Good News And Bad News!

[NikoAnesti]

http://geoweasel.net/apple.html

The short version:
The good news is, there's a new episode out. The bad news is, you gotta pay $1.25 for it.

The long version:
As many of you know, I've been working on a small GEOweasel DVD project for a while. One of the episodes on there is exclusive to the DVD. Unfortunately, I could not sell the DVD via the internet, but I still wanted people to be able to see the episode. If I just uploaded it as any other, though, it would make the DVD pretty much worthless aside from some commentaries no one will watch, so I had to charge something. Actually, since the DVDs sell for $10 and there's 5 episodes, this new episode is worth $2. But I'm only charging you $1.25! Isn't that wonderful! I just still want it to have a special feeling to it and also be seen even though I can't sell the DVDs. Maybe there'll be another chance for a better DVD later on though. So if you want, buy the episode, and enjoy!

[LukeIamyourdad]

Thats pretty dumb that you have to pay. I'm not gonna pay to watch a geoweasel episode. Are all of the future episodes gonna be free?

[spaceyoshix]

Ya, I understand how you want there to still be some incentive for people to buy the DVD on its release.

I won't pay for the new toon, I'm going to buy the DVD when you get to determining how to sell it. Why not try Ebay?

[Tehman]

I live in NJ..... can I send a money order or check to you with shipping or something?

[NikoAnesti]

This is the only episode you'll have to pay for, because I didn't know I wasn't going to be able to sell the DVD ahead of time. If money itself is the issue, well, I find it hard to believe that you can't come up with five quarters looking under your couch. If you don't want to buy it that's fine, you just don't have to announce it in an outrage.

Also, no, I'm not giving out my address. Plus doing it through Lulu has protection.

[Teal Man]

Why are you saying you'd rather buy the DVD than the episode? You'd rather pay 10 bucks than 1.25 for the exact same thing and the ability to watch a few episodes on your TV + some commentary? I don't understand that. Some kind of collector's thing maybe? I still wouldn't spend 10 bucks on it.

[spaceyoshix]

I'm not buying the toon so I don't spoil it for the DVD when Niko gets to selling it. I want it just to have that little peice of GEOweasel in my own home. And seeing as how ol Niko put so much work into the DVD and all the toons, I wanna show him thanks by buying a copy.

[Teal Man]

Well, he said he's not... selling it online. So, you're gonna have to like... go to New Jersey and buy one from him in person then.

[NikoAnesti]

Unfortunately, I could not sell the DVD via the internet, but I still wanted people to be able to see the episode.
The only way I can get a DVD to be available to everyone is if I got some kinda weird endorsement deal. If that were to even happen, it would be much farther down the road, and the DVD would be a collection of all the episodes I could fit. So this DVD is not available.

[Splade Blade]

I can't help but wonder, when put in perspective, why Bonus Stage TLE was 26 cents LESS than this, though...

[NikoAnesti]

Well he was selling it through something different, wasn't he? Bitpass, or something? I think their standards for commission are different than Lulu. Frankly, I think a dollar was under priced for that and people had no reason to complain. But they did anyway, as we're seeing here. What I don't understand is why whatever Matt does is the standard for everyone else..

[Splade Blade]

Because what he does is usually of higher quality than everyone else. For internet cartoons at least.

[NikoAnesti]

Just saying it doesn't mean that however he does something is the way it should be done. It's weird. A lot of people said I was ripping him off when GEOweasel had an opening and closing theme because at the time, he was one of the very few people who did that in webtoons. But then when I stopped, people got confused and wondered why I wasn't doing it. There's no happy medium.

[Tehman]

Oy! Lulu seems to only choose credit cards for purchasing.....

[Super Nario]

So Niko, why exactly is it that you can't sell a DVD over the internet, but you can sell your CD and stuff over the internet?

Also, this place has Animaniacs emoticons! :yakko: :wakko: :dot: :narf: :brain:

Awesome!

[NikoAnesti]

CDs and shirts and stuff are simple. CDs you just upload the audio files, arrange them, put the art, and bam, it's all there. Shirts are even easier, all you do is pick the style and upload the image. DVDs, on the other hand, require special file formats and stuff that I don't have access to. They need both an AUDIO_TS and a VIDEO_TS directory, with several .iso files, or something like that. If they could make it similar to their CD creation, where I could just upload MPEG files are something similar, it would be no problem at all. I had no idea going into it that it was this complex.

[LukeIamyourdad]

Can you sell the DVDs using ebay?

[NikoAnesti]

I had thought about that after the Lulu thing fell through, but the reason I like using sites like Lulu or Cafepress is because they handle all the production, shipping, etc., and nobody knows each other's personal information. Going through eBay, the recipient will know my address, and you would also end up giving your address to me. Even if you are comfortable with the latter, giving out my address could mean really bad things.

