Honestly, they're the only thing you make I don't watch. Love everything else, but I have never cared for the Sims and it's just not my cup of tea. But hey, plenty of people do and that's cool too.
I feel like you are selling yourself a bit short. A lot of people watch your content not necessarily specifically based on the topic, they watch it because they like you. Ive tried watching other restoration videos and i cant stand them. You have a very special, unique and charming manner.. and people love that first and foremost. Secondly, you can definitely earn money with shorts, it’s about 100x’s less than normal videos, but shorts have the unique ability to gain 100’s of millions of views. So in a sense, the earnings potential equals out. And also you can gain a MASSIVE amount of subs via shorts. It is true though that subscribers and views from shorts don’t carry over to the long form content very good. All in all, people love you. Maybe theres 100’s more channels out there, but i choose you. Good luck in 2024
Same and not only that there are more eyeballs on TH-cam then ever before which for me views, subs are up but ad revnue is down despite my core videos being over saturated for nearly a dacade now. So yeah it's more that there are less ad sponsors then their were because wev've been in a recestion here in the US any way for 5 years now.
I work an 40 hour IT job, and beyond that, I really just try to make the best out of my life, but I hardly create anything. You on the other hand make amazing TH-cam videos, develop the X16 and multiple retro-style games, and now there is even the Arcade. Do not be too hard on yourself, we love your content, but just do what makes you happy!
I guess I can speak for a lot of people that dropping restoration videos might not be the best move. Personally I loved to see them every single time they just dont get old. You still have a unique style for theese type of videos that other channels lack. Also the other stuff was always interesting to see, videos like the lable restoration, how X worked, making of, texas tech histroy and so much more. I even made a playlist with all that good stuff so I can just sap trhough them in a random order. Speaking of that would also loved to see more stuff on 8-Bit Keys.
What drew me to your videos was the restoration videos, you would also give a little history a long the way and it was very soothing to watch. I think people just enjoy watching something that's in terrible condition and watching it be restored, that's why there's so many of these automotive will it run videos. I stayed because of your personality and editing style. Be careful about getting away from what works on your channel. I know of MANY youtubers who had a specific thing that made them unique and stand out, and they went away from that to pursue something that they thought was more interesting and they lost 90% of their viewership. Yes some of those videos seem repetitive, but that's only from your perspective, take a step back, maybe do some periodic polls with your community and ask them what type of content would they like to see? Because the audience decides what they want to watch.
@@OmarRodriguez-vl2tq Gosh, the RetroBrite - it was always so ultra satisfying to watch. The way he invented method after method to make it better and how beautiful the machines looked afterwards ... It was so soothing and, in fact, helped me through rough times. I was distracted from my own worries for a while, which was like medicine.
i agree, i pretty much wrote the same thing in another comment. he used to do great restorations of interesting tech including the retrobrighting and then at the peak of it all he just stopped and so i stopped watching. i am still subbed but after this "rant" it makes me think about unsubbing. he's acting a little snobby
Hey David, long time fan of the channel. I'm sorry to hear about the decline in revenue, as a YTer myself I'm aware how tough things are right now. I don't wanna pile on, but I do think a lot of great points are being made that you should really take to heart. (1) The decrease in uploads is probably responsible for a large part of the decline, not only because there's less videos to collect revenue on, but also because with infrequent uploads people who weren't subscribed may stop getting recommended your videos. (2) I can see how much passion you have for the X16 and the games you make, but, (and I think you should make whatever videos you like) I don't think they appeal to as wide an audience. (3) I think it's your call if you don't want to make restoration videos, but I'll bet many people only watch you do restorations, *because* you are a lot like us, a hobbyist, not a professional and your process of how you troubleshoot is very interesting. I think eliminating them entirely might hurt the channel, but again you have to like the content you make. I wish you the best in 2024, and I hope you take comments like these, not as criticisms, but advice from people who want to see you and your channel succeed.
I really want to point out, that even when you're subscribed, you also stop getting recommendations with infrequent uploads. I watch TH-cam every day and it happens regularly that I lose sight of channels. then one day I remember them, wonder why they didn't upload anything just to discover I missed 6 months of content because TH-cam stopped recommending them. I still think the algorithm is not as half as good as people say and it's an unfortunate truth that uploading many videos helps a lot. I value quality over quantity, but the algorithm doesn't.
This is what I believe. You've made less videos and therefore I have less to watch. You're one of the few channels that I will actually watch the ads and will actually put a playlist on the house TV. Even if I'm not actually watching it. It's still generates revenue. It's still something to listen to. I will say this much. I used to enjoy your channel more than I enjoy it now simply because there was a wider variety of stuff to watch.
@@halfsourlizard9319 of course we do! in my case I use my pixel 6A to communicate with my Chromecast HD which is plugged into my 10-year-old television.
As a longterm viewer I want to give some honest and upright feedback. Actually I am one of them who shifted towards alternative channels. And the reasons were not meantioned at all. I shifted simply because the content changed. In my opinion a lot! I love this channel for it's informative and retro aspect. Beeing a software and tech developer in my 40s, I smelled some 8bit air when I was a kid. I started with the 8088 and was too young to own a VIC20 or a C64. But seeing how it all started and learn the basics in a real easy way, was my instant catch. This channel got me really hooked. I remember the video about 8 bit graphics. That one was HUGE for me! And I think all the retro tech audience might feel similar. But then all the X16 and Robots stuff started. And it's nice to see somehow. But I don't own a C64 or any other old machine. And I am not going to buy one either. So why should I be interested? In those vids there is no informative aspect at all. They are about a topic I cant (and dont want to) use. Without any retro aspect, because its newly created software. Emulation is not a thing, because why would I? There is tons of pixel art games on steam. This channel, in my opinion, is already a niche channel. And X16 or Robots might interest a very small niche inside this niche. The ones owning actual 8bit machines. A second thing is the missing informative aspect in newer videos. I understand, that the mainstream audience might change the video because they dont want to use their brains and could get overwhelmed with a video using broader vocabulary and is longer than 15 minutes. That was actually even meantioned in several videos. But now for me the crunch in missing. It feels like eating soup without salt. Other channel do have this. They take apart things like this channel used to. They explain or hack them. They show things. So... that is what I want to see... Yet I would rather see them in this channel again instead of somewhere else. Because I love the style and the way its explained. Once there was a quote on this channel that goes: "...ok, so let's take this thing apart. Because....that's what we do!"
I agree. He has shifted the content from retro stuff to his own projects of retro computing. I get he has to do something for a living, but the last videos were all focused about himself instead of we all like and came to see here.
I want to add some possible topics that I'd love to see: For me it would be really interesting to learn what role that 8088 played (as a kid I got this as my first computer from my dad when he bought a 2 or 386). Also those old machines had co-processors. Why? And how did that work? Maybe that fits in somewhere.
They're good business too. Restoration videos appeal to a wide audience. Restorations are an ever growing market. On the other hand, the market for history videos about 40 year old computers is ever shrinking because we are literally dying off. You might grab a 20 year olds attention with a restoration video because he's more interested with the process than the product. I don't know if you can grab that same 20 year olds attention with the history of an obscure 1982 IBM computer.
I love your channel, but I have to say that the reduced income from patreon is directly related to the fact that you're making less videos. People supported you because they liked your videos. Once you started making less of them, people can understandably feel like their support is no longer worth it since they're getting less content. Not a rant. Just pointing it out that some of these are consequences of actions taken. Have a good one!
Not to mention a good half of his videos now are about his games or other projects like the Commander X16. Don't get me wrong, I think that stuff's cool, but it's not what got me watching the channel in the first place. Old hardware reviews, restorations and all that stuff is what made me a subscriber. I think a lot of people are probably like me - not as interested in more videos about Planet X3, Petscii Robots, X16, etc. Not throwing shade at David, just being honest. :)
I wholeheartly agree with this comment, also adding there's been a lot of history videos which are great but we are missing the 8bitkey / restoration videos. Those in my opinion are where things shine.
Also, the production value of the videos seem to have dropped in favor of more B-Roll and less information per video. It's not hard to see why people are getting turned off, especially considering how long new videos now take to come out.
i have to be honest, the restos and retrobrites are what got me hooked, and i admit i havent watched many videos beyond those. watching old dusty tech being opened up, cleaned, repaired, and explained as you've done in the past is what im referring to. dont know what that's worth to you but there it is.
I actually enjoyed all those videos he made beyond just repairs. To be fair though, I'm also a computer science major, so maybe that's why the other stuff appeals to me more
THIS. Like it or not, youtube creators get pigeon holed, whether they want to or not, simply because there are so many channels to choose from. Interests can be very specific and you can watch very specific things on TH-cam. Seems that most channels, once the become successful they think "wow, now I can do anything I want and branch out." Nope. Doesn't fly. I've been watching since the first days of TH-cam and I've now seen probably a dozen channels go that route and flounder. As technology has advanced we've gone from "broadcasting" with limited media channels to "narrowcasting" (cable and internet). Bottom line is that you gain an audience doing something and that's also how you keep an audience. Whether you get bored doing the same thing over and over is irrelevant. It's how the free marketplace works.
@@videodistro But he isn't doing 'the same thing' as a few years ago. I can understand the reason he is just promoting products now like so many other channels turned in Tell Sell crap, but that doesn't mean I have to keep watching them.
I really agree. Doing more of the kind of subject matter David really likes, like history, will make his talent shine even more brightly. I'm very much looking forward to it.
@@projectartichoke That's the thing. He was doing an awesome series about early electronic companies in his area of Texas, but canceled it because it wasn't profitable enough. All these channels do the same thing: It starts off good, gets popular, and then gets seen as a cash cow by the owner. That's when people start moving to lesser known channels that haven't turned into infomercials. Rinse. Repeat.
@@misterhat5823 8-bit Guy is not and has never been an infomercial. Maybe you’re referring to other channels that do that. And there’s nothing wrong with him occasionally plugging his own products because they’re still within the context of the show, being retro gaming and computer products like the X16. Honestly I’d like to see more videos of that and watch the X16 community grow.
@@2crude2crudeofficialband3 I’d also add, that David says he is still in the red with the Commander X16 project. Given his passion (and talent) for coding 8-bit games, it’s very clear (and very believable), that his real motivation for working on the X16 is simply to provide a hardware platform that he’d love to code for. i.e. His dream system (from his retro 8-bit coding POV). He should feature the X16 in videos as much as he wants. If the minority are too thick to understand, and want to call it an infomercial, then let them troll and go on their merry way. The rest of us (and David), should just ignore the ignorant minority. 😎
Eh, I really like your restoration videos. It’s not only about the topic but also about the way you do them. They are pretty meditative and thus not giving repetitive feeling. I feel relaxed after them, it’s just a pleasure to watch cool tech being brought back to life while listening to awesome soundtrack. Thank you for your work anyway
Restoration videos are cool and all, but the history videos are absolutely incredible. I've watched the Commodore series multiple times, and I think they're a way you really stand out from the crowd. Whatever you do, I love your work! I really appreciate the tone, the quality, and the fact that you haven't succumbed to the push toward short form content and edits full of jump cuts and useless meme inserts.
everytime I go overseas, I take a downloaded version of the entire Commodore series with me and waych it over and over! Still hoping to see one on the TI-99 one day!
Well, I enjoy all your videos. Even the solar panels one. It's not about a content that much. It's more about the person who does it. I watch it because of you. You make your content fun to watch.
I also agree, and I would like to add, that you make it easy to understand. And even though I am not an apple fan, the videos about them are very interesting.
I agree. Great style. Just enough production quality but not over produced. Like Perifractic, which I like and appreciate the content, but maybe goes overboard on the cutesy stuff. Just too much of it. David hits it right.
Hi! Long time viewer - from different accounts - since the iBook Guy days! Like many other said in the comments, I also feel like one of the main reasons the channel is not performing as well may be the shift in content type. I loved your restoration videos, as well as history videos, 8 bit Keys, and general tech videos (like how to mount-wall anything, or the EcoFlow videos you've mentioned ...). They had your unique style of doing things from a hobbyist's perspective, they had a great storytelling, and you were always learning (or re-learning) new stuff. I distinctly remember I took time out of my day just to enjoy your latest video when it came out - even way before the pandemic! "How would that piece come out from the Hydrogen peroxide?" - "How would you troubleshoot such a problem?" - "How good would be the before/after comparison?"... Seeing old piece of technology be taken care feels really good! Then came the days of Commander X16 and news about your games.. and like you, I'm not the kind of person that goes under the video and comments "Not interesting" - I just skip the video... But that implies that I'm not sending you a percentage of my Premium subscription, and I'm also looking for other creators/channels that can give me what I want. And I don't see it as "supporting smaller channels" per-se, but rather like "I have one hour of lunch break, and I want to enjoy some great content. What's on the plate?". If I don't find anything interesting in my "subscribed" feed, I start looking for newer channels that I may like. That's how I discovered the SerialPort museum, or Cathod Ray Dude, for example. Please take this comment for what it is.. a long-time viewer, that really enjoys your content and your style, and wants your and your content to be successful, that is giving some honest feedback under a video where I feel it's appropriate. Cheers from Italy!
