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360-HQ.COM :: About HQ Network: Long overdue
About HQ Network: Long overdue
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endless
360-HQ Genius





Joined: Jul 28, 2005
Posts: 1013
Location: Out in the Boonies
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Post Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:15 pm   
Post subject: About HQ Network: Long overdue
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I found Hq networks back in 05 when I first modded my Xbox. I was impressed by the sheer volume of information within one website. I could tell it was a very large website, and like most of you, thought there was a large number of people maintaining it. I got some great info and modded my xbox no problems.

I decided I wanted to help out, so I payed for Vip membership. I was working 12+ hour shifts and giving back what I learned was not an option at the time. Figured the site cost a bit of money, and anything probably helped. To my surprise the site got even better when I purchased Vip. So many cool features/downloads/help that wasn't in the regular site. So I thought hey they got a pretty good system here. You scratch their back they will scratch yours to say.

Before I got my 360, I was looking around at the various sites collecting as much info as I could about what the 360 had to offer. I found out about firmware mods, so on so forth.

One thing I noticed was that 360-hq kept coming up towards the top of my google searches. The Hq grabbed my attention, I couldn't quite grasp why, till I jumped on 360-hq. It was then that I noticed this was a sister site to xboxhq. So to say the least I was pleasantly surprised.

So I jumped thru the tutorials section to see what 360-hq had to offer. I found pretty much everything I was after. So I picked up my 360, and the flash went very smoothly for me. Like with xbox-hq, I decided to give back what I took, and bought myself a years Vip. I then decided to browse the forums, mind you at this time I was deep in xbox-scene. I must tell you the difference between xbox-scene and 360-hq's is like day and night.

On xbox-scene you have to search for answers to really easy questions. But there search system is a joke. You end up wasting about 30-60 minutes of your life searching for something that could have been answered in less then 2 minutes. Xbox-scene's information is very scattered, and for some reason everyone seems to think putting others down is the norm.

Here on the Hq networks thats not a problem. The site layout is easy to use and the forums are top notch. Show me a 360 site with the sheer volume of information that 360-hq's has. I can tell you now you wont. Also unlike xbox-hq everything on 360-hq is free. You don't need to be a Vip member to get extra things.

An example of how popular 360-hq's is.

Now here are some statistics starting for 05 on page hits to 360-hq alone.

05 - 362,730
06 - 4,496,993
07 - 12,105,216
08 - 1,616,533 (as of writing)

You can view these stats here.

Now with all these hits you would think that 360-hq's would be fairly well on donations to help offset the out of pocket costs of Forahobby. The sad truth is that is not the case. Forahobby gets very little money in return.

His name says it all, if your not familiar with Forahobby, he is the sole coder of Hq networks. That means the very site you are reading this on today, was coded entirely by Forahobby. Take a second to think about that, think of all the sections 360-hq's has. Then think about all the time it took him to put this all together. I've asked before how many hours have gone into just 360-hq alone. He guessed a very large number.

This started as a hobby for Forahobby hence the name. But as you can see this hobby has demanded a great deal.

In the past Forahobby would try to generate interest and support thru prizes. But what came of it was free loaders. Don't get me wrong there were a few that outdid themselves and actually earned the prize. They stuck around after the prize and continued to help the site out. Which is great, but guess what. Forahobby again payed shipping. The cost came straight out of his pocket.

That shows just how dedicated Forahobby is to the Hq networks. But things are not going as well as they were for Forahobby. The server payment is due this summer and to be frank I doubt Forahobby can foot the bill this time. Don't get me wrong he gets a bit of money from vip subscriptions, but the majority of the costs he foots.

Ask yourself how many people you know that are this dedicated to a community to keep paying out of pocket. This site alone is large enough to be able to pay for itself. It blows my mind that its not profitable in the least. I'm no rich man, but I was able to pay yearly for my vip (I wont buy lifetime cause thats a one time payment, Id rather pay yearly so I can help out with costs) so why cant some of you. I know a great deal of people come and take then leave. Thats expected but there are a growing number of members signing up.

You would think Vip membership would rise with the growing member list, but it doesn't.

Now this is a Warning to the Hq community. If Forahobby is unable to raise the funds, the Hq network will cease. Take a second and think about that. Think of all the support you have gotten from this community. Think of how friendly and fast people respond to your problems, and take time out their life to help you.

Now with all these hits 360-hq's is generating, if all of you gave a buck. Just 1 dollar Forahobby would be able to let 360-hq pay for itself. Don't get me wrong he also gets a bit of money for advertising. But when your unemployed with a mental condition, using all the money from advertising to pay for your hobby thats just unfair.

I remember hearing Forahobby tell me he got a nice chunk of change from an advertiser. I was happy for him, figured he would stash the money and have it help supplement his income. But to my surprise the crazy Aussie sunk the whole thing into the site. Upgrades to the servers to make the site run smooth. Member it takes a lot of cpu/bandwidth to support the amount of hits the site is generating.

This is a little known fact, because Forahobby is no whiner. Search the forums you will not see him asking for handouts. Its easy to say "I didn't know", but as of now you know. So the fate of the Hq networks is in, you the members hand.

I'll make it easy, if you got money to pay for xbox live, im sure you can pitch in a one time donation of 12 bucks. Thats a dollar a month for a great site. You pay more then that for xbox live. So if you have xbox live I don't see why you couldn't fork out 12 bucks to help out Forahobby. Hell I find more then 12 bucks in change a year in my van.

