Pop-Ups, interstitial ads and those infuriating in-vue ads that float across your screen are considered by many a bane on the Internet. Why then, do websites insist on running them and ruining the readers' experience? The answer my friend, is blowing in the empty bank account. Intrusive ads pay anywhere from double to ten times as much as regular banner ads.
As you know, we dropped our largest revenue source, secondary market (gold ads) at the request of both our readers and the developers of the games that we covered. We have no intention of rethinking that choice. It was the right thing to do for the industry and for our readers who do not want their games spoiled by the equivalent of a cheat code of God mode.
We experimented with intrusive advertisements last week across the network. The results were as expected, our revenue jumped dramatically, nearly in proportion with the number of e-mails that we received. I personally received many well written, well thought out letters asking for a way to support TenTonHammer.com that would alleviate the intrusive ads.
Here is my question to you; what content, features or information would be worth paying a small subscriber fee to access? What can we create that is worth $3-$4 dollars per month? What do you currently pay the gold farming sites like Allakhazam for that we could provide? Let's face it, if you are giving your money to them and not a non-gold network then your stance against gold farming is just lip-service. Is it worth $3-$4 per month to not see any ads at all? The silliest part of this whole exercise is that if only 1 out of every 125 people who visited our network subscribed, we wouldn't need advertising at all.
Make your mark. Mark your territory. Post a comment. If you are shy you can E-Mail me.
Every good guild needs a home. A home free of gold ads, secondary market farmers. Look no further than GuildPortal.com.
Exclusive new TenTonHammer.com Content!
Let us entertain you or at the very least waste some of your time at work.
06.019.2006
Dungeons and Dragons Online: Building A Masterpiece - MMOGs And The Hype Machine
"Marketing of a new game often begins severals years out today. Ralsu examines what it means to hype a game so early and how Turbine did a great job with hype for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach."
EverQuest 2: Interview Niami, Denmother of EQ2Traders
"The always knowledgable, and wonderful, Niami Denmother chronicles her experiences as a new crafter in Norrath. Join her as she progresses from the Queens Colony, to Qeynos, Antonica, and much more in this delightful story!"
EverQuest 2: The Mongol Hoarde
"Pretty much everyone has seen the new Adventure Pack, Fallen Dynasty, but since I can't find anything to yammer about at the present time, I'm going to subject you all to a long, drawn-out, review of the new content that all reads just like this one incredible run-on sentence. Just kidding. Read in!"
Everquest 2: Waiting With Bated Breath
"Hype surrounds just about everything nowadays from fast food to the latest sports car. But hype can be everything when it comes to game development, and getting the word out on any game that game-makers may want to sell to you. Getting caught up in it all has its good and bad points, and Savanja explores MMO hype and what it has meant for EverQuest II."
Lord of the Rings: Lord of the Hype - MMOGs And The Hype Machine
"We've all been waiting for Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar (LOTRO) for a long time. A
very long time! Ralsu takes a look at how companies announce games earlier and earlier these days, and how many mainstream fans have grown weary during the three years of waiting for LOTRO."
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Necromancer Class Introduction
"Those who have played necromancers in other MMOs understand the powers of the class to master the forces of the undead. Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet. The Vanguard: Saga of Heroes necro will command abominations and summon multiple minions to do his bidding. He'll also be able to take various undead forms, from skeleton to lich to wraith. Ready to get spooky? Check out our recently updated guide to the Vanguard necromancer!"
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Is There Enough Reality In Virtual Worlds?
"In MMOs, our virtual surroundings affect us to varying degrees, from getting sick with the plague in EverQuest 2, to weather that will affect combat in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Our columnist, Mercurie, ponders reality...in games that is. What does it take to make a game immersive; and how real is too real?"
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Early Adopter or Luddite, Do You Get Sucked Into The Hype?
"MMOs, and video games in general, are all about hype, especially when they're in development, like Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is. Medeor tries to prove the usefulness of his expensive business classes by showing us the Gartner Hype Cycle, and discussing its effect on new technology. Where's Vanguard on the hype scale? Is hype having a negative effect on the game?"
Warhammer Online: Hip To The Hype
"Ratboy talks about the hype around Warhammer Online and if it's living up to expectations."
Vin Diesel Fact of the Day - Vin Diesel sleeps with a night light, but only because the dark is afraid of him.
Now on to the real world. You can't make this stuff up.
RoboGames 2006 [Thanks Matt]
All hail our Olympian robotic overlords.
Robin Hood's House Found [Thanks Matt]
It was right where he mythically left it.
University Offers Degree In Hacking [Thanks Matt]
You too could be the proud owner of a master's degree in spam.
Cat Meat Restaurant Closed [Thanks Matt]
Filet of Tabby, Battered Persian and chips all just a Chinese memory now.
Deer Follow Woman Into Home, Attacks Her [Thanks Matt]
Bambi held for questioning. Mother's murder considered motive.
As always, thanks for visiting TenTonHammer.com,
-- John "Boomjack" Hoskin