QuoteFans of Judge Dredd, Johnny Alpha, Zombo and the rest of "2000 AD's" eclectic cast have a lot to get excited about. As of today, March 30, Rebellion's has revealed exclusively to Comic Book Resources that its in-house digital distribution system has officially made "2000 AD" Prog 1776 and "Judge Dredd Megazine" #322 available digitally, 48 hours after the UK release date, marking the first time readers have had the option to read a digital copy of "2000 AD" the same week as print. Readers can choose between PDF and CBZ formats on the 2000 AD website DRM-free, something many larger publishers have been hesitant to offer.
Michael Molcher, PR Coordinator at Rebellion, said, "'2000 AD' was actually one of the earlier adopters of digital content in the industry and we've been digital for seven years now. But with both the 35th anniversary [of '2000 AD'] and the forthcoming Judge Dredd film, 'Dredd,' now seemed like the perfect time to up the ante and allow readers around the world the chance to read '2000 AD' within two days of it hitting UK newsstands -- we're bringing things way forward, practically to day-and-date."
Molcher refers to digital distributor Clickwheel, also owned by Rebellion, who has distributed (among other titles) "2000 AD" for several years while suffering from large lag times between the print release of a title and its digital version, sometimes taking up to a month. The goal of the new initiative is to cut that lag time down to 48 hours and offer the books for sale on their own website. Clickwheel will, for the time being, continue to offer digital versions of both "2000 AD" and the "Judge Dredd Megazine."
As to why Rebellion has chosen to make the switch to in-house digital distribution, Molcher said "we've got plenty of plans for the future of digital at '2000 AD,' so it made sense to do it ourselves. ... We are also very excited to announce that we are currently working on a new digital platform for '2000 AD.' More details will be unveiled over the next couple of months."
Molcher told CBR that while Rebellion does not currently plan to release any digital-only graphic novels at the moment, fans can look forward to the bagged-in graphic novels of reprint material packaged with each installment of "Judge Dredd Megazine" to be attached at the end of every "Megazine" digital issue.
"2000 AD" prog 1776 features fresh installments of "Judge Dredd," "She is Legend," "Nikolai Dante," and "Flesh." It also includes the second part of the much-hyped "The Zaucer of Zilk" storyline by Brendan McCarthy and Al Ewing.
"Judge Dredd Megazine" #322 is especially notable as the return of former "2000 AD" editor-in-chief and fan favorite writer Andy Diggle to the book with frequent collaborator Jock on their creator-owned project "Snapshot." It also features the "Megazine" debut of writing team Leah Moore and John Reppion on "Scouting for Bots."
"2000 AD" prog 1776 and "Judge Dredd Megazine" #322 will be available at www.2000adonline.com in both PDF and CBZ formats starting Friday, March 30. New issues will become available every Friday after their UK release.
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37792
Wow, that's brilliant. Just as my digital prog collecting was on the verge of catching up to the present, too. :)
Is digital comics better? wonder what the good and bad about it? as got too many Progs at home...
Fantastic news. Kudos.
Next step, creating a digital subscription service that creates automatic "trades" that collect the thrills once they're done :D
I'll let you bask in this glory for a while though :P
Quote from: Evil Pants on 30 March, 2012, 04:25:02 PM
Next step, creating a digital subscription service that creates automatic "trades" that collect the thrills once they're done :D
I wouldn't hold your breath, Earthlet ;P
Quote from: Molch-R on 30 March, 2012, 04:27:10 PM
Quote from: Evil Pants on 30 March, 2012, 04:25:02 PM
Next step, creating a digital subscription service that creates automatic "trades" that collect the thrills once they're done :D
I wouldn't hold your breath, Earthlet ;P
Understood :lol:
Hey, on the store Prog 1776 is £1.99 while Prog 1775 is £1.54, is the price of the digital Progs going to go down to the £1.54 once the next one comes out, or will price stay the same?
