Homestar Runner Wiki Forum

It seems clear to me that TBC are doing something else at this point to earn their income. Whether that is temporary and they will be returning to H*R in the future, or whether it is permanent, or whether they are even doing a separate H*R project like a TV show or movie that is consuming all their time. But no one producing a creative product, no matter how dedicated their fan base, stops producing all content for seven months without a word of explanation and expects to continue to be able to survive on that product.

Comments from the admins here about private conversations with TBC not withstanding, what TBC have been doing is extremely unprofessional. To provide no notice what-so-ever is unthinkable. Even if they are working on some super secret project that they cannot disclose, they could simply post a message to the effect of "Due to our situation, we are unable to continue updating Homestar Runner at this time, but expect to see us back later this year" or "Due to our situation, we are unable to produce new Homestar Runner content for the foreseeable future."

It hasn't been seven months. I don't get why people don't seem to count Xeriouxly Forxe as new content. Maybe it's not what you were expecting, but it still counts. Furthermore, they called us to let us know they were okay and so that we could get the word out, not the other way around.

They also recognize that it's important to make a statement to fans. Here's what I said in the other thread:

I wish I were at liberty to share more of what they said. Suffice it to say they made it clear that they're not just sitting around laughing at how we the fans wish there were new content.

I never said that they were sitting around laughing at us. I said that I presume they are doing something else instead of H*R.

Regardless of the fact that they've called to tell you they're okay and get the word out, this is a really long time to go without providing any sort of statement or message. Why call you guys and relay it through the wiki? Why wait until they can put together some sort of "in character" Flash cartoon?

They have the web site sitting there, and that's the first place visitors will look. All it takes is a simple one or two sentence statement, just in text, to tell their fans that H*R is not dead and that they will be back. To not do so is still, IMHO, unprofessional.

I would agree with that if this were a paid service, but as it's not, I can't agree with the idea that it's unprofessional. It's a poor practice just for the practical reason of losing support (both in terms of enthusiasm and in terms of merchandise sales), but not providing a free service can't really be classified as unprofessional.

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And that's why come Shakespeare was so awesome.

Calm down. Working oneself into a righteous lather over this amounts to little more than venting frustration, which can be done in better ways than obliquely (and overtly) questioning the integrity of people who have been unfailingly private and tight-lipped through the years. I may be new to the HR Wiki and these forums, but it doesn't take a great deal of service time here to determine that there is a good reason why certain administrative members are the only ones with whom the Chapmans communicate directly and entrust them with at least some level of detail as to current circumstances. As a person who understands and respects the desire for privacy and doesn't presume that I should be privy to knowledge that is never made available to the general public, speaking of personal matters only to close associates (or, in the case of the Internet, close enough) and allowing them to answer concerns within the constraints of the need for privacy is precisely what is necessary.

Further, it's been clear for as long as Homestar Runner has been around that the body of work is NOT fan service in the manner that many people seem to associate with online content.

@Shump

I think you're misapplying the "unprofessional" label. Is it any fan's right to be frustrated with the lack of updates and communication? Of course it is. But—whether we like it or not—they still don't owe us anything. If they want to (or for some reason have to) risk their business in the way they are, that's their right.

As for why they'd prefer to release an in-character toon-style message instead of a simple note, well, I can't answer that. They've never been all that open with their personal lives, so I guess (and it should be emphasized that this is all speculation) it's just their style to have Strong Bad say it.

And I still can't listen to it! Anyone have it for me to download or transcribe? I'm dying to know what was said.

Nevermind, I got it.

Though I do respect their privacy in terms of why exactly the started another hiatus, I hope they get back to making new toons soon (Xeriously Forxe proved that they still have some fresh ideas in them).

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I've been gone for a while, but I'm back, & ready to enjoy the site (I ment H*R.com on that last comment).

That's a very good point. Since they aren't requiring payment to access the website, they aren't obliged to make updates. I don't think that they have "quit the runnin' (the website) business"

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What? There's no way he could've been in there. He moved away after fifth grade!

Wow, Didn't expect my post to get so much buzz. This feels great! Wait. I just thought of something. They must be working on SBCG4AP season 2! Why else would they be away so long? I deserve a danish for my great idea!

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I wish. But since it was Telltale's worst-selling game, it might not get a second chance.

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Fan since December of '02, yet it took me 4 years to discover this Wiki. ::shame::

Worst selling game? How was Wallace and Gromit not their worst selling game?

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There are certainly valid points to both sides of the discussion. On the one hand, they owe us nothing since the website is free to use and enjoy. That said, there is an emotional investment that every single person who calls themselves a "fan" puts in, and while it may not be monetary, it is still an investment. That's the way human beings work. So in that regard, it is rather terrible that they refuse to give any word officially via the website.

Why? What does it gain? Keeping their lives private? I'm sorry but no. You can say "Homestarrunner is currently on hiatus" on your website and still maintain your private life. You need not give exact details. That's simply not fair to the fans. Not updating for this length of time with NO word (I'm not going to call talking to the Wiki admins "word" because it isn't available to see from THEIR official website) is disappointing. After an amazing, and in truth industry-changing run, they have abandoned things. Temporarily or otherwise, the simple fact remains that they SHOULD give word of the hiatus. Some word. Even if there is no "We'll be back on X date", they should have something.

I haven't updated FredtheMonkey.com in over a month now, and that is because I'm going back to school for animation to make the cartoons better. If I left things and never said a word about this break I've taken, I would hope that people would leave. I have no right to keep them hanging on like that, and it certainly isn't fair to them.

