He-Man, and also the Masters of the Universe

[Steevy Maximus]

You have to pay to operate a website?

Isn’t the internet supposed to be the wild wild west?

I’ve never built a website but don’t you just do some programming and launch it somewhere on the internet.

Why do you have to go thru a middle-man?

Some of these questions are better left to staff (it’s been a hot 20 years since I’ve had to learn about this stuff), but…
Yes. You do have to pay to operate a website, in that, to get a website online, you need to be able to “host” the site somewhere. That involves hardware that needs to be active 24/7, which costs electricity on TOP of the hardware itself. Even going through a hosting service (Wix, or GoDaddy, or Amazon), the hosting service still has those costs (hardware, upkeep, storage, electricity) that they pass on to you.

The internet is free in that you CAN make any sort of website you want, and if you can find a host or establish you own, it will be published on the internet.

 

[The Predaking]

By THE site I’m assuming you mean being a part of Mattel or Hasbro.

Didn’t he-man.org work with Mattel and doesn’t AllSpark work with Hasbro?

I guess they won’t let people make money off their properties unless they get a cut.

I am unaware of any payments from Hasbro.


*Looks at Wheelimus' new Bently*

 

[Broadside]

Some of these questions are better left to staff (it’s been a hot 20 years since I’ve had to learn about this stuff), but…
Yes. You do have to pay to operate a website, in that, to get a website online, you need to be able to “host” the site somewhere. That involves hardware that needs to be active 24/7, which costs electricity on TOP of the hardware itself. Even going through a hosting service (Wix, or GoDaddy, or Amazon), the hosting service still has those costs (hardware, upkeep, storage, electricity) that they pass on to you.

The internet is free in that you CAN make any sort of website you want, and if you can find a host or establish you own, it will be published on the internet.

Isn’t a host just a desktop computer that acts as a server?

 

[wonko the sane?]

Can be. Some folks do it that way. A server machine is more efficient and faster though.

 

[Dekafox]

Also depends on the site and traffic. A high traffic PHP-based site would kill any desktop computer trying to serve it.

There's also CDNs(content delivery networks) for redundancy if you need to make sure the site stays up 24/7. It also offers protection in case someone with a chip on their shoulder or some bored kid decides to DDOS the site.

 

[Broadside]

Also depends on the site and traffic. A high traffic PHP-based site would kill any desktop computer trying to serve it.

There's also CDNs(content delivery networks) for redundancy if you need to make sure the site stays up 24/7. It also offers protection in case someone with a chip on their shoulder or some bored kid decides to DDOS the site.

Fascinating.

Sounds complicated and expensive.

You guys sound like Computer Science grads like Chip Chase.

I think I’m too far behind to catch up on this knowledge. How do you keep up with the technology?

 

[Dekafox]

In my case at least, it's my day job. I work in IT.

 

[wonko the sane?]

Fascinating.

Sounds complicated and expensive.

You guys sound like Computer Science grads like Chip Chase.

I think I’m too far behind to catch up on this knowledge. How do you keep up with the technology?

It's not actually that complicated, and if you're a gamer who does multiplayer: chances are you've done something similar to set up home servers for yourself and friends.

I'm also the guy who gets saddled doing technical stuff for family and friends, largely because I have a hard time telling people "no".

Edit: As for keeping up... google is your friend. If you ask specific questions, you'll more than likely get answers that will eventually work. You just need to be willing to tackle the "It's broken and I should make it my problem" mentality.

 

[Shadewing]

It's also not really changed much at all in the past 20+ years since I went to school for this stuff. Its kinda as basic info as it gets.

 

[The Predaking]

In my case at least, it's my day job. I work in IT.

Same.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

In my case at least, it's my day job. I work in IT.

Same.

 

[Broadside]

Also depends on the site and traffic. A high traffic PHP-based site would kill any desktop computer trying to serve it.

There's also CDNs(content delivery networks) for redundancy if you need to make sure the site stays up 24/7. It also offers protection in case someone with a chip on their shoulder or some bored kid decides to DDOS the site.

CDN (content delivery system), what does that look like in terms of hardware? I’m guessing it’s a big switch connected to a computer running a CDN software program that routes traffic.

I wish they’d use more concrete terms so that I can understand it. For example, instead of using a nebulous term like the “cloud” can’t they just say “big hard drive”?

I’m more comfortable and familiar with electronics and computer hardware terminology.

I don’t know what the difference is between AI (Artificial Intelligence) and just calling it a really, really complicated software program.

 

[Dekafox]

A CDN isn't that, it's multiple computers placed all over the world, so when you request the data it pulls it form the nearest server so it loads faster, and doesn't concentrate it all in one place where it can be flooded.

