From: an780@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Travis Grundke)
Subject: MacinPlay Digest Concerns- Please Read me!
Reply-To: an780@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Travis Grundke)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 21:48:43 GMT




     I've been suddenly quite concerned over the derth
of negative comments being made towards the new Macintosh
Gaming Magazine "MacinPlay Digest". Therefore I'd like to
confront these issues to clear up any miscrepencies and to
try and curb the negativism about what is and will be a 
damned good publication.
     First of all there is the concern over why MacinPlay
is NOT going to be distributed by electronic means. If you
will notice, it was mentioned in the original message about
a Macintosh games magazine that electronic terms of distri-
bution were possible, but that it would be preferrencial to
handle MacinPlay via standard mail. We have found that with
the large amount of information going into MacinPlay, and
the large number of users and requests filing in for a 
"Professionally done and mailed" magazine/newsletter, that
a mailed publicaton was the best choice. This choice has 
and will allow MacinPlay Digest to contain much more than
a standard Internet information article. We're sorry if
this has 'turned anyone off' to the idea of a Macintosh
games magazine, but users have stated in around 200 
requests for information, that MacinPlay be a professional
publication, much to the likings of Computer Gaming World
and other games magazines. We're trying as hard as we can
to accomodate everyones' requests and suggestions to
incorporate them into the magazine. Many replies *I've*
received have stated that "For a paltry $12.00 per year,
it's worth it." Again, that is the opinion of many, so
we again choose to, "Go with the flow." Remembed though
folks, we're still looking for people to do game
reviews and supply hints and tips, so the publication
is still a "User supported" venture. Between users
from America Online, Prodigy, CompuServe, the
Internet, Freenet, and many other sources, MacinPlay Digest
is still and will continue to need user input.
     We may find in the future that electronic distribution
of the magazine may become viable, and we hope to be able
to setup some sort of electronic distribution however,
most of the responses we've received have requested a
mailed publication. 
     MacinPlay Digest isn't just for game reviews, its 
a high-quality gaming magazine to inform people of what's
going on in the Macintosh Gaming Industry. It's here to
give you interesting, indepth looks, hints and tips,
informative columns and articles, and its also there to
give people a platform to voice their opinions and 
suggestions to software authors and get them heard. With
the writing power of so many Macintosh Gamers, we can and
will be able to get game publishers to listen up and
get high-tailing it with more Macintosh ports and releases.
The Internet is a good start for this, but for real 
penetrative impact, a professional publication can
really do the job.   
  Another concern some people had which concerned me 
was the denouncing of MacinPlay using the Internet for
'advertising' purposes. I understand people don't want
bandwith wasted on advertising, but folks, we're trying
something new, and how are we supposed to keep people
informed about how to get in on what can be a real good
way to change gaming on the Macintosh? I also understand
that there are "Internet Rules" and "Guidelines" for
posting however, I have yet to be able to find an
e-mail address for a moderator or person to ask per-
mission to post our information articles. I know that
there is the flip side, and some people WANT to read
about MacinPlay and some don't. Therefore, one thing 
which can be done is if you DON'T want to read about
it- skip the article. To meet you half-way on this
accord, I'll also try to cut back or stop posting
about MacinPlay. Unfortunately, this hurts those
who want to stay informed. 
     The editors and publishers of MacinPlay digest
have been VERY concerned about the "Bad Karma" we've
suddenly gotten about posting information about the
new publication, and we're sorry we can't accomodate
everyone's wishes. We'll try to curb our information
notes, but that is quite possibly hurting others. Its
a "Catch-22" situation where nobody can win, but we
at MacinPlay Digest don't want to see this turn the
COMP.SYS.MAC.GAMES or any other COMP.SYS.MAC forum 
into a site for flame discussions or debates. If you've
got a concern about MacinPlay, please E-mail either
Dean Davis at: Jock@abcd.Houghton.MI.US or E-mail me,
Travis Grundke, at: an780@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu, and
we'll try to clear up any problems or concerns you 
may have.
 Again- we're very saddened to see MacinPlay Digest, what
we think is a very positive program, spur such a debate
on the Internet. Lets save face and save bandwith by
not cluttering it up with comments, please make them
private to one or both of the above e-mail sites, and
we'll try to meet your requests. 


with comments, please make them
private to one or both of the above e-mail sites, and
-- 
         Travis Grundke- Contributing Editor, MacinPlay Digest
                      an780@cleveland.freenet.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
    MacinPlay Digest: The first magazine dedicated to Macintosh Gaming.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games