MMOFringe Anniversary Review

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Written by kefkah

Welcome to the very first edition of the MMOFringe Anniversary Review. My name is kefkah and this month is significant as it marks our 2 year site anniversary of MMOFringe. It was two years ago in August of 2008 that the MMOFringe launched using that little engine that could - phpnuke. What makes me even happier than this mark is the fact that many of the people who were there at launch are in fact still here posting away. We've had some bumps and bruises but in the end, the fellowship and camaraderie endures. Good stuff.

In this particular article, we will be covering a few topics. First up, take a look at our newest feature - The Round table Discussion. Borrowed from an old concept found on RLMMO, each month we pose a question to our members and they can respond with their best argument or prediction.  This month's  round table discussion is inspired by the big news of Everquest 2 going Free to play. With the advent of LOTRO and several other games going F2P, is 2010 the Year of Free 2 Play? And if so, what does this mean for the future of MMOs 1 year down the road...5 years down the road? We got some pretty good answers so read it if you can.

2 Years In Review:
As a whole, the Fringe is doing better than it ever has during its 2 year life span.  Back in August of 2008, we had a grand total of 72 visitors for a total of 247 visits. Last month, we had 4468 visitors for a total of 8527 visits. July is significant as it also marked the point were we surpassed all of last year's stats and 7 times that of 2008. August of this year looks to be an all time record maker in progress due in part to some of our more devoted followers. You know who you are and Thanks!

Fake Letters to the Editor
This month's article also marks the start of a personal project of mine. I am calling it Fake Letters to the Editor. As this seems to be the rage over the Internet, I shall read and respond to a select few fake emails that come from the immense amount we receive here in our little imaginary world. Let's dig in shall we?

First off, we have an email from Keyser Sose  from  Skokie, Illinois. He writes, "You guys are incredible. Our whole gang is behind you on your efforts. Thanks for making the internet a much more interesting place."

Well, thank you, Keyser. We try. While many of us are always off on different projects, flying around here and there - somehow we manage to find time for our jobs and after that - some posts. We could do more but alas, its been a pretty busy month.

Ok, lets go to the next one - A J. Hoffa from Michigan. He writes, "Hey there Fringers, long time fan, first time writer. I have this issue with my website and seeing as you guys seem to have manged to install Joomla correctly, I thought I would ask you. My posts keep disappearing. I am not sure what happens. Sometimes I get a little worked up and post some blatant half truths and then when someone mentions it elsewhere 'cause I don't allow comments...well all of the sudden they vanish. Poof! What gives, Fringers?"

Well, Hoffa, stuff like this happens all of the time on the web. You see there is this thing called libel and false allegations. And when those get posted, it is a pretty sure bet that someone will notice. And when that happens, such posts are best removed and hopefully before someone screen shots them or else, they can be held accountable for such defamation and the web host can pull the site until the pattern of behavior is corrected. My advise to you Hoffa, is to resists those posts in the first place. In recent days, the current solution is to make generalized statements and veiled references. Try that and let me know how it works. ok?

And lastly, I have two letters from the same person. Though they are so different, it is quite odd. Not sure what to make of it. Its from Harvey Dent in NY. The first letter reads, "Sites like yours and the really big one (you know which) are nothing but corporate shills who cater to the advertisers and the developers. Grow up, tell the truth and stop kissing corporate and dev arse." Oddly, the second one came in less than a month later. It reads, "Your site is a cancer to the industry. Those poor devs work so hard to give you want you want. You should really be thankful for them and their marketing departments. Why just the other day I was over at one company's corporate office and they showed me around. They are the underdogs and you Fringe people are wrong to voice displeasure at their long history of screwing customers. That and I am not sure why you have over 10 different sections to your site covering other aspects of the industry or the other mmos you play. Seems all I ever want to read is how you dislike this one corporation. You need to be weeded out and denied your First Amendment rights."

Uhm, yeah, well ok... Tell you what Dent, let me know when the wind changes. Until then, I will be right here waiting.

Wrapping it up:
Ok, that concludes our Fake Letters to the Editor segment. I would like to wrap this up with some thanks. These are the people who work hard to keep this site interesting and legit. They are real people with real lives and yet find the time to help make the Fringe what it is.

Troneas. You are the battery in the heart of this site. By force of will alone, you have managed to transform this site from a common blog/forum site into the MMO alternative news site that it is. That and you have personally learned joomla to be able to do it. Very proud to have you as a co-admin. Your spirit and your fire make you the prototype Fringer.

Kazara. You are the soul here. Our conscious and our id. Your devotion and loyalty was actually the inspiration for me starting the Fringe. You kept spurring us on and when I mentioned toying with the idea - you backed me up and followed me here. And you have been here ever since. Posting away and saying good morning. And keeping me in the real world. Thank you.

Wildcat84. We don't speak much, and sometimes don't see eye to eye. But it was your site that gave me hope that it could be done. Each of us were disavowed for one reason or another and from one place or another and you put up a huge sign for us and blazed a course into history. I came up with the name MMOFringe because of your exploits on Eve's fringe areas and that your opinions and self expression were always on the edge. It seemed to fit the rest of us as well.

Suske. Your humor and your unique sense of what is news has always added that peppermint streak to the daily flavor here on the site. I remember your logos for the old site and then I still keep the logos you designed for the Fringe and the star background. It set the tone here. It showed that like space, our opinions were vast and varied. Bright spots in a sometimes silent dark universe. Thanks for being a proud Fringer. Thick or thin.

And as it is late, and I am needing some sleep. I would like to thank the rest of you for your patronage. I know sometimes we raise blood pressure and push the limits of sanity but in the end, I would like to think that each and every one of you walk away from the site each day having learned something, having something to think about and having left us something on the boards to learn and think about as well.

kef