A Universe Boxing Magazine **IDEA, PLEASE READ !**

[Beno999]

Authors Note: This is initially just a bit of 'market research' to see if theres any interest in this idea.


What made me think of such a concept?
I was thinking of using my decent knowledge of Photoshop and other Image Manipulation packages to create a magazine in the same sort of shape as ' The Ring ' as well as other boxing fan mags. I know that certain members of the TBCB community have chosen to implement this sort of idea into their actual posts, but i was thinking more along the lines of a genuine detailed magazine with articles on fights, boxers, certain goings on in that universe as well as pages on all boxer rankings and world champions etc.

I believe that using the right universe in co-operation with a dedicated and imaginative universe runner it could well be a hit.

What will the community put into the magazine?
People could voice there opinions on upcoming fights, the state of a weight division, world champions being protected or fighters being avoided as well as any number of other issues or goings on in the world, the basic layout of the universe will probably be given in a thread on the forum which is then open to interpitation in the magazine.

How will the magazine be viewed?
I expect the magazine to be dowloadable probably in a PDF Format. or it could well just be placed into a .Rar file and sent in a document that has the issue of the magazine as well as the date released and then inside each page in chronological order. Including the front cover with issue features printed on the front, The magazine name, and some of the special articles featured in the magazine.

Who will run the universe and where will all the extra content aside from the fights themselves come from?
The idea is that i would take a well established member of this community who has the time to create a universe and then i would get details on that universe. (Maybe even an existing universe in the forum? A vote could be cast on who gets the mag?) With the details that i recieve from the update, new content for the magazine would be available obviously. Polls and Votes would probably need to be cast on things like the Magazines name and certain other things.

Let it be known that this is a concept magazine for the community that is MADE by the community.

How many pages will the magazine consist of?
Depending on the popularity of such an idea then who knows? i have seen the way some of the guys in the TBCB forum have written there views on real life fights and other issues in the boxing world, so i fully expect them to be able to get stuck into an enthralling read. Even for those of you who dont like writing a lot, i could still incorporate your views on the boxing universes world in the form of an interview, maybe you are a boxing pundit or ex boxer and im the interviewer asking your views on certain

What will go into the Magazine?

Here are some of the possible features:

Front Cover - With feature fighter and notable articles and stories.

Editors Introduction - Note from the editor explaining and voicing his own opinion before the rest of the magazine is viewed.

Notable Fights Page - All the action from around the world in the main events.

Article Pages - Written by members of title bout community with an eye for detail and a good imagination.

Interview Page - For those who want to get involved in input but dont feel the need to write a proper article

Captioned Photos - Main Photos from events (not the events actual photo's but the idea is to make it seem more realistic.)

Organisation Fighter Rankings - Updated monthly depending on in game organisation rankings as well as the magazines very own p4p ranking.


What do people think?

[professordp]

Sounds like a great idea--but lots of work! You might consider for a start a seris of reports (summations) on current unis on a weekly basis (sort of like Soap Opera Digest) and see what kind of interest it might generate and then build from there.

Just a word of advice. Start small. You can always expand. If you begin too big, it's really depressing to trim back.

Good Luck!

[meade95]

Originally Posted by professordp

Sounds like a great idea--but lots of work! You might consider for a start a seris of reports (summations) on current unis on a weekly basis (sort of like Soap Opera Digest) and see what kind of interest it might generate and then build from there.

Just a word of advice. Start small. You can always expand. If you begin too big, it's really depressing to trim back.

Good Luck!

+1

[Tosti]

Interesting idea.

How about a more general monthly/quarterly magazine on the simulation.

Feature articles on contentious ratings, dream matchups (Dempsey V Ali etc), how to rate fighters, universe rules, views/previews of 'real' fights, ideas to take the sim forward etc.

You could then rely on the individual's who run there own uni's to provide a snapshot of what is going on in their uni.

I guess it would be a bit like the magazine that Avalon Hill produced to cover their sports games in the eighties.

[Lee]

I like the idea and have to agree with the professors idea that a monthly/quarterly wrap up of several active universes might be a cool idea.

[Jersey-Jim]

Personally, I would create a Boxing/Title Bout website if you were going to go with that idea. That way, you would have a combination of what's happening with the sport today, information about great fights from the past... and a place for simulated fights based upon TBCB.

Things can get lost in the threads sometimes. It's hard to keep up with all the universes, too. Plus, sometimes we have to "freeze" a game for a while because of other commitments, etc.

Most boxing sites are not exactly overwhelming when it comes to being professionally designed. If you're comfortable with photoshop, you can create a standout boxing site fairly easily and use feeds to populate it with articles, universe happening's etc.

Just remember, before you jump in, that it's probably going to take more time than you think. Be safe and add 30% onto the project, even if you have experience with this sort of thing.

