Totally disagree a lot of people can do UA-cam, even if they don’t get thousands of subs, they enjoy doing it and should not stop, sometimes it’s about having fun and improving people talking and presentation skills. So any new you tubers should go for it.
For me UA-cam is a fun creative outlet. I have no delusions of grandeur about making it big. Especially in the over saturated video game corner of UA-cam. I've also meet so many friends and fellow collectors on UA-cam so it's been a mostly positive experience.
It can be overwhelming. I just do it for fun and a hobby. allows me to be creative, share my passion and generally just have a good time. I dont mind I am a small channel and not really worried about so many other channels. I can hide in my little corner of UA-cam, play my games, have a great time and partake of my absinthe :P (i am smiling more now john :P)
I get this is a rant.....and I don't say this to be mean. But if you're going to comment on there are too many UA-camrs making videos....this video uses your own words against you. Your points were all over the place, and I feel this could have been addressed in half the time. There could have been more time editing....I say all of that to say if there were ever too many UA-camrs...and Google needed to downsize.....would your channel make the cut?
You are right on the amount of work required... I also do this on a part time bases and it takes quite a bit of time. I didn't know what I was doing when I started so its been quite a learning curve. Thing is that I love what I am talking about, regardless of the growth of the channel.
Another point, yes gaming is saturated, but personally I try and encourage everyone who expresses "wow I wish I could do that" to try. Will they make it huge? Maybe not. But I think making content is a creatively rewarding experience and everyone who has the desire to try it absolutely should. You never know what you're capable of until you give it your best shot. And even if lightning doesn't strike, you will amass a body of work that you can and should be proud of.
I love this channel I'm not one to comment much but I enjoy the content you present and the wonderful collection I would wish to one day have as well, you know your stuff and if not then you research it, sometimes I'm not interested in some topics you present but that's okay because there's other people who are interested in that topic. I enjoy the humble, cheerful yet subtle vibes your videos give me and you bring awareness of the oddities I'd never thought I could discover and collect for so thanks John keep up the great work im glad you took the video making more seriously!
If you're looking to get big, I agree that consistency is important. But for those of us with full time jobs, parental responsibilities, home projects and maintenance, and who want to enjoy their time with their significant others, friends and family, it may not be possible. And viewers should hopefully understand that. But dude, I've been reviewing games since 2012 on UA-cam. I make videos for me, the way I want them to come out. I agree that people should always be trying to improve their craft, but there's a lot that prevents people from rising to the top. UA-cam's policy of only promoting videos that are monetized, and yet you can't monetize without a specific amount of subs and views limits content creation. If you were established before this happened, that's one thing. But it's an uphill battle no matter what. Remember, we all started with 0 subs and views. My advice to people, make videos for you. Don't do it to get rich. But does this mean that only certain people should be doing UA-cam? No.
I do youtube as a hobby, I have not even posted a video in a good two - three weeks. I think there is always room for more people. I never started it to make money just enjoy when people sub and leave comments on videos to start a conversation. You know my own little space on this giant platform, I am always finding new content creators that have very low subs yet have great content. If you're on the fence about starting youtube, do it. It is your space to create and just have fun with it, don't think of youtube is "oh, I can be the next so and so". Try to be yourself and just have fun.
I do my channel for me. Not everyone is out there to get a silver play button or is trying to quit their day job. But I am consistent with uploads, don't conform to just reporting on the "news/outrage of the day", and I love the communities that I'm a part of and the people who take the time to watch my stuff. It's never been about money/notoriety. But, I've found over the last couple of months that I'm mostly putting my UA-cam view time toward smaller channels simply because they aren't just saying things or making videos of a certain topic (or the same topic as everyone else) with the sole goal of growing their audience. I get that it sucks to be late the the party on making a video on a current news topic, but from a really small channel's perspective, I can make the same video, right away, and it just doesn't get the same traction as a late video on the same topic would for you.
John Sorry but you sound like it’s a competition. It’s not. I love your channel but it’s not about a smile and a 4K camera. Most people don’t have a 4K tv Their is room for everyone. For me it’s never been about the sub count or how big your collection is but more about the community and the love of the Hobby. Sorry but I disagree with you on this one. I got the Shika arcade stick because most of my videos are on the Super Nintendo.
I subscribed to thi schannel when I saw the joy and passion you have for this stuff ... Seeing somebody that happy doing smthng they like made me smile . Keep doing your stuff ! Greetings from Croatia
I started my channel 4 months ago as a hobby cause I love gaming. I didn't start channel to make $$$$. I talk,play,and show games on my channel because its my passion and its been a lot of fun doing my channel.
I want to thank those for commenting my video. To be honest I probably could have probably done the video when I was not so exhausted from end of year teaching. I wanted to talk about it and I feel that some took the message in the wrong way. It was meant to help people and and to spark discussion.
John Hancock I think I got what you were actually saying. You had a lot to say and probably with the exhaustion & other factors multiple things were running through your head at once. Its happened to plenty of us, the message we wanted to deliver wasn't received how we intended to everyone listening, ah well! Keep up being yourself~ My original take from the first view of this video was you were saying hey there are TONS of youtube channels and if you want to succeed here are some tips to help you. But I dunno... Maybe I received the message in the video wrong? Lol
Nothing wrong with voicing your opinion. It made a for a very healthy discussion. I even ended up doing my own video on the topic like a few others. We don't all have to agree and you did make some valid points.
I have to say, that I like the overwhelming amount of information on UA-cam... however, I do feel that I have to filter out a large portion to get the information I am interested in. For me, I'm inspired by teachers, artists, or entertainers that speak to me. Everyone gets their inspiration in different forms, but the presenters that will be there over the long haul are the ones that believe in what they are doing. The people that will continue to follow you, will follow because they identify with your presentation. I'm not so sure its about being the first to discuss an issue, or the best video editing, the collection size. Keep doing what you love and people will watch. There is room for everyone on UA-cam... some will just have a different audience.
It did kind of come off the wrong way at certain points, but I felt like a lot of it was accurate. I like plenty of variety, don't get me wrong. There can be 10 channels talking about the same subject, but I don't necessarily care about the opinions of all of them. Spawn wave, for instance, just covers news that other channels also cover. But I enjoy his format, and his particular opinion. What does bother me is having a ton of copy cat videos. If a channel does nothing but copy the content of other channels, then they aren't really creating anything. I don't mind if someone gives there own opinion on a topic that has already been covered, but there are a lot of "bandwagon" channels that don't bring anything new to a discussion. They can be small or large -- look at WatchMojo, they are huge but often copy smaller channels, even going so far as to use uncredited clips and almost exact phrasing. Reply girls come to mind, also. In that sense, I think there are too many youtubers. Simply regurgitating the success of others, hoping for a piece of the pie. At least bring a bit of unique personality and opinion to the table. Sorry, that was long winded. Just felt like putting my two cents out there after seeing this and some of the reply videos people have done.
Coupled with VASTLY over-rating themselves, and the unoriginal, bland, sameish subject matter VERY VERY VERY *VERY* often, and equating the louder they shout with the better their videos are. Originality SCRREAAAAAAAMS OUT AT YOU, because it's SO rare online.
Its affecting the real world because there is too many dreamers that think they can skip the shitty job phase in life harsh reality coming for those that do
I miss the days when UA-cam was videos made by people just passionate about whatever they were interested in,. When it became more about making money and begging for Patreon donations then a lot of the fun went away.
The great advice in this video translates well to life in general too, not just youtubing. Keep up the great work, your passion is infectious and I, for one, appreciate your consistency - I'm always looking forward to your Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning videos and recognize the time sacrifice you make to give these to us. Thank you!
Your advice, to me sounds like the advice a lottery winner could give: "just buy a ticket, it worked for me". Honestly, I think there are many channels that do exactly the things you say, but simply never get the views. Personally I think it has more to do with blind luck. That idea is supported by the fact that only a small percentage of the amount of UA-camrs has a notable amount of subscribers. But there are other factors as well. Your point about being "personable" I think is a good one! Many UA-camrs do not look towards the "old" medium of television to learn that it takes a certain amount of showmanship to make a video not only watchable, but also enjoyable to watch. It takes more than just effort, but also talent. Being likeable or coming across as sympathetic is not given to everyone. I think it's funny to see that so many gaming related UA-camrs are too focused on the technical side of making videos (lights, cameras, content, etc) while the human side is probably more important than the resolution of your camera. Honestly the production quality of this particular video is not great with the sloppy cuts and varying audio quality, but YOU are enjoyable to watch. You come across as a sympathetic person. The problem with not becoming "successful" (i.e. getting views) I think is not to do with the amount of UA-camrs that exist. It comes down to a hard-to-define factor of having just that thing that people want to see. In the end, we watch the Tuber for the Tuber, not the product he or she might be holding. And in the end not everyone can be successful. It's just a fact of life.
