What does it take?

[Eek-1]

I seldom read the announcement threads. Last time I did, I downloaded p0d's #10 AMV just because he mentioned the Anime I like in the subject. I tend to respond to threads which creator asked for quick feedback or comment.

[Melanchthon]

Short answer: If they can't be bothered, then neither can I.

The time it takes to check out an AMV announcement is nothing compared to the time it takes to download the video itself, but most of the time I don't see anything within the post that grabs my attention.

I also admit to checking out join dates. I know it's possible that somebody could lurk on the forums and download non-local videos until they need an account in order to upload (or various other reasons why they're new to the site but not to editing), but I've yet to see an announcement that reflects that. Most times it's a 'check out my first AMV!' title plus a bare-bones post that might be missing the link; the anime-song combo; and/or basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The 'today' or 'yesterday' join date is just another nail in the coffin.

[SpaceGhost2K]

Things I look for:

Anime that I like
Artist/song that I like
Editor I'm familiar with (few, sadly)
Large number of posts in a short time

Things I avoid:

"My first AMV"
Anime I don't like
Artists I don't like
Lots of views and no replies.

[Keeper of Hellfire]

What gets my attention?
An anime I like
A title that sounds interesting
An announcement from an editor who has drawn my interest - no matter if with former vid's or through forum posts

But getting my attention doesn't mean that I reply.

What I avoid?
Titles like "My first vid", "My new vid" and so on, which say nothing
Titles that use l33tsp34k or are written in all capitals
Everything that promises "The best vid ever" or the like
Mostly Anime I don't know
Announcements from editors I don't like

[Arigatomina]

I don't go to the amv announcement section often, so when I do glance through, I look for the creator of the thread. If it's a name I recognize, I'll probably read the thread (or avoid it like the plague). If there aren't any familiar names, I'll glance over the titles and look for things like anime used or subject matter (any thread with yaoi or shonen ai gets an automatic download from me, whether I read the thread or not).

I avoid generalized titles like 'romance/action/drama vid' that don't give the name of the anime used (unless it's multi-anime, in which case - automatic download), and I avoid most threads that *do* name the anime used (I don't like or haven't seen most of the anime used in annoucement threads).

I assume most people click threads on a 'name-first' basis, so I don't care much about what is posted in the thread itself - I need the anime used, the song, and something to give me an idea of what the amv is about. Anything more detailed than that, I expect to find in the vid description.

I also click threads if the creator pms me and lets me know he made a new video he thinks I'll like (because chances are good I wouldn't happen by in time to catch the annoucement on my own). Usually I find new threads when people write about them in their journals, because some of my favorite editors don't post in the forum.

[Pyle]

1. Skim the topics, see which one has the most posts. The ones that are better tend to have more posts.

2. Check the authors, see which ones I know.

3. If there is an anime I like with a song I like, then I might DL it.

[dj_ultima_the_great]

Before I respond to anyone, I do want to mention that I've read and analyzed every post, but since there are so many, I can't respond to each and every person individually. I'd like to, but I haven't been around my computer as much as I'd like in the past few days.

First and foremost, it seems like the general consensus is that ya'll look for creators you know. For those with a crappy connection, I can completely forgive you for not downloading a video that you're not sure of. My best friend is in the same situation, and she tends to rely on me and a flash drive to obtain the "good" videos. So, I have sympathy for the 56k-ers out there and I don't blame any of you. However, I know I'm not the only one on a cable modem here. Yet, it seems like the last half dozen announcement threads I've posted on didn't get any other replies until I gave it a chance and posted a mini-review. Then other people were like, "hey, maybe this is worth my time."

Also, I find it convenient that Koop was brought up in this thread, because I was going to use him in a hypothetical situation. Namely, if an unknown creator (like me) posts a clear, concise thread title that says something to the effect of...

Saikano - Fastball - "Vampires" - Romance/Profile

...and Koopiskeva posts the exact same thing, what you're telling me is that he'll get ten times as many replies as the unknown? Just because he's popular? Doesn't that seem...vain? I mean, doesn't the unknown deserve the same chance as everyone else?

