User blog:MisterWoodhouse/This Month at Fandom - May 2021

Hey gang!

Another month has passed and woah it was a big one! We ramped up towards the first deployment of FandomDesktop, which is now in an opt-in period, and launched a new Twitch series called The Downstream.

Let’s dive into May 2021…

FandomDesktop Preparations
In May, we published two additional blogs about FandomDesktop changes, preparing editors and admins for the new design, which went live for opt-in exploration this week!

The blogs in question focused on the fully-designed Theme Designer and Creator Tools with a preview of what comes next (cough MAPS cough).

While this was also on Tuesday and, therefore, not actually in May, it’s worth noting that FandomDesktop brings a new Customization Policy with it, which you should definitely check out! The new Customization Policy is aimed at being more about guiding you towards great ways to express your wiki identity, rather than a laundry list of things you can't do.

The Downstream
For those of you who didn’t see it, The Downstream is a new series we’re doing on Twitch that gives you more access to Fandom staff from different parts of the company in a new format. It is an extension of our annual Community Connect event, providing updates on major projects and initiatives each quarter.

Zoe Catfu and I hosted it (with lots of help from Tots and the events team!) and were joined by Tim Q from Trust and Safety, Becky from SEO, Nic from Marketing, Derek from Product Design, and Declan from Fanatical. If you want to check it out, the video is available on demand to watch any time. We’ll see you at the next one in a few months :)

Big Data for Big Fun
21 Pilots dropped a new album in May, called Scaled and Icy, which caused their wiki community to double in traffic from 40k pageviews to 80k over the first weekend of its availability. This is due in large part to the fact that they’ve started embracing the inclusion of Easter eggs into their album releases, much like Taylor Swift. Trash the Dragon, a fictional character the band created for this album, is one such reference that drove traffic. Older albums got more attention as well, with Regional At Best seeing its page traffic jump 141% over the weekend.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition launched to massive acclaim and a big jump in Mass Effect wiki traffic. During the release weekend, the wiki saw a 568% jump in traffic from the previous weekend and a 141% jump in traffic from the release weekend of Mass Effect: Andromeda, the franchise’s last release. With how many folks want their beloved Commander to end up romantically entangled with their favorite crew members, it’s no surprise that the Romance page maintained its #1 ranking on the wiki. As people returned to the original trilogy, one of the fastest growing pages in traffic was the one for the Citadel optional assignment called “Scan the Keepers '', which makes sense, as those quiet little workers are hard to keep tabs on as you’re looking to scan them all for completion’s sake. The #1 crew member? Liara T’Soni, which makes me happy, since she’s my favorite. #TeamLiara

Castlevania’s 4th season debuted on Netflix on May 13th, which spiked the Castlevania wiki’s traffic by 555% in its release window. That’s a 12% increase since Season 3 last year. Trevor Belmont was the top page with a 117% growth rate, truly remarkable for a protagonist! The series is raising the debate on what it means to be anime. It’s Japanese in style, but developed in Austin, Texas. Regardless of whether you consider it anime or Western animation, the Castlevania series is STRONG.

Editors of the Month
With the end of another month, rituals must be observed and one of our most important rituals is recognition of our creators and their communities. This comes in the form of Editor of the Month.

The Editors of the Month for May 2021 are…

 for Gaming

There are many, many incredible editors on the Pillars of Eternity wiki, but Macklin has shown consistent dedication, focus, and willingness to learn that goes well above and beyond what we’ve come to expect from other good editors.

 for Esports

This month, we honor Quegmaeier9 for covering the Italian competitive scene in League of Legends, including PGNationals and Circuito Tormenta live coverage. Their help with roster changes and roster rumor updates on the wiki are also awesome.

Rgiacobbi1 for TV/Movies

Rgiacobbi1 is a force to be reckoned with on the Power Rangers Wiki. Whether it is tackling monotonous maintenance tasks and behind the scenes clean-up edits, adding new content and ensuring it remains accurate, being a well of information to newcomers, or putting his shoulders under big projects for the betterment of the wiki community, everyone will find a helpful ally in Rgiacobbi1.

Sarutobii2 for Anime

Special Fire Force Company Candidate, Sarutobii2, is a long-time administrator and passionate contributor on the Fire Force Wiki. His extensive editing history doesn't stop there! He is also an impactful editor on bigger wikis like Attack on Titan and One Piece. Mission successful and message received, we commend you for your efforts!

CJFritos for Emerging Interests

Shadowhunter in training, CJFritos, has been a non-stop force of editing within the Shadow Hunters community for over two years. His contributions are a gold standard within the wiki, and his dedication is admired!

Congratulations to all of our Editors of the Month!

With that, we’re into June and the opt-in period for FandomDesktop. See you next time with This Month at Fandom :)