Now that season one of Game of Thrones has aired, Winter-Is-Coming.net has seen its traffic explode (see graph below for evidence) bringing a whole host of new readers. With all these newcomers hanging around, we thought it would be a good time to formally welcome them to the site and share what we have to offer. And for you long-time visitors, we have a tease of some things to look forward to at WiC.net as well…
Is this graph just a way for us to brag? Maybe a little. Click to embiggen.
History
As you can see from the graph above, we’ve been around for a while. I started this site a couple days after HBO announced they were going to film a pilot. It wasn’t until almost a year and a half later we even knew Game of Thrones would go on-air. It could have been a short-lived site, but thankfully HBO picked up the show and we got to enjoy a full season of Thrones goodness. And we are getting (at least) one more!
When the site started it was just me, Winter Is Coming (aka Winter or WiC), posting news and rumors, but once we got the full season pickup I knew I needed some help, so I enlisted two long-time readers and commenters to help me out. They took up the monikers Fire And Blood and Hear Me Roar, and have been invaluable sources of assistance.
News and Rumors
So what kind of stuff can you expect us to report on? Well a lot of season two casting and filming, obviously. We dig deep to find the rumors that other sites may not bring you. And we provide the big news that gets reported on everywhere else (although we like to think we bring it to you faster than anybody else). We also plan to make speculative posts about season two, including the cast, the scripts and which characters may or may not make the cut. And, of course, we will continue to look back at the fantastic first season of Game of Thrones. Look for our first annual WiC.net end-of-season awards coming soon!
Comments
The comments have been the heart and soul of this site for a long time now. The varied and interesting discussion has made the site not just a Thrones news source but a full-fledged fan community. We have a pretty relaxed moderation policy around here and welcome all viewpoints, be they positive or negative. But we do ask that you refrain from personal attacks against other posters.
A few people have asked how to get an avatar that will display with their comments, so here is the deal: You can sign in with Twitter or Facebook and it will use those avatars. Or you can sign up for a Gravatar account, using the same email as you use to comment here, and upload an avatar of your choice. It will then display here alongside your comments.
Spoiler Policy
Let’s talk about spoilers for a minute. Since this show is based on an existing book series, the risk of spoilers is very high. We do our best to keep the new viewers shielded from having the story spoiled from them. You can be sure that the front page of the site will never delve into the events of future books/seasons. This way you can always check the latest news without fear of being spoiled. On certain posts we may discuss specifics of upcoming events, but in these cases we will always warn the reader that spoilers are coming and you will have to click through to read the spoilerific stuff.
In the comments, any spoilers from future books must be blacked out using the “spoiler” tag. This can be applied by highlighting the section of your comment that is a spoiler and clicking the “spoiler” button. Alternately you can surround that section of text with the tags <b> and </b>. We must warn new viewers that although most of our commenters are good with tagging their spoilers, sometimes stuff slips out. We try to keep a close eye for spoiler slip-ups and fix them as soon as possible, but we can’t guarantee that the comments will be completely spoiler-free. So if you haven’t read all the books, be aware that when reading the comments you run the risk of being spoiled. The best way to avoid this is to read the books!
Site Features
In the time we’ve been online our readership has increased steadily but we have tried to keep the site as user-friendly and as simple as possible. The focus of the site is still the posts and the active and on-going discussion within the comments. But we also have other features such as…
Cast Page
The season one cast page contains all the named roles (and some unnamed ones as well) from the first season, as well family trees for some of the major houses. Clicking on each photo will take you to an actor page with a character profile and actor bio, as well as links to their IMDb/Wikipedia page and any posts about that character/actor. The season two cast page is one to keep an eye on, as we will continually update it over the next few months as new roles and actors are announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recently revamped page includes frequently asked questions about the show, organized by general questions and season one- and season two-specific questions. This is helpful for our new readers, as it gives you a nice overview of the series and might help you from asking a question that has been answered many times before (“Is the second season going to be longer than 10 episodes?”). It is another one to keep an eye on as we will update it frequently as new info becomes available.
Episode Guide
A page with all the info for each episode from season one, such as writers, directors, run times, synopsis, etc. It also includes links to our recap posts, as well as videos and photos from each episode. With season one in the can, this page will be a nice reference and a good way to relive some of this past season’s episodes. Watch for a season two episode guide, once we get closer to the next season airing.
International Airings
For our international readers, this page is a handy reference to see when and where Game of Thrones will be airing in your home country. We update it regularly as the airing plans for new territories are announced.
The Pointy End Comic
Artist Mike Rosenzweig began providing a series of exclusive Game of Thrones-themed comics entitled The Pointy End during season one. While the season was airing they centered around “deleted scenes” from each episode. He will continue to provide new comics during the break between seasons, although the topic will switch to casting or filming or whatever else Mike can poke fun at. Make sure to check out the latest issue, published today, in which Mike pokes fun as Fire and Blood and his interview style! Hilarious!
Some other pages of interest: Images, Videos, Crew and our Polls Archive.