The cloud is basically a bunch of someone else's computers in the same way. The idea is you don't care what it's running on, or where it is, it's just there for your use and someone else has to worry about maintenance and all the rest of keeping it running. It's not just storage, it's also computing power. That's how you have services where you can stream games to your machine like Stadia was.

AI is basically marketing hype at this point. Algorithms(like Google's original search engine) used to be considered AI, but got renamed when they got a defined role and it wasn't useful for marketing. Now we have generative AI, also called Large Language Models, which is basically a fancy autocomplete that works the same way as the autocomplete on your phone, but scaled up in power and ability. Who knows if the name will stick this time or if it gets another marketing name after all the bad press and experiences its earned from the techbro hype machine...

 

[Broadside]

A CDN isn't that, it's multiple computers placed all over the world, so when you request the data it pulls it form the nearest server so it loads faster, and doesn't concentrate it all in one place where it can be flooded.

The cloud is basically a bunch of someone else's computers in the same way. The idea is you don't care what it's running on, or where it is, it's just there for your use and someone else has to worry about maintenance and all the rest of keeping it running. It's not just storage, it's also computing power. That's how you have services where you can stream games to your machine like Stadia was.

AI is basically marketing hype at this point. Algorithms(like Google's original search engine) used to be considered AI, but got renamed when they got a defined role and it wasn't useful for marketing. Now we have generative AI, also called Large Language Models, which is basically a fancy autocomplete that works the same way as the autocomplete on your phone, but scaled up in power and ability. Who knows if the name will stick this time or if it gets another marketing name after all the bad press and experiences its earned from the techbro hype machine...

How did you learn all of this?

Did you go to MIT like Carly from the g1 cartoon?

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

I thought running these fan sites make money from advertisers. Doesn’t that make a living for the hosts and webmasters?

...whew. I wish.

I mean, sometimes you can make money. I'm not sure a whole lot make a living off of them any more. If ever. I'm sure that might have been a thing at some point.

Me, I'm desperately trying to find a way to offset the costs of keeping my sites online.

Sigh. I think if nothing else, maybe it used to be cheaper? Depending on how you did it?

Incidentally, I don't run ads. It's a whole thing. I might return to it, but I'm trying without. Even then, I don't think it's that much...

 

[Broadside]

View attachment 25731

...whew. I wish.

I mean, sometimes you can make money. I'm not sure a whole lot make a living off of them any more. If ever. I'm sure that might have been a thing at some point.

Me, I'm desperately trying to find a way to offset the costs of keeping my sites online.

Sigh. I think if nothing else, maybe it used to be cheaper? Depending on how you did it?

Incidentally, I don't run ads. It's a whole thing. I might return to it, but I'm trying without. Even then, I don't think it's that much...

Can you make a Masters of the Universe website like he-man.org and an accompanying podcast like Masters Cast and Council of the First Ones?

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Can you make a Masters of the Universe website like he-man.org and an accompanying podcast like Masters Cast and Council of the First Ones?

I mean, I could try. In theory.

Not gonna, though.

 

[Broadside]

I mean, I could try. In theory.

Not gonna, though.

Aren’t you passionate about Masters of the Universe?

A lot of 80’s G1 Transformers fans were first He-man and the Masters of the Universe fans because it came before.

Transformers are cool toys but they are mainly for display.

There’s a powerful connection that you feel holding a Masters of the Universe action figure in your hand that you just don’t get with a Transformers figure, maybe because of the sharp edges.

 

[Shadewing]

Aren’t you passionate about Masters of the Universe?

A lot of 80’s G1 Transformers fans were first He-man and the Masters of the Universe fans because it came before.

Transformers are cool toys but they are mainly for display.

There’s a powerful connection that you feel holding a Masters of the Universe action figure in your hand that you just don’t get with a Transformers figure, maybe because of the sharp edges.

A lot doesn't mean all. While not directed at me, He-man has always been my least favorite of the 80's properities, and hell even my least favorite of Filmation's properities. Yes, I prefer She-Ra to He-Man, but also prefer Ghostbusters and Bravestarr to it as well. He-Man toys bring me no such joy or connection as I do Transformers, Ninja Turtles, 'Real' Ghostbusters, Power Rangers, My Little Pony (yes I was a fan of it back before it was cool), Thundercats, Silverhawks, Jem, GIJoe... Shall I go on about what I have more powerful connections to?

The only powerful connection to He-Man I have is:

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

Aren’t you passionate about Masters of the Universe?

I said "Hey, what's goin' on?"