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Post by Phenotype on Jan 20, 2011 17:03:09 GMT -5
Hi everyone, As many of you have noticed the main site (www.pheno.zoids.org.uk) is down. For the last 8-9 years the site was hosted free of charge by a generous member of the Zoids community. Unfortunately he is no longer able to provide me with that service, and as Zoids are no longer a big focus for me the site is down for the time being. I did back up all of the files, so nothing is lost for good, and at some point in the next week or so I plan to fix the links to all of the forum images. Hopefully in the near future a low-cost solution will present itself and I will resurrect the site but for the time being it will remain down while I explore other options. Thanks for being understanding.
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Post by Ernestotaku on Jan 21, 2011 11:38:49 GMT -5
Don't worry, It was a big site. If all is backup-ed there is nothing to worry. If there are more anime series it will come back to life.
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Post by Maethius on Jan 21, 2011 13:40:01 GMT -5
Hey, I understand all the way. My URLs cost me $350 a year to run... I appreciate anyone who keeps a quality site going!
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Post by SkyKnight on Jan 22, 2011 1:28:38 GMT -5
I know maintaining a website is not easy as it seems, but please do keep us up-to-date on what's happening.
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Post by Phenotype on Jan 26, 2011 23:42:24 GMT -5
I will.
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Post by Tilly on Jan 27, 2011 19:21:50 GMT -5
Looks like the other Zoids sites won ;p. www.nearlyfreespeech.net/ - if you have an idea of your space/bandwidth use, you could get a general idea of cost there.
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Post by SkyKnight on Jan 28, 2011 15:00:14 GMT -5
Looks like the other Zoids sites won ;p. www.nearlyfreespeech.net/ - if you have an idea of your space/bandwidth use, you could get a general idea of cost there. I wouldn't say that, it is more like interests in Zoids are waning , at least for North America; there are JP Zoids fansite still running, but they are not in English.
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Post by Ernestotaku on Jan 28, 2011 21:28:34 GMT -5
Usually this kind of "merchandise" needs and audiovisual support, being videogames or anime, or manga. If this disappears only true fans remain.
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Post by Maethius on Jan 31, 2011 10:56:55 GMT -5
True; in America, Zoids are pretty much just very hard to get, fairly expensive toy and model kits. Cartoons and games are two of the industry's largest forms of advertisement, as well. With those missing, kids don't know to ask for them, and with supplies dwindling, collectors become more choosy and the flow of kits slows down.
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Post by SkyKnight on Feb 1, 2011 23:32:38 GMT -5
That was the key, since the Zoids anime failed to generate similar fanbase like Pokemon, and its not easy to market toys that you have to assemble yourself. And how many types of Zoids do you want to market - anime series never showed the majority of NJR Zoids, and had the "heroes" Zoids overshadowing other Zoids.
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Post by Phenotype on Feb 2, 2011 19:29:01 GMT -5
I wouldn't say interest in Zoids is waning just in North America. Takara-Tomy isn't even releasing new Zoids anymore. The HMM line is all that's left.
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Post by Tilly on Feb 2, 2011 21:40:03 GMT -5
Perhaps it's the TOS and Man From UNCLE fan in me (hell, and Doctor Who, whose fandom will continue to bicker amongst itself until the end of time), but I always scoff at the idea you need new canon to keep fanworks and fansites alive. I mean, it helps, but still. Some of us will stick around.
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Post by Phenotype on Feb 8, 2011 2:21:25 GMT -5
Tilly, you don't need new canon or even new kits to keep the hardcore fans interested, but there's no denying that casual fans are what make up the majority of any fanbase. The new Doctor Who series and new Star Trek films keep people talking about the older shows/films and lead to a resurgence in fan interest. However, when a line ends and there is no new media or products to discuss the casual fans move on to something else.
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Post by Tilly on Feb 9, 2011 1:05:00 GMT -5
Hence "some of us". There's a lot of people in Zoids fandom who act like their long-term fannishness is somehow damned without new canon, which is what I'm snarking at here :p.
Well, that and your old slogan.
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Post by Hidocker on Feb 13, 2011 15:25:06 GMT -5
Well, that and your old slogan. I'd declare site victory, but I'm burned out ALMOST to the point of having a "fire sale". But my site will probably be up forever, since smeat.net will be up forever (god help us if I ever burn out on THAT), plus I need somewhere to practice code/design. Anyway, Pheno do you have a domain that is semi permanent? You could put the stuff under zoids.THATDOMAIN.com and then forget about it. Unless the bandwidth is an issue.
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