I always love your restoration videos. It doesn't matter what your restoring, I always find it very interesting and even educational. It's not about if other people are doing it, it about how they do it and I personally like the way you do it. It got me to even restore stuff myself. And yes, we need more history videos.
I periodically revisit the famous Vic-20 restoration video; and I still tear up a bit at the end. It's like watching an old beat-up work dog being restored to health and given a loving home. Hell, I'm tearing up just talking about it. (It helps that my 1st computer was a Vic-20). And I, too, have taken a chance at restoring old computers I couldn't afford when they were new, thanks to his inspiration.
Most of those "restoration" channels are fake content farms that drop stuff in the mud or let it soak in abrasives to artificially induce age and wear. Then they post that same "restoration" video to about 50-100 duplicate channels.
I am English and live in England, but I particularly liked the 3 videos where you showed the buildings in Dallas where well known computer companies had their offices in the 1980's and what they are now used for. I would like to see the buildings where some of the Dallas gaming companies like ID software were based. Dallas is very alien and dynamic to European eyes, so the computer/electronics side is historically interesting.
I'm in California and found your comment interesting. I had a job offer in Dallas and found it to be alien to me as well, LOL. I agree, I really liked those videos too. Cheers.
Bro, that's a great point you made. I also enjoyed the Dallas videos. Dallas does have a very rich history of Tech and Gaming Companies. It would be awesome to see that history through the 8-,Bit Guy's narrative. I'm an American and I do the same thing with some British TH-camrs. I love seeing England's tech history or hearing what it was like to be a Commodore or Nintendo fan in Britain... Absolute respect.❤️👍🤩
You are an oasis in the TH-cam desert. I appreciate the work you do in the videos. I can't overstate how much you take me back to much happier times.
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I remember watching my first 8bit guy video, it was the "How oldschool graphics worked" series - around the time it released. Been watching absolutely every video you've done ever since. I enjoy the restauration projects, but my favorite kind of content you make really is your educational videos - about programming and hardware - and your personal projects!! Thank you for all your work so far, and I wish a lot of success in 2024 for you and your endevours!
Agreed. Every time I have a project, part of me wants to record and upload it for people to watch. Even if it doesn't work out. I know I like to watch other people's projects
Dave - don't forget about your roadtrip videos - Those are always enjoyable and you bring so much to the table with your knowledge and background - how about tech history roadtrips? You have one of my absolutely favorite channels of all time and I have learned so much from your content. I grew up in the Dallas area and my dad was an engineer at Texas Instruments in the 70s and 80s and I learned a ton of stuff I didn't know about your history of tech in Texas - Cheers for 2024 and thank you for all you do!
I find shorts and the noise that comes with them unpleasant. I’m glad I found your channel recently, it’s both soothing and interesting. It’s the “zone”, lol.
I know there's plenty of restoration channels now, but I feel you had a special touch with yours. You had a particular pacing and editing style for them that a lot of other channels don't do. You have the commentary, the knowledge, and the passion for the object you're restoring, and I get from other restoration channels, these are people that just grabbed an SNES and restored it, but they're not particularly connected to the item, and they follow more of an ASMR route so there's no commentary. Your knowledge and your expertise is what sets your restorations videos apart. You know what you're doing and you know how to demonstrate the restored item as well.
David, you're sounding burnt out here. Don't let trolls get you down, you do phenomenal work and it's been a pleasure learning from you over the years.
Yeah, that was the feeling I got too , make sure you don't get burnt-out David: try to not get hung up on only the negatives comments/voices and know that a lot of people love the content you make
It's perfectly fine to be burned out creatively. But I think it's important to then allow yourself to be that. And also important to let your viewers know that it's because of this, instead of trying to blame all kinds of different factors.
I would avoid calling everyone who isn't a fanboy automatically a "troll". People have opinions, and it might not always align with the opinions of the creator.
Completely disagree here. He is being very clear and concise about his plans. Its a small change in direction, I hear no burnout. And to look objectively at your content and make a change is no easy thing to do. I'm glad for any content that's created, love watching these videos. ❤
Pre-pandemic subscriber here, David. An OG, one might say. Thanks for everything you do. I'm always interested in any videos you choose to make, because you have good judgment about what is interesting and you make good videos! Looking forward to seeing more about your arcade and hoping you can keep the lights and circuit boards on for the foreseeable future. Cheers from California.
I can see the reasoning behind the "pandemic" but it was never illegal to walk outside during any part of covid, not sure how it was over in US. Things were rolling on over here like always barely anything at all had changed. The thing is people below the age of 50-60 were pretty much unaffected and we all got covid during March-June big deal. I've had common colds way, way worse. Once this fact hit people, ie you're not going to drop dead, everything went back to normal. I do know that many sites had a big increase in numbers and I'm guessing it was because people were terrified of nothing at all because let's be real nothing has changed since 2020. The virus is still going around all the time, I myself have had covid 3 times this year I think. I honestly don't know I stopped checking back in early 2021. The vaccine is a complete joke but hopefully they'll get something going eventually.
Seeing a big decrease in the frequency of videos as Commander X16 development progressed, I'm sorry to say I thought the X16 project was the cause of the lack of videos, and so I found myself resenting the X16 itself, a little bit. I hope I didn't express that feeling; it's the sort of project I would absolutely have loved to have done ever since I was a kid and I wouldn't want to... rain on someone else with similar feelings. (Bluh! Tired! Not find words!) Anyway, now I just think it's super-awesome you've formed Commander Computers Llc! :D Besides, I like the documentary videos and especially look forward to the Atari ones. :) -- I'd love to see something of the arcade, too.
You know what Dave, it's not the repetitive nature of the videos necessarily, it's enjoying your personality when you walk us through your renovations. I like them, for what it's worth.
Exactly! They aren’t just restorations, they’re almost mini documentaries and adventures going over how the computer is built and troubleshooting issues by understanding the hardware.
@@wil7173 I never met Dave, but I feel like we were highschool buddies when I watch his videos. He just has an honest heart and he shares his enthusiasm for cool stuff with us. I dig. I'll tell you this though: his arcade idea is quite ambitious. I followed Punished Props on their journey over the last decade. It can be super challenging.
I'm going to add my voice to the pile; other people may do restorations "better" but I enjoy your style the most out of any youtuber. You're very honest and you share your process of puzzling out of the restoration problems with us, which is rare to find. Also it's a good expression of who you are, and I watch this channel for YOU more than anything you do. If you ever have an interesting restoration project, please make it into a video! I'm actually sad you didn't document a few of the arcade restorations, because they would have been a fascinating watch (hint hint)
I think one of the main problems is because you don't post often enough. Your videos aren't being recommended as often. It's a miracle I found this one. You have to play the algorithm game to stay relevant. Keep your head up. Love the content.
🤔🤔🤔🤔 It seems to be one of main assumptions of yt algorithm... To publish very often even worse quality... In some areas it's not the problem when you have videos ex. what you ate lately... In some like tech it's much more challenging... Many suffer from this rule... But how can you fight against algorithm...?
@@joecarnegy But if a channel posts rarely, what's the benifet of ubsubbing?? If a channel only has some vids I'm interested in then posting rarely is a big positive. Any channel that posts a lot, better have vast majority I want to watch for me to sub.
8-bit guy: how many times would you want to see me restore an old computer? Me: yes. Kidding aside, you do whatever you have to and I'll be here watching it, cause your histories of old platforms are quite the product.
David, One thing that has kept me around is your transparency and candidness. It's nice to hear the behind-the-scenes tribulations whether it's a road block on a project or business/TH-cam trouble. Wishing you the best in 2024!
This. The thing I enjoy the most about David’s restoration videos is how he goes over things that didn’t work, why they didn’t work, and how he came up with a better solution. I think they would make great educational videos for kids.
@@CourtWatchAu he hit the writers block, and put the channel on a hiatus. then covid came around and he wasn't able to go out and purchase new keyboards
@@fyr8513 oh ok, thanks. imo he should reactivate that hannel and discuss interesting retro music gear . The Arcade is a big risk, i mean spending on rent foor the place plus you have to sraff it, plus repar the games/machines to put in it . I hope it works out but i think he shouold maybe visit schools with a workshop teaching retro coding or something, teaching and explaining is a string skill he has
Your Docu-videos, like the ones about Commodore, the different types of hardware etc is brilliant. Contentwise, 2023 hasn't been nearly the same quality or been particulary interesting.
Agreed. The videos on the new studio and the solar power stuff were fine, but not really on topic. The history videos were great but there hasn't been one in a while.
David, your restoration videos are absolutely your best ones hands-down, and they have never felt repetitive to me, and I think most people would agree with that. I think your documentary videos are great as well, but the restoration ones are what got my hooked on watching your channel in the first place, so I hope you don't stop doing them. No one seems to have that specific restoration touch that you do. I hope things get better for your channel in 2024!
Especially when YT's algorithm favours upload frequency while also encouraging a rather narrow video duration (based on stats of click through rate and so on), which from other channels I've seen talk about it seems to be between 10 and 30 minutes. YT reinforces its own bias doing this, ie. fewer people watch all of a longer (say) 1 hour video, which means less ad exposure, so YT doesn't recommend the video as heavily, so fewer people see it anyway, hence fewer numbers to begin with, and round it goes. Shorter videos are likewise poorly promoted because YT can't cram so many ads into them. It doesn't help that YT also has so many other issues such as people being unsubscribed from channels without their involvement, like/dislike votes removed, shadowbanning, censorship, the removal of the dislike count (done purely to protect mainstream legacy media channels), a highly biased search function that favours legacy media channels, etc. YT also now doesn't give a damn about subscriber count. Dave Cullen (Computing Forever) explained several years ago that YT openly stated its intention to move towards a model where it functioned more like a conventional broadcaster (hence the creation of the Premiere feature), under which the notion of subscriber count becomes moot, ie. moving away from the platform focus being the creators towards one where all that matters is each video regarded separately, promoted or otherwise based on algorithms that follow view/interaction-related ad trends. It's like the beast chasing its own tail, YT reinforces the very things which damage channels' success, so they double down on bad policies, and round it goes. It reminds me of a neighbour's son who had a *huge* iTunes collection, but he knew little to nothing of the hundreds of bands and artists involved, to him each song was a separate entity, the 'album' notion meaningless. Recently I've noticed TV videos being repeatedly shown by default at low resolution, I keep having to manually select 1080p, and I'm on a 300meg link so download speed isn't an issue (works fine with anything else). Meanwhile, viewing YT on a TV using the YT-supplied app (like my gf does) has become a rotten experience, with insane numbers of ads, endless delays in function, consistently low initial resolution (often just 240p or 360p), annoying popup questions hunting for viewing data, etc. It's utterly different to how the TV app behaved when I first bought the TV about 5 years ago. Even the way YT presents post-watch recommendations for further viewing has changed for the worse, now one will often see very few or even no videos by the same creator after watching one of their videos; the algorithm far more heavily promotes other channels, again because YT doesn't care about individual creators anymore, they are not the foundation of the way YT wants its system to operate in the future. And personally I despise the Shorts format, but I suppose some people like it. No surprise they don't help with sub count though. In the end, YT will destroy the very things that made the platform popular in the first place.
David, I appreciate everything you've done thus far-the retro computer restorations, the documentaries, even the in-depth look at your solar journey, I still think you have one of the most unique retro tech channels on youtube, and while I'm sad the merch is going away, I understand completely and am all for seeing what you have planned in 2024 and beyond.
Aloha David. Wishing you the best. Love your restoration videos. I like it when people not only demonstrate how to do it but also explains why certain things are done. Your documentary videos are also superb. I prefer your channel over others because you really put your heart and soul into whatever you're doing. Unfortunately there's no pleasing some people.
I guess I couldn't say it better but I want to add that your restoration videos belong to the best here on TH-cam. Yeah, I had an C64 for a few weeks and wasted around 4 years of my youth on an Amiga A600 but I'm not picky about what you restore. I really enjoyed that MoonBase restoration although I've been only one time in my life to an arcade in the Netherlands. (I'm from Germany. Back than you had to be the age of 18 to go to any arcade. They kind of changed that just before I got 18. But at that point I already had the fastest PC hardware money could buy so I didn't care at all.) So count me in for 'wild' arcade restorations.
