By: TSA
I wanted to let everyone know of a few changes coming up on the site, which will affect everyone. For some time now, I've been listening to all of your criticism about the site. Simply put, you've made it clear a site called "The Hylia" will never be taken seriously as a "Nintendo News Site" and will forever be branded a "Zelda Fan Site", despite any and all efforts I've made to change this. As such, I am not going to fight this any longer and will give in to what readers want.

The Hylia will return to a dedicated, Legend of Zelda fansite sometime later on this year. For now, it will remain as-is until we can transistion between The Hylia and our new site. So, as I've alluded to and as you're probably guessing, that means some new site must be in the works. You are correct. A new site is in the works as we speak, and hopefully we should have it up within a short time frame.

This new site is designed from the ground up to be a media and news outlet site. You will find no hint of Zelda in its design or appearance; it will not appear like a fan site at all. The site will not be anything like a blog as that is not what we ever were trying to go for. Instead, the site will present itself very professionally, and I don't think many will question what type of site it is once you see it.

The difficult part will be the seperation of the two sites. For the most part, all of the existing Zelda content will remain here on The Hylia, as it will become a dedicated Zelda fan site. All non-Zelda content will eventually only appear on this new site, and we'll no longer update The Hylia with stuff like reviews or news on non-Zelda stuff.

But, the good thing is now there will be two sites. If you absolutely just want Zelda, you can now be happy that The Hylia is changing focus. If you liked what we are doing with the current site, then you will be glad to know the new site is even more dedicated to and geared towards bringing you quality news and media as well as a solid community.

So, we want to build awareness. That means we do have a splash page up for the new site, so you can get a first taste of what the new logo may be like. To go check out the splash page, simply go here:

http://www.zentendo.com

Yep, that's right. The new site will be called "Zentendo". For those looking for association/affiliation with Zentendo, or if you're just interested in getting some more information on what's going on with the new site, you can e-mail us at staff@zentendo.com. We'll make updates on The Hylia about Zentendo as the site progresses towards completion and then let you know when it goes live. We'll send out a press release as well.

Now for clarification's sake, myself (TSA), Martin (original co-creator of TheHylia), Justin, Cendamos and Fury are all moving over to Zentendo officially. Martin is our new graphic designer, he will be responsible for the design of the new site. Justin, who is our currently on The Hylia staff and has been helping out for awhile now, is being made the Assistant Content Manager of Zentendo. Fury will be the Assistant Graphic Designer, as he's helped out on The Hylia with both visual fix ups and coding issues.

The newcomer to the group is Cendamos. While he is a bit brash and has a talent for causing trouble (Nintendo, we promise to keep him on a leash), he has a very gifted talent, which thankfully for us means we're getting our own CMS and a lot more due to his technical genius.

The heads of the site have agreed we should allow open-applications for all positions we want to fill on Zentendo. If you're interested in writing, then this is for you. We have a bit more stringent requirements though. First and foremost, you have to be 18 or older simply because many industry events are 18 and up only. We will not be accepting anyone under 18, no exceptions.

We're looking for 4-5 Online Editors, all of which will be required to contribute reviews, features and update on the news frequently - much more so than what is done on The Hylia now. You need to own both a Wii and DS, but unlike before, you do not need to purchase your own games...we have a new system setup so our staff won't ever have to pay for their games, and we'll be getting games from not just Nintendo either...third party publishers as well.

Optimally, we need people who live in the following areas: California, Washington (State), Texas, New York. There are major industry events in these states, and coverage of them is a very big part of our exclusive content. If you can travel easily, though, it doesn't matter where you live. Events each year we are scheduled to attend (for the next fiscal year) are; CES, D.I.C.E, New York Comic-Con, Game Developer's COnference (USA), GO3, Anime Expo, San Diego Comic-Con, London Games Festival, Penny-Arcade Expo, Game Developer's Conference (Germany), E For All Expo, Tokyo Game Show, Austin Game Developer's Conference (Texas). We'll also be at the E3 Media and Business Summit, but unfortunately due to new restrictions, we can't decide who can go - it's up to the companies.