And, last but not least, some stuff to look forward to…
Site Redesign
We are in the early stages of a site redesign that will hopefully be complete by the time season two airs. We welcome any feedback our readers may have about what they like about the site currently, what they dislike and what features they would like to see added to the new site. Let us know in the comments below or use our contact form to get in touch with us directly.
Site Store
Something that I have wanted to do for a while now, but just haven’t had the time. A WiC.net store with exclusive t-shirts and other merchandise about the site and the series. I have some pretty great t-shirt ideas and hopefully we will get this store up and running in the next few months.
I guess that about covers it. We want to thank all of our readers. Without you this site would not be half as fun to run as it is. So keep visiting and keep discussing and we’ll keep bringing you all the Thrones news and rumors and speculation you can handle!
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122 Comments
Count me on one who pops by this site a few times a day. Why? Because it`s a well run site. Congrats for you guys.
FrankQuote Reply
Thank you!
Even though it is hard, I´ll stay away from the comments until the Dance has been read.
I especially wanted to read everything everyone thought about the Brienne casting today, but I must stay strong!
John EngedalQuote Reply
So how many O.G. “I was supporting the bottom in 2008″ shirts can you make? Keep up the great work fellas!
dizzy_34Quote Reply
I’ve been following the site from its very beginning, and I’ve occasionally posted as Dom – time to post with FB, I guess. This site is becoming a kind of drug for me…I’m visiting a dozen times a day, frantically hoping for casting news!
Domenico BarbatoQuote Reply
Congratulations.. ? :)
Omar BibarsQuote Reply
Gracious, I can’t remember when I started coming to this site. I -think- it was around pilot casting season. I know it wasn’t long after the site started! Love you guys, even if I have to back away from the drama for a good long time. (Or when I get lazy and keep up with the chaos of Twitter conversations.)
But, I suppose I do feel kinda like part of the family! It’s awesome to know that there is a community as insane about these books/show as I am.
Becky WilsonQuote Reply
i remember the good old days. when some comment threads had about 6 people just going back and forth in them. ah, nostalgia.
anyway. 300,000 visitors a week? is that unique visitors or overall with revisits? and since i don’t really know what web-traffic means is that a good number or a normal number or what?
Supporting WiC’s Bottom since 2009!
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
I first started posting under the name Kelsier, untill I wanted to stay away from spending too much time here. Needless to say I soon came back to start using my present acronym. This site is like a drug! :-)
As for suggestions about the new site. I’ve thought a couple of times it would be nice to have a (FB-style) ‘like’ button, but on the other hand, this might actually lead to fewer written replies, so not sure about it myelf…
Keep it up WiC & Co., I’ll always support your bottoms!
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
When is WiC gonna do Google +? Would be awesome to get updates on the casting there too.
The DudeQuote Reply
I’m happy to say I’ve been visiting since the first post! :)
Congrats on the increased traffic, though!
LexQuote Reply
I’m excited about the site store! I’ll totally wear a WiC shirt. : ) I first heard about this site from Tower of the Hand and decided to pop on over when the casting for the pilot started. I’ve lurked here quite often since then.
MiraxQuote Reply
Early 2009 I started visiting here I think, certainly before the pilot began casting.
MormegilQuote Reply
Old-time reader, first time poster. New to the site.
Love the site. Keep up the awesome work!
SeawallQuote Reply
Maybe it’s not totally obvious to anyone who isn’t me, but the upswing started right around when The Pointy End started. It is known. And I would totally rock any kind of tee shirt made.
Mike RosenzweigQuote Reply
It seems I found this site very soon after it went up. Didn’t post until we were a few months away from the premiere. You all have done a great job. Keep up the good work, and always support the bottom.
And oh yes, the Brotherhood without Previews will be back for next season!
HollyoakQuote Reply
Hollyoak,
I’m currently in the Brotherhood without Reviews haha! I’ve read some of the sample chapters for ADWD, but I decided awhile ago that I don’t want any more info, let alone run the risk of being spoiled. Even with only a few days left, the temptation is so strong!
MiraxQuote Reply
I thought Brotherhood with previews disbanded because everyone wanted to join? Anyways, I love the site and thank you WIC
RemyQuote Reply
Can’t say I was here at the very start but was around pre Pilot filming. Been a great journey so far. Really looking forward to meeting some WiCers ( or is it Gaters now ?) at TitanCon. Hope you have the t-shirts available by then :)
Jackie MacPhersonQuote Reply
I think I’ve been visiting daily since 2008, it feels like forever. When GRRM hinted on his NotABlog about the HBO pickup and then the rumors of pilot filming, I started scouring for any resource and came across you guys. It’s been love ever since. Keep up the excellent coverage and great articles and just general greatness.
TriLambdasQuote Reply
Found this site when Empire magazine announced that HBO had Bean as Ned that I think was 2009 been a lurker and occassional poster since. The good old days laughing at overreacting to casting news oh that is still happening lol
Rhaegar’s GhostQuote Reply
First, this is a great site, and I’m glad I found it. I have nothing but respect and admiration for someone who sees this as a notion before HBO really has a notion of what they are doing, and nurtures it to the site it is today. Congrats and keep it coming!!!