The good thing is, you already have access to a niche group of readers right here (if the website idea is something you want to pursue).

[kenyan_cheena]

I think it's a great idea and something I would like to do personally for my own uni if I had plently of spare time and was financially secure. Unfortunately I don't fit into either of those categories.

Even though there's nothing I can do about it I have been feeling a lot of regret since I pulled the plug on the HBF/IBL that I didn't come to my senses much, much earlier and switch to something like TGPiS. HBF/IBL was great fun but ultimately it was a waste of four years because it simply went too slow. Under my current circumstances there's no way I'll attempt anything like that ever again, especially as it is not a money making venture.

[Beno999]

I have taken on board all that you guys have said, and appreciate the feedback.

In response to Jersey-Jims post i agree with all that you say and definitely believe that even an estimate time on how long it would take to create such a magazine probably wont be near enough the amount of effort im going to have to put into creating all the graphics, layouts and other content for the mag. I also would like to say that creating a website is something that i have pursued before and i have a decent background in IT with a college diploma to back me up so im pretty ok with it, its just when i did it before i didnt really have anyone to view it so i lost interest, and as for this niche market in the TBCB Forums, i just didnt really think you lot would venture out from the actual forum itself and into a newbies take on boxing universes on another net page, instead posting an updated magazine monthly/weekly issue (however it turns out) that can be accessed directly where the iron is hot so to speak as to me this forum is quite active seems the better option?

As for a take on more than one universe to be contained within the pages of the magazine, that was my initial idea although i did have some doubts as to whether the fanbase for a certain fighter could be gained on this forum when in one uni he might have an awesome unbeaten record of 50-0 and so on and then in another be absolutely shocking if that makes sense? I am however going to vote on almost every major issue raised by you people as i want to contribute something to this community that is genuinly wanted by the majority, i hope to add to the already very inspirational amount of threads and universe stories by creating this.

I do believe in the idea above however and i guess i could modify and adapt my concept, there are quite a few posters on here running uni's such as Tosti and Kenyan Cheena i think would create for awesome reading. (Among so many others of course i have been a bit of a forum rat ive checked out that many threads)

Should i post some prototypes and see what you guys make of it after that see if it sparks some sort of warm feeling inside? surely if i get that when i turn the pages of every boxing mag i read then im guessing you guys must do.

[Jersey-Jim]

Back in the "day" there was a newsletter the Trunzo's wrote. Guys like me, who enjoy reading, loved reading their take the fighters they rated. At the time, no rating was like a "Trunzo rating," because they were the creators of the system itself and their insights into the fighter ratings the benchmark by which the fighters were rated and ultimately, re-rated.

If you were to go ahead and create a boxing website, you could generate a meager income (potentially from it) by inserting Google Adsense code into a column. Every time someone visits a site through one of those links, you'd make a few "cents."

There are many writers who would love to have their articles appear on your site. All you have to do is provide a link back to their website or their contact information.

Part of my "day job" is doing what I'm actually doing right now (for free - what the heck am I thinking?) as an marketing and publicity consultant.

Here's a few things to consider;

1. If you went to school for this, you may as well put your skills to use and do so with the purpose of not only creating something that others will enjoy - but making enough money to at least cover your time and energy involved in the process. Believe me, it's a tremendous learning experience.
2. You already have a defined audience. This audience enjoys the sport of boxing, enjoys "fantasy boxing" and has a passion for the sport and its history.
3. By examining the top read posts on this and similar boards, you can identify your market's interest - (I hate to use this word, but) "scientifically." The need for guesswork is eliminated.
4. You can leverage your time by asking talented people (like Dave the Wave) for photos to incorporate in your site/project. Just make a line and/or contact information available so he can get in on a little income making potential himself.

This type of project, while not a big income generator in and of itself, can lead to many interesting things down the road. You will be generating free publicity for OOTP, and if you copy the Ring's ratings from thering-online.com, for them as well. Just by having famous boxer's names within the text of a website will aid in being ranked very well by Google and Yahoo's search engines. I just finished a $3,000 search engine study for a company in Tampa, Florida and have had to keep on top of Google's latest algorithms to the point where I'm seeing them in my sleep.

Anyway, I've been involved with direct marketing, mail order and publishing (digital) and publicity since 1988 in one form or another. So when someone brings this subject up, it would be easier for me to walk by a Filet Mignon in an empty room without trying it, than to avoid jumping in the conversation!

Originally Posted by Beno999

I have taken on board all that you guys have said, and appreciate the feedback.