I'll be honest I used to both subscribe to your channel and watch all the videos religiously, and also subscribe to your patreon but once you stepped away from doing restoration videos I also stepped away. I still watch most of your videos periodically but certainly not the day that they come out. I really enjoyed your time here on TH-cam and I'm glad you're going to continue to make content but at least from my perspective one of the biggest draws was both your restoration and your educational content and a lot of that has ended. I do want to at least mention though that one thing that you mentioned in your video is incorrect. Long form content is not only Alive and Well on TH-cam it's actually flourishing with videos of nine and 10 hours getting millions of views in days . A lot of documentary style content is really flourishing on the site another thing that I wanted to mention was that what TH-cam shorts do is not necessarily turn into direct subscribers but it gets your content into the TH-cam algorithm in such a way that your videos become more visible to other people. So a person watches your short and they liked it and then their channel will eventually get recommended to them as part of their regular viewing experience and that tends to be where the value of TH-cam shorts lies
The very first video I ever saw of yours was called how oldschool graphics worked or something like that where you explained how sprites on a screen interacted with one another on the NES. I was absolutely fascinated and immediately subscribed to your channel. While I haven't watched all of your videos since then, I've never watched a video that I didn't like. You make incredible content, and I will always be a subscriber. Keep up the great work my friend, and I wish you all the best. Thanks for making great videos over the years, and I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
I find videos like this- with frank honesty and talking about real issues- to be totally informative and wholly in short supply from other creators. I've always loved your videos, and if you can find a way to keep things going, I will show up for your videos. But- to state the obvious- you need to take care of you and yours... so focus on what you can do to support yourself. All the best, dude, you're a gentleman and a scholar. Good luck with the arcade, I'm sure it will shape up to be completely spectacular!!!
Great to hear that you focus on those history videos. They have been the most enjoyable and interesting content in your channel. Sad to hear that channel revenues are down but you summarized the reasons well and it's just fact of life that nothing lasts for ever. Thumbs up here that your new plans will eventually pay off all the effort required!
This is a great channel! Very cool to hear about Texas' role in the tech industry! Thanks for all you've shared! I would still explore making some shorts that advertise what you're doing on your channel. Like short commercials. Maybe consider only one or two sponsorships? The Street Fighter 2 restoration was neat! The Arcade sounds great! I should plan a trip!
Maybe... I would say that usagi and tech time traveller are generally more interesting to me, as they focus more on capabilities and real life use of the machines and showcase the rarer specimens. Not to say that I don't like 8bitguy's content, just not all of it. The mega65 should be pretty interesting, but what annoys me more is all the cool stuff that was sent in where he said in that mailbag ep there would be a video on at some point - it's been a long time coming and I'd rather see that than 20 vic20s in for repair or whatever. Hope the arcade goes well for him though.
Not to me, it's just one of the oldest. The main reason I don't watch as much anymore is precisely due to other channels simply being more interesting/skilled. Which doesn't mean I think this channel is bad, it means I just moved on.
I just saw one of your first video and you were happy to have the first 200k followers. Look behind you and you will find the reply. Make shorts also, you will improve views again :)
Take sponsorship, we just skip the 60/90 seconds anyway to get to your great content. Restoration videos brought me to your channel so would love to see more.
I don’t want to discourage, so in fact I want to ENCOURAGE. We had a retro arcade open here in Melbourne FL about a year ago. It lasted a year. It was a single admission, unlimited free play format. They had awesome games. I think some of the things that sunk them were: pricey admission, long lines for popular games, and bad (real bad) bar food. Keep this in mind, and I pray you find huge success!!
On the flipside, I’ve seen arcades in my area flourish by having a mix of old and new games, of all different types (including a healthy mix of pinball, skeeball, etc), then really good food and drinks. One had a cider brewery inside it, the other had a rotating food truck section just outside. Having food/drink onsite does seem to be a key factor to success in the arcades I’ve seen, and food/drink margins are generally better than a single arcade machine.
I also hope he does well. To perhaps state the obvious, maybe the customer is a certain kind of person. Despite my love (like?) of retro games, I don't think that person is me. I have to believe the novelty of a place like that would wear off very quickly, and I wonder how many repeat customers they ever get. I gotta believe it's hard to make a living.
Yeah, we just had two Game Time Arcades close in the Central Florida area. There was no one there on the weekdays. With all of the square footage and electricity needed for an arcade, you just can't make it on weekend-only money. But, I absolutely wish them well. Maybe Texas is a different market.
@@ellavaderknows Doubt TX is different from any other market. The one retro arcade where I live, I found accidentally. I wandered in there on a Saturday afternoon. Might have been 3 or 4 customers. I didn't partake.
How much did they charge for admission? There's an arcade around me that charges $10 Canukistan rubles, which I feel is actually too little if you're going to be there for 2-3 hours. 30+ years ago I would bring a roll of quarters in and it was gone in under 2 hours (to give you an idea of how good I was). Now that arcades themselves are "retro" I would like them to survive and flourish, but one thing I do not miss is popping off those rolls. $10 was real money back then!
You should consider livestreaming some of your programing sessions. It would give the opportunity for super chats and fan interaction while you create something fun. It would also give some experience or exposure to what it's like to program for the Commander X16.
@@antayat123 IDK, Personally I would rather play games than watch someone play a game. I was think more of keeping with the educational theme of his channel. A demo every now and then wouldn't hurt though.
There are more reasons for people switching away than just the mentioned. I do not think there is an oversaturation of repair videos. I love people poking around, the adventure of finding the fault, the methods used for debugging, etc. But what changed is your content. I do not care about energy grids in murica, i do not care about the development of the commander x16, etc. Its not about "I dont like these videos". I just dont watch them, but then there is not much left to watch. Look at your video history, there were in the last 9 Months only 2 Videos that actually peek my interest. All the rest is about stuff that does not at all interest me. You built your core-community on retro-PCs, explaining stuff, digging into it, etc. And then you wonder your community moving away when the core-topics are seldomly adressed... As a breakdown: In the last year, there were only 3 videos that peaked my interest. So I get my dose of retro somewhere else. I like the videos that you do on retro stuff, I even like the stories about AST, etc, but that content is not comming anymore unfortunately.
Hi David, I’m going to give you my positive and honest opinion here. I have been subscribed to your channel for many many years now and I watch your videos for 2 reasons, first because of you, and second because of the content. I first connected to your channel because of the content, I remember the days of the retrobrite and video console restoration content, and that is what hooked me in. I even loved the videos on you working on your office space too. I was always amazed and so excited to watch you restore computers and consoles, and to watch you work on your office space. The way you present is very relaxing. I would honestly say personally my watch percentage of your content has dropped off due to the content change, and frequency of uploaded videos. A good suggestion is to post a variety of content that connects to all of your subscriber community. I love your channel David and I am excited to see where this grows in 2024. Lastly I’m not a fan of shorts, I enjoy the length of your videos and sitting down in the evening watching your content, and your restoration videos may not be to what other channels are doing, but it’s more about you, we watch your videos because of you, your knowledge and they way you present them. Thank you for all you do David, you’re truly an inspiration to hobbyists and collectors like myself.
The biggest problem is content, or lack thereof. Looking at the number of videos you made last year, its worse then you think, it's less then one a month. That's just not enough to grow your channel or even maintain it. You don't need to upload 3-5 videos a day like some people do, but if you could commit to 1 a week you could do like Adrian Black who recently quit his day job to TH-cam as his career. He does 1 a week on his main + a mid-week mini mail-call on his second channel. We'd love to watch more of you! Oh, and take sponsorships! We know you need to eat ffs, we won't think less of you for getting paid in a new way since ad revenue is in the toilet.
Definitely. To add something else to this great advice... stop promoting those weird games and X16 thing every video! It was like, 80% of his output last year... Seriously, while he may think it's giving people a cool look at programming and game design, it's still just his merch... and nobody in these comments are asking for more basic sales pitch style vids on attack of the pesky robots. If he actually showed code and presented the videos in a technology focused way, with line by line code, that would be awesome... but it's just basic repeated stuff about sales and pre-orders.... smh
@@mattyb33ts This is also a good point. The only reason people complain about your X16 and Planet Xwhatever content Dave, is that it's almost all you have done the past year. My feed finally tells me 8-bit guy, one of my first YT subscriptions has finally uploaded, and it's ANOTHER X16 or petscii robots video! NO I would like to see what I subbed for at least once in a while! Anyone else I would have cancelled by now.
@@mattyb33ts I agree mostly. I liked his channel back when it was tech history/resto style stuff. The solar panel is actually the most interesting content he's come out with in a while to me, the X16 is something I don't have any interest in and last year really just felt like 1 giant advertisement for it. I wasn't around in the 8 bit era to be nostalgic about it and I have no interest in reliving it via a new production 8 bit computers and software. But what I do find interesting is history and him talking about historic computers and tech as a historical subject.
I have to say that I'm kinda sad about the end of the restoration videos I know they are repetitive, but each one are different in a way. they are also really satisfying to watch, those music you were using are amazing and I was really hoping they would be back in 2024 I'll still be there to watch you anyway ! Cheers from France
It must be hard to keep a channel going. I appreciate the work that goes into making them. I will watch whatever you come up with. They are always well done.
I have been a fan prepandemic and I’m a bit sad to see you struggling. I’ll second what others have mentioned, I’ve noticed the frequency/quantity of videos has dropped, and I suspect this has negatively impacted you more than you realise (I don’t blame you for taking your time, as a long time viewer I know you’ve been run flat out for a while now) maybe doing shorter videos more frequently may benefit you. Especially if you are able to use existing resources to make them. I’m excited to see what you’re going to do, I’ve taken direct inspiration from your solar project and am even doing one of my own now. I watch your videos for you, I really don’t care much for the topic, when you talk on something it becomes interesting, it’s your enthusiasm and joy that makes the videos worth watching. Contextual sponsorships are OK in my eyes, if you’re actually using the sponsor for something to support the video it makes more sense than these fake sponsorships that have creators misleading their viewers saying things that aren’t truthful. I much prefer seeing stuff that you have vetted. The only thing that may be worth in the very long term may be worth partnering up with one of these creator owned platforms like nebula and creating maybe an exclusive miniseries for them or something where you deep dive into a topic, no idea if it would be worthwhile, but it may be a revenue source that is a little more guaranteed. Take your time, do what works best for you and I just hope we get to see more of what is going on for you in the future because you do so many things that are interesting, and I will always be there looking forward to it.
So happy you decided to focus on the history videos, they’re definitely my favorite. The thing that got me hooked on your channel was a deep dive you did into c64 architecture (how video buffer worked, interrupts, etc). No idea if that’s popular but it’s what keeps me coming back. Fascinating subject.
The lack of uploads is what's affecting your channel the most, also you have a lot of content to recycle and repurpose for shorts and that could give you a boost with minimal effort.
and regularity: I've noticed that I've learnt when my favorite creators post and I'm more excited when they do, compared to other creators that don't post with a regular cadence. As with Internet connections: jitter and latency are terrible for performance.
@@dmacpher Agreed @dmacpher. Also the idea that other creators are taking views away is not the best perspective. It's a community. I watch many other videos, and I surmise other people do as well, from a lot of those channels. And I do subscribe to the good shorts. There's just not a lot of new retro content here. People are generally not going to go back and watch videos they have already seen. But, it does come down to doing what you love, and just "making content" for the sake of it will no doubt impact one's happiness. That's why TH-cam Shorts isn't a bad idea I think, because it might (maybe) make creation of content less time consuming. I also always enjoyed donation unboxing videos which really don't need a lot of planning I would imagine.
@@jamesg872I agree with the idea of shorts. Watch a few and I do subscribe to ones that really get my attention. Maybe use it as a way to make a preview for episodes, maybe get a few extra watch counts from it.
Actually it isn't surprising that it's down so much. David is certainly right about Covid, Then there's the fact that he's put up far fewer videos. Then the ones that have been put up have been infomercials. Lastly you've got YT going hog wild with the ads to the point that even little old ladies know how to install adblock.
David! It's the WAY you compose and edit your restorations, the 8-Bit Guy style restore videos are my favourite. It's how you make the videos, not the video subject itself.
I know a lot of people are doing restoration videos, but honestly David yours are much better that 90% of them. Your enthusiasm for retro tech and the specific model you're restoring is infectious and got me into restoring old tech myself. Plus your style of mixing with cuts and music is leaps and bounds better than others like Adrian's Basement, which tend to drone on and on to the point of somnambulism. Please keep doing what you're doing the way you do it, as that is what sets you apart from all the other channels you feel are saturating the market.
18:20 The thing you're missing about the restoration videos is that _we_ aren't restoring things every few weeks/months. So we live vicariously through watching you and others do it. It's not boring, because each restoration is a bit different -- different bits to diagnose/fix, different retro-brighting techniques (like when you had the UV bucket setup vs. outdoor sunlight), etc.
For me, the focus on x16 detracted me from watching many of the vids. Not sure what I thought the x16 was going to help but as it took over and seemed to become the primary focus, I lost interest. But, I can totally understand your overall feelings regarding youtube and content etc. I made a lot less videos in 2023 than I even realized and my channel suffered hugely. I hope you find your passion and focus in 2024. Keep on doing your thing!
