I now officially hate the Escapist

[Xtasisanu]

It sounds like someone didn't full think through there complaint. lol

[Keab42]

Pub club is worth it, HD LRR is very good, and you get to watch the videos ad-free without taking money away from LRR. I think that's a good thing all round.

[Tycherin]

Frankly, I've never understood the advertising angle at all. I don't mind watching the ads (though some of them get unbelievably annoying after a while- I'm looking at you, Bing), but I also don't really pay attention to them. I've never felt the sudden urge to go buy a Slim Jim or and Alienware computer or... Prudential financial advice, or... whatever it is they're advertising now. But hey, if they want to pay for my otherwise free internet content by having me watch commercials for products I will never buy, that's their loss.

[Vigafre]

This is how I see ads:

Ad: Hey you! Look at our product!

Viewer: Wha...Oh hey ad.

Ad: HIIII! Am I interesting?

Now this goes two ways:

Viewer: No.

Or:

Viewer: No, but I know you exist.

30 minutes later.

Viewer: I could really go for some [product of ad].

[King Kool]

When I watched all the entries of the Escapist Film Festival, I saw those Slim Jim ads SEVENTY FUCKING TIMES.

At time 40, I was like, "IF I BUY SOME FUCKING SLIM JIMS, CAN I SKIP THE FUCKING ADS?!"

I spent a half-hour of my life watching those ads. At the end of my life, when I stare at the ceiling, my last friend, as it all goes black, the last thing I shall see are THOSE FUCKING COMMERCIALS.

[empath]

Sorry, but this is how I see those ads:





Want me to do it again?

RI & OK; this HAS to be limited to the U.S. - show of hands, who does see these PRE-video ads and who doesn't, and what part of the world are they viewing them in?

- Nope; Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

[LogicSword]

England - I occasionally see them, but not on every video. Maybe only on half.

[theDreamer]

I can't recall seeing one, Ontario, Canada (I feel like I'm in zombieland, and it's being filmed by an american)

[Vigafre]

I'm on Pub Club. I was speaking in general.

[empath]

okay, that's one YES in RI/USA, one 'almost sure never' in NL/CDA, one 'don't think so' in ON/CDA, and one 'occasionally' in UK, which is by far the most interesting...

...begs the question WHY some of the time BUT also not other times? Is there indecision on the ad strategies for the UK market? Are there different setups for different videos? (no-pre's for LRR/et al, but yes for ZP and MovieBob's vids?)

Technically there's no requirement that the Escapist would have to tell us, and indeed there may be reasons they're not allowed to say anything, but my Inner Snoop™ doesn't care about that when it yanks on my hypothalamus and coaxes my motor cortex to investigate further, unfortunately...

[LogicSword]

The adverts for me are always on ZP, about half and half for LRR and less for Unskippable and Daily Drop. They're the only ones I watch though, so I can't comment on anything else.

[Kyogissun]

Just get the pub club subscription, 20 bucks a year is pretty sweet.

[empath]

thank you for not reading a single word I've posted

[Kyogissun]

thank you for not reading a single word I've posted

...I read what you said, I was more just throwing in my 2 cents for the initial post since OP seemed to still be giving input... Or so I thought.

I did it for more than just ads though, I wanted HD LRR vidyas again.

...But again, I did read what you said, I just... didn't take any of it into my post. >_>;;

Sorry if I've offended or something...

Either way, the ads must be something just implemented this year. I've had adblock on for ages and dodged the bullshit that most sites have posted, escapist being a primary one. Prior to that, the only 'ads' I ever remember seeing on escapist is plugs for new shows (like back when ENN started) or pub club plugs (Try saying that three times fast) but not anything beyond that.

[MowDownJoe]

Hey, fun fact: The Escapist can and will delete your posts if you so much as mention "AdBlock". Had it happen to me. Just after getting a badge for going without moderation for... I think it was 100 posts? Whatever. I honestly think it's a silly policy. And it's the reason I can't use Chrome (outside of that nifty Chrome Netbook Google sent me): AdBlock is really quite flimsy on it, as it only blocks banner ads. I think I almost went mad with all the Slim Jim ads I saw trying to watch various videos on The Escapist in the school's Computer Lab on my PortableApps Chrome install.
That said, I bought into the Pub Club thing during Desert bus (because half of the $20 was going to go to Desert Bus), and it's really worth it. HTML5 video (I even have a few choice LLR vids saved to my portable hard drive), no ads, High Def... not bad for $20.

[theDreamer]

Pub Club: I'm sure it passes the movie test, therefore, get it or shh you.

Now, I don't go to movies, so that's largely irrelevant for me :>

[Dave-O_Boy]

I don't get what the big deal is. Ads are very easy to avoid. Hit play, turn of your speakers, click on a different ad, do something for 30 seconds, unmute, and then enjoy the video.

[AmzRigh]

I went for the Pub Club, myself, but now I'm wondering...

Which does The Escapist make more money off of: ads or subscriptions?

[empath]

wellll, it wouldn't take that many subs to rake in more than the ad revenue of many sites (and let's be honest, the E is pretty popular). Usually ad rev. is used to cover (or at least partially cover) the costs of site maintenance; no one (with any sense) looks to PROFIT from banner ads, just go broke more slowly

[Wolfenbarg]

For those of you mentioning the adblock runaround, Kathleen would have words with you: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/ ... ent?page=1 Although reading that thread might make you hate The Escapist more.

As far as I know, blocking the ad doesn't count your view. Most of these models work on a CPM (cost per thousand views), so blocking the ads keeps LRR from getting paid. Slim Jim ads are annoying, but wouldn't you say the LRR crews videos are worth it? If not, then either go pub club, or don't watch.

[Niko]

I used to get really annoyed at the ads, especially if I got the same one repeatedly, but I've since realised that a 15-30 second ad isn't really that big an issue for a 5 minute video. Especially if said ad is paying the creators.

[Metcarfre]

^ THANK YOU.

[Dutch guy]

Escapist seems to be down right now Weird

[buickgnx87]

Okay good, it's not just me then!

[Graham]

I used to get really annoyed at the ads, especially if I got the same one repeatedly, but I've since realised that a 15-30 second ad isn't really that big an issue for a 5 minute video. Especially if said ad is paying the creators.

Thank you.