[Peter Paltridge]

Wow.......er......Niko, are you really making a mistake of this size?

You should have looked into the process of releasing a DVD before you began spending effort on one. But even more importantly, you should have held off on damaging the relationship between site and audience by making the awful mistake of locking a cartoon! People will pay for an archive version of what they have already seen. They will NOT pay when they have no idea what they're getting.

My advice is to cut your losses and unblock the new cartoon and try the DVD much later on when you know how to sell one. You're still struggling, and above all, you do NOT want to make a greedy arrogant decision that turns people away.

[Tehman]

Oy vey!

[NikoAnesti]

You should have looked into the process of releasing a DVD before you began spending effort on one. But even more importantly, you should have held off on damaging the relationship between site and audience by making the awful mistake of locking a cartoon! People will pay for an archive version of what they have already seen. They will NOT pay when they have no idea what they're getting.
I had looked up the requirements for DVDs on Lulu long before actually making this DVD but still didn't know about the types of files they were asking for. My original plan was to make a DVD myself, and then use that as a guide to export the files onto Lulu. Unfortunately that didn't work, but I couldn't test that until making a DVD anyway. Either way, yeah, it was a poorly-planned mistake, which I acknowledge. The problem then was I couldn't just put this episode up on the site after people had already bought it on the DVD when I sold it locally. Selling the episode individually was not something I really wanted to do, but with there not having been an episode in so long and wanting people to see this one, it's what I had to do.

As far as people paying, on the internet, it seems like less of a matter of content than who the person. Some fans will buy anything, and others will buy absolutely nothing. An archive version, like you said, would be an option, but it's still split down the middle as to who would buy it. Some people would, but most others are going to say "Why am I going to pay for this when I can already watch it?" True, they know the content already, but then it's not worth buying. Selling a brand new episode is just the opposite. You have almost no idea what you're getting, but it's not anything you've seen already; it's totally new. It's the same thing with buying a book, a movie, a video game, etc. (except for movies or games, they show previews, commercials, and trailers, because there's...enough content to do that with. It's not as easy with a 5-minute cartoon).

It really is split right down the middle in the end though. Some people will buy it, and others will refuse. Either way, this is still an oddity for the series, not something I've ever done, nor will do again. And I'm sure later on down the road, it's going to seem even weirder, when all of the conversations right now are forgotten, and people will say, "Why is there one episode right here in the middle that I have to pay for?" By now, it's too late, unfortunately. I can't just put up the episode and say "Hey, I decided you can see it for free, and to all who paid, thanks, but you got suckered!" And that's only because I can't give refunds through Lulu. I dunno. Like I said, it's not something I wanted to do, but I had to do something.

[Mega-Rhys]

Hey, if you've bought the episode (Like I Did :D ), Edit the GEOWeasel Wiki (http://geowiki.coramaximus.com/Main_Page) "An Apple a Day" Page and help ol' Rhys Marshall out :)

[NikoAnesti]

That's all fine and dandy, so long as you don't make a transcript, mirror it, or use any extra screenshots.

[Mega-Rhys]

No problem Mr Anesti, if I have to do it, (Which will be most likely) Well only use the one screenshot, a link to the GEOWeasel page, and the link to the Lulu page, and Trivia. And no mirroring.

Also, brilliant job on it as well. Not my favorite, but still awesome nonetheless :D

[Another Fan]

I'll do it maybe later. Don't have a credit card, and asking parents for this sort of thing is kind of awkward.

[Tehman]

I got one of those debit card/gift card things recently, so I finally got the episode. It's great but i seems to short.

[Tehman]

The soundtrack is a lot better in the episode than the previous ones that were just electronic beeps. This is a great improvement to the series, the doctor scene's background music, almost sounded like Metroid. For some reason.... Were you really the narrator? I thought that was a totally different voice actor for a second. I like the slightly new pale color design for their clothes, well it looks pale to me. Well this episode deserves a 9/10, since it really didn't make me laugh. It was just a nice piece of animation. Congrats!




*i would probably still like to have a DVD though*:sweat:

[IceSage]

I'm still confused... Why did your plans of creating a DVD fail? The service you use has different requirements to create a DVD? There's tons of options available on the internet to create DVDs... I really don't see the problem. Oh well, whatever. I guess there shall never be a nifty GeoWeasel DVD... -_-

[NikoAnesti]

The soundtrack is a lot better in the episode than the previous ones that were just electronic beeps. This is a great improvement to the series, the doctor scene's background music, almost sounded like Metroid. For some reason.... Were you really the narrator? I thought that was a totally different voice actor for a second. I like the slightly new pale color design for their clothes, well it looks pale to me. Well this episode deserves a 9/10, since it really didn't make me laugh. It was just a nice piece of animation. Congrats!
The main reason the soundtrack is better is because I was doing this partially as a school project for my video tech class and had access to a huge library of royalty-free music to use. A lot of the music was for like...news broadcasts and stuff, not much that actually worked for a cartoon. So you probably won't hear much like that in other episodes. Oh, and yes, I was the narrator.

