[Apologies, I would have posted this in "Suggestions" but as a new forum member I don't seem to be able to.]
I have been a subscriber to 2000AD for 20 years or more and have been reading since Prog 1. I think there should be a free digital copy with every printed copy purchase, particularly for subscribers. Someone is dreaming if they think I'm going to ever go back and purchase the digital copies, which I suspect is the same for many print copy subscribers.
Furthermore, I think print copy subscribers for 10 years or more should be given the entire digital back catalog of 2000AD/Megazine. I think this would be closer to the notions of "fair use" and would reward loyalty with little extra cost.
I'm not just picking on 2000AD in this respect, I think this should be standard practice for all print titles that have digital copies available.
Just a thought, it's probably been asked for thousands of times and will probably never happen. :-)
When you bought a Shellac album on vinyl you got a free, unpublicised, Cd copy with it. One album's CD had written on it 'this is a digital copy. It is inherently inferior quality'. Always raised a smile.
Only because CDs and mp3s are inherently compressed for space. If they released their music in uncompressed FLAC format, or the like, there would be no audible difference to vinyl.
Same with comics really. Since comics today are mastered digitally, print is actually a downgrade in quality. So are digital, because of file size concerns. But an uncompressed digital file would be visually superior to print.
Quote from: PureCorkBoy on 08 March, 2014, 08:04:33 PM
Just a thought, it's probably been asked for thousands of times and will probably never happen. :-)
It's been asked a few times in the short time I've been here, and you've correctly guessed the answer. I don't know whether that means the exploitation of the back catalogue is worth more than Rebellion reckon they'd raise by the kind of systems you propose, or if prepping over 2500 issues, specials, and annuals, and constructing a stable platform on which to host them would be prohibitively expensive. My guess is the latter.
I think there are copyright questions with some of the old old material (Dan Dare, etc) with reprinting old progs in their entirety. It's simply more practical to put together digital collections of select material. Between trade support and Megazine reprints I think we're good in that regard.
I do think digital copies with current print sales would be a good thing. Though I would find no use for it myself.
Though I suspect it would be a bit of work for Rebellion to implement some kind of code redemption system. That'd take a bit of back-end work on the Future Shop that might not be cost effective. Not to mention packing codes with the Prog, that would mean bagging progs (so codes aren't stollen) and that impacts causal browsing by new readers.
Quote from: PureCorkBoy on 08 March, 2014, 08:04:33 PM
Furthermore, I think print copy subscribers for 10 years or more should be given the entire digital back catalog of 2000AD/Megazine.
the day this happens, the internet could not handle that amount of
Trill Power been downloaded, we would be back in the stone age within seconds!
I am pretty sure the 2000ad back catalog is available online if you know where to look, so what's the point throwing money at doing the same thing only with massive gaps caused by copyright problems with Dan Dare, Star Trek covers, those episodes of Cursed Earth, etc?
Light doesn't hit the screen the same way it does the page... Blah to digital I say! Blah!
Though to be fair it is easy to search a digital back catalogue rather than paper...
Look, if a free digital catalogue was available then that defeats the point of me having all the paper progs.
You want them, sonny, you come buy them from me. I got my retirement to fund.
Quote from: The Enigmatic Dr X on 10 March, 2014, 08:42:13 AMI got my retirement to fund.
Not planning on living very long, Dr. X?
FWIW Marvel does do the buy a physical get a digital copy deal with some of their comics - at least from what I see in my local shop with the stickers proudly advertising it on their cover- so it is a workable concept. I haven't seen any other publisher pick up that concept, though Amazon has announced a similar promotion for certain, newer books where buying a physical copy would get a kindle copy as well.
As for the whole digital backlog for free, that's another issue. That'd be very generous on their end but I don't see it happening. They haven't even begun to scratch the surface of digitizing their catalog of material anyways so they got to do that first before they think of creating some ways for it to be accessed.
Quote from: PureCorkBoy on 08 March, 2014, 08:04:33 PM
Furthermore, I think print copy subscribers for 10 years or more should be given the entire digital back catalog of 2000AD/Megazine. I think this would be closer to the notions of "fair use" and would reward loyalty with little extra cost.
I agree. I also think anyone whose first Prog was 287 should be entitled to sleep with a droid of their choice. I just can't decide between louche Gordon Rennie and avuncular Alan Davis.
Even if it were viable to put the entire back catalogue online I doubt that it would be considered worthwhile. Rebellion are doing a roaring trade in re-prints of classic material in both print and digital formats so I'd be surprised to see them just start giving it away.
I agree though, for subscribers, a complimentary digital copy of each week's new issue would be nice.
i like the idea.
what about a token sum if you want the digital version?
25%of the price perhaps. if we take a year sub perhaps.
i would go for that,
all that said, if it would harm profits i would say DONT DO IT. because i want the prog to be forever :)
I think the 2000ad staff should do a load of work and incur costs for something to will reward readers who have already paid for something else! :lol:
Quote from: Skullmo on 12 March, 2014, 12:57:09 PM
I think the 2000ad staff should do a load of work and incur costs for something to will reward readers who have already paid for something else! :lol:
:lol:
Yeah, I can't really see Rebellion releasing vast quantities of old material digitally just because you have bought some more recent stuff. I also think that including a free digital copy with the Prog would be nice but would ultimately lead to them having to increase the price.
Yep. In fact, very few niche titles offer digital for free, and even some of those that once did have stopped doing so (such as .net). Some offer a discount if you take up both (like MacUser), but then that's somewhat reliant on systems already being in place and also causes problems for something like 2000 AD that's trying to push itself across multiple platforms. (e.g. if someone's subscribed via Newsstand, you can't suddenly discount them if they take out a print sub.)
As for back progs, beyond the legal issues, it's something for nothing, and that makes no good business sense. I'd sooner see Rebellion continue to curate its offerings, compiling stories and selling those wherever it can.