[Concept] Quarterly Community Magazine

[TsukasaZX]

This is an idea I've tried to start up twice before but failed to really do so. Hopefully, if I can get the backing of an entire active community, the third time will in fact be the charm.

As we all know, there are innumerable websites in the TI programming community and while generally any noteworthy news ends up on all of the sites, there are often times information discrepancies that make hunting down all the facts somewhat difficult (either due to language differences or simply people preferring to post on one site over another).

I think what the community in general needs is a quarterly magazine. Basically, four times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter) this magazine would come out online (a free digital download) for people to read. This magazine would document all the interesting finds of the previous quarter (Spring 2010 would talk about everything that happened in Winter 2009) and maybe even earlier. It'd cover various things such as:

- Interesting events (such as NDless or the new TI-84+ OS)
- Newly released or in development programs that might be a big hit (DCS7 and E:SoR)
- Tips and tricks or newly found bugs
- Hidden gems (Games/programs worth getting that didn't really get as hyped as they needed to be)
- WGOTQ (Worst Game Of The Quarter)
- Interviews with people in the community (Brandon W, Iambian, or Tifreak8x)
- Q&A that answers questions that keep getting asked over and over again everywhere
... or anything else that needs to be known.

Think about it. It'd be a great way to gather everything in one spot and it'd be a great way to encourage people to be active because let's face it, who *doesn't* want to be in a magazine?

[SirCmpwn]

++

[ztrumpet]

That sounds pretty neat.  The only problem I have is the WGOTQ.  You could hurt someone's feelings if they got this, so I'd leave it out.  Everything else sounds pretty cool.

[trevmeister66]

Hmm interesting idea. I'm all for it, but it would be a challenge to get a large enough number of people to help out with it on their free time.

[Eeems]

I like this idea, of course I don't know about the WGOTQ...people could get discouraged by it.

[TsukasaZX]

True about the WGOTQ thing. Foregoing that idea.

How about a Reviews section instead where we give honest reviews of the quarter's top rated games and utilities?

[trevmeister66]

True about the WGOTQ thing. Foregoing that idea.

How about a Reviews section instead where we give honest reviews of the quarter's top rated games and utilities?

Much better idea.

[Eeems]

That would work, and it could be constructive and helpful. There should be rules about how the reviews are written so that they can be constructive.

[SirCmpwn]

What format to release in?  PDF, html and txt?

[trevmeister66]

I'd say Html (or PDF, although html is easier for people to read/open ie, if they don't have a pdf reader).

[TsukasaZX]

Yeah, there would be rules that we'd have to establish and vote on as fair. I'd say nothing much more complicated than "don't be jerk and be constructive in your criticisms". As for actual content, the reviews should detail how easy running it should be, if there's any negative side effects of running it, what the pros are, the cons, and maybe some suggestions? What'd'y'all think?

For format, I was thinking about going with PDF since PDF is nice and fancy
[edit] PDF is also semi-standard. Most computers come with a PDF reader built into them nowadays. HTML would make formatting a P.I.T.A. in my opinion.

Also, name and logo concept to get that ball rolling:

[SirCmpwn]

A) maybe some suggestions? What'd'y'all think?

B) For format, I was thinking about going with PDF since PDF is nice and fancy

C) Also, name and logo concept to get that ball rolling:

B) Agreed

C) Kinda cool, must say.  It doesn't roll off the tounge as well, though.  How about ClacGeek?

A) I think you should start a list of editors, and anyone can submit an article, but the editors have to review it first and they are the ones who eventually decide who gets the cut.

[TsukasaZX]

A) maybe some suggestions? What'd'y'all think?

B) For format, I was thinking about going with PDF since PDF is nice and fancy

C) Also, name and logo concept to get that ball rolling:

B) Agreed

C) Kinda cool, must say.  It doesn't roll off the tounge as well, though.  How about ClacGeek?

A) I think you should start a list of editors, and anyone can submit an article, but the editors have to review it first and they are the ones who eventually decide who gets the cut.

C) Calc Geek Quarterly does roll off the tongue more but "calc" is more slang-ish. I'd prefer not to use slang to make it seem more "professional", hence "Calculator Geek Quarterly". Alternatively, you can just call it CGQ which rolls off the tongue

A) I wholeheartedly agree. I myself will be chief editor since it's my idea. Whoever else wants to be an editor, volunteer here.

[SirCmpwn]

I volunteer!  Also, CGQ does roll off the tounge better.

[TsukasaZX]

Here's a rudimentary list of staff positions and who all volunteers for them. I'll repost this as it updates.

4 Editors
 - TsukasaZX (Myself)
 - SirCmpwn
 - <empty>
 - <empty>

2 Graphics Designers
 - <empty>
 - <empty>

9001 Article Writers
 - No official staff here, as aforementioned, people can just submit articles and good ones get put in

Anything else we'd need?