Firstly, The 8-Bit Guy has been my favourite YT channel for many years. This is the only channel I have the bell set on. My favourite kind of videos must be gamedev ones, as it correlates with my gamedev passion, and it's so cool to see David make it work and even make physical collector goodies. It's a very big inspiration for me. Arnold once said "don't listen to nay-sayers" as one of his most important life rules. In this era many people feel significant only by judging others, that's why whatever good or bad thing you make, people will always complain. It doesn't have to do anything with the thing. I also love David's restoration videos. I don't agree that other channels are making the 8-bit guy's restoration obsolete. The thing is, part of David's charm is probably in the fact that it's so easy to associate with him. When you see other DIY/resto channels, they always have very expensive big tools and machinery (like CNC, etc). Their method is much more advanced than I ever hope to be. But David feels just like a guy with some soldering iron, paper towels, some windex and whatnot he buys from a simple store for the project. And he's not a rocket scientist, but mostly uses basic logic and his passions. These are ones of the only true DIY videos, and the 8-bit guy knows how to make them interesting. So it's a big satisfaction to see every new retro-brighting, it never gets old. Even the way David makes his charts and whatnot is very associable - these are not some flashy aftereffect graphics, but something almost everyone can do with a video editor and paint. And combine that with the fact that it's probably the only big channel on YT to not constantly be having sponsored commercials, it makes it truly retro - this is the TH-cam from the times long passed. I wish David luck and I hope that there will still be a lot of videos on his own projects to feed my inspiration. And maybe some restorations still? Hehe.
I like your restoration videos not just because they are good, but because you are literally the only youtuber I trust to not fake them. I'm very curious about the X16 news/plans you hinted at and I'm looking forward to the upcoming documentaries. They are always great.
I am a casual viewer of your channel. I started watching a few years ago because I grew up with a Commodore 64 in the house, and found your content very interesting. It's hard to stay in the TH-cam algorithm if you don't post every few days. That strategy isn't for everyone, and it's inspiring that your fan-base has been there to support you for so long. I wish you all the best in flexing toward a new future.
The restoration videos were my favorite, and I feel like a very big portion of the people who have subscribed to you enjoy those videos. I really think that if you were to start doing more of those you would be seeing more views and in turn more revenue.
100% agreed. I initially came for the history and resto videos, liked the occasional personal project. In the last year and a bit though, it was mostly personal and fairly random stuff that didn't really interest me too much, and way too much focus on his game. I appreciate that this was a work of love and it's close to his heart, but I just don't have any interest in it whatsoever, so I skipped most of his videos for over a year. If this were to go back more towards history, strange hardware and some fixeruppers, I'd devour every single one of these.
No restorations breaks my heart, that's my favorite thing you produce. It's hard for me to get into the vintage gaming videos. Nonetheless I wish you absolutely nothing but the best and nothing but success. Be well David!
Appreciate your candour David. Didn't realise things were quite so tough regarding ad-revenue, but it explains some of the changes that I've seen in the schedules and direction of other content creators too. Hope that the arcade project takes off, sounds like an interesting venture!
You have one of the best channels! Im 52, live in Round Rock Texas. I grew up with 8-bit computers in a Radio Shack franchise store my dad had at the time. I still have my CoCo 2 & 3 with all accessories. Ill have to visit the pinball arcade once you open. Keep us updated!
I'd enjoy seeing you play around with some 8-bit keys again if you ever feel the urge. Some of the tunes you managed to pull out of those limited devices were really nice to listen to. Happy new year!
I really enjoy your restoration videos. I feel like you cover a lot of history in the restoration videos and they feel like small documentaries while also seeing the old school components. I hope to see many more for your arcade restorations in the future.
Glad to hear that you plan on pursuing the documentary style content. The ones you've done so far are good, and the format really works with the long format videos that TH-cam wants from its creators.
You are right, your documentary-style videos are absolutely your best videos, and I'm very happy to hear you'll be making more. I really look forward to seeing more historical content. You're a fantastic narrator and presenter, no one else even comes close.
can't stand them either. they're a plague I've blocked them on my desktop, there's a bunch of extensions that allow that. I use revanced on my phone which also completely disables them.
I'm all for more documentary type videos about older computers because I love history in general, but I do miss restoration videos. I can totaly understand if they are repetitive for you, but for us it's amazing. No one quite does computer restoration videos like you do, because they are also a sort of documentary about the history of the device you are restoring. Not to mention they are very relaxing to watch. I'm also fascinated about all the electronic tests you make on those videos. But, it's your channel and if you're not having fun with those types of videos we do understand.
this used to be my fav channel on TH-cam but seems like there has been an attitude change lately towards being more bitter (i.e. complaining about viewers). Plus I’m kinda over all the software games and x16 etc project type things, my fav ones were the build on his shed, installing solar panels, details about how his house flooded, restoring the old arcade machine etc. I know he has to make a living and all but seems like I’m watching product commercials lately.
I'm sorry to hear that things aren't going so great but I'm glad you're still willing to keep on trucking. I can't wait for more videos and wish you good luck in the arcade business.
I will be that person in the back raising my hand " I will miss your resto vids, they are the ones that bring back thouse childhood feels, and there is just something soothing about the way you do them. NO OTHER TH-camR does them like that" - Happy new year bud
My two cents: i also despite shorts for what they represent to long-time content, but i can't deny is a format that i've foreseen would became what is it today back in the day. Is just what it is, short content is easy to follow and help that lazy modern spirit of stressful everyday modern life. Having said so, for me TikTok is a mess (from every single point) but TH-cam Shorts is like a cleaned up version of that, and my subs list is huge so my recommendations work sometimes. I did discover new channels through shorts, this is what im telling you, people will discover your channel through shorts if you just use the right formula. For me, is just the shorts that take interesting parts of a large video, those are the ones that make me click the channel's name. I'd also consider painting the new studio wall. White is ok, but i think a lot of people find your videos relaxing, as weird as it may sound. White is neat and clean, but is not very relaxing, the old studio, though not perfect, was a little cozier. I realize this may sound stupid, but youtube nowadays is stupid, there is so many content out there that people tend to choose their content for more trivial reasons everyday.
Throughout the years, my most viewed content of yours has always been restoration videos. In my opinion, your restorations are better than most of competition, because you provide tons of cool details and information while doing them. Your editing is also top notch. Don't look at what others are doing and don't be intimidated, just do what you do best and have fun doing it! :)
Perhaps my comment will not see the light of day but I sincerely hope you take a moment to read it. I've been a fan of your channel for a few years now and your content was actually an inspiration for me to start my own journey here on TH-cam. Even as a small channel the frustration with the decline in ad revenue is undeniable; TH-cam's landscape has changed and not for the better. However, I respectfully disagree with the notion of "sharing views". In my opinion the competitive mentality that pervades TH-cam is similar to everyone fighting for a Wednesday night 8:00 PM slot in the '80s. I believe this mindset is far from the reality of how viewers engage with content daily. Speaking as both a creator and a viewer, I find myself seeking more content similar to what I enjoy. After indulging in a 30 minute episode of your show I was looking for similar ones and not waiting for the next episode without watching anything else. I feel that the "death by a thousand cuts" analogy isn't so much from fellow creators but stems from TH-cam itself and its algorithmic choices which are often obscure and don't offer users content they actually want, even when subscribed to a channel and their relentless promotion of shorts and viral-esque videos. These are all things that further impact ad revenue for creators. I believe there is a path to success if creators unite within niches rather than perpetually trying to outshine/outdo one another. Collaboration over competition might just be the way forward. Here's to hoping for positive changes in TH-cam for 2024 and I wish you the best and will continue to subscribe and watch your videos!
If one has a finite amount of time to watch, as one generally does, then he isn't wrong. They are often either watching your vids, or his, not both. The algorithm does the rest.
The idea that TH-cam doesn't offer content users actually want, I scoff at this. TH-cam makes countless recommendations for videos I watch and want to watch. Yeah, TH-cam doesn't recommend me every video I might enjoy, and it can be comically bad at finding me new videos to watch, but it's trying to maximize my engagement: if you think it's just showing me videos I don't want to watch you are delusional. And sadly, you are competing: even this comment took time away from someone else's videos. Your comment ate up watch time. We humans have finite time to offer, and if I'm watching one video I literally can't watch another. How mercenary you are about this fact is an individual choice, but you compete with every other creator I'm subscribed to whose videos I've already decided I'm probably going to like. Something Dave doesn't mention is he also doesn't make certain types of videos anymore and well, as his output dropped he also dropped certain ones that brought me to his channel. That's his decision, but creators often wonder why their audiences don't just follow their whims and that's why: if you stop making what I watch, I can't watch it.
@@ItsHyomotoHi. I'm just trying to understand the comment as you say you scoff and I am delusional for having an opinion on TH-cam's algorithm not showing people what they like but then state " Yeah, TH-cam doesn't recommend me every video I might enjoy, and it can be comically bad at finding me new videos to watch, but it's trying to maximize my engagement:". Also my "delusion" is based on many other creator comments I saw in videos and experienced myself as a viewer and creator, where TH-cam does not send alerts of new videos even when subscribed. And if commenting is taking away watch time because of such a "finite" amount of time then why take the time to write such a long comment to respond to me telling David I like his channel and that I agree with most except that I respectfully disagree with the "death by a thousand cuts" analogy?
@@16vSciroccoboi Hi! Yes in that case I would understand but as you said, the algorithm does the rest, and that means it's trying to keep you there. It will present you a bunch of 30-60 second clips of whatever catches one's eye and show you a hundred and next thing you know you spent another 30 minutes there. For me, when I sit to watch YT, I sit for two hours or so where I decided to go through stuff I like instead of watching a movie but unfortunately I find that I spend more time looking for content then enjoying my time because of the algorithm.
Man, I wish _I_ could skip my Sims videos too 😄
I don't think I'd be to upset if they were skipped 😁
Honestly, they're the only thing you make I don't watch. Love everything else, but I have never cared for the Sims and it's just not my cup of tea. But hey, plenty of people do and that's cool too.
Der he is!
We love you LGR!
hall of fame comment
I feel like you are selling yourself a bit short. A lot of people watch your content not necessarily specifically based on the topic, they watch it because they like you. Ive tried watching other restoration videos and i cant stand them. You have a very special, unique and charming manner.. and people love that first and foremost. Secondly, you can definitely earn money with shorts, it’s about 100x’s less than normal videos, but shorts have the unique ability to gain 100’s of millions of views. So in a sense, the earnings potential equals out. And also you can gain a MASSIVE amount of subs via shorts. It is true though that subscribers and views from shorts don’t carry over to the long form content very good. All in all, people love you. Maybe theres 100’s more channels out there, but i choose you. Good luck in 2024
I agree
8-bit guy comes off genuine. he's the nigel saunders of old tech.
Same and not only that there are more eyeballs on TH-cam then ever before which for me views, subs are up but ad revnue is down despite my core videos being over saturated for nearly a dacade now. So yeah it's more that there are less ad sponsors then their were because wev've been in a recestion here in the US any way for 5 years now.
Couldnt agree more
Definitely agree
I work an 40 hour IT job, and beyond that, I really just try to make the best out of my life, but I hardly create anything. You on the other hand make amazing TH-cam videos, develop the X16 and multiple retro-style games, and now there is even the Arcade. Do not be too hard on yourself, we love your content, but just do what makes you happy!
Well said totally agree
I guess I can speak for a lot of people that dropping restoration videos might not be the best move. Personally I loved to see them every single time they just dont get old. You still have a unique style for theese type of videos that other channels lack. Also the other stuff was always interesting to see, videos like the lable restoration, how X worked, making of, texas tech histroy and so much more. I even made a playlist with all that good stuff so I can just sap trhough them in a random order. Speaking of that would also loved to see more stuff on 8-Bit Keys.
A compromise might be to make a rule of only one video per computer/monitor model. That also means it's likely a history video too.
What drew me to your videos was the restoration videos, you would also give a little history a long the way and it was very soothing to watch. I think people just enjoy watching something that's in terrible condition and watching it be restored, that's why there's so many of these automotive will it run videos. I stayed because of your personality and editing style. Be careful about getting away from what works on your channel. I know of MANY youtubers who had a specific thing that made them unique and stand out, and they went away from that to pursue something that they thought was more interesting and they lost 90% of their viewership. Yes some of those videos seem repetitive, but that's only from your perspective, take a step back, maybe do some periodic polls with your community and ask them what type of content would they like to see? Because the audience decides what they want to watch.
@@OmarRodriguez-vl2tq Gosh, the RetroBrite - it was always so ultra satisfying to watch. The way he invented method after method to make it better and how beautiful the machines looked afterwards ... It was so soothing and, in fact, helped me through rough times. I was distracted from my own worries for a while, which was like medicine.
Well i dont know if he invented it but definitely popularized it@@OmarRodriguez-vl2tq
i agree, i pretty much wrote the same thing in another comment. he used to do great restorations of interesting tech including the retrobrighting and then at the peak of it all he just stopped and so i stopped watching. i am still subbed but after this "rant" it makes me think about unsubbing. he's acting a little snobby
Me too
Im not the only one that loves the restoration videos. Thats what got me to subscribe in the first place.
Same. I like the history videos as much but will still long for the old videos.
Yep. That's what brought me here as well.
Agree, I watch probably 99% of his videos, in my opinion they're all good.
