magazines

[John Bennett]

RE: [ukvac] Re: magazines
<Insert Coin>

Flaming heck, we must be getting close to a UKVAC meet

Maybe I'm being stupid here, but isn't there room for
both AAMAG (which I have no problems with) and a
video only fanzine? While AA might be okay with a
few pages on videos, there's loads of stuff which
is going to interest us which Steve would probably
never want near his mag. If you can drag a dozen or
so pages together then go for it!

There's SYVYZY as well, which sounds interesting
(if a bit US biased in all probability), but my
opinion is that the more resources we have available,
both in print and ether, the better off we'll
all be.

<Game Over>

Cheers
Chris
--
http://www.arcadenirvana.com
Dedicated to the collection of classic arcade games.

>

DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Chris Ahchay (chris@arcadenirvana.com)

 

[guddler]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
As far as a mag/fanzine goes, i have no preference either way really - i
personally probably wouldn't bother, but others might.

The things is the ads - i gree with Adam on this, why would you want to
advertise something in a paper format which might take a month or more to
come out when it can be advertised and sold within days via the mailing
list??

Point in case, on Sunday evening i responded to a post for a cab, on Monday
evening it was in my front room. If that had been a printed ad it would have
already gone WAY before the ad came out.....

Guddler.

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[John Bennett]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
The UKVAC system is VERY powerfull and allows more than what you can do with
a Fanzine. Plus colour pictures etc.. are not a problem as you can link to
them.

Why dont people just write their little articles if they want to and link to
it via UKVAC ?

Just a thought.. With modern technology i'm afraid to say that the good old
'80s' fanzine is slowly dying out... when publication on the web is
FAST/CHEAP and has large audiences . And can also be in colour.

People can print the stuff of in B&W / colour or whatever they want ?

Adam



DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Adam Dudley (mail@adsystems.net)

 

[P-Man]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
> <Insert Coin>
>
> Flaming heck, we must be getting close to a UKVAC meet
>
> Maybe I'm being stupid here, but isn't there room for
> both AAMAG (which I have no problems with) and a
> video only fanzine? While AA might be okay with a
> few pages on videos, there's loads of stuff which
> is going to interest us which Steve would probably
> never want near his mag. If you can drag a dozen or
> so pages together then go for it!

yeah, exactly.. I'm not pushing the classifieds portion of the fanzine i'm
doing, heck, like has been pointed out, classifieds are null and void when
you have the internet on hand..

but its the CONTENT, i think people would more likely enjoy the only kind
of 'classifieds' i could even entertain might be full machines, or just
links to peoples 'for sale' portions of websites..

the point is, its a FANZINE not a fecking free-ad paper OR the internet


> There's SYVYZY as well, which sounds interesting
> (if a bit US biased in all probability), but my
> opinion is that the more resources we have available,
> both in print and ether, the better off we'll
> all be.
>
> <Game Over>
>
> Cheers
> Chris

cool, i can live in harmony with AAM it's not like i've ever heard it
discussed before or anything either..

you all know me, i could type for Britain, so content is NOT a problem

Andy

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[P-Man]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
no, but you're forgetting one point..

accesibility..

you can't read UKVAC while perched on the bog in the throne room..

you can't read UKVAC going to work on the train..

you don't always have the stamina to stare at a computer screen for hours on
end.

you don't often have the TIME to drag everything into one place and read
it.. Yuo would have to spend hours searching/scouring and sifting throu the
shit to find interesting stuff..

(just some key points for the old style wood pulp method, fanzines are still
valid)



Andy

 

[John Bennett]

[ukvac] Re: magazines
Sorry Andy!

I have NO intention of stealing glory as it were!

It is very diffucult to keep a regular mag going without a reasonable
size readership. Unless you are prepared to thow away money, the
sums never add up.

That's basically what happened to "The Record Machine" (which we took
over on its demise) - the previous late, great "Jukebox Journal"
covered other coin-op stuff as well as jukeboxes, and with it's wider
audience was very succesful for many, many years... largely due to
the dedication of its editors / publishers.

"The Record Machine" was too 'niche' and basically Alex was putting
in so much effort (and cash) to keep it going, that he eventually had
to do the sensible thing and pull the plug. We took it over and
honoured all the "oweing subscriptions" and the majority of the old
RM readers have stayed with the AAM.

Although it seems many of this group are solely into Videos, what we
have found is that the previously seperate groups of people who
collect Jukeboxes and Slot Machines have now now blurred... Juke
collectors are buying a machine or two, and I know many slotties have
bought a Jukebox.

There are already a number of my readers actively into Video's - some
of you are also in this group (Hello there!)

