Subscribe, Back Issues and Digital Download Buttons

[Phillyman]

Thinking about throwing two to three new fields into the Magazine Database. The first would be a Subscribe button for those publications that are still producing magazines. For example, Game Informer is not allowed to be digitally preserved, but there is no reason why we can't have a Subscribe button pointing back to their site to sign up for the magazine. This will reinforce our stance on people supporting the publishers. Also in instances like GameFan, where they are still producing magazines, but have the option to download digital past issues, we can have a Digital Downloads button pointing to those pages. Many of our users probably don't even know that you can download the first GameFan issue for $3. Magazines like Retro Gamer often sell physical back issues of magazines, which might also be good to link back.

So Subscribe would link to their subscription pages, Back Issues would like to the page where you can order the past physical copies, and Digital Downloads would link to the page where you can download a digital version of any of their issues.

Thoughts?

[E-Day]

I think Gamefan kicked the can again as far as putting out a magazine, but their site is still up with the downloads available.

[aloram]

Good ideas, Phillyman. You could also link to Game Informer's back issues page. The fact that they sell issues from as far back as 1991 is probably be a key reason why they don't want them on Retromags.

http://www.gameinformer.com/mag/covers.aspx

[RetroDefense]

I think this is a fantastic idea! It should go without saying - if we want video game magazines to continue we've gotta support 'em.

Would it be easier to simplify the "Back Issues" and "Digital Downloads" buttons though? Maybe one all encompassing "Purchase Issues" button? I've noticed many magazine publishers list their digital and physical issues together, both back issues and current. It'd probably be simpler (and less work) to just link to their online storefront and let the customer decide.

For that matter, I've seen subscriptions offered alongside individual issues too. Other times, not, so it'd probably be best to have two fields available.

Again, fantastic idea - I really hope you can make this happen.

Edited June 6, 2016 by RetroDefense

[marktrade]

Sounds good to me, especially because it's actually a bit difficult to buy the first issue of GameFan. The "buy" link at OoPA is broken and has been for a long time. When you go to gamefanmag.com and click on "digital back issues" it doesn't even show up. You have to click on "catalog" and then sort through A-Z, because it won't be on the first page if you sort oldest to newest and it if you browse only issues from 1992 it won't even show up there! You have to really dig for it.

Personally I'm waiting for the day when Retromags will be recruited to make commercial scans for publishers. We're building a lot of talent here.