It's not luck in John's case. Metal Jesus promoted him. That's the only reason anyone heard of him. He acts like he is some brilliant creative force of nature...lol
As always, good and respectable opinion on what could be a touchy subject. With that being said, I just started up a channel because of everyday guys like you. However, I'm not doing it for money, or anything other than my love of all things gaming . I hope other people want to share my passion and that's my only expectation. Keep up the good work John.
There are a lot of channels to choose from and many I haven't even watched yet. I think it takes some luck along with the consistency to get seen and shared. I don't mind the late news. I get my news from youtubers and podcasts.... when I hear it from your channel it's news to me! Thanks John. Glad you're still having fun with collecting and creating content.
Eh when you look at Youtubing as competition then you miss the whole point of community. My channel came about because I wanted to document what I picked up etc. I did this because my memory is not the best. People have subbed to see my stuff and I appreciate the interaction but I never suspected that anyone would. My channel has allowed me to make friends with people I might never had known so for me it is all about community. If it is about being the latest and greatest then you are in it for the wrong reasons. I don't monetize any of my stuff because of the simple fact is that is a hobby not a job and if the people don't like it then they are more than welcome to move on. If they want to stick around then great, I enjoy the positivity.
I think more people need to have this point of view when starting out. That would help a lot to prevent those who struggle to grow...don't make your videos for an audience, make it for yourself.
As an up and coming UA-camr, your thoughts and creations truly inspire me. I've started a vlog on my personal channel as well as a UA-cam series surrounding my "Retro Rats" after school program I'm starting!!! You should know, John, your work inspires thousands of people everyday. Making these videos from an honest standpoint help your community to grow strong and ready to face the challenges ahead. Don't stop, please!!!
You do something that is most important. You show respect to those who may disagree with you and you're honest to your viewers. I feel that is also necessary for other UA-cam content creators.
Your content is quite unique still. I have a lot of switch related channels in my subscription feed, and for the most part they cover the same things, but your are the only youtuber in my feed that review johnny turbo ports, which I truly appreciate.
I don't think there are too many youtubers. This platform really doesn't have a problem with scale of content providers, unless you are doing it to make money. I would agree it is harder to get noticed now than it was 10 years ago, but if you are simply doing a channel to share a passion or just as a hobby, grab any camera you can and go nuts in your own style. If you do start, you need to decide for yourself what is 'successful'. For me it was to meet a few like minded people and occasionally show someone something they did not know. I never really cared about number of subscribers or number of views. To an extent I cared about number of comments, but not for the actual numbers, but because I wanted to get conversations going. I do think that it is important to go back once in a while and watch your own content and see if it is something you think is entertaining or something that you would enjoy. I got bored with the 'pickups video' style content and have not been doing much content lately because of that. I have some ideas for some new content that I think will be fun, and I will give it a go when I can find the time to plan, shoot and edit the video. wow... I write a book when I comment early in the morning... LOL
Great video John, these breaks from the video game norm are excellent and humanizing. I tell a lot of people about you it's hard to fake being genuine, none of your videos are ever lacking being genuine and real, keep it up!!!
This video is ironically helpful for those who are seriously considering the prospect of beginning their own UA-cam channel. The advice you were given is solid through and through. Be consistent. That being said, having a beautiful lifelong collection around you certainly helps. Good insight all around.
Its nice to have choices as each UA-camr has their own perspective on the gaming industry, their focus may be different, and it’s nice to read and hear from others regarding reviews and what they think is the best game or why a game or series should return, etc. Being said that, there are a lot of UA-camrs out there though.
Great video John. I was also a collector long before I started doing my channel. My goal has always been to spread my knowledge on collector and build a community of retro game collectors to help each other out. The biggest thing that I see with some channels that I have a problem with are reaction videos. Search results show way too many of them. Keep up the great work.
Hello John. What I like a lot about you is because you are easy on the eyes. You have this friendly, warm aura. Plus your experience and passion to what you're doing really goes through. No matter how advance other people are with their videos, the content matters, and specially the person presenting it. Keep it up John :) People will come for youtubers who give great content. :)
Just started my personal channel a little over a month ago. I wanted a place to make content that I'd like to watch, in detph overviews of series, quick reviews, retrospectives. Whether I make a dime or not, I still love making the videos, and I still love creating content others enjoy. Great video man, and great channel as always.
I’m an old school UA-camr and a long time collector/enthusiast, going back to 8-bit ‘zines in the early ‘90s. I moved into game videos because I love gaming. For me it’s a hobby but I have to admit it’s hard to get views because there definitely are too many gaming channels to stand out. I’ll keep going though, because I love doing it.
You nailed the two biggest tips I've witnessed for myself...have a consistent schedule (use scheduled releases) and use other social medias (people tend to check FB & Twitter constantly over YT)! Also I would add...pick a topic you have a passion for!
I first saw you Sir Hancock on MJR and seems like you’re a genuinely kind guy (and you are). All your points struck a chord in me. Sometimes I’m not sure why I do videos. I’m sure you guys inspired me to do it. I have no intentions of earning from YT it’s just a hobby. When I’m not doing photography and videography I try to spend time on my other passion which is video games. I just utilized the gears I got, but because I don’t have enough time (family and work) sometimes output were inconsistent. I love that you sometimes involve your family in your videos, I’m a family guy myself. I don’t have the courage to get them involve knowing YT could be a harsh place sometimes. Thank you for this video. You deserve more views and subs. Cheers!
Great video, I always liked Johns videos. Very unique, informative and genuine. I would totally agree that there are too many youtubers out now. Not that it’s a bad thing or anything.
I started making videos a little over than one year now. I started to grow a little bit this year with suba coming everyday, as I go closer to my first 1000 subs, but Im all in for the fun. I Discover a new passion, video editing, which was something I didnt knew about, and now Im loving doing it. My goal on this is to have "my" own community. A place where I can share and learn new stuff within the gaming scene. Keep doing what you do John. Your channel is awesome ,)
This is an interesting topic because what quantify's that there are too many? Every industry is a rat race of some kind, so I'm not surprised by the boom of people who want a successful youtube channel. I think you make some good points John. Just stick with it and be in it for the long haul. Learn, make friends and have fun!
I started my channel back in 2007 as an extension of my audio work. I’ve only managed about 1200 subscribers, and many newer channels have surpassed me, but I’m still dedicated to my channel.
John, I stumbled upon your channel a while back when I started getting interested in finding great video game content. I really appreciate you making this video because I too struggle with "am I doing anything that offers value to the UA-cam community". I have met some really awesome people since I started my UA-cam journey. (you included) So thank you for this video, and keep up the good work.
"Many times, I tried something and it didn't go over well" - I'm guessing this is gonna end up being one of those times? :P Time for some humble pie! :D
. I started this as a hobby to learn how to edit and also have an excuse to play my backlog of games. As long as this is fun, I'll keep doing it. Love your channel John! Keep it up!
good points, I am just a hobbyist messing around for fun and to put out some opinions and contribute to the retro gaming community even though I dont have a massive collection or big production values. Its a fun hobby and there is some cool people to interact with, in particular many smaller channels without a ton of subs
The more the merrier I say, a wider range of opinion and content is a good thing as some topics maybe very niche or put a different slant on a subject. Being a gaming youtuber is a funny thing, it's difficult to create original content sometimes, but as most of us are doing it on the side as a fun hobby/supplementary income, finding the time is also tricky. Some people have no consideration for growing, as they just want to make stuff for the thrill. I myself want a medium between the 2, but it's a tricky thing to 'break' the crowd as it were. Interesting chat and for what it's worth, a new sub for ya.
Dear Mr. Hancock! I adore your video, i watch you in the way to work, i look forward for your videos your awesome. And many many thanks to all the hours and we effort you put in. From father the father i really dont know how you do it and this is thing to admire. Thanks You! I am with you. Always.
Me personally I have never aspired to be successful on UA-cam. I am just happy to be part of the community and the friendships I have made because of it.
