Could Oople work as a magazine?

[MHeadling]

Just been having a read of Racer and Rrci, both great mags btw!

Got me thinking could Oople work as a magazine??

Jimmys awesome reviews?

Top driver reports/tech articles?

Is 10th and 8th off road Market too small to make a dedicated mag for these classes? Maxbashing?

Discuss.......

[Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson]

The thing you have to think is, The only people that know oOple exists, are people that use the site online etc... The thing that gives Jimmy's excellent reviews the 'Edge' is the fact that they are available so bloody fast, whereas with magazine, most reports and reviews etc...are, in theory, always going to be a month late.

[jimmy]

Originally Posted by Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson

The thing you have to think is, The only people that know oOple exists, are people that use the site online etc... The thing that gives Jimmy's excellent reviews the 'Edge' is the fact that they are available so bloody fast, whereas with magazine, most reports and reviews etc...are, in theory, always going to be a month late.

Losi 22 reviews been 'done' for a couple of months now or gettin on for that - just haven't had time to publish it! I only have a small time to put aside for oOple stuff as I work full time - there's so much to do all the time!

[MHeadling]

Yes I see your point Shaun about the delays on reviews on products etc. But I guess unless your news paper that's the way it is!

Maybe magazines will be a thing of the past with on line magazines on smart phones/tablet pc's? Racer magazine are on the case.

Jimmy what you do is ace, I'm suprised you find time to work! Lol The forums such a good resource and the reviews are by far the best I have read, keep up the good work!

Maybe that's how to make your millions Jimmy by starting oople on line magazine just for the reviews? I'm sure people would pay good money for a monthly?

[PaulRotheram]

The oople 'team' actually discussed this in detail a few years back, looking to possibly turn oople that was a viable investment to give us jobs etc.

The thing is, if oople was turned in to a magazine, or even an online magazine (think t3 on the iPad sort of thing) make people pay a few quid to download then possibly a lot of people would be abit miffed from getting all the goods for free to then having to cough up. And then new potential viewers may decrease as people looking in to the hobby from the outside tend not to spend much before getting in to it.

It's a fine balance, and something that could either taint oople or turn it in to a fantastic profitable brand. I for one have always been fully behind what jimmy does as it's such a great resource for the community. And remain interested in all possible ventures, wether being active or inactive from the hobby.

[jimmy]

Haha, cheers mate.
I'm just having fun creating nice stuff. Hopefully people will like some of the video stuff coming this year - just going through the first video stuff I'm actually happy with now we've got the equipment we need.

[Aran]

One idea is to pay for a certain review, like for example a new buggy or new set of motors are released. Or even a annual or monthly fee to access for reviews on products.

Also if the work load builds up Jimmy could outsource it to people on a freelance basis and they get a cut of the profit.

I know personally I wouldn't mind paying a few quid for a review, especially one of the caliber that Jimmy has done before. I find nothing wrong with making a profit or living from doing something like what Jimmy has done for Oople, Jimmy uses his time to maintain and produce things for us.

Not sure putting Oople in a magazine is the best way although being a designer I love print based media (especially the smell), its cheaper for online material and it opens up to various devices such as tablets, mobile and computers.

Just my opinion anyways .

[MHeadling]

I agree Paul it is a fine line, as you say this forum is such a great resource.

There is not many hobbys where you can ask questions/set up info from the guys at the top of their game.

I feel Oople has contributed to the popularity of 10th off road by having this great resource at our finger tips, well done chaps!

It was just a thought though as the reviews are class and why not be rewarded/cover costs of the review as im sure it takes alot of effort/time etc. I am sure you would have rc car companys throwing kits/expenses at you for one of your reviews of their products.

I would buy an Oople mag for sure

[Chequered Flag Racing]

Didn't racechat have an online magazine a few years back?

That didn't last

[MHeadling]

Thats was racechat

This is Oople!

[F1END]

Thought I'd chime in with my 2 penny's worth, as I work full-time as graphic designer on a magazine.

What you have to think about is that printed magazines are dying!

Generally people are buying less and less magazines as more and more web-content is available. Yes, you can do an on-line magazine with one of the 3d-type bits of software to make it look like a virtual magazine, but what does this provide that a website doesn't? More to the point, what does it restict? (quite a lot).

As Shaun says, time is against you, as the time between finalising the mag, and actually having copies delivered is about 2 weeks, and if we're talking a monthly mag, that could be up to 6 weeks after an event happened.

Since getting back into RC cars, I have found Oople a wealth of information, but mostly on the forum. I think what oople needs is a "Beginners Guide to RC" section, or something similar, where all the most consistently asked questions get addressed (how many "I've just got back into RC, what car/lipo/motor/esc should I buy?" threads are there?). Get the most knowledgeable people on here to write a FAQ and keep it up permanently. Also, I'd like to see a lot more reviews.

If it was decided to give a magazine a try, I'd be happy to help out where I can (I have been doing this for 10 years, so know quite a bit), but I don't really think it's the right way to go. Don't get me wrong, I'd probably buy it, I just don't think enough people would on a monthly basis.

[colmo]

Printed media was SO 20th century.

Charging for access would just reduce readership. I suspect selling advertising would garner more funds on premium content.

[njc11]

Originally Posted by jimmy

Haha, cheers mate.
I'm just having fun creating nice stuff. Hopefully people will like some of the video stuff coming this year - just going through the first video stuff I'm actually happy with now we've got the equipment we need.

Oh god!

[pugboy]

oOple is a fantastic site as it is and Jimmy is a legend in the RC community. Everyone appreciates what he does, it's down to him whether he wants to make it into a money making venture. Not sure a magazine is really required IMO.

[Robbiejuk]

I used to be an avid magazine reader but these days I just don't bother buying them much anymore. With Oople and Redrc and other sites you don't need the magazines anymore because you have already read all about it way before the magazines could possibly get it out in print.

Plus I feel you get a better opinion on products espcially from oople forums as you are talking to people who either have tried it or are using them now and generally people on here are honest.

Oople magazine would be a througuhly entertaining read I am sure but I reckon magazines will dissapeer due to the power of the internet.

[Bagman]

You could make it into an evening newspaper in black and white or even maybe have a few sepia pictures. Hand drawn pictures always work for me too. It would add to the reviews to have some drawings, might revive a few old skills. Modern hairstyles might be tricky though.

[Darren Boyle]

TQ magazine and FTD "newspaper" both spring to mind for anyone who can remember them both.........

[MiCk B.]

Yep........

I remember TQ. I think I built a discharger that they gave the plans to.

Didn't last too long as a magazine.

MiCk B. :-)

[Projectzip]

Jimmy & Co have contributed to Racer for a long time and we really appreciate their input.
Racer is now available as a digital edition through the Appstore and pocketmags.com, however there are still alot of people that want a paper copy

Unless Apple give away an Ipad to everyone he he he

Ive always loved Jimmy's design work and photography.

[MHeadling]

I know what you mean about the mags, it seems these days we want info in an instant and with the great websites like Redrc, Neo Buggy, rctech and of course Oople we are very lucky!

Its cool Racer are doing the on line thing, call me old fashioned but I still like to read something in paper, MCN is about the only print I buy every week, rest is internet.

The reason Jimmys reviews are so ace is they are full of techy info and they are very honest! Lets hope there are more kit reviews and electronic reviews too. If it is done as a profitable thing who knows but more reviews would be ace, suppliers send Jimmy loads of free stuff!