I love you guys. I really do. You know that. And I know you think you have our best interests at heart. But please stop trying to "help us" by defending Tested. If we weren't thrilled about branding the site this way, we wouldn't be here. Trust me.
Jamie and Adam becoming part of Tested is the biggest thing to happen to Tested ever. It's bigger than the time Chloe barked at the first iPad and it was on Japanese TV. It's bigger than the time Norm and I were on TVs in a Canadian department store. It's even bigger than that time I was on the Bombcast and I said executable wrong.
Getting the opportunity to work with Jamie and Adam is a massive step up for Norm and I. These guys are the real deal--they're mad scientists, with 100% emphasis on science. When we met them, and they were into what we do on Tested, we were blown away. We talked together about what we want the site to be. They want a place to dig deeper into the topics most important to them. Norm and I wanted to do the exact same thing with the topics important to us.
I know some of you are probably from areas of the world that their show isn't on, so you may not know that Jamie and Adam are kind of a big deal. You may think that they play scientists on TV, but they're really scientists and makers. M5 is an amazing workshop, full of stuff that I can't wait to learn how to use. I know everyone is skeptical of TV magic and bullshit, but we've spent time with them, and they are 100% the real deal. The opportunity to learn from these guys is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Norm and I. So please, be happy for us.
I realize that change is tough for everyone. This has all happened very quickly for us too. Andy and his team finished the new design for the site in a crazy short time frame, and that meant that a bunch of stuff we wanted to do didn't get done in time and there's quite a bit that's still broken. We're working on fixing it, even as you speak, but it was important that we get the site up today so Adam and Jamie can tell people about it on the current leg of their tour. Talking to thousands of their biggest fans every night was too big of an opportunity for us to miss.
So here's what's going to change and what isn't going to change on Tested.
We're working on adding Twitter boxes to the right column for Norm and I. It seems like that will happen today, but it may not. I'd rather they not be there until Monday than the Top Men suffer another sleepless night. It would have happened before the launch, but frankly we ran out of time.
Jamie, Adam, Norm and I all worked together on the video that went up today. The one where Adam and Jamie introduce their fans to Tested and to Norm and I. They call it "our new site", which was my idea. It is 100% correct. Tested is their new site. It's Norm's and my new site too. Collectively, it's our new site. We are all working on it together. Holy shit, I can't believe I just wrote that. It's still awesome.
I'm going to reiterate this, because it's important. It's our site--Norm's, Adam's, Jamie's, and mine. It's also your site. It always has been. You guys have supported us for a long time. Norm's and mine, Adam's and Jamie's. Norm's and Adam's. Jamie's and mine. It's also OURS, yours and mine. We're all in this together. No one is edging anyone out.
I don't care whose names are on the top of the page or who is in the logo. Norm and I retain the full creative autonomy that we had last week. We're working with Jamie and Adam to get stuff they're excited about on the site, but we're also putting all the stuff we're excited about too.
There will be videos with Norm and I. Some will be very informative. Some will be entertaining. Some will be a mixture of the two. And there will be silliness. I was shooting video when the new site went live that should be up later tonight, or this weekend at the latest. There will also be videos with Jamie and Adam and Norm and I. It is my strong suspicion that stuff will get blown up. I can't wait for that.
The podcast will still be offensive. Gary isn't going anywhere. He just keeps showing up and being Gary no matter what we do.
We're going to be tweaking the balance of content for the site for a while, and when we get a better feel for stuff, it will probably still change from week to week, as interesting things happen in different topics we'll be talking about them on the site. Next week, there will undoubtedly be lots about the iPad. The week after that, we may have more science stuff. Everyone will be represented. It's cool.
We're going to reduce the number of posts on the site and increase the time we spend on them. This is a good thing. When we launched Tested, Norm and I wanted to make the site much more general interest than we were able to with the resources at hand. Teaming up with Jamie and Adam is giving us the opportunity to do so much more than we ever could before. We have a much bigger budget, and much bigger aspirations. We've got amazing stuff planned for next week and beyond. I hope you'll just give us a chance to show you why we're all (Norm, Adam, Jamie, and I) are about what Tested can be.
Technical stuff on the site is being worked on. It will be fixed, but it also will take time. Please be patient. Use the Bug Report forum to let us know when you find something that's not working right. It helps. Be as detailed as you can.
I think that's it. I'm going to go to the question thread and answer some questions after I go pick up some food. I'm starving.
I'm sorry Will! I freaked a bit after I saw the new site (it was a bit jarring), after seeing this and your tweets I have restored faith that this will be a good thing for Tested.
So here's what the problem was. The site went up whilst mama and papa were busy, so we all stumble din on our own and had no contxt for any of this and it kinda stunned us all.
I don't quite understand the logo, but I guess using Adam and Jamie's names is for brand recognition or something? I don't like it, regardless of who actually has creative control.
