Update!
Added 2022-11-17 10:47:27 +0000 UTCHey everyone! I am pausing next month's billing cycle because I am not getting the tier benefits out at all at the moment and I am sorry about that! Also I thought it would be nice to have a break for billing for the Christmas period. If you are a new Patron during this time and you have found this post, you may still be billed because you will have access to past content too, so a heads up about that!
I want to start this off by saying that I cannot thank you all enough for the support. If any of these other thoughts in this message go anywhere else, I wanted it to come to Patreon first to let you know what is happening and what I am thinking about when making decisions in the future. I also want to say that I really have had the best time with videos, the games you have suggested have been amazing, and its been such a cool thing to do.
The basics are that I have been really sick and YouTube has been a lot of stress for me too. In total honesty, I don't really know what to do right now and I have never had this feeling before. I am completely lost haha. I am considering taking a break but I don't know if that will just exacerbate the problem. If the channel and videos feel messy then this is the reason why 👍😁
Being sick may be putting a big miserable blur over my eyes (lol I don't know, the opposite of rose tinted glasses) but I am a bit worried to be honest. I would really like to be able to share my thoughts because I feel like the channel isn't just me making videos but the people who watch them too. But I am worried because I think when I talk about this, people can be quick to judge me for caring about how the videos do. But of course I care haha! For every video, YouTube gives you a set of analytics every time you publish it and it is my direct feedback to if people like the videos, and the engagement has taken a massive drop lately. I think people are disappointed when I talk about numbers, but seeing more people unsubscribe every day is a huge worry for me because it means I am doing something different that people really don't like. Not seeing regulars in the comments, less views, less of the video watched etc it's all added up, and there must be something going on.
I think I would be less worried if it was a gradual decline but the drop is quite big! This isn't just about "views" but watch time and interest too, and most worrying to me are that more people are unsubscribing every time I upload... so every time someone sees a new video they are choosing to opt out from future content too. My first thought is always oh god what has changed, am I not listening to what people want (just playing Zelda and Alien for my own enjoyment instead of starting something new) or am I doing something new in videos, am I too slow with uploads, did people come for one series and then leave etc.
The biggest "wake up" call has been Gow Ragnarok getting very little interest too. I thought it could be that everyone is playing it themselves coupled with there's just too many people playing it at the same time but my friends (other creators!) have been doing amazing, which I love for them, but I then wonder what happened for my channel. I absolutely loved God of War 2018 and we had the most amazing engagement - I would say both it and Bloodborne welcomed in the majority of new subscribers, with some really lovely regulars in the comments - and to see that they aren't returning for the new game is the kick I needed to really review what I am doing on here and why I am doing it. There have been some wonderful comments on the videos too, so I truly don't know if its luck of the draw or simply a case that I am not interesting to watch in this instance or lately.
Feeling like I am making bad videos or that people are no longer enjoying them is massively affecting my enjoyment making new videos and I don't want to feel that way because it means I am not enjoying making content anymore.
I just wanted to explain my mindset at the moment and if uploads or posts feel messy this is why! I am still trying and I do see some of the loveliest comments daily and they are wonderful but at the moment the negativity and uncertainty is outweighing all of it and I can't help but feel like I am missing the drive to do more lately.
I am back making content again today, I am going to try to get a few videos up this weekend onwards so there won't be a break yet, but I am pretty gutted about the whole thing - from being perpetually sick and miserable, to YouTube worrying me.
I hope you understand the update, I don't want this to seem like I am complaining or offloading but I really need to share my thoughts with you before I do something out of the blue like take a bunch of time off or try something new. Maybe I just overshare and this could just be something I should deal with alone in silence but here we are hahaha.
Comments
Regarding GoW Ragnarok having lower engagement, at least in my case, I haven't watched those videos because I intend to play the game myself and don't want to spoil myself. It could just be that since it is a new game, others may feel the same as me, where as hollow knight was an older game that has a passionate fanbase that eats up new content for the game.
Dylan
2022-12-20 21:08:45 +0000 UTCPosting some support since you're going through a time of uncertainty. I went back and just finished your Last of Us 2 playthrough, and in the final thoughts you mentioned that you wanted to do "a bit of artwork on the channel"; which I would love to see!