Since this is a general post about the blog, I thought I would ask a general question about TV v. the books that I’ve been thinking of for awhile. I didn’t read the books, and because of that, I think I got more out of the TV show than I would have. (Yes, episode 9 felt like a punch in the stomach, but even things like “Wait, they’re doing that together? But aren’t they…?” from episode 1) Not saying I wouldn’t enjoy the books alot too though. So my question is, do you think I can read Book 1 without losing too much of Season 2. or Should I just read them all and be done with it? Or just wait until the series catches up and read them then? Any thoughts?
ChrisQuote Reply
Are you expecting a sudden drop in numbers for about a week , starting next tuesday ? :)
Great job , so far guys..the site’s become a daily obsession.
Maybe others have suggested it already, but will you have a multiple thread feature as well as comments on posts..(if I make myself clear) there may be a name for that , but what do I know ?
Awaiting an official House Gatewatch T-shirt .
obsidianQuote Reply
I think I started visiting around a day or two after the site went up! Maybe a week later at most. I didn’t bookmark it until pilot casting season though… there wasn’t a whole lot to look at before then. ;-)
spacechampionQuote Reply
Whoa, whoa, whoa… 300,000?!? I didn’t enlarge the graph, so I thought it said 30,000. Holy crap!
LexQuote Reply
I don’t see how reading book 1 would make season 2 any less of an experience. If anything, it would make it better.
Regarding the next couple of quetions – hard to say. Probably you’d have to read the first book to decide whether to continue now or later.
sjweningsQuote Reply
I´m a newcomer so thank you for the welcome! Amazing how many people visits WIC.net, congratulations. The site is great and kind of drug really. Never posted on internet before (and I´m pretty faithfull, I don´t write on other sites).
As I´m a southamerican don´t have the chance to talk about ASOIAF because the books are not published down here (not in english or spanish) and I don´t like translation from Spain. First saw chapters 1-2-3 on HBO then read the books and It was killing me not being able to share with someone how much I enjoy the story and the show.
I´ve made couple of mistakes with spoiler tags (sorry, I wasn´t paying attention) but mostly I was killing languages (mainly your language and probably I´ll continue doing it) and I´m sorry for that but is the last time I´m apologize because maybe… ¿is just boring? I´ve said many times already.
So I´m glad I find you all. WiC: you´re a great moderator.
andreaQuote Reply
Congratulations on you sites success WIT! I really enjoyed coming here after each episode and commenting with fellow fans on the series. Also enjoyed the ratings, reviews and other news listed throughout the series and will continue to follow the site pretty much daily. The primary reason why is that I enjoy being connected to other fans of the books and show and I also like the fact that you are active in the comments section as well.
So thanks for the site and may things continue to go well for you.
Eric NiewohnerQuote Reply
Holy shitballs, 300.0000!!!!! Very encouraging to see those numbers rise insanely during the season.
Chris,
when you start reading you can’t stop. It’s a superb adaptation but in my experience all my non-reader friends enjoy the show more than the readers, but reading the books won’t ruin the show. And let’s face it: reading these books is one of te most awesome experiences in our lives. (hmm, kind of a double-advice I’m giving you here…)
KnurkQuote Reply
Chris,
read them all!!!
andreaQuote Reply
And I’ll state I’m loving the heck out of this site, but you probably know because I’m that crazy dutch guy giving you 3.000 hits a week. This site has been awesome since day one, and you guys are making it better everyday. Kudos to you WiC, FaB and HmR.
KnurkQuote Reply
Chris,
It’s been my experience that if you read the first book, you will want to promptly read the rest of them, so whichever you decide, keep that in mind. ^_^
MiraxQuote Reply
I first came here sometime between the pilot filming and the greenlighting, though I only lurked until sometime during the Maester’s Path things. I’d started to read the books when I first came here and I was randomly Googling things about what I’d read. I accidentally stumbled upon here and have been addicted to checking daily ever since.
So thanks for the great, well-run site and I look forward to the upcoming stuff. Congratulations. :D
JayQuote Reply
I have a question – Not sure in what forum would be proper for asking it, so I figured this would be as good as any –
Will season two of the HBO series be called Game of Thrones or Clash of Kings?
I assume they will keep the name and the wonderful opening credits – With some CoG additions…. But I was curious nonetheless how they will handle this matter –
Any word from the producers or George himself?
Sorry for what may be a simply question, but I am new to the series and a huge fan of the book -
Will LopezQuote Reply
It isn’t really a new add to the site, but I would like to have the smile icons back. – If they are actual gone that means… Could be that something isn’t right on my site.
AbyssQuote Reply
I’ve been lurking on this site for about a year and a half, and have posted maybe… three times? (Four now?) It’s second on my internet list to check (after Facebook)… and usually about ALL I check before my kids harass me off of the computer! So thanks WiC, for the news in a quick and helpful format!
Cindy LouQuote Reply
It’s funny I started following this blog when I got into the books several months after Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles got cancelled.
But the real kicker is that you guys server at the time kept kicking me off the sight … I finally fixed it several months later.
