so much for that
The Liveblog Conundrum
Filed under:
![coveritlive_logo[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/Liveblog-Conundrum_DEEE/coveritlive_logo1.png "coveritlive_logo[1]"){kind=logo}
![twitter-bird-white-on-blue[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/Liveblog-Conundrum_DEEE/twitter-bird-white-on-blue1.png "twitter-bird-white-on-blue[1]")
![6bieuog1v065le95937i[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/Liveblog-Conundrum_DEEE/6bieuog1v065le95937i1.png "6bieuog1v065le95937i[1]")
After exploring the world of available chat software I've come to a surprising conclusion: a moderated chat room is really expensive. I know. I don't know how this is the case either. Our main options are…
Cover It Live
Status quo on software. Price: suddenly massive. The 61,000 "clicks" registered by CIL last November would run us 840 dollars. If the site really needs it I guess that's something we can afford, but that money would be better spent on a dozen other things instead of moderated chat software.
Scribble Live
Different software that may or may not work as well but probably works just fine because it's moderated chat software. Pricing: slightly less massive but asking for a year commitment, which makes it still eye-blinkingly expensive. Like, the amount of money the companies want here is on the order of running the server for a year.
So… this would be slightly hacky but I'm intrigued at the idea of creating an mgotwitter that acts as the user moderation system. You tweet at it, it retweets you if you're the one of the first couple to go "WOOOOO" or "AAARRGH" or says something funny or smart. We bundle those into a twitter list and embed it on the site:
[ED: hmmm. hopefully in a fashion that, you know, works.]
[ED: This is the same stuff that's on the list on twitter itself so I assume it'll work itself out once the thing is older than a few minutes.]
This has the attractive feature of not costing multiple thousands of dollars a year for moderated chat, but does require anyone who wants to participate to have a twitter account.
On the other hand, that could actually be a benefit. People who aren't sitting at their computers could participate by following the list and we could take tweets from the stands (when they get out). We probably add the list to the mobile app as part of an as-yet fuzzy initiative to have a "live" tab on those apps. And it would be nice to have people's avatars and usernames connected to something instead of being essentially anonymous. We can keep the content of the liveblog in a permanent fashion by using Storify, and we could even add in some images/videos to help provide context for the WOOS and ARGHS. Those could be provided by the readers as well—twitter would allow the contributions on the site to be more than just text.
So… what I'm asking is if this sounds cool to the people who were Cover It Live regulars last year. It'll be a different window you type into, but I think it'll be pretty much the same otherwise.
Anyone have:
- potential downsides
- cool ideas not yet thought of
- gibbering rage at the very idea?
Hit the comments.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:27 PM | 
..........kickstarter!!!!!
..........kickstarter!!!!!
August 3rd, 2012 at 1:04 AM |
I'd
I'd
donate $5/game on CiL. if i am at a game, I'll eat the $5. but lower level games, the live blog is one of several windows I have open and it definitely does add to the overall home-viewing experience.
call it $50 for the year (hopefully 14 games this year) or $5 for any particular game.
hell, you can keep up with the AD and charge $6 for ND and MSU and $7 for Ohio. haha
but yeah, let us show you how much we're willing to pay for the liveblog as it is..if it works it works. if it doesnt go another route.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:29 PM |
I'm in favor of CIL, in all
I'm in favor of CIL, in all
I'm in favor of CIL, in all seriousness. It's worked very well. Or maybe you can just create open threads like they do on EDSBS.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:31 PM |
IRC
IRC
couldn't some sort of irc chat channel accomplish what you are looking for?
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 PM |
Two questions
Two questions
1. Is there a way to embed an IRC channel on a webpage?
2. Is the learning curve behind IRC to large?
Man ball. Formerly, somebody else.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:46 PM |
Yes you can. And I know it's
Yes you can. And I know it's
Yes you can. And I know it's possible to even carry over forum logins I beleave, but that was with different forum software when I saw that done.
Might require some customer programing of the web client to fit our needs but I'm sure there are many opennsourse options out there to serve as the base
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:44 PM |
IRC is by far the best and
IRC is by far the best and
IRC is by far the best and easiest and free-est way to accomplish this goal.
Brian: If you are interested I have access to a private IRC network that would be open to this. WebClient already made, or you can download one of the many IRC clients for any particular OS you might run.
August 3rd, 2012 at 2:53 AM |
There is also some pretty
There is also some pretty
There is also some pretty good phone apps, atleast Android, that do IRC. All in one solution with zero cost to anyone across all platforms. Win Win.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:31 PM |
Would it be possible to do it
Would it be possible to do it
Would it be possible to do it as a moderated IRC channel?