I'm by no means going to leave and never come back, or anything of the sort, but there is a certain level of communication that needs to be in place if you create a hugely successful franchise and then leave for some length of time. This silence is very upsetting, as fans are fans for a reason. And those fans DO have a right to be somewhat upset, because it is the people who make or break a website by visiting it. Otherwise it doesn't succeed and is simply wasting time.

Very well said, JKR. I think you've summed up my feelings better than I did.

Also, I'd like to make it clear that I am not attempting to disrespect the wiki or its admins. However, a message released through the wiki, or through the wiki admins, is not the same as a message on the actual site. As wonderful as the wiki is, it is not H*R, and I daresay that the majority of people who visit H*R do not regularly visit the wiki, if they visit it at all. That's not because of anything wrong with the wiki; that's just the way these things work. And of those who visit the wiki, probably only a small percentage of those visit these forums.

So while TBC have talked to the admins here, and the admins have posted assurances here on the forums that everything is alright and that they're soon going to make a statement, that information has only reached a fraction of a fraction of their audience. A simple, one sentence statement on their site giving an update doesn't require providing any personal information, and doesn't seem unreasonable.

Oh, not disputing that this is bad practice, but the word "unprofessional" tends to mean a lot more than being unwise or even rude; it tends to mean failing to deliver on promises or misusing others' capital. This silent hiatus is certainly bad practice.

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And that's why come Shakespeare was so awesome.

Really

You'd think they'd like

Update the Quote of a Several Months

With that sound clip posted earlier.

Then again It's Comma Dot did say it's a "preview" so maybe they do and umm Matt suddenly lost his voice?

Yeahdunno. Then again, why would I know?

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Huh???

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Several thoughts:
A: THAT BABY HAS TO WALK AND TALK AT SOME POINT!
B: They've gone a good 8 years with little or no breaks. Isn't it time they took a vacation? I think we need to realize that they might have just gotten stressed. I think it'll be for the better! They prolly will have gotten some good ideas from this break!

C:


They don't update the weeklies that often anyways. I mean, they go a couple weeks updating them, and than, BOOM, the same thing's up there for two months.

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I love tbc but they have made a VERY STUPID MISTAKE....
They quit there jobs to make a cartoon that BARELY makes a living. People say they can keep it up another 10 years, but they cant. Either Matt wont be able to do voices because of voice strains, or TBC wont be able to Animate because of effected vision, which comes around 40. And what if they cant get their old jobs back? In this economy the'll be lucky to get jobs at Mcdonalds. Plus Matt has a Wife and 2 kids, what happens if people stop buying the merch, and they cant find good jobs? Im learning Flash and trying to get up in the ranks, but I would try to make a living of it. I like TBC, but if they quit, I think they're screw'D!

How 'bout we all Give them t'll Halloween. If they don't do a decent halloween toon, or no Halloween toon at all, then and only then will I start to worry.

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Oh oh oh oh oh oh, I'm as cold as a cold wind blows when it snows and it's twenty be-low. Ask me why and man I just don't know no no no no no, no. I'm as cold as a cold wind blows blo blo blows blo blo blows. Oh oh oh oh oh

Come on, they will have at least one toon by halloween.

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Well, if they return to Homestar Runner, even to do a couple emails a year or whatever, I'm sure we'll all cheer and pop open a Bubbly One. Contrary to anything that has been said on the matter, June-sleepers will be welcomed with open arms.

I know we all hate to be...left hanging here, so to speak. The one kinda annoying thing about TBC is that they rarely put the site on an official hiatus, so we keep clicking in on Monday, wondering, "Is this the week? Is it? Is it?" But I try to imagine how THEY must feel. This has obviously gone way past the point of taking a few weeks off to be with the family. Something Is Going On, I can't imagine that Something bodes well for the H-Star-R, and I can understand if they're reluctant to come out and talk to us.

What? Havin' a baby?

They have never said they were quiting, in fact, I'd say the Sbemail 136 Alternate Versions is enough for me to know that they havn't quit! And they don't make money by making the toons, they get it from stuff sold in the store. Im not sure about anything else, but I think people will keep byuing it. I mean, since the start of the hiatus, I've spent more HR money than ever! I also think they're gettin' by pretty good with that lone revenue stream....

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NOOOO they quit their REAL jobs just to make cartoons, and by mistake I meant they quit their jobs just to make homestar

Hopefully they will be back on July 4th for the holiday like they were back for April fools day

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On point kings, the shadiest band of missionaries you will ever find

If they couldn't afford to take this break, then they wouldn't take it. I don't know how a free Internet cartoon could enable someone to take so much time off, and frankly it's not our place to speculate how, but if they have the means, then good for them.

Hi everyone... I've been watching the forums in silene for a while but felt like I should give my opinion.

I, and probably everyone on the forums, would love to see even a small "Homestar Runner is not updating at the moment" so at least we know it hasn't completly ended. But they ARE maintaing some form of contact, Even though it's not with the general public. As long as they are maintaining contact with the Wiki Admins, they haven't forgotten about Homestar Runner. And from what we've seen in the TBC interviews, they are very kind people. If there was any kind of big problem, they would more than likely let the admins know "hey, X just happened so we wont update for a while again."

I highly doubt that something happened and they wouldn't even tell the admins. Something proably happened, drastic or not, and they did not want the fans to know so they wouldn't worry

did that make sense?

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"If it weren't for my 'the-cheat-like' reflexes. I would have had homestar's nethers burned into the back of my eyes."
Strong bad, in Homestar Ruiner

Although I'm not that upset with the hitaus, the lack of a reason is kinda ticking me off.

Also:

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Okay. JKR. I will use you since you run a website now on hiatus. Let's say you were the brothers chaps and you ran homestarrunner. But you went on hiatus. What would you do? Also, have you told anyone on Fredthemonkey.com that you are on official hiatus and the reason?

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