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aSnowyEven...
last online: 12 months ago
Smarten Up, Rainmaker.
Posted in The Story so far..., 3 years ago
Right. This has already been posted on the Java Hut and Reboot.cc. I'm posting it here because there's a better chance of Rainmaker reading posts on those blogs than here and on ReBoot.cc and the Java Hut because we are but quiet little fan communities.
At first I thought the surveys were a really good idea, I have to admit. But upon reflection... they really are just generic surveys. And the topics, while "specific", are jumping around all over the place. I'm failing to see how these kinds of questions would help them really. Maybe they're trying to figure out how to advertise to the general public? Is that why we're being asked what social networking sites we use?
I sincerely hope that's the case. It was only happenstance that I actually came to learn about the whole revival project, and in all honestly I consider it to be an extreme (but very lucky) fluke that I happened to find GB's revival site only a couple of months before the whole Z2H business started. With the exception of my family, no-one I know has any knowledge of what's going on. A couple people periodically ask me "hey, did ReBoot ever do that webcomic? How's it going?" but most people I know are like "hey, you're watching ReBoot! I wish it didn't end" and know nothing of what's going on here. I don't know how many people on the internet know about the webcomic and movies etc, but I would bet that most of the people don't know a thing about it.
We're not that much better off, really. We've gotten a webcomic, yes, but... it's slipping further and further back into the fan-art/fan-fiction category for me. I guess I've been too optimistic about this from the start and too stubborn to see this as a ship sinking further into failure. To be blunt, it doesn't feel like ReBoot anymore. Not the one I grew up with and loved as a kid. It's really a shame to see that GB is not looking too optimistically anymore. And it's kind of scary that someone involved in this posts on his facebook status that they are in fact lying to us (I feel VERY used at this). And I don't know much about stocks, but it seems as though Rainmaker is slipping somewhere financially.
This worries me. Very, very much.
You were right, Justice. Those panels and such were just a publicity stunt to get the fans all pumped up about this. I feel a little bit used. It started out good, with the fan input (and by that I really mean that the only input Rainmaker took to heart and actually gave a crap about was which pitch we liked best, and upon further reflection they just did that to figure out which one would have the best chance to survive, not which one was the best pitch) getting fans involved, engaged and generally excited. But in the end it was only a tiny voice of opinion. And that tiny voice is shrinking down into more of a whisper. The reason, the point of this whole discussion, is the lack of updates.
Wyzziwig and his team got it right. They gave out updates constantly, and frequently. ANY other fansite has it right; they post updates as soon as they receive them. In hindsight I really wish that I had picked a fansite that gave out updates to emphasize the point in the latest survey, but I was just so flabbergasted at that question I botched it. The reason they're loosing readership has been addressed before, and I'll state it bluntly. Other than the fact that the webcomic is a spin-off and is not keeping the spirit of ReBoot alive, they are not releasing updates about the movie, box sets, anything. So everyone is figuring "there's nothing new... why do I bother?" And they drop it. At this point I'm doubting that these fabled box sets are going to be released at all. I just don't think it's going to happen. I don't think they're going to see how the box sets will be received to go further in the movies; I don't think anything new is happening at all in either of those fronts. Reason? Lack of updates.
Rainmaker, I hope you're reading this somehow. A fan is sincerely reaching out to you and giving you honest to goodness advice on what needs to happen, without the beat-around-the-bush survey method. You need to reach out to the majority of the internet (Facebook highly recommended, mostly everyone uses it), and once you've grabbed them you need to keep them engaged by giving them updates, without the lies. What little fans you have left are getting frustrated with your lack of updates. This attitude is not a "no news is good news" situation. It is the opposite; with no news the less-engaged fans will move on with more interesting things in their lives, and the more avid fans begin to suspect that things are not going well and worst yet not happening. This will mean a decrease of fans. Smarten up guys, or you're going to keep fading away and very shortly down the road people will go "hey, whatever happened to that whole plan to bring back ReBoot?" and the others will go "ReBoot? Oh I remember that show... they were bringing it back?"
Asclepius commented 3 years ago
+1
I have to admit that I came here for ReBoot, but found the rest of the site a lot more interesting. As for fan voice in ReBoot, I didn't really think there was much of one in the first place. I mean, look at the pitches we got to choose from. Were any of the ones besides Arrival even remotely like ReBoot?
Now, WhizzyWig and his team definitely took into consideration people's opinions on their blog and that was cool. But it always felt to me that this was more about a writing credit (and possible work on a movie) than it was about getting the chance to work on and bring back ReBoot. I could definitely be wrong, but that's the feeling I got.
And I don't think we're gonna get information. There's a forum for question to Rainmaker and I could be wrong but I don't think they've ever answered questions. The Z2H staff seems to respond to things they think they can get information about, but then an answer is never given. And the Z2H staff almost always give us a response around here, so I'm assuming no information is coming from Rainmaker.
