The failed attempt of a thread on interviewing RAWR (congrats!) on their 11th win prompted me to ask a question I wanted to ask for a long while, but always hesitated due to 2 reasons (my lack of time if the project goes forward, the derail-troll-thread phenomenon of Guru). At the moment, this is just an idea floating on an empty wiki.
Would you read a short GW magazine? Say: a monthly which has brief news about changes in the game, the PvP scene, interesting insight into game mechanics/classes/skills/strategies; possibly a section as in the old Scribe; overall or specific insight into GW lore/quests/missions; coverage of player-organised events and more globally the community. I was hoping that many of the great posters on Guru and beyong Guru could help by writing articles (I already have a tentative first list of people to contact).
I realise that there may be similar existing products, like Guru's frontpage (not the forum, but a selection of the most interesting bits of the forum and more, is it organised by Inde?), but I guess/was hoping that going for a monthly format would allow a more in-depth experience, although the substance of many articles are already here on Guru. Quality not quantity would be a principle of such a magazing, so don't expect something huge.
BTW, this thread is no promise that, if there's strong support, it'll happen (time is a critical resource and there's no guarantee that there'll be quality writers). And ofc the idea is open, so I'd be helping anyone who wants to take it forward if I don't.
So: What would you expect from such a journal? What would you make reject the idea or dislike the project? Feel free to submit any idea (if so, PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE THREAD to see if it hasn't been posted already) or comment.
Would you read a short GW magazine?
Fril Estelin
Jinkies
1st and yes
12 chars
12 chars
Fril Estelin
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Originally Posted by Fril Estelin
So: What would you expect from such a journal? What would you make reject the idea or dislike the project? Feel free to submit any idea (if so, PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE THREAD to see if it hasn't been posted already) or comment.
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Vilaptca
There used to be one...they just didn't have very interesting articles.
I'm not sure what I would expect from a GW magazine at this point in time. There isn't a whole lot going on in the game. I expect you'd have a hard time coming up with things to report about.
There was a time when new farms popped up frequently, people were still learning game mechanics, new exciting things were being added to the game.
I'll see if I can find that old one, I honestly don't remember what kind of articles they had in there.
heh...it was still on the Guild Wars community page...
http://photics.com/category/guild-wa...ite/magazines/
I'm not sure what I would expect from a GW magazine at this point in time. There isn't a whole lot going on in the game. I expect you'd have a hard time coming up with things to report about.
There was a time when new farms popped up frequently, people were still learning game mechanics, new exciting things were being added to the game.
I'll see if I can find that old one, I honestly don't remember what kind of articles they had in there.
heh...it was still on the Guild Wars community page...
http://photics.com/category/guild-wa...ite/magazines/
FengShuiDove
I'd enjoy it.
First of all, ease of access. Obviously the format would be online based, but it'd be nice if it had a stickied thread in some subforum with an updated date when new issues are posted.
What would I like to see in it? Well, what you would expect out of any magazine. What events happened in the previous month and how they were received/enjoyed/hated, general tactics, general discussion about any recent buffs/nerfs/meta builds, etc. Having some regular authors who can post mature and yet individual articles would be a plus, just so the community can get familiar with what they're seeing.
First of all, ease of access. Obviously the format would be online based, but it'd be nice if it had a stickied thread in some subforum with an updated date when new issues are posted.
What would I like to see in it? Well, what you would expect out of any magazine. What events happened in the previous month and how they were received/enjoyed/hated, general tactics, general discussion about any recent buffs/nerfs/meta builds, etc. Having some regular authors who can post mature and yet individual articles would be a plus, just so the community can get familiar with what they're seeing.
Sierraa
What would you expect from such a journal?
With anything journal wise, I'd expect a lot of creativity with content that's relatively "fresh", meaning you don't interview the same guild or player all the time, along with unbiased interviews. Lets see... Advertising community events, Profession Q&A/Articles/Interviews by people who are actually experienced in the class.
I like WoW.com (WoW insider) sections of articles and information a lot, it keeps me coming back to read more even if I don't play WoW. :P
What would you make reject the idea or dislike the project?