[Kisai]

The main reason the soundtrack is better is because I was doing this partially as a school project for my video tech class and had access to a huge library of royalty-free music to use. A lot of the music was for like...news broadcasts and stuff, not much that actually worked for a cartoon. So you probably won't hear much like that in other episodes. Oh, and yes, I was the narrator.


So is the issue you just don't know how to get flash into mpeg2, or you lack DVD mastering software? The former is very tricky, the latter is easy and can be done with free software.

[Splade Blade]

Here's a crazy idea.
You can turn the episode free after a while.
The people who paid, like me, should be fine, knowing THEY got the FIRST LOOK! or something.

But seriously. It kinda makes sence. It's totally...doable.
Because really, nothing sets it apart from older or upcoming episodes.
Except for the fact that..it's out.

[NikoAnesti]

I had thought about it. The only thing I didn't like about it was I'd feel bad for all the people who did pay when if they waited, they could've had it for free.

[Splade Blade]

But maybe they could feel good knowing they paid for the "First Look!" or something?

[NikoAnesti]

Unfortunately, for most people, that would mean nothing to them in the long run. That's just how it is.

[Kisai]

Niko, was the problem getting the flash into mpeg2 format for the DVD or is the problem making all the files FOR a dvd?

... strangely enough you can do this all on a mac with only the mac version of flash and the included iLife apps (iMovie/iDVD) Windows you'd have to buy a bunch of (crap) software to do the same. Do you still have the .fla files?

[NikoAnesti]

Niko, was the problem getting the flash into mpeg2 format for the DVD or is the problem making all the files FOR a dvd?

... strangely enough you can do this all on a mac with only the mac version of flash and the included iLife apps (iMovie/iDVD) Windows you'd have to buy a bunch of (crap) software to do the same. Do you still have the .fla files?
I honestly am not 100% sure what I need. I don't even know where to start. This is the Lulu help page (http://www.lulu.com/help/index.php?fSymbol=disc_faq#FAQLink11) that tells you what types of files you need, and I have no clue what they're asking. I do have all the .fla files though, yes.

[Kisai]

I honestly am not 100% sure what I need. I don't even know where to start. This is the Lulu help page (http://www.lulu.com/help/index.php?fSymbol=disc_faq#FAQLink11) that tells you what types of files you need, and I have no clue what they're asking. I do have all the .fla files though, yes.

Oh in that case all they want is the iso image. Nero can do it. The main problem is getting from flash to a format nero will use. As stated I can do it on a mac with the included software as far as I know. Tell you what let me dig out the mac version of flash and see how difficult it is. If it's damn easy I'll ask you to send me the fla file and I can send you the .iso back or something.

(I went through hell to convert flash into a usable video format that I could upload to youtube/etc, so I know from the PC side it's a miserable process.)

[NikoAnesti]

Alright, that sounds good! I'm not incredibly familiar with Nero, but I've used it once or twice. You can convert a movie to a .mov file right in Flash, I don't know if Nero accepts that or not. What I had actually done to make the DVD was we converted the files to .mov, put them in Adobe Premiere and exported them as .mpegs. Then we set them up burned them with U-Lead. But yeah, let's see if that works, thanks!

[Kisai]

Alright, that sounds good! I'm not incredibly familiar with Nero, but I've used it once or twice. You can convert a movie to a .mov file right in Flash, I don't know if Nero accepts that or not. What I had actually done to make the DVD was we converted the files to .mov, put them in Adobe Premiere and exported them as .mpegs. Then we set them up burned them with U-Lead. But yeah, let's see if that works, thanks!

Okay multiple scenarios.

In Nero, it's supposed to let you make a "DVD image", if not, it will make the files for you. I know it does since I've used it to do that. The main concern is if it will read quicktime.

Now the main issue with Flash, is that it -IS- different on the mac versus windows. The Mac version more intricately works with Quicktime, and you can select 'PNG' as an export codec in quicktime, then load it in iMovie/iDVD, burn a dvd/iso and you're done. I just tried this. It saved the audio properly as well (which it didn't do when I selected Animation... which was strange. Then I noticed that the test file was missing the stream track.)