Great comments. Definitely tough. Our channel also has been in a stunted growth pattern, but in our case, we are doing it for fun and don't mind haha. Overall though to answer the question, yeah its definitely good especially for the gaming community. Even if they only make 10 videos and quit out after 2 subscribers, it's great for the gaming the community specifically because it shows that the gaming community is still on a steady pattern for growth!
Good points, John, and thanks for the pointers. I am in the phase on what I should do with my own channel. I want to go from just walkthroughs to something more, and I am still figuring out a schedule with days I should put out new content, and what the content should be. I don`t have a goal as to earn cash from this, this is a hobby that I am really passionate about and want to share my joy of retrogaming and newer games.
Great video John, been watching you for some time now (I watch a lot of retro gaming channel despite my channel being completely different) You certainly learn a lot making videos for UA-cam and have to do it for the love of it. Its quite fascinating seeing what works and what doesn't and how UA-cam 'works' Keep up the great videos.
Great video. I think the elimination process by how much it appeals to a certain group naturally keeps the amount of channels in check. I've seen a lot of channels start off really good, but after a handful of videos, they've just abandoned their channels. I've always liked giving creative feedback to channels I really enjoy (Well hey, big companies actually pay thousands of dollars to marketing companies for this stuff). As far as reviews go, I think you should review something regardless of how many times it's been reviewed before. There is a difference between watching the news from a guy named Chip and Walter Cronkite. (Just realized I'm the 600th Thumbs up).
It's not just about the content, what I also like about you (except huge knowledge of gaming) is your personality, you are my favorite youtube creator to watch when I want to relax and just enjoy some normal peaceful content while offering topics I enjoy.
@@unlokia 2 likes vs 40 likes. I guess you're in the minority on this opinion. I unsubbed after finding this gem as well. UA-cam isnt just for john Hancock, ANYONE should be able to do it. It was UA-cam's intention.
Great video with a lot of good advice which applies to all difficult projects. I think the most important thing you said was to be honest. Mr. Rogers often said the most important thing any person can give to another person is one more honest adult in their lives. Mr. Rogers was talking about adults being honest with children , but it applies to adults, too. People of all ages are drawn to honesty and truth. A lot of youtubers are in this as a business for profit, which puts a veil between them and the audience. Those who produce videos purely for the desire to share their knowledge and love for their hobby / interest share an honesty with the viewer which creates a strong relationship. My belief is videos with great honesty will become evergreen videos referenced by those with similar interests, hobbies, challenges in the future.
Honestly, nothing works anymore and the algorithm has changed so much and become such a cluster mess within itself it has become a luck thing. I was consistent for a whole year making 3 videos a week at the same time and it didn't help at all. I have great production value and great content, In fact, the past month I'v uploaded once a week at random times videos done with my webcam and now I'm getting more subscribers. I honestly don't think there is a formula anymore. Just do it for passion and if it becomes a hit then great if not then who cares your doing what you love to do.
Media Glitch One of the Best Responses I’ve read. It took less than a couple minutes to read & comprehend. Well appreciated & needed - Thanks for Sharing (iLiked!).
I agree there probably isn't one formula. Checked out your channel and I see why the views are low. Not because it's bad but because of the audience youtube attracts. It's not enough to have high production value in terms of video quality but the entertainment value has to be high too. Especially in 2018. The niche of movie reviews as a whole has a low barrier of entry and a ton of competition. Something like 10 shocking reasons solo was actually good. Would attract more people. In the video include image montage and video clips from the trailer to help move the video along. That's what viewers are sharing and returning to right now.
Good advice John. There are definitely too many channels for one person to watch, but anyone can get a small following and make some YT friends with the advice you gave at the end.
I literally started for fun and will die doing it as fun, and I'm not quiting, not everyone wants to be famous, they just want to be apart of the topic or share, but I understand where you are coming from.
I always tell people ask yourself why you started and what's the end goal and same applies to collecting games, you have to ask yourself those questions, and both for me are it's fun, I don't take it serious, life is more important than UA-cam, you are in a position where you work for your audience that is judgememtal, I work for myself, working for yourself and doing what you want is better for me and screw who doesn't like it :)
John, love the videos! You are always upbeat and positive which is a breath of fresh air these days. And the time and effort you put into these videos really shows. Look forward to watching each one you put up! Found your channel through The Metal Jesus and am glad I did!
I would say I am old school UA-cam watcher because I like to watch opinions instead of people being ridiculous. I also have a channel called gamers rush. Your content is sincere. Greetings from Costa Rica.
I started my Channel as a way to stay connected to my hobby. I ran a regular weekly Dungeons & Dragons campaign for several years and when I moved towns to be with my Fiancee I lost that regular game. I had no one to really share my love of D&D with so the Mrs convinced me to start making videos. My channel has grown far beyond my expectations over the last 4 years and now it has become self-sustaining which is all I could ever even dream of. In my opinion that is what makes UA-cam great as it can create a sense of community for those who's life circumstances may make those kinds of connections difficult in person. That said there are a lot of Band-Wagon channels that tend to try to copy the success of other channels (like when AVGN clones were all over the place) but no one is forcing anyone to watch every channel out there. I have had a lot of great conversations and genuine friendships form based on having my small channel, and I actively encourage others to start their own channels so they can discuss hobbies or other activities they are passionate about, and something that has personal significance. I will end by saying that you are one of my favourite UA-camrs and I think you did raise some interesting points. There is great advice in this video, but I feel like you should have started with the advice because based on the comments I feel like a lot of people may have stopped watching before getting to the part of the video that might have helped them and their channel.
John, don't you change a thing! I love your channel just the way it is and I know many friends of mine who have stated that you are our favorite UA-camr!
Of course everybody is entitled to their opinion however UA-cam means different things to different people. Not everyone is trying to become the next Pewdiepie, to some people it is a creative outlet and to those who are trying to make something of it i say goodluck. The over-saturation is a clear indicator of the strength of the platform, the desire for people to make a hobby a full time job and the community's therein. The fact of the matter is some people will only ever be at a certain level of video production and concept and others will grow. UA-cam is a learning process and it is very much about the journey not the destination. At the end of the day what we choose to watch or who we choose to subscribe to is entirely on us and just because something is not to your preferred taste does not mean it should not exist. Like i said everybody is entitled to their opinion so i just wanted to share mine.
Why do I do it? I remember a time when if you wanted to have your own show, you had to know someone in the TV business, or get lucky and have a community TV channel that liked what you did. I like the creative aspect of it, and being able to make something that I created and be able to share it is my enjoyment. Do I think I'll be the next big thing? Realistically, no, but I do like it when I see someone subscribe and/or comment - it says "I did something cool". I don't think there are too many UA-camrs, as there is something for everyone. There is enough room for everyone to exist. If they like your content, they'll come. It's why I come here after all. :) Keep on rocking, John!
I think the ones that aren't good will eventually fade, and those that are will rise to the top. No reason why people can't put out videos if it's something they love to do.
Two things: First, great channel and great video! Second, I don’t mind “old” news. If you recorded something I’m into, like your mimigen review, I’d watch it a day or a week later. It’s a topic I’m into and an opinion I value. The entertainment will be there!
Has 86k subs Complains about the amount of youtubers. I started my other channel 11 years ago and that channel only has 300 subscribers not once have I ever made a video complaining about UA-camrs.. You should feel blessed.
Another great video John. I have uploaded to youtube for years but haven't gotten serious really. It's mostly just a hobby but I do think about pouring more time into my channel. I agree about mainly a certain generation not being able to take criticism. Good job man. 60,000 subs hopefully soon!!!
More options is a good thing. It gives people more choices to find what they like and it also makes other youtubers step up their game to stay on top. The only people that would say there are too many are people jealous and envious others are getting subscribers while they might have flat lined.
Honestly I am doing this to give back to the community. Yes, I know it is hard work, but I enjoy it. I am not here for the money. Besides it is not that big of a check. I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.
There's a lot of new people and unfortunately a lot of my favorites are long gone. They either got out of the hobby or got tired of making videos about it. I fall in the latter category. I no longer have the drive or desire to make videos and yea I sometimes get a lot of ignorant or stupid comments. I delete them and they still come and it just sucks the fun out of it. The other part is I get too busy with life and am too tired most of the time. It does take a lot of time to make a review - getting footage, coming up with talking points, editing, etc. I've never done this for views or accolades or anything like that. It was for the love of the hobby and to catalog my collection.
