02 04:44:54 +0000 UTCI believe that for the time being, going with Option 2 would be the best solution. Continuing as-is with trying to come to a positive conclusion with ShoPro seems like it would take the longest before things could get going again. Plus, this is assuming that it would even end in positively, which at the moment doesn't seem they'll budge from what all you've said. With the second option, the series could at least progress and in an okay timeframe. It would also be quicker and better for all parties than Option 3, which wouldn't be monetized. The only problem I could see with this though is whether or not ShoPro would be able to intervene with another monetized video site like they have with YouTube. But even still, it is still my opinion that Option 2 would be the best option going forward.
Haosian
2018-01-01 23:32:45 +0000 UTCHmm maybe option 2 so you can make something from the pokesins eps you post until you get something from ShoPro on the other 1 could be good but if they haven't responded by now they may never responded
Corey Peters
2018-01-01 23:12:10 +0000 UTCThe problem is a 'more aggressive' approach isn't very easy. Aside from directly suing them (which comes with its own set of issues), there isn't much aggressive action one can do. As for the upload an episode thing, it's like what I said to Seafoam; a strike is really really dire. If I get one for frivolously uploading or, worse, they proceed to block or even strike my other stuff too... Then the channel's gone. Like gone gone.
Geran 'Gar1onriva'
2018-01-01 22:28:44 +0000 UTCIn all fairness, I begrudge you to go on to do PokéSins without making money of it, nor that you will lose a lot of that audience because it is on a different platform. It's a fantastic show, and like you said, has been one of the biggest sources of income. So in a way all three option are not to my liking, but I mostly lean towards Option 1, but on a more aggressive approach. I'd love to see the series continue as soon as possible, on YouTube. Maybe it is an idea to only upload episode 61 (at least private) and see how ShoPro responds to the upload and the inevitable appeal. It may trigger them into getting to talk as well, because otherwise I feel they'll just keep ignoring you. It's a gamble, but I am positive it can pay off well.
Absolitetion
2018-01-01 22:16:48 +0000 UTCThe strike was retracted after we counter-claimed. It's more if they are just gonna strike/block randomly, uploading more could get stuff blocked or, worse, my channel struck.
Geran 'Gar1onriva'
2018-01-01 22:09:52 +0000 UTCAnd that's really irritating. I think the strike expired but still they shouldn't really do that. Still, I know Pokemon Bridged had similar issues only for them to completely resolve it, so see what they think? They might be able to give you advice
Seafoam Gaming
2018-01-01 22:07:14 +0000 UTCI stopped uploading to the channel because I got a copyright strike with a threat of a second. 3 strikes in a 3 month period deletes your channel.
Geran 'Gar1onriva'
2018-01-01 22:06:32 +0000 UTCI'm just hoping for Option 1, honestly. It's kinda dumb that these things have been going on for nearly a year now, and I think your network should try to poke them again, and if not, just upload a new episode to YT anyway after a while to get them to remember you
Seafoam Gaming
2018-01-01 22:05:38 +0000 UTC