If it is the latter will the prices of older Progs be bumped up to match?
We're currently transitioning digital prices to bring the store and Clickwheel into line. More news as we have it.
This is the greatest thing since bread came sliced. Two progs in one week for me!
Stevie! Adventurer! The time to quit Diamond is NOW!
Excellent news.
(http://i30.tinypic.com/358v1ms.jpg)
Fantastic.
I heartily applaud and will continue to support the digital prog (thinking that if if I persist, Mrs Tips will buy me a tablet to read them on)
Yay. Now all of a sudden there are two issues of the Meg awaiting not just the Prog. Nice to see the same day digital issues are still cheaper than the paper version, unlike DC where you have to wait a month for the discount.
Oh and damswedon, the Clickwheel price is the same for latest Prog as the others. Whether that will remain the same when both are brought in line... well, we'll see.
Is a tad worrying Clickwheel purchases don't appear to be secure, although I'm taking the chance...
Quote from: Mardroid on 31 March, 2012, 06:16:04 PM
Nice to see the same day digital issues are still cheaper than the paper version
Not same day, same week. The digital versions go up two days after the prints are in the shops. Saturday/Monday for subs, Wednesday for print and Friday for digis.
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 31 March, 2012, 06:21:12 PM
Not same day, same week. The digital versions go up two days after the prints are in the shops. Saturday/Monday for subs, Wednesday for print and Friday for digis.
Oops, sorry, yes. I did notice that. A slip of the key as it were. (I had 'same day' for the DC New 52 at the back of my mind when I typed that.) Still good, 2 days isn't much.
The House to Astonish (http://www.housetoastonish.com) guys discuss this digital move for 2000AD as part of their latest podcast today - the short version is that they suspect this may prove more significant for 2000AD than similar moves have done for US super-hero titles.
Quote from: Mardroid on 31 March, 2012, 06:16:04 PMIs a tad worrying Clickwheel purchases don't appear to be secure, although I'm taking the chance...
It is definitely pretty off-putting. I'd really like to buy some of the older issues that the official shop doesn't have in digital, but it feels like the equivalent of being asked to send in my credit card details on a postcard. Isn't there some way to get the site security fixed? This announcement has surely got to be drawing some new people in to check out the digital options, and it makes Clickwheel look embarrassingly unprofessional.
Still no chance of paypal?
Excellent news! I recently upgraded my iPad2 to the "New" iPad (3) and the resolution is now amazing (not that it wasn't good anyway). For anyone unsure of taking the plunge I can definitely recommend it. No more piles of comics everywhere although the collectors out there might argue it's not the same. All I can say is if more people are buying digital copies then surely that makes the print copies more valuable in time?
Wonderful news, advance with the times.
Are these online transactions secure? the Clickwheel comments sound worrying. Are these digital copies pirate proof too?
Quote from: dracula1 on 01 April, 2012, 12:45:35 PM
Are these digital copies pirate proof too?
No, what would be the point? It gets uploaded by scanners every week anyway. Pissin' in the wind trying to stop it and would cost money.
Yep! that's a valid point Joe. Well as long as the transactions are secure l'll go digital.
Molch-R, are there any plans to introduce dual paper and digital subscriptions?
I'm a paper subscriber, and while I'd never want to stop getting a paper copy, I do find digital copies on the ipad pretty bloody handy (a big dose of thirll power without having to cart around 2 dozen progs doesn't half make a train journey go quicker). I'd be quite happy to pay a nominal extra (say around 50p per issue) to have both.
Quote from: oshii on 01 April, 2012, 04:14:15 PMI'm a paper subscriber, and while I'd never want to stop getting a paper copy, I do find digital copies on the ipad pretty bloody handy (a big dose of thirll power without having to cart around 2 dozen progs doesn't half make a train journey go quicker). I'd be quite happy to pay a nominal extra (say around 50p per issue) to have both.