Flukemarm
2022-12-04 21:40:58 +0000 UTCHi Amber! Love the honesty. Not much to add to what others have said before me. Just a quick hi and a reminder that you are awesome! Have a nice week!
TonyBadP5
2022-11-29 19:30:06 +0000 UTCHey Amber, a lot of good things have already been said, so I will try to not just repeat everything. Just wanted to let you know that you got on my radar because 'The Algorithm' suggested your Bloodborne playthrough to me back when that was fresh and that made me subscribe. It wasn't until later when I randomly decided to watch your Hollow Knight playthrough that I actually got hooked. I then went on to watch your Outer Wilds playthrough, since both HK and OW happen to be two of my favorite games of all time. Watching you play these games makes me feel like I'm experiencing the games for the first time again, through your reactions, and it's been wonderful. I considered watching your Ragnarök playthrough parallel to my own playthrough of the game, but since I hadn't watched your GoW 2018 playthrough yet, I decided to watch that first, which I'm currently doing. So perhaps more people are doing this at the moment? I'm not sure if this is being reflected in the numbers? Anyway, my general point to all this is that I can imagine that people can be fickle and random in their content consumption, especially in an environment as volatile as Youtube, where the algorithm has such strong influence on what people are being exposed to. I noticed you mentioning in the GoW 2018 playthrough you gained huge numbers during the that game's and BB playthroughs and it might just be that those peaks are currently winding down to eventually settle somewhere more stable. I'm no Youtuber myself, but I just have a feeling that this might be a natural progression with these things. First you get this huge growth spike, then this eventually tops off, starts to gradually degrade and then at some point you land on a foundation of regulars. So it might just be that your channel is going through that process right now.
SpectR0nn
2022-11-18 10:33:24 +0000 UTCI loved the GOW 2018 playthrough because it had been awhile since I played it and it was lovely to play through with fresh eyes. But I'm avoiding Ragnarok content because I don't know when I'll have time to play it - and even then, I'm not sure when I'd possibly have the time to play through on my own AND watch someone else playing through. As far as having "The Algorithm" feeding back into your enjoyment ... you maybe need to take a break and/or a sabbatical. The real value in there is connecting with your audience, but YouTube's algorithms will do everything in their power to harness that connection, including psyching you out with scary numbers.
Scott Hess
2022-11-18 07:00:47 +0000 UTCI haven't been watching lately, though I haven't unsubscribed from anything. I still read every conversation that is had on the discord, even when I don't join in. But in no way is my current lack of engagement an indication of the future! I found the channel through Hollow Knight, and it really hooked me. I was actually actively looking for a HK playthrough, because I was itching for it, but didn't want to play through it again for the umpteenth time. Yours wasn't the first channel I found, but it was the one I stuck with. It became something that I looked forward to, always chomping at the bit for the next release. When I realized there was early access here on Patreon, I subbed immediately. I couldn't wait for more! I even went back and watched What Remains of Edith Finch, RE7, and TLOU when waiting between HK uploads. However, notably, I didn't watch GoW'18. And while I might be interested in watching Bloodborne or TLOU2 eventually, I have no interest at all in watching GoW. It has 100% been about the game selection for me, or really, the general burnout from all youtube channels and twitch streams. We had "Spooky Season," where everyone and their mother was playing horror games and watching horror movies. Now we have "Ragnarok Season." At least for horror, it is always fun watching people get scared. But for Alien Isolation in particular, I have seen so many people play it when it was new, and that combined with horror fatigue made me disinterested. If you had livestreamed it instead though, I think that would've been perfect, and I definitely would have been there! For GoW, I am one of those seemingly rare folk who thinks GoW'18 was maybe like a 7/10 and not a 10/10 (or even 11/10, some people really think it is the best game ever made, wtf). Unlike the rest of you all, I was dreading Ragnarok's release, as I knew that it would be the only thing going for a while. While everyone else has been playing Ragnarok, I've been playing Tactics Ogre: Reborn. And when a twitch streamer I follow was playing Sonic Frontiers instead of Ragnarok, I was elated. The good news is that I don't think any of this at all reflects poorly on the direction of the channel. Unsubscribing hasn't even crossed my mind. I also know that if you were to play a game like Subnautica, as you suggested you were interested in recently, I would immediately be engaged again! I guess it boils down to me saying, as silly and empty as it might sound, keep that chin up! You'll never be able to please everyone all at once. For every oddball like me who would be happy with the channel being Subnautica and Sonic, you'd have another saying (loudly) "Where's Ragnarok!" But in the meantime, even if I'm not watching, it doesn't mean I've left. Lastly, don't feel badly for a post like this. It didn't come off as a "feelings dump" at all. In my eyes, this type of thing is entirely appropriate!
