God Kills Kittens Poll

[Ginger]

I've only quickly scanned the thread so apologies if it's moved on...

I have no objection as such to the kitten pic, perhaps another banner or blonde produced ad would be more preferable to some?

Personally (only my opinion, of course) I don't like the bad photoshopping, especially as it mainly revolves around in jokes and only a few people (mainly the updaters from what I remember). Most people don't come to read the updates to get bad photoshop or have details about what the updaters are doing behind the scenes...

Fun updates are what blonde was all about and should continue, but, IMO many of these pics in question are lowering the quality of the update as a whole.

[taximan007]

Can I ask ? and i am probably way off track, but has this question arisen from your thoughts or those at Blue Square ?

Just interested.

[jizzemm]

I have to agree with Tractor, I love the blonde updates, they are fun, informative, and unlike other updates, there are items on the thread in lean poker times..

TV idea is great, I came across the AWOP ones at the Virgin Festival, and watched a few from the last gukpt in manchester and they were excellent, and APAT have started doing them in the last tournament, and its a great addition, but it all comes down to cost I suppose.

Kittens can stay IMO, and if people dont like them, then im sure they will use the 'at glance' thread. Not sure how good it is, because I have never looked at it.

[AlrightJack]

Can I ask ? and i am probably way off track, but has this question arisen from your thoughts or those at Blue Square ?

Just interested.

wtf kind of question is that? It's not even worth dignifying with an answer.

[Royal Flush]

Have to agree with you Jon, i do find some of the pics amusing but if i want updates now i tend to go elsewhere as i find the reporting to be better.

[dino1980]

I have no strong opinion on the cat pics, but I think Jon makes an interesting point when he says could video footage make the coverage better? It may but there are probably more important elements that could improve the coverage, photoshops and all. I actually watch very little of AWOP's video footage, mainly because it takes away from trying to actually follow the updates. Blonde's actual update content is very good - where else can you get a count for the mateyboy you're following - and Floppy I promise i'll actually be able to help you out with one soon. Doing these events can be a grind (i've covered many for print media) and i'm sure the photoshops help the updaters day go that much quicker but in terms of providing useful content then the time could probs be put to better use. Other sites that provide updates such as PokerNews (whom some blonde updaters have done updates for) and THM  have a couple of nice touches that blonde could imitate man power allowing. I'd be surprised in Floppy and the powers that be haven't already considered these but that some problem with the forum framework makes it impossible to implemement

- tags so you can click on a name and see all the posts in the thread related to them
- chip count 'graphs' showing a player's progress thorughout the day (i believe GUKPT site probably already uses this due to Jon Raab's tracking system)
- stickied payout strucutre/blind structure/finishing pos once in the money to stop so many posts asking for them.

[bolt pp]

Have to agree with you Jon, i do find some of the pics amusing but if i want updates now i tend to go elsewhere as i find the reporting to be better.

doesn't your best pal do the reporting?

[Royal Flush]

Have to agree with you Jon, i do find some of the pics amusing but if i want updates now i tend to go elsewhere as i find the reporting to be better.

doesn't your best pal do the reporting?

Yeah i don't think the problem is with the staff its with the tools they have, like has been said a camera would be a great addition and if blonde could do something like the pokernews updates or whoever it was that did the wsop it would be great.

[TightEnd]

Thanks to Jon for raising the question. All stuff that is discussed a lot with myself and my colleagues.

My views are

1 Videos: yes would love them. Have worked with them on APAT updates and they add a lot IMO. Cost isn't a huge issue but manpower is....given the time needed to produce videos of good enough quality and upload them, the updaters feel that some reporting would be lost without extra people involved. With more and more events, lasting longer and longer, this commitment would be a strain to our funding of the updates..as 3 person updates for 6 day events recently has sown when we've come to pay for them!

2. Photoshopping: In moderation fine. Personally I believe it may have gone too far in terms of quantity and has turned something quirky into something OTT and a little clique-y (ie to a casual observer who might not "get" some of the humour and merely wants to be kept updated on freends/the event as a whole). Then again I am old and traditional and would like a bit more plain vanilla reporting sometimes.

3. Kitten pics. Enough already, done to death. However I flick past them quickly enough.

[TightEnd]

chip count graphs, text messaging to the update for players, tagging etc...all have been trialled or being prepared when IT resources and priorities allow

[Tractor]

I have no strong opinion on the cat pics, but I think Jon makes an interesting point when he says could video footage make the coverage better? It may but there are probably more important elements that could improve the coverage, photoshops and all. I actually watch very little of AWOP's video footage, mainly because it takes away from trying to actually follow the updates. Blonde's actual update content is very good - where else can you get a count for the mateyboy you're following - and Floppy I promise i'll actually be able to help you out with one soon. Doing these events can be a grind (i've covered many for print media) and i'm sure the photoshops help the updaters day go that much quicker but in terms of providing useful content then the time could probs be put to better use. Other sites that provide updates such as PokerNews (whom some blonde updaters have done updates for) and THM  have a couple of nice touches that blonde could imitate man power allowing. I'd be surprised in Floppy and the powers that be haven't already considered these but that some problem with the forum framework makes it impossible to implemement

- tags so you can click on a name and see all the posts in the thread related to them
- chip count 'graphs' showing a player's progress thorughout the day (i believe GUKPT site probably already uses this due to Jon Raab's tracking system)
- stickied payout strucutre/blind structure/finishing pos once in the money to stop so many posts asking for them.

Couldnt the payout structure/finish positions be in the updaters signature? Just a thought.
then everytime they post it would be there.

[Laxie]

I have to agree with Jane when it comes to too many photoshop pics of the updaters.  It's funny when they do them using the players in the tourney, but 20 or 30 pics of Dana, Snoopy and Floopy in various skits?  It might be hysterical for them as they banter on in the background, but to the 100+ readers it means nothing.  The the odd one or two is grand, but after that it's gone beyond 'a bit much'.

I still stand by the Gummy Bear Invasion though.  That truly was hysterical during the down time!!!

[taximan007]

Can I ask ? and i am probably way off track, but has this question arisen from your thoughts or those at Blue Square ?

Just interested.

wtf kind of question is that? It's not even worth dignifying with an answer.

Please accept my apologies as no offence was meant.

[ifm]

It wouldn't be so much of a problem if we had attractive updaters.

[Nakor]

Enough with the Kitten IMO, just change it, the idea and motivation is good but can't believe its not used as a card room/forum advert TBH.

As an aside:- Please bring back blind levels into the update's - the live clock is great but of little help when reading an update the next day.