Been here everyday at least once since then.
Phantomwriter05Quote Reply
Will Lopez,
;-)
AbyssQuote Reply
“Click to embiggen”? Someone’s a Phil Plait fan? :D
MorriganQuote Reply
Will Lopez,
I don´t know really but I guess they´ll kept Game of thrones and maybe put Clash of kings as some sort of subtitle???
andreaQuote Reply
Will Lopez,
Game of Thrones it will stay. Though you could have read that in the FAQ (after all the post highlighted this feature haha).
Speaking of the FAQ: WiC, you should really explain the ‘always support the bottom’ tagline there, a lot of people in the comments ask after it and it would be very easy to send them to the FAQ instead of retelling the entire story again (hilarious that it is).
KnurkQuote Reply
oh no! wich bottom is this??? I´m completely lost! How many more mistakes i´ll make???
andreaQuote Reply
I love this site so much, I check it twice a day – right after Not A Blog! (Get the news from George, have WiC break it down plus additional cool stuff ^_^)
I cannot WAIT to see how the newly designed WiC.net will look like! I really liked the short Season 2 teaser with the violet/orange background and green flame… maybe there’s some way you can use that as a picture for the sides until we get some actual shots? (Just an idea for design, it looked cool if you could do it…)
Thank you SO SO much for all the hard work you’ve done. Great job! :D
CyrylQuote Reply
Knurk,
That´s a good idea. All the other House Gatewatch stuff could be explained there as well. Things like: “Why is there a guy named Mike Chair?” and “Does have House Gatewatch a coat of arms?”
AbyssQuote Reply
Nice Job on keeping this website going and so glad you started it. I showed up here when Tower of the Hand first mentioned your website or maybe I got the link off GRRM’s not a blog… Don’t remember lol.
NivarQuote Reply
I heard about this site on GRRM site …been hear near the beginning…my fav site on all the interwebs…very good job by everyone involved…
coltaine777Quote Reply
Haha, first of all I want to say that you have been a very welcome addition to the WiC community Andrea, your comments are a joy to read. Nice to see some south americans participating here, I’ve been hearing reports that the president of Brazil is a big fan!
The ‘always support the bottom’ motto we have here stems from ‘The Maester’s Path’ games HBO created for the fans and media to start the buzz going before the season aired. A lot of critics received a box with scents, maps and all kind of goodies, and so did WiC. Of course we scrutinized this box for further hints and after a while we found out that the box contained the hidden word ‘Always support the bottom,’ this caused a lot of excitement among us fans: what could this mysterious phrase mean?!? Well, a guy who created the boxes chipped in and said: “it’s just a phrase used for boxes, you should support the bottom so the contents won’t drop from it.” We all realized we were nuts and made a hilarious mistake and made it our house-motto since then.
KnurkQuote Reply
I came across this site when the first GoT teaser was released (which I had found out about on GRRM’s blog, which I had only come across a few months beforehand). At first I just would keep up on the news and people’s comments, but as the show’s premiere edged closer, I kept getting more and more excited and before long, the show was here and I couldn’t hold back any longer and… and… and… de-lurked!!! (Sorry to those in the front row.)
This is an amazing site, and I heartily thank WiC and his cohorts for doing all this work to keep it up and running. Also, the community is very friendly and mature (comparing to many comments I see on many online forums/blogs), as well as extremely creative and witty! The posts are just as fun to read as the articles themselves. And I would still be in the dark about Twitter if it weren’t for FaB’s wonderful retweet articles drawing me in like the proverbial doomed moth.
Just want to say “thanks” for hosting this site, which has made my love of ASOIAF even stronger. (I’ve read the first 3 books twice, and am now about 1/3rd of the way through AFFC for the first time! Can’t wait for ADWD!)
David The GreyQuote Reply
Congratulations Guys! Thank you for such a wonderful site.
Though I don’t usually comment, I’ve been visiting regularly since the Sean Bean casting rumor, and now can’t wait for Season 2. I’m ready to buy a t-shirt :)
FaboamantoQuote Reply
Wow, 300,000 visits a week is very good. The site deserves it, even when there is not really any news, you consistently post interesting and informative articles that get people talking. It’s that consistency that makes it worth coming here every day, just to see what’s up. When the news reader on my phone chirps, I always hope it’s a new WiC post! You’ve cultivated a community here, and it feels like one, not just another random blog on the net.
salukQuote Reply
I’ve been posting on WiC way before it became mainstream!
/hipster post
Damryn of DorneQuote Reply
The site is well designed and very attractive so it is not a surprise. Congratulations! I lost count of the total hours I spent debating with fellow posters here during the entire season. Tuning it down now, but certainly visiting regularly for my needed GoT Fix… On a tangent – (since this was my reason to visit WiC.net today): Just saw Conan Stevens aka Gregor the Mountain on a Peter Jackson’s video… I didn’t realise he was now part of the Hobbit cast… His carreer is on the way up, good for him… looking forward for more Gegor in Season 2
JedaQuote Reply
I can answer that one!
