LogFAQs > #979932367

I can legitimately answer this question

So, weve forgotten that GameFaqs isnt a throwaway independent website. Its a million dollar platform, that costs lots of money to run.

In 2011 GameFaqs was ranked #81 on Alexa, and the average poll of the day received 120k votes. Times were good.

Had at that point GameFaqs gotten a mobile app, embraced mobile games, and had dev tools that allowed publishers to offer promo codes in exchange for pre-registration this place would have been raking in millions.

Especially because around the rise of mobile gaming in 2015, two years after the smart phone was mass adopted, the most sought out demographic by advertisers was the 24-34 malesthe more hardcore the betterand GameFaqs was the mecha of this userbase. But without a mobile app it was impossible for GameFaqs to monetize in that way.

For whatever reason GameFaqs bet against Social Media, Influencer Marketing, Smart Phones, and Mobile Gaming not being viable sustainable options. The platform bet against change

As such the platform stoped being able to acquire new users. What they had is what they had, and as time went on and people aged into adulthood they used the platform less and less. Meanwhile, the folks that posted and more and more as they got older were more or less introverted users also stuck in the past. Current Events is where they all cultivate as a single entity.

Currently (according to poll of the day) the average age of a user is 40, and less than 2% of the entire userbase is under 21.

In order for GameFaqs to be viable it needs to turn back the clock, and get a fresh start. They need to get a mobile app, modernize the site, start having a social media presence, and attract new (younger) users.

But whats the point in spending all that money on redevelopment and user acquisition when your ultimately just sending a bunch of hip gamers in their twenties (folks who grew up with smart phones and social media) to go hang out with a bunch of introverted 40 year olds screaming about the White House, or just engaging in general weird internet culture stuff?

Youll spend all that money to funnel new users to create a GameFaqs account only for them to take one look at this place, shudder yuck and then never return again?

The current audience of GameFaqs, especially on Current Events is not large enough to sustain the hand that feeds it. In order for GameFaqs to survive we need the TikTok crowd on here.

Thats not going to happen unless you foster an ecosystem free of toxicity and posts that make all your average joes of the world feel like they need to take a shower once theyre done reading it.

We need to get back to just talking about games and nerd culture stuff. Make this place more inclusive to all demographics. If Fandom can do that then they can justify the spend to renovate and modernize the place.

Currently there is no point in even starting development on a mobile app, or user acquisition strategies because the current ecosystem isnt sustainable to any demographic other than the very niche one thats already using the website.

Getting rid of CE, Politics, and Horndog posts allows for the chance to foster an environment thats worth putting the money into so that one day it may actually be financially viable again.