Tenzil Kem commented 3 years ago
+2
I have to admit I am not and never have been a ReBoot fan since I am too old to have experienced the show when it came out. I did read the comic, but without knowing the history of the series I only found it so so. I imagine ReBoot fans will disagree and I bow to their superior knowledge on the subject. I do know that many people care about the show/comic/whatever, and you are certainly one, Snow. I admired the passion and candor in your post. You, for one, certainly deserve better than you have been given! Keep up the good fight (and while you are at it, why not check out some of the other comics here. Some of them {well, pretty much all, really} are actually pretty good)!
mariathedr... commented 3 years ago
+2
I've watched ReBoot, but would not consider myself a major fan. Still, I completely appreciate and relate to your comments about keeping people updated. It is critical these days, as there are so many engaging stories to get involved with. If the activity isn't there, people move on. It's sad to see.
ChiefZero commented 3 years ago
+6
Hi,
I normally try not to involve myself in things like this, but I thought this one warranted a reply. aSE, I hope you will take the time to repost this to the various ReBoot fan communities of which you are a part.
In the interest of brevity, I'd like to address the high level points, but I would be happy to have a more fulsome discussion with you (or any other ReBoot fans).
And I should point out, of course, that I am not speaking on behalf of Rainmaker in any official capacity. But they've been a great partner to us and I feel that - since you're posting on Zeros 2 Heroes - I should say, well, something.
(1) "The surveys are generic" - yep, so far. The methodology my team uses goes from the general to the specific, so that we can hone our research into the most productive areas. We need to start a little broad and then get more detailed based on the earlier responses from the 100's of people replying.
The surveys themselves will cover things that are online and things that are related to the movie. Do as many as you like or as few. What we want - what we have always worked towards - is involving you folks in our thinking. But you don't have to play if you don't want to. ;-) Just unsubscribe from our newsletter.
(2) The webcomic - I'll put my hand up on this one and take the blame.
Based on the first installment of "Paradigms Lost", there was a *lot* of fan feedback saying that they wanted more comic, more often. So I recommended that we go for a weekly serial, with the understanding that the art would need to be stripped down a bit to meet deadlines.
For what it's worth, if Rainmaker decides to continue the online comic, I'll probably recommend that we go for fewer, juicier installments. And then people will probably ask for more content, more often. ;-)
But, again, for what's worth, we've been tracking the comments from fans reading the comic... and many like what they've been seeing. So... <shrugs> all I can say is that we'll do our best.
(3) Lies! - uh, no.
There is no shortage of people involved in this project who have stuck their neck out to get it started and keep it going. I won't get all emotive on that point (though I might like to).
It's easy for people to post stuff anonymously about any company... that doesn't make what they say the truth.
And, for Rainmaker's part, if some of their answers have been a little general, I would suggest that this is because they *don't* want to mislead the fans.
In the entertainment business, things change *all the time* - better, I think, not to say anything concrete until you are reasonably certain that it will come to pass. Really, would you want it the other way around? Endless official rumors that change the narrative every two weeks?
(4) Updates or lack thereof - this is a good point and something that we are working on very intently in tandem with Rainmaker. To get what we're planning right, we - uh - need to survey ReBoot fans on certain points. So, er, back to point (1) above.
To sum it all up, relaunching an entertainment franchise is *hard*. It takes a *lot* of smart people, a*lot* of money and a *lot* of good timing. You take one step forward (Cooksey will be the writer!) and you can find yourself taking one step back (Cooksey will not be the writer!).
Besides being pretty amazingly creative folks, I think the Rainmaker folks have been really commited to rebuilding ReBoot with your involvement. If you're interested in being part of it, that's really great... but it won't be a perfect process. Gosh, I make three major mistakes before breakfast each day... the trick is to keep making new and more interesting mistakes.
Feel free to drop me a line anytime, for any reason, via the PM system on this site.
- ChiefZero
genrewrite... commented 3 years ago
0
Thanks for feedback, Chief!
(I didn't know that Cooksey was no longer the writer. Too busy with Moon Knight? I'm a fan of Reboot and a writer and I'm available...)
aSnowyEven... commented 3 years ago
+1
I really appreciate the feedback Chief! I shall definitely re-post this to the Java Hut and ReBoot.cc. Thanks so much, I may just drop you a PM. :)
ChiefZero commented 3 years ago
0
Any time (really, any time. Check out that time code: I don't sleep). And believe me: I certainly understand some of your frustrations... but we are just on the cusp of something quite cool, so stay tuned.
us_champio... commented 3 years ago
0
Kudos my dear! A week ago I wrote in my private journal the exact same
thing. Well not exactly the same thing. The whole Reboot fans being
used thing. I don't get why ask the fans what we love about Reboot if
Rainmaker has no interest in it. The movies themselves will be
something completely different and basically no one will have an idea
about it till we see previews and trailers. I just have a bad feeling
it'll be one of those new movies with all those new cgi affects and
whatnot but it just won't be Reboot. I'll be honest, all I ever wanted
was to see this show have a decent ending like it deserved but I
realize that was just a gimmick too. Which is very hurtful. Seriously,
I was excited about this for a while but now I'll just read the fanfics
instead because the fans truly have Reboot's best interest at heart.