I used to be just “Mike” (boring). Then on February 28, 2011 everything changed. WiC.net had put up a post because HBO sent out packages to certain critics and bloggers to introduce them to Game of Thrones. The packages contained scrolls, maps, vials and funnels. One of the papers inside the box appeared to have a hidden message sort of watermarked on it. It was discovered the message appeared to say “Always Support the Bottom.” It turned out that the paper was marked inadvertently from being underneath a container of some sort with the phrase embossed on its bottom. Nonetheless, the phrase became our motto here at House Gatewatch (Gatewatch because we’re always looking out for “gates” like Barkgate or, now, Namegate).
It was in that post that I changed my name from “Mike” to “Mike Chair” in a pledge of loyalty to House Gatewatch and as a promise to “Always Support the Bottom.” See my historic post here, et seq.
I thank you for your attention.
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Every morning I wake up, I make a strong cup of coffee, pick up my iPod and sit outside for half an hour reading WiC while the caffeine starts working. This is my private half an hour before I have to wake up the kids and prepare them for school. I’ve been following this site since almost the beginning but just recently starting posting. Now I cannot start my days without my WiC morning fix. Love the site and love the way it has evolved. Thanks for these fantastic pages and greetings from Peru! Ah! and I almost forgot… I love Paco too!
Peruvian WinterQuote Reply
Knurk,
thank you! soooooo nice what you´ve said to me!! Oh, we (argentinians) love ex-president Lula Da Silva!. Is he who loves the books? Maybe the new president of Brasil loves ASOIAF??? her name is Dilma Roussef. We have a woman president also but I don´t think she loves GOT… just my intuition. I must re-read your explanation of “bottom”, sounds very funny but I don´t know if I got everything right…
I finished re-read and I´ve got it! It was funny indeed! and it´s a good motto.
andreaQuote Reply
Will Lopez,
I remember asking the same question during season 1 – wondering if it might be a subtitle in the opening credit or something, WiC’s answer was that ‘Clash of Kings’ would probably be an episode title. I hadn’t thought of that, it could very well be the case. We’ll see…
JedaQuote Reply
I’m assuming it’s Brazil’s current president, excuse me for me terrible knowledge of South-American politics (I truly feel ashamed). To get a better grasp of the ‘Always support the bottom’ motto I advice you to read the thread Mike Chair linked to in his post above, it’s way more hilarious then my short explanation…
Mike Chair,
I love it that you wrote a long comment like that but didn’t explain why you chose the word chair!
KnurkQuote Reply
I just read the ancient thread of that misteryous box from HBO… was hillarious!!! even used lemon juice??? as if the writing were invisible???? jijijijiji Will you receive another box for season 2???
andreaQuote Reply
Mike Chair,
Just for the recorde, I was around back then, I know the mysterys of House Gatewatch! But that brings back the old days to me, so thank you for that!
And IIRC you chose “Chair” as last name, because it is the bastard name of House Gatewatch. – And yes, I know why that is, but this is another story…
- As I said, we need a site with all the history of House Gatewatch for the newbies…^^
AbyssQuote Reply
Ooh, a WiC store. I love love that idea. House Gatewatch t-shirt mayhaps with “Supporting the bottom” motto?
I check this site religiously every night before bed, no matter what time it is or how early I need to be up at the following day. If I don’t I can’t sleep properly! So I blame WiC, Fabio and HmR (not me, obviously it’s not my fault…)
BroQuote Reply
Gods, I love people who have this kind of humour. I only stopped chortling long enough to type this out. :L
BroQuote Reply
Well, if you know about the tastes of our presidents you would be a magician!!! You´ve said you´re a dutch?? Your princess is an argentinian eh? it´s all I know of you other than you´ve a good football team and you beat us in female hockey last week!!!
andreaQuote Reply
My prediction it will remain Game of Thrones, but somewhere within the first episode, a character will say: “You are talking war, my Lord! It will be a Clash of Kings!”
HollyoakQuote Reply
You all do a really great job. Has been looking at ALOT of fan sites recently, and in terms of sites that concentrate on a television show, this is the standard, truly. The only thing close were the sites for LOST, but you three blow those sites away…..just wanted to say, great job.
Jaycel AdkinsQuote Reply
I’ve been visiting the site regularly since GRRM mentioned it on his not-a-blog. I’ve only posted a few times (chronic lurker), but there are days where I refresh the page every 30 minutes just hoping for some new tidbit – because I know this is going to be the first place to have it. And I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon as my obsession with the books has transferred fully to the show (or shared with the show to be more accurate).
Great work guys, hope to keep reading for many seasons to come :)
MNicole313Quote Reply
Oh, and btw where is the filming-location-map? I liked that feature. I would bring it back, for season 1 and 2!
AbyssQuote Reply
Indeed. It went like this …
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Thanks for all the hard work you guys put into this site! It can be exhausting to keep up with technology and media – all the various platforms and information and what not -but you guys do a fantastic job. And I do genuinely enjoy posting here and reading others’ comments. There have been times when I’ve felt a bit jaded because the atmosphere was especially tense (i.e. Margaery thread), but I’m still here, and I still very much enjoy this community. It’s crazy to think that Winter started this site so soon after the pilot was mentioned and it’s now the biggest Game of Thrones site going. Just goes to show what a good idea, some dedication and a good dose of hard work can do.
