GuzziHero Posted January 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Problem is, Gadge...people do write in and The Monaf just berates them on the letters page. If someone tells me when he sells it to someone who can edit, AND accept criticism, I might send a couple of Queen's heads their way. Link to post Share on other sites
Pablo Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 It's gone down hill quicker than Ulrika's knockers... +200 for a superb use of the word "knockers" Link to post Share on other sites
Gadge Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Problem is, Gadge...people do write in and The Monaf just berates them on the letters page. If someone tells me when he sells it to someone who can edit, AND accept criticism, I might send a couple of Queen's heads their way. Well this months letter of the month sort of scuppers that argument Chris. Bloke wrote in saying there was 'too much wwii' and he wanted to see tactics articles etc. Paul made it the star letter... (personally I dont think 2 - 4 pages a month in a 70+ page mag is 'too much'...especially as my main column replaces the 1/6th figure section everyone moaned about ) Link to post Share on other sites
Shriven Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I actually really enjoy the WW2 section. And as you say, it replaced that bloody 1/6 thing, plus it's an important aspect of the sport. The rest of the mag is dedicated to regular softing. Well ok, the rest of the mag is dedicated to atrocious adverts using dubiously sexy women to sell chinese pap. But it's got some pictures. Link to post Share on other sites
Gadge Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thanks for saying that I mean I'm not the ad rep but I have worked in journalism and publishing for a long time and you really don't have a lot of control over the advert submitted by a company. Sure you can refuse to sell them the advertising space but you cant really tell them how their advert should look so you cant really criticise the mag if the ads are tacky, criticise those retailers, send them a letter saying you find their marketing offensive. Link to post Share on other sites
-Angel- Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I've not bought it in a long time. If I spot a new issue in Smiths i'll thumb through, but that usually ends with me shaking my head in dismay and putting it back. It concerns me that AI is picked up by new players and actually used as a reference for the game. That said, I don't want to generalise over the whole magazine, there have been, and still are engaging articles. However one decent article a month [usually down to Gadge or the other 'specialist' writers] among all the other trash is not worth £3.50 or £4 of anyones money. Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Any reason why there was a publishing error in this months issue or is that something that may have only happened with a small batch? Those adverts are trying to say basically airsoft is for a bunch of lads who can't get a girl (Or even girls who can't get a girl), so here's a soft porn picture of one to help your lonely nights. Which it isn't as out of all the people I talk to regularly and play airsoft with only one has not got a girl friend. Has anyone ever tried to tell them that the best adverts are the ones that show what deals are on and also what is coming soon? Like you have said though Gadge, best to send in an email or letter asking such things, which am going to try and do but hate it when I ramble on, like I have now, doh. Edit:- Also am I the only one who enjoyed the 1/6th section, yes action figure toys but isn't airsoft all about toy guns? Link to post Share on other sites
Gadge Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Any reason why there was a publishing error in this months issue or is that something that may have only happened with a small batch? The copy i got sent this month was fine, must be a batch error. Call Sharon at Ebcon publishing, I'm sure they will send you a new one out if you are pleasant enough about it. Link to post Share on other sites
xerxes Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Holy hell, is Ai still even being made? That comes as a shock to me... Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Think I might just do that, as the first 7 pages where missing, no editors note or news page. I'll try and take a picture of it and post it in here so that you know what I mean. It was up to the firssupport advert. Link to post Share on other sites
