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Print RPG Magazines - Viable?

Started by One Horse Town, April 06, 2008, 09:41:55 AM

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Kaz

#30
April 07, 2008, 12:20:10 PM
I downloaded and breezed through the free copy of KoDT. I couldn't help but notice 99% of the ads were House ads. Unless they changed the ads from the print edition (which would be odd), looks like they don't have great success selling their magazine to advertisers.
"Tony wrecks in the race because he forgot to plug his chest piece thing in. Look, I\'m as guilty as any for letting my cell phone die because I forget to plug it in before I go to bed. And while my phone is an important tool for my daily life, it is not a life-saving device that KEEPS MY HEART FROM EXPLODING. Fuck, Tony. Get your shit together, pal."
Booze, Boobs and Robot Boots: The Tony Stark Saga.

walkerp

#31
April 07, 2008, 12:24:38 PM
Quote from: HinterWeltI 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.

It's a game magazine with a chunk of comic at the front.  But the game stuff takes up about a third of the magazine, with the comic taking up a third and general geek stuff, ads, reviews and editorial stuff taking up the other third.  The comic has a big role, but it definitely is a magazine first and foremost.

And I'm finding the comic quite hilarious these days.
"The difference between being fascinated with RPGs and being fascinated with the RPG industry is akin to the difference between being fascinated with sex and being fascinated with masturbation. Not that there\'s anything wrong with jerking off, but don\'t fool yourself into thinking you\'re getting laid." —Aos

HinterWelt

#32
April 07, 2008, 12:45:36 PM
Quote from: KazI downloaded and breezed through the free copy of KoDT. I couldn't help but notice 99% of the ads were House ads. Unless they changed the ads from the print edition (which would be odd), looks like they don't have great success selling their magazine to advertisers.
It used to be very diverse. You would see stuff from us, Grey Ghost, and much bigger names. I do not know what it is like today.

Bill
The RPG Haven - Talking about RPGs
My Site
Oh...the HinterBlog
Lord Protector of the Cult of Clash was Right
When you look around you have to wonder,
Do you play to win or are you just a bad loser?

flyingmice

#33
April 07, 2008, 01:28:13 PM
Ummm... where can one find the free issue?

-clash
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
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walkerp

#34
April 07, 2008, 01:30:22 PM
"The difference between being fascinated with RPGs and being fascinated with the RPG industry is akin to the difference between being fascinated with sex and being fascinated with masturbation. Not that there\'s anything wrong with jerking off, but don\'t fool yourself into thinking you\'re getting laid." —Aos

flyingmice

#35
April 07, 2008, 01:32:17 PM
Quote from: walkerphere ya go. .

Bless you, kind sir! :D

-clash
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT

Seanchai

#36
April 07, 2008, 02:01:40 PM
The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) has a their own magazine. And it's nice. Expensive, but nice. If they can do it, why not folks in the RPG industry?

Seanchai
"Thus tens of children were left holding the bag. And it was a bag bereft of both Hellscream and allowance money."

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Dr Rotwang!

#37
April 07, 2008, 02:13:26 PM
I've thought about drawing a few cartoons for KoDT.  I have two in mind: one that pokes fun at some differences between 3.x and AD&D 1st, and another about the perceived "furry-ness" of Traveller.

Now, I just need to...uh...

...to draw them.
Dr Rotwang!
...never blogs faster than he can see.
FONZITUDE RATING: 1985[/font]

HinterWelt

#38
April 07, 2008, 02:14:34 PM
Quote from: SeanchaiThe Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) has a their own magazine. And it's nice. Expensive, but nice. If they can do it, why not folks in the RPG industry?

Seanchai
Because it:
1. Takes a lot of man-hours on a regular basis to put out.
2. Takes a fair amount of revenue (Articles don't write themselves, editors, artists etc)
3. You can expect to get paid in 90 days in most parts of this industry.
4. Most folks want monthly mags and #3 hoses with that.

That said, I have heard good things bout Kobold Quarterly.

And just to be clear, I think it is possible but the failure rate is even higher than the rest of the industry.

Bill
The RPG Haven - Talking about RPGs
My Site
Oh...the HinterBlog
Lord Protector of the Cult of Clash was Right
When you look around you have to wonder,
Do you play to win or are you just a bad loser?

Seanchai

#39
April 07, 2008, 03:33:30 PM
Quote from: HinterWeltBecause it:
1. Takes a lot of man-hours on a regular basis to put out.
2. Takes a fair amount of revenue (Articles don't write themselves, editors, artists etc)
3. You can expect to get paid in 90 days in most parts of this industry.
4. Most folks want monthly mags and #3 hoses with that.

Sure. But would the folks who put together the TAPS Paramagazine face the same difficulties?

Seanchai
"Thus tens of children were left holding the bag. And it was a bag bereft of both Hellscream and allowance money."

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HinterWelt

#40
April 07, 2008, 03:44:28 PM
Quote from: SeanchaiSure. But would the folks who put together the TAPS Paramagazine face the same difficulties?

Seanchai
Most definitely. However, I do not know their situation. Are they making money? Are they donating time? What is their quality like?

You can mitigate any of the points I listed in a number of ways. Some will allow you to have a long running dedicated magazine others will allow you to have a long running niche zine and most will let you spend a lot of money and go out of business when you are tired of having to meet the schedule of a monthly subscription...similar to a lot of companies in the RPG industry.

Bill
The RPG Haven - Talking about RPGs
My Site
Oh...the HinterBlog
Lord Protector of the Cult of Clash was Right
When you look around you have to wonder,
Do you play to win or are you just a bad loser?

jrients

#41
April 07, 2008, 06:00:14 PM
Quote from: Dr Rotwang!I've thought about drawing a few cartoons for KoDT.  I have two in mind: one that pokes fun at some differences between 3.x and AD&D 1st, and another about the perceived "furry-ness" of Traveller.

Now, I just need to...uh...

...to draw them.

Dude, you need to do that ASAP.  You're twice as a funny and a better artist than most anything that appears on the back page.
Jeff Rients
My gameblog

walkerp

#42
April 07, 2008, 06:02:30 PM
My thoughts exactly.  Get those drawings out there!  Go buy and Oingo Boingo album, crank it and start drawing, for god's sake.  The world can't hold its breath forever.
"The difference between being fascinated with RPGs and being fascinated with the RPG industry is akin to the difference between being fascinated with sex and being fascinated with masturbation. Not that there\'s anything wrong with jerking off, but don\'t fool yourself into thinking you\'re getting laid." —Aos

Sigmund

#43
April 08, 2008, 02:48:34 AM
One advantage the TAPS magazine might have is, they have their own TV show.
- Chris Sigmund

Old Loser

"I\'d rather be a killer than a victim."

Quote from: John Morrow;418271I role-play for the ride, not the destination.

Seanchai

#44
April 08, 2008, 03:15:45 PM
Quote from: SigmundOne advantage the TAPS magazine might have is, they have their own TV show.

TAPS doesn't. Some members of TAPS are on Ghost Hunters, but they're not actually synonymus. I'm sure it helps having exposure on the show, but the magazine itself has nearly nothing to do with the show, little to do with the group, and focuses most on the paranormal field.

Seanchai
"Thus tens of children were left holding the bag. And it was a bag bereft of both Hellscream and allowance money."

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