Ben
2022-11-17 23:29:52 +0000 UTCI understand how disheartening it must be seeing numbers shrink a little, especially with the all the work effort you've been putting in. And even tho my own engagement may have dropped off a little recently (down to nothing but personal circumstance) I'm watching and personally feel you've hit a new level in the past couple of months, the hard work you've been putting in really shows. You had quite a meteoric rise in a very short time on youtube, and games like Bloodborne and Hollow Knight in particular added to that rise, but there will also be people that follow for those games alone and unsub afterwards, I think that's just the nature of youtube and people but that is absolutely no reflection on you or your skills as a content creator, you still have over 45k subs, which even just a year ago probably seemed unthinkable. Your success is testament to your talent and hard work. As always, your health and wellbeing comes first and if you feel a break would be beneficial then you should absolutely take that break, in the meantime I have no doubts that your channel and community will continue to steadily grow.
Human#19138980
2022-11-17 20:40:33 +0000 UTCI hope things start picking up for you soon, and that you feel better. winter time can be a busy time for a lot of people. If I could give any advice it might be to cut videos into 3 separate videos, because while I enjoy movie length videos, a lot of people see an hour long and think it might be too much of a commitment.
Brinkia
2022-11-17 20:30:54 +0000 UTCJust catching up on all the comments in here and I think it's awesome how supportive this community is btw. Other gaming circles are just not like this, especially with people who donate money and are often very demanding and controlling about the content. Great channel, great community. Rock solid foundations. Those things can only be nurtured by a top content creator. No doubt in my mind that the slight decrease in numbers is 100% just a blip👌
Andy
2022-11-17 20:19:42 +0000 UTCHi Amber! I have very little to offer that others have not already said better, but I just want to say that my wife and I spent almost every night this last month watching your Hollow Knight playthrough on our TV and loved every moment of it. We are now working our way through the God of War 2018 series now! I was initially pulled into your channel because of your Bloodborne playthrough and your unique perspective on gaming with your Dev background, but your infectious energy and joy and enthusiasm is what keeps us watching and has made your content a part of our post-work relaxing routine (well, your content as well as re-runs of Father Brown lol.) I just wanted to share all this as a way of saying that we love to see the joy & wonder & reverence for the artform you share through your content, and we support you doing whatever it is you need to do to maintain that joy in your life.
a smith
2022-11-17 20:06:17 +0000 UTC:( Aww, I'm sorry things aren't going well at the moment! I can't say that I have any worthwhile advice or reassurances but the one advice I've heard from full time creators (when viewers ask) is to do what you want to do and enjoy yourself rather than chasing the algorithm - which leads to you enjoying yourself less, more stress and people picking up on that and loosing interest. I don't know how true that is but I thought I'd share it as it makes sense to me, anyway. Youtube is hard. I was in it for a while but it was too much stress and work for very little reward. Granted, it wasn't in streaming but DIY/machining/etc stuff, so there was a lot of camera, lighting, and that sort of work. So yeah, I don't know but I hope you feel better mentally and physically soon! I don't know what your end goal of streaming is, but just do it for you and let the rest come in time. (which sucks because if you are impatient like me, lol) If you burn out and give up then that's no good. A year and 45k subs is very exceptional! It took me 4 years to get 41k and that was with a few 1M+ view videos. It just takes time. (plus don't forget - unless things have changed - many unsubs can be bots/etc being purged from YouTube, not necessarily actual people loosing interest) I hope any of that helps in some small way!
