The Gamer's Quarter

[SuperWes]

So Issue #3 comes out tomorrow and we had a lot of ideas to improve the magazine's design and content, most of which got put off until the next issue, but a little of which snuck its way into this issue. You'll find out tomorrow!

Anyway, I'm creating this topic to ask people that aren't so close to the magazine (and maybe a few who are) what they would like to see the Gamer's Quarter do in the future. This includes design suggestions, content suggestions, and perhaps even merch suggestions. If everything goes according to plan, we should have a store opening up within the month.

So yeah, what kind of stuff do you want to see in future Issues of TGQ?

-Wes
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[friedchicken]

I shall bite, but with a suggestion of what to keep doing rather than what's not being done and should be. Sorry if that's not exactly what you're looking for, but... well hey, it's my input.

I get a real sense from TGQ that people are writing about what they WANT to write about, rather than what many, many publications do-- write only about the popular or trendy, or what some publications do-- write about what happens to be already heavily advertised. That's the sort of thing that makes it an interesting read.

That's why I'm always happy to read TGQ. Plus it helps that I come by the forums here pretty often, probably predisposing me to want to hear what you guys have to say.

Now when you say store, what kind of things do you currently plan on offering, or is it entirely up in the air? Personally, I'd like to see game-inspired art-- you know, prints and such, like the sort of thing that was at the I am 8-bit show.

Anyway, I hope that helps.

[SuperWes]

Hmm. Well, I suppose I can drop a few not-so-secret sneak previews to entice people to post in this topic...




(images unwillingly contributed by dessgeega)

-Wes
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[Mister Toups]

I WANT THOSE BUTTONS

That is all.
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where were you when nana komatsu got a wii?

[nICO]

I might order a T-shirt if you sell one. Especially if it looks half-way decent and is better quality than the standard HP iron on paper.

As for comments on the mag, I'll wait and see what the new issue has to offer first.
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Brauner: Damn you, humans... You selfishly start wars and despoil the earth. Perhaps justice wasn't on my side but I will never admit that it was on yours.

[nICO]

Oh yeah, it would be nice if someone wanted to take the time to professionalize the design of the front page. It's nice and quite functional right now, and only some tweaks here and there would be required (unless someone really did want to redesign from the ground up). I like crap like this so I could probably offer a bunch of suggestions, but most important would be to have someone design a nice, clean logo. The text is just...bleh.
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Brauner: Damn you, humans... You selfishly start wars and despoil the earth. Perhaps justice wasn't on my side but I will never admit that it was on yours.

[Lackey]

Hey...is issue number 3 out yet?
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| Little bird fighting against a bat sect game |

[Mr. Mechanical]

Not yet, but soon. Hopefully!

[SuperWes]

[Persona-sama]

That should have been the cover!
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[Sushi d]

i say we should find some way to have at least 1 peice of game inspired ar per issue...

something classy and well done..




like this...

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X_X

[dessgeega]

that picture makes me think of the tragedy of the mario brothers.
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[simplicio]

The Mario 3 article is easily the best piece from TGQ so far, in my mind.

But on the other hand the Jack Niida interview made me want to kill myself. I recognize that TGQ is small, and anything we can get from recognized sources is good, and we all heart N1, but I found myself immediately wondering what the point is of interviewing someone who can't speak candidly. It's this marketing buzzword doublespeak that's no better than an E3 presentation; by comparison last issue's Seiklus interview was both personally and professionally engaging. When you speak to a game's developer, you can come up with insight into the creative process, and the backstory on the game, etc. Marketing folks seem to be unable to provide any more than "We looked and some numbers here... and talked to people with money there... and took another look at target markets in this region..."

Which is not to say it's not important at some level; it is good to know how niche marketers are thinking and how they may direct the future of quirky JRPGs in the US, but I found myself extremely disappointed by its presence in TGQ. It felt impersonal and hollow and just like something I could have gotten from IGN.

What do you folks think about expanding the main page to include stuff like this, enabling you to officially publish all the material you can get, but keeping the issues themselves more focused?

