Almost two years ago, when I was working with Jet & Triangle on the Universal Nerf blog, I was discussing things with jerm781 about Nerf Mods & Reviews. He admitted he was on his way out and suggested that we should take the reins. It started off strong, as we started to expand things not just for Modifications and Reviews, but to feature other modders work and to showcase what they were doing. After the first couple of months we started to lose steam. Darth Rambo, who was quite active at the time, stepped in and ushered in another surge of activity. He went on to add other co-authors who would bring their superstar status into the mix that breathed more life into the blog. As they continued on their own respective YouTube channels, websites, and blogs, the contributions to NM&R slipped off. With each surge of activity, the downward spiral seemed unavoidable. Each time it went up a step, it'd take another 3 steps back shortly afterwards. It was clear the blog wasn't making a return without it's maker at the helm.
It's not really any one person's fault. Nerf Mods & Reviews needed someone full-time to continue things, and everyone we managed to find was already doing something on their own. It still has an obvious impact on the community, what with 5 years of valuable posts on reviews, modifications, and the news that it brought to light. However, it's really just a time capsule now of a great era for Nerf blogs. Nerf Mods & Reviews was one of my "Big 3" that I used to reference so frequently... and one by one they are becoming more a part of the past than the future. Urban Taggers did it right. SG Nerf hasn't admitted they're out yet.
I'm still happy I got a chance to try to continue what jerm781 did, but part of me is still a little sad I didn't do more. In hindsight, trying to pass on something like a blog is tough to do without 100% commitment, and my focus has always been on Tactical Tag. It's something each "creator" will struggle with: a passing of the torch. In the same way that I think jerm781 should've been the one to turn a page over for NM&R, I won't hand off this blog when that inevitable day comes. Currently, I feel like there's much more life ahead of Tactical Tag, but I'm sure jerm781 thought that too. Only time will tell. All we can do is be thankful for the time we had and continue to move foward.
In many ways, jerm781 and Nerf Mods & Reviews is still giving fans what they want, only with the current allotment of blasters and products that it covered. That's what I'm doing today. Being thankful for what NM&R gave us.
Wow, thanks for that input Mike. I agree, the one thing that can never be taken from NMR is that it remains a corner stone for many Nerfers.
ReplyDeleteAs a blog owner myself, I totally understand what you mean about having to look after TT first and foremost over NMR. As a caretaker it takes its toll, and everyone else who has their own gig happening will always feel that way too.
Maybe Jerm will return, and breathe some life back in to NMR. Maybe Pocket will return too, who knows. But as is the legacy of the Internet - NMR will remain a library for future Nerfers wanting to reference mods on the current/older range of blasters.
Great post, and very heartfelt. You rock man
Ash aka MyLastDart