While I was certainly a dedicated blogger over at 1up, I feel a new weight on my shoulders here at Pixlbit. I ask myself: “What can I do to improve things as the staff of Pixlbit steps it up to do the same?” I’ve already made a point to comment on more of the staff generated content than I did at 1up, and I try to comment on as many blogs as I can, to urge writers to keep writing. And I’ve realized, in a post-1up world, blogging isn’t just a privilege -- it’s a responsibility.
It’s become clear to me that it wasn’t the site of 1up that I was so fond of, but the community of people who generated their own content and became friends through it. I didn’t show up multiple times a day to check for Bob Mackey’s newest review, but to see if Cary had put up a new blog, or if Elkovsky had put up a new retro NES review in his quest to play and beat every NES game.
The thing about Pixlbit that’s both its benefit and its weakness, is it’s not owned by a huge corporation, but rather by a group of passionate individuals. This allows it both tremendous freedoms, but also makes it very fragile. The staff here isn’t doing what they do because it’s their daily grind, but because they are insanely passionate about games, and making a mark in the gaming community.
The wonderful thing about the internet, is it allows for media that is no longer centralized and top-down, like a farmer force-feeding a pig. Instead, the pigs are running wild, foraging for food, and sharing what they find with their friends.
That’s kind of a poor, stupid analogy, but my point is simply this: autonomy and democracy.
I WANT to be part of a community of like-minded individuals writing about games and the culture surrounding them. And I’ve realized now, that if that’s what I want, I have to help contribute to make it possible. This involves not just writing blogs, but also reading them, and continuing the conversation in comments.
I think it’s awesome that Pixlbit has been so welcoming to us “refugees”. But I imagine that if this continues, there’s going to be growing pains as new features are implemented and conflicts arise, etc. Already, it’s difficult to keep track of the amount of blogs being published and all the comments being put out there. In time, I believe the gents at Pixlbit will correct this.
We all know what features we would like to have added to the site. But the question is, what can we, as bloggers, do to make things better ourselves. Already, I’ve noticed a stronger bond between everybody in the wake of 1up’s demise and the mass exodus, and old rivalries being buried for the dawn of a new day. I’ve also seen people help each other out when problems arise with the current toolset of formatting images and editing comments, and other little nuances that we’re all learning with the new site.
I’m looking forward to continuing my “Modern Classical Wednesday” blogs, but I’m also brainstorming other “columns” that I can provide to entertain everybody and provide fresh, interesting content on the site, besides my daily rambling about what projects I am working on and my latest obsessions.
For a bit I was considering applying for a staff position here as a way to contribute to the future of Pixlbit, like I have for other sites like Taylor’s Stein’s Gaming Precision. But I realized I don’t want that. I just want to be a member of the community, and providing my own little autonomous corner for people to discover and enjoy.
I’m planning to do daily news blogs like I used to at Gaming Precision, and a renewed dedication to doing user previews and reviews, and just trying to provide whatever I can in general to help make this a better place.
Because that’s what’s so crazy about the internet: it allows for personal creativity and interaction that top-down media like television and movies and music, and even games, do not.
Anyway, that what I’ve been thinking about.
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