Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: KevSteele on July 10, 2003, 03:38:30 pm

Title: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: KevSteele on July 10, 2003, 03:38:30 pm
I just finished putting the finishing touches on RetroBlast!, my new site dedicated to retrogaming news and reviews:

(http://www.retroblast.com/images/RetroBlast Name.jpg)

www.retroblast.com

As soon as I started add video to the reviews on my MAMEframe web site, I very quickly filled my site quota, and moving up to a bigger, better site seemed the logical thing to do.

I've moved over all of the hardware reviews and content from my MAMEframe site, and the new RetroBlast! site will allow me to expand even further, adding even more reviews, videos, and files. I might even add forums, but I doubt I could do any better than the BYOAC forums!

I plan on adding a lot more content, including longer video reviews, daily retrogaming news, how-to articles, and a detailed day-by-day look at the construction of the MAMEframe II arcade cabinet.

Come by, take a look, let me know what you think!

Kevin
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: AlanS17 on July 10, 2003, 03:42:38 pm
WOW! That really sucks! j/k j/k j/k  :)

I like it! I wanna put something together for my own machine soon without the retronews. I hope it comes out as well as yours.
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Todd H on July 10, 2003, 05:14:54 pm
Kev, have you received the SlikStik cabinet kit yet?  I'm really looking forward to your review.
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Zakk on July 10, 2003, 06:37:54 pm
Dude!  Don't you have a real job??? It looks like you spend all day doing kickass web layout!  ;D

Seriously, looks good...
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: KevSteele on July 10, 2003, 07:19:08 pm
Todd,

I'm guessing my SlikStik cabinet should be here in about a week or so. Hopefully the D9200 arcade monitor will arrive at the same time or sooner.

There's going to be a lot to review shortly.  ;D

(Now I've just to to hurry up and sell the MAMEframe cab to pay for all the goodies - it's hard selling your "first born" :-[ )

Zakk:

Thanks for the compliments -- as much as I'd like to take full credit for the site design, I did purchase a template from TemplateMonster.com to use as a starting point (Which I then heavily modified).

I learned more about web design from studying that one template than I did reading two books!

Kevin
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Howard_Casto on July 10, 2003, 07:24:28 pm
I think your new site is great, I just don't expect anyone to come to it.  Over the years I have seen literally hundreds of emu and arcade cab related websites.  Only three have ever made any real impact....  retrogames, mameworld and here.  

So good luck cause your gonna need it.  ;)
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: KevSteele on July 10, 2003, 07:36:27 pm
Heh, don't hold back, Howard!

Seriously, I realize that there aren't many successful retrogaming sites out there, and even the ones that are surviving aren't raking in the big bucks. Frankly, I'll be glad to just pay the hosting costs.

I think one thing I can offer that many of the other sites couldn't was a good collection of product reviews. The video reviews, especially, should be a good "hook" for getting visitors.

We'll see how it goes - this is a hobby for me, so sink or swim, all that matters to me is whether I'm having fun.   :D

Kevin
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: AlanS17 on July 10, 2003, 07:40:41 pm
Quote from: kevsteele on July 10, 2003, 07:36:27 pm

We'll see how it goes - this is a hobby for me, so sink or swim, all that matters to me is whether I'm having fun.   :D

Kevin

Well said
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Howard_Casto on July 10, 2003, 07:57:47 pm
Quote from: kevsteele on July 10, 2003, 07:36:27 pm
Heh, don't hold back, Howard!

Seriously, I realize that there aren't many successful retrogaming sites out there, and even the ones that are surviving aren't raking in the big bucks. Frankly, I'll be glad to just pay the hosting costs.

I think one thing I can offer that many of the other sites couldn't was a good collection of product reviews. The video reviews, especially, should be a good "hook" for getting visitors.

We'll see how it goes - this is a hobby for me, so sink or swim, all that matters to me is whether I'm having fun.   :D

Kevin


Don't get me wrong, I want you to succeed, I'm just not sure it's possible at this point.  Breaking into the retrogaming scene is almost as difficult as a new company breaking into the console market these days.  
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Lilwolf on July 10, 2003, 08:06:28 pm
I would add to it

Daves classics... Just mismanaged when they went to vgnetworks crap... They where the leaders in popups.

Zophars is a classic.

emuviews was the best.  I miss that site.  That one just needed to get a few others working on it so burnout didn't accure... sigh..

But your right.  Very few make it.  
Title: Re:NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: KevSteele on July 10, 2003, 08:25:14 pm
Well, it's a small pond of potential visitors in a tight economy - there are just not enough retrogamers out there compared to, say, DragonBall Z fans.  ::)

We'll see how things go. Like I said, as long as I'm having fun, I'll keep it up. Hopefully some will find the site a useful resource. That's good enough for me.

(And yes, it is all about me, dammit!  ;) )

Kevin
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Stingray on August 04, 2006, 11:37:23 pm
Hey Kev, how'd that whole retroblast thing work out for you? ;)

-S
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: M3talhead on August 05, 2006, 05:53:09 am
Quote from: Stingray on August 04, 2006, 11:37:23 pm
Hey Kev, how'd that whole retroblast thing work out for you? ;)

-S

Yeah. Being new to the intarweb, what were you thinking?!? I see Retroblast only staying up for a week....tops before going under...

You're doomed!
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: KevSteele on August 05, 2006, 09:18:45 am
Quote from: Stingray on August 04, 2006, 11:37:23 pm
Hey Kev, how'd that whole retroblast thing work out for you? ;)

-S

Well, Howard said it wasn't going to work, so I gave up and bought a magazine instead...

 ;)
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Stingray on August 05, 2006, 10:22:18 am
Quote from: KevSteele on August 05, 2006, 09:18:45 am
Quote from: Stingray on August 04, 2006, 11:37:23 pm
Hey Kev, how'd that whole retroblast thing work out for you? ;)

-S

Well, Howard said it wasn't going to work, so I gave up and bought a magazine instead...

 ;)

Well the improtant thing is that you keep trying. ;D

-S
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: M3talhead on August 05, 2006, 10:43:28 am
Quote from: KevSteele on August 05, 2006, 09:18:45 am
Quote from: Stingray on August 04, 2006, 11:37:23 pm
Hey Kev, how'd that whole retroblast thing work out for you? ;)

-S

Well, Howard said it wasn't going to work, so I gave up and bought a magazine instead...

 ;)

What?!?!?!

Everyone knows Kevin can't read.....
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Zakk on August 05, 2006, 01:00:18 pm
He doesn't buy magazines for the articles!!!
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Stingray on August 05, 2006, 09:12:14 pm
Quote from: Zakk on August 05, 2006, 01:00:18 pm
He doesn't buy magazines for the articles!!!

That kind of thing is not acceptable on a gaming site. Ask Gary.

-S
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: M3talhead on August 06, 2006, 12:11:37 am
Seriously Kevin,

CHILDREN visit Retroblast...






Think of the children!
Title: Re: NEW SITE: RetroBlast! Retrogaming News and Reviews
Post by: Circo on August 06, 2006, 07:24:38 am
Retroblast is one of the few sites I visit on a daily basis, funny to read about the humble beginnings.