I'm not trying to be negative; TGQ continues to be my favorite gaming publication and, despite a couple weak elements, issue #3 is the best so far. I want to close with a word of thanks for providing a space for the intelligent exploration of gaming and for all the work you put into it to keep it going. Cheers.

[Bai]

Write more professionally. Speak honestly and without ego. Be clear and concise in your explanations. Avoid swearing; it is trashy and does not impress.

Avoid 'retro'-style articles. Let's move gaming forward instead of rose-tinting the past.

Avoid grand, unqualified, unsupported theories about the state of videogames. If you want to publish your ideas, develop them more and do some research.

Really like the comics! Keep that stuff coming!

[SuperWes]

[wourme]

[Mister Toups]

The only thing about a letters column is that I doubt anyone would write in.

Still, I think if dhex did it, it would be really humorous.

I use swear words mostly because that's how I speak. I don't ever do things like insert them in after the fact to make it more "edgy" or anything. I often end up removing them, in fact.

Still, sometimes you need a good fucking.

Am I right?
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where were you when nana komatsu got a wii?

[dessgeega]

sometimes no other word but "fuck" will do.
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[wourme]

Some people use swearing effectively in speaking or in writing dialog or casual things, but in serious essays and things it just takes me out of whatever's being said and makes me wonder what the writer's trying to do, exactly. I mean, it draws attention away from the topic instead of emphasizing it and focuses on the writer. And not in a positive way. But again, the effect could very well be quite different for other readers.

--

I wonder if instead of a letters column, there could be some sort of ongoing debate about things. Or a long-term call for opinions or discussion of something, and after enough good responses are collected, they are printed. I just know that it really builds loyalty when readers can somehow have a part in a publication. But I guess that element might already be present, as dedicated readers who want to try their hand at writing articles seem to have a chance of doing so.

[dhex]

i would wholeheartedly enjoy eding a letters column.
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[dark steve]

This is really as good as a letters column would get right here though, isn't it?

[Tablesaw]

[wourme]

[ajutla]

I PROBABLY SHOULD NOT SAY THIS, BUT:

The number of times I use the word "fuck" in any given piece is meant as a deliberate indicator.

I don't want to state what it's a deliberate indicator of, at this juncture.

(direct reference is made to that word exactly eleven times in "Pongism," too.)
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[Shapermc]

[SuperWes]

Interesting. I didn't know this. Shaper also wanted me to change the word "boobs" to "breasts" in the Ghost in the Shell article. I didn't do it because my intentions when using the word "boobs" instead of "breasts" was to indicate that Shirow's art treats the female organs as childish and gratuitous objects instead of body parts. In other words, "boobs" not "breasts!"

Sometimes we put too much thought into things.

-Wes
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[dessgeega]

i loved editing that piece. you have no idea.
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[SuperWes]

[Bai]

Just finished reading the mag completely and I liked John Szczepaniak's "Why Game?" article the best.

This might be a rough template for future NGJ pieces: direct, candidly written and with just enough of a personal glimpse into the author's life to present a new perspective on videogaming. A bit short on words but the basic idea is there. I'd like to see more articles like this, please!

[Lackey]

We Shall Meet In The Place Where There is no Darkness really grabbed me. It's the only one I've read more than once so far.
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| Little bird fighting against a bat sect game |

[nICO]

[sawtooth]

I got my copy of the Gamer's Quarter (with a couple of stickers) this week. Note: the stickers are cool.

Now I can finally read Tim's article without hating myself (because no way am I going to tolerate reading that much text at a time on a screen).

The only complaint I have with it so far is that the screenshots and pictures look dark sometimes. All of the pictures without clear, defined lines need to go through a small gamma adjustment. The cartoon art (Persona's and Lestrade's, as well as some of the stuff from the sky gunner review) looks just fine.

I'm really happy with it! thanks doodz!!!!!!!!

Also: a couple miscellaneous design criticisms:

glow text on back? Errr, not too fond of that.
the arc is mismatched with the bottom border on the back, just noticeably so.
Is that picture of gordon freeman on the back supposed to be cut off? It doesn't look intentional.

The front cover is fine, though, and the interior layouts are great.

Willl I ever see the first two issues in print?

[Shapermc]