General RPG Magazines Unpopular: Why?

Pierce Inverarity · July 24, 2007, 01:38:59 PM

By "general" I mean: magazines that transcend a single system/company. Magazines that publish well-informed reviews of the latest everything, plus more general, essayesque articles on what's going on.

Bunches of these exist for video games, for pop music, you name it, both online and off.

In our little niche, though, they were the norm at the outset (very early Dragon, early White Dwarf, Space Gamer too, I think). But house rag-i-fication set in quickly, and continuous efforts to produce an alternative would just as continuously falter.

Why?

I have an answer, and believe it to be true, but I rilly don't want to hear it.

jrients · July 24, 2007, 01:41:31 PM

Because no game other than D&D is popular enough.

Pierce Inverarity · July 24, 2007, 01:43:11 PM

lalala can't hear you

signoftheserpent · July 24, 2007, 01:53:28 PM

the internet.

and advertisers not paying.

Pierce Inverarity · July 24, 2007, 02:11:37 PM

Quote from: signoftheserpentthe internet.

Internet review mags like Gamespy are doing just fine.

No, Jeff is right, it's because gaming is a monoculture.

Serious Paul · July 24, 2007, 03:20:23 PM

I subscribe to Wizard, the Guide to Comics. Because, in part, it covers more than just comics. It's like the choads who argue for this board to only have an RPG section. It'd suck balls so hard and fast, this place would be out of business in a heart beat.

ColonelHardisson · July 24, 2007, 06:50:51 PM

Quote from: Pierce Inveraritylalala can't hear you

Search your feelings...you know it to be true.

David R · July 24, 2007, 07:08:37 PM

Well I believe White Wolf mag failed because it become Inphobia when everybody there lost the plot. White Dwarf become a toy catalogue. But even at their peak I doubt they were ever as popular as Dragon.

Regards,
David R

RPGPundit · July 24, 2007, 08:50:50 PM

I too would think as a first impression that its the Internet to blame. Back in the 80s, one of the only places you could see all kinds of articles and this sort of communication about RPGs was in magazines. Thus there were LOTS of "general RPG" magazines and they did well.

But today, the niche these filled has been occupied in a more interactive and thus superior way by.. well, by places like theRPGsite. Forums. Mailing lists. And websites of other kinds.

RPGPundit

Koltar · July 24, 2007, 09:15:32 PM

I mildly disagree.
I think and hope that a general Roleplaying Magazine could succeed. Some months, INQUEST has RPG articles and news, sometimes its Knights of the Dinner Table.

Years ago, in the Cincinnati area, some folks were tring to make a go of a magazine like that called ADVENTURE GAMINGmagazine. (early 1980s)

Both DRAGON and DUNGEON magazine had the nice benefit that I could find them in places like KROGERS and BORDERS books on the magazine racks.

Any of you professionals on here who know about publishing - what would it take to start a NEW Gaming Magazine??

- Ed C.

Pierce Inverarity · July 24, 2007, 09:29:35 PM

Quote from: RPGPundita more interactive and thus superior way

Pundy, that's not the whole story. The kind of intellectual garbage you have to wade through on a messageboard, I mean, man. Nothing superior about giving any old retard with a keyboard a voice. And of course smart people will stop putting in any sustained effort into a post if they get lost in the white noise (and don't get paid, whether in cash or in cultural capital).

That's why I'm missing the printed mags: People taking a day or a week to write a thoughtful essay, as opposed to twenty minutes for a post that's forgotten tomorrow. And the retards don't even make it in the Letters section.

Push magazine by Jonathan Walton is a step in the right direction, except it's exclusively swinesque.

Gunslinger · July 24, 2007, 09:30:40 PM

Quote from: KoltarAny of you professionals on here who know about publishing - what would it take to start a NEW Gaming Magazine??

Swimsuit issue?

Pierce Inverarity · July 24, 2007, 09:33:20 PM

Quote from: GunslingerSwimsuit issue?

Scooped.

Koltar · July 24, 2007, 09:36:05 PM

Quote from: GunslingerSwimsuit issue?

I believe INQUEST or WIZARD did that 4 or 5 years ago.

- Ed C.

enelson · July 24, 2007, 10:17:36 PM

Speaking of magazines...anyone write for and receive Alarums and Excursions. Isn't this mag still around?

I did receive a free copy of Polymancer but it did not appeal to me.

I thought the most telling sign of the downfall of RPG mags was when SJG took Pyramid digital. SJG had lots of experience producing and selling RPG magazines but, in the late 90s/early 2000s, decided to take his magazine to the web. Why? More cost effective?