There are plenty of NES sites out there for everyone, no
matter what their taste. If it's humor you're looking for,
go straight to NES Player. If it's information, I've been
told that |TSR's Archives is a good place to go. If you're
looking for a specific game shrine, there are many sites out
there that provide you with whatever you're looking for. So,
the question is, then, why start an NES site?
Many people complain that most NES sites are the same, and
there's no real point in starting anything new in the community,
period. Don't let them drag you down. Even if you know that
those same people will try to drag you and your newborn site
down, start it anyway. There's always going to be a few naysayers
out there no matter who you are or how original your site
is. Yes, believe it or not, some people have nothing better
to do than bask in the glow of their (thankfully) low radiation
monitors, flame, flame, and flame some more. You might think
they have a life to live, food to eat, skin to bathe, but
no, they'll just flame non-stop. These are the people that
you should ignore.
Then there are those who are open to new ideas and views
on things, and will support you in your endeavor. These are
the people you should align yourself with. You'll find that
underneath the surface, these people really do care about
your site, and really do appreciate the effort you're putting
forth in making the NES community just a little bit stronger.
They'll offer suggestions and criticism, but they'll understand
if you don't blindly follow everything they tell you to do.
They'll simply appreciate the fact that you, the humble webmaster,
take their ideas into consideration without gouging their
eyes out.
It's true that making a site of any kind is going to require
tons of hard work, and this couldn't be more true when you're
making an NES site. It's true that almost everything has been
done before, and maybe been done better than you'll ever be
able to do it. Don't let that stop you! If you can't think
of anything original right off the bat, just do the standard
things: reviews, links, articles, and what-not. You'll gradually
develop a flair for doing these things, and people will see
the personal touch that you're putting on your work, even
though it's all been done before. No two reviews are going
to be the same. Your article on unlicensed games is probably
going to be different than any other one out there. Your take
on collecting is probably going to be different, too. Use
these personal preferences to your advantage and let them
shine through. That's what people will want to see.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that as
a new site, you won't get much attention at first. People
may visit your page once, hate it, and not return for a few
months. Again, don't let it get you down! I myself am guilty
of this, and I'm sure everyone's done it from time to time.
Don't rush your site because of this. Take your time updating
and make sure you get everything right along the way. I know
I prefer a site with no grammatical errors that only updates
once or twice a month to a site that updates multiple times
a day with grammar mistakes all over the place. Your site
doesn't have to utilize flashy graphics, either. Pick a layout
and stick to it. If you can draw like the ghost of Rembrandt,
then by all means, make flashy stuff. But if you can't, do
what you can, or even ask for help. There's no shame in needing
a helping hand along the way.
Always remember who your number one priority is when making
the site: you. If you aren't happy with the way your site
is turning out and the rest of the community thinks it's the
greatest thing since Super Mario Bros. 3, you're going about
things all wrong. You'll loathe updating and it'll show in
your work. If you get burnt out, don't be afraid to take a
little break, either. There's nothing wrong with not having
updates a few times a week. If you feel the urge to add something
new, do it. If you don't, don't try to force it. As small
as updates may be, they're still updates. Just try to keep
a little bit of momentum going at all times, and you'll be
fine.
I know that you're not going to start clicking your mouse
as fast as humanly possible and try to build a site right
this minute, but I hope this can be used as a starting point.
There can never be too many NES sites. As long as there are
new people joining the community, there will always be new
ideas for sites, and they'll hopefully keep rising. Of course,
sites fall from time to time, and that's where your site may
come in to fill the void.
I know all of the above things to be true because I followed
them myself. I didn't just pull them out of my ass to write
an article. Happy webmastering!