You have some great points. I don't think there is such thing as too many UA-camRS just like there are not too many Facebookers, Tweeters, instagramers and so on. I have been watching youtube since 2005 and just started posting videos because I could not find certain videos I wanted to watch. I feel that I give back to the community which I have depended on for purchase decisions and research for over a decade. Copycats will fail and go away but people who have passion for their interests will continue.
Hey Man you're going on an immortal rant...but what I like about your channel is that you're you. Don't let competition make us lose out on getting your take on a product or game. In the Immortal Spirit of your channel you turn your complaints into suggestions for creators. I would love to see you make another video using all the guidance in this one plus things you may have missed. I found your channel researching how to be a youtuber and I've learned alot from you and MJR crew as well as others but this vid has me a little tiff and you're pushing me man...Pushing me to start my own gaming channel even though I don't own a huge collection I still want to share my perspective for our love of video games. Snazzy Video though I enjoyed listening to your thoughts about it getting over saturated.
John, don't understimate your reach and quality of work (and personal charisma), if you review ANYTHING game related i and a huge number of people will watch! Cheers from Brazil, my friend, keep up the good and high spirited work! Your opinion matter, no matter about what!
Nice video, and great advice John! Personally I do this as a hobby because I love video games, and it's my way of contributing to the community. I don't worry about channel growth, or making money. I just try to have some fun doing the videos, spreading a love of video games, and hopefully getting out some good information to those interested. It's definitely a lot of work getting out just my two weekly scheduled videos as well as any extras that might come up. Of course I also take some cues from my big time favorites like yourself, but my audience always gets my authentic eccentric somewhat unstable real self. You're right that in a way things have become oversaturated, but I also think the more of us doing it for the right reasons with realistic expectations makes for a better overall community. Many may aspire to the popularity, prevalence, influence, and all of The Immortal John Hancock. Though many may, or may not one day get there. Can't blame them for trying though!
I started shooting videos for my channel in 2009. I signed up for UA-cam back in 2006 to watch wacky Jack Ass type videos, plane and car crashes. I decided to shoot short films and posted a few silly videos on this channel and never really intended to film video game, music and electronics reviews, pick ups videos and etc. Nine years ago i got more views than I do now and due to lower views on my channel I have considered quitting my channel but keeping it up for those to view my old videos. What has kept me from quitting videos i enjoy talking about the things i am passionate about and educate people about releases of games and music. Great topic!
Hey John, this is Shawn B from FB. One of the reasons I prefer you to other channels is you actual care about gaming. Your not just about the views you actually care about collecting. Keep up the good work!
Very good points and excellent advice here. I think I fall into the camp of just not having the dedication and confidence that many You Tubers have. My passion are 2D & 2.5D action games 3rd generation onward, arcade and console. In a gaming landscape in love with FPS and 3D open world/sandbox type games, I don't know that my content would fly. I do have a tumblr site where I write reviews and showcase games to scratch the itch. I give it to people who put as much as you do into this. Much respect.
My channel is just for fun. So I try to put out niche videos instead of the same over and over. You know different views or things that not many talk about. John is one of my favorites because the simplicity of his videos and honest opinions.
Personally I think you can never have to many opinions when making a decision! I have definitely learned how hard it is and the comments are what they are. I personally do it for fun and to bring attention to other things I'm doing! My only regret is not making content in 2006 when I first got a channel but I just kept making excuses to myself... Finally I said it was time no matter what happens... The channel does need work but I'm trying my best and maybe at some point it will grow into some complete unique.
I disagree with there being too many channels. After all UA-cam is a platform that exists for people to have their own content to create. But yes it is basically 1 in a million to make it big on UA-cam, best you can hope for is to get a regular audience of any type. I've been doing UA-cam for 11 years and have never caught a break. But I do enjoy it so if that never happens oh well.
Even though a ton of people may review a certain product, I really only care about the opinions of a select group of people, you being one of them good sir!
Well said John. It's definitely not easy being a UA-camr. It's easy to sell yourself and do "hot takes" - but doing consistent quality content takes a lot.
It depends allot on what people want to get out of it. I'm into retro console & computer repairs. My videos are generally only to help out others in the community and to get advice , feed back & learn more about hardware. I think there's many channels out there like mine that are just people participating in their scene. Sharing info and helping each other out.
I WAS a dedicated UA-camr, uploading as much video as I could on a consistent basis. But the one thing that made me really bitter was the fact that because my channel wasn't big, I had a big opportunity taken away from me. Plus my channel wasn't growing organically, so those combined is when I gave up. Game playing talent alone on YT can only get you so far. Twitch is the more ideal platform for my kind of content. My channel is growing organically and the fact I can interact with people live, rather than in comments, makes my gaming experience much more enjoyable.
Great job John. I'm an old schooler and I instantly got attached to you because you are a true gamer and collector. I find nothing wrong with your opinions.
I don't know, I'm sort of in the middle. It seems that any hobby at times have a saturation or over saturation of youtubers. Are there some that are using youtube as a way to make a paycheck? Sure and there's nothing wrong with that. Are there some that are just doing it for fun? Sure and there's nothing wrong with that. I have like 3 videos on my page (as of now) but I don't plan on making it big because that's not my future goals. If I end up with 100 legit subscribers at the end of the day, I'll be happy. I don't think I'll ever be on a level like MJR or John, and I'm ok with that. You and the MJR crew make really great videos.
Thumbs up! I thought this was great advice! Its too bad some people don't like to hear the facts or the truth, and it appears others are twisting your words, insisting your intent was to insult others. That's not what I saw at all. For the record, he never said not to be a youtuber or that he was better than anyone else, as others here seem to insist. Ignorant people. I appreciate you sharing your experience with youtube to help others.
YOU SHOULD talk about new stuff anyway. You are way more informed and practical than most other you tubers I've watched. On another note... I only have 50+ subs on my channel and I am happy with how it's progressing. My goal from start was to create a community of fellow gamers to hunt, collect, enjoy and play with. (Inspired by MJR cottage video and my good friends' unfortunate passing) I have had several new and old friends appear as guests on my channel. I love to do it! Keep up the hard work Jon!!👍
Good video, however I disagree on some things. I don't think there are too many gaming channels, but there are too many making the same content. Every time there's gaming news of any type, you can be sure that there will be at least a thousand reaction or discussion videos on it within a day. Or if there's a popular game out, there will be hundreds of channels dedicated solely to that game. As far as consistent upload schedule goes, it can help get your content pushed in the algorithm, but a lot of times it just leads to creators making videos just for the sake of fulfilling a video quota. There are plenty of channels out there that have a sporadic release schedule, but have still found success. Two good examples of this are Classic Gaming Quarterly and Stop Drop & Retro. Each channel releases less than 20 videos per year, but they still have managed to get over 50,000 subs and tons of views. They are successful because they take their time and work hard on their content, rather than worry about what topic or game gets hits.
Totally disagree a lot of people can do UA-cam, even if they don’t get thousands of subs, they enjoy doing it and should not stop, sometimes it’s about having fun and improving people talking and presentation skills. So any new you tubers should go for it.
Playnation Games Amen!
Best comment on here
For me UA-cam is a fun creative outlet. I have no delusions of grandeur about making it big. Especially in the over saturated video game corner of UA-cam. I've also meet so many friends and fellow collectors on UA-cam so it's been a mostly positive experience.
It can be overwhelming. I just do it for fun and a hobby. allows me to be creative, share my passion and generally just have a good time. I dont mind I am a small channel and not really worried about so many other channels. I can hide in my little corner of UA-cam, play my games, have a great time and partake of my absinthe :P (i am smiling more now john :P)
I get this is a rant.....and I don't say this to be mean. But if you're going to comment on there are too many UA-camrs making videos....this video uses your own words against you. Your points were all over the place, and I feel this could have been addressed in half the time. There could have been more time editing....I say all of that to say if there were ever too many UA-camrs...and Google needed to downsize.....would your channel make the cut?
You are right on the amount of work required... I also do this on a part time bases and it takes quite a bit of time. I didn't know what I was doing when I started so its been quite a learning curve. Thing is that I love what I am talking about, regardless of the growth of the channel.
Another point, yes gaming is saturated, but personally I try and encourage everyone who expresses "wow I wish I could do that" to try. Will they make it huge? Maybe not. But I think making content is a creatively rewarding experience and everyone who has the desire to try it absolutely should. You never know what you're capable of until you give it your best shot. And even if lightning doesn't strike, you will amass a body of work that you can and should be proud of.
