To expand on my initial response and address the posts of others:

Is a print magazine viable?

   Sure. In fact other magazines have done it. The main problem is the diversity of our hobby itself. A print magazine needs to either focus on one smaller segment of the gaming population (Dungeon/Dragon) or try to cover everything generically.

The problem with focusing on one game is that you need to find one with a large and/or fanatical enough player base that they can, and will, support the magazine entirely by themselves because no one else is going to be interested. So, magazines like Dungeon/Dragon/Kobold Quarterly can survive because D&D is the most popular RPG in the world. The audience is large enough to support them. A counter example would be Pyramid which, though apparently very popular, was unable to sustain enough sales to remain in print and its shift to internet publication kept it alive.

The problem with focusing on generic content suitable for a wide range of games is that subscriptions are likely to be low. Buyers are going to more likely to browse the magazine each month to see if there is sufficient content useful to them to buy the thing. Sales remain inconsistent at best and, over time, result in a positive feedback loop in an attempt to increase them. Thus focus on some generic content over others begins to prevail or, more likely, inconsistent sales kills the magazine before it can find its niche.


Thanks for the welcome, TGA.

     --Jason

I think that -- using print on demand technology it can be done. It would have to have a sort of "zine" aesthetic to it, though.

It's so weird.  Every time this conversation comes up, I point out KoDT The Magazine and everytime almost everybody ignores it.  People, the general purpose magazine ALREADY EXISTS and it is pretty good.  And they are more than staying afloat.  And they are constantly looking for contributors, whom they will pay.

Why does it get ignored?

Quote from: walkerpWhy does it get ignored?

I dunno. Not doing it on purpose. Sometimes I think they are not serious. Is that stupid? Probably.

I think of them as a comedy comic book.

I WILL give the free issue a read. Thanks.

DUNGEON & DRAGON were VERY viable, until WotC killed them.

Quote from: SettembriniDUNGEON & DRAGON were VERY viable, until WotC killed them.

That was kind of the point of the thread Sett. Are they viable now.

Quote from: SettembriniDUNGEON & DRAGON were VERY viable, until WotC killed them.

They were only viable if you played 3.5.  That is not a general gaming magazine to me.

Quote from: walkerpIt's so weird.  Every time this conversation comes up, I point out KoDT The Magazine and everytime almost everybody ignores it.  People, the general purpose magazine ALREADY EXISTS and it is pretty good.  And they are more than staying afloat.  And they are constantly looking for contributors, whom they will pay.

Why does it get ignored?

I've always assumed it was a Kenzerco house organ, and since I'm not interested in their products, I never looked at it.

-clash

Quote from: walkerpIt's so weird.  Every time this conversation comes up, I point out KoDT The Magazine and everytime almost everybody ignores it.  People, the general purpose magazine ALREADY EXISTS and it is pretty good.  And they are more than staying afloat.  And they are constantly looking for contributors, whom they will pay.

Why does it get ignored?

If it was glossier and closer to a standard magazine sise - I think they would get more notice and respect.

Oh....and get rid of that obnoxious move reviewer guy.

- Ed C.

Quote from: One Horse TownThat was kind of the point of the thread Sett. Are they viable now.

Why wouldn´t they? It´s not even six months since they lapsed, no?

Quote from: flyingmiceI've always assumed it was a Kenzerco house organ, and since I'm not interested in their products, I never looked at it.

It's not, though they generally have a few Hackmaster specific articles (magic items, monsters and some NPCs).  But the majority of the articles are non-system specific.  For me, they leaned too much towards fantasy, but even that is changing.  In the last couple years, they seem to be making a concerted effort to broaden their scope.

They also do a lot of small press reviews.  And they now have a dedicated indie game reviewer.  That would be an excellent place for you to pimp your wares.  You should download the free issue.

Quote from: walkerpIt's not, though they generally have a few Hackmaster specific articles (magic items, monsters and some NPCs).  But the majority of the articles are non-system specific.  For me, they leaned too much towards fantasy, but even that is changing.  In the last couple years, they seem to be making a concerted effort to broaden their scope.

They also do a lot of small press reviews.  And they now have a dedicated indie game reviewer.  That would be an excellent place for you to pimp your wares.  You should download the free issue.

I will do so! Thanks for the information, walkerp! I don't mind an emphasis on their games, so long as there's some meat I can get into.

-clash

Quote from: walkerpWhy does it get ignored?

I ignore it because I really don't like the comic.

The main problem with doing a good looking and well regarded RPG magazine is monetary, I think.  It'd have to be a big loss for the first few years before subscriptions and sales picked up to maintain it.

Quote from: walkerpIt's so weird.  Every time this conversation comes up, I point out KoDT The Magazine and everytime almost everybody ignores it.  People, the general purpose magazine ALREADY EXISTS and it is pretty good.  And they are more than staying afloat.  And they are constantly looking for contributors, whom they will pay.

Why does it get ignored?

I used to read KoDT. Hell, I advertised in it to great effect. Then the comic started sucking. I stopped reading it. That is my primary concern, is it Comic or Game Magazine? I think it (at the time at least) wanted to be a game magazine but realized it was selling because it was a comic.

I do think print mags are viable but, as others have pointed out, it would need a hook or focus. Also, I think format would be critical. KoDT has a format that I believe would be viable. News print, saddle stitch comic book format. As far as that goes, I do believe KoDT is viable, just not very game mag oriented. Perhaps that is their hook? Could be.

Bill

Quote from: walkerpIt's not, though they generally have a few Hackmaster specific articles (magic items, monsters and some NPCs).  But the majority of the articles are non-system specific.  For me, they leaned too much towards fantasy, but even that is changing.  In the last couple years, they seem to be making a concerted effort to broaden their scope.

They also do a lot of small press reviews.  And they now have a dedicated indie game reviewer.  That would be an excellent place for you to pimp your wares.  You should download the free issue.

They did one for Shades and Roma. Yeah, viable in the extreme.

Bill
Edit: At least I think it was them...maybe they only got Shades...