Christmas is Calling! (Blog) (Patreon)

 Hey everyone, hope things are going well. Got some things I want to cover, why you're not getting more videos in December. Updates to Patreon credits and more so have a read!

IF YOU MISSED THE DECEMBER PODCAST, CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT! 

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The Final Episode of 2018) The Christmas Special is underway in post-production! Already at 12 minutes in length and I'm maybe 30% done? It's gonna be a longer episode but trust me, it is absolutely PACKED! Very happy with how it's coming along so far.

Extra December Content) Originally, I had planned a lot more content for this month (and last month) but time got in the way as usual. Really wanted to get a collection video up, wrote the script but wasn't all that happy so I just dropped the idea entirely. I wanted to do a Framemeister follow up review but decided to wait until I got my modded NES. Unfortunately, the Framemeister is being a bitch right now so that'll have to wait. And finally, I had also wanted to do a Game Testing Christmas Special, doing a "Twelve Games of Christmas" shtick. I figured it was most important to just leave all of this stuff to focus on what's most important, the Christmas episode! So for now, until the new year, you're pretty much looking at that, an outtakes video after Christmas and the occasional live streams until 2019. Sorry about that! As I've mentioned before though, NO LONG GAP between content over the holidays! 

Updates to Branding and PATREON CREDITS) So one thing I want to get under control next year is some updated branding across the board! Fresh coat of paint for the intro (it hasn't changed since 2015) is a big one. I would one day love to have a fully animated intro but I'm holding off until I find the right artists for the job. So for next year, I'll probably just be re-shooting my stuff and updating the background footage. Most likely, it'll be the same clips there, just through the Framemeister. Not sure yet.

The next thing I feel needs an update is the channel banner...

I love this artwork, it was done for me really as a piece of fan art to use as the channel banner which I really appreciated. I'm not good with branding and I just love all the references... but they're all old references. This was given to me sometime in the first half of 2016 and something you might have noticed... it's all PlayStation. That will always be my brand but I've put so much work into trying to be MORE than just a PlayStation guy and the content has evolved so much since this, that I think we need something new. Something that explains to newcomers what the channel is all about with some fresh appeal. Same goes for the channel icon, another piece of fan art I love. 

Not sure this needs to be changed as much but it'd all depend on the style of the new banner artwork I suppose. Finally, the end card could use some work. Can't express my gratitude for the fact that the Patreon Credits... have actually OUTGROWN the end card! That'd fucking mental and all you guys are mental, I love you! :D I'm thinking maybe something a bit more still just so they're easier to read, with a smaller font to fit more people in. I'm not quite ready to extend the end card beyond 20 seconds yet as that lends itself to people clicking off before suggested videos etc. appear to click on.

Fun fact: the Patreon credits have always been displayed in order of "longest time pledged" just as a subtle way to showcase those who have supported the channel on this level for so long. A lot of channels "rank" for lack of a better word, their credits by the amount pledged which isn't cool in my opinion. It undervalues those on a lighter tier so, continuing with an updated layout and format, Patrons will be displayed in order of "longest time pledged" with the veterans appearing first and newcomers towards the end.

MY QUESTION to all of you though: Do people want FULL NAMES displayed in the Patreon Credits? Yes or No?

There is a poll at the bottom of this post I'd love you to fill out for me. I've always displayed names as so: Crash B. I've always done it like that to avoid anyone maybe searching up real peoples names for, whatever reason. Plus I know some people don't like it. But I'm not sure if that's the right way anymore and it'd make it a little easier to keep track of who should and shouldn't be displayed there. So please, drop a vote in the poll and let me know!

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Closing Thoughts) So yeah, that's what is on my mind right now: Updating branding across the board with new artwork, end card layouts, I need to rewrite and clean up this Patreon page and finally promote that. I really want 2019 to be a strong year for the channel and for once, I'm heading into a new year with a positive attitude towards content creation and passion for what I do here! The outdated branding stuff isn't a major thing but I do know that it's painting the channel with a brush that just doesn't represent what we're about anymore. So again, PLEASE VOTE ON THE POLL, enjoy the rest of your week and have a great fucking day. Cheers guys! :)

Enjoy this cheeky preview of the Christmas Episode, keen for you all to see it!