Live Publishing went into administration...shocker
I guess this was inevitable when issue 19 didn't appear when it was supposed to. I actually thought issue 19 would be printed and then it would vanish without trace.
They always seemed very guarded as to how many issues were sold each month and 15,000 - 18,000 is about half the amount I guessed they sold.
As I always had difficulty finding the magazine my wife was going to take out a subscription for me last month, thankfully she never got around to it.
I actually think finding the magazine was one of the main reasons that sales were not higher. I was in London when the February issue came out and was amazed to find that two WH Smiths (including the one on Waterloo Station) didn't sell it.
Shame it has gone, it was the only magazine I actually purchased each month.
They always seemed very guarded as to how many issues were sold each month and 15,000 - 18,000 is about half the amount I guessed they sold.
As I always had difficulty finding the magazine my wife was going to take out a subscription for me last month, thankfully she never got around to it.
I actually think finding the magazine was one of the main reasons that sales were not higher. I was in London when the February issue came out and was amazed to find that two WH Smiths (including the one on Waterloo Station) didn't sell it.
Shame it has gone, it was the only magazine I actually purchased each month.
- Professor Brian Strain
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Bear in mind that Live Publishing were a "small fish" in a very big, very deep pond. That made it harder for them to get the magazine on the shelves. Also, the print run was limited (I've never been told an exact figure) so there were less copies to go around than, say, Edge.
If you were a regular on the Live Publishing forum, check out
http://forum.retrosurvival.co.uk
There you'll find a familiar layout (all the same retro topic areas) and many of the ex-freelancers. You'll also hear about the NEW project, a farewell to Retro Gamer.
If you were a regular on the Live Publishing forum, check out
http://forum.retrosurvival.co.uk
There you'll find a familiar layout (all the same retro topic areas) and many of the ex-freelancers. You'll also hear about the NEW project, a farewell to Retro Gamer.
It is a real shame that its disappeared. I have to say I am a bit disappointed now about Martyn's blatant subscription plea - clearly trying to save the mag but lots of people out of pocket now having recently taken out subscriptions.
The dedication of the people that brought this to the shelves should never be discounted and I do feel there's a real hole in the market - hopefully there might be some news in the near future. I'm also disappointed to those who are owed from Live
The dedication of the people that brought this to the shelves should never be discounted and I do feel there's a real hole in the market - hopefully there might be some news in the near future. I'm also disappointed to those who are owed from Live
- Professor Brian Strain
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Tell me about it. I started the "group" to get some communication between the freelancers. Eventually we plucked up the courage to e-mail the editor and give him suggestions on how to improve the mag. Then we had to start complaining about the lack of payment.jcompton wrote:Sigh. Having been a member of one myself, it's always depressing reading about long-term secret alliances of unpaid freelancers...
We sent the editor an ultimatum - "Pay us or else no articles". Shame he had already left the company. *sigh*
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Personally, I'd try and get to the £3.99 price point—a kind of retro Edge, but with lower quality paper. Removing a covermount would also be a good idea (although this doesn't massively drop the overall costs, it does drop mailing and distribution fees, and it also pisses off WHS and co. less, because more mags can fit in a smaller amount of shelf space). To my mind, now would be the idea time for Highbury to spin off Retro as a standalone publication (rather than it being at the arse end of games™), but then that company's in its very own financial strife, so I'd be surprised (but happy) if that happened.gordon wrote:IMO, there's still a clear market for a *£4.99* retro publication: there's a huge amount of material for features, reviews, interviews, and so on which would interest people of 20+ years.
Darran has said elesewhere that Highbury aren't willing to create a retro mag - Pity as I'm sure it would be a winner, both in sales terms and quality.CraigGrannell wrote:Personally, I'd try and get to the £3.99 price point—a kind of retro Edge, but with lower quality paper. Removing a covermount would also be a good idea (although this doesn't massively drop the overall costs, it does drop mailing and distribution fees, and it also pisses off WHS and co. less, because more mags can fit in a smaller amount of shelf space). To my mind, now would be the idea time for Highbury to spin off Retro as a standalone publication (rather than it being at the arse end of games™), but then that company's in its very own financial strife, so I'd be surprised (but happy) if that happened.gordon wrote:IMO, there's still a clear market for a *£4.99* retro publication: there's a huge amount of material for features, reviews, interviews, and so on which would interest people of 20+ years.
Maybe Kelvin Mackenzie will sort it out, now he has bought into the company?
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Crazy about the C64? - www.lemon64.com
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I'm guessing that's more down to financial issues than anything—after all, the Retro special is still very much in-print, something like a year after it was originally released.LeeT wrote:Darran has said elesewhere that Highbury aren't willing to create a retro mag - Pity as I'm sure it would be a winner, both in sales terms and quality.
Apparently, I'm way out of the loop!Maybe Kelvin Mackenzie will sort it out, now he has bought into the company?
I think the Retro special is still about possibly as it wasn't on Sale or Return and they flooded the shops with them (unless someone else knows different).CraigGrannell wrote: I'm guessing that's more down to financial issues than anything—after all, the Retro special is still very much in-print, something like a year after it was originally released.
Maybe Kelvin Mackenzie will sort it out, now he has bought into the company?
LinkApparently, I'm way out of the loop!
I would hate to work for the guy (his bollockings at The Sun were legendary) but if anyone can sort it out, he seems like the right person..
Contributor to Def Tribute to ZZAP!
Compilation64 - http://compilation64.zzap64.co.uk/
Crazy about the C64? - www.lemon64.com
Amiga Anguish? - www.lemonamiga.com
Compilation64 - http://compilation64.zzap64.co.uk/
Crazy about the C64? - www.lemon64.com
Amiga Anguish? - www.lemonamiga.com
- Professor Brian Strain
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Just to keep people up to speed, there is a new retro mag on the way, masterminded by Shaun Bebbington (ex Live Publishing staff member)
For those who want to say "farewell" to RETRO GAMER, the RETRO SURVIVAL CD will feature content originally planned for issue 19 and never printed, plus exclusive new content and a competition to win some nice prizes.
For those who want to say "farewell" to RETRO GAMER, the RETRO SURVIVAL CD will feature content originally planned for issue 19 and never printed, plus exclusive new content and a competition to win some nice prizes.
I'll be buying both!Professor Brian Strain wrote:Just to keep people up to speed, there is a new retro mag on the way, masterminded by Shaun Bebbington (ex Live Publishing staff member)
For those who want to say "farewell" to RETRO GAMER, the RETRO SURVIVAL CD will feature content originally planned for issue 19 and never printed, plus exclusive new content and a competition to win some nice prizes.
Contributor to Def Tribute to ZZAP!
Compilation64 - http://compilation64.zzap64.co.uk/
Crazy about the C64? - www.lemon64.com
Amiga Anguish? - www.lemonamiga.com
Compilation64 - http://compilation64.zzap64.co.uk/
Crazy about the C64? - www.lemon64.com
Amiga Anguish? - www.lemonamiga.com
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- Techno Teaboy
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Blimey.....i didnt know anything about it 'til i just logged on. What a sad day indeed. Im yet another who subscribed in earnest (2 years worth, such was i an avid fan), so am now sitting here a tad grumpy having w*nkered away a load of dosh. Oh dear....
Thankfully we got the DEF tribute tho.....perfect timing, makes it even more valued now
Thankfully we got the DEF tribute tho.....perfect timing, makes it even more valued now
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