On the Windows, the bigger problem is the intermediate format between Flash and Nero. For the most part you should be able to get away with exporting as an AVI or a Quicktime MOV, providing that you export it as a relatively close pixel aspect ratio. (320x240->640x480->1280x960, etc) Nero will then convert it into the specs required for a DVD as long as you select DVD. If you are using the trial version you'll get nagged about 4 times in doing so. twice in Nero and Twice when it pulls out the mpeg encoder/decoder. Very important to save once imported, because it's a pain to re-import constantly.

Once you get it in Nero, you'll have to make menus and stuff, or you can turn the menus off entirely.

Also test it... even if you don't have a DVD burner, you can make a "nero image" and use it with the nero "virtual drive" and it should just play back on whatever installed dvd player software (or nero itself.)

I'd probably recommend sticking all the geoweasel episodes on it if you feel it's worth the time, a single-sided DVD disc will hold 4.7GB or 1 hour in maximum quality, as a bonus you can stick the flash versions on the disc too if you really wanted, but that gets into a slightly more complicated issue that would take a longer to explain, since the average person who buys a DVD puts it in their DVD player or PS2 and seldom thinks to put it in their PC.

Now PS3 on the other hand... can play flash 7, but I have yet to actually try playing flash directly from it. So can the Wii, though the current Wii version won't play DVD's. The Xbox360 should play the DVD, though not the flash on the disc as far as I know (don't have one.)

[NikoAnesti]

Hmm...that's quite a bit there, hah. I'll have to look into Nero a little more than I have in the past. If it doesn't work with Quicktime, I may have to take my files to school, convert them to mpegs or avis, bring them back, and then do what needs to be done. Really at this point, the iso image is the hurdle. Although that does help a little bit. Putting all the episodes (or as many as it will allow) is a good idea too. I don't know if I can really do it myself with Windows, or if I should send you files, or what. Either way, it'll happen eventually.

[Kisai]

Hmm...that's quite a bit there, hah. I'll have to look into Nero a little more than I have in the past. If it doesn't work with Quicktime, I may have to take my files to school, convert them to mpegs or avis, bring them back, and then do what needs to be done. Really at this point, the iso image is the hurdle. Although that does help a little bit. Putting all the episodes (or as many as it will allow) is a good idea too. I don't know if I can really do it myself with Windows, or if I should send you files, or what. Either way, it'll happen eventually.

Keep in mind that MPEG2 compression takes between 0.5 and 5 times to encode depending on the age of the equipment. If you don't physically have access to a dvd burner of some sort to test it, then I could. I can make both single and double sided discs (the drives aren't that expensive really.) Once I get something that looks finished I could either send you the files (will take some time) or send you the disc and you can rip it and send it to lulu (in this case 'rip it' would simpy be "copy to iso") or something.

I'm not even sure Lulu does anything fancier than use their on DVD duplicating equipment onto recordable media and putting a label on. I've never bought anything from them.) If it's anything fancier than disc+label+keepcase I'd be surprised.

The .fla files you could probably email me one at a time and gmail won't freak out. pm me if you want to let me try.

If you use a special font, you'd need to send that too or tell me where to find it, since flash doesn't embed the font in the flash file.

[NikoAnesti]

Well, for now, I've got a lot of other stuff going on, so I don't want to have DVD production happening along side of it. However, thank you greatly for the information, and if I need some help getting it in the future, I'll definitely contact you.

[selena9999]

Thats pretty dumb that you have to pay. I'm not gonna pay to watch a geoweasel episode. Are all of the future episodes gonna be free?
I'm with you person

[spaceyoshix]

I think Niko has all the right to charge money.

[selena9999]

true yah he could.:raven:

[selena9999]

true he does:raven:

[LukeIamyourdad]

I might buy it. I don't know.

[NikoAnesti]

People are still talking about this?
I'm going to end up making it publicly available pretty soon, so if you haven't already, don't buy it. However, the version on the site won't be quite as good in terms of size, quality, etc. etc. It's really awkward having one episode in there you have to buy. That and sales of it are near non-existent. So it'll be public sometime soon.

[oB2Ko Mario]

People are still talking about this?
I'm going to end up making it publicly available pretty soon, so if you haven't already, don't buy it. However, the version on the site won't be quite as good in terms of size, quality, etc. etc. It's really awkward having one episode in there you have to buy. That and sales of it are near non-existent. So it'll be public sometime soon.
This site... just became... my all-time favorite flashtoon site.

[Another Fan]

I saw it. It was alright, I guess.

Bit disappointed, but eh, it was neat nonetheless.

[Rusty]

Wow, someone wants money for their hard work? No way. That should never be.

People need to get over this stuff. GEOWeasel is no different than a book, CD, game, ect, that you would buy from a store, except that it was ONE PERSON, which, in my opinion, makes him deserve the money MORE.

[spaceyoshix]

A bit short but another great toon nonetheless