BattleGrip Magazine: Anyone Want a Printed Version Through MagCloud?
I’m still making progress on the upcoming magazine (mentioned here) and in addition to taking a close look at the Issuu website I’m also going over MagCloud and trying to determine if offering a printed version would be a good idea or not.
Now I am creating all of the magazine pages at print resolution and compartmentalizing them in anticipation of producing a book in the future, but I’m wondering if there’s any interest at all in printed single issues. The MagCloud site makes that possible, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the extra effort to offer.
Thoughts?
Whichever content delivery platform you choose, I’d hope it was straightforward-viewing on iPad/tablet type platforms. I’ve downloaded/viewed CerealGeek magazine before in .pdf (opens well/saves into my .cbr reader app), and also displayed well on PC.
Providing a monthly digital magazine, with the option of a printed yearly magazine would be interesting – best of both worlds.
I’d consider paying for a physical copy if it was more than monthly. Yearly might be nice, especially if you did an exclusive article for it like a retrospective on a toy you feel didn’t get enough attention that year. You know, an incentive for people who already have all your monthly pdfs.
And about Magcloud, I’m definitely fond of them. I regularly buy Scroll magazine from there. Also Nintendo Force, a mag started by ex-Nintendo Power staff, seems to be doing well with a bimonthly scheme.
Print would be good, but one the key drawing elements of your site it click and scroll – it’s instant, easy, and just a click away (if it’s not your homepage). For instance, on the same network, I can nail 16bit, Collection DX, and It’s All True in a matter of seconds and see if there’s new content that appeals to me…and it’s nearly in real time. Sometimes the info presented in printed form is aging before it gets to it’s readers. It’s really hard to beat the net.
Personally, I would not be interested in a printed copy. I have enough paper cluttering my house.
@Blayne – I want to be sure everyone can easily read the work online. If it’s too difficult then the PDF would be an annoyance and I just don’t want that to happen.
@clark – Free PDF is first. But since I’m designing everything at 300dpi I thought it was worth exploring options for those (like me!) who prefer printed materials.
A BattleGrip Annual, maybe even going so far as making it a few hundred pages and hardcover, could be a good way to highlight the best stuff each year.
Oooo…that BattleGrip Annual sounds pretty awesome!
@Paul – If it happens it will be vote-driven and likely a Kickstarter project. But that’s for the future . . .
I for one would love to see Battlegrip in physical. A hardcover annual, or a quarterly floppy would be great. While I love the website, I cherish my old Super7 issues as great reference, and would love to have some Battlegrip-flavored mags to join them in my collection. My friends who are casual fans would come to my home and flip through the magazines far more frequently than they would click on links I provide them with.
I know I may be the minority here, but I’d much prefer to see opinion essays, line overview essays, and interviews rather than straight toy reviews in the magazine. Reviews have a “shelf life” and the essays here live forever.
Anyway I did want to say a big THANK YOU to you Phil, Battlegrip is a great site, one of my favorites on the net about the hobby. Your hard work makes my day (and many other people’s too!)