toska Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Ive just read through this thread, and i thought i would put my 2 pence in. The comment made about there not being a lot of US coverage, over the last 10 issues or so the US coverage has got to a level where i am thinking of not buying it again and the comment that it shouldnt be called "International" because of the lack of US coverage, if we were to go along that route maybe the baseball world series should be re-named, as is it not representative of the world is it now? I agree the level of adverts is going up, and it seems they are not free from the semi clothed woman, in strange poses (pulling a shopping trolley in underwear-what is that about?), but that type of advertising is in everything, just looking a computer mag of my cusions and there was a semi naked woman with a sword, pouting etc, advertising a new graphics card, inforcing the old saying sex sells. I fully understand the need for adverts to pay the bills and help to keep the cover price down, i just hope that they wont increase to much more. There has been a number of comments about how bad the articles are, but i wonder if many people have writtern articles and submitted them? If you havent submitted any work, how can you complan about the contents, if they dont know what you want how can they give it to you? I know a few people who have submitted site reviews and they have been published, why not do that, that way if AI has loads of articles to use, it may stop the copying and repeating of articles. My final point is yes there is better and more up to date information on the web, but you need to know that it exsits. if you have never heard of Airsoft how would you know about it? how would you know where to look or even what to look for. AI is importent in the fact that it is out on the shelves where anyone can see it and buy it and become intrested in airsoft, which as a group players we need to keep airsoft alive and not let it fade out. AI is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to start airsoft, I know there are other mags around, but they are not to be found in WH Smith or other newsagents. I have brought AI from mid way through the 1st vol, and i will buy it in the future unless it become to American or brings back the dolls. Link to post Share on other sites
my_plague_666 Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 i bought it once out of curiosity and didnt find it to offer anything more than the internet/arnies. i can see it being of use to people who arent members of an online community like this, but otherwise theres not much there that you wont be able to find somewhere on the interwebs. Link to post Share on other sites
-Angel- Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 There has been a number of comments about how bad the articles are, but i wonder if many people have writtern articles and submitted them? If you havent submitted any work, how can you complan about the contents, if they dont know what you want how can they give it to you? I know a few people who have submitted site reviews and they have been published, why not do that, that way if AI has loads of articles to use, it may stop the copying and repeating of articles. Prehaps Gadge can shed some light on the going rate for independantly submitted articles is? Is it substancial enough to draw people with 'the knowledge' to put pen to paper? if you have never heard of Airsoft how would you know about it? how would you know where to look or even what to look for. Before AI existed plenty of people knew where to go and what to do. If they hadn't, the community wouldn't have grown to the size it did to give birth to AI. AI is importent in the fact that it is out on the shelves where anyone can see it and buy it and become intrested in airsoft, which as a group players we need to keep airsoft alive and not let it fade out. This might get a bit of backlash, but yes anyone can buy it and get into airsoft... which is exactly why there are so many new people playing who shouldn't be trusted with plastic cutlery, let alone AEG's. Link to post Share on other sites
Habakure Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I always brake my plastic cutlery, metal spoon is far superior.... Is it a mag about airsoft, or a review mag, sometimes I wonder what it is trying to be and other times I don't care just like buying some type of mag that is about a hobby I enjoy, havn't seen any other mag out in WHSmiths. Also maybe a price comparision page about kit that is available, one thing I hate is when they say about a piece of kit and then say it is available from most surplus stores, be nice if they reviewed products from the advertises. At least then maybe they could have a say in how they advertise in there magazine. Link to post Share on other sites
Gadge Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Prehaps Gadge can shed some light on the going rate for independantly submitted articles is? Is it substancial enough to draw people with 'the knowledge' to put pen to paper? Before AI existed plenty of people knew where to go and what to do. If they hadn't, the community wouldn't have grown to the size it did to give birth to AI. This might get a bit of backlash, but yes anyone can buy it and get into airsoft... which is exactly why there are so many new people playing who shouldn't be trusted with plastic cutlery, let alone AEG's. At the risk of being a bit of a cop out I'm afraid that payment for articles is something you'd have to negotiate with Paul. I know what my rates are but I'm not really willing to discuss it on a forum, one can only presume all articles are paid at the same rate but