In response to Jersey-Jims post i agree with all that you say and definitely believe that even an estimate time on how long it would take to create such a magazine probably wont be near enough the amount of effort im going to have to put into creating all the graphics, layouts and other content for the mag. I also would like to say that creating a website is something that i have pursued before and i have a decent background in IT with a college diploma to back me up so im pretty ok with it, its just when i did it before i didnt really have anyone to view it so i lost interest, and as for this niche market in the TBCB Forums, i just didnt really think you lot would venture out from the actual forum itself and into a newbies take on boxing universes on another net page, instead posting an updated magazine monthly/weekly issue (however it turns out) that can be accessed directly where the iron is hot so to speak as to me this forum is quite active seems the better option?

As for a take on more than one universe to be contained within the pages of the magazine, that was my initial idea although i did have some doubts as to whether the fanbase for a certain fighter could be gained on this forum when in one uni he might have an awesome unbeaten record of 50-0 and so on and then in another be absolutely shocking if that makes sense? I am however going to vote on almost every major issue raised by you people as i want to contribute something to this community that is genuinly wanted by the majority, i hope to add to the already very inspirational amount of threads and universe stories by creating this.

I do believe in the idea above however and i guess i could modify and adapt my concept, there are quite a few posters on here running uni's such as Tosti and Kenyan Cheena i think would create for awesome reading. (Among so many others of course i have been a bit of a forum rat ive checked out that many threads)

Should i post some prototypes and see what you guys make of it after that see if it sparks some sort of warm feeling inside? surely if i get that when i turn the pages of every boxing mag i read then im guessing you guys must do.

[Beno999]

The master has spoken! Haha.

I never realized an income could be created however small from such a project, but after some thought ive decided to definitely get on with it. In the next few days im going to build the websites core layout from scratch, so expect to hear about it soon.

In the meantime, might ask you for some more advice on the project, thanks so much Jim.

Beno

[bear]

Beno
I like your idea. It seems like a huge undertaking.

Curious, what web design tools will you be using?

bear

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Beno999

The master has spoken! Haha.

I never realized an income could be created however small from such a project, but after some thought ive decided to definitely get on with it. In the next few days im going to build the websites core layout from scratch, so expect to hear about it soon.

In the meantime, might ask you for some more advice on the project, thanks so much Jim.

Beno

Since the Fistania Gazette website is no more, can Bill the Butcher apply for a column on your site

[Jersey-Jim]

Here's a design secret to creating a layout fast. From scratch can take a long time. Find a website layout you like.

Then, from IE7, click on your file dropdown menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen.

Then, choose - SAVE AS

The second box down will read "Save As Type"

Choose "Webpage, complete"

Make sure you chose WEBPAGE, COMPLETE - not webpage, html only.

Now you've downloaded the everything on the screen, graphics and all.
You now have the format you want. Replace the graphics with your own.

I use Dreamweaver CS3 to build websites.

Here's one of my company websites. It needs some updated, but it's pretty good: Welcome to Mainstreet Webhosting

My family goes between Florida and New Jersey and the servers are all located in Florida.

Anyway, that's how all that works.

Any html editor will do.


One last thing, after you've downloaded the site, open the folder and look for the html page. Change the name of it to index.html
That's the first page of your site. The domain name you choose will reference either index.html or index.htm as your home page automatically. It doesn't matter if you use html or htm after the DOT. Just keep it consistent throughout the site.

I prefer html, but that's just me.

Originally Posted by Beno999

The master has spoken! Haha.

I never realized an income could be created however small from such a project, but after some thought ive decided to definitely get on with it. In the next few days im going to build the websites core layout from scratch, so expect to hear about it soon.

In the meantime, might ask you for some more advice on the project, thanks so much Jim.

Beno

[Beno999]

Originally Posted by bear

Beno
I like your idea. It seems like a huge undertaking.

Curious, what web design tools will you be using?

bear

Starting off with a simple html based website made in microsoft front page i can definitely look into designing and coding a working flash or java based web page. Anything to achieve what i want to do with it really, ive covered most languages and tools so depending on what i need to do or how much time i have ill decide on how far i'll delve into the more time consuming coding languages.

[Beno999]

Originally Posted by Lee

Since the Fistania Gazette website is no more, can Bill the Butcher apply for a column on your site

Your all welcome to write up columns/articles i assure you. I expect to end up writing a ' columnist ' page to cover all of the people who have contributed articles to the website.

Note: I wont go into creating a forum for the site as i intend to use the OOTP one myself anyway so i dont think theres any point in creating a new one when theres one right here thats so well established.

[Infinity]

Some sites I've found useful when creating websites. I'm a big fan of templates, as my coding leaves much to be desired...lol

Hopefully these will be useful for you, as they have been for me...There's my on the subject....lol

http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-fr...resources/css/

BonRouge : CSS rollover menu

Download free CSS templates - Free CSS Templates

[Beno999]

Thanks infinity i will check those links out