Fansite Podcast with Paul La Fontaine

[xxMATTGxx]

CEO of Sulake Paul LaFontaine answered some questions that were submitted by fansites. The questions were then asked to Paul by Fansites_Jason from Twitter. He explains what is happening to Habbo at the moment and also goes on about what kind of things we should expect in the neat future and what sort of things fansites can expect also.

Main points:

• Habbo is modernizing and getting up to date
• We are learning from what works in social media and adapting it for Habbo
• If we (Habbo) are social media we should use social media. Discuss and listen to our users on what we are building. Users can guide us and give us expert advice. If we listen to our users and build what they want – we will end up with a ridiculously fun service
• A good fansite is any fansite that’s interesting without broken links and provides trusted content about Habbo (those on our mailing list are considered official).
• Free VIP is going to be made available to Fansite owners (the keeper). More of this to follow from Jason.
• We will create ingame badges so they can be displayed ingame. More of this to follow from Jason
• Spamming users your site is irritating to users and effects user experience.
• 2 points on promotion: We do not want to promote one over the other, we don’t want an unbalanced playing field. We will start with a fair system and we will go from there. @<a href="http://www.habboxforum.com/member.php?u=95412" target="_blank">paulla</a>Fo is happy to engage with you on promotion of fansites on Habbo. You can catch him on Twitter.
• Promoting events: Events with fansites need to be carefully designed. We are pulling back from using local producers to helping local sites with events.
• We are open to new ideas. If they make you and Habbo better then we want to hear it.

Video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a1JDcKy6F8

Download Links:

Main Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?ka19keq8dp6rq48
Alternative: http://habbox.com/other/podcast.wav

[Mathew]

Oh how cool, although I do expect there's going to be a sudden surge in the amount of fansites now that there's the promise of free VIP and badges. I hope Habbo don't dish the official status around left, right and centre though - it's good to have some exclusivity for the very best.

[xxMATTGxx]

Oh how cool, although I do expect there's going to be a sudden surge in the amount of fansites now that there's the promise of free VIP and badges. I hope Habbo don't dish the official status around left, right and centre though - it's good to have some exclusivity for the very best.

Only 1 person will get VIP and the in-game badge is just like before with a limit of 2-3 per fansite. The bit about in-game badges is still to be decided. Jason also stated that he checks fansites before adding them to the list and he will check the list every so often and remove fansites that are no longer active etc.

[Mathew]

Mmmm, fair enough then I guess. Really hope they can keep this up.

[xxMATTGxx]

I've uploaded it to YouTube for easy access if you don't want to bother downloading it and things:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a1JDcKy6F8

[Chippiewill]

I've uploaded it to YouTube for easy access if you don't want to bother downloading it and things:
If you have any weight with them could you perhaps suggest that they get a better mic, and probably one each, sounds like they're in a pineapple... under the sea.

[Mathew]

Ha, nice piece of advertising there... ;)

[Zuth]

Seems pretty cool, liking some of the updates :)

[Michael]

• Free VIP is going to be made available to Fansite owners (the keeper). More of this to follow from Jason.

Free VIP into events lol.

[xxMATTGxx]

Free VIP into events lol.

I think there's a bit of confusion over that because Jason said something about giving VIP to more than one owner is £££ so I'm not sure if they would be giving fansites VIP to hand out in events.

[Pigperson]

Sounds exciting but I do think the free VIP and the badges will encourage a lot of new sites, I might be tempted to make one for the lols :D

Will

[Chippiewill]

I think there's a bit of confusion over that because Jason said something about giving VIP to more than one owner is £££ so I'm not sure if they would be giving fansites VIP to hand out in events.
To be perfectly honest, how useful is free VIP for the owner of a fansite going to be if they're a large enough fansite to qualify for it in the first place?

[xxMATTGxx]

To be perfectly honest, how useful is free VIP for the owner of a fansite going to be if they're a large enough fansite to qualify for it in the first place?


Well I guess it's their way of saying thanks in some sort of small way. But you don't have to be a large fansite to qualify for it, you just need to be approved to get on their mailing list. Regardless of how big they are :P

[Zuth]

Well I guess it's their way of saying thanks in some sort of small way. But you don't have to be a large fansite to qualify for it, you just need to be approved to get on their mailing list. Regardless of how big they are :P

Do you think in some cases like Habbox (Jin dont go on Habbo much more) they will give the VIP to someone like you?

[xxMATTGxx]

Do you think in some cases like Habbox (Jin dont go on Habbo much more) they will give the VIP to someone like you?

I believe they give us the option on who goes to what.

[MKR&*42]

For those that are too busy/can't be bothered to listen to the podcast, here's a BRIEF summary of what was said (of course, if you want a more detailed version, go here: http://habbox.com/#!/News/article/1155) :

What's going on in Habbo?

They're modernizing - bringing Habbo up to date.
Learning what happens in social media and adapting for habbo

"Habbo is one of the unique social networks"

Why is Habbo changing the way they are socialising with users?

We are social media - we should use social media
Shouldn't be afraid of users and fansites, nor negative comments.
Get right out there with users - discuss and listen
Days where you invented stuff in a laboratory and hoped it would work are over
"Users can guide us and give feedback. Social media tools allow us to do that."
"If we use social media very carefully, users will trust us and know that we listen."

What is an official fansite? Good fansites?

Any fansite that is interesting - keeps people coming back, enriches experience, good content.
Recognised by us as a good partner
Does a great job of representing what Habbo is.
A relationship with sites that are well-maintained.

Free VIP to go report in events?

Any site that is a good partner, the keeper (owner) should get rewards.
Would consider giving out rewards - vip is reasonable for a job well done

Creating in-game badges?

In-game badges for fansites are absolutely fine.

What is Habbo going to do to promote fansites?

Complicated issue

Promoting 1 over other - people are too polite to say "promote mine and not others" but that is the clear motive behind most fansites.
- Could agree to go to go back to the "unfair" (weird word choice there) system - e.g. "...bring back "official" - fansites preferred by other, it's unbalanced system but happy to do it. It's done in business and nothing wrong with it."
Or Stick with fair system and see how it works out for most fansites.

How can fansites be promoted via events and go forward in-habbo?

Any activity that engages users is a good thing
Events in co-orporation with fansites have to be carefully designed.
If fansites come with well-designed campaigns/events - they will be explored further

-

Sulake are completely open to new ideas. Innovate and interesting = totally open.

It is "New habbo" but will take the best of the old habbo.

I actually found the PodCast quite interesting - I've listened to it quite a few times now :P

[Zuth]

I believe they give us the option on who goes to what.

Ahh right, thats good then :)

[jasey]

Very interesting! Thank you for posting the summary and video!

[Jazz]

sounds really great! looking forward to seeing what comes of it :-)