Happy 1 Year Anniversary Epic Win!
Posted by 0rion on August 17th, 2008 - 10:00 pm
Hard to believe that it’s already been a full year since Guff and I first set up digs here, our humble abode at www.epicwin.org. It’s been a long and somewhat rocky path, as I’m sure is evidenced by our post count in recent months, but all in all we don’t regret one second of the time we’ve put into this site.
As always, first and foremost I have to thank all of you, our readers, for making our blogging adventure a fun and fulfilling one. I’ve always tried to stress the fact that you guys are what makes this site fun, and that we really appreciate your involvement in our own little nook of the internet here. That goes especially to you guys who are still here reading now despite our inconsistent blogging schedule as of late. Without all of you we would be just another empty blip on the internet radar, a hollow monologue talking for only ourselves to hear. For a writer, the idea that there might be no audience out there to ever read the work that you’ve slaved over and poured yourself into is truly disheartening.
Fortunately, that’s something we’ve never really had to worry about here at Epic Win thanks to you all. I especially want to give a big shout out to all of our blogging sempai who have linked to us, supported us, read and commented on our work, and most importantly continued to encourage and motivate us through their own excellent writing. Through participation in the anime blogging community, I’ve become aware of many great anime series and manga that I would never have watched or read otherwise. Likewise Guff and I feel that we have been able to spread our own excitement for a number of off-the-wall but still very fun series, to create new fans and broaden people’s interests.
And most of all, I’ve gotten to know many many fascinating people from all over the globe. I haven’t often taken the time to step back and really think about it, but the influence of the anime blogging community (I hate the term “blogosphere” so I’m trying very hard to avoid using it here =P) has really helped me broaden my perspective, to open up to and appreciate things I would not have otherwise, to think more critically, and to be more aware of the world around me.
Unfortunately, Guff was unable to tear himself away from his hectic schedule in Japan to add his own thoughts at this time, but I’m sure if he could, he would concur with everything I have said thus far. Hopefully he’ll be able to add a few words in a comment once he gets the time. =D
When Guff and I first started our little venture here at Epic Win, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. We didn’t really know whether we would ever get any readers, or whether anyone would be interested in or entertained by our commentary. Fortunately, the success of the site has been far beyond what we ever imagined it would become.
After one full year, according to Google Analytics this site has racked up a stunning (to us) 500,000 pageviews from over 100,000 unique visitors, who hail from 139 different countries around the globe. At our peak of popularity, December ‘07 and January ‘08, we had upwards of 4,000 pageviews a day on the site.
Our single most popular entry, with over 15,000 views, has proven to be our entry from last October entitled The Good, The Bad, and The Moe: The Fall ‘07 Anime Rankings, in which we numerically ranked every series from the new crop of anime in that season according to our preference. Coming in at a close second, as well as being one of our personal favorite posts, with just shy of 15k views is our infamous 48 Reasons Why Lucky Star is Awesome.
Other popular posts include all of our 2007 Anime Award Show series, which ran for 7 days, our Top Ten Things I Want as Plushies article, and surprisingly our first look at the quirky but fun anime Moyashimon, which each racked up over 10,000 views apiece.
Once again, thanks to everybody who’s taken the time to read our stuff and to add their own thoughts whether through comments or trackbacks or e-mails or IRC conversations. We’ve put countless hours of our time in brainstorming and writing the posts we put up on this site, and to see the appreciation you guys have shown really means a lot to us and gives us the encouragement to keep on writing, even as everyday life gets crazier and business with each passing day.
* 0rion sheds a single tear *
Now if we can just find the time to post more than once a month we’ll be doing great! In all seriousness, though, I still do hope to keep this updated more regularly and to crank out more great content for you guys. I’m just committed to making sure everything we post on Epic Win is truly Epic Win. No filler episodes here!
With all that said, fat wall-o-text that it is, I’ll simply say one more time that you guys have all been awesome and you all deserve a big Konata good job!
Happy anniversary! may epic win last forever
I’ve been reading your blog for a while and never commented until now. I love your posting style, you never fail to amuse or interest me. I hope you guys keep at it!