If you want a real application of this, then allow me to describe the following situation: several weeks ago, -M_X_R- (sorry to use you as an example, but it was the one I had planned if this topic came up) posts 'Step Inside,' a Silent Hill 2 video. It's a pretty uncommon video source, the music was unique, and the editing was great. Over the course of the entire time the thread was there, it got maybe a handful of replies. I was one of them. A couple weeks back, arigatomina posts 'Dark Half,' a fan-animated video. It was an uncommon concept, had overused music, and the editing was solid. Within the first day, it gets more replies than 'Step Inside' does during its entire run.

How is this merited?

The videos were both great and worth the download, but MXR got the shaft. To me, the only thing that made ari's video more popular was her status on the site.

I don't want to resort to saying something childish like "that's not fair!", but isn't it true?

So, after enduring all of that, let me pose another question. What does it take for an unknown to get noticed? Is the indication of the anime and music in the title enough? Does the unknown have to get his or her previous works critiqued to death in the Exchange forum, and then come back with his/her next video to the Announcements?

Let me ask this as well.

silver_moon, how did you (or Sierra) get popular in the first place? What did you do to put you at whatever high place you're sitting at now? (Please don't take that offensively or sarcastically. I actually meant it as a compliment to your talent - and your sister's.)

My second point (and not nearly as elaborated as the first) is this: if most of you don't watch videos to anime you don't know, then can I assume that you read anime magazines or watch TV promos (or something of the like) in order to see new ones? For me, watching AMVs is basically how I learn of new shows. If it weren't for the couple of AMVs that were submitted to my free opinion thread, I don't think I would have ever watched Elfen Lied (as I just finished a few days ago).

Out of curiosity, my third point is this: who here, besides myself, is willing to take chances on new or unknown creators?

My final point is one of pure self-indulgence. If I posted a video there, who would take a chance on me? I tend to be a bit of a forum whore (as Sammy put it, and I'm inclined to agree, honestly), so it's not like people here don't know me. Assuming that you have never seen a video of mine, where would I rate? Again, this one is just for sating my thoughts, so please be brutally honest. (Trust me, I'm an extremely difficult person to offend.)

I think that's all. You've all given me a lot to absorb, and I thank you for that. I like to mull over these types of things.


- dj_ultima_the_great

PS: in the time it has taken me to type this all up, Keeper of Hellfire and arigatomina also posted. So, ari, you get to see yourself in an example. ^_^;;

[inthesto]

also helps to pimp the thread to people in the chatroom >.>

But that would involve putting up with me, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

But you already do by frequenting it

Hey, shut your mouth.

But seriously, you should have expected half the answers you got before you even made the topic. Yes, people are going to seek out videos by editors they already like. It sucks, but that's the way it works. With the amount of videos out there, there's just no time to watch even a fair portion of them, and most people would rather spend their time doing something else than sifting through all the dirt to find that diamond in the rough.

As for me personally, I hardly ever to into an Announcement thread. I look at the titles, and once in a while I'll click on one on whim. There's no real pattern, though, if you must know.

[dj_ultima_the_great]

But seriously, you should have expected half the answers you got before you even made the topic.

Actually, I already did expect many of them. I was hoping that someone would say something insightful, something that I hadn't thought of, rather than point out what I should have anticipated.


- dj_ultima_the_great

[Sierra Lorna]

silver_moon, how did you (or Sierra) get popular in the first place? What did you do to put you at whatever high place you're sitting at now? (Please don't take that offensively or sarcastically. I actually meant it as a compliment to your talent - and your sister's.)

Both of us have been around this site for a while, and many people have seen at least some of our AMVs in the past. When people see that we have new videos out, people often reply and say that we constantly put out good videos, so they plan on downloading our new ones. So if we're sitting in any sort of "high place", it's because people enjoy our work.
There's not really any trick to getting people to reply to your threads. If people have something to say about your video, they'll say it. You're bound to get at least a few people who download any given video in the Announcements forum, and if they liked it they'll say so, which in turn will attract more viewers to the post. So, what does it take? A good video. That's all. People will give your video attention if they feel it deserves it. If your video isn't getting the feedback you want, head over to the Opinion Exchange forum (which will also help more people to download your video) so you can improve.