Fanboys, poorly written articles, lack of content/creativity. Players who advertise sheep ideas instead of a neutral opinion. Poor layouts/images.
With anything journal wise, I'd expect a lot of creativity with content that's relatively "fresh", meaning you don't interview the same guild or player all the time, along with unbiased interviews. Lets see... Advertising community events, Profession Q&A/Articles/Interviews by people who are actually experienced in the class.
I like WoW.com (WoW insider) sections of articles and information a lot, it keeps me coming back to read more even if I don't play WoW. :P
What would you make reject the idea or dislike the project?
Fanboys, poorly written articles, lack of content/creativity. Players who advertise sheep ideas instead of a neutral opinion. Poor layouts/images.
Lonesamurai
didn't we used to have one on the site from the Scribe?
but yeah, a proper magazine and a Player Community council would bea good idea like EvE Online has
but hey, I've stopped mentioning about it as after six months of trying to get some help setting it up i can't be bothered anymore
but yeah, a proper magazine and a Player Community council would bea good idea like EvE Online has
but hey, I've stopped mentioning about it as after six months of trying to get some help setting it up i can't be bothered anymore
Arduin
It's kinda sad The Scribe has been discontinued. Noticing WoW's Insider, I'm really hoping Anet will increase their interaction with the playerbase a LOT, because that was one of the things I liked about Guild Wars originally.
I don't know if I would read a a playermade magazine, there just isn't anything new and interesting to read about anymore on GW1, if I can be so blunt. Even the 'we will keep the community better informed about what our new update is about', has proven false.
I don't know if I would read a a playermade magazine, there just isn't anything new and interesting to read about anymore on GW1, if I can be so blunt. Even the 'we will keep the community better informed about what our new update is about', has proven false.
Aljasha
if it's an online magazine - yes, please.
Archress Shayleigh
I'd enjoy it very much because it'd be awesome to read others opinions and get some updates and reviews from other people.
/yes
/yes
Zinger314
Magazines are good for things which have new and exciting information.
Which is the exact opposite of GW, where nothing changes and nothing is unknown.
Which is the exact opposite of GW, where nothing changes and nothing is unknown.
4thVariety
I am sure there are people willing to consume community content on the game.
Even if you know exactly what to write, most of the time is consumed by actually writing it down, editing it, finding and creating (!) the appropriate pictures, layouting it and then shipping it out the door and promoting it. Especially guides are a lot of work if you want to make them relatively failsafe. Having an actual topic to write about is your smallest problem.
Have you ever considered podcasting? It has less additional work attached to it. Speaking is more lenient when it comes to screwing up, written mistakes get more poked at and most of all, a podcast is less work, than even a small fanzine.
Even if you know exactly what to write, most of the time is consumed by actually writing it down, editing it, finding and creating (!) the appropriate pictures, layouting it and then shipping it out the door and promoting it. Especially guides are a lot of work if you want to make them relatively failsafe. Having an actual topic to write about is your smallest problem.
Have you ever considered podcasting? It has less additional work attached to it. Speaking is more lenient when it comes to screwing up, written mistakes get more poked at and most of all, a podcast is less work, than even a small fanzine.
Fril Estelin
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Originally Posted by 4thVariety
Even if you know exactly what to write, most of the time is consumed by actually writing it down, editing it, finding and creating (!) the appropriate pictures, layouting it and then shipping it out the door and promoting it. Especially guides are a lot of work if you want to make them relatively failsafe. Having an actual topic to write about is your smallest problem.
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I know fully well how time-consuming this could become (talking to Inde helps understand this aspect
). But that's my problem to a certain extent (this is NOT going to be a nice and shiny magazine to a pro standard of layout, unless we get the help from good designers) and I'd rather have a discussion on the suitability of the basic idea, provided the initial setting I described in the OP. To me, a long list of "yes I'd like to read it" sounds like a "why not? but well, I'd probably loose interest with it fairly quickly", except for the people that will spend the time to actually write something with more details.I know that a lot of quality Guru posters would read it and even possibly contribute to it after a while. But I'm uncertain whether it'd be readable by the average joe, in particular if we discuss a lot of "technical" content. Which is also a challenge for those that'd be tempted to write such a mag!
