My Idea, Have a Few Questions

Pinball Wizard

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So I'm thinking about doing an Arcade Collectors magazine. Think RePlay Magazine but for the other side of the coin-op world. This is only me beginning to dream up a project, but I have a some questions before I go any further.

1) Would you have any interest in it at all? If yes, what would you like to see in it?

2) How do you prefer your magazines, online, on your iPad, in physical format, etc.?

Let me state this again, this is me dreaming up a project, and feeling the market so to speak, and even if you all think its the best thing in the world, there is no 100% promise I will do this.
 
I'd subscribe. I prefer reading real (paper) magazines. I'm kinda old fashioned like that.
 
I'd buy a print magazine. No way I'll ever subscribe to an e-magazine.
Do your research... Gameroom Magazine crashed & burned while covering the same content (video games, pinball and jukeboxes). They were a nice mag in full color.

I think the way to go might be the old B/W newsprint style. Keep printing costs cheap but offer a *lot* of content.
 
I would prefer a real paper magazine. I would subscribe if it's real, but not an online thing.
 
just my 2 cents. Like others I would prefer an actual print magazine. My reasons are 1. to some degree I find it easier to read and I can take it anywhere. I know these days people take the net with them everywhere but personally I don't. 2. If the magazine has cool images or a cover I can frame them or do something cool with them.

With this said I know there used to be a print magazine for collectors. I never actually saw one in person or read one so I can't speak to it's content. to be fair it may not have been very good. Ultimately though there wasn't enough interest to keep the magazine in print so it went away.

With this in mind maybe an online format would be better. Although Personally I would make it so every edition could be downloaded and saved by subscribers and additionally have images in a format where they can be easily enlarged and printed if desired.

Another option might be an actual printed version that is only released once every couple of months or possibly even less often. Although the less frequent a release it's harder to actually get subscribers. People might be more likely to buy as released if it's not a frequently released item.

You could even go the Grand Royal magazine where there is no subscription or release date until the magazine is done but each issue is pretty much jam packed with awesomeness and probably twice as thick as your average magazine.
 
Go with black and white. Your printing costs would be a teeny fraction of what they would be in color.
 
Sounds like a tough business. Print I'd pay for but I'm sort of an extreme enthusiast anyway.

One idea would be to have a chat with Tim Ferrente who ran Gameroom for quite a number of years. I bet in 5 or 10 minutes (if he was inclined) he could pass on some really valuable info.

If you can't find him, try username 'gameroom' on eBay.
 
So far you all have said exact things that I was thinking. I too personally prefer print versions of magazines. It will also most likely be black and white inside, cost reasons. Was thinking that I would offer a "color" version online to subscribers. This is literally still a dream in my head, but I'm beating it around in my head.
 
Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I'd rather have a digital version. I'd have to think this would be far more cost effective as well versus print, though you'd have to account for folks just sharing the PDF or whatever rather than subscribing.
 
I say make a full color, professional looking digital version and just make individual prints at Kinkos or wheverever for people who want a hard copy. There probably wouldn't be enough subscribers to worry about bulk prices anyway.
 
I say make a full color, professional looking digital version and just make individual prints at Kinkos or wheverever for people who want a hard copy. There probably wouldn't be enough subscribers to worry about bulk prices anyway.

I like this idea the best so far. I would buy the print version. I've done the whole digital version thing and frankly I'm "un-teching" my life somewhat. It's just getting to be too much.
 
I would love to subscribe to an arcade magazine! I'm still new to the collecting hobby, so there is a lot I haven't learned. It probably doesn't help that some of the classics I'm into are older than I am...

I'd hope to see a number of articles varying from popular games to more obscure ones, event reports and planned regional gatherings, warehouse raids, cool stories, interesting stories from the past years, maintenance tips, do it yourself fabrication, and restoration highlights.

I think Sectorseven's idea with mainly digital and the option for a physical copy is the most cost effective. I would probably be one of the guys to save the physical copy in an archive and read the digital copy.

For the physical copy, I wouldn't mind if the interior was black and white, but I think the cover and back cover should be color. Along with identifying numbers for each magazine copy too.

This magazine could be made into a community effort as well, with multiple articles and photos contributed from the arcade community itself. Some postings here on KLOV range from comedy, to drama, to theory, to breakthrough tech and reproductions, to borderline doctorate level stuff!
 
I would totally be in for a printed copy of it! :)
digital Versions are fine and all but Paper copies are way nicer in my eyes.
 
About 12 years ago someone did make an arcade magazine. It was called Syzygy Magazine. I subscribed to it and never recieved a copy. Apparantly they went under.

Personally, I would go with a digital format. Paper printing and distribution are expensive. This also allows you to go with full color instead of B&W.

Start with a quarterly magazine with a one year subscription. If it does well you can do an annual edition in physical format.

, Bill
 
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