Best of Writers Cabal Blog – 2007

It’s that time of year again. The time when people tend to look back, think over their accomplishments, and wonder, “What the heck have I been doing with my life?!?” We’re going to go for a somewhat lighter take on the year-end review with an inside look into our stats and some highlights for the year.

Since the Writers Cabal Blog premiered February 18th, 2007, we have hosted two giveaways, written and designed for a number of games, and even saw our first joint project hit the shelves: THE WITCHER. Here’s how all this played out on our blog:

• Posts: 140 (not including posts we wrote but then never posted)
• Comments: 224 (not including the 7,743 spam comments from all over the world!)
• Page Views: 11,631 direct hits (not including those subscribing via RSS feed)
• Biggest Month: November
• Guess that Game Dialog lines: 25

Rather than picking only posts with the most hits, we thought we’d highlight the best posts throughout the year, whether it be due to hits, due to comments, or because we say so.

Our first blog series:
Helping the Writer “Get it” Part 1
Helping the Writer “Get it” Part 2
Helping the Writer “Get it” Part 3
4 Things Not To Do to help your writers “get it”

Our first controversial post:
Motivating with story
Motivating with story, part 2

Our first workshop:
Writing for Fantasy Game Worlds
Why does Fantasy Resonate with Modern Audiences?
What is Lacking in Fantasy Computer RPGs?
What’s Important in Fantasy Storytelling and Game Design?
Q & A from Writing for Fantasy Game Worlds

Our first (joint) game:
The verdict is in! Game reviews of The Witcher
GameSpy 2007 PC RPG of the Year, GameSpy Special Award: Surprise of the Year
IGN 2007 PC RPG of the Year, PC Best Story Runner-Up
Voodoo Extreme 2007 Best PC Exclusive, Best Computer Role Playing Game
GameSpot Readers Choice 2007 Roleplaying Game of the Year
Shacknews 2007 Roleplaying Game of the Year
Gaming Heaven 2007 Game of the Year
Gaming Trend 2007 Game of the Year
AIAS 2007 Roleplaying Game of the Year Finalist
PC Gamer Magazine 2007 RPG of the Year
(If you want an autographed copy of THE WITCHER, see here)

Most foreign language in a single post:
Gender unknown: writing for French translation

And, my personal favorite…
Most blatant effort to attract 33 percent of all internet traffic, if you know what I mean:
Nipples! The Witcher UK

We’d also like to give a big shout out to Gameproducer.net, Manifesto Games, Dave Gilbert at Wadjet Eye Games, Joyce at Joycecom.com, and Chris Avellone for prizes, links, and all the goodies that helped get our blog off the ground and running. Of course, we wouldn’t have done it at all if not for you, dear reader. Thank you for all your support!

What’s in store for next year? Well, you’ll just have to stick around and find out. We have some exciting announcements in the new year, so subscribe, check back, and keep on reading!

Guess that game dialog! This week we’ll literally ask you to guess the infamous line of dialog that came from ZERO WING! If you can’t remember, check back next week to see what the line was.

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