To me, it would seem more sensible to contribute to the established
magazine, broadening the interest and meeting new collectors etc.
than keeping *relatively* isolated? You then instantly get hundreds
of new people to sell to / buy from... and AAM subscribers are always
turning stuff up - they're a busy lot!

The critical / cynical!?!? among you might argue that I'm thinking
purely commercial here... well, that's true to an extent. I've ALWAYS
maintained that the AAM, our auctions / events and tours is a
commercial venture. That means there is NO commitee to consult, NO
votes to take, NO arguing, NO dilly-dalying resulting in months with
nothing happening etc. (seen it happen with other fanzines many
times!) - The buck stops with me. What that means is I have to
produce a magazine that has the contents, and has the readership...
and most importantly GETS RESULTS

The net is great for those who use it... but don't forget there's an
awful lot who don't! - of my subscribers, only around 10-12% are
signed up to our email news alerts... yeh, yeh, they're old fuddy-
duddies who collect wooden machines with brass knobs on ;o) but
they're also RICH fuddy-duddies who might just have a garage full of
Galaxians!

Think on... the conversation is very interesting

Steve



DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Steve Hunt (slot.machines@virgin.net)

 

[guddler]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
> but its the CONTENT, i think people would more likely enjoy the only
kind
> of 'classifieds' i could even entertain might be full machines, or just
> links to peoples 'for sale' portions of websites..

Excuse me if this has been covered (my delete key has been getting a lot of
excerise on this one as i wasn't really all that iterested - 'till now), but
how do you intend to distribute this?

The obvious answer here is an e-zine. Same thing, but as you say, all the
color you want, bang up to date on the ads, and for those without the
computer stamina (sorry had to get that one in, i spend upwards of 15 hrs a
day in front of mine, being a programmer! - not saying it does me any good
mind), make it a print ready format (PDF perhaps?), and it can be printed
out and read whereever too.....

For those without a printer (like me), i'm sure someone will do the deed as
a gesture, if not distribute it online/offline.

Guddler.

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[P-Man]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
its a good point, but i know lot of collectors, off-list, and others who
would just like to read on the subject, without actvely getting into
collecting for a littlewhile..

> Excuse me if this has been covered (my delete key has been getting a lot
of
> excerise on this one as i wasn't really all that iterested - 'till now),
but
> how do you intend to distribute this?

good old royal mail

> The obvious answer here is an e-zine. Same thing, but as you say, all the
> color you want, bang up to date on the ads, and for those without the
> computer stamina (sorry had to get that one in, i spend upwards of 15 hrs
a
> day in front of mine, being a programmer! - not saying it does me any good
> mind), make it a print ready format (PDF perhaps?), and it can be printed
> out and read whereever too.....

yeah, its a thought, but then its just another e-zine... its not physical,
you get nothing from it, and would probably sit unread on someones computer
because they're too busy, or when they are on the computer, they are on
there to do WORK or other menial tasks

> For those without a printer (like me), i'm sure someone will do the deed
as
> a gesture, if not distribute it online/offline.

here you go then.. no printer? paper edition

> Guddler.

Andy

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[guddler]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
> > For those without a printer (like me), i'm sure someone will do the deed
> as
> > a gesture, if not distribute it online/offline.
>
> here you go then.. no printer? paper edition

I think what i'm trying to get at here, is do both - produce it on paper if
you like (you seem to have the justification to do this), but produce an
electronic version too.

Obviously one thing you need to get round is the point that if it's
available online, it's possible noone will pay for it - sinking you even
quicker!, but then there are those that can't get it online that will
pay....

I think i'm running round in circles here so i'll shut up talking about
something i know little about ;o)

Oh, and the reason i don't have a printer? - I'm happy to read my stuff
online and haven't needed one so badly that something couldn't wait till the
next day for me to print it at work to warrant forking out 100-150 quid for
one.

Tight git i know ;o) - it's all those boards i keep blowing up, they take
too many pennies!!

Guddler.

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[John Bennett]

[ukvac] Re: magazines
To keep the converation going whilst I pop into town to the bank....
Some video adverts from the previous 12 months of AAM:

"For sale Video Games various and Cheap"
"For sale Fourtrax motorcyle game, 2 player £295 ready to operate"
"Wanted - table top videos any condition"
"For sale Shark Attack video... recently died £65"
"For sale Lunar Lander early space invaders conversion, fully working
£375"
"space invaders, pacman and defender for sale"
"Wanted any 70's b&w videos"
"wantes single game boards for namco table top"
"For sale Bally space invader flyer"
"wanted Atari SUper Breakout"
"wanted table top asteroids"
"for sale lots of video machines with games, Jamma nad earlier boards"
"for sale original upright space invader £offers"
"for sale The Invaders 1979-81, good cond and working £350"
"wanted, any video test equipment"
"for sale 2 player sit down video, choice of game £195"
"wanted boards and spares for GORF"
"Crazy baloon table top game, works £75"

When I get back, I'll dig out some prices of videos we've sold at
auction... not that many, but I remember *great excitement* in the
auction room when we managed to get OVER £100 for a lovely working
table-top... see what yer all missing!