Hey David, long time fan of the channel. I'm sorry to hear about the decline in revenue, as a YTer myself I'm aware how tough things are right now. I don't wanna pile on, but I do think a lot of great points are being made that you should really take to heart. (1) The decrease in uploads is probably responsible for a large part of the decline, not only because there's less videos to collect revenue on, but also because with infrequent uploads people who weren't subscribed may stop getting recommended your videos. (2) I can see how much passion you have for the X16 and the games you make, but, (and I think you should make whatever videos you like) I don't think they appeal to as wide an audience. (3) I think it's your call if you don't want to make restoration videos, but I'll bet many people only watch you do restorations, *because* you are a lot like us, a hobbyist, not a professional and your process of how you troubleshoot is very interesting. I think eliminating them entirely might hurt the channel, but again you have to like the content you make. I wish you the best in 2024, and I hope you take comments like these, not as criticisms, but advice from people who want to see you and your channel succeed.
Love your stuff Jrose!
I really want to point out, that even when you're subscribed, you also stop getting recommendations with infrequent uploads. I watch TH-cam every day and it happens regularly that I lose sight of channels. then one day I remember them, wonder why they didn't upload anything just to discover I missed 6 months of content because TH-cam stopped recommending them. I still think the algorithm is not as half as good as people say and it's an unfortunate truth that uploading many videos helps a lot. I value quality over quantity, but the algorithm doesn't.
This is what I believe. You've made less videos and therefore I have less to watch. You're one of the few channels that I will actually watch the ads and will actually put a playlist on the house TV. Even if I'm not actually watching it. It's still generates revenue. It's still something to listen to. I will say this much. I used to enjoy your channel more than I enjoy it now simply because there was a wider variety of stuff to watch.
People actually watch YT on TV!?!🤯
@@halfsourlizard9319 of course we do! in my case I use my pixel 6A to communicate with my Chromecast HD which is plugged into my 10-year-old television.
Kinda agree
@@halfsourlizard9319 yes i rarely watch it in my phone, yt is tv for me
I dunno. I think it's better it comes to an end imho.
As a longterm viewer I want to give some honest and upright feedback. Actually I am one of them who shifted towards alternative channels. And the reasons were not meantioned at all. I shifted simply because the content changed. In my opinion a lot! I love this channel for it's informative and retro aspect. Beeing a software and tech developer in my 40s, I smelled some 8bit air when I was a kid. I started with the 8088 and was too young to own a VIC20 or a C64. But seeing how it all started and learn the basics in a real easy way, was my instant catch. This channel got me really hooked. I remember the video about 8 bit graphics. That one was HUGE for me! And I think all the retro tech audience might feel similar. But then all the X16 and Robots stuff started. And it's nice to see somehow. But I don't own a C64 or any other old machine. And I am not going to buy one either. So why should I be interested? In those vids there is no informative aspect at all. They are about a topic I cant (and dont want to) use. Without any retro aspect, because its newly created software. Emulation is not a thing, because why would I? There is tons of pixel art games on steam. This channel, in my opinion, is already a niche channel. And X16 or Robots might interest a very small niche inside this niche. The ones owning actual 8bit machines.
A second thing is the missing informative aspect in newer videos. I understand, that the mainstream audience might change the video because they dont want to use their brains and could get overwhelmed with a video using broader vocabulary and is longer than 15 minutes. That was actually even meantioned in several videos. But now for me the crunch in missing. It feels like eating soup without salt. Other channel do have this. They take apart things like this channel used to. They explain or hack them. They show things. So... that is what I want to see... Yet I would rather see them in this channel again instead of somewhere else. Because I love the style and the way its explained.
Once there was a quote on this channel that goes: "...ok, so let's take this thing apart. Because....that's what we do!"
I second that
I agree. He has shifted the content from retro stuff to his own projects of retro computing. I get he has to do something for a living, but the last videos were all focused about himself instead of we all like and came to see here.
I want to add some possible topics that I'd love to see: For me it would be really interesting to learn what role that 8088 played (as a kid I got this as my first computer from my dad when he bought a 2 or 386). Also those old machines had co-processors. Why? And how did that work?
Maybe that fits in somewhere.
what are some other channels you watch? struggling to find
@@RobertSmith-ue8if me too!
"History/documentary videos" : bang-on. This is the single most-loved category of videos on your channel by me by far!
That’s the reason I liked this channel to begin with. Now it’s nothing like a few years ago and he’s feeling the effects of this.
This is the answer. A lot of his content on obscure things aren’t anywhere else
The restoration videos have a special place in my heart because they are simply soothing.
Yea they where good, lots and lots of retrobrigth 😁
I really think those are a powerhouse of this channel
I like them too, because I learn a lot while watching. But I see his point about what more can he do. Its been done.
@@kenmccormack7801That and paperclips. People want to see restorations that aren't McGyver'ed together.
They're good business too. Restoration videos appeal to a wide audience. Restorations are an ever growing market. On the other hand, the market for history videos about 40 year old computers is ever shrinking because we are literally dying off. You might grab a 20 year olds attention with a restoration video because he's more interested with the process than the product. I don't know if you can grab that same 20 year olds attention with the history of an obscure 1982 IBM computer.
I love your channel, but I have to say that the reduced income from patreon is directly related to the fact that you're making less videos. People supported you because they liked your videos. Once you started making less of them, people can understandably feel like their support is no longer worth it since they're getting less content.
Not a rant. Just pointing it out that some of these are consequences of actions taken.
Have a good one!
I was thinking just this as I was watching.
Not to mention a good half of his videos now are about his games or other projects like the Commander X16. Don't get me wrong, I think that stuff's cool, but it's not what got me watching the channel in the first place. Old hardware reviews, restorations and all that stuff is what made me a subscriber.
I think a lot of people are probably like me - not as interested in more videos about Planet X3, Petscii Robots, X16, etc. Not throwing shade at David, just being honest. :)
I wholeheartly agree with this comment, also adding there's been a lot of history videos which are great but we are missing the 8bitkey / restoration videos. Those in my opinion are where things shine.
this
Also, the production value of the videos seem to have dropped in favor of more B-Roll and less information per video. It's not hard to see why people are getting turned off, especially considering how long new videos now take to come out.
I love your history videos, David. Looking forward to more this 2024
Agreed! The Commodore history series was really well done. Especially with the inclusion of the Bil Herd commentary. -- Top notch work, for sure! 👍
They're my favorites as well. Glad to hear that's where your focus will be this year, at least as far as TH-cam is concerned.
I agree! 😁
i have to be honest, the restos and retrobrites are what got me hooked, and i admit i havent watched many videos beyond those. watching old dusty tech being opened up, cleaned, repaired, and explained as you've done in the past is what im referring to. dont know what that's worth to you but there it is.
I have same problem. Those new games, x16 stuff and solar stuff is boring.
I actually enjoyed all those videos he made beyond just repairs. To be fair though, I'm also a computer science major, so maybe that's why the other stuff appeals to me more
THIS. Like it or not, youtube creators get pigeon holed, whether they want to or not, simply because there are so many channels to choose from. Interests can be very specific and you can watch very specific things on TH-cam. Seems that most channels, once the become successful they think "wow, now I can do anything I want and branch out." Nope. Doesn't fly. I've been watching since the first days of TH-cam and I've now seen probably a dozen channels go that route and flounder. As technology has advanced we've gone from "broadcasting" with limited media channels to "narrowcasting" (cable and internet). Bottom line is that you gain an audience doing something and that's also how you keep an audience. Whether you get bored doing the same thing over and over is irrelevant. It's how the free marketplace works.
@@videodistro But he isn't doing 'the same thing' as a few years ago. I can understand the reason he is just promoting products now like so many other channels turned in Tell Sell crap, but that doesn't mean I have to keep watching them.
I just posted basically the same opinion. Glad to know that I not the only one with this opinion.
Your presentation style is what really keeps people watching. It's always so well edited and written.
I really agree. Doing more of the kind of subject matter David really likes, like history, will make his talent shine even more brightly. I'm very much looking forward to it.
Not to mention genuinely interesting! A notification from this channel usually results in halting everything to view the vid. 👍
@@projectartichoke That's the thing. He was doing an awesome series about early electronic companies in his area of Texas, but canceled it because it wasn't profitable enough.
All these channels do the same thing: It starts off good, gets popular, and then gets seen as a cash cow by the owner. That's when people start moving to lesser known channels that haven't turned into infomercials. Rinse. Repeat.
@@misterhat5823 8-bit Guy is not and has never been an infomercial. Maybe you’re referring to other channels that do that. And there’s nothing wrong with him occasionally plugging his own products because they’re still within the context of the show, being retro gaming and computer products like the X16. Honestly I’d like to see more videos of that and watch the X16 community grow.
@@2crude2crudeofficialband3 I’d also add, that David says he is still in the red with the Commander X16 project. Given his passion (and talent) for coding 8-bit games, it’s very clear (and very believable), that his real motivation for working on the X16 is simply to provide a hardware platform that he’d love to code for. i.e. His dream system (from his retro 8-bit coding POV). He should feature the X16 in videos as much as he wants. If the minority are too thick to understand, and want to call it an infomercial, then let them troll and go on their merry way. The rest of us (and David), should just ignore the ignorant minority. 😎
Eh, I really like your restoration videos. It’s not only about the topic but also about the way you do them. They are pretty meditative and thus not giving repetitive feeling. I feel relaxed after them, it’s just a pleasure to watch cool tech being brought back to life while listening to awesome soundtrack. Thank you for your work anyway
Restoration videos are cool and all, but the history videos are absolutely incredible. I've watched the Commodore series multiple times, and I think they're a way you really stand out from the crowd. Whatever you do, I love your work! I really appreciate the tone, the quality, and the fact that you haven't succumbed to the push toward short form content and edits full of jump cuts and useless meme inserts.
everytime I go overseas, I take a downloaded version of the entire Commodore series with me and waych it over and over! Still hoping to see one on the TI-99 one day!
Well, I enjoy all your videos. Even the solar panels one. It's not about a content that much. It's more about the person who does it. I watch it because of you. You make your content fun to watch.
I totally agree!
I also agree, and I would like to add, that you make it easy to understand.
And even though I am not an apple fan, the videos about them are very interesting.
I loved his solar videos but I've never watched his Commodore history stuff 😅
I agree. Great style. Just enough production quality but not over produced. Like Perifractic, which I like and appreciate the content, but maybe goes overboard on the cutesy stuff. Just too much of it. David hits it right.
@@jimweil8879 Perifractic's videos are aimed at 50-year-old incels with an IQ of a 9-year-old.
Honestly the history/documentary videos and the home restoration stuff is my favorite content you make
I think the best documentaries are the ones where a restoration is combined with the documentary as part of the process, ties everything together.
@@ic_trab I could definitely get with that!
Did you enjoy all restoration videos he released in 2023?
I used to watch your videos back in the Dell0304 days.
@@metromodernism Nice lol
Hi! Long time viewer - from different accounts - since the iBook Guy days!
Like many other said in the comments, I also feel like one of the main reasons the channel is not performing as well may be the shift in content type.
I loved your restoration videos, as well as history videos, 8 bit Keys, and general tech videos (like how to mount-wall anything, or the EcoFlow videos you've mentioned ...). They had your unique style of doing things from a hobbyist's perspective, they had a great storytelling, and you were always learning (or re-learning) new stuff. I distinctly remember I took time out of my day just to enjoy your latest video when it came out - even way before the pandemic! "How would that piece come out from the Hydrogen peroxide?" - "How would you troubleshoot such a problem?" - "How good would be the before/after comparison?"... Seeing old piece of technology be taken care feels really good!
Then came the days of Commander X16 and news about your games.. and like you, I'm not the kind of person that goes under the video and comments "Not interesting" - I just skip the video... But that implies that I'm not sending you a percentage of my Premium subscription, and I'm also looking for other creators/channels that can give me what I want. And I don't see it as "supporting smaller channels" per-se, but rather like "I have one hour of lunch break, and I want to enjoy some great content. What's on the plate?". If I don't find anything interesting in my "subscribed" feed, I start looking for newer channels that I may like. That's how I discovered the SerialPort museum, or Cathod Ray Dude, for example.
Please take this comment for what it is.. a long-time viewer, that really enjoys your content and your style, and wants your and your content to be successful, that is giving some honest feedback under a video where I feel it's appropriate.
Cheers from Italy!
I always love your restoration videos. It doesn't matter what your restoring, I always find it very interesting and even educational. It's not about if other people are doing it, it about how they do it and I personally like the way you do it. It got me to even restore stuff myself.
And yes, we need more history videos.
I periodically revisit the famous Vic-20 restoration video; and I still tear up a bit at the end. It's like watching an old beat-up work dog being restored to health and given a loving home. Hell, I'm tearing up just talking about it. (It helps that my 1st computer was a Vic-20).
And I, too, have taken a chance at restoring old computers I couldn't afford when they were new, thanks to his inspiration.
We just don’t need to see retrobriting for the 50th time
Most of those "restoration" channels are fake content farms that drop stuff in the mud or let it soak in abrasives to artificially induce age and wear. Then they post that same "restoration" video to about 50-100 duplicate channels.