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:32 PM |
What is this "as-yet fuzzy
What is this "as-yet fuzzy
What is this "as-yet fuzzy initiative to have a "live" tab on those apps" you speak of?
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:33 PM |
HALOSCAN!
failing that, let's
HALOSCAN!
failing that, let's
HALOSCAN!
failing that, let's tweet&meet on saturdays. all for it.
ATTN NBA Dads and Siblings: Have brothers / sons on the hoops come-up?
Michigan = NBA Family U
August 2nd, 2012 at 7:08 PM |
First!
First!
First!
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:34 PM |
Wait.....
Wait.....
You want to change something..............
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:41 PM |
Indeed
Indeed
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:22 PM |
Change?!
Change?!
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:35 PM |
Downside: requires a twitter
Downside: requires a twitter
Downside: requires a twitter username to take part
I like it; if it were me in your place I'd try to implement a system for logged-in users of mgoblog to enter a post in a form and the 'bot' can "re"tweet it if it's viable, appending their username.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:35 PM |
IRC or a Justin.TV stream.
IRC or a Justin.TV stream.
IRC or a Justin.TV stream. You dont need to show the game on the JustinTV stream, you could literally show nothing, the chats work even though nothing is showing. I guess you could just use it for updates for the games like you do now on the mgoblog chat.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:57 PM |
justin.tv stream
justin.tv stream
I think that is a great idea. UStream or LiveStream would also work. CBox might be worth looking into as well -- for $2/month, the premium option is awfully inexpensive.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:16 PM |
Justin.TV is free. If you
Justin.TV is free. If you
Justin.TV is free. If you wanted someone updating the news on the video feed you would need to have someone run xsplit.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:43 PM |
Doesn't xsplit require a
Doesn't xsplit require a
Doesn't xsplit require a licensing fee?
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:39 PM |
There is a free version and a
There is a free version and a
There is a free version and a pay version. The pay is like $50, not a big deal. Xplit isnt NEEDED, it would just be used if you wanted to have something shown on the screen next to chat. If i remember correctly the free version just has a watermark. It would be free for all users and only one mod would need xsplit. All other mods could just be modded in chat.
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:44 PM |
Have you heard of FF Split?
Have you heard of FF Split?
Have you heard of FF Split? I guess it is a new free software that is supposed to compete with x split. I know some people have said x split is not very good b/c there reallty isn't competition with streaming software.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:44 PM |
JTV
JTV
I vote for JustinTV and would pay good money for a stream of Brian freaking out at his TV for four hours*.
*road games, obviously
Hail to the colors that float in the light-
Hurrah for the Yellow and Blue!
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:45 PM |
He could also run ads during
He could also run ads during
He could also run ads during commercial breaks and make money that way as well.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:35 PM |
Twitter
Twitter
I like it a lot -- I often found myself torn between tweeting my Michigan observations and sending them into the liveblog. This would let me do both.
Moeller v. Excalibur Restaurant -- Fight!
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 PM |
Google +
Google +
hangout or something? CIL is nice but not for that price.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
I think Google+ Hangout has a
I think Google+ Hangout has a
I think Google+ Hangout has a limit of 10 participants
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:37 PM |
AOL chatroom.
AOL chatroom.
AOL chatroom.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:41 PM |
I am game
I am game
for a kickstarter contribution, whatever the decision may be. I live in Columbus, away from my good friends, and generally cannot watch a Michigan game with anyone other than Michigan fans, so I needs me some live blog.
I'd say "Cover it live" just because I'm not used to the others, and my lawn looks fantastic without all those damn kids getting their footprints all over it
ALWAYS remember the golden rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:40 PM |
how in the heck
how in the heck
did that happen?
Bo would not approve
ALWAYS remember the golden rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:39 PM |
Though I despise twitter, I
Though I despise twitter, I
Though I despise twitter, I would use it for this purpose if there was no other way.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:40 PM |
UNISCORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UNISCORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, wait, you say you want it moderated? Never mind, and good luck with that.
August 2nd, 2012 at 6:32 PM |
Only tools like uniscorn.Oh,
Only tools like uniscorn.Oh,
Only tools like uniscorn.Oh, wait a second.
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me. - the_big_house 500th
I may not be a 70 year old man. - Herm
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:41 PM |
i'm good
i'm good
with the twitters. i will be in dallas and like the idea of "WOOOO"ing and "ARGHH"ing from the stands, assuming i can get a signal...