Ty for those who posted their opinion here. (LoneSamurai you were in my list of people to contact if the project comes alive)
Raccoon
There isn't enough happening in the game to warrant any extra form of media outside forum discussion.
Who gives a shit about pvp tournaments anyway?
Who gives a shit about pvp tournaments anyway?
Gift3d
I could definitely dig it. Like a few people above me said that nothing is ever changing in guild wars? Yeah, pve doesn't change much over time you're right. But pvp (let me remind you what guild wars is about) is constantly changing. Changes in the metagame, tournaments, shifts in the guild ladder, maybe even what specific players are doing and who they're playing for if you want to get really into it.
I see a lot of pvers with a 'b' key try to talk about pvp and make it interesting, but you can see right through that really easily and it makes reading it feel kinda illegitimate. So, what i'd look for is if there was to be someone writing pvp oriented articles, for them to be legit and have a real opinion and real idea of what they're talking about.
But the idea does sound very cool. Best of luck.
I see a lot of pvers with a 'b' key try to talk about pvp and make it interesting, but you can see right through that really easily and it makes reading it feel kinda illegitimate. So, what i'd look for is if there was to be someone writing pvp oriented articles, for them to be legit and have a real opinion and real idea of what they're talking about.
But the idea does sound very cool. Best of luck.
Enon
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Originally Posted by Raccoon
There isn't enough happening in the game to warrant any extra form of media outside forum discussion.
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Discussing PvP is definitely a possibility, but only a limited crowd would be interested in that (in my experience less than the PvE crowd that would be interested in a magazine).
So ask yourself: Would you be able to produce enough material for multiple issues and would that material attract a decent sized crowd?
Ravious
Instead of a full blown 'zine, why not a monthly column for PvP'ers focusing on the meta, skill balances, etc. I too worry about the sustainability of anything bigger for GW1.
Lonesamurai
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Originally Posted by Ravious
Instead of a full blown 'zine, why not a monthly column for PvP'ers focusing on the meta, skill balances, etc. I too worry about the sustainability of anything bigger for GW1.
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three hours once a week is too much for the game as is, but a monthly show (aslong as the balance happens BEFORE my show and not FIVE MINUTES after it finishes) then we can get people on air and in IRC discussing the balance changes aswell as a topic of the month, but finding those topics is getting increasingly more difficult as the stagnation sets in more
-Sonata-
I'd read it and I'd be all for it.
Looking through the entire Guru forums it's clear to me that people still have plenty to talk about, discuss, debate, and share with others. One of my favorite reads here on Guru are peoples creative works in their own stories and artworks. That's something that can certainly be incorporated.
You could have sections for new players. Tips, tricks, and resources. Even give them a chance to be 'interviewed' from a new players perspective. It may give everyone a feeling of being more involved.
Absolutely, PvP has content to be put in as well with current meta's and design. It could even be used as a better resource for players who are trying to make that jump from PvE to PvP. Articles and advice on how to do it, what to look for, what to expect; All can be branched out into many different subjects.
While our game may be past its prime, it's not gone, and not forgotten. Another great thing about any magazine such as this is that it can also be used as a bridge of information into Guild Wars 2 as more information becomes available.
If there's one thing Guru can show everyone, it's that many of us have plenty of creativity and ideas that can be turned into Article Material. There's still a wealth of iinformation out there to be shared and talked about.
Looking through the entire Guru forums it's clear to me that people still have plenty to talk about, discuss, debate, and share with others. One of my favorite reads here on Guru are peoples creative works in their own stories and artworks. That's something that can certainly be incorporated.
You could have sections for new players. Tips, tricks, and resources. Even give them a chance to be 'interviewed' from a new players perspective. It may give everyone a feeling of being more involved.
Absolutely, PvP has content to be put in as well with current meta's and design. It could even be used as a better resource for players who are trying to make that jump from PvE to PvP. Articles and advice on how to do it, what to look for, what to expect; All can be branched out into many different subjects.