Well said, Daria.
I love your voice over work
Awww thank you!
I would rather see DariaPlays' videos then this dude's work any day. If we have to cull channels. Let's start here.
exactly. well said.
I love this channel I'm not one to comment much but I enjoy the content you present and the wonderful collection I would wish to one day have as well, you know your stuff and if not then you research it, sometimes I'm not interested in some topics you present but that's okay because there's other people who are interested in that topic. I enjoy the humble, cheerful yet subtle vibes your videos give me and you bring awareness of the oddities I'd never thought I could discover and collect for so thanks John keep up the great work im glad you took the video making more seriously!
If you're looking to get big, I agree that consistency is important. But for those of us with full time jobs, parental responsibilities, home projects and maintenance, and who want to enjoy their time with their significant others, friends and family, it may not be possible. And viewers should hopefully understand that. But dude, I've been reviewing games since 2012 on UA-cam. I make videos for me, the way I want them to come out. I agree that people should always be trying to improve their craft, but there's a lot that prevents people from rising to the top. UA-cam's policy of only promoting videos that are monetized, and yet you can't monetize without a specific amount of subs and views limits content creation. If you were established before this happened, that's one thing. But it's an uphill battle no matter what. Remember, we all started with 0 subs and views. My advice to people, make videos for you. Don't do it to get rich. But does this mean that only certain people should be doing UA-cam? No.
I do youtube as a hobby, I have not even posted a video in a good two - three weeks. I think there is always room for more people. I never started it to make money just enjoy when people sub and leave comments on videos to start a conversation. You know my own little space on this giant platform, I am always finding new content creators that have very low subs yet have great content.
If you're on the fence about starting youtube, do it. It is your space to create and just have fun with it, don't think of youtube is "oh, I can be the next so and so". Try to be yourself and just have fun.
I do my channel for me. Not everyone is out there to get a silver play button or is trying to quit their day job. But I am consistent with uploads, don't conform to just reporting on the "news/outrage of the day", and I love the communities that I'm a part of and the people who take the time to watch my stuff. It's never been about money/notoriety.
But, I've found over the last couple of months that I'm mostly putting my UA-cam view time toward smaller channels simply because they aren't just saying things or making videos of a certain topic (or the same topic as everyone else) with the sole goal of growing their audience.
I get that it sucks to be late the the party on making a video on a current news topic, but from a really small channel's perspective, I can make the same video, right away, and it just doesn't get the same traction as a late video on the same topic would for you.
I totally agree. I just do it because I love what I'm talking about.
This was a crazy video. Glad to see you in the comments on this one.
Second Breakfast well said musty
+1
Keep up the great work, Musty. Don't change ❤
John
Sorry but you sound like it’s a competition.
It’s not.
I love your channel but it’s not about a smile and a 4K camera.
Most people don’t have a 4K tv
Their is room for everyone.
For me it’s never been about the sub count or how big your collection is but more about the community and the love of the Hobby.
Sorry but I disagree with you on this one.
I got the Shika arcade stick because most of my videos are on the Super Nintendo.
If you feel there are too many youtubers feel free to close your channel and set an example to make a stand.
I subscribed to thi schannel when I saw the joy and passion you have for this stuff ...
Seeing somebody that happy doing smthng they like made me smile .
Keep doing your stuff !
Greetings from Croatia
I started my channel 4 months ago as a hobby cause I love gaming. I didn't start channel to make $$$$. I talk,play,and show games on my channel because its my passion and its been a lot of fun doing my channel.
I want to thank those for commenting my video. To be honest I probably could have probably done the video when I was not so exhausted from end of year teaching. I wanted to talk about it and I feel that some took the message in the wrong way. It was meant to help people and and to spark discussion.
John Hancock I think I got what you were actually saying. You had a lot to say and probably with the exhaustion & other factors multiple things were running through your head at once. Its happened to plenty of us, the message we wanted to deliver wasn't received how we intended to everyone listening, ah well! Keep up being yourself~ My original take from the first view of this video was you were saying hey there are TONS of youtube channels and if you want to succeed here are some tips to help you. But I dunno... Maybe I received the message in the video wrong? Lol
Nothing wrong with voicing your opinion. It made a for a very healthy discussion. I even ended up doing my own video on the topic like a few others. We don't all have to agree and you did make some valid points.
I have to say, that I like the overwhelming amount of information on UA-cam... however, I do feel that I have to filter out a large portion to get the information I am interested in. For me, I'm inspired by teachers, artists, or entertainers that speak to me. Everyone gets their inspiration in different forms, but the presenters that will be there over the long haul are the ones that believe in what they are doing. The people that will continue to follow you, will follow because they identify with your presentation. I'm not so sure its about being the first to discuss an issue, or the best video editing, the collection size. Keep doing what you love and people will watch. There is room for everyone on UA-cam... some will just have a different audience.
Thank you for posting this. Most appreciated.
It did kind of come off the wrong way at certain points, but I felt like a lot of it was accurate. I like plenty of variety, don't get me wrong. There can be 10 channels talking about the same subject, but I don't necessarily care about the opinions of all of them. Spawn wave, for instance, just covers news that other channels also cover. But I enjoy his format, and his particular opinion. What does bother me is having a ton of copy cat videos. If a channel does nothing but copy the content of other channels, then they aren't really creating anything. I don't mind if someone gives there own opinion on a topic that has already been covered, but there are a lot of "bandwagon" channels that don't bring anything new to a discussion. They can be small or large -- look at WatchMojo, they are huge but often copy smaller channels, even going so far as to use uncredited clips and almost exact phrasing. Reply girls come to mind, also. In that sense, I think there are too many youtubers. Simply regurgitating the success of others, hoping for a piece of the pie. At least bring a bit of unique personality and opinion to the table.
Sorry, that was long winded. Just felt like putting my two cents out there after seeing this and some of the reply videos people have done.
Thank you for being honest and upfront. People need more of this! Keep it up.
Too many people trying to make it a job.
That's True, but what's wrong with that? Equal opportunities is always a good thing. Success has got to start at somewhere right?
MerryWarner Nothing, actually. May the best person win. It's a saturated place, though.
Paul Cusentino same people that can’t make it in the real world.
Coupled with VASTLY over-rating themselves, and the unoriginal, bland, sameish subject matter VERY VERY VERY *VERY* often, and equating the louder they shout with the better their videos are.
Originality SCRREAAAAAAAMS OUT AT YOU, because it's SO rare online.
Its affecting the real world because there is too many dreamers that think they can skip the shitty job phase in life harsh reality coming for those that do
I miss the days when UA-cam was videos made by people just passionate about whatever they were interested in,. When it became more about making money and begging for Patreon donations then a lot of the fun went away.
i hope you keep reviewing products (even those already reviewed by other people) - your opinion is one i trust.
The great advice in this video translates well to life in general too, not just youtubing. Keep up the great work, your passion is infectious and I, for one, appreciate your consistency - I'm always looking forward to your Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning videos and recognize the time sacrifice you make to give these to us. Thank you!
Your advice, to me sounds like the advice a lottery winner could give: "just buy a ticket, it worked for me". Honestly, I think there are many channels that do exactly the things you say, but simply never get the views. Personally I think it has more to do with blind luck. That idea is supported by the fact that only a small percentage of the amount of UA-camrs has a notable amount of subscribers. But there are other factors as well.
Your point about being "personable" I think is a good one! Many UA-camrs do not look towards the "old" medium of television to learn that it takes a certain amount of showmanship to make a video not only watchable, but also enjoyable to watch. It takes more than just effort, but also talent. Being likeable or coming across as sympathetic is not given to everyone. I think it's funny to see that so many gaming related UA-camrs are too focused on the technical side of making videos (lights, cameras, content, etc) while the human side is probably more important than the resolution of your camera. Honestly the production quality of this particular video is not great with the sloppy cuts and varying audio quality, but YOU are enjoyable to watch. You come across as a sympathetic person.
The problem with not becoming "successful" (i.e. getting views) I think is not to do with the amount of UA-camrs that exist. It comes down to a hard-to-define factor of having just that thing that people want to see. In the end, we watch the Tuber for the Tuber, not the product he or she might be holding. And in the end not everyone can be successful. It's just a fact of life.
Thanks. Edited.
It's not luck in John's case. Metal Jesus promoted him. That's the only reason anyone heard of him. He acts like he is some brilliant creative force of nature...lol
acertainshape- That is so true.
