Searching for the "One Thing"...

I remember when I first started working on BXB. My first stuff was published before I actually took on the role as Editor and LAN Manager. I basically published a few reviews which had already appeared in my local paper because at the time I was working as their Entertainment reporter.

I came up with the idea of holding the LAN events to get publicity for the site as it worked a gem. From then on I started working on the site.

Now, throughout my time working in this industry I've been searching for this "one thing" that will propel BXB into the dizzying heights of success. When I first started on BXB I'll admit I was truly naive to how this industry works leading to some very frustrated times. Here's one of the posts I made on Gamespress.com dated Tuesday June 15, 2004.


"Just a quick vent of frustration.

Has anyone else come to the conclusion that the Games Industry media is all backwards. It's the same in all forms of entertainment media. We are all people investing lots of time and money into marketing a product for our respective platform's companies whether it be MS, Sony or Nintendo yet we're the ones constantly have to be nice to publishers and the like to get preview copies etc.

They have the power in this relationship when clearly it should be us, we are the people spending hours and thousands of pounds providing somewhere for the public to come and find out about their product.

They should be being nice to us, lest we stop promoting their product.

*gets off soapbox feeling less frustrated*"

In hind sight, it's a very naive view and showed just how unprepared for this industry I was. While my previous experience has given me the basic skills to work in this industry, I still had a lot to learn and I'm still learning a lot right now.

I've come across numerous pretenders to the title of the "One Thing" during my time in the industry. BXB's LAN events, appearing in numerous magazines, joining the XCN or being added to the EMEA reviewers kit list. When each of these happened I believe that these things would propel BXB into a massively successful website. No shit, but they didn't.

Even when BXB was added to the EMEA reviewers kit list, I had people I consider to be experienced industry professionals that this is the moment that everything will just go crazy and it'll become a roller coaster ride. Wrong.

Even now, I know that Xbox fansite owners are striving to be added to the XCN, that Xbox fansite Editors are harassing Microsoft to be added to the EMEA reviewers kit list. Most of all I know that these things are not what you're looking for. They are not the answer. There is no "One Thing".

When I look back over BXB's history our most successful things like building our community, hosting our LAN events or the Join The Ghosts events have been things that we've had to work hard at; things that we've had to invest money into with almost no come back and things that we've had to sacrifice ourselves for. A grand don't come for free!

So, to the fansite owners out there who are searching for success, for popularity and for the ability to brag about not having to buy games ever again, I'll say one thing - there is no easy answer.

You're going to have to work your balls off to get what you want. Things will never get easy. You have to strive everyday, do everything possible in your power to make your site a success. Personally, I sacrificed a lot to get BXB to where it is. Everyone that's helped to get BXB where it is has sacrificed a lot and I thank them all.

In my opinion it's the willing to sacrifice that separates the "fans" from the "professionals".