How many of you buy wargaming magazines, and which ones? What makes you buy them, the articles, the game reports, the news features? And do you spend any time looking through the various adverts? Do you feel that they are worth the subscription?
I just flick through them in Smiths. Over priced, WI used as a selling tool for FOW. Rarely find anything of interest. Best left on the shelf. I do subscribe to Ancient Warfare which I think is money well spent.
I agree with Martyn; I sometimes flick through in Smiths and very, very rarely buy. In recent years I've tended to muy Military Modelling vehicles specials if there is anything of interest, which generally there is. As for adverts, never consciously read them.
Battlegames by subscription - the best wargaming magazine in the last 3 decades. Every issue is a cracker with a wide range of interest gaming related articles every time - very little 3rd rate cod history as you tend to get in other publications.
WI and MW i browse in Smiths and occasionally buy if there is an article that interests me - probably once or twice a year at most.
I always read the adverts but i really pick up my information on new ranges etc from the web
oh and if you are into Ancients then, as Martyn says, Ancient Warfare is superb (tends to focus on Greek/Roman periods)
Very much impulse purchase as and when there is something of interest to me.
They don't much show up on the shelves here. I buy PDFs of battlegames when it has content of interest.
Not much interest it seems. Now is that because I'm asking on an internet forum, where members are more likely to check the web for their wargaming info? I wonder how many people without as much 'net access are buying the mags?
Infrequent buys for me - usually when I'm near a town rather than round here...it is nice to have a hard copy to read, but I do get the vast majority of my info online. I do read the adverts though...actually, if I've forked out £4+ for a magazine, I'll read everything :P
Buy...
White Dwarf.
Ahem. I am ashamed.
Why? Well, because i've bought pretty much every one since issue 30...i'm like Pavlov's Dog...
Wierd since i don't play any of the GW core games really (although i do go for their specialist games), and very rarely buy any of their massively overpriced models...
Used to buy Wargames Illustrated but stopped buying it after the second issue past the buy up and transmutation into a FOW catalogue. (FOW being the 'worst rules ever' - cue Comicbook Guy impersonation...).
Do i look at ads. Yep, i did. Always interested to find new suppliers...
Now though, what with this new fangled tinterweb thingy, frankly paper rags are a bit superfluous really...everything i need is online, and its olny a few short clicks from searching to placing that all important purchase order... :D
Subscribe to WI, really is not as bad as others make out. Adverts are read, content is varied - basically a good mag. Most others picked up as and when something interests me. I prefer hard copy to internet, tough i do spend far too much time on the net :-)
Are you thinking of branching out into written word??
We used to advertise in WI, but stopped some time ago. Now we have a regular slot in MW, and we've also got an ad in the new Wargames Recon mag, who are featured on our website.
We've got no intention of ever starting a magazine, it's a very difficult market to break into, and make money from. We might consider an electronic newsletter one day, but I've got enough on my 'To Do' list at the moment! :D
The main reason was pure curiosity. We get them delivered to Pendraken HQ whenever we have an advert in, and I tend to flick through them from time to time. Also, regular magazine adverts can require quite a hefty budget, and I was interested in how much attention people paid to them
And effective website is a far better option for you guys i'd say.
Get pictures of all your products online is the no.1 priority i'd say, and then get links to your website spread out as far and wide as possible through the mass of gamer websites, blogs, etc..
At 10mm you're riding on the back of some great rulesets so you don't need to waste resources creating your own...so looking good Leon!! :D
As for magiazine, just in general really, i'm astonished that there is still such a proliferation of expendable printed media out there. Most of them are filled with absolute drivel (including many gamer mags...).
Something i see as a niche option is an 'online magazine' that concentrates on 'user generated content', perhaps a central 'wargames hosting site' that allows for contributors to post up hobby-based articles, scenarios, rules, etc.
Something akin to what Dark Reign has done for the Warhammer 40k roleplaying game.
It'd be a labour of love though as i guess there won't be much money in it aside from selling advertising space...
I buy Wargames Illustrated and Miniature Wargames and I subscribe to Battlegames. Unfortunately WI has more FOW content than I want (none would be preferable) and MW appears to be allocating more space than I want to Sci-Fi gaming (none would be preferable). At the end of the day it looks like Battlegames is the only viable magazine for me. I do read the ads too!
Not since t'internet started showing all kinds of gaming goodies
Anyone want to buy a load of old MW & WI mags?