As always, good and respectable opinion on what could be a touchy subject. With that being said, I just started up a channel because of everyday guys like you. However, I'm not doing it for money, or anything other than my love of all things gaming . I hope other people want to share my passion and that's my only expectation. Keep up the good work John.
I agree! Some people just want to do it as a hobby.
There are a lot of channels to choose from and many I haven't even watched yet. I think it takes some luck along with the consistency to get seen and shared. I don't mind the late news. I get my news from youtubers and podcasts.... when I hear it from your channel it's news to me!
Thanks John. Glad you're still having fun with collecting and creating content.
Eh when you look at Youtubing as competition then you miss the whole point of community. My channel came about because I wanted to document what I picked up etc. I did this because my memory is not the best. People have subbed to see my stuff and I appreciate the interaction but I never suspected that anyone would. My channel has allowed me to make friends with people I might never had known so for me it is all about community. If it is about being the latest and greatest then you are in it for the wrong reasons. I don't monetize any of my stuff because of the simple fact is that is a hobby not a job and if the people don't like it then they are more than welcome to move on. If they want to stick around then great, I enjoy the positivity.
Canadian Retro You have the right attitude.
Thanks man
Canadian Retro my boy :)
I think more people need to have this point of view when starting out. That would help a lot to prevent those who struggle to grow...don't make your videos for an audience, make it for yourself.
As an up and coming UA-camr, your thoughts and creations truly inspire me. I've started a vlog on my personal channel as well as a UA-cam series surrounding my "Retro Rats" after school program I'm starting!!!
You should know, John, your work inspires thousands of people everyday. Making these videos from an honest standpoint help your community to grow strong and ready to face the challenges ahead. Don't stop, please!!!
You do something that is most important.
You show respect to those who may disagree with you and you're honest to your viewers.
I feel that is also necessary for other UA-cam content creators.
Your content is quite unique still. I have a lot of switch related channels in my subscription feed, and for the most part they cover the same things, but your are the only youtuber in my feed that review johnny turbo ports, which I truly appreciate.
I don't think there are too many youtubers. This platform really doesn't have a problem with scale of content providers, unless you are doing it to make money. I would agree it is harder to get noticed now than it was 10 years ago, but if you are simply doing a channel to share a passion or just as a hobby, grab any camera you can and go nuts in your own style.
If you do start, you need to decide for yourself what is 'successful'. For me it was to meet a few like minded people and occasionally show someone something they did not know. I never really cared about number of subscribers or number of views. To an extent I cared about number of comments, but not for the actual numbers, but because I wanted to get conversations going.
I do think that it is important to go back once in a while and watch your own content and see if it is something you think is entertaining or something that you would enjoy. I got bored with the 'pickups video' style content and have not been doing much content lately because of that. I have some ideas for some new content that I think will be fun, and I will give it a go when I can find the time to plan, shoot and edit the video.
wow... I write a book when I comment early in the morning... LOL
Great video John, these breaks from the video game norm are excellent and humanizing. I tell a lot of people about you it's hard to fake being genuine, none of your videos are ever lacking being genuine and real, keep it up!!!
This video is ironically helpful for those who are seriously considering the prospect of beginning their own UA-cam channel. The advice you were given is solid through and through. Be consistent. That being said, having a beautiful lifelong collection around you certainly helps. Good insight all around.
Its nice to have choices as each UA-camr has their own perspective on the gaming industry, their focus may be different, and it’s nice to read and hear from others regarding reviews and what they think is the best game or why a game or series should return, etc.
Being said that, there are a lot of UA-camrs out there though.
Love your videos. I learned so much. Thank you for sharing. keep up your great excellent work. i look forward to all ur videos.
Great video John. I was also a collector long before I started doing my channel. My goal has always been to spread my knowledge on collector and build a community of retro game collectors to help each other out. The biggest thing that I see with some channels that I have a problem with are reaction videos. Search results show way too many of them. Keep up the great work.
Hello John. What I like a lot about you is because you are easy on the eyes. You have this friendly, warm aura. Plus your experience and passion to what you're doing really goes through. No matter how advance other people are with their videos, the content matters, and specially the person presenting it. Keep it up John :) People will come for youtubers who give great content. :)
Just started my personal channel a little over a month ago. I wanted a place to make content that I'd like to watch, in detph overviews of series, quick reviews, retrospectives. Whether I make a dime or not, I still love making the videos, and I still love creating content others enjoy. Great video man, and great channel as always.
I’m an old school UA-camr and a long time collector/enthusiast, going back to 8-bit ‘zines in the early ‘90s. I moved into game videos because I love gaming. For me it’s a hobby but I have to admit it’s hard to get views because there definitely are too many gaming channels to stand out. I’ll keep going though, because I love doing it.
You nailed the two biggest tips I've witnessed for myself...have a consistent schedule (use scheduled releases) and use other social medias (people tend to check FB & Twitter constantly over YT)! Also I would add...pick a topic you have a passion for!
I first saw you Sir Hancock on MJR and seems like you’re a genuinely kind guy (and you are). All your points struck a chord in me. Sometimes I’m not sure why I do videos. I’m sure you guys inspired me to do it. I have no intentions of earning from YT it’s just a hobby. When I’m not doing photography and videography I try to spend time on my other passion which is video games. I just utilized the gears I got, but because I don’t have enough time (family and work) sometimes output were inconsistent. I love that you sometimes involve your family in your videos, I’m a family guy myself. I don’t have the courage to get them involve knowing YT could be a harsh place sometimes. Thank you for this video. You deserve more views and subs. Cheers!
I am really burnt out on the big channels. I always try to find smaller under 100 sub channels these days.
Great video, I always liked Johns videos. Very unique, informative and genuine. I would totally agree that there are too many youtubers out now. Not that it’s a bad thing or anything.
I started making videos a little over than one year now. I started to grow a little bit this year with suba coming everyday, as I go closer to my first 1000 subs, but Im all in for the fun. I Discover a new passion, video editing, which was something I didnt knew about, and now Im loving doing it. My goal on this is to have "my" own community. A place where I can share and learn new stuff within the gaming scene.
Keep doing what you do John. Your channel is awesome ,)
This is an interesting topic because what quantify's that there are too many? Every industry is a rat race of some kind, so I'm not surprised by the boom of people who want a successful youtube channel.
I think you make some good points John. Just stick with it and be in it for the long haul. Learn, make friends and have fun!
I started my channel back in 2007 as an extension of my audio work. I’ve only managed about 1200 subscribers, and many newer channels have surpassed me, but I’m still dedicated to my channel.
John, I stumbled upon your channel a while back when I started getting interested in finding great video game content. I really appreciate you making this video because I too struggle with "am I doing anything that offers value to the UA-cam community". I have met some really awesome people since I started my UA-cam journey. (you included)
So thank you for this video, and keep up the good work.
"Many times, I tried something and it didn't go over well" - I'm guessing this is gonna end up being one of those times? :P Time for some humble pie! :D
Swallow your own medicine, maybe? Funny you mentioned humility, whilst arrogantly telling someone ELSE they should be humble.
Wow.
As long as u still youtube im good ... Love ur vids!!!!!!!
. I started this as a hobby to learn how to edit and also have an excuse to play my backlog of games. As long as this is fun, I'll keep doing it.
Love your channel John! Keep it up!
Same here, a good excuse to play some games :)
you commented here only looking for new subs, or to steal subs away from someone else,
dont lie "content creator"
Pixel_Geist what's wrong with that? It's not "stealing". John still keeps any subscribers who sub to this guy's channel. I don't see what the harm is.
Super Nicktendo i saw the thumbnail of metaljesus on my feed and thought I had missed a video of his and that's how I found your channel lol
Likewise, I got into it to learn the ins and outs of Premiere. Now I'm just having a great time with it! =)
good points, I am just a hobbyist messing around for fun and to put out some opinions and contribute to the retro gaming community even though I dont have a massive collection or big production values. Its a fun hobby and there is some cool people to interact with, in particular many smaller channels without a ton of subs
The more the merrier I say, a wider range of opinion and content is a good thing as some topics maybe very niche or put a different slant on a subject. Being a gaming youtuber is a funny thing, it's difficult to create original content sometimes, but as most of us are doing it on the side as a fun hobby/supplementary income, finding the time is also tricky. Some people have no consideration for growing, as they just want to make stuff for the thrill. I myself want a medium between the 2, but it's a tricky thing to 'break' the crowd as it were. Interesting chat and for what it's worth, a new sub for ya.