While our game may be past its prime, it's not gone, and not forgotten. Another great thing about any magazine such as this is that it can also be used as a bridge of information into Guild Wars 2 as more information becomes available.
If there's one thing Guru can show everyone, it's that many of us have plenty of creativity and ideas that can be turned into Article Material. There's still a wealth of iinformation out there to be shared and talked about.
Aljasha
there isn't much to discuss. after all, there are not many newcomers and a smal faction of the overall player base is actually pvping and everyone else don't give a s. . the only thing left is creating content with the lore as the background, writing satirical essays on the devs, the game and the community, or gossiping about virtually everything.
i have enough projects to advance, so i can't help you. after alll, i am not even a native english speaker, but i like reading print and online magazines about one of my favourite games.
i have enough projects to advance, so i can't help you. after alll, i am not even a native english speaker, but i like reading print and online magazines about one of my favourite games.
zwei2stein
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ravious
Instead of a full blown 'zine, why not a monthly column for PvP'ers focusing on the meta, skill balances, etc. I too worry about the sustainability of anything bigger for GW1.
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Besides, even PvE has potential. Despite being static and fully explored, there is always some new detail even for veterans of 5 years. And I can imagine well written articles by teambuild build creators like Arkantos & co. which go much deeper than just skill list and press order be quite interesting read, no?
Fril Estelin
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Originally Posted by zwei2stein
Besides, even PvE has potential. Despite being static and fully explored, there is always some new detail even for veterans of 5 years. And I can imagine well written articles by teambuild build creators like Arkantos & co. which go much deeper than just skill list and press order be quite interesting read, no?
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Maybe the nature of the guide is PvX, because many things can actually cross the barrier PvE/PvP, which is obviously a topic that will be discussed. There would be a bit for everyone, as much as can be done given the collaborative nature of the project.
It's going to be tough to be interesting for everyone, whatever level of skill/play, but if some of the people on my list could contribute a little bit (like Arkantos, Avarre, Inde, Koenig, tmakinen, Billiard, Ensign, holymasamune, and many of the PvPers I only know from their Guru posts, sorry for those I forgot in this post!) it's possible.
I shall say that I welcome posts that argue why one wouldn't read this magazine.
4thVariety
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Originally Posted by Fril Estelin
I shall say that I welcome posts that argue why one wouldn't read this magazine.
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Gun Pierson
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Originally Posted by Lonesamurai
but yeah, a proper magazine and a Player Community council would bea good idea like EvE Online has
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Maybe the combination of a council and a magazine (that also has articles about that council) could make things more interesting. Although I wonder if a council would be a good idea. I don't want a bunch of fanbois to represent me, because they lack the neutrality to be critical.
Enon
Care to elaborate what exactly this supposed council is representing? What are their tasks etc.?
![]HM[ Sabre Wolf](/static/static/../Img/avatar102835_2.gif){kind=avatar}
]HM[ Sabre Wolf
I always looked foward to the "Heal Bot" cartoon monk series and "The Scribe" series... kinda do miss those. I guess something from each of those would be cool along with a GvG Monthly Update, skill(s) of the month, a column from Regina notes and Updates to look foward to... would be a good read, let me know if you want some help with that.
Cacheelma
There's still a PVP scene in this game? I thought it died a bleeding death with TGH. And no, a tournament in which one team wins over and over doesn't really count as a "scene" imo.
Too late for this kind of thing, really.
Too late for this kind of thing, really.
Zinger314
Anyone remember Photics around release? That was actually useful.
I think.
I think.
upier
Might as well use this suggestion as a suggestion for the posters here to write better thought out opening posts.
The only thing you'd gain by posting opinions in an magazine form compared to a forum post is the pretty from being able to edit it nicely with some shiny pictures.
But you lose the option of the subsequent discussion, and I feel that's just not worth it.
Now on the other hand if it was OFFICIAL with new stuff - then we are onto something!
The only thing you'd gain by posting opinions in an magazine form compared to a forum post is the pretty from being able to edit it nicely with some shiny pictures.