Quote from: Luddite on 27 May 2010, 11:59:00 AM
Get pictures of all your products online is the no.1 priority i'd say, and then get links to your website spread out as far and wide as possible through the mass of gamer websites, blogs, etc..
I've got all the ECW range on the side to be photographed, and we'll also need to get the June releases done over the weekend as well. After that it'll be the Marlburian's and the Jacobite's.
Quote from: Luddite on 27 May 2010, 11:59:00 AM
Something i see as a niche option is an 'online magazine' that concentrates on 'user generated content', perhaps a central 'wargames hosting site' that allows for contributors to post up hobby-based articles, scenarios, rules, etc.
Interesting idea. I'd like the Forum to be something like that, I'd love to have a section for people to write their own articles and things. If people are willing to do them, we'll definitely create the space. Things like that are all part of getting people to see this place as more than just an extension of the Pendraken site.
Quote from: Leon on 27 May 2010, 06:07:38 PM
Interesting idea. I'd like the Forum to be something like that, I'd love to have a section for people to write their own articles and things. If people are willing to do them, we'll definitely create the space. Things like that are all part of getting people to see this place as more than just an extension of the Pendraken site.
We sort of try to do it at the Durham club's website (see my sig for link), but trying to get articles out of the chaps is like pulling teeth...
Quote from: Luddite on 28 May 2010, 04:20:50 PM
We sort of try to do it at the Durham club's website (see my sig for link), but trying to get articles out of the chaps is like pulling teeth...
:D
Hopefully as we get more members, and we can start to offer competitions and prizes, then we'll see more people willing to offer input like that.
I'd forgotten you were in the Durham club, I was on your site last week to steal your logo for the Show advert on our website! :-[
Sometimes I buy "Wargames, soldados y estrategia". Not always interest me but is the few products of quality made in spain, so I try to lend a hand
When Im in town I do look for WI, I like the pictures :D and do like to see whats on offer. They then get piled under my bed and then get sorted every 2 years or so - I have a mild form of alzimers (sic) so the articles are all new every time I discover them under the bed- value for cash or what???? ;)
Quote from: 17-21l on 08 June 2010, 09:20:13 PM
When Im in town I do look for WI, I like the pictures :D and do like to see whats on offer. They then get piled under my bed and then get sorted every 2 years or so - I have a mild form of alzimers (sic) so the articles are all new every time I discover them under the bed- value for cash or what???? ;)
You never seem to forget about the Naps...! ;D :P
I am always surprised by the strong reactions magazines provoke. I regularly get both Wargames Illustrated and Miniature Wargames from my local newsagent and I find them to be a great source of inspiration. In its latest incarnation Wargames Ilustrated is a lavish and substantial publication - sure there is always a decent FOW section, but it is far from a FOW catalogue and the FOW content is basically extra pages added on top of the old magazine (while I don't play FOW the articles and images are well done and usually an enjoyable read). Miniature Wargames has also lifted it's game recently - the new format is better looking and better organized. On balance I enjoy MW more as it's articles seem to have a greater gaming focus (as opposed to modeling) but I think both are worth the price (noting that I am in Aust and they cost me about $15 each). In addition to WI and MW I also get the SOTCW journal (great read highly recommended) and I have recently taken out a PDF subscription to Battlegames (great initiative that I hope more magazines follow!).
So do I pay any attention to the advertising? As I am in Aust I get these magazine several weeks after UK release so I have generally seen most products online long before I see any magazine ads - but in general:
WI: No as ads are generally for the bigger players and I have seen most of it before.
MW: Ocassionally as they seem to attract a broader range of ads which highlight figures or companies I have not seen before (for example I followed up 2 ads from the latest issue).
SOTCW: Often as the articles and reviews commonly touch on figures and ranges that I was not previously aware of - also as many companies offer a SOTCW discount I am usually more motivated to follow up.
Personally I think the best form of magazine advertising is articles which include figures 'suggestions'. I am more likey to buy figures when I have been inspired by a period or a scenario. You might want to consider how you can motivate budding wargame writers to doing something around your figures?
Quote from: huascar on 09 June 2010, 07:22:13 AM
Personally I think the best form of magazine advertising is articles which include figures 'suggestions'. I am more likey to buy figures when I have been inspired by a period or a scenario. You might want to consider how you can motivate budding wargame writers to doing something around your figures?
