The Guild (Web-Series)

[Dangelus]

Thanks Kenny for looking into this. I'm sure nobody is complaining per se just curious why there is a restriction. I was guessing it was contractual reasons but the Italian version had no such restriction which doesn't make sense (unless it is not an official Guild channel).

Thanks again! :)

[Geekyfanboy]

Again, I say try www.watchtheguild.com on your phones.  I don't have a web enabled phone so I can't try it this way.

P.S.  I didn't even know The Guild was putting up their current episodes on YouTube?  Would seem to defeat the exclusive agreement with MSN if they did. 

The Microsoft deal is new episodes on Bing for 4 weeks exclusive, then they can go to itunes/zune and Watchtheguild.  I think it's like six months before they go to You Tube.

Kenny, I don't think that's exactly true for www.watchtheguild.com.  They are there right as they come out, but embedded via MSN/Bing.  So I guess it's close to the same thing.  But I notice you don't get the preroll ads all the time when you watch them on www.watchtheguild.com.

No I'm correct...  it's part of the MSN deal.. if you go to Watchtheguild.com they only have up to Ep 6 of Season 4 on their site. They have to wait until it does it's run on Microsoft.

[Geekyfanboy]

Thanks Kenny for looking into this. I'm sure nobody is complaining per se just curious why there is a restriction. I was guessing it was contractual reasons but the Italian version had no such restriction which doesn't make sense (unless it is not an official Guild channel).

Thanks again! :)

Yeah I know they have had issues with other countries.. it's different from country to country.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Look, I'm not complaining Kenny.  Sorry if my post sounded that way, but I'm confused as to why the restriction, (if intentional) exists.  Considering how many ppl have access to YouTube mobile, I am not the only one affected.  And your absolutely right, if I want to watch the guild without restriction immediately, I should buy the DVD.  But I had to cut all DVD/Blue-Ray purchases from my budget several months ago so I have to live with it.  Which has been a bummer as I've wanted to but quite a number here lately. 

Thanks for looking into it :)

King

[Rico]

Again, I say try www.watchtheguild.com on your phones.  I don't have a web enabled phone so I can't try it this way.

P.S.  I didn't even know The Guild was putting up their current episodes on YouTube?  Would seem to defeat the exclusive agreement with MSN if they did.  

The Microsoft deal is new episodes on Bing for 4 weeks exclusive, then they can go to itunes/zune and Watchtheguild.  I think it's like six months before they go to You Tube.

Kenny, I don't think that's exactly true for www.watchtheguild.com.  They are there right as they come out, but embedded via MSN/Bing.  So I guess it's close to the same thing.  But I notice you don't get the preroll ads all the time when you watch them on www.watchtheguild.com.

No I'm correct...  it's part of the MSN deal.. if you go to Watchtheguild.com they only have up to Ep 6 of Season 4 on their site. They have to wait until it does it's run on Microsoft.

Ahh, no Kenny.  I've been watching all the latest episodes there as they come out.

Such as:

http://www.watchtheguild.com/the-guild/the-guild-season-4-episode-12-guild-hall/

You have to keep in mind how code and embedding works online.  I don't care what their deal is with MSN, it generally doesn't prevent embedding video on websites.  ANYONE, can embed these if they know how.  The basic thing is, that once it's online it's nearly impossible to control it to a specific site.

[Geekyfanboy]

Again, I say try www.watchtheguild.com on your phones.  I don't have a web enabled phone so I can't try it this way.

P.S.  I didn't even know The Guild was putting up their current episodes on YouTube?  Would seem to defeat the exclusive agreement with MSN if they did. 

The Microsoft deal is new episodes on Bing for 4 weeks exclusive, then they can go to itunes/zune and Watchtheguild.  I think it's like six months before they go to You Tube.

Kenny, I don't think that's exactly true for www.watchtheguild.com.  They are there right as they come out, but embedded via MSN/Bing.  So I guess it's close to the same thing.  But I notice you don't get the preroll ads all the time when you watch them on www.watchtheguild.com.

