Racketboy and the Future

[BogusMeatFactory]

These are all phenomenal ideas everyone! Keep itbup! If this is what the future of the site looks like, I for one will be excited that I am already a part of this awesome community.

When I finish up the article I am currently writing and get to editing another users article, I will start working on the Sierra game guides.

[Exhuminator]

your Ardent blog is/was one of my absolute favorite gaming oriented blogs within recent memory

I appreciate the compliment. I quit writing it because I wasn't aware anyone was actually reading it. (Now I wonder if anyone actually played my game. )

But yeah, the lists of old games for old systems routine is a bit done. In my humble opinion anyway.

[skate323k137]

I really like the idea that Fragems brings up for a cart PCB scan database kind of like MVS Scans, but for other systems like genesis / snes / gba etc. We are only going to see more and more bootlegging in those areas if recent trends are any indication. It would be sad but one of these years we'll be to the point with those consoles where you are with MVS, which basically means you'll want pics of a PCB before you buy any games from someone you don't know.

[Michi]

I really like the idea that Fragems brings up for a cart PCB scan database...

So do I. I'm not knowledgeable enough to write an article about anything in particular, but I can take things apart and scan/photo them, no problem.

[Jagosaurus]

How about articles on the active homebrew and indie scenes?

The Jaguar and Dreamcast stand out here. Both are seeing numerous physical releases from indie devs, as well as ROMs of new games (and ports) released for download.

If releases to the community, they can be played via CDR on Jag CD or DC, or via EPROM Skunk Cart (Jag) or SD reader (DC)... or of course in an emulator.

If this enters the grey area of ROMs, Hasbro released the Jaguar rights to the public domain for game development in 1998. One reason it saw quality late life releases into 2000 (Battlespere) & still sees them today (Another World in 2015).

DC has a bigger following & with games like Dux, Sturmwind (which started development on the Jaguar CD), & Pier Solar... absolutely would make an interesting read IMO.

Both fascinating scenes.

[Ziggy]

I've long had a few articles in the works...

I wanted to write a guide to multi meters and a guide for power adapters. Then I wanted to do a write up that ties in the two guides, aimed at the non tech savvy retro gamer. I know there's plenty of people that aren't tech savvy, and there's some people that wont even bother reading something that's too tech oriented. But there's plenty of repairs and maintenance that can be done on retro consoles, carts, and accessories that are VERY easy and simple to do. I want the multi meter guide to be titled something like "Multi Meters: Why every retro gamer should have one." So, that should really tell you what direction I wanted to go with this.

One problem I have is that I'm not a strong writer... at all.

[MrPopo]

Ziggy, write something up. I remember when you did the write up for the various flash cart options and I thought it was fine. If you'd like, I'd be happy to do an editing pass once you finish writing up one of the guides you're thinking of.

[Flake]

I briefly was a contributor for sega-addicts.com and based on my experience there, one of the issues that we are facing is that Racketboy has made itself into something of an island. We have no outreach to the rest of the gaming community, no presence on social media, and no way to incentivize constant content creation without "good will" being a sufficient enough driving force. We only really appeal to ourselves.

I think we do need new content and different kinds of content but I also think we need to change our model.

[BogusMeatFactory]

I briefly was a contributor for sega-addicts.com and based on my experience there, one of the issues that we are facing is that Racketboy has made itself into something of an island. We have no outreach to the rest of the gaming community, no presence on social media, and no way to incentivize constant content creation without "good will" being a sufficient enough driving force. We only really appeal to ourselves.

I think we do need new content and different kinds of content but I also think we need to change our model.

I agree wholeheartedly. That is why I try to stream together retro and the SHMUP competition. Sadly, taking care of an infant while my wife works nights, makes it difficult to stream regularly, but I am trying and making sure to talk about Racketboy as a site and what it stands for. I would love to see more video content and revitalize the podcast, even if it is just people talking about video games for fun, there needs to be something to fill that gap.

[marurun]

Maybe we need to figure out who here is social media, or media-in-general friendly, and create a media/outreach team. They could help coordinate our efforts and act as a public face for our efforts, reaching out to other communities via social media.