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Armchair Arcade -> Forums -> General Discussion

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Some comments

Moderators: Bill Loguidice, David Torre, crcasey, Mark1970, deshrill

Author

Post

Stede Troisi

Tue Jan 20 2004, 10:10PM

Registered Member #96
Joined Tue Jan 20 2004, 10:05PM
posts 13

Hi All,

Obviously this is one of the most professional hobby sites I have ever seen. A few suggestions though.

Although I appreciate the quality of the editorial I did find myself thinking the articles were a little too long. I am not necessarily saying it is a bad thing but I did find myself giving up on some of them because of the size. Does anyone else feel that way?

Two, and this is kind of stupid knowing the site is so new but more articles from different people would be nice.

Other then that, I give this site a 9 out of 10 and a few issues more when the content kicks in a perfect 10 will follow.

Thanks,
Stede

Buck Feris

Tue Jan 20 2004, 11:10PM

Armchair Arcade Editor

Location: Louisville, KY
posts 1542

Thanks for the comments. We have been part of this scene for a while. In a way, we have been part of this scene since the 70's.

Good news/bad news. The good news is that there will be many different sorts of articles of varying lengths. The bad news is that some of them will be longer.

The whole point of this site is to cover this topic in depth. We believe that videogames are an artform, and deserve the same level of criticism as other forms of art.

To that end, we are going to be very selective about the submissions we receive. We had to get the ball rolling ourselves, but there will be more. I personally will start writing. I couldn't submit anything to this issue for the simple fact that I had spent so much time just trying to get this monster up and running. (I'm responsible for the design.) But we hope to have 5-6 authors on this next go around. Some cool topics are in the works, with some interviews as well.

So don't fret about length. We want intellegent writers taking the time to explore these subjects. Hopefully we will find more intelligent conversations in the forums and make a few friends along the way.

Thanks for taking the time to write. Stick around and enjoy.

Buck Feris - Armchair Arcade Editor - buck@armchairarcade

Matt Barton

Wed Jan 21 2004, 06:04AM

Location: Tampa, Florida
posts 2680

Thanks for writing, Stede. We appreciate our readers' comments and value them greatly.

I think Buck said it best in his reply, but I'd add that we all strive to remove all unnecessary material from our articles and reduce them to a manageable length--as short as we can make them without losing vital content. I like the idea of publishing articles of various lengths; maybe two or three major articles, three smaller articles, and then a few snippets or bytes. This way people can gauge what they have time to read in each sitting!

Matt Barton

Bill Loguidice

Wed Jan 21 2004, 08:54AM

Armchair Arcade Co-Founder and Editor

Location: Central New Jersey, USA
posts 4817

Also, Stede, don't forget, for everyone's convenience, there's a printer icon on the last page of every article. Clicking this will create a nice printable version that can be scanned online or off, giving you or anyone else the ability to read at their liesure.

And, yes, I second what Buck and Matt have said. Articles are only as long as they have to be. We don't make them purposely long, but we'll never do a disservice to a topic either.

And the first issue is just a sampling of what is to come. As much as we would have liked to, we couldn't launch with more articles. Every few months though, we'll be launching issues and growing that number. So enjoy...

Bill Loguidice - Armchair Arcade Editor
www.billandchristina.com (includes videogame & computer collection)
www.mythcore.com (creative development company)
www.armchairarcade.com (soliciting articles NOW!)

Stede Troisi

Wed Jan 21 2004, 03:30PM

Registered Member #96
Joined: Tue Jan 20 2004, 10:05PM
posts 13

Thanks for the feedback guys! Have told many people about this. It is great!

DaBj

Thu Jan 22 2004, 04:13AM

Registered Member #60
Joined: Sun Jan 18 2004, 10:20AM
Location: Blekinge, Sweden
posts 18

I would (curteously) like to disagree with Stede Troisi here. =)
The fact that I immediately liked this publication (apart from having Shatner on the "cover", heh) was the length of the articles.
But size isn't everything, the fact I still like it after reading all the articles is due to the content itself; it's intelligent and insightful and on a level I can connect with.
Old games isn't just "Aah, do you remember such and such, and man did we spend a lot of quarters at the arcade they don't do them as they used to kids nowadays what with the fragging and 3D and internet" nostalgia (well, it can be...), why not treat it with the same respect and thoughtfulness we treat other subjects?
I guess what I'm trying to say with my ramblings is that I like what I see and I am definitely coming back for more, maybe even with an article of my own

You fight like a dairy farmer!

Buck Feris

Thu Jan 22 2004, 09:43AM

Armchair Arcade Editor

Location: Louisville, KY
posts 1542

Those are some good comments DaBj. I was just a big game fan for many years. When I got to a certain age, I became nostalgic about my experiences and tried to recreate them. In most instances I found that I could not go home again. However, I then saw it from a different perspective. What was it that sucked me into the first place? What was it that held my attention so strongly? In trying to find out what that something was, I found my self using the same techniques that are used by serious scholars and art critics. Throw a little interesting political and business history into the mix and there you have it: Armchair Arcade.

BTW, Shatner is on the first cover for a reason. Come on, I'm a geek, he's a geek, they are geeks, we're all geeks. What better way to say, "Geeks are welcome here!" then to put William Shatner on the cover of the first issue?

Buck Feris - Armchair Arcade Editor - buck@armchairarcade

Matt Barton

Thu Jan 22 2004, 10:18AM

Location: Tampa, Florida
posts 2680

So does this mean we get to put Devo on the next cover?

Matt Barton

Bill Loguidice

Thu Jan 22 2004, 12:37PM

Armchair Arcade Co-Founder and Editor

Location: Central New Jersey, USA
posts 4817

Buck Feris wrote: ...

