Paper or . . . digital?

[philreed]

I've had many people e-mailing me asking that I make Construct Mechanus a PDF when released. It would be cheaper (since I wouldn't pay any printing costs) but is it really what people want?

I'd love to hear any opinions about print or pdf. Which is the better way to go?

 

[MEG Hal]

IMHO if you want to make money you need to print, even the most sucessful(except Monte) may do well but not print kind of numbers----BUT---- You need a distributor and 4 months lead time for buyers to know you are out there as well as the nervousness retailers have (at the moment) of trying someone new. PDF may be the way followed by print. You can e-mail me with questions if you want, I may be able to help.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Salutations,

This is becoming a pet peeve of mine- the release of both pdf and then print.

It seems there is a bit of a trend to add more to the print version then in the pdf version- which feels like a bit of a smack in the face for those who bought the latter.

I decided to stick with only purchasing print versions.

FD

 

[MEG Hal]

Salutations,

This is becoming a pet peeve of mine- the release of both pdf and then print.

It seems there is a bit of a trend to add more to the print version then in the pdf version- which feels like a bit of a smack in the face for those who bought the latter.

I decided to stick with only purchasing print versions.

FD

I understand that feeling, but many small publishers do not have the ability to print items right away, or need to prove to a distributor that they have "the right stuff" so some have to PDF it first. Interludes (our first one) was never suppose to be in print, but someone (Doug Herring-MEG pre merger) felt it needed to be in print and helped us get it to print and it was really well received and got an ENnie nomination...so while I see FD's point as a consumer, as a publisher---ya gotta do what ya gotta do .

 

[Blacksad]

I understand that feeling, but many small publishers do not have the ability to print items right away, or need to prove to a distributor that they have "the right stuff" so some have to PDF it first. Interludes (our first one) was never suppose to be in print, but someone (Doug Herring-MEG pre merger) felt it needed to be in print and helped us get it to print and it was really well received and got an ENnie nomination...so while I see FD's point as a consumer, as a publisher---ya gotta do what ya gotta do .

Then, why not release an updated pdf, with all the stuff that got into print?

Personaly I hated when BoEM II in PDF referenced the print version of BoEM I, though the material was available for free on the website, it isn't as nicely edited as the book(pdf or not).

To answer your question philreed, I would prefer a pdf, mainly because your product won't be available through amazon, and shiping cost woul be half of the price or nearly so for a $10 book (I live in France, shipping cost tend to be between $10 and $20).

 

[tsadkiel]

I like paper. Construct Mechanus fills such an obvious gap in my gaming that I'll be picking it up regardless, but I'll be much happier with a physical book.

 

[TroyXavier]

I always prefer print. PDF is too limited to me and leads to lost pages if you do print it out. I just like having a book in my hands.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

I understand that feeling, but many small publishers do not have the ability to print items right away, or need to prove to a distributor that they have "the right stuff" so some have to PDF it first.

I understand the situation- and am not suggesting that the small guys go print or don't bother to do anything.

However, if they go from pdf to print, then I would like to see some consistancy between the products.

I get rather irritated when I see a review of a print version of a pdf I bought- and they mention new stuff included.

Why the heck did I buy the pdf for?

That is why there are some companies that I know go from pdf to print- I won't buy the pdf from again. I want the complete product.

If you include some new stuff, then put the new stuff out on the web for those people that bought your pdf.

FD

 

[MEG Hal]

Then, why not release an updated pdf, with all the stuff that got into print?

Well for us it is different because we have imprint deals so the companies release it and then we enlarge it and do it in our style---from this point forth MEG will release pdf and when we do it will remain in pdf. We have no plans for any MEG product to go from pdf to print. As I stated we have a bunch of pdf companies that release pdf and then we release the expanded version, that will not change...so we are trying to accomodate both sides.

 

[MEG Hal]

I understand the situation- and am not suggesting that the small guys go print or don't bother to do anything.

However, if they go from pdf to print, then I would like to see some consistancy between the products.

I get rather irritated when I see a review of a print version of a pdf I bought- and they mention new stuff included.

Why the heck did I buy the pdf for?

That is why there are some companies that I know go from pdf to print- I won't buy the pdf from again. I want the complete product.

If you include some new stuff, then put the new stuff out on the web for those people that bought your pdf.

FD

I also understand, but what happens with us and our imprint partners is we get an expanded version then we jazz it up and lay it out and add art etc...for print so we have a diferent item then the pdf for the print market. We do include web enhancements for all our MEG stuff and I know Ambient is doing the same....