I figured this has been in the dark long enough, and its time to bring it into the light.

Now there might be a few of you that just cant for one reason or another give a little money. But what you can do instead is help fill up the game reviews/tutorials/achievements, anything to help distribute the load. This hq network was meant to allow anyone to submit anything. You can submit news, game reviews, achievements, tutorials. Thats right anyone can, and a Mod will help clean it up if it needs help, and you end up giving back what you have taken.

Your all admins in a sense. Your information is posted for all to see, and to help those who need it. Everyone on this site has taken something from 360-hq, lets give back people.

I'll get a link for the donation paypal up for those that are willing to help the site out. Like I said the Network will die this summer if Forahobby can't get help. In a sense I think it would be great for Forahobby to have this load taken off his back. But then again I'd hate to see the best Console/Pc/Handheld network die.

Also he has had offers to sell this network, but didn't because he was loyal to you. He was afraid that the buyer would wreak havoc and the site would not be as productive as it is. Think on that, would you turn down a cash offer for a community. Especially when your hurting for money. Things are bleak for Forahobby at the moment and it kills me to see that.

Living hand to mouth is no way to live, neither is choosing to pay the rent over buying food. I hate to put this information out, but it has to be known.

The least you could do is give Forahobby a thanks. He is the lone man behind this network.

I can't describe how in debt to Forahobby I am. He trusted me enough to allow me to help others, and publish content to the site. I am very proud to say that I have the ability to help out with in my opinion the greatest network out there.

So there you have it, now what you do with this information is up to you.

Endless


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Rebelcharm
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Joined: Jul 10, 2007
Posts: 1373
Location: TX
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Post Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:53 pm   
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I gotta admit that was a very good post. Very Happy I currently have a vip membership and will keep renewing it each year. This site has given me so much and I figure paying for a vip membership is the least I can do. I am also a newly hired forum moderator and help out in that way as much as I can. I have chatted with Hobbs and found him to be a intelligent,kind and giving person. I agree 100% with Endless that we as members should also give 100% percent back to this site for all the help and information we recieve from this site daily. I hope that every member that is reading this will at the very least purchase a vip membership. It doesn't cost much and would help out Hobbs tremendously. Once again I thank you Endless for this awesome post! Very Happy
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dartht33bagger
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Joined: Apr 17, 2007
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Post Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:36 pm   
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I'd donate if my mom would let me, heck id buy a t-shirt if my mom would let me. She wont though because she thinks this is a bunk site that will steal our money. I'll see what i can do though, because id hate to have this site go down over the summer (on summer break i site on the hq network all day long lol).
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frozenfire1
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Post Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:50 pm   
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If any members on here want to help me donate to the site, (has to be a proven member) I will buy them an xbox live points card (and give them the code), and they donate the value of the card to the site, this may be the only way I can donate and you know I want to. So if you are interested please pm me, so please help a fellow member help the site.

Also guys Forahobby has helped countless people and 12$ is not a lot of money for damn near 24/7 xbox/360 support If you are like me and visit the hq networks every day you will realize what a valuable tool the sites are and how many people we have helped. If you really think about it, this can be a really big inconvenience for us all if hq network goes down, and I don't know where I or many other people will get all their 360 and xbox stuff (news, achievements, screenshots, tutorials, and a helpful friendly community) all in one place.

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dartht33bagger
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:23 am   
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How much will the server bill be (just wondering).
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Rebelcharm
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:31 am   
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Hey I know we could offer out Darth's soldering skills to make some fast cash! Shocked Rolling Eyes Wink
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dartht33bagger
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:32 am   
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You may be making fun of me but i am a pretty good solderer (I installed my X3 CE in my xbox myself. Well my dad helped hold the wire in the right spot but thats about it). So we could make butt loads of cash off of it Cool Laughing
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impwiz
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:20 am   
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Yes, please keep this site going! Endless, touching post.

I will be doing controller port LED mods for the original xbox, if you are willing to go VIP. Just send your ports to me, and sign up for VIP on the HQ network. I have plenty LEDs, most colors, red, orange, UV, blue, green, white...more details to come. I think i'll post this on www.xbox-hq.com as well.

Also, there have been people in the past who do not have paypal, and have sent me check/cash to donate for them in their name. I can still offer this for the US residents. I'm sure FinalCloud will help out on the Europe/UK side of the globe. (I hope you don't mind me volunteering you.)

The future of the HQ network is in your hands, let's show hobbs how much we appreciate his dedication and help.

*Edit* The thread is up over at xbox-hq.com. http://www.xbox-hq.com/html/postt23284.html



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Last edited by impwiz on Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:35 am; edited 1 time in total


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wes213
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:21 am   
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Good post endless, i been pumping out news, 1 tut, tested sid five batas on my xbox and flooded xbox-hq with help and still feel the need to keep paying my debt in work.

Keep the HQ alive or i will be setting next to Hobbs with no hobby. Sad


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Mattster
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Post Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:54 am   
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Endless, you are the man.

I am glad that this has been bought out in the open.

I will pay for VIP and will try and chip in more reviews and cheats and stuff like that. And I will also bump this topic to make sure that everyone is aware of how perilous things are at the moment.

I know hobbs and have lived with him. He is a top fella and doesnt complain or piss and moan about his problems.

Everyone needs to do this if only to keep the site up and going.

I beg everyone who reads this post to do the same.

Give back to the site that has give you information, freinds and goddamn it a laugh or 2 (courtesy if Doa's clip of the day)

Pay it forward people


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