Dear Mr. Hancock! I adore your video, i watch you in the way to work, i look forward for your videos your awesome. And many many thanks to all the hours and we effort you put in. From father the father i really dont know how you do it and this is thing to admire. Thanks You! I am with you. Always.
Me personally I have never aspired to be successful on UA-cam. I am just happy to be part of the community and the friendships I have made because of it.
Great comments. Definitely tough. Our channel also has been in a stunted growth pattern, but in our case, we are doing it for fun and don't mind haha.
Overall though to answer the question, yeah its definitely good especially for the gaming community. Even if they only make 10 videos and quit out after 2 subscribers, it's great for the gaming the community specifically because it shows that the gaming community is still on a steady pattern for growth!
Good points, John, and thanks for the pointers. I am in the phase on what I should do with my own channel. I want to go from just walkthroughs to something more, and I am still figuring out a schedule with days I should put out new content, and what the content should be. I don`t have a goal as to earn cash from this, this is a hobby that I am really passionate about and want to share my joy of retrogaming and newer games.
Great video John, been watching you for some time now (I watch a lot of retro gaming channel despite my channel being completely different) You certainly learn a lot making videos for UA-cam and have to do it for the love of it. Its quite fascinating seeing what works and what doesn't and how UA-cam 'works' Keep up the great videos.
Great video. I think the elimination process by how much it appeals to a certain group naturally keeps the amount of channels in check. I've seen a lot of channels start off really good, but after a handful of videos, they've just abandoned their channels. I've always liked giving creative feedback to channels I really enjoy (Well hey, big companies actually pay thousands of dollars to marketing companies for this stuff). As far as reviews go, I think you should review something regardless of how many times it's been reviewed before. There is a difference between watching the news from a guy named Chip and Walter Cronkite. (Just realized I'm the 600th Thumbs up).
It's not just about the content, what I also like about you (except huge knowledge of gaming) is your personality, you are my favorite youtube creator to watch when I want to relax and just enjoy some normal peaceful content while offering topics I enjoy.
Dude more and more I’m not liking the direction you’re going in. Best of luck to your channel. Peace out!
Let the door SLAM into your head on the way out, it (may) knock you back into reality.
@@unlokia Who were you talking to?
@@unlokia 2 likes vs 40 likes. I guess you're in the minority on this opinion. I unsubbed after finding this gem as well. UA-cam isnt just for john Hancock, ANYONE should be able to do it. It was UA-cam's intention.
Great video with a lot of good advice which applies to all difficult projects. I think the most important thing you said was to be honest. Mr. Rogers often said the most important thing any person can give to another person is one more honest adult in their lives. Mr. Rogers was talking about adults being honest with children , but it applies to adults, too. People of all ages are drawn to honesty and truth. A lot of youtubers are in this as a business for profit, which puts a veil between them and the audience. Those who produce videos purely for the desire to share their knowledge and love for their hobby / interest share an honesty with the viewer which creates a strong relationship. My belief is videos with great honesty will become evergreen videos referenced by those with similar interests, hobbies, challenges in the future.
John you are one of the very few whose videos i look foward to. Keep doing what you're doing while most importantly remaining being yourself
Honestly, nothing works anymore and the algorithm has changed so much and become such a cluster mess within itself it has become a luck thing. I was consistent for a whole year making 3 videos a week at the same time and it didn't help at all. I have great production value and great content, In fact, the past month I'v uploaded once a week at random times videos done with my webcam and now I'm getting more subscribers. I honestly don't think there is a formula anymore. Just do it for passion and if it becomes a hit then great if not then who cares your doing what you love to do.
Well said sir and I agree. I may not always be consistent with my videos but I always enjoy making them 🙂.
Media Glitch One of the Best Responses I’ve read. It took less than a couple minutes to read & comprehend. Well appreciated & needed - Thanks for Sharing (iLiked!).
that happened to me haha, well my channel in Arabic,
Half of the "formula" is knowing the right people.
I agree there probably isn't one formula. Checked out your channel and I see why the views are low. Not because it's bad but because of the audience youtube attracts. It's not enough to have high production value in terms of video quality but the entertainment value has to be high too. Especially in 2018. The niche of movie reviews as a whole has a low barrier of entry and a ton of competition. Something like 10 shocking reasons solo was actually good. Would attract more people. In the video include image montage and video clips from the trailer to help move the video along. That's what viewers are sharing and returning to right now.
Good advice John. There are definitely too many channels for one person to watch, but anyone can get a small following and make some YT friends with the advice you gave at the end.
I literally started for fun and will die doing it as fun, and I'm not quiting, not everyone wants to be famous, they just want to be apart of the topic or share, but I understand where you are coming from.
I always tell people ask yourself why you started and what's the end goal and same applies to collecting games, you have to ask yourself those questions, and both for me are it's fun, I don't take it serious, life is more important than UA-cam, you are in a position where you work for your audience that is judgememtal, I work for myself, working for yourself and doing what you want is better for me and screw who doesn't like it :)
John, love the videos! You are always upbeat and positive which is a breath of fresh air these days. And the time and effort you put into these videos really shows. Look forward to watching each one you put up!
Found your channel through The Metal Jesus and am glad I did!
I would say I am old school UA-cam watcher because I like to watch opinions instead of people being ridiculous. I also have a channel called gamers rush.
Your content is sincere. Greetings from Costa Rica.
I started my Channel as a way to stay connected to my hobby. I ran a regular weekly Dungeons & Dragons campaign for several years and when I moved towns to be with my Fiancee I lost that regular game. I had no one to really share my love of D&D with so the Mrs convinced me to start making videos. My channel has grown far beyond my expectations over the last 4 years and now it has become self-sustaining which is all I could ever even dream of. In my opinion that is what makes UA-cam great as it can create a sense of community for those who's life circumstances may make those kinds of connections difficult in person. That said there are a lot of Band-Wagon channels that tend to try to copy the success of other channels (like when AVGN clones were all over the place) but no one is forcing anyone to watch every channel out there.
I have had a lot of great conversations and genuine friendships form based on having my small channel, and I actively encourage others to start their own channels so they can discuss hobbies or other activities they are passionate about, and something that has personal significance.
I will end by saying that you are one of my favourite UA-camrs and I think you did raise some interesting points. There is great advice in this video, but I feel like you should have started with the advice because based on the comments I feel like a lot of people may have stopped watching before getting to the part of the video that might have helped them and their channel.
John, don't you change a thing! I love your channel just the way it is and I know many friends of mine who have stated that you are our favorite UA-camr!
Of course everybody is entitled to their opinion however UA-cam means different things to different people. Not everyone is trying to become the next Pewdiepie, to some people it is a creative outlet and to those who are trying to make something of it i say goodluck. The over-saturation is a clear indicator of the strength of the platform, the desire for people to make a hobby a full time job and the community's therein. The fact of the matter is some people will only ever be at a certain level of video production and concept and others will grow. UA-cam is a learning process and it is very much about the journey not the destination. At the end of the day what we choose to watch or who we choose to subscribe to is entirely on us and just because something is not to your preferred taste does not mean it should not exist. Like i said everybody is entitled to their opinion so i just wanted to share mine.
Why do I do it? I remember a time when if you wanted to have your own show, you had to know someone in the TV business, or get lucky and have a community TV channel that liked what you did. I like the creative aspect of it, and being able to make something that I created and be able to share it is my enjoyment. Do I think I'll be the next big thing? Realistically, no, but I do like it when I see someone subscribe and/or comment - it says "I did something cool".
I don't think there are too many UA-camrs, as there is something for everyone. There is enough room for everyone to exist. If they like your content, they'll come. It's why I come here after all. :) Keep on rocking, John!
I think the ones that aren't good will eventually fade, and those that are will rise to the top. No reason why people can't put out videos if it's something they love to do.
Two things: First, great channel and great video! Second, I don’t mind “old” news. If you recorded something I’m into, like your mimigen review, I’d watch it a day or a week later. It’s a topic I’m into and an opinion I value. The entertainment will be there!
Has 86k subs
Complains about the amount of youtubers.
I started my other channel 11 years ago and that channel only has 300 subscribers not once have I ever made a video complaining about UA-camrs..
You should feel blessed.
