Plan for Jeff Tunnell
by Jeff Tunnell · 11/18/2003 (3:03 pm) · 12 comments
That is a pretty bold statement, but I think it will come true. If you don't know what RSS is yet, you gotta check it out. Here is a quick little page Rick put together to point you to some resources and explain what it is.
Basically, it is a new, more controllable version of the old "push" technology that was supposed to take of the Internet back in the early days. You can "subscribe" to different news feeds published from different sites. Just look for the little XML button, click on it, and add it to your preferred RSS "reader" program.
To me, the biggest downer was needing to download a news reader or plug in a mail reader program that kept me from trying this technology. Don't let that be the case for you. There is a Web based version that is incredibly awesome at Bloglines. Now I can see my feeds on amy computer in any place.
It is wonderful to have all of your favorite sites neatly summarized in one window. It saves mucho surfing time, and you don't have to go to the sites and endure all the ads, etc. until you know there is a story or article that you really want to read. In addition to subscribing to RSS feeds from you favorite sites, you can just look for sites that contain search words, so you can keep track of your company or game in the press.
RSS will definitely replace email as the preferred method of real companies staying in touch with their customers. No more unsolicited email or even "double opt-in" email newsletter. Already the GG RSS feed page is our 5th most trafficed page, pulling ahead of IOTD.
If you are going to try RSS, I highly recommend Bloglines. If you do use it, make sure to subscribe to ourGG RSS feeds in order to bring our readership up. If everybody scubscribes, maybe we'll make the Popular sites list!!
-Jeff Tunnell GG
Basically, it is a new, more controllable version of the old "push" technology that was supposed to take of the Internet back in the early days. You can "subscribe" to different news feeds published from different sites. Just look for the little XML button, click on it, and add it to your preferred RSS "reader" program.
To me, the biggest downer was needing to download a news reader or plug in a mail reader program that kept me from trying this technology. Don't let that be the case for you. There is a Web based version that is incredibly awesome at Bloglines. Now I can see my feeds on amy computer in any place.
It is wonderful to have all of your favorite sites neatly summarized in one window. It saves mucho surfing time, and you don't have to go to the sites and endure all the ads, etc. until you know there is a story or article that you really want to read. In addition to subscribing to RSS feeds from you favorite sites, you can just look for sites that contain search words, so you can keep track of your company or game in the press.
RSS will definitely replace email as the preferred method of real companies staying in touch with their customers. No more unsolicited email or even "double opt-in" email newsletter. Already the GG RSS feed page is our 5th most trafficed page, pulling ahead of IOTD.
If you are going to try RSS, I highly recommend Bloglines. If you do use it, make sure to subscribe to ourGG RSS feeds in order to bring our readership up. If everybody scubscribes, maybe we'll make the Popular sites list!!
-Jeff Tunnell GG
About the author
#2
11/18/2003 (5:31 pm)
Now what would be interesting is if the GG .plan files could have RSS feeds associated with them. So I wouldn't have to check back all the time to see if my favorite indies have posted a new plan or not.
#3
Ok, I misread, and WebMon wasn't what I thought it was. It was something else I've been looking for for a while though, so that's good. I downgrade it to just "cool" ;)
11/18/2003 (5:41 pm)
Josh - WebMon rocks. Thanks. Now to get all my fave sites in on RSS...Ok, I misread, and WebMon wasn't what I thought it was. It was something else I've been looking for for a while though, so that's good. I downgrade it to just "cool" ;)
#4
1/5th? That's a lot more than I would have expected - how many users does that translate into though, in comparison to 'normal' visitors?
Now that you've posted this, time to get off my duff and deploy an RSS feed for my site - not that there's a lot of news, but, it's only an hours work to do.
And I agree with Dan - an RSS feed for .plan files would rock :-) Those and the DevSnapshot are the two things I hit the forums every other day for :-)
11/19/2003 (7:02 am)
RSS is nice - I'm not sure that I'm as excited about RSS as much as you are though. But I agree that it's another good channel for companies to use to keep in touch with customers. Now if ALL of them would use it, I wouldn't have to put up with so much $(@#$ spam in my mailbox :-)1/5th? That's a lot more than I would have expected - how many users does that translate into though, in comparison to 'normal' visitors?
Now that you've posted this, time to get off my duff and deploy an RSS feed for my site - not that there's a lot of news, but, it's only an hours work to do.
And I agree with Dan - an RSS feed for .plan files would rock :-) Those and the DevSnapshot are the two things I hit the forums every other day for :-)
#5
I can understand wanting to publish an RSS feed, but whats the point of reading one? other than just having some kind of webcrawler that informs you when a site has changed?
If your website has only got an RSS feed to keep your customers interested, seems like a bit of a sticky business :)
I do like the idea of having game info delivered by RSS though (thanks labbie!), now THAT IS useful.
Phil.
11/19/2003 (2:50 pm)
Hmm, I'm not seeing it. Then again, i dont really trawl the websites looking for news.I can understand wanting to publish an RSS feed, but whats the point of reading one? other than just having some kind of webcrawler that informs you when a site has changed?
If your website has only got an RSS feed to keep your customers interested, seems like a bit of a sticky business :)
I do like the idea of having game info delivered by RSS though (thanks labbie!), now THAT IS useful.
Phil.
#6
11/21/2003 (9:47 am)
We don't all use the internet for reading news or sending e-mail, Jeff. :p
#7
11/21/2003 (9:59 am)
So, what exactly DO you use to send email? ESP? Bongo Drums? Smoke Signals? IP Over Avian Carrier? (Ok, the last one would count as still being on the Internet.)
#8
WebMon is doing wonders for keeping me from mindlessly surfing the same set of sites over and over. It's great.
11/21/2003 (3:39 pm)
I prefer IPOAC myself.WebMon is doing wonders for keeping me from mindlessly surfing the same set of sites over and over. It's great.
#9
11/24/2003 (4:35 am)
RSS is great, although it does depend on what type of news you read, and where you get it. I like to use the wired news RSS feeds, for technology stuff. But then, I'm an indie geek! :-)
#10
11/27/2003 (10:52 pm)
I'm a convert, Now i feel like demanding all my favorites sites get RSS feeds.
#11
12/02/2003 (5:39 am)
Where is the Katsu newsletter RSS feed?!? :)
#12
12/03/2003 (3:22 pm)
A better question is, where is the new katsu newsletter content?? ;) 
Torque Owner Prairie Games
Prairie Games, Inc.