I am English and live in England, but I particularly liked the 3 videos where you showed the buildings in Dallas where well known computer companies had their offices in the 1980's and what they are now used for. I would like to see the buildings where some of the Dallas gaming companies like ID software were based. Dallas is very alien and dynamic to European eyes, so the computer/electronics side is historically interesting.
I'm in California and found your comment interesting. I had a job offer in Dallas and found it to be alien to me as well, LOL. I agree, I really liked those videos too. Cheers.
I agree 100% I loved that history of the companies etc. I was surprised when Dave said they didn't have the uptake.
@@zacharysandberg Aliens once landed in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex once and found it so completely, and irredeemably, alien.
Bro, that's a great point you made. I also enjoyed the Dallas videos. Dallas does have a very rich history of Tech and Gaming Companies. It would be awesome to see that history through the 8-,Bit Guy's narrative.
I'm an American and I do the same thing with some British TH-camrs. I love seeing England's tech history or hearing what it was like to be a Commodore or Nintendo fan in Britain... Absolute respect.❤️👍🤩
You are an oasis in the TH-cam desert. I appreciate the work you do in the videos. I can't overstate how much you take me back to much happier times.
I remember watching my first 8bit guy video, it was the "How oldschool graphics worked" series - around the time it released. Been watching absolutely every video you've done ever since. I enjoy the restauration projects, but my favorite kind of content you make really is your educational videos - about programming and hardware - and your personal projects!! Thank you for all your work so far, and I wish a lot of success in 2024 for you and your endevours!
I personally don't mind the videos about your personal projects, I enjoy the enthusiasm you have for them and it's something I can kind of relate to.
Agreed. Every time I have a project, part of me wants to record and upload it for people to watch. Even if it doesn't work out. I know I like to watch other people's projects
Dave - don't forget about your roadtrip videos - Those are always enjoyable and you bring so much to the table with your knowledge and background - how about tech history roadtrips? You have one of my absolutely favorite channels of all time and I have learned so much from your content. I grew up in the Dallas area and my dad was an engineer at Texas Instruments in the 70s and 80s and I learned a ton of stuff I didn't know about your history of tech in Texas - Cheers for 2024 and thank you for all you do!
Those are the best imo 🎉
@8-bit guy you have done absolutely amazing work for many years. I even rewatch some of the older content just because it is so well made.
same here.. rewatch a lot of the programes
I find shorts and the noise that comes with them unpleasant. I’m glad I found your channel recently, it’s both soothing and interesting. It’s the “zone”, lol.
I know there's plenty of restoration channels now, but I feel you had a special touch with yours. You had a particular pacing and editing style for them that a lot of other channels don't do. You have the commentary, the knowledge, and the passion for the object you're restoring, and I get from other restoration channels, these are people that just grabbed an SNES and restored it, but they're not particularly connected to the item, and they follow more of an ASMR route so there's no commentary. Your knowledge and your expertise is what sets your restorations videos apart. You know what you're doing and you know how to demonstrate the restored item as well.
David, you're sounding burnt out here. Don't let trolls get you down, you do phenomenal work and it's been a pleasure learning from you over the years.
Yeah, that was the feeling I got too , make sure you don't get burnt-out David: try to not get hung up on only the negatives comments/voices and know that a lot of people love the content you make
Saying that things have changed, and not for the better, doesn't make one a troll.
It's perfectly fine to be burned out creatively. But I think it's important to then allow yourself to be that. And also important to let your viewers know that it's because of this, instead of trying to blame all kinds of different factors.
I would avoid calling everyone who isn't a fanboy automatically a "troll". People have opinions, and it might not always align with the opinions of the creator.
Completely disagree here. He is being very clear and concise about his plans. Its a small change in direction, I hear no burnout. And to look objectively at your content and make a change is no easy thing to do. I'm glad for any content that's created, love watching these videos. ❤
Pre-pandemic subscriber here, David. An OG, one might say. Thanks for everything you do. I'm always interested in any videos you choose to make, because you have good judgment about what is interesting and you make good videos! Looking forward to seeing more about your arcade and hoping you can keep the lights and circuit boards on for the foreseeable future. Cheers from California.
I can see the reasoning behind the "pandemic" but it was never illegal to walk outside during any part of covid, not sure how it was over in US. Things were rolling on over here like always barely anything at all had changed. The thing is people below the age of 50-60 were pretty much unaffected and we all got covid during March-June big deal. I've had common colds way, way worse. Once this fact hit people, ie you're not going to drop dead, everything went back to normal. I do know that many sites had a big increase in numbers and I'm guessing it was because people were terrified of nothing at all because let's be real nothing has changed since 2020. The virus is still going around all the time, I myself have had covid 3 times this year I think. I honestly don't know I stopped checking back in early 2021. The vaccine is a complete joke but hopefully they'll get something going eventually.
I believe I've subbed since his "how old school graphics worked" that is from like 8 years ago. I also watch b/c I'm interested.
Seeing a big decrease in the frequency of videos as Commander X16 development progressed, I'm sorry to say I thought the X16 project was the cause of the lack of videos, and so I found myself resenting the X16 itself, a little bit. I hope I didn't express that feeling; it's the sort of project I would absolutely have loved to have done ever since I was a kid and I wouldn't want to... rain on someone else with similar feelings. (Bluh! Tired! Not find words!) Anyway, now I just think it's super-awesome you've formed Commander Computers Llc! :D Besides, I like the documentary videos and especially look forward to the Atari ones. :) -- I'd love to see something of the arcade, too.
You know what Dave, it's not the repetitive nature of the videos necessarily, it's enjoying your personality when you walk us through your renovations. I like them, for what it's worth.
Well said!
Exactly! They aren’t just restorations, they’re almost mini documentaries and adventures going over how the computer is built and troubleshooting issues by understanding the hardware.
@@wil7173 I never met Dave, but I feel like we were highschool buddies when I watch his videos. He just has an honest heart and he shares his enthusiasm for cool stuff with us. I dig. I'll tell you this though: his arcade idea is quite ambitious. I followed Punished Props on their journey over the last decade. It can be super challenging.
He released 0 repair/restoration videos in 2023...
@@Okurka.Yeah just a total lack of content. There is tons of videos even on the retro side he can be doing. Like DOSBox stuff.
I'm going to add my voice to the pile; other people may do restorations "better" but I enjoy your style the most out of any youtuber. You're very honest and you share your process of puzzling out of the restoration problems with us, which is rare to find. Also it's a good expression of who you are, and I watch this channel for YOU more than anything you do. If you ever have an interesting restoration project, please make it into a video! I'm actually sad you didn't document a few of the arcade restorations, because they would have been a fascinating watch (hint hint)
Agreed
Valid point. People enjoy the person besides the restoration item.
I think one of the main problems is because you don't post often enough. Your videos aren't being recommended as often. It's a miracle I found this one. You have to play the algorithm game to stay relevant. Keep your head up. Love the content.
🤔🤔🤔🤔 It seems to be one of main assumptions of yt algorithm... To publish very often even worse quality... In some areas it's not the problem when you have videos ex. what you ate lately... In some like tech it's much more challenging... Many suffer from this rule... But how can you fight against algorithm...?
I hate that, but its true. YT has become so bad, shame there isnt a good alternative yet.
It was on the top of my recommended all day before I finally watched it, but then the subject was not specified in the title
@@joecarnegy But if a channel posts rarely, what's the benifet of ubsubbing?? If a channel only has some vids I'm interested in then posting rarely is a big positive. Any channel that posts a lot, better have vast majority I want to watch for me to sub.
Can't be true. Karl Jobst or Summoning Salt don't post videos often and they get tons of views.
8-bit guy: how many times would you want to see me restore an old computer?
Me: yes.
Kidding aside, you do whatever you have to and I'll be here watching it, cause your histories of old platforms are quite the product.
he can do that every single video I won't mind! :D
This, id unironically watch just C64 restoration videos all say, not to mention other systems.
Good luck with the arcade David, I’m looking forward to following the build
A shame there'll be less repair/restoration videos, I find all that stuff satisfying.
Do you watch Adrian's Digital Basement ? He does loads of C64 and Apple repairs.
Fewer
It gets old fast IMO.
Nah his views are down due to reasons he can’t control, nothing to do with the content. Ignore the amount of likes the OP is getting. /s
@@cynic5581 number of likes
David,
One thing that has kept me around is your transparency and candidness. It's nice to hear the behind-the-scenes tribulations whether it's a road block on a project or business/TH-cam trouble. Wishing you the best in 2024!
This. The thing I enjoy the most about David’s restoration videos is how he goes over things that didn’t work, why they didn’t work, and how he came up with a better solution. I think they would make great educational videos for kids.
I know it’s a long shot, but I miss 8-Bit Keys. I’d love to see some more from that channel, even if it’s only once in a while
Seconded. I recently made a decision about buying a keyboard at a yardsale because of that channel.
@@survivalizer yeah why did he stop 8bit keys, ?
That was a chance to meet/grow a wide music making audience
@@CourtWatchAu he hit the writers block, and put the channel on a hiatus. then covid came around and he wasn't able to go out and purchase new keyboards
@@fyr8513 oh ok, thanks. imo he should reactivate that hannel and discuss interesting retro music gear . The Arcade is a big risk, i mean spending on rent foor the place plus you have to sraff it, plus repar the games/machines to put in it . I hope it works out but i think he shouold maybe visit schools with a workshop teaching retro coding or something, teaching and explaining is a string skill he has
yea, i could do with 4 videos per year than 0
Your Docu-videos, like the ones about Commodore, the different types of hardware etc is brilliant. Contentwise, 2023 hasn't been nearly the same quality or been particulary interesting.
Agreed. The videos on the new studio and the solar power stuff were fine, but not really on topic. The history videos were great but there hasn't been one in a while.
David, your restoration videos are absolutely your best ones hands-down, and they have never felt repetitive to me, and I think most people would agree with that. I think your documentary videos are great as well, but the restoration ones are what got my hooked on watching your channel in the first place, so I hope you don't stop doing them. No one seems to have that specific restoration touch that you do. I hope things get better for your channel in 2024!
I've been watching your channel since the early days and I appreciate your openness, reflection and evolution.
I think having 1 video a month is really not helping.. i think shorter but more consistent schedule would help.
Especially when YT's algorithm favours upload frequency while also encouraging a rather narrow video duration (based on stats of click through rate and so on), which from other channels I've seen talk about it seems to be between 10 and 30 minutes. YT reinforces its own bias doing this, ie. fewer people watch all of a longer (say) 1 hour video, which means less ad exposure, so YT doesn't recommend the video as heavily, so fewer people see it anyway, hence fewer numbers to begin with, and round it goes. Shorter videos are likewise poorly promoted because YT can't cram so many ads into them. It doesn't help that YT also has so many other issues such as people being unsubscribed from channels without their involvement, like/dislike votes removed, shadowbanning, censorship, the removal of the dislike count (done purely to protect mainstream legacy media channels), a highly biased search function that favours legacy media channels, etc.
YT also now doesn't give a damn about subscriber count. Dave Cullen (Computing Forever) explained several years ago that YT openly stated its intention to move towards a model where it functioned more like a conventional broadcaster (hence the creation of the Premiere feature), under which the notion of subscriber count becomes moot, ie. moving away from the platform focus being the creators towards one where all that matters is each video regarded separately, promoted or otherwise based on algorithms that follow view/interaction-related ad trends. It's like the beast chasing its own tail, YT reinforces the very things which damage channels' success, so they double down on bad policies, and round it goes. It reminds me of a neighbour's son who had a *huge* iTunes collection, but he knew little to nothing of the hundreds of bands and artists involved, to him each song was a separate entity, the 'album' notion meaningless.
Recently I've noticed TV videos being repeatedly shown by default at low resolution, I keep having to manually select 1080p, and I'm on a 300meg link so download speed isn't an issue (works fine with anything else). Meanwhile, viewing YT on a TV using the YT-supplied app (like my gf does) has become a rotten experience, with insane numbers of ads, endless delays in function, consistently low initial resolution (often just 240p or 360p), annoying popup questions hunting for viewing data, etc. It's utterly different to how the TV app behaved when I first bought the TV about 5 years ago.
Even the way YT presents post-watch recommendations for further viewing has changed for the worse, now one will often see very few or even no videos by the same creator after watching one of their videos; the algorithm far more heavily promotes other channels, again because YT doesn't care about individual creators anymore, they are not the foundation of the way YT wants its system to operate in the future.
And personally I despise the Shorts format, but I suppose some people like it. No surprise they don't help with sub count though.
In the end, YT will destroy the very things that made the platform popular in the first place.
David, I appreciate everything you've done thus far-the retro computer restorations, the documentaries, even the in-depth look at your solar journey, I still think you have one of the most unique retro tech channels on youtube, and while I'm sad the merch is going away, I understand completely and am all for seeing what you have planned in 2024 and beyond.
