I'm almost loath to post this as it is a media studies assignment (a module I detest), however, this is, at the end of the day, a blog about my course. So, for good or ill, here's me rambling about the Yogscast for 1508 words:
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Media in the 21st Century - Converged Media Text - Yogscast.
The Yogscast began in 2008 as a series on the video file sharing site YouTube, that provided tutorials for defeating various bosses, and completing various quests on the popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft, a game that combined vast maps and a huge amount of constantly updated missions; with the capability to play and connect with users across the world . After several months, they expanded to game reviewing in their own particular irreverent style, earning them more and more video views, and subscribers. Up until October 2010 they averaging about 10,000 views per video, then they began to play and review games that appealed to much wider audiences, achieving video views of over 75,000. It was not however until they began to upload their videos of Minecraft, an indie game made by one man that allows almost infinite levels of creativity, by making a world that can be entirely reshaped.
Their first Minecraft video received over 1.5 million views. It was Minecraft that put Yogscast into the YouTube spotlight, earning them appearances on internet radio shows, and increasing the worldwide spread of their series of podcasts: the Yogpod, which is available, for free, on iTunes, and helps to fund their projects through donations from their fan base, known affectionately as the ‘Yognauts/Yognaughts.’ These donations, as well as the revenue they accrue from YouTube for their videos, selling merchandise, and advertising, allow the Yogscast to support themselves solely by working on YouTube. As is the case with many YouTubers, once they can earn a living from their videos, the content almost invariably improves, thus earning them more status and popularity.
In the case of the Yogscast. Their Minecraft videos began as simple tutorials, and have expanded into a fully fledged narrative. Showcasing a breadth of characters, back stories, and an evolving plot. What separates their series (now known as the “Shadow of Israphel” series) from many others on the internet, is that, because it is played over the internet, they can allow people onto their servers (on which the game is based) to build the worlds, and privately script the story without the protagonists knowing what is coming next. As a result, we are given genuine reactions to developments, as well as constant improvisation from all of the characters, along with any mistakes and ineptitude from the heroes of the story as they become stuck on puzzles or accidentally destroy pieces of the scenery. The heroes of the game also voice all of the characters themselves (as Minecraft has a text-based instant messaging chat system) and has lead to one of the Yogscast getting voiceover work for a new PC game: Dwarfs.
As their popularity has grown, they have had to deal with increasing numbers of fans. Initially using emails, and telling fans to post any comments and suggestions on the MySpace page of Tina Barrett (formerly of S-Club 7); The Yogscast created Yogiverse.com as a site to make any announcements, with forums for fans to hold discussions of any current projects. As well as many other features relevant to their current events, including blogs about Minecraft, and character skins for Minecraft.
In terms of how old and new media converge on this ‘text’, there are several ways in which to look at it. Firstly, the entire concept of their series rely on video, in itself, an old media, though the manner it was captured, using FRAPS screen capture software, is relatively modern, and is almost exclusively used by people to record gameplay for sites such as Machinima, and their relevant channels on file-sharing sites such as YouTube, which is a form of new media, allowing the distribution of content to anyone with relevant interests and video files. Once again, video is at this point, the example of old media. Many videos, being converted from DVDs, camcorders and VHS tapes. Allowing anyone to publish and share their own media. The various radio shows that they have been on would act as a form of old media. Radio being one of the oldest forms of modern communication, however, internet radio acts as new media for the digital age. Once again aimed at specific audiences, and also with the ability to ‘listen again’ to streams or shows that have been converted into podcasts for iTunes, yet another example of new media that helps to bring shows such as the Yogscast to public attention through ratings systems such as Genius which collects information on the types of media you enjoy and then recommends other material that it thinks you may enjoy. This helps in the distribution of media, and in helping deliver it to their target audience without have to look directly for them. As far as social networking and the Yogscast are concerned, they use Facebook as a way of keeping up with their fans, although their website is preferred. Facebook, as with most social networking sites, shows a mix of old and new media, in this instance, it is used as a means of communication betweens the Yogscast and the Yog(naughts/nauts), which would, in earlier times, have been achieved through fan mail of some kind, social networking sites allow this to be instantaneous and much more personal.