But you lose the option of the subsequent discussion, and I feel that's just not worth it.
Now on the other hand if it was OFFICIAL with new stuff - then we are onto something!
Lonesamurai
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Originally Posted by Gun Pierson
Maybe the combination of a council and a magazine (that also has articles about that council) could make things more interesting. Although I wonder if a council would be a good idea. I don't want a bunch of fanbois to represent me, because they lack the neutrality to be critical.
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it would also have input from Regina and Martin,but would not include them as the council would be there to help them and help us and ideas couldbeput forward to the council andvoted on before they passed them on rather than them dealing with some of the signal/noise ratio... and hell, if the player council hates the ideas then its players saying no to it before the devs put it in place and we all scream that its rubbish
for info, you can read up on Eve's player council here:
Council of Stellar Management
Accuracy: Accurate This page was approved
The Council of Stellar Management (CSM) is a player-elected council to represent the views of the players to CCP.
Current CSM members can be identified by the title CSM under their image in the forum posts.
Players can raise issues to the CSM for consideration, and obtain support for the CSM to raise issues to CCP by posting in the Assembly Hall Channel on the Eve-Online official forums.
CSM Activity
See also
- The CSM Category on Evelopedia for all pages and subcategories related to the CSM
- What is the CSM
- CSM Delegates
- How the CSM is elected
- CSM voting patterns
- Categories for use by CSM on the Evelopedia
Mordakai
I think it's a great idea to start working on this now.
Once GW2 info starts coming, it will be nice to have everything in one space, with "expert" commentary from your writers.
You need to start working on this now:
To establish an audience.
To have practice, and decide how things will be organized.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
EDIT: Forgot to mention what I'd want to see:
Lore
info on places "off the trail"
Any new info on GW2 that can be gotten from Anet would be HUGE (obviously)
Once GW2 info starts coming, it will be nice to have everything in one space, with "expert" commentary from your writers.
You need to start working on this now:
To establish an audience.
To have practice, and decide how things will be organized.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
EDIT: Forgot to mention what I'd want to see:
Lore
info on places "off the trail"
Any new info on GW2 that can be gotten from Anet would be HUGE (obviously)
Winterclaw
So how would we know that this council isn't filled with a combonation of the worst players and Anet's cronies?
IMO it's a bad idea if ANet used it.
IMO it's a bad idea if ANet used it.
eeks
I'd definitely read one. I'd hope for something like The Scribe, just released far more consistantly and a wee bit more in-depth.
Lore and trivia would be a cute addition, I suppose. Amongst other examples people have mentioned, anyway.
Lore and trivia would be a cute addition, I suppose. Amongst other examples people have mentioned, anyway.
Accursed
There really isn't anything to read about Guild Wars.
A Guild Wars 2 magazine would be pretty nice; I would definitely subscribe to it.
A Guild Wars 2 magazine would be pretty nice; I would definitely subscribe to it.
slowerpoke
maybe 4 years ago, currently there isn't enough gw news to fill the back of a beer mat.
Fril Estelin
From the GW community news:
http://photics.com/team-up-with-phot...wars-magazine/
Photics is trying to reboot. I hope they succeed.
http://photics.com/team-up-with-phot...wars-magazine/
Photics is trying to reboot. I hope they succeed.
Targren
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Originally Posted by Fril Estelin
I shall say that I welcome posts that argue why one wouldn't read this magazine.
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Marvollo Gaunt
I would read such a journal.
The only issue is keeping all the material fresh, views balanced, etc. A magazine/journal which is forced to run two articles on the same thing in separate issues tend to not hold interest very long.
The only issue is keeping all the material fresh, views balanced, etc. A magazine/journal which is forced to run two articles on the same thing in separate issues tend to not hold interest very long.
MithranArkanere
Of course!
...if it's free.
...if it's free.
Gun Pierson
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Originally Posted by Targren
I'll make one. If it's going to be as PvP-centric as it sounds, I'll have no reason to read it whatsoever.
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Maybe if 2/3 of the magazine goes about pve and 1/3 about pvp that they can put an interesting read together.