I was wondering about this, too. Several of the magazines I write for do dual subs (sub to the paper mag and get access to a subscriber area on the website, where you can download PDFs for free). Echoing oshii, I wouldn't expect such a service for free (after all, infrastructure costs must be paid for), but I would be interested in a slight bump to the subs price for a dual print/digital subscription.
Same here, I don't keep the printed prog forever, but it would be great to have access to the digital archives for a small addition to the sub.
Quote from: oshii on 01 April, 2012, 04:14:15 PM
Molch-R, are there any plans to introduce dual paper and digital subscriptions?
No.
Quote from: Molch-R on 30 March, 2012, 03:38:57 PM
QuoteAs to why Rebellion has chosen to make the switch to in-house digital distribution, Molcher said "we've got plenty of plans for the future of digital at '2000 AD,' so it made sense to do it ourselves. ... We are also very excited to announce that we are currently working on a new digital platform for '2000 AD.' More details will be unveiled over the next couple of months."
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37792
A bit more on this from The Beat:
QuoteComputer games developer Rebellion, which owns 2000 AD, is also proud to announce that it is currently working on its own digital comics platform, due for release later this year. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
"This is a big leap for us," said Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley. "We were one of the first publishers to produce digital copies of all our titles, though print editions were given priority. We felt this year, with 2000 AD's 35th birthday and the Dredd film coming out in September, was the time to take our digital strategy forward. We've also got some exciting digital news coming in the next few months, so 2012 really is shaping up to be the year of 2000 AD."
www.comicsbeat.com/2012/04/02/2000-ad-shortens-digital-window-plans-more-digital-comics/
Should help 2000AD reach more readers - being able grab a CBR is fine for those in the know already but having something like a 2000AD app (if that is what we are talking about) should get the prog under the noses of a lot of potential new readers. One to watch, I suspect.
So... what time of day do these Friday progs go up?
Not that I've been haunting the online store all day or anything. :-[
Me too.
Are we going to have prog 1777 available on either Clickwheel or the Shop today?
Thanks, understand if there's delays.
Yeah, where's my prog? Y'all've been doing so well lately! We've got thrills to read!
Well, it is a bank holiday. We shouldn't begrudge the Rebellion staff a day off.
Gnnnnnn.
;)
Quote from: Mardroid on 06 April, 2012, 11:40:03 PM
Well, it is a bank holiday. We shouldn't begrudge the Rebellion staff a day off.
Gnnnnnn.
;)
...Ah, that would probably explain it, wouldn't it? ::) I tend to forget that other people get these mythical things called days off.
No thrills until Tuesday then, I presume? Woe.
...still waiting patiently for prog 1777 on Clickwheel...
Quote from: Grant Goggans on 11 April, 2012, 11:01:58 AM...still waiting patiently for prog 1777 on Clickwheel...
Then I guess it's only fair that this week, Clickwheel has 1778 but the official shop doesn't. Any chance of a Friday prog for those of us who buy it from the site shop?
(...It's sad to be hanging on this desperately for something that wasn't even an option three weeks ago, isn't it?)
Good to see the digital prog is in the shop on time this week. Thanks digital shop prog type droids. :)
Quote from: Albion on 20 April, 2012, 11:01:27 AMGood to see the digital prog is in the shop on time this week. Thanks digital shop prog type droids. :)
Yep, I was very pleased to see this one pop up so quickly this morning, since I've been desperate to read this week's Dredd since the subscribers first started talking about it. Promptness much appreciated. :D
The Prog is on Clickwheel but not in the shop yet. Will it, and the Meg, be in the shop soon?
Last weeks cbr file was poor quality and this week it's a zip file of jpegs which are also poor. Looks unfinished to me, very rough and the text is awful.
Prog 1782's pages weren't even in the right order in the cbr version.
Can someone check these please before they are put up for us to purchase.
The PDF looks OK though so I may be sticking to those now.
Prog 1787 even has some text missing on the cover. ::) >:( :(