No I'm correct...  it's part of the MSN deal.. if you go to Watchtheguild.com they only have up to Ep 6 of Season 4 on their site. They have to wait until it does it's run on Microsoft.

Ahh, no Kenny.  I've been watching all the latest episodes there as they come out.

Such as:

http://www.watchtheguild.com/the-guild/the-guild-season-4-episode-12-guild-hall/

Gotcha.. we're talking about two totally different things.. those are blog posts on watchtheguild.com and are embedded from MSN.. I'm talking about the watchtheguild.com player on the main page.

[Rico]

Ahh, thought that was it.

[X]

Is there where I point out that I get it on my zune the day of release?

Suck that Steve Jobs and iPhone

[Geekyfanboy]

Just heard back from the Guild folks

Here's is what they said...

Yes, it's on purpose... if they want S1 through S3 of the guild for
iPhone/iPad, it's available for purchase via iTunes, or via Netflix if
they have the netflix app and a subscription.  For now that's what the
decision has been about it.  We haven't enabled videos from YouTube to
go to mobile devices.

So that is your answer..

[X]

Just heard back from the Guild folks

Here's is what they said...

Yes, it's on purpose... if they want S1 through S3 of the guild for
iPhone/iPad, it's available for purchase via iTunes, or via Netflix if
they have the netflix app and a subscription.  For now that's what the
decision has been about it.  We haven't enabled videos from YouTube to
go to mobile devices.

So that is your answer..

Makes perfect sense to me!

[Meds]

Just saw the last episode and loved it. This whole season has been fantastic and i think every season just gets better and better. I love it. Now I am not a MMO gamer, i have never played WOW or any of the other stuff but I understand the little jokes that go on. I mean upgrading the hall to the ultra bright cartoon version, that killed me.
Felicia Day, what can I say a woman who oozes talent. A fantastic writer and actor. Ive said it before and I will say it again, this show should be on TV as a broadcast show.

Kenny, thank you for the continuous podcasts, I have been loving the companion casts, and please please please thank all the cast and crew for a fantastic season.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Just heard back from the Guild folks

Here's is what they said...

Yes, it's on purpose... if they want S1 through S3 of the guild for
iPhone/iPad, it's available for purchase via iTunes, or via Netflix if
they have the netflix app and a subscription.  For now that's what the
decision has been about it.  We haven't enabled videos from YouTube to
go to mobile devices.

So that is your answer..

Makes perfect sense to me!

Even after mulling this over, while the explanation is sound and reasoned, hear me out.  Just please, hear me out.  

By The Guild's rules, because you didn't get a Zune, you must pay to see it on your other devices.  This includes, but not limited to: Droid, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry/Rim, Palm and many other more mobile devices.  I'm sorry, but no other Web Series that I know of atm enforces such a restriction.  Examples:

Legend of Neil, who btw is made by some of the same people who do The Guild.  They even created a dedicated mobile website for their fans.  
Red VS Blue: Popular Halo Machinima series.  They actually put all their videos on HTML5 so that we could all see it from their website on any device.  
And just about any other web series that exists.  

And now that I think about it, I think Droid instituted Flash on their phones so that's becoming an inaccurate statement.  My point still stands.  This is a slippery slope that this is going down.  How long until Web Series start catching on and say: "Sorry, unless you have a subscription/payperview to ________ service, you can't see this".  "Oh, all our videos are only on this website and unless you pay $5, we won't give you an account."  Sure, The Guild is special, but this is slapping the fans of your series in the face.  "Sorry, because you don't like Microsoft, you have to pay to see it on your device".  To me, it gives me a bad feeling.  Your also being unfair to those that chose other devices because it fits their needs.  Let's face it, none of these mobile devices fits everyone's needs.  If one did, that would be the only one on the market right now.

Now I say this with the most love and respect I have for what the crew of The Guild has done and this season was very good.  And I don't deny the costs that went into the project.  And I also don't deny that this is a small issue in the large scheme of things.  I would love to support the guild amongst other things.  It's why I haven't forced YT to download the vids, it's why I haven't pirated any of it.  But when groups or companies start enforcing restrictions on content like this, it makes me rethink my stand on this issue.  