Aloha David. Wishing you the best. Love your restoration videos. I like it when people not only demonstrate how to do it but also explains why certain things are done. Your documentary videos are also superb. I prefer your channel over others because you really put your heart and soul into whatever you're doing. Unfortunately there's no pleasing some people.
I guess I couldn't say it better but I want to add that your restoration videos belong to the best here on TH-cam. Yeah, I had an C64 for a few weeks and wasted around 4 years of my youth on an Amiga A600 but I'm not picky about what you restore. I really enjoyed that MoonBase restoration although I've been only one time in my life to an arcade in the Netherlands. (I'm from Germany. Back than you had to be the age of 18 to go to any arcade. They kind of changed that just before I got 18. But at that point I already had the fastest PC hardware money could buy so I didn't care at all.) So count me in for 'wild' arcade restorations.
I'll be honest I used to both subscribe to your channel and watch all the videos religiously, and also subscribe to your patreon but once you stepped away from doing restoration videos I also stepped away. I still watch most of your videos periodically but certainly not the day that they come out. I really enjoyed your time here on TH-cam and I'm glad you're going to continue to make content but at least from my perspective one of the biggest draws was both your restoration and your educational content and a lot of that has ended. I do want to at least mention though that one thing that you mentioned in your video is incorrect. Long form content is not only Alive and Well on TH-cam it's actually flourishing with videos of nine and 10 hours getting millions of views in days . A lot of documentary style content is really flourishing on the site another thing that I wanted to mention was that what TH-cam shorts do is not necessarily turn into direct subscribers but it gets your content into the TH-cam algorithm in such a way that your videos become more visible to other people. So a person watches your short and they liked it and then their channel will eventually get recommended to them as part of their regular viewing experience and that tends to be where the value of TH-cam shorts lies
The very first video I ever saw of yours was called how oldschool graphics worked or something like that where you explained how sprites on a screen interacted with one another on the NES. I was absolutely fascinated and immediately subscribed to your channel. While I haven't watched all of your videos since then, I've never watched a video that I didn't like. You make incredible content, and I will always be a subscriber. Keep up the great work my friend, and I wish you all the best. Thanks for making great videos over the years, and I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
I find videos like this- with frank honesty and talking about real issues- to be totally informative and wholly in short supply from other creators. I've always loved your videos, and if you can find a way to keep things going, I will show up for your videos. But- to state the obvious- you need to take care of you and yours... so focus on what you can do to support yourself. All the best, dude, you're a gentleman and a scholar. Good luck with the arcade, I'm sure it will shape up to be completely spectacular!!!
I really love the videos where you describe how software or logic in 8-bit machines work, especially your memory maps, how graphics work, etc.
Great to hear that you focus on those history videos. They have been the most enjoyable and interesting content in your channel. Sad to hear that channel revenues are down but you summarized the reasons well and it's just fact of life that nothing lasts for ever. Thumbs up here that your new plans will eventually pay off all the effort required!
This is a great channel! Very cool to hear about Texas' role in the tech industry! Thanks for all you've shared! I would still explore making some shorts that advertise what you're doing on your channel. Like short commercials. Maybe consider only one or two sponsorships? The Street Fighter 2 restoration was neat! The Arcade sounds great! I should plan a trip!
Using the X16 for the arcade stuff sounds like a genius idea. Also the solar power outage test was probably one of my favourite videos.
No matter what David. Your channel is the Gold Standard on retro computing.
Maybe... I would say that usagi and tech time traveller are generally more interesting to me, as they focus more on capabilities and real life use of the machines and showcase the rarer specimens. Not to say that I don't like 8bitguy's content, just not all of it. The mega65 should be pretty interesting, but what annoys me more is all the cool stuff that was sent in where he said in that mailbag ep there would be a video on at some point - it's been a long time coming and I'd rather see that than 20 vic20s in for repair or whatever. Hope the arcade goes well for him though.
LOL, no.
@@TheEradorDavid was one of (if not THE) originator of this type of stuff, but many channels have surpassed him now. In my opinion that is.
@@PJBonoVox yes. I've been watching him for many years too.
Not to me, it's just one of the oldest. The main reason I don't watch as much anymore is precisely due to other channels simply being more interesting/skilled. Which doesn't mean I think this channel is bad, it means I just moved on.
Do what you need to to be productive and happy. Happy new year my friend take care and see you soon.
I just saw one of your first video and you were happy to have the first 200k followers. Look behind you and you will find the reply.
Make shorts also, you will improve views again :)
Take sponsorship, we just skip the 60/90 seconds anyway to get to your great content. Restoration videos brought me to your channel so would love to see more.
I don’t want to discourage, so in fact I want to ENCOURAGE. We had a retro arcade open here in Melbourne FL about a year ago. It lasted a year. It was a single admission, unlimited free play format. They had awesome games. I think some of the things that sunk them were: pricey admission, long lines for popular games, and bad (real bad) bar food. Keep this in mind, and I pray you find huge success!!
On the flipside, I’ve seen arcades in my area flourish by having a mix of old and new games, of all different types (including a healthy mix of pinball, skeeball, etc), then really good food and drinks.
One had a cider brewery inside it, the other had a rotating food truck section just outside.
Having food/drink onsite does seem to be a key factor to success in the arcades I’ve seen, and food/drink margins are generally better than a single arcade machine.
I also hope he does well. To perhaps state the obvious, maybe the customer is a certain kind of person. Despite my love (like?) of retro games, I don't think that person is me. I have to believe the novelty of a place like that would wear off very quickly, and I wonder how many repeat customers they ever get. I gotta believe it's hard to make a living.
Yeah, we just had two Game Time Arcades close in the Central Florida area. There was no one there on the weekdays. With all of the square footage and electricity needed for an arcade, you just can't make it on weekend-only money. But, I absolutely wish them well. Maybe Texas is a different market.
@@ellavaderknows Doubt TX is different from any other market.
The one retro arcade where I live, I found accidentally. I wandered in there on a Saturday afternoon. Might have been 3 or 4 customers. I didn't partake.
How much did they charge for admission? There's an arcade around me that charges $10 Canukistan rubles, which I feel is actually too little if you're going to be there for 2-3 hours. 30+ years ago I would bring a roll of quarters in and it was gone in under 2 hours (to give you an idea of how good I was).
Now that arcades themselves are "retro" I would like them to survive and flourish, but one thing I do not miss is popping off those rolls. $10 was real money back then!
You should consider livestreaming some of your programing sessions. It would give the opportunity for super chats and fan interaction while you create something fun. It would also give some experience or exposure to what it's like to program for the Commander X16.
Maybe a few streaming games of x16 with his brother or other youtubers. Split the superchats with the fellow youtuber.
@@antayat123 IDK, Personally I would rather play games than watch someone play a game. I was think more of keeping with the educational theme of his channel. A demo every now and then wouldn't hurt though.
There are more reasons for people switching away than just the mentioned. I do not think there is an oversaturation of repair videos. I love people poking around, the adventure of finding the fault, the methods used for debugging, etc. But what changed is your content. I do not care about energy grids in murica, i do not care about the development of the commander x16, etc. Its not about "I dont like these videos". I just dont watch them, but then there is not much left to watch. Look at your video history, there were in the last 9 Months only 2 Videos that actually peek my interest. All the rest is about stuff that does not at all interest me. You built your core-community on retro-PCs, explaining stuff, digging into it, etc. And then you wonder your community moving away when the core-topics are seldomly adressed... As a breakdown: In the last year, there were only 3 videos that peaked my interest. So I get my dose of retro somewhere else. I like the videos that you do on retro stuff, I even like the stories about AST, etc, but that content is not comming anymore unfortunately.
Hi David, I’m going to give you my positive and honest opinion here. I have been subscribed to your channel for many many years now and I watch your videos for 2 reasons, first because of you, and second because of the content.
I first connected to your channel because of the content, I remember the days of the retrobrite and video console restoration content, and that is what hooked me in. I even loved the videos on you working on your office space too. I was always amazed and so excited to watch you restore computers and consoles, and to watch you work on your office space. The way you present is very relaxing.
I would honestly say personally my watch percentage of your content has dropped off due to the content change, and frequency of uploaded videos. A good suggestion is to post a variety of content that connects to all of your subscriber community.
I love your channel David and I am excited to see where this grows in 2024. Lastly I’m not a fan of shorts, I enjoy the length of your videos and sitting down in the evening watching your content, and your restoration videos may not be to what other channels are doing, but it’s more about you, we watch your videos because of you, your knowledge and they way you present them.
Thank you for all you do David, you’re truly an inspiration to hobbyists and collectors like myself.
I appreciate this comment!
Are you a Peatron as well?
great comment , well said
The biggest problem is content, or lack thereof. Looking at the number of videos you made last year, its worse then you think, it's less then one a month. That's just not enough to grow your channel or even maintain it. You don't need to upload 3-5 videos a day like some people do, but if you could commit to 1 a week you could do like Adrian Black who recently quit his day job to TH-cam as his career. He does 1 a week on his main + a mid-week mini mail-call on his second channel. We'd love to watch more of you! Oh, and take sponsorships! We know you need to eat ffs, we won't think less of you for getting paid in a new way since ad revenue is in the toilet.
Agreed that’s the real reason. His content creation has plummeted. It’s nowhere near enough to maintain a channel today
Definitely. To add something else to this great advice... stop promoting those weird games and X16 thing every video! It was like, 80% of his output last year... Seriously, while he may think it's giving people a cool look at programming and game design, it's still just his merch... and nobody in these comments are asking for more basic sales pitch style vids on attack of the pesky robots. If he actually showed code and presented the videos in a technology focused way, with line by line code, that would be awesome... but it's just basic repeated stuff about sales and pre-orders.... smh
@@mattyb33ts This is also a good point. The only reason people complain about your X16 and Planet Xwhatever content Dave, is that it's almost all you have done the past year. My feed finally tells me 8-bit guy, one of my first YT subscriptions has finally uploaded, and it's ANOTHER X16 or petscii robots video! NO I would like to see what I subbed for at least once in a while! Anyone else I would have cancelled by now.
@@mattyb33ts I agree mostly. I liked his channel back when it was tech history/resto style stuff. The solar panel is actually the most interesting content he's come out with in a while to me, the X16 is something I don't have any interest in and last year really just felt like 1 giant advertisement for it. I wasn't around in the 8 bit era to be nostalgic about it and I have no interest in reliving it via a new production 8 bit computers and software. But what I do find interesting is history and him talking about historic computers and tech as a historical subject.
I have to say that I'm kinda sad about the end of the restoration videos
I know they are repetitive, but each one are different in a way. they are also really satisfying to watch, those music you were using are amazing and I was really hoping they would be back in 2024
I'll still be there to watch you anyway !
Cheers from France
It must be hard to keep a channel going. I appreciate the work that goes into making them. I will watch whatever you come up with. They are always well done.
I have been a fan prepandemic and I’m a bit sad to see you struggling.
I’ll second what others have mentioned, I’ve noticed the frequency/quantity of videos has dropped, and I suspect this has negatively impacted you more than you realise (I don’t blame you for taking your time, as a long time viewer I know you’ve been run flat out for a while now) maybe doing shorter videos more frequently may benefit you. Especially if you are able to use existing resources to make them.
I’m excited to see what you’re going to do, I’ve taken direct inspiration from your solar project and am even doing one of my own now.
I watch your videos for you, I really don’t care much for the topic, when you talk on something it becomes interesting, it’s your enthusiasm and joy that makes the videos worth watching.
Contextual sponsorships are OK in my eyes, if you’re actually using the sponsor for something to support the video it makes more sense than these fake sponsorships that have creators misleading their viewers saying things that aren’t truthful. I much prefer seeing stuff that you have vetted.
The only thing that may be worth in the very long term may be worth partnering up with one of these creator owned platforms like nebula and creating maybe an exclusive miniseries for them or something where you deep dive into a topic, no idea if it would be worthwhile, but it may be a revenue source that is a little more guaranteed.
Take your time, do what works best for you and I just hope we get to see more of what is going on for you in the future because you do so many things that are interesting, and I will always be there looking forward to it.
So happy you decided to focus on the history videos, they’re definitely my favorite. The thing that got me hooked on your channel was a deep dive you did into c64 architecture (how video buffer worked, interrupts, etc). No idea if that’s popular but it’s what keeps me coming back. Fascinating subject.
Looking forward to the documentaries. Always enjoyed your documentaries in the past.
The documentaries and computer history episodes were definitely some of my favorites as well!
😴😴😴😴😴
@@MikehMike01
The lack of uploads is what's affecting your channel the most, also you have a lot of content to recycle and repurpose for shorts and that could give you a boost with minimal effort.
and regularity: I've noticed that I've learnt when my favorite creators post and I'm more excited when they do, compared to other creators that don't post with a regular cadence. As with Internet connections: jitter and latency are terrible for performance.
100% agree with this
I'm so excited for the Arcade!
Also, Revenue down 80% - 90% is wild. You can always count on me for a view!
Cutting video count down 60-70% and having half of them being products he’s working on will do that. Seems like a conscious decision to diversify.
