First, a disclaimer: we don’t think we’re going to win. We just think, perhaps, we should.
Sure, we’re biased. That much should be obvious – some of us have written for a few publications in the past on a freelance level (and been paid well, too, occasionally) but TSA’s family feeling and lovely community means that when we do writing stuff these days, it’s for free, for this site.
We’re not journalists. None of us are. We don’t have a fancy office, corporate backers or a magazine publisher for support. We all have other jobs and TSA is something we do because we love it. It’s hard to explain why exactly, but we feel that – just once – we should get some kind of recognition for all the hard work we do.
[drop2]Sure, there’re ads, but last time a cheque rolled in the money went on rent for a house for a week for the Eurogamer Expo, some podcasting hardware and a video camera. Apart from the basics, it’s all pushed back into the site, to make it better and to make our roles a little more fun.And so, tonight, is the Games Media Awards. We’ve been nominated for ‘Best Site’ which, thank you, was voted for by the general public (or at least those out there with more than a passing interest for gaming). Being nominated was lovely, it made us smile.
But we’re up against some stiff competition: CVG (with their “ballsy, uncompromising personality”); Eurogamer (the “largest independent games website in the UK”); GameSpot (“a market leader in its field with 4.6 million unique users in the UK”); IGN (with “the largest audience of gamers in the UK”) and VideoGamer.com, God is a Geek and Gaming Union.
We don’t get traffic like the big guys – but we do get more a day than the ABC figures of some gaming mags would suggest they do in a month. That’s not our only target, though, it’s recognition, acceptance into a frustratingly close-knit industry and to, just now and again, hear some nice things said about us and the work we do.
We won’t win, that’s for sure, but we won’t give up trying.
wonkey-willy
definitely a more personal feel here at TSA
what with the meets the banter and all the crew being normal guys just like us,
you got my vote
KeRaSh
This is my one and only stop to check video game news and I love this place. Everything I need I have right here. Great articles, funny stuff, a great community and a close communication with the staff through the comments. I’d pay for a membership if there was one. :D Just to make sure you guys can keep on doing the things you love because I enjoy the stuff that comes out of it. (I’m talking about the writing…)
BrendanCalls
I really really hope TSA wins. Its by far the best site, the best community and best writers I’ve ever come across.
No pretention, no condescending tones, no nobs and enough stabbings and rain to keep me entertained ;-)
Jim H [Teabags]
I joined the site (almost a year ago if you can believe that) for the very reasons outlined in the post. There is an incredible sense of unity and light-heartedness with an equal measure of efficiency, and in some cases, professionalism.
I’ve done work for numerous sites for vast periods of time with little sense of satisfaction or reward. Since joining TSA however I’ve been granted the resources and opportunities to improve myself as a writer as well as delivering our community content they might not have expected to see (I have a tendency to review games which many of the team wouldn’t even approach with a barge pole.)
Origami Killer
Well done again on the nomination. I think you should win because of the amount of effort that goes into the site, which probably doesn’t compare to the other sites in question. Good luck and fingers crossed :)
colossalblue
It would be really awesome to win but then, it was really awesome just to be nominated. The industry is very exclusionary so just to get our shoulders jammed in beside some of the regulars of these things is a massive achievement for something that is basically run on passion and hard work rather than investment and promotion.
We’re not naive enough to think we will win and it won’t be disappointing when we don’t (we’ll still have everything we love right here) but if, by some freak miracle of nature, we did win… I think I’d do a little cry.
TSBonyman
Best of luck tonight guys – you all deserve it!
halbpro
Man things would be ridiculous if we had an office. The flood of stupid videos would be unstoppable.
blackredyellow
If I win the lottery I shall make it so!
OriginalJonty (Aran Suddi)
I second this motion. In fact I’d build a TSA Towers.
Jim H [Teabags]
I like your thinking. We should run a TSA national lotto syndicate for sure.
blackredyellow
The work done is here is great, so you fully deserve to be nominated and we would all love to see you win!
You’ve already won anyway, with the community you’ve established and the smiles you bring to the faces of us all on a daily basis!
Mick939
I think fair reviews and not looking to be a “twat” about everything puts you ahead, playing and reviewing games as a gamer not a critic is nice, good luck .