Another thing I love about this site is that I think we represent a very diverse group of people brought together out of a common love for ASOIAF. When I went to the food trucks in Manhattan, I was so pleasantly surprised to find all types of people sharing in the tastes of Westeros – young, old, male, female, people dressed in work clothes, people wearing crazy clothes, all types of characters, and it was awesome. We’re not all nerd stereotypes or teenyboppers or whatever other label might get placed on a certain fandom due to their prominent demographic, and this is a great testament to George’s books. There truly is something in ASOIAF for everyone. I’ve been a part of other fandoms before, but none have been half as rewarding as this one, because most of you guys are smart and interesting and can make really good conversation. So I guess this is my thank you to all the other fans as well!
LinaQuote Reply
Congrats. Can’t wait to get hold of T-shirts & sweatshirts of House Gatewatch :-)
I have been a visitor of this site ever since I found it in GRRM’s Not a Blog. I think the only days I have not visited this site were the few days last week when I had a stroke. (Warning: don’t ever quit visiting or posting on WiC.net. Bad things are going to happen to you. lol.)
Anyway, only a bit more than 3 days before ADwD ;-) Can’t wait to dive into old threads since 6-29 to read all the posts.
SugarVampireQuote Reply
I can’t remember if I found this site before George linked to it or not, but at any rate, it has been an old and faithful friend. Welcome, lovely new people!
Off topic:
I find this photograph fascinatingly surreal.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/08/game-thrones-author-fans-killing-characters-comic-/
JDQuote Reply
I can’t disagree with you.
MiraxQuote Reply
Craziness. I don’t even remember what brought me here the first time, but I’ve been coming to the site since casting on the pilot began.
Congrats, and thanks for everything. Here’s to many more years.
Brad VillaneQuote Reply
love the site. i am definitely seeking out your updates daily and loving the banter. thanks and here’s to your success!
KingthlayerQuote Reply
I found this place pretty much from the very first rumors that HBO bought the rights to ASOIAF and lurked for a couple years. I’m not sure when I made my first post, maybe sometime last year.
I’ve been coming here multiple times a day though ever since.
and I would totally buy a “House Gatewatch” t-shirt!
metalgoddessambQuote Reply
I sure appreciate the service this site continues to provides. well done, folks.
On a side note, I really liked this article:
http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2011/07/06/game_of_thrones_sex_and_nudity
I feel that it offers a well stated (and thus far, underrepresented) rebuttal to one of the most discussed aspects of season one.
PaulQuote Reply
BTW- OT
I work in a bookstore, and our shipment of ADWD came in today.
I’m not even allowed to look at them. I almost starting crying today when they told me not to go anywhere near them!
My f-ing head is going to explode before Tuesday.
metalgoddessambQuote Reply
Been here since Day One!
Never left.
We went through several URLs together.
Oh the memories!!!
JennyQuote Reply
I have been lurking here since 2008 when the pilot was first announced. For a first post I just want to congratulate winter on the fantastic job done on this site. From the format change a while back to hiring your cronies, the site has blossomed in looks and proffesionalism. Keep up the good work and congrats on your success, your passion for the job shines through on every page.
Mr. BrownQuote Reply
OT: With many people (me included) saying they don’t really remember when they first posted, I really would love to see some sort of a ‘timeline’ feature for each poster, graphically displaying when and how much they commented. (here’s an example of another forum I frequent and that have such a feature, but admittedly, they do have more funds and manpower behind them…)
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
Hmm I think I started to visit this site at the beginning of the casting for the pilot. Though I can’t seem to remember who was already cast and who wasn’t…
It would indeed be fun to see how many times a poster has posted :)
And an always support the bottom shirt would be great!
LiesieQuote Reply
I just wonder about the graphic on that shirt :-))
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
When did WIC go to the .net address?
DrewQuote Reply
Thank you for creating and maintaining this site! I LOVE IT! I actually heard about WIC.net from a Kit Harington interview and have been hooked ever since. Like some other people, I check this site several times a day for the latest info before going to any other sites. Keep up the great work!
Ms. StormbornQuote Reply
uhh welll…. maybe just the words are enough XD
LiesieQuote Reply
Well done, congrats!!
BalerionQuote Reply
I’ve only been reading regularly for about a year (started when season 1 filming was approaching) so I feel like a positive newbie among all those who’ve been here since 2008-2009 :) What first got my interest were all the comments on not-a-blog’s casting clues about how the people at Winter-is-Coming were solving all the clues fast as lightning :)
A well-deserved congratulations to Winter (and FaB and HmR)! This site is one I almost always have on in the background (even at work – don’t tell my boss).
One thing that’s missing from making this into a fully fledged community is a site-specific userprofile, I think. In a community I like to click on people’s names and see user info, post history etc. Here some links go to Facebook, some to Twitter, but most are secret.