Chris DePrisco
2022-11-17 17:58:49 +0000 UTCHi Amber - just from my end some meaningless words of support and encouragement 😁 Update on your thoughtprocess is welcome from my end atleast; but you gotta do what you think is best for the channel overall. I unfortunately don't know what has changed in your content; I enjoy your GoW Ragnarök playthrough just as much as I have enjoyed the one for the prequel. The only reason I don't watch one of your playthroughs is a) I am not interested in the game or b) I want no spoilers on a game I intend to "play sometime"™️ But if I like the game you are playing, I am usually watching all the way through - and I think you are doing all the right things for me: you are emotionally invested, you sometimes give dev insights, and you seem to really enjoy playing whatever game you are playing. Without getting too weird, but to me thats like showing a friend a game and them loving it, which is always fun :) So clearly I am not one of the people you are worried about, I'm sorry I can't give you valuable insight :/ Numbers can be a bitch, so sorry for all the stress its putting you through on top of you being sick... Wish you all the best and happiness for the future, good luck! <3
van der Lark
2022-11-17 17:18:10 +0000 UTCJust subbed recently but I’ve been a fan since your bloodborne playthrough and I loved the hollow knight series! The way you learn about the games and piece together the vague stories was something I thought was really cool and unique. I haven’t seen your other playthroughs because I haven’t played them and I think that’s the same for most other people. Stick to the basics :) I’ve been looking forward to Zelda because its also one of my favourites and you mention it a lot. I’m not sure what the age demographic of your fanbase is but I think the best move is popular cult classics - even a pokemon game would be fun! All the best Amber, we’ll be supporting you. Don’t forget to have fun and it’s not about the numbers.
Ricard
2022-11-17 16:31:24 +0000 UTCWhen I first discovered you it was your "The Last of Us" play through on YouTube, watching your journey with Ellie and Joel it was reminiscent of how the game first unfolded for me and on the strength of that I became a subscriber. I tend to watch play throughs of games I am familiar with, l like to see gamer reaction to scenarios I have experienced too and your gaming style certainly appealed to me, you have a connection with your subscribers which is refreshingly friendly and intimate. For me games such as "TLOU remastered, II, Part 1", " Tomb Raider", "The Lost Legacy" have always been my particular favourite genre, although I do have a soft spot for "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" games such as "Hollow Knight" less so but I appreciate you have different tastes to cater for with the games you choose and the videos you produce. You have a hard core fan base, subscribers who will stick with you regardless, do what you can when you can but most importantly take care of you.
Alan Strafford
2022-11-17 16:04:46 +0000 UTCHi Amber, first and foremost your health and well-being are of the utmost importance, please don't prioritise anything else above that. Like a similar comment, I don't always have the time to watch everything you post but that doesn't mean I don't value your efforts, I wouldn't support you otherwise.
Alan Strafford
2022-11-17 15:40:19 +0000 UTCHi Amber, I'd like to echo what others have said; updates are great so we know what is going on; even if its not good news; we continue to support you; and feel appreciated in return :) Also, I unsubscribed on YouTube to avoid GoW spoilers; but now I've finished the game myself Ive resubscribed, and will be catching up on your playthrough (your playthrough of GoW 2018 was epic; and your game dev thought process and environmental analysis (as with Bloodborne) were a refreshing take) I also agree that a payment pause is not needed; take a break if you need it; we will still be here when you come back.
Ethilin
2022-11-17 15:22:57 +0000 UTCA shame that things are not going so smoothly at the moment. But your videos are always of a very high quality and enjoyable to watch, so I wouldn't worry about that, in my opinion. Maybe doing some livestreams soon will help drive engagement up a bit? I think you could still do the traditional pre-recorded videos for the big story-driven main course games and then livestream small/casual/silly stuff on the side. There are always so many smaller indie games that become the hot new thing that is very well suited for this kind of stuff. Doing live shows could also be an opportunity to experiment with game types you would never consider for a prerecorded show. If the game ends up as not a fit, you can just declare it a one-off stream and move on to something new without wasting too much effort editing and stuff.