Another great video John. I have uploaded to youtube for years but haven't gotten serious really. It's mostly just a hobby but I do think about pouring more time into my channel. I agree about mainly a certain generation not being able to take criticism. Good job man. 60,000 subs hopefully soon!!!
Good Vid ! I've been struggling with my videos, im working on switching things up, on hiatus , but this was motivational
Great thoughts and advices!! Thank you, John!!
More options is a good thing. It gives people more choices to find what they like and it also makes other youtubers step up their game to stay on top. The only people that would say there are too many are people jealous and envious others are getting subscribers while they might have flat lined.
Honestly I am doing this to give back to the community. Yes, I know it is hard work, but I enjoy it. I am not here for the money. Besides it is not that big of a check. I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.
I truly enjoy watching your videos. You are a very knowledgeable person when it comes to games.
There's a lot of new people and unfortunately a lot of my favorites are long gone. They either got out of the hobby or got tired of making videos about it. I fall in the latter category. I no longer have the drive or desire to make videos and yea I sometimes get a lot of ignorant or stupid comments. I delete them and they still come and it just sucks the fun out of it. The other part is I get too busy with life and am too tired most of the time. It does take a lot of time to make a review - getting footage, coming up with talking points, editing, etc. I've never done this for views or accolades or anything like that. It was for the love of the hobby and to catalog my collection.
You have some great points. I don't think there is such thing as too many UA-camRS just like there are not too many Facebookers, Tweeters, instagramers and so on. I have been watching youtube since 2005 and just started posting videos because I could not find certain videos I wanted to watch. I feel that I give back to the community which I have depended on for purchase decisions and research for over a decade. Copycats will fail and go away but people who have passion for their interests will continue.
Hey Man you're going on an immortal rant...but what I like about your channel is that you're you. Don't let competition make us lose out on getting your take on a product or game. In the Immortal Spirit of your channel you turn your complaints into suggestions for creators. I would love to see you make another video using all the guidance in this one plus things you may have missed. I found your channel researching how to be a youtuber and I've learned alot from you and MJR crew as well as others but this vid has me a little tiff and you're pushing me man...Pushing me to start my own gaming channel even though I don't own a huge collection I still want to share my perspective for our love of video games. Snazzy Video though I enjoyed listening to your thoughts about it getting over saturated.
John, don't understimate your reach and quality of work (and personal charisma), if you review ANYTHING game related i and a huge number of people will watch!
Cheers from Brazil, my friend, keep up the good and high spirited work! Your opinion matter, no matter about what!
Nice video, and great advice John! Personally I do this as a hobby because I love video games, and it's my way of contributing to the community. I don't worry about channel growth, or making money. I just try to have some fun doing the videos, spreading a love of video games, and hopefully getting out some good information to those interested. It's definitely a lot of work getting out just my two weekly scheduled videos as well as any extras that might come up. Of course I also take some cues from my big time favorites like yourself, but my audience always gets my authentic eccentric somewhat unstable real self. You're right that in a way things have become oversaturated, but I also think the more of us doing it for the right reasons with realistic expectations makes for a better overall community. Many may aspire to the popularity, prevalence, influence, and all of The Immortal John Hancock. Though many may, or may not one day get there. Can't blame them for trying though!
I started shooting videos for my channel in 2009. I signed up for UA-cam back in 2006 to watch wacky Jack Ass type videos, plane and car crashes. I decided to shoot short films and posted a few silly videos on this channel and never really intended to film video game, music and electronics reviews, pick ups videos and etc. Nine years ago i got more views than I do now and due to lower views on my channel I have considered quitting my channel but keeping it up for those to view my old videos. What has kept me from quitting videos i enjoy talking about the things i am passionate about and educate people about releases of games and music. Great topic!
I hope you really are Immortal. Your videos are always refreshing to watch. Thumbs up!
Hey John, this is Shawn B from FB. One of the reasons I prefer you to other channels is you actual care about gaming. Your not just about the views you actually care about collecting. Keep up the good work!
Very good points and excellent advice here. I think I fall into the camp of just not having the dedication and confidence that many You Tubers have. My passion are 2D & 2.5D action games 3rd generation onward, arcade and console. In a gaming landscape in love with FPS and 3D open world/sandbox type games, I don't know that my content would fly. I do have a tumblr site where I write reviews and showcase games to scratch the itch. I give it to people who put as much as you do into this. Much respect.
My channel is just for fun. So I try to put out niche videos instead of the same over and over. You know different views or things that not many talk about. John is one of my favorites because the simplicity of his videos and honest opinions.
Personally I think you can never have to many opinions when making a decision! I have definitely learned how hard it is and the comments are what they are. I personally do it for fun and to bring attention to other things I'm doing! My only regret is not making content in 2006 when I first got a channel but I just kept making excuses to myself... Finally I said it was time no matter what happens... The channel does need work but I'm trying my best and maybe at some point it will grow into some complete unique.
I disagree with there being too many channels. After all UA-cam is a platform that exists for people to have their own content to create. But yes it is basically 1 in a million to make it big on UA-cam, best you can hope for is to get a regular audience of any type. I've been doing UA-cam for 11 years and have never caught a break. But I do enjoy it so if that never happens oh well.
Even though a ton of people may review a certain product, I really only care about the opinions of a select group of people, you being one of them good sir!
Right on point John!!! UA-cam videos only suck when you don't stick to your gutt! Wonderful subject to talk about Mr. Immortal
Well said John. It's definitely not easy being a UA-camr. It's easy to sell yourself and do "hot takes" - but doing consistent quality content takes a lot.
It depends allot on what people want to get out of it. I'm into retro console & computer repairs. My videos are generally only to help out others in the community and to get advice , feed back & learn more about hardware. I think there's many channels out there like mine that are just people participating in their scene. Sharing info and helping each other out.
I WAS a dedicated UA-camr, uploading as much video as I could on a consistent basis. But the one thing that made me really bitter was the fact that because my channel wasn't big, I had a big opportunity taken away from me. Plus my channel wasn't growing organically, so those combined is when I gave up. Game playing talent alone on YT can only get you so far. Twitch is the more ideal platform for my kind of content. My channel is growing organically and the fact I can interact with people live, rather than in comments, makes my gaming experience much more enjoyable.
Great job John. I'm an old schooler and I instantly got attached to you because you are a true gamer and collector. I find nothing wrong with your opinions.
I don't know, I'm sort of in the middle. It seems that any hobby at times have a saturation or over saturation of youtubers. Are there some that are using youtube as a way to make a paycheck? Sure and there's nothing wrong with that. Are there some that are just doing it for fun? Sure and there's nothing wrong with that. I have like 3 videos on my page (as of now) but I don't plan on making it big because that's not my future goals. If I end up with 100 legit subscribers at the end of the day, I'll be happy. I don't think I'll ever be on a level like MJR or John, and I'm ok with that. You and the MJR crew make really great videos.
Thumbs up! I thought this was great advice! Its too bad some people don't like to hear the facts or the truth, and it appears others are twisting your words, insisting your intent was to insult others. That's not what I saw at all. For the record, he never said not to be a youtuber or that he was better than anyone else, as others here seem to insist. Ignorant people.
I appreciate you sharing your experience with youtube to help others.
YOU SHOULD talk about new stuff anyway. You are way more informed and practical than most other you tubers I've watched.
On another note... I only have 50+ subs on my channel and I am happy with how it's progressing. My goal from start was to create a community of fellow gamers to hunt, collect, enjoy and play with. (Inspired by MJR cottage video and my good friends' unfortunate passing) I have had several new and old friends appear as guests on my channel. I love to do it! Keep up the hard work Jon!!👍
You're awesome, greetings from Chile
Good video, however I disagree on some things. I don't think there are too many gaming channels, but there are too many making the same content. Every time there's gaming news of any type, you can be sure that there will be at least a thousand reaction or discussion videos on it within a day. Or if there's a popular game out, there will be hundreds of channels dedicated solely to that game.
As far as consistent upload schedule goes, it can help get your content pushed in the algorithm, but a lot of times it just leads to creators making videos just for the sake of fulfilling a video quota. There are plenty of channels out there that have a sporadic release schedule, but have still found success. Two good examples of this are Classic Gaming Quarterly and Stop Drop & Retro. Each channel releases less than 20 videos per year, but they still have managed to get over 50,000 subs and tons of views. They are successful because they take their time and work hard on their content, rather than worry about what topic or game gets hits.
Keep doing what you do : it's great! Greetings from a French fan.