I don’t know if it was just me, but I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of comments when the show was aired. There were good discussions, but also so much nit-picking and bickering that it made me a bit disheartened to read everything (which I didn’t have time for anyway). If you could find a way to make the comments threaded so that under-topics of discussion could be more grouped together (for easier focus of discussion, but also easier to scroll past) I think it’d lead to better organized comments.
Johan SporreQuote Reply
It must be so exciting for you guys to see the amazing amount of growth to ur website. Well-deserved success! Even tho I never really commented until the Twitter Recaps began, I have been coming here since the very beginning and this is my go to site for news about the series. You guys are awesome and do crazy good work. I do have a soft spot for FaB tho cuz he has given me my 15 mins (more like seconds but whatever lol) of internet fame. \o/ (BTW I love your interviews Fab! NEVER CHANGE!!!)
Cant wait to see what you guys got in store for us and you know Imma be buying and reppin’ ur clothes! WE BETTER GET SOME GEAR WITH SOME ALL-CAPS TEXT ON THEM, THO! JUST SAYIN”!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with the others that have mentioned a Support the Bottom tshirt cuz um *cough* i could wear that tshirt to the club or the village or something and get my point across. :D
PacoQuote Reply
I would like to propose an idea for the website redesign.. I think that there should be more pics in the background. Pretty much like it is already, but with many more pictures (only official cast promo ones). I ‘m kind of sick of Will on his horse and Ned with Ice. There are so many more great picks like Dany with her Silver, Jaime in armor and so on. I would also propose that they would change in times (once a day or so), so that the website interface will be more interesting.
D4skalosMQuote Reply
Mh, can’t say that I like that quote from GRRM:
source
Well… I guess I can live with it.
AbyssQuote Reply
I have only recently finished the first book as well as the first season of the TV series, and the whole Song of Ice and Fire world is quickly becoming an obsession of mine. I absolutely love this site, and I wish you guys all the success in the world.
And thanks for all the spoiler protection for us newbs. I will try to be careful while I finish the books.
Chuck of House StarkQuote Reply
I do not have the right software to do it but I would like to see half a lemon dripping juice on the words making them appear like…unveiling up (don´t know a better verb) the motto??? Because it was invisible ink after all wasn´t it?
Last night I read the thread where it all began and the lemon juice gave me a good laugh.
The words are enough indeed but please… just a tiny lemon?
andreaQuote Reply
Haha, me too! I have two monitors so I usually keep my email up on one and WiC on the other. :D (Of course I get my work done as well, I’m not a complete bum, just gotta get my fix!)
MiraxQuote Reply
I got some shiny fabric paint and wrote ‘always support the bottom’ on an old pair of dance shorts for the premiere night. My housemates think I’m strange.
I still wear said shorts when I go dancing sometimes, and refuse to explain what it means :-p
ShinyteapotQuote Reply
I think if you made ‘Always Support the Bottom’ gym shorts it would be hilarious and awesome.
Adam WingQuote Reply
I’ve been following y’all for a long time now, almost since the beginning. Can’t remember if I found you before or after George mentioned you in his blog…
Anyways, you’ve become a site that I visit on a daily basis (and often times it turns into multiple times daily). Thank you for all the effort you put into seeking out information on this great book and now tv series! I look forward to the future development of the site. :)
Lauren Box HitchcockQuote Reply
With the chapters he pushed back from Dance he probably already has a couple of hundred pages of Book 6 done so I think we can give him a few months off to promote the book and do other stuff. ;)
Better be back at the typewriter on Jan 1st Though ;)
MormegilQuote Reply
I don’t post often, but I haunt the halls of House Gatewatch with regularity. Thanks for keeping the place spiffy–it’s much nicer than Harrenhal. The passion of the community here reminds me of the early days of Lost’s online fandom. May this crowd live long and prosper, and always have its bottom supported!
ariQuote Reply
“Sell them.! You could return to the Free Cities and live as a wealthy woman for all your days. ”
“They were not given to me to sell.”
Um…..shit = on.
the goatQuote Reply
Congrats WiC, ppl come and they stay because it is just THAT good :)
(Now back to hiding under a rock to avoid spoilersh!)
Franny BeeQuote Reply
Hollyoak,
The day that episode airs with that very line I will be there to call you on it. And it will be awesome. I will wager you 500.00 in Monopoly money.
Josh AtreidesQuote Reply
I first came here roughly a year ago, after I started the series last summer after being inundated with talk of the impending HBO adaptation. Normally I don’t read fantasy, so I’d been putting off the calls to read the series for a few years prior to that–but HBO being interested made me reevaluate that decision.
Winter-is-Coming.net is one of my favorite sites, and I’m thrilled that your hard work has paid off in this manner. May it stick around for many more years to come. :)
ZackQuote Reply
First post and seemed like a good place to say hi to the very vocal and opinionated community here!
I’ve been lurking since about episode 6 or so (didn’t want to jump into the community until I’d read all the books for fear of spoilers!) and I must say you guys do a great job and I’m massively impressed by the largely intelligent and polite responses that everyone contributes and I’m looking forward to making myself heard from here in.