Trolez
2022-11-17 14:53:17 +0000 UTCHey Amber, don’t beat yourself up! I can say, for me, the increased cost of regular needs like groceries and gas (Inflation in the US), is making me take a hard look at where I spend my money. That may be the case for others as well. Take a break! Your health is more important than YouTube comments or viewers :) … Even if I do have to drop the sub during the holidays, temporarily, I’ll be back for Silksong! Hope you feel better Amber. <3
Nicanor Valdez
2022-11-17 14:19:18 +0000 UTCI don't think it comes across super negative, I think it's normal to (over) analyse this kind of thing when you're so invested in it. I wouldn't panic for now though. If there's a constant decline over the next few months, then maybe you could try mixing it up a bit with shorter form content etc? But I think the biggest issue you've got is that the games you played on the channel were just one knockout after another for a long time, real YouTube big hitters. The rate of growth was always gunna be tough to sustain!
Andy
2022-11-17 13:46:39 +0000 UTChey amber, thanks for the update. i’m really sorry about this whole situation and i hope your health improves soon. i can’t speak for everyone, but at least for me personally i’m just really behind on a lot of the things i want to do. from reading, to watching youtube videos, movies, playing games, etc., it’s just a lot to juggle. i do earnestly try to watch every single one of your videos (i’m only a few behind at the moment), but it takes me days and sometimes weeks to start them and by that point i feel weird about commenting so late. but if commenting regardless of tardiness will help you with engagement then i’m sorry i haven’t been as active and i will do better, i promise! it’s been nearly a year that i’ve been subscribed; bloodborne drew me in. i even went back and cleared the backlog of videos you had with resident evil and edith finch. your content has always been entertaining for me and it’s really helped me through some rough patches this past year. i know metrics can be disheartening and even soul crushing, and i get how this can affect your outlook on the entire experience. i don’t have all the answers, but i will support you in whatever decision you make. just please prioritize your physical and mental health over everything else. you’ve built a great community and that will ultimately carry the channel through moments like these. i wish you the best and will always be here to listen
James Saenz
2022-11-17 13:09:09 +0000 UTCI can only speak for myself as a relatively new sub who came on during the Outer Wilds playthrough and stuck with it because of your great showmanship, but I don't think quality has been a issue at all. I've really enjoyed the Alien and God of War play throughs as well as diving back into some of your older content. I hope you don't get too discouraged, but I have no idea how stressful content creation must be. Either way, you're doing great from my perspective.
Pre
2022-11-17 12:59:36 +0000 UTCHi Amber, Thanks for the update, sorry to hear you’re still not feeling well :( I hope it gets better soon! It’s very sweet and considerate of you to pause the billing cycle ^^ I go about it the same way as Andy does: it’s a little extra and a thank you for the creator. You are providing us with hours and hours of free television after all :P Regarding the drop in views/subs; do you have information on the demographics? I can imagine a younger audience (born after 2000 perhaps, I’m generalizing) might not be too interested in Ocarina, because they don’t have fond memories of it (and it’s an old-ass looking game haha). Maybe something similar is happening with Alien, because part of the audience isn’t familiar with the movies. Alien is also (partly) a stealth game, maybe stealth games don’t do so well on Youtube in general. You are also very familiar with both Ocarina and Alien, so your responses to stuff happening are more subdued. I’m guessing Youtube viewers are looking for something more intense, where they can feel surprised and excited together with you or are looking forward to your reaction to something they know is coming. What might be affecting viewership on Ragnarök is that viewers are too eager to know what’s around the corner and that they’ll go and watch a channel that goes about it quicker. You take your time, you share your thoughts on characters and the story, and you go into the dev side of things, which is all immensely appealing to me (and I’d say most of your audience), but not something Youtube (or Ragnarök itself) caters to. I don’t want to give the impression that I’m suggesting you change any of this and I’m only talking in hypotheticals! I’m hoping it can put the drop into perspective and make it explainable. And when considering the drop, a big number can really get you down, but percentagewise it might be peanuts. Losing (a hypothetical) 2000 subscribers is only a 4% decrease and even if 10.000 left, 80% (!) would still be here :) You keep oversharing as much as you want and feel is safe! :)
