What do you think of Video Game Trader Magazine????

[videogametrader]

Hello, I am the editor and creator of Video Game Trader Magazine. We have now released our 3rd issue (PDF format) and would like an opinion as to how we are doing.

We currently cover classic systems like the NES, Master System, Game Boy Classic... etc. We recently added the Turbo Grafx 16 and will add the Atari 2600 to our price guide in Issue 4.

Our goal is to develop a base of readers for our PDF version and then offer a professionally printed publication once there is enough interest.

I will be at Too Many Games in May to promote the magazine, and will have about 100-200 special issue copies to give out free.

If you have not yet checked out our magazine, please head over to www.videogametrader.com and let me know what you think. Our latest issue is 24 pages and includes the price guide.

Since I designed this magazine with YOU in mind, I would like to hear from you. The good. The bad. And the ugly. Don't hold your punches.

And if anyone wants to contribute, please let me know.

Thanks for reading. Without any advertising we have had about 500 readers in January and over 1000 in February. I expect up to 2000 in March.

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering. We currently offer two versions of the magazine. 1) a free online viewable magazine in PDF format (non printable) and soon to be upgraded to a flash magazine. and 2) a printable PDF subscription.

Thanks again!

Thomas Sansone

See you at Too Many Games.

[Nero 99]

Pretty damn good! As soon as you start oficially printing them ill subscribe for sure.My only comment is that you might want to focus on more than one system per issue, other than that keep up the good work! o yea use more color too!!

[Maxx]

Since I designed this magazine with YOU in mind, I would like to hear from you. The good. The bad. And the ugly. Don't hold your punches.


You asked for it...

1.) Don't ever use pink in the price guide again. We are looking up classic video games, not classic barbie doll prices. Issue #2 was good with the blue. My personal oppinion would be to use a gray. The crowd that you need to talor to is the collector thats scowering garage sales and flea markets. Give it that newspaper feel.

2.) Separate your systems onto a new page. I can have on my screen price listings for 3 different games and not have a single clue as to what system I've jumped to. Don't be afraid to waste that virtual paper. And when you do start printing, I can use this space for notes.

3.) Font. Maybe it's because I have a cheap monitor or something, but the font of the price guide is too... tall/skinny... I don't know a good font to suggest, but the one in use is anoying...

4.) The five column in issue #2 looked much better than four column in issue #3.

5.) Don't give us tips and tricks to an obscure game that we probably have buried in a closet somewhere. If we want tips and tricks, we can look them up. They are everywhere. Instead, tell us the storyline. Make us interested in the title. Make us want to dive into that closet and pull it out and play it. Make us want to search ebay for a copy if we don't have it.

6.) Never stick an advertisement picture in the middle of your article. Video Game Connection may be a great place and I may want to check them out one day, but not while I'm trying to read your article.

7.) Work on your placement of pictures. We as collectors need pictures; we love pictures, but don't try to over run your article with pictures such that it makes for an anoying word search to find the rest of the sentance. For example page 10 of issue #3 has 5 sentences for the whole page! Pictures with captions are much better than pictures scattered about your article.

8.) Dan should do an article every issue. Tales of the Turbo was halarious. "strolling past the hanging shrunken heads while stepping around the Ark fo the Covenant that had a glass jar containing the eyeball from the Loch Ness Monster resting on its lid that acted as a bookend of sorts that held the boxes of Vectrex light pens in place. " That's beyond funny.

I've got many other points if your willing to listen, but I'm out of time for now.

[videogametrader]

Pretty damn good! As soon as you start oficially printing them ill subscribe for sure.My only comment is that you might want to focus on more than one system per issue, other than that keep up the good work! o yea use more color too!!

Thanks for the comment. I agree 100% with both of your points. The reason we are focusing on one system per issue is because we tie that in with adding said system to the pice guide. Once all classic systems are in our guide we will focus on different topics.

I also need to hire a real magazine designer as I can only do so much. Any volunteers? :)

I am hoping to have my first printed issue at Too Many Games. I am going to try to print about 100-200 issues and give them away as freebies.

Tom

[videogametrader]

You asked for it...

1.) Don't ever use pink in the price guide again. We are looking up classic video games, not classic barbie doll prices. Issue #2 was good with the blue. My personal oppinion would be to use a gray. The crowd that you need to talor to is the collector thats scowering garage sales and flea markets. Give it that newspaper feel.

...

I've got many other points if your willing to listen, but I'm out of time for now.

That is what I am talking about!! You have just become my new best friend. Keep the comments coming. I am a big boy and can take it. I agree with virtually all of your points and will work on some changes in the coming issues. I can't promise to fix everything by issue 4, but I will at least attempt to make some changes each issue to better the magazine.

I would like to comment on one thing. The reason for the column change form Issue 2 to Issue 3 was so that I can print the magazine. Issue 2 was an 8.5 x 11 size issue. Issue 3 is about half that size (about the size of the VG Collector special issue). I have chosen this size for now because I am going to try to have some (about 100-200) printed and the 8.5 x 11 size is not in the budget at the moment. But the plan is to eventually publish a full sized magazine.

Tom