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:42 PM |
Twitter
Twitter
I actually kind of like the Twitter idea a lot. The one downside I can think of is that it'll be open to like, anyone on Twitter, so there will probably be lots of trolling and junk tweets to sort through. I never moderated one of the CIL ones last year, so I'm not sure how annoying that was to deal with, but yeah.
Also, CIL felt like a community last year and was fun to participate in. Felt like you were watching the game with a virtual group of dudes, and that was fun. The twitter thing may feel less inclusive, if that makes any sense.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:42 PM |
The issue of Twitter is it is
The issue of Twitter is it is
The issue of Twitter is it is detached from the username. I like being fairly anonymous on MGoBlog. Since my Twitter account is also for professional use, I don't like the idea of people connecting the dots of why I was late to that meeting (we were on commit watch, what was I supposed to do?).
Your friendly neighborhood contrarian.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:54 PM |
People at work look at me
People at work look at me
People at work look at me weird when I am buckled into the chair behind my desk.
"Guys like this play linebacker at Notre Dame. Guys like this, built like this; they don't play offensive line" - damefan1 on Taylor Lewan
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:56 PM |
Another, kinda similar,
Another, kinda similar,
Another, kinda similar, possible issue with the Twitter method: Would my tweets towards the mgotwitter be published to my timeline? It would probably be annoying for my followers (all eight of them!) to be subjected to random comments from a chat they aren't participating in. Probably even more so for participants with an actual Twitter following.
August 3rd, 2012 at 9:50 AM |
They wouldn't see them unless
They wouldn't see them unless
They wouldn't see them in their feed unless they also followed the mgotwitter. Anyone who specificially looked at your timeline would though.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:04 PM |
New account
New account
You could make a new twitter account based on your mgoblog username.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:25 PM |
Another new account? I
Another new account? I
Another new account? I already have trouble keeping up with all my accounts here.
...wait.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:42 PM |
RDT strikes again!
RDT strikes again!
RDT strikes again!
Your friendly neighborhood contrarian.
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:44 PM |
What if your twitter account
What if your twitter account
What if your twitter account is already the same as your mgo username?
“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler
August 2nd, 2012 at 4:54 PM |
Just append "_mgoblog" or
Just append "_mgoblog" or
Just append "_mgoblog" or "_mgoblog_chat" or something similar to your current username when creating the new account.
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:44 PM |
Scribble Live
Scribble Live
I'm trying Scribble Live for my Fantasy College Football Drafts on the free trial, so I can report back small scale results in a couple of weeks.
To me, I appreciate that people want a MGoBlog LiveBlog as it fosters the sense of community during game day. I wouldn't use it, but I appreciate it. To that end, I agree with those who have suggested a fundraiser for CiL if people are CiL inclined.
Craig Barker || The Hoover Street Rag || Twitter
"The Michigan fanbase: a cynical, Eeyorish bunch even in the best of times."
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:45 PM |
Tuning into a live blog was
Tuning into a live blog was
Tuning into a live blog was one of the worst experiences of my life. The experience shattered me. I wouldn't tune into that cesspool if you paid me.
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:52 PM |
no kidding
no kidding
Nothing like posting an incredibly insightful comment, only to see a mod post something like "nice cut by Fitz" and have your deep analysis of blocking schemes fade into space unacknowledged.
Ok, I wouldn't know a blocking scheme if you paid me. But the point remains.
Biz hundert azoi ve tsvantsik
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:46 PM |
FWIW..If you agreed to bring
FWIW..If you agreed to bring
FWIW..If you agreed to bring back the old points system at the same time I'd happily contribute heavily to the live blog financing
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:48 PM |
Seems like the trend at the
Seems like the trend at the
Seems like the trend at the end of the season last year (well, I should say SINCE) has been to make open threads for everything. It seems like unless those get locked a lot of people will just end up in those next season.
As far as a solution that keeps a "live blog" of sorts, I'd vote for the Twitter solution.
Go Blue!
August 2nd, 2012 at 3:58 PM |
The problem with twitter
The problem with twitter
as has already been mentioned, is that it is wide open and subject to trolls. You can protect your tweets, but then the only people that can see them are those that are following you, which kind of defeats the purpose of trying to do a liveblog on twitter.
That being said, twitter seems like the best option at this point. Those that don't want to mix their professional accounts with MGoBlog could just open a second twitter for MGoBlog purposes.
..........kickstarter!!!!!