Huib Gelling
2022-11-17 12:48:14 +0000 UTCjust wanted to say that i'm really sorry that you're feeling this, if you feel like taking a break will make you feel better then i think i'm speaking on behalf of everyone when i say that that is totally ok! your mental health is far more important and we'll keep supporting you on here no matter what because you're an awesome creator, not for the benefits! you don't sound complain-y in the post either, these are valid worries and i'm sure it isn't easy to see these dips happening. at the end of they day, thousands of people and i watch this channel for you, regardless of the game you're playing. it's fun to see your perspective and see you get excited about the graphics or the texture on a model and just have a good time! that being said, many people may just have watched for a specific series. some of the regulars in series' like bloodborne may have only been there to watch the bloodborne series and just didn't have an interest in the other games that you've played. it's entirely natural for a channel to high peaks and troughs, especially a pretty new one. i definitely wouldn't put it down to the quality of the content, just some youtube shenanigans, which can be put down to any number of things as seen in the comments on this update (love the updates btw!) hope you feel better soon
ChilledGricken
2022-11-17 12:26:43 +0000 UTCSucks that you're sick. I had a teacher once who said "when you're health is not good, it doesn't matter if everything else is good- there is nothing right in this world, so look after yourselves" The algorithm makes slaves of us all haha, that's actually how I found your channel, I was getting into dark souls and saw a recommended bloodborne video of yours pop up on my front page a few times and thought "why not" Then, when you played Hollow Knight, my favourite game, I stayed (and thought it was one of the best playthroughs I've seen of the game). Then you uploaded Outer Wilds, another favourite of mine and Alien Isolation which is my all time favourite horror game. So, from my perspective, your latest videos are all hits haha At the end of the day, prioritise your own wellbeing - if that includes creating videos and you enjoy it, that's awesome, if not or if you want to take a break - that's all good too. don't worry about the update coming off as negative either cuz I found it and the phrasing very relatable (especially the last sentence haha) the way you talked so frankly about what's going on, and that feeling of being lost is so very relatable (I just turned 24 last week and have been feeling similarly lately myself). I also want to piggyback off another comment and say that I never really expect "tier rewards" per se (although the HoTD watch alongs were still fun haha), and am happy to support creators I like where I can.
Johno3998
2022-11-17 12:16:03 +0000 UTCSo sorry you've been feeling unwell. You really don't owe us anything, but the appreciation is definitely there for the transparency. I really don't donate for the perks but more to support someone I think is magical, and deserves to succeed. Please take as much time to recover as you need, and try to not get anxious about the channel. As for some feedback for the algorithm, I personally think the youtube shorts you were exploring had a lot of merit. There's a tonne of awesome short segments in your videos that could create a lot more exposure. But I think that if you do what you love, then the audience will be captivated by that sentiment rather than how fast or thorough you can put out gameplay of the newest title. What's unique about your videos is your own style of positivity, quirks, and design perspective that cannot be replicated.
Adam
2022-11-17 11:45:56 +0000 UTCI cannot speak for anyone but myself of course, but I for one prefer the updates rather than silence, even if they might feel too negative for you, to me it is just a big neon sign that you actually care which is always fantastic to see. I found your channel at the start of your Hollow Knight playthrough. It is probably my 2nd favorite game of all time and I have watched quite a few of them by now. Of the ones I watched, your channel is the only one I subscribed to & kept watching content for even now after that playthrough is over. What hooked me in to start with, was the game. But what made me stay was who you are, the personality that shone through as you played and the things you noticed & pointed out in your videos. The "Game-Dev" perspective, if you can call it that. Those qualities are why I watch and thoroughly enjoy my time doing so and I seriously doubt I am alone in that. Illness is always annoying as hell and I hope you have a speedy recovery. Whatever you end up deciding, know that I wish you the best. P.S. I really hope to see you for Silksong.
