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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsFelicia Day's "The Guild" signs exclusive deal with Microsoft
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 24th 2008 at 9:00AM
This is interesting -- we at WoW Insider are big fans of Felicia Day's "The Guild" webseries, which will now be shown exclusively via Microsoft apparently. They've announced that the second season of the popular series will premiere exclusively on Xbox Marketplace, MSN, and the Zune marketplace, and will apparently be released for free (with Sprint as an ad sponsor).Very interesting. Formerly, The Guild posted their episodes on YouTube, which not only let browsers there find them easily, but let sites like this one embed and spread the word about the series. But while MSN has a video site, it's not immediately clear that they'll allow embedding -- it may not be so easy to spread around/watch episodes if The Guild is no longer uploading to YouTube and other video sharers. The Guild will have an embedded MSN player on their currently-being-redesigned site (complete with ads), but we're not sure whether we'll be able to embed it any more or not.
We will, however, find out the whole story on the new season (which will apparently include a holiday special) this week when we talk to Felicia Day herself on a special episode of our podcast, the WoW Insider Show. Look for that by next weekend, and keep an eye on the site on Tuesday -- even if we can't embed the new episode, we'll be sure to let you know where you can see it.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Machinima, Fan stuff, Guilds, Odds and ends, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Liel Nov 24th 2008 9:29AM
I was watching an interview with the cast and Felicia said she was financing it out of her funds and the actors were working for pretty much free for possible exposure for other projects. The whole point of it was to get bought up by a big company and get a regular paycheck nobody likes working for free. Congrats to her is all I gotta say.
noodles Nov 24th 2008 9:34AM
I never thought this series was worth money. Good for them. Just shows how being an attractive girl in the gaming world is worth it's weight in gold.
Ironhide Nov 24th 2008 9:41AM
yeah, killed it for me.
Good luck with that guys.
Maever Nov 24th 2008 9:47AM
Let's just hope the show doesn't get a blue screen of death...
gg Micro$oft.
tonz0phun Nov 24th 2008 9:50AM
Everything always finds its way onto youtube. Everything.
Beep Nov 24th 2008 9:59AM
That's awesome! If you'd actually read the attached article, you see that she retains intellectual property rights and retains creative control... and still gets paid! That is AMAZING.
Hilus Nov 24th 2008 9:59AM
Congratz...you deserved to be successful, not only in terms of wide spread recognition, but financial as well.
Just keep the quality up.
Todd Nov 24th 2008 10:00AM
Eh... if I have to go out of my way to watch this webseries, than I won't. I'm sure many people feel this way, too.
Jason Nov 24th 2008 11:05AM
Out of your way? You go to website B instead of website A. That's not out of your way. And i'm sure fans of the show don't care where it's hosted.
rulipalooza Nov 24th 2008 10:03AM
shes cute >.
chuckchuck Nov 24th 2008 10:08AM
who cares, she's hot
Abraxxis Nov 24th 2008 10:20AM
I really like her, and her acting, and her attitude. The show itself never fails to bring a smile to my face, along with outright, cubicle-dweller-annoying laughter. I barely remember her from BtVS, but I have definitely caught several of her commercials, plus the Dr. Horrible vlog. Perfect comedy timing is wonderful to watch, and a joy to behold.
I hope that MS is smart enough to make the show widely available. They have a reputation for buying up golden geese and then killing them. I really do hope for the best.
zappo Nov 24th 2008 10:22AM
Hope this isn't going to require Microsoft silverlight or whatever it's called. I know they were trying to push that during the Olympics.
Painted Nov 24th 2008 3:15PM
I fear this is exactly* what we'll see, and maybe IE only to boot. IE on Windows, mind you.
I am glad that The Guild is getting some real backing, but I just wish they could have picked a less biased and evil sponsor, like PETA or the KKK...
Epiphanize Nov 24th 2008 10:23AM
I do not mind that they are making money from the show. But what does Microsoft really have to do with MMO's or anything that the guild is built around.
Beatphreek Nov 24th 2008 1:05PM
Newsflash!!!!
Windows is a gaming platform.
Plastic Rat Nov 24th 2008 10:37PM
So they keep telling us. Just like my Ford Apache is a racing car.
Aurdon Nov 24th 2008 10:36AM
I think they need to get it up on Hulu like Dr. Horrible
Markymark Nov 24th 2008 10:39AM
Congrats to them. Quit this nonsense about them selling out. Being paid to do what you enjoy is far from selling out... Or "mAking a deal with the devil". I find comments like these very immature and it shows that you have no concept of how things work in the real world. Nothing will change except you will see alot more ads.
Phoenix Psaltery Nov 24th 2008 10:56AM
Congrats to Felecia & co. on their shrewd financial move. I just wish the deal had been struck with a company that had some integrity.
P2