BTW, Shatner is on the first cover for a reason. Come on, I'm a geek, he's a geek, they are geeks, we're all geeks. What better way to say, "Geeks are welcome here!" then to put William Shatner on the cover of the first issue?

And you've got to LOVE that new Priceline commercial with him and his "replacement"...

Buck Feris

Thu Jan 22 2004, 02:25PM

Armchair Arcade Editor

Location: Louisville, KY
posts 1542

Matt Barton wrote: ...
So does this mean we get to put Devo on the next cover?

Nice idea actually. I am going to dive headfirst into the deep waters of the 80's. I may drown there, but damnit there will be some good covers. I'm still considering the 'girls of AA' cover. "Big Hair, Big Guns, Big Fun!"

Buck Feris - Armchair Arcade Editor - buck@armchairarcade

Bill Loguidice

Thu Jan 22 2004, 03:19PM

Armchair Arcade Co-Founder and Editor

Location: Central New Jersey, USA
posts 4817

If we have no issues in regards to rights, I think a more subtle "Big Hair, Big Guns, Big Fun!" cover would be just fine...

DaBj

Thu Jan 22 2004, 04:28PM

Registered Member #60
Joined: Sun Jan 18 2004, 10:20AM
Location: Blekinge, Sweden
posts 18

Buck Feris wrote: ...
What better way to say, "Geeks are welcome here!" then to put William Shatner on the cover of the first issue?

The fact that the cover (and top menu) is made to resemble an Atari 2600 gamebox in itself screams "geek" to me.

Buck Feris wrote: ...
When I got to a certain age, I became nostalgic about my experiences and tried to recreate them. In most instances I found that I could not go home again.

You know, I have had the exact same experience with my gaming.
I think the problem is that the games of old are taken "out of context" so to speak. For instance, since someone mentioned the 80's, look at how they dressed back then.
(There is no shame in admitting it, we all did it =) )
Today no one would even *think* about dressing like that, retrowaves aside, back then it was way cool and considered a must. For a game to "work" even when taken out of context is has to be something truly special indeed, something that place it above other games of that era. In fact I consider the definition of "classic" to be this very characteristic.

Buck Feris wrote: ...
What was it that sucked me into the first place? What was it that held my attention so strongly? In trying to find out what that something was, I found my self using the same techniques that are used by serious scholars and art critics.

An interesting aproach I haven't concidered. It seems we, both writers and readers, have an interesting journey ahead then. Hopefully I will be able to contribute in some small way with ideas of my own, now that I have found some people that are on the same "level" as me (even though Bill Loguidice's collection is way bigger than mine, hrmpf :/ ).
[ Edited Thu Jan 22 2004, 05:29PM ]

You fight like a dairy farmer!

Buck Feris

Thu Jan 22 2004, 08:39PM

Armchair Arcade Editor

Location: Louisville, KY
posts 1542

DaBj wrote: ...
It seems we, both writers and readers, have an interesting journey ahead then. Hopefully I will be able to contribute in some small way with ideas of my own, now that I have found some people that are on the same "level" as me (even though Bill Loguidice's collection is way bigger than mine, hrmpf :/ ).

Bring it on! Submissions are always welcome.

http://www.armchairarcade.com/aamain/e107_plugins/survey/survey.php?1

Buck Feris - Armchair Arcade Editor - buck@armchairarcade

DaBj

Fri Jan 23 2004, 02:12AM

Registered Member #60
Joined: Sun Jan 18 2004, 10:20AM
Location: Blekinge, Sweden
posts 18

Yes, about that submission page, what is supposed to go in the "date" field; when I'm born, todays date or the date I think I will be done? And whats up with the "..." button that does nothing (at least when I click on it)?

You fight like a dairy farmer!

Buck Feris

Fri Jan 23 2004, 07:25AM

Armchair Arcade Editor

Location: Louisville, KY
posts 1542

I have a theory about the button that does nothing. It's just a theory mind you, but I like it. I believe you are supposed to be able to click it and get today's date automatically. Alas, it does not work. I have been checking for udates to that particular plugin, but have found none, so for now I will have to live with it in the date field. It is just a date field so that we know when it was submitted.

Mmmmmmm. However, it just generates an email...and the date is on the email anyway...

Thanks DaBj. I'm removing the Date field. Good work.

Buck Feris - Armchair Arcade Editor - buck@armchairarcade

Raven

Fri Jan 23 2004, 08:36PM

Registered Member #64
Joined: Sun Jan 18 2004, 02:50PM
Location: Seattle, Washington
posts 21

ifi you want to see 80s video games at it's best check this
http://www.x-entertainment.com/downloads/commercials/zelda.html</a>

oh man, this commercial makes me shed a tear of pain.

---- Necrophilia means never having to say you're sorry. ----
What is the high point of a bulimic's party?
- When the cake comes out of the girl.
---- What do you get when you cross a Mexican with an Italian?
- Someone who makes you an offer you can't understand.

majortom

Mon Jan 26 2004, 12:37PM

Registered Member #49
Joined: Sat Jan 17 2004, 07:04PM
posts 223

Daddgummit! This site better stop kicking so much ass!

"So I make my way over to Tibet...and I set myself up as a hoofer."

"A what?"

"A hoofer, y'know, a caddy. So who do you think they give me but the Dalai Llama himself! The grace, the flowing robes, everything.....so at the end, he's gonna' stiff me! And I say, hey! What about a li'l somethin', you know, for the effort? And he says, oh, there won't be any money, but when you die, you will receive total consciousness. So I got that goin' for me...which is nice.

-Bill Murray "Carl the Greenskeeper"; Caddyshack

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