It is worth noting that since the Yogscast uses YouTube as its media, there is very little restriction put on them in terms of political factors and indeed any restrictions they adhere to, would be put in place by themselves. YouTube as a forum, is very free with people’s ability to be expressive, and since it is worldwide (with certain exceptions that keep a reign on permitted media) there is a breadth of styles and social contexts. The principal figures of the Yogscast being English, means that they assert certain English attributes or characteristics onto their videos/ podcasts etc. for example: popular ‘in-jokes’ that may be easier for an English viewer/ listener to grasp (though not to the exclusion of other nationalities), this may include jokes about Jaffa Cakes (which are less prevalent in the USA for example) or pop-culture references such as singer, Tina Barrett, or actors Brian Blessed and Warwick Davies, who play a part in a long-running joke that they share a flat with one of the ‘Cast, Brian stealing his jam sandwiches, and Warwick getting lost down the sink. This is an excellent example of the freedom to do whatever they want in terms of limits that may normally be put on a production of any kind. Thanks to video file-sharing sites such as YouTube, people can make, and view, whatever they wish.
Concerning debates in media over the driving factors of change, I would say that, as discussed in previous paragraphs, YouTube based media, is very much based on providing viewers with what they want to see. If someone does not want to watch certain types, or genres, of videos, that have no need to in order to see anything else. Unlike, say, having to watch adverts in between television programmes. Although, some YouTube videos/channels do have some advertising that plays before the video, they can be easily skipped with the use of ad blockers. Something you cannot do with television, for example. As such, I would say that amongst video file -sharing sites such as YouTube, there is more of a ‘pull culture’, allowing users to dictate what they want to see. And perhaps in some ways, influencing how uploaders design their videos, so as to appeal to the majority of viewers. Obviously, the higher the quality of what is being produced, the more likely that it will be more appreciated, videos with a better quality production value are expected to be have better overall content. This puts forward an argument that technology can be a force for change and improvement. I would say that as far as conflict goes, there is very little between YouTubers, indeed they are their own community and more often than not, the more popular of them will collaborate in a mutually beneficial boost for both party’s number of subscribers and overall respect. One example prevalent with the Yogscast, is their collaboration with another relatively high profile gaming YouTuber known as Totalbiscuit.
Overall, The Yogscast use the freedom first provided by YouTube to produce their own media, that they enjoy, along with over 400,000 subscribers that now follow them. YouTube, and video file sharing sites in general, as a converged media, are extremely versatile, and in allowing ease of use, as well as providing a springboard for many other types of media, such as music, radio, or the use of social networking as an enhanced form of communication.
References:
Yogscast(2011)Yogscast Multiplayer Gaming [online] YouTube. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/user/BlueXephos [ accessed 31/05/2011]
Lexis, B (2011) Social Networking Sites as Converged Texts [online] Prezi. Available from: http://prezi.com/7xadmiagr7f7/social-networking-sites-as-converged-texts/ [accessed 30/05/2011]
Curran, J. Seaton, J. (2010) Power Without Responsibility. Pages 271 -273
YogPod(2011) iTunes Preview - The Yogpod [online] iTunes. Available from: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-yogpod/id304557271 [accessed 30/05 2011]
Yogscast (2011) The Yogscast [online] Yogiverse. Available from: http://yogiverse.com/cmps_index.php [accessed 30/05/2011]
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Thanks very much for bearing with me on that, hopefully some of you found it somewhat interesting. If there's anything to take from this, it s that the guys from the Yogscast are incredibly funny, and I highly recommend them.
Much love guys, and hopefully I'll make up for this with something silly, as soon as I can.
This is Dave! Yognaught, signing off.
In-jokes are fun...
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