J. P.
2022-11-17 11:32:55 +0000 UTCSo I'm just one of your viewers, so take my feedback as just that, one of many. I actually have unsubscribed from the main channel because of Ragnarok as I'm playing it myself and I simply didn't want to see any thumbnails for potential spoilers. This, obviously, also means I'm not commenting, and I guess I would consider myself a regular commenter as I do like to throw out admiration, encouragement or advice on most of your videos I watch. So maybe my case is more common than we are aware and people could eventually return. To me, you put out three types of videos. First, the ones where you are playing a game I love, and I value your perspective. Second the games I'm not really bothered about, but I watch because of your perspective and third are ones I don't watch because I don't enjoy watching the game at all regardless of your input. Outer Wilds, Alien and Zelda would be examples for each type respectively. Personally, it just so happened that when I first subbed, back in TLOU days, you made a series of videos that were all in that first category for me and I felt supper invested in you and the channel enough to also monetarily support you. I still feel that way, but I don't watch everything you make any more, and even pushed back against your consideration to make 'reaction' content. Also, and maybe I'm projecting, but I really feel like I can tell when you are playing something that you love and something that you're doing because you want this to be your job. You really seam to be having a blast in your Alien videos, but not so much in lets say the later Outer Wilds, where you seemed very stressed. Maybe you had a timeline because of GOW you had to consider that made you anxious to finish the game. I'm really sorry you're unwell and the content you're making isn't getting the support you wanted, but I hope my perspective can offer some insight. I still think you're wonderful, if that helps at all.
The Mighty Pipe
2022-11-17 11:28:28 +0000 UTCAhhh thank you Ben! That is a very good point. It's such a hard one because I am so invested in the channel now haha, I feel so happy and proud of everything that's happened so you're right in that I am super sensitive about it all. Thank you for sharing your perspective on it all!
Sym
2022-11-17 11:24:50 +0000 UTCMaybe something to take into consideration is that your channel grew very quickly, and whilst it was still relatively young - I know you'd been making vids for a little while before things took off, but not long at all compared to the vast majority of creators. It's not realistic to think that that trajectory can continue forever, there will always be peaks and troughs and it's not necessarily anything that you are doing wrong, or differently. To succeed you've got to tough it out, even when things are difficult, and the engagement will return. I know we're talking about a totally different world here, but Mrbeast recently did a stream talking about how his channel was basically dead for 5 years, but he stuck with it even when times were difficult and engagement was low and eventually the views came. I get the impression you are very emotionally invested into the success of every video on your channel and I understand that as content creation is so personal, but maybe try treating it as a side hustle rather than your main focus, in order to not take the successes and failures to heart. For me personally, I was drawn to your channel by your personality, your unique takes on game elements I wouldn't have otherwise noticed, and your fun and cheerful nature. If that doesn't come through in your videos, for example you're feeling ill or sad when recording, then the video isn't as enjoyable to watch. Its the same with any creator, I'm not watching the game I'm watching the person. If the person is trying too hard, being unnatural, putting on airs etc then I'm not interested. Just my 2p, I hope you find the balance you need
Ben
2022-11-17 11:15:36 +0000 UTCThanks Andy! I did also want to have a break over Christmas too and thought it would be a nice way to say thank you back haha! I did worry when writing the update that it comes across super negative but I want to keep you all in the loop incase anything changes with uploads! I cannot thank you all enough for the support, it's been such a cool experience and I have had an overwhelmingly positive time. I'm just super sick and tired at the moment haha, thank you for sharing your perspective!
Sym
2022-11-17 11:10:20 +0000 UTCCan only speak for myself, but I don't donate for the tier benefits. It's support. I've always seen patreon and the like as the equivalent of buying someone a coffee to say thanks. Personally wouldn't want you to stop the billing cycle but maybe others will disagree. I don't really understand why the views are decreasing, but I'm confident it isn't reflective of quality. My thought is it may be linked to the way people consume content these days - things like working from home are dying off. I have a backlog on your videos as a result, I'm sure that's the case for others too. I'd imagine with GOW it's very saturated at the moment too, EVERYONE is streaming it. And viewers may also not want to watch until they've beat the game themselves. I'm sure it's tough to look at views dropping, subs dropping etc, and I'm also sure it's easy to be self critical with things like that. But I sincerely don't believe it's an issue with the quality of the content 🤷
Andy
2022-11-17 11:06:47 +0000 UTC