@@dmacpher Agreed @dmacpher. Also the idea that other creators are taking views away is not the best perspective. It's a community. I watch many other videos, and I surmise other people do as well, from a lot of those channels. And I do subscribe to the good shorts. There's just not a lot of new retro content here. People are generally not going to go back and watch videos they have already seen. But, it does come down to doing what you love, and just "making content" for the sake of it will no doubt impact one's happiness. That's why TH-cam Shorts isn't a bad idea I think, because it might (maybe) make creation of content less time consuming. I also always enjoyed donation unboxing videos which really don't need a lot of planning I would imagine.
It's not wild when he's hardly doing any content at this point.
@@jamesg872I agree with the idea of shorts. Watch a few and I do subscribe to ones that really get my attention. Maybe use it as a way to make a preview for episodes, maybe get a few extra watch counts from it.
Actually it isn't surprising that it's down so much. David is certainly right about Covid, Then there's the fact that he's put up far fewer videos. Then the ones that have been put up have been infomercials. Lastly you've got YT going hog wild with the ads to the point that even little old ladies know how to install adblock.
David! It's the WAY you compose and edit your restorations, the 8-Bit Guy style restore videos are my favourite.
It's how you make the videos, not the video subject itself.
Love what you do - Happy New Years, David!
I know a lot of people are doing restoration videos, but honestly David yours are much better that 90% of them. Your enthusiasm for retro tech and the specific model you're restoring is infectious and got me into restoring old tech myself. Plus your style of mixing with cuts and music is leaps and bounds better than others like Adrian's Basement, which tend to drone on and on to the point of somnambulism.
Please keep doing what you're doing the way you do it, as that is what sets you apart from all the other channels you feel are saturating the market.
18:20 The thing you're missing about the restoration videos is that _we_ aren't restoring things every few weeks/months. So we live vicariously through watching you and others do it. It's not boring, because each restoration is a bit different -- different bits to diagnose/fix, different retro-brighting techniques (like when you had the UV bucket setup vs. outdoor sunlight), etc.
For me, the focus on x16 detracted me from watching many of the vids. Not sure what I thought the x16 was going to help but as it took over and seemed to become the primary focus, I lost interest. But, I can totally understand your overall feelings regarding youtube and content etc. I made a lot less videos in 2023 than I even realized and my channel suffered hugely. I hope you find your passion and focus in 2024. Keep on doing your thing!
Firstly, The 8-Bit Guy has been my favourite YT channel for many years. This is the only channel I have the bell set on.
My favourite kind of videos must be gamedev ones, as it correlates with my gamedev passion, and it's so cool to see David make it work and even make physical collector goodies. It's a very big inspiration for me.
Arnold once said "don't listen to nay-sayers" as one of his most important life rules. In this era many people feel significant only by judging others, that's why whatever good or bad thing you make, people will always complain. It doesn't have to do anything with the thing.
I also love David's restoration videos. I don't agree that other channels are making the 8-bit guy's restoration obsolete. The thing is, part of David's charm is probably in the fact that it's so easy to associate with him. When you see other DIY/resto channels, they always have very expensive big tools and machinery (like CNC, etc). Their method is much more advanced than I ever hope to be. But David feels just like a guy with some soldering iron, paper towels, some windex and whatnot he buys from a simple store for the project. And he's not a rocket scientist, but mostly uses basic logic and his passions. These are ones of the only true DIY videos, and the 8-bit guy knows how to make them interesting. So it's a big satisfaction to see every new retro-brighting, it never gets old.
Even the way David makes his charts and whatnot is very associable - these are not some flashy aftereffect graphics, but something almost everyone can do with a video editor and paint. And combine that with the fact that it's probably the only big channel on YT to not constantly be having sponsored commercials, it makes it truly retro - this is the TH-cam from the times long passed.
I wish David luck and I hope that there will still be a lot of videos on his own projects to feed my inspiration. And maybe some restorations still? Hehe.
@@ithecasticthe Governanter indeed
I like your restoration videos not just because they are good, but because you are literally the only youtuber I trust to not fake them. I'm very curious about the X16 news/plans you hinted at and I'm looking forward to the upcoming documentaries. They are always great.
Really love your documentaries, so this is good news. Best wishes for your 2024!
I feel your pain.
Your documentaries are the best. Can't wait. Thank you and Happy new year!
I watched the Commodore series with friends a few times already.
I am a casual viewer of your channel. I started watching a few years ago because I grew up with a Commodore 64 in the house, and found your content very interesting.
It's hard to stay in the TH-cam algorithm if you don't post every few days. That strategy isn't for everyone, and it's inspiring that your fan-base has been there to support you for so long.
I wish you all the best in flexing toward a new future.
The restoration videos were my favorite, and I feel like a very big portion of the people who have subscribed to you enjoy those videos. I really think that if you were to start doing more of those you would be seeing more views and in turn more revenue.
100% agreed. I initially came for the history and resto videos, liked the occasional personal project. In the last year and a bit though, it was mostly personal and fairly random stuff that didn't really interest me too much, and way too much focus on his game. I appreciate that this was a work of love and it's close to his heart, but I just don't have any interest in it whatsoever, so I skipped most of his videos for over a year.
If this were to go back more towards history, strange hardware and some fixeruppers, I'd devour every single one of these.
No restorations breaks my heart, that's my favorite thing you produce. It's hard for me to get into the vintage gaming videos. Nonetheless I wish you absolutely nothing but the best and nothing but success. Be well David!
Appreciate your candour David. Didn't realise things were quite so tough regarding ad-revenue, but it explains some of the changes that I've seen in the schedules and direction of other content creators too. Hope that the arcade project takes off, sounds like an interesting venture!
Your construction/home improvement videos are among my favorites. Looking forward to the arcade building content! Happy new year.
Happy New Year David. All the best of wishes for your 2024 plans.
You have one of the best channels! Im 52, live in Round Rock Texas. I grew up with 8-bit computers in a Radio Shack franchise store my dad had at the time. I still have my CoCo 2 & 3 with all accessories. Ill have to visit the pinball arcade once you open. Keep us updated!
Agree with others the resto videos are calming. It’s zen like watching you do them. It’s great nostalgia watching you fix up an old 80s piece of tech.
I'd enjoy seeing you play around with some 8-bit keys again if you ever feel the urge. Some of the tunes you managed to pull out of those limited devices were really nice to listen to. Happy new year!
100% 8-bit Keys were my personal faves of David's videos and I still miss his videos on there.
I agree! I'm a chiptune artist so I'm a little bit biased lol
I really enjoy your restoration videos. I feel like you cover a lot of history in the restoration videos and they feel like small documentaries while also seeing the old school components. I hope to see many more for your arcade restorations in the future.
Glad to hear that you plan on pursuing the documentary style content. The ones you've done so far are good, and the format really works with the long format videos that TH-cam wants from its creators.
You are right, your documentary-style videos are absolutely your best videos, and I'm very happy to hear you'll be making more. I really look forward to seeing more historical content. You're a fantastic narrator and presenter, no one else even comes close.
TH-cam shorts are a pain, I hate them, especially as they never stop, and I can't get rid of them.
Don't watch them! Easy fix...
can't stand them either. they're a plague
I've blocked them on my desktop, there's a bunch of extensions that allow that.
I use revanced on my phone which also completely disables them.
I'm all for more documentary type videos about older computers because I love history in general, but I do miss restoration videos. I can totaly understand if they are repetitive for you, but for us it's amazing. No one quite does computer restoration videos like you do, because they are also a sort of documentary about the history of the device you are restoring. Not to mention they are very relaxing to watch. I'm also fascinated about all the electronic tests you make on those videos. But, it's your channel and if you're not having fun with those types of videos we do understand.
this used to be my fav channel on TH-cam but seems like there has been an attitude change lately towards being more bitter (i.e. complaining about viewers). Plus I’m kinda over all the software games and x16 etc project type things, my fav ones were the build on his shed, installing solar panels, details about how his house flooded, restoring the old arcade machine etc. I know he has to make a living and all but seems like I’m watching product commercials lately.
I'm sorry to hear that things aren't going so great but I'm glad you're still willing to keep on trucking. I can't wait for more videos and wish you good luck in the arcade business.
I will be that person in the back raising my hand " I will miss your resto vids, they are the ones that bring back thouse childhood feels, and there is just something soothing about the way you do them. NO OTHER TH-camR does them like that" - Happy new year bud
He released 0 "resto vids" in 2023...
I'm glad you are going to focus on the documentary style videos, I think you do a great job on them and it's my favorite Genre on TH-cam.
My two cents: i also despite shorts for what they represent to long-time content, but i can't deny is a format that i've foreseen would became what is it today back in the day. Is just what it is, short content is easy to follow and help that lazy modern spirit of stressful everyday modern life. Having said so, for me TikTok is a mess (from every single point) but TH-cam Shorts is like a cleaned up version of that, and my subs list is huge so my recommendations work sometimes. I did discover new channels through shorts, this is what im telling you, people will discover your channel through shorts if you just use the right formula. For me, is just the shorts that take interesting parts of a large video, those are the ones that make me click the channel's name.
I'd also consider painting the new studio wall. White is ok, but i think a lot of people find your videos relaxing, as weird as it may sound. White is neat and clean, but is not very relaxing, the old studio, though not perfect, was a little cozier. I realize this may sound stupid, but youtube nowadays is stupid, there is so many content out there that people tend to choose their content for more trivial reasons everyday.
Throughout the years, my most viewed content of yours has always been restoration videos. In my opinion, your restorations are better than most of competition, because you provide tons of cool details and information while doing them. Your editing is also top notch. Don't look at what others are doing and don't be intimidated, just do what you do best and have fun doing it! :)
Perhaps my comment will not see the light of day but I sincerely hope you take a moment to read it. I've been a fan of your channel for a few years now and your content was actually an inspiration for me to start my own journey here on TH-cam. Even as a small channel the frustration with the decline in ad revenue is undeniable; TH-cam's landscape has changed and not for the better.
However, I respectfully disagree with the notion of "sharing views". In my opinion the competitive mentality that pervades TH-cam is similar to everyone fighting for a Wednesday night 8:00 PM slot in the '80s. I believe this mindset is far from the reality of how viewers engage with content daily.
Speaking as both a creator and a viewer, I find myself seeking more content similar to what I enjoy. After indulging in a 30 minute episode of your show I was looking for similar ones and not waiting for the next episode without watching anything else. I feel that the "death by a thousand cuts" analogy isn't so much from fellow creators but stems from TH-cam itself and its algorithmic choices which are often obscure and don't offer users content they actually want, even when subscribed to a channel and their relentless promotion of shorts and viral-esque videos. These are all things that further impact ad revenue for creators.
I believe there is a path to success if creators unite within niches rather than perpetually trying to outshine/outdo one another. Collaboration over competition might just be the way forward. Here's to hoping for positive changes in TH-cam for 2024 and I wish you the best and will continue to subscribe and watch your videos!
Wonderfully put! 👍👍
If one has a finite amount of time to watch, as one generally does, then he isn't wrong. They are often either watching your vids, or his, not both. The algorithm does the rest.
The idea that TH-cam doesn't offer content users actually want, I scoff at this. TH-cam makes countless recommendations for videos I watch and want to watch. Yeah, TH-cam doesn't recommend me every video I might enjoy, and it can be comically bad at finding me new videos to watch, but it's trying to maximize my engagement: if you think it's just showing me videos I don't want to watch you are delusional.
And sadly, you are competing: even this comment took time away from someone else's videos. Your comment ate up watch time. We humans have finite time to offer, and if I'm watching one video I literally can't watch another. How mercenary you are about this fact is an individual choice, but you compete with every other creator I'm subscribed to whose videos I've already decided I'm probably going to like.
Something Dave doesn't mention is he also doesn't make certain types of videos anymore and well, as his output dropped he also dropped certain ones that brought me to his channel. That's his decision, but creators often wonder why their audiences don't just follow their whims and that's why: if you stop making what I watch, I can't watch it.
@@ItsHyomotoHi. I'm just trying to understand the comment as you say you scoff and I am delusional for having an opinion on TH-cam's algorithm not showing people what they like but then state " Yeah, TH-cam doesn't recommend me every video I might enjoy, and it can be comically bad at finding me new videos to watch, but it's trying to maximize my engagement:". Also my "delusion" is based on many other creator comments I saw in videos and experienced myself as a viewer and creator, where TH-cam does not send alerts of new videos even when subscribed. And if commenting is taking away watch time because of such a "finite" amount of time then why take the time to write such a long comment to respond to me telling David I like his channel and that I agree with most except that I respectfully disagree with the "death by a thousand cuts" analogy?
@@16vSciroccoboi Hi! Yes in that case I would understand but as you said, the algorithm does the rest, and that means it's trying to keep you there. It will present you a bunch of 30-60 second clips of whatever catches one's eye and show you a hundred and next thing you know you spent another 30 minutes there. For me, when I sit to watch YT, I sit for two hours or so where I decided to go through stuff I like instead of watching a movie but unfortunately I find that I spend more time looking for content then enjoying my time because of the algorithm.