As you can see, there are also international events as well, so those who live in Europe, Australia and Asia also can provide coverage for the site, in addition to any staff members who can attend from other regions.

In addition to editors, we will need an entirely new moderating staff for the community and a community manager. If you'd like to help out moderating on the new forums, you can apply as well. If you wish to be the community manager, you will be an intergal part of the team and it involves not only managing the moderators and making the community run smoothly, but expanding the community and helping us come up with new ideas to better improve community relations.

So, again, if you have interest in being a part of the new site, you can e-mail your resume with work experience and samples, as well as any other information to: staff@zentendo.com.

As for The Hylia, I will be staying aboard to make sure it keeps its stature as one of the top Zelda fan sites. The community forums will remain here with The Hylia, as will the moderating team. I will, however, need new site staff. I will need an Assistant Content Manager, and 2-3 Content Specialists. You will be responsible for helping keep The Hylia updated with the latest Zelda news, as well as adding new information and features. We plan to do video and audio content on The Hylia, and we need to get up a lot of content, and you absolutely have to know a lot about Zelda and have access to a lot of stuff related to Zelda. I will not have a lot of time to do all of this myself anymore, so I need staff members who will be active and want to be a part of one of the biggest Zelda sites.

For those who are interested in helping out with The Hylia, you can e-mail us at thehylia@gmail.com.

So, hopefully, this has informed all of you as to our intentions and what will be going on in the near future. And don't forget to keep checking back on Zentendo.com and TheHylia.com for the latest updates.

Take it easy,

- TSA

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOO!

Good to hear some more news on this. I'm looking forward to seeing Zentendo's birth.

Why are you shouting "NO"?
The whole point of this is to please both factions of you readers. If you want only Zelda, be at peace, for it is returning.

If you want our Nintendo coverage, be at peace--that's coming, too.

Sounds like a good idea, good luck.

It's a big project, but if anyone can handle, you all can. Good luck with the new site(s).

Is this Zentendo site going to have any Zelda related content? And another thing. I like it, but where did the name Zentendo come from?

Wait, what? Fanime Con is not a big event?

I never complained about the current state of The Hylia...but this is an excellent idea. Good luck on Zentendo.

Exciting news! I'll constantly be checking the progress of both: Zentendo and the Hylia.

I like the Zentendo logo, but TSA, since it seems like your focus will be on Zentendo, are you still going to write your Zelda editorials?

thats what i want to hear. The Hylia becoming a Zelda fan site. I love Nintendo and I will defintlly go to the new site but that is good. I shall miss you though TSA for you have some good points. I can't wait to see what the future holds. Good Luck

Of coarse he will, TSA can not stay away from Zelda. Its in his blood.

Great idea TSA!

i dont really think its a good idea. I love the hylia. I come here all the time for zelda news, or just news in general. i don't think its worth making a whole other site just because some people don't like the name.

Glad to hear people like the idea, and like the logo. That cute little mushroom is so iconic for Mario and Nintendo as a whole, I couldn't resist featuring it!

Oh and its good to know The Hylia isn't disappearing also.

great idea but will there still be zelda news on zentendo or will 100% of zelda news be thehylia exclusive?

I think it's safe to say that Zelda news will still be on Zentendo, it just will be Zelda news.

The Hylia will have ALL Zelda stuff, and probably more niche types of things, if I were to hazard a guess. But it's hard to say at this point.

All I know is that I'm really looking forward to making the transition.

The reason why we need an all-new site is because this one is, despite our efforts, still a blog-site or fan-site in the eyes of many.

We need a reboot, if you will--just like the Zelda series does. ;)

A new name, a new place, so we can distinguish ourselves.
That's my take on it, anyways.

No love for the Canadian apps!

AWWWW. I love how TheHylia is right now!!!!!!!
i thought it was better then ever!!!