Thank you for clarifying. What I don't understand is why was this all done under our noses. Your initial reveal, didn't explain anything, and then all of a sudden BLAM, this new website happens. Why would you not walk us through the changes your going to make, before making the changes. At least then we wouldn't have had as big a shit storm.
I know you guys are busy. I love you guys, and I'm not trying to harp to much. I'm proud of you.
I'm fine with it as long as you avoid doing any more videos like the one you just posted where you're obviously reading to the camera. Unscripted only please.
Definitely was surprised to see the site change from this morning to now coming home from work but definitely looking forward to future content and the site already has new interesting things up!
I love you guys. I really do. You know that. And I know you think you have our best interests at heart. But please stop trying to "help us" by defending Tested. If we weren't thrilled about branding the site this way, we wouldn't be here. Trust me.
Jamie and Adam becoming part of Tested is the biggest thing to happen to Tested ever. It's bigger than the time Chloe barked at the first iPad and it was on Japanese TV. It's bigger than the time Norm and I were on TVs in a Canadian department store. It's even bigger than that time I was on the Bombcast and I said executable wrong.
Getting the opportunity to work with Jamie and Adam is a massive step up for Norm and I. These guys are the real deal--they're mad scientists, with 100% emphasis on science. When we met them, and they were into what we do on Tested, we were blown away. We talked together about what we want the site to be. They want a place to dig deeper into the topics most important to them. Norm and I wanted to do the exact same thing with the topics important to us.
I know some of you are probably from areas of the world that their show isn't on, so you may not know that Jamie and Adam are kind of a big deal. You may think that they play scientists on TV, but they're really scientists and makers. M5 is an amazing workshop, full of stuff that I can't wait to learn how to use. I know everyone is skeptical of TV magic and bullshit, but we've spent time with them, and they are 100% the real deal. The opportunity to learn from these guys is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Norm and I. So please, be happy for us.
I realize that change is tough for everyone. This has all happened very quickly for us too. Andy and his team finished the new design for the site in a crazy short time frame, and that meant that a bunch of stuff we wanted to do didn't get done in time and there's quite a bit that's still broken. We're working on fixing it, even as you speak, but it was important that we get the site up today so Adam and Jamie can tell people about it on the current leg of their tour. Talking to thousands of their biggest fans every night was too big of an opportunity for us to miss.
So here's what's going to change and what isn't going to change on Tested.
I think that's it. I'm going to go to the question thread and answer some questions after I go pick up some food. I'm starving.
Okay.
Hopefully this quells some of the whining but sadly I doubt it. It's reached the point of being pathetic and annoying.
I for one will enjoy this new tested as much as I enjoyed the old tested.
:) :( o_0 ;)
I'm sorry Will! I freaked a bit after I saw the new site (it was a bit jarring), after seeing this and your tweets I have restored faith that this will be a good thing for Tested.
funny, we can't tell if he still says executable wrong or not...
I misspelled my previous post.
Cool.*
This is really good to read. I'll have faith, at least until the site gets on its feet and running.
THANK YOU
this needless headless chicken wild internet speculation has been annoying across ALL the formerly WM sites.
The idea of you four blowing shit up just brought a tear to my eye.
Fantastic, thanks Will.
So here's what the problem was. The site went up whilst mama and papa were busy, so we all stumble din on our own and had no contxt for any of this and it kinda stunned us all.
Thank you for this dose of sanity, Will.
I <3 you Will. I don't want you to go away. :(
Yeah people disliking that Youtube video and insulting Jamie and Adam really aren't helping anything. Just have faith in Will and Norm.
Thanks Will. I'm with ya guys.
That was very well written and it answered about everything that I was worried about. I hope everything works out great.
Always Be Testing.
I trust you Will, but please, turn down the white.
I Can't Wait. This Is going to be legend---Wait For It....
Clearly the only thing that should be blown up is LEGO.
Great post will! Glad you're sticking to your guns.
What a lame first response.
I don't quite understand the logo, but I guess using Adam and Jamie's names is for brand recognition or something? I don't like it, regardless of who actually has creative control.
Always be testing! :D
I still think you are underselling yourselves. Whatevs. Good Luck!
Thank you for clarifying. What I don't understand is why was this all done under our noses. Your initial reveal, didn't explain anything, and then all of a sudden BLAM, this new website happens. Why would you not walk us through the changes your going to make, before making the changes. At least then we wouldn't have had as big a shit storm.
I know you guys are busy. I love you guys, and I'm not trying to harp to much. I'm proud of you.
I'm fine with it as long as you avoid doing any more videos like the one you just posted where you're obviously reading to the camera. Unscripted only please.
Definitely was surprised to see the site change from this morning to now coming home from work but definitely looking forward to future content and the site already has new interesting things up!
Thanks for the post, Will. You cleared up a lot. Now to continue freaking out about Matt Rorie until he has his post talking about all this.
This is very reassuring. It was pretty shocking at first but as long as you guys seem down then I am down.