Steve )

www.aamag.co.uk

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DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Steve Hunt (slot.machines@virgin.net)

 

[DesG]

RE: [ukvac] Re: magazines
Or have moved on into the 21st century and realise that a paper based
fanzine is doomed to failure (Sorry Andy)

DesG

>

DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Des Gibbons (des@fastcarz.com)

 

[John Bennett]

[ukvac] Re: magazines
*tut*
Excuuuuuse me... who ya calling a failure? ;o)

Steve



DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Steve Hunt (slot.machines@virgin.net)

 

[John Bennett]

[ukvac] Re: magazines
At the end of the day a magazine is only going to work if people buy it and
contribute to it. Personally I think it's a great idea and can easily
co-exist with UKVAC online.

So the question is would people buy a copy? To answer that question I've
set-up a poll here:
http://www.egroups.com/polls/ukvac

Maybe another poll to see if people are also prepared to contribute and how
often it should be published should be set-up too???

--
Regards
Strider

Cybercade - Classic Video Arcade Games
http://www.emugaming.com/strider/
ICQ# 44701326

- a loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it's a whisper -

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DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Strider (strider@ukvac.org.uk)

 

[DesG]

RE: [ukvac] Re: magazines
Steve,

I wouldn't classify your mag as a fanzine.

http://freespace.virgin.net/slot.machines/

Bit poor m8, want some real hosting for your web site, cheap

DesG

>

DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Des Gibbons (des@fastcarz.com)

 

[P-Man]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
> I think what i'm trying to get at here, is do both - produce it on paper
if
> you like (you seem to have the justification to do this), but produce an
> electronic version too.

no.. for the reasons you state below, why have it online, and a paper
edition? that's the biggst way to fall flat on your nose, its got to be one
or the other

> Obviously one thing you need to get round is the point that if it's
> available online, it's possible noone will pay for it - sinking you even
> quicker!, but then there are those that can't get it online that will
> pay....

bingo

seeya!

Andy

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[P-Man]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines

> Or have moved on into the 21st century and realise that a paper based
> fanzine is doomed to failure (Sorry Andy)
>
> DesG

i don't believe its doomed to failure at all

Don't think this is some sort of overnight revelation.. i've looked into
this long and hard, done my research, it is worth it..

Andy

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[John Bennett]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
Have it online with username/password login? Leave cookies etc... to stop
joe bloggs reading with sid james password etc...

People will print off sections they want... this will keep it all cheap
then.

Adam



DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Adam Dudley (mail@adsystems.net)

 

[DesG]

RE: [ukvac] Re: magazines
hehe, hope you prove me wrong

DesG

>

DATA Imported from archives: originally posted by Des Gibbons (des@fastcarz.com)

 

[P-Man]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines

> Have it online with username/password login? Leave cookies etc... to stop
> joe bloggs reading with sid james password etc...
>
> People will print off sections they want... this will keep it all cheap
> then.
>
> Adam

so you mean make a paper edition, AND an electronic edition that only
subscribers can login to?

or just an electronic edition with subs paid for a password/login?

hmm.. its a thought, but i wouldn't entertain either of the ideas really..
in the first instance, why would a subscriber who already has the mag in
physical form login to read it online?

and in the second instance, back to the same problem, accessibility, unable
to read it in other areas than on your computer which i think is a key
issue.

I know a lot of us are glued to our monitors for most of the day, but there
are those that of course aren't And how many of those, actually read
EVERY UKVAC post? who has the time?

there are a minority of us for whom an e-edition would be fine, but i want
to reach the casual arcade collectors/gamers that are on theis list just to
read up on it every now and then. I even want to reach the other collectors
who *aren't* on this list of which there are numerous.

Through other 'retro'-techno fanzines (ok, not everyone likes the word
retro) i can reach the other band of people, or even snag the odd person
that happens to pick it up on the coffee table of a subscriber when visiting
one day.. Arcade collecting is a bug of course, and can be caught easily

Andy

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[LukeWells]

Re: [ukvac] Re: magazines
I think Andy should get an issue done, printed and distributed and then
people can decide what they think. I personally think it would be quite
interesting

Luke

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