I'd hate to put someones nose out of joint if they differed. Now this is going to sound a bit tetchy too but while AI (and i really cant speak for the magazine as a whole officially) realise how important forums are (because most of us staff writers frequent them heavily), they are not read by the majority of our readership. I sometimes fall into the trap of assuming *everyone* uses airsoft forums but a bit ago i met a guy at an open day in awesome WWII kit and asked him who he was on the comrades in arms wwii airsoft forums... he had never heard of it and didnt really use the internet. I made the silly assumption everyone knew about it. Obviously he finds out about games from magazines and the site notice boards etc. The other thing I'll add is that a fair amount of our readers (probably an equal proportion to forum users, i cant be sure without the survey data in front of me) 'aspire' to be airsofter (especially those too young to buy RIFs or be insured on site) and really want to see the more 'gucci' loadouts worn by some airsofters... personally I'd like to feature more 'local loadouts' of a guy in a saav vest, surplus store combats and a stock AEG every now and then but it doesnt look as 'cool' to new players. However I would encourage folk to send in work .. .but i can tell you now Paul is often snowed under (he edits Raider as well as AI remember) so its best to send a short paragraph or two stating what your proposed article is about and who its aimed at, a pic you intend to use (articles with no pics don't make for a great mag) and then a sample 500 words rather than the whole thing to show you can actually write coherently and interestingly. As for Airsoft Soldier - I think its a cracking magazine and to be honest even if i didn't work for AI i'd buy both as £4 a month is less than two pints... However while I find AS's reviews and kit evaluations excellent (and very well translated and reprinted from the Finnish) some articles have no relevance to me as obviously they cover a very broad European base and I'm not *really* that fussed about the airsoft scene in Russia or Hungary etc. I think both mags have their place on the newstand and in the community. Link to post Share on other sites
-Angel- Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 At the risk of being a bit of a cop out I'm afraid that payment for articles is something you'd have to negotiate with Paul. I know what my rates are but I'm not really willing to discuss it on a forum, one can only presume all articles are paid at the same rate but I'd hate to put someones nose out of joint if they differed. Thats fair enough. I wouldn't expect anyone to put their financal arrangements in the public domain. The word 'on the grapevine' is that independantly submitted articles are paid next to nothing. I just get the feeling there would be more material submitted if the ££ was known, even if its "You could earn up to £xxx for each article/review submitted!" The other thing I'll add is that a fair amount of our readers (probably an equal proportion to forum users, i cant be sure without the survey data in front of me) 'aspire' to be airsofter (especially those too young to buy RIFs or be insured on site) and really want to see the more 'gucci' loadouts worn by some airsofters... personally I'd like to feature more 'local loadouts' of a guy in a saav vest, surplus store combats and a stock AEG every now and then but it doesnt look as 'cool' to new players. Can I suggest this might be one for CJ? Rather than nancing around in Eagle and wielding VFC weaponary [which most adult airsofters can't even afford] he could be better used 'relating' to the young players? Being a rolemodel for building a basic skirmish kit, as you say, with a SAAV and a JG/DBoys AEG? Basically showing you don't need all the gear and guns to have a good time? Link to post Share on other sites
Gadge Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thats fair enough. I wouldn't expect anyone to put their financal arrangements in the public domain. The word 'on the grapevine' is that independantly submitted articles are paid next to nothing. I just get the feeling there would be more material submitted if the ££ was known, even if its "You could earn up to £xxx for each article/review submitted!" Can I suggest this might be one for CJ? Rather than nancing around in Eagle and wielding VFC weaponary [which most adult airsofters can't even afford] he could be better used 'relating' to the young players? Being a rolemodel for building a basic skirmish kit, as you say, with a SAAV and a JG/DBoys AEG? Basically showing you don't need all the gear and guns to have a good time? I think that's an awesome idea, I'll put it to Paul. Next site review I do i fully intend to snap a few pics of some more 'eclectic' not based on real world loadouts. Link to post Share on other sites