Dear TSA,

Do you actually know what you want? You wanted a nintendo news-site with a big focus on zelda, right? Why changing it? It took me some time to get used to it, but now I must say I love the site. And zelda still is the big focus, as I had hoped.

Don,t you think that this move will scare of many people? Or were you afraid that the community would always see it as a fan-site? Really: If you just changed the name and the look of the site, people soon would forget that it was a fan-site.

A well, you have made your decision. I hope this doesn,t lead to losing both sites. I mean: Can you handle both sites at the same time?. The logo of Zentendo looks good, the name is bad.

But I give you the benefit of the doubt. I surely will visit Zentendo some day. One question: Do I have to login again on Zentendo to post comments? I would like to know!

I wish I could be part of the staff .Seriously, I would not mind free video games at all...esp considering how much money I actually have for video games (little).

I like this idea a lot, and i can only wish you the best of luck!

I'm glad to hear this.

I miss the Zelda-centric style of the old Hylia that brought me news of the upcoming Zelda game no matter how small a bit of info was there to report.

But at the same time I like being able to check on other Nintendo titles from a source I can trust without having to go over to IGN.

Now we have the best of both worlds.

I like the logo. Very clean. Who designs your layouts? They're all very professional looking.

(Ze)lda + Ni(ntendo) = Zentendo

Heh.

I'll probably send a mail out for my application, but just wondering a few things for the benefit of any other interested parties.

TSA, how much experience would you require of the online editors? I don't have much myself, but I have the DS, Wii, and plenty of time to play both. Also, I'm currently your alma-mater, so I could definitely make it to the Austin events.

As for the new site, I think it's a brilliant idea. Although, I really do like the current name. Not that it will change anything, but Nintendo themselves call their online summer program "Camp Hyrule". I think the name could still work.

*attending your alma-mater

So much for making a good impression with my writing skills.

ZEN + ninTENDO.

Try again.

Awesome! This is definetely the way to go, it's a little stupid to have a general Nintendo website with a Zelda focus.

I'll be visiting Zentendo for sure!

Something about this seems like a bad idea... I guess it's just me. Good luck with your new site!

The name is bad. Zen + Nintendo? what does Buddhism have to do with Nintendo? I just find it weird, as I am a Buddhist.

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that places great importance on moment-by-moment awareness and 'seeing deeply into the nature of things' by direct experience.

The last part of that definition should make it clear.

A la Wiki:

"Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that places great importance on moment-by-moment awareness and 'seeing deeply into the nature of things' by direct experience."

Anyways, it seems that people can't be pleased, doesn't it?
TSA switches to a general Nintendo news site, people get upset. We get ready to start a new site and keep this one Zelda-focused, people get upset.

But, eh, you can't ever make everyone happy, as hard as you may try.

A note to people applying--you don't get to keep the games you review, folks!
You borrow them, play them, and send them back.
Which, of course, means you still get to rent them for free, which is nice. But you don't get to own them.

That's how it works at the big publications, too, near as I know--although they might have a collection of review copies that is owned by the company...I'm not actually sure...

Anyways, criticize the name or the focus all you want, but what we will really need is criticism on how good a job we're doing and how to improve once things get rolling. Not to say that we don't need criticism, because we will, I'd imagine, but we haven't even started yet and already there is whining--just goes to show you can't please people easily, I guess.

This new site has been in the making for quite a while, near as I'm aware. We're taking a bigger step into this industry.

In order to reach goals, you need to take risks.
TSA seems to have a goal he wants to achieve and is willing to take the risks required to reach it.

If you think Zentendo is bad, why don't you try and think up a better name? =P Good names are harder than you'd think.

I hate living in Europe...

Nothing wrong with Zentendo. It's quite clever.

I just like theHylia. :)

Will Zentendo be added to your affiliates-list? I was just wondering.

You'll definately see me at the forums.

I wish I could be a moderator... Ah well I think it is a good idea. This seperation between the two will be nice no more PS forum.