Who will take up the Printed Game Magazine challenge?

[Grimstaff]

Just curious specultation here.

Dungeon and Dragon, while not being the hugest sellers on the magazine racks, did have a pretty considerable print run, especially between the two of them.

D.I., while admittedly no one outside WotC has seen a preview of it (and I have my doubts about there even being something to see INSIDE WotC), seems doomed to eventual failure due its being DRM and computer-only. (My opinion, so save the hate-flames ) Regardless, its still not a magazine on a shelf at a bookstore.

So I wonder, will anyone take up the sword and publish a new magazine with d20 material? A real one, that shows up in newstands and bookstores, not a small run fanzine or retailer-focused rag?

If so, who are the candidates to throw down their gauntlets and possibly reap the rewards of filling this particular hole in the market?

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

A company that already has an established presence in book stores. When I go to a bookstore, as opposed to a game store, I see WotC products and...White Wolf. That's it.

White Wolf tried to do the magazine thing back in the 90s. It didn't last long.

 

[trancejeremy]

I don't think so. Pretty much the only one that could have is (IMHO) Paizo, if they had simply gone with OGL versions of Dragon/Dungeon with similar names. Maybe they could have retained some of their fans, but they chose a different path, for whatever reason.

Maybe Kenzer will expand KODT with more RPG stuff.

 

[GMSkarka]

Look to your fellow gamers for the reason. There are simply way too many who would not buy a d20 magazine, simply because it was not "official."

Without the D&D logo on it, a print magazine would be a money-losing exercise for any publisher.

 

[Nifft]

I fully expect game-related articles to make their way into other magazines to fill demand.

Starting with Playboy. And an Order of the Stick "unblurred"... IYKWIM,AITYD.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Steel_Wind]

The obvious answers is Paizo and Pathfinder.

Yes, yes. Not a magazine. It's a subscription "book" without advertisements... :rolls eyes:

Rubbish. When the non-compete agreement runs out - Pathfinder will have advertising back in there quick as a flash.

If Paizo can't pull it off? Nobody can.

 

[rgard]

I'll do it when I win the powerball lottery.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[kenobi65]

IMO, the primary reason for Dragon and Dungeon's long-running success was the official imprimatur. Paizo's built up a good reputation, but even they have acknowledged that getting onto the racks in the book trade with a new magazine would be a tremendous struggle. I don't think a true magazine would be able to make a go of it subscription-only.

Shorter answer: no one.

 

[Mark CMG]

The obvious answers is Paizo and Pathfinder.

Kenzer?

 

[Jolly_Blackburn]

Getting on newstand/bookstores isn't all that difficult.

you just call a newstand agent (We used Warner for Shadis back in the day) and they'll pretty much do a trial run and put you in as many stores as you'll provide copies.

The tricky part is YOU take all the risk. And it takes up to six months (or six issuses) before you learn how well the FIRST issue on newstands/bookstore sold. Then you deal with the returns and eat the cost.

So for a start up magazine it takes some deep pockets or good cash flow from normal distribution channels.

You'll also have to deal with the fact that print advertising has dried up considerably in this industry. If you plan on doing a print magazine that relies on heavily on ad revenue to pay overhiead/salaries -- it's going to be a bumpy road.

KODT pays a lot of bills and has a loyal following. And we can survive without advertising if need be due to the way we've streamlined the process.

But we have no plans to try and fill the void.

To do so would make KODT a different sort of animal than it is. And we happen to be enjoying the ride. And the thought of doing a second magazine....? I don't even want to think about it.

Still we've been enjoying something of a bump since the Dragon/Dungeon announcement. Apparently people are picking up the magazine either for the first time -- or for the first time in several years.

The magazine has evolved quite a bit in the last 50 issues (issue 129 goes to press tomorrow). And it will continue to grow and evolve. But we aren't really interested in morphing the format to chase Dragon readers.

I see KODT as something you would read in addition to Dragon. Not something to replace it.

I'm sure a lot of folks agree with me.

I will say this -- I predict there will be a half dozen attempts by various publishers to launch something 'Dragon like' in the next 6 months to a year.

In fact at GAMA I spoke with at least three people who were turning the idea over in their heads.