Sonny Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 The comment made about there not being a lot of US coverage, over the last 10 issues or so the US coverage has got to a level where i am thinking of not buying it again and the comment that it shouldnt be called "International" because of the lack of US coverage, if we were to go along that route maybe the baseball world series should be re-named, as is it not representative of the world is it now? Im saying why go to the extent of having a special issue, just for the states when it is not infact geared towards the US at all? Im betting the only difference in the two versions of magazines are a few crappy ads like "Trinity Airsoft". I have yet to ever see a listing of feilds here. Link to post Share on other sites
L4byr1nth Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Also, focus on the attitude and good sportsmanship in airsoft that we all love to see. Rather than £1K loadouts and repeated articles. Ben. Link to post Share on other sites
Gadge Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Also, focus on the attitude and good sportsmanship in airsoft that we all love to see. Rather than £1K loadouts and repeated articles. Ben. Sounds like a great article on sportsmanship/attitude (although I have a sneaky feeling its been covered in 'French Letters' in most its aspects), I'm quite happy to write one on that - be much cooler if you did it and gave us a player perspective though I'm currently working on an article on teams, why people join, the different levels of team membership etc... Link to post Share on other sites
FireKnife Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I have to admit that, and i am not trying to 'brown-nose' here, that you do put in very worthwhile articles Gadge. I myself suffer from the dreaded 'lack of airsofting money' and have always wanted to do WW2 and your Jungle themed one helped me see alternatives to the rather expensive loadouts that Monaf and others put in but comparison. I always say credit where it is due and you and Snowman (assuming the blokes at Ai don't just rip off his reviews and give him the credit he deserves) do some very good things for the mag. But i can't justify spending £4.00 or so just to read what you, Frenchie and Snowman put each issue as those 6-7 pages are about all i read of it. By the way who else noticed that the pistols techniques bit has lots of lifted bits from the Wiki bit on modern pistol techniques?!?! 'FireKnife' Link to post Share on other sites
GuzziHero Posted January 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Im not just saying this because I know Gadge, but in the last 2 issues I bought, the WW2 section was the ONLY thing worth reading. I just felt I was buying the mag to support a new(ish) media outlet by which airsoft could attract more followers. But then I got sick of the Monaf BAWWWWing over saying he was barely making any money out of it when it was turning slowly into a Yellow Pages of airsoft. And then the copypasta (pasta...I love ravioli) thing hit and I was like... Is he doing ANYTHING at all to deserve my chocolate coins? On top of his ego tripping on the letters page (one letter where he actually answers a criticism doesnt not an unbiased editor make, Im afraid)... Link to post Share on other sites
FireKnife Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Anybody want to start a petition to kick Manof out of office and replace him with more compotent editors who can take critisims correctly. I would love to take up the role of loadouts and such, at least then i would include the 'value price' options to for that look a like style. Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh but i have really had enough of the way Ai is made so badly, with the exceptions of my last post. 'FireKnife' Link to post Share on other sites
Peanut Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I subscribe to AI at present and I have also subscribed to Airsoft Soldier. Technically I find AS more enjoyable and AI has some interesting load-out articles (although it would be nice to not see WWII load-outs every month). However both magazines are at most an hour or twos read. I know from experience that publishing is a hard industry and costs for distribution are enough to make your eyes water, but lets face it they could do with more content. Reviews in AI are sometimes little more than a manufacturers marketing flyer, it would be good to see them stripped down and comments on potential issues and upgradability. Depends on the demographic of the readership I know but I'd be interested. What else would be interesting? Articles on tactics and training? I have never been in the military and need all the help I can get A whole series is possible; CQB; dynamic entry, covering , holding and advancing down corridors and intersections, stairwells. Woodland; formations and their uses, roles of grenadier, sniper etc. I agree that sportsmanship & attitude So for now I'll continue with my subscription and wait and see. Link to post Share on other sites
L4byr1nth Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I'd like to see some gun reviews from people like Snorkleman in A.I. - it's handy having reference pics of the gun broken down into component form. Ben. Link to post Share on other sites
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