Some Information on Gleemax social networking

[Dark Psion]

If you read what Chris Perkins and Scott and Mike and the others have been saying, you'll discover they want the last issues of the magazines to have the focus at the moment.

The only "focus" that the last issues are giving me is a reminder of what they have been killed off with nothing to show for it. The last few issues have been some of the best ever and that fact that they are the last just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The magazines will continue to exist, but in electronic form. You'll be able to download PDF versions of the articles and adventures, which will have some form of DRM (most likely watermarking).

No they will not exist because a magazine is a paper product that I can take anywhere and read anywhere. WotC web initiative is a web site that is dependant upon expensive technology and outside services just to view.

They are two completely different things!

I know WotC will not accknowledge this simple fact because it puts their plans in a bad light, but not everybody has a laptop, or WiFi or even the internet.

I think it's time that topic went to another thread, since this one's talking about Gleemax, 'kay?

I am reponding to Scott Rouse's comments, if he wants to start a thread he is more than welcome. It would be nice to see "what is" instead of "what is not" part of this mess.

Sorry if I am passionate about my hobby. One thing this has done is make me ask myself why I still play this game at my age.

If Gleemax is any example, I am not among the target audience anymore.

 

[Piratecat]

Dark Psion and others:

You're welcome to discuss the demise of Dragon and Dungeon in another thread, but please don't drag the Gleemax thread off topic. Whether you're angry or not, this isn't the place for it. We're taking a dim view of hijacking and 'threadcrapping.'

Everyone else, don't continue this line of discussion. I'd appreciate it if we stay focused on the actual thread topic. And as always, email me with questions or complaints.

Thanks!

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think it sounds promising. I can start to see what sort of gamer networking structure WotC are trying to put in place here. If they can get a critical mass of gamers and gaming stores on board I think it could work really well. It sounds like it could definitely help gamers that are having trouble meeting other gamers in their area.

As other have said, I do hope there is an option to change the Gleemax skin. The current colour scheme isn't really that appealing to me.

Olaf the Stout

P.S. Mike, I love your username, Gamer Zero. I only wish I had thought of it first!

 

[Keefe the Thief]

If there is a possibility of different gamer "spheres" cross-pollinating each other, this is a cool idea. You cannot sell D&D to, say, someone who only plays Magic or Boardgames by force. But if D&D is a part of your social networking site anyway....
I´ve always hated how insular most gaming hobbies are. And what i hate most is the condescension with which one gaming hobby "island" sometimes treats the other. If Gleemax reduces this only 0,5%, i´ll marry that brain (well, if it promises not to wear green to the wedding ).

 

[Dire Bare]

Oops. Posted a response before seeing PC's moderator notes. Response deleted.

 

[D.Shaffer]

I'm looking forward to it. As a gamer with a WIDE spectrum of interests, one of the problems I've always had is meeting with other gamers to play those weirder games you almost need to schedule matches for, and many times you're not sure who else actually likes that game. Being able to see the other gamers in my area and get a nice list of what they might like to play would be useful. Plus, I see this as a way to help 'spread the word' as it were, about some of the games I like that others might not know even exist.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

I don't think I have heard anyone complaining about the premise of the new site (or very very few). The problem all along is the horrible promotional site that exists now that is turning away potential future users. Well that and the name and they seem intent on keeping that despite the outcry. I think what has some people worried, myself included, is that if this is what they do to launch the initiative (bad timing with having the promo site ready when announced and a horrible looking website) then our expectations are lowered for how they will be able to pull off the final site (no matter how cool the premise is).

Edit: I wanted to let Scott and Mike know I do appreciate thier participation on these boards and for making some changes that were suggested to the promo site. I do hope that the end result will wow me and that I am wrong. They do seem like good guys who do care.

 

[Jonny Nexus]

It sounds interesting. I'll definitely have to check it out once everything is ready to go.

I'll say one thing though, that is one ugly website.

Dear God, I only made it a paragraph in before I had to look away and blink. I don't know how they've done it, and maybe I'm getting old, but there is something about that bright white on mottled green background that rips my eyes out. I literally have to look away once a paragraph, and not surprisingly, I didn't read the whole of that post.

However, it has inspired me to create a new free mini game!

Gleemax: The Blinding

A quick and fun game for two or more participants.

Setup

To play a game of Gleemax: The Blinding requires two or more computer systems (one per participant is required). For fairness, each system should be located in conditions of equal lightning, and each monitor/display should be identically set.

Each system should be set to display the following page:

http://www.gleemax.com/articles/announcement006.html

Play

Each participant should fully look/stare at the screen before them, with eyes wide open and no blinking allowed.

Winning

Any participant who either blinks, or looks away from the screen, is disqualified. The last participant playing is declared to be the winner.

Variants

"Controls": This variant allows participants to adjust the controls before play in order to find the most comfortable setting. This variant offers extra skill. However, there must be some minimum limits or everyone will simply set a totally black screen. (Whilst that might be the best way to read the Gleemax site, it will result in an extraordinarily long game).

"Sadist": In this variant, all brightness and contrast controls are set to extreme maximums. Only those participants willing to risk permanent long-term health penalties should consider playing this variant.

Think I might have to head under my desk for a snooze...

 

[Morrus]

This is not a fact as we have said over and over. Gleemax is not the Dragon and Dungeon replacement.

Maybe you should put that there on the site in really big writing!

 

[tomBitonti]

"Controls": This variant allows participants to adjust the controls before play in order to find the most comfortable setting. This variant offers extra skill. However, there must be some minimum limits or everyone will simply set a totally black screen. (Whilst that might be the best way to read the Gleemax site, it will result in an extraordinarily long game).

Had me crying to tears. Needless to say, I find the web site atrocious, and the name just as bad. Besides, the page doesn't resize at all, and handles large fonts very poorly. Not the quality that I would expect from an entity that is about to base a fair part of its business model on its ability to deliver online content.