Thanks for providing such a well managed fun and friendly community, please keep up the good work!
Please ignore this- I’m just practicing spoilertext!
EdibleBrainQuote Reply
andrea,
I think if we would have to include everything that was suggested in that historic thread, we could only have XXXXXL size shirts :)
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
Another one who proudly wears “Supporting the bottom since 2008″ T-shirt!
Can not imagine Thrones without this site anymore.
The RabbitQuote Reply
Tar Kidho,
I know, I know
I´ll make the t-shirt myself.
andreaQuote Reply
You guys are awesome. I’ve been following since the pilot casting news, I think you were “winter-is-coming.org” back then? :) I should probably stop, I’m kind of addicted.
I have a teensy tiny nitpick: Now that we have so many great shots of all the characters, why not replace the headshots in the casting page entirely with shots from the show? It’s jarring to see half the characters regular headshots and half their characters. :/
userjQuote Reply
Off-Topic:
I found this special fan video. I wanted to share it with you guys.
- “Ease into it…” ^^
AbyssQuote Reply
I’ve been lurking since early this year and check things out pretty much daily (more often when news seems imminent) – I rarely post unless things drift into my area of expertise (costumes and make up). I would like to say that you are in general one of the friendliest and most courteous groups around – there are other sites I lurk but wouldn’t dare post for fear of being hunted down and humiliated or just pointedly ignored. The most heated debates here are still generally amusing to read, and hardly ever resort to personal attacks. Kudos to the mods for keeping the atmosphere so welcoming for all – probably one of the reasons for your skyrocketing popularity!
DevongirlQuote Reply
I’ve been visiting the site since around the pilot casting, but only started reading it regularly around this time last year. I’m pretty sure I didn’t comment until the fall and I think my first post was an attempted defense of Littlefinger during a debate about whether or not he was a pedo. Ahaha.
Ditto on this! It would be pretty interesting to see your (and other people’s) stats.
ALSO. Let me just reiterate my love for this site in all its ups and downs and general craziness.
I don’t know about these “Always Support the Bottom” shirts though. Isn’t it obvious they should be pants??? I want my sketchy bottom supporting pants. XD
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
+1 to this idea. Non GoT headshots should indicate Season 2.
Critical GeekQuote Reply
This site became my addiction, my everyday contact with GRRM’s masterpiece I’d loved. Without you these months from idea to green light and then to premiere and days between airings would be unbearable.
Because I was visiting you so often and talking so much about the site, my wife thought that series title is “Winter Is Coming”.
Keep going!!!
GrzebykKQuote Reply
Now THIS is how to introduce yourself on the internet. Polite, but with lots of personality. Goodness knows this is a tough room, like so many of them are. Welcome,
TastyEdible Brain.MongerelQuote Reply
Josh Atreides,
Hollyoak, I am SO doubling down on Josh’s bet!
WIC et al., this site is crack! Damn you!
AssuntaQuote Reply
Been following since the very beginning! Thanks for all of your great work and dedication. It’s been a long, bumpy, joyous and sometimes tearful road, but always amazing. Go WiC!!
KieraQuote Reply
Mongerel,
Why thank you, my mother always told me you only get one chance to make a first impression :)
EdibleBrainQuote Reply
Well, I’m one of the newbies mention. I started coming to the site after the season finale and I at least click on it once a day. I’m not even half way through the first book yet but I must say I like how HBO has started true to the story (thus far anyhow). Really looking forward to reading the rest of the books and Season 2. I also wanted to give kudos to the die hard fans that haven’t spilled major plot points for the rest of us. I think I’m still gathering my jaw off the floor after episode 9.
megQuote Reply
It’s been a happy couple of years, hanging out on Winter-is-Coming. Thanks WiC!
Kelsey CatherineQuote Reply
WIC is the last site I visit every morning (if it was the first I’d never get to the other ones because I spend so much time on here :) I started lurking right before the Elena Satine debacle (which was interesting… haha). Didn’t become a full-time lurker until the show began and finally started posting comments about halfway through the run. Love the site, thanks WiC!
p.s.) How glad I am that Emilia Clarke is Dany :)
Shadowcat85Quote Reply
Wow, I have visited here since the very beginning (alas, since GRRM has mentioned it), congrats with the site!
(even in Belgium there are fans)
PieternQuote Reply
I just read a pretty interesting article over at OverthinkingIt.com, about whether to read the book or watch the series first.
PeltastQuote Reply
Thank you for this site! It informs, amuses and keeps me up to date on my favorite series.
Dany’sBraidQuote Reply
I’ve been visiting here since early 2009 when I heard about ‘some big HBO show coming to NI’ and did a bit of googling. It’s been like a second home ever since.
RimshotQuote Reply
I’m old and a GoT newbie. Didn’t know anything about the whole George R.R. Martin thing until the show started. Absolutely loved the show and am now reading the books. I’m certainly not well-versed enough to chime in on a lot of the topics, but this is a great site and I enjoy visiting it once or twice a week to see what’s up with the show.
Thanks for creating and thanks to all the posters who make reading it interesting.
Brand XQuote Reply