Wozza Works Wonders at Rare-Extreme (2)

What's the most unusual thing that has ever happened to you because of the fansite?
I’d have to say one of the most unusual things that’s ever happened to me through running the site is an offer by someone to purchase Rare-Extreme off me.

Have you made many new friends as a result of running the fansite?
I've made friends with people of all walks of life in multiple countries across the world. People who work in the games development industry, people in North America, Australia Europe and Asia. Many of the staff listed on our staff page have never met each other yet we have talked almost daily for the last half decade.

What do you think are the 3 most important elements of a successful fansite?
The three elements I consider critical are content, culture, and interaction. The content is what makes the website. It’s what offers the readers something to get into. This doesn’t necessarily mean screenshots and game information. Content that is reader-contributed or interactive can really make a big difference.

The Forums add a culture to the website through years of community contributed discussions. People get to know other fans across the world who have similar interests. People can share views with one another from all walks of life and deeply discuss a video game for months on end covering ideas for future releases, walkthrough help, cheats, glitches, gloating about skill, and fan fiction/fan art.

Interaction is something we try to make as a unique content feature for the readers [so] we introduced the Raremania section. This is a special interaction section we programmed using server-side programming languages which allows a reader to participate in web-based online games which are Rare themed. As players progress, their online rank goes up and it’s all tied in with a forum account.

The possibilities are endless with this feature and we have quite a few unique projects in the pipeline for the Raremania section, all designed to make being a Rare fan just that extra little bit of fun!

Was there ever something you tried on Rare-Extreme that didn't work? Why didn't it work?
With the Raremania section, we have tried to create an online gaming system (that is Rare themed) called Rarenopoly. Basically it’s a web-based Monopoly game which features elements from all the famous Rare games. The reason why this feature isn’t up on Rare-Extreme is simply the amount of time it has taken to develop it. We’ll be half-way through creating it and then all of a sudden something else will become a high priority on the site and the Rarenopoly idea will sit on the shelf for six months. Eventually, we’ll get there!

What do you think see as the next generation in fansite? New technology?
We wouldn’t mind being able to link our site in with Xbox Live stats so that players can check their personal stats and clan match stats through Rare-Extreme. Given the latest developments in software development tools and languages, we certainly don’t see this being a problem in the future.

What advice would you give to others who want to start fansites?
It'll be so much tougher getting going without able support and dedication from other people equally committed to your goal as you, so rely on the people you trust that are willing to lend their skills to your site. It helps if whatever your site is dedicated to is aware of the site's existence. It can be a great boost in morale for the workers that create what you support, to know that their work is appreciated and valued. It's worth pointing out that relations with your interest can benefit both parties. They can get a concentrated source of feedback on their creation, if you foster a community through the installation of a forum, and your site may also give a good platform to raise awareness about them.

They may decide to take part in community activities that will enrich your site’s content and value to visitors, as well as making sure that their fanbase is kept up-to-date with the latest goings-on, or offering teasers about upcoming projects they're working on.

The final thing I would advise is to know your subject well, as this can only help your coverage be that much deeper and broader which can only be beneficial to your readership.

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