Interesting stuff there, cheers. We're always open to people writing about our products, the problem seems to be that the bigger magazines aren't that keen on putting much 10mm in their articles. There is a SCW article currently being done for MW, with our figures (painted by Nik), but apart from that, we haven't had anything featured for some time.
The one exception to that is Wargames Recon, the new mag on the block, who've only been going since the start of the year. So far they've included our stuff in all three issues, and it's nice to see 10mm gaming getting a bit more coverage.
Leon - why dont you write an article for the mags?? " the advantages of 10mil" or somat like that , and include some fab painted figures from the forum - lets face it there are some beauties. I beleave its figures that interest people!!, not periods , theyre already into what they are into so if they see some 10mm that are well painted- well who knows?
Some of those FAB AWI or SYW painted figs and some WW2, that'll get em hungry for more. ::)
Maybe, I'm sure me and Dave could have a go at something.
If you write it, just tell around here to buy the magazine :D
I like Miniature Wargames mag. In fact I've written articles for it, but only for the previous regime. Perhaps I should do a couple more for the new geezer.
Quote from: Leon on 10 June 2010, 02:43:50 PM
Maybe, I'm sure me and Dave could have a go at something.
you really should. 'Ive lost count of the number of articles i've seen by Pete Berry in various magazines pushing 6mm. Its time for the 10mm fightback!!!
Good point...maybe we should all pitch in, eh??!
Quote from: goat major on 10 June 2010, 09:16:28 PM
you really should. 'Ive lost count of the number of articles i've seen by Pete Berry in various magazines pushing 6mm. Its time for the 10mm fightback!!!
Does he? I didn't realise that. I've been thinking about this tonight while casting, maybe we could come up with something.
Hi
the thing with pete and the 6mm articles is that it is either pushing the 'polemos' ruleset or dispelling the myth ( probably created by Pete;) ) that 6mm are hard to paint....
I think if we which to push 10mm Articles we need to adopt (or write yet another) set of rules that shows the benefits we already know about...
for me 10mm comes into its own at many levels (yes, cost) but also the size lends itself to large formed units... hence why i play Impetus with it, the bases are like diarama's and the game is good, the figures can be seen for what they are straight away and the formations are all there, no fiddly figure removal either....
and for HnM games Black Powder... what we discovered is that if you drop to 10mm on 3 30mm base (approx 100mm frontage of unit) that the ground scale for a 6x4 talbe actually becomes the equivalent of something like a 12x9 table in 28mm :) again the rules do not have figure removal until the unit breaks... so all nicely painted figures get to be on table longer!!
once you decide on a period/ruleset i think the best type of article would be to go along the lines GWs 'battle of 4 gamers' so that you take 4 peoples version of raising troops, building armies and eventually playing a game, either using a budget or a timeframe, or both!!
for example... take 1066... and Basic impetus.... and say a budget of 40£ per gamer... one makes a viking army, one saxon army and two opt for Normans.. (or one norman and one arab army as the first crussade wasnt far away) each game r then shows how he looked at his BI army list, bought the figures he wanted, created units and styled the bases how he wanted... and then played the other players... culminating in merging the armies to play a big 2 vrs 2 game of full Impetus :)
example of HnM period would be to maybe do the Imag-nations option, 4 gamers, 4 imaginary 17C armies based and painted in differnet colours... maybe create a small force generator to vary the troops available to each gamer... like rolling up a space marine chapter in the first rogue trader book ( yes, i am that old :)) so some forces have more infantry available (city states) while other are mor cavalry and light troops (agricultural states) while other have better trained troops (rich states). forces then gwet painted in difierent colours... maybe the local football temas colors :) hmmm, glad i dont live in Norwich altho a yellow army faced green might be nice
just some ideas :)
Shaun
Thanks for that Shaun, I'll have a think about this over the next few weeks.
I used to buy WI and MW and now subscribe to Battlegames, personally if I've forked out good money I'll read everything in a mag several times including the adverts although as apart from a few 28mm WW1 figures all I've bought for about 3 years are 10mm armies I couldn't say that figure adverts actually make me buy new stuff.
As for writing articles the problem is it's bloody hard work (for very little reward although that's not the reason for writing anything for a wargames mag). A 5000 word article will take me about 20 hours of typing, which doesn't include research, maps and other illustrations. So I'm afraid the chances of seeing lots of articles here or on any other website are pretty small.