To our Readers,
First off apologies for my rather inert status of late. As you may well know I’m currently in Japan finishing up a two month summer course in Japanese Language. As such my input has been very sporadic; in addition I have grad school coming up soon and needless to say the next couple of months will be quite hectic.
Excuses and other lameness aside, I have to heartily concur with my cohort and give a hearty thanks to everyone who reads our blog, everyone who has commented, and everyone who has been kind enough to link to us. For me, Anime and Japanese culture are truly fascinating and this site gives us the opportunity to discuss, jest, and share with each other. I think that’s quite incredible. We have the opportunity to share interests and cultivate an appreciation for good storytelling, humor, and the like. Personally, I enjoy writing in general, but EW holds a special place for me. I’d like to think of it as my favorite coffee shop where I can sit down, have a cup of joe, and talk and trade quips with friends and acquaintances. What more could you want really?
Additionally, with the combination of my traveling and studies I’ve been quite busy. I’ve seen some truly awe inspiring places while in Japan, particularly in Hokkaido, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to recap my excursions here on the site. Tomorrow is my last day in Tokyo and I must say that my departure brings much sadness with it. Each time I visit Japan it becomes more difficult to leave. However, one good thing about heading home will be that Orion and I will be able to start rolling out some of the posts on my various and sundry adventures.
Again, thanks to everyone. We’ll try to keep things Epic here.
-Guff
Wow, that’s awesome! Happy anniversary! (I always thought Epic Win was much older cause you guys have a solid writing style. o.O)
happy aniversary epic win!
hope it just get more epic thane eve 
Normally, during a birthday I would say something negative like ‘One year closer to death’, but blogs don’t age like humans do. Blogs can last for many years or several days, have unsteady life readings, go into comas, revive, or even reincarnate into a different blog.
So unfortunately I would have to say something happy. It’s not my forte.
Um… Happy… Birthday?
On a brighter note, it’s nice to know that there would be more updates coming.
Happy anniversary! Don’t worry too much about the inactivity: good content is good, however fast or slow it’s served up.
Happy Anniversary! I don’t mind much about the lack of posts.
Quality > quantity
Grats on 1 year, looking forward to these exciting tales of Guff’s adventures.
Happy anniversary, my fellow kyoudai!
May you guys continue to make Epic Win epic win.
Wow, it’s been a year already? Grats on this milestone, and here’s to more epic win blogging birthdays to come! 8D
Happy Anniversary XD
Congrats to both of you guys…Good Job indeed. I’m aware of the pressures of Real Life and how it can interfere with what you enjoy (when the reverse is supposed to happen!) so I understand why you’d rather be sporadic than post something you’re not satisfied with. It sure is heartening to see the old stats and realise that people, y’know, visit…and that people still visit though. Looking forward to your return.
@Guff: I’m actually planning on visiting Tokyo sometime next year, so expect n00bish touristy questions about recs for good places to visit, etc in the coming months!
Happy anniversary!
You’re the ones who convinced me to watch Kaiji, and consequently Akagi.
How could I ever forget you?
Happy anniversary, and welcome to the kinda-dead-but-not-quite-due-to-real-life bloggers club!
How did I miss this?
Happy anniversary, and I hope to see more winning of the epic kind in the future.
Omedetou~! EPIC WIN!!11
I am seaching for some idea to write in my blog… somehow come to your blog. best of luck. Eugene
Huh? It seems I never got around to congratulating you on your year (~and few months~). I could’ve sworn I commented a paragraph or something. Anyway..
Congrats guys! In case we don’t get another post by then, Have a good Xmas and New Year! [God, It’s early to be saying that]. ;p
Guys!! I need more epicnesss!!!!! Awaiting more posts of wacky anime stuff.
Your loyal fan.
happy anniversary. don’t abandon the blog pl0x. we like you. you are epic and full of win.
If you guys ever decide to revive yourselves, I’ll let you know that you’ll always have my support.
You are win and we are fail.