And I'm divided atm.  Does anything of what I said make sense?  I really want to know.

King

[Meds]

I'd buy the episodes from itunes if I had not seen them on Xbox live. Seems fair enough for me. I don not own the DVD's but of I did i would put them on my iphone, well i would if i could figure out how to do it lol

[Dangelus]

Thanks for the confirmation Kenny.

[X]

Just heard back from the Guild folks

Here's is what they said...

Yes, it's on purpose... if they want S1 through S3 of the guild for
iPhone/iPad, it's available for purchase via iTunes, or via Netflix if
they have the netflix app and a subscription.  For now that's what the
decision has been about it.  We haven't enabled videos from YouTube to
go to mobile devices.

So that is your answer..

Makes perfect sense to me!

Even after mulling this over, while the explanation is sound and reasoned, hear me out.  Just please, hear me out.  

By The Guild's rules, because you didn't get a Zune, you must pay to see it on your other devices.  This includes, but not limited to: Droid, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry/Rim, Palm and many other more mobile devices.  I'm sorry, but no other Web Series that I know of atm enforces such a restriction.  Examples:

Legend of Neil, who btw is made by some of the same people who do The Guild.  They even created a dedicated mobile website for their fans.  
Red VS Blue: Popular Halo Machinima series.  They actually put all their videos on HTML5 so that we could all see it from their website on any device.  
And just about any other web series that exists.  

And now that I think about it, I think Droid instituted Flash on their phones so that's becoming an inaccurate statement.  My point still stands.  This is a slippery slope that this is going down.  How long until Web Series start catching on and say: "Sorry, unless you have a subscription/payperview to ________ service, you can't see this".  "Oh, all our videos are only on this website and unless you pay $5, we won't give you an account."  Sure, The Guild is special, but this is slapping the fans of your series in the face.  "Sorry, because you don't like Microsoft, you have to pay to see it on your device".  To me, it gives me a bad feeling.  Your also being unfair to those that chose other devices because it fits their needs.  Let's face it, none of these mobile devices fits everyone's needs.  If one did, that would be the only one on the market right now.

Now I say this with the most love and respect I have for what the crew of The Guild has done and this season was very good.  And I don't deny the costs that went into the project.  And I also don't deny that this is a small issue in the large scheme of things.  I would love to support the guild amongst other things.  It's why I haven't forced YT to download the vids, it's why I haven't pirated any of it.  But when groups or companies start enforcing restrictions on content like this, it makes me rethink my stand on this issue.  

And I'm divided atm.  Does anything of what I said make sense?  I really want to know.

King

Okay King, I'll try to explain this to you. The Guild gets some funding from Microsoft. Not from Apple, RIm, or Google. Because Microsoft pays upfront, they cover the "costs" of someone with their devices getting the free version. If Apple or the other put up some cash, it would probably allow them to offer it for free too but they don't.

Why would Microsoft shell out cash if everyone else can freely reap the benefits of their investment. That makes zero sense. Also, those people with said microsoft devices that are getting the guild are supporting it an a way that Microsoft can track. They see the downloads and then decide that it's worth investing to the next season.

It simple logic. Neil and the other shows you mentioned don't need to lock content because they don't have a deal with Microsoft.

Lastly, the guild isn't saying if you don't have X device you can't see it. It's saying, "Here MS users, here's an easy way to view the show." Since you don't have said devices, you have to see it on Bing or Zune, or another MS outlet.

Why should MS make it easier for your iDevice when you didn't bother to pick up one of their devices? Being a sponsor to something gives you perks and this is just one of those perks.

Is it fair? Hell yes.

You want it faster on iPOD? Tell Jobs to pony up some cash or invest in flash.

Did I mention that while MS pays to sponsor the Guild, they show the eps for free, where as Apple takes a huge cut of the sale of the episodes on iTunes? So in essence, MS pays and Apple Profits. Maybe that's why you can't get it for free on your iDevice.