Quote from: Frank on January 10, 2012, 06:59:34 PM

Another idea.  Imagine the next-generation of forum software like this forum.  Wouldn't it be cool if you were reading a comic, linked a panel or story to a forum topic and created and interactive discussion on the ideas you had about the characters and situations.  People often think about the Internet as being the end-point of some great IT revolution.  It's not - it is the beginning - we are still in the "radio" days of the Internet - not the "television" days.  Things like fiber to the home and extremely fast mobile networks will change everything.

For many people, they would love to buy and "Archie pass" and just have access to every Archie story ever produced for a period of time.  Others want to "collect" digital copies they can enjoy forever, and some want paper, some want to share the experience with others.  By addressing all these groups, the readership increases - good for everyone!

Well, I think I have some issues with these ideas. 

If you had every comic accessible, it would only be a matter of time before all those comics are looted and then made available elsewhere in a torrent or whatever.  People's motivation to pay for the entrance fee would be greatly diminished.  This is pretty much what has happened in another not family friendly internet industry I think.  lol

And about the idea of reading a digital comic that links you to comments/discussions on it.  I think that's just really bad for creators.  Sure we have forums and stuff where we discuss these things, but the fans shouldn't literally become part of the work.  If I wrote something, I honestly would not like having some loud mouth given a soap box to stand on about how this story sucks, this character sucks, etc. If he wants to do that on his own independently, ok.  But I just don't think it should literally be part of the work.

Quote from: aamrun on January 11, 2012, 04:36:16 AM

Quote from: Ghidra on January 10, 2012, 08:01:14 PM

Quote from: Frank on January 10, 2012, 06:59:34 PM

Another idea.  Imagine the next-generation of forum software like this forum.  Wouldn't it be cool if you were reading a comic, linked a panel or story to a forum topic and created and interactive discussion on the ideas you had about the characters and situations.  People often think about the Internet as being the end-point of some great IT revolution.  It's not - it is the beginning - we are still in the "radio" days of the Internet - not the "television" days.  Things like fiber to the home and extremely fast mobile networks will change everything.

For many people, they would love to buy and "Archie pass" and just have access to every Archie story ever produced for a period of time.  Others want to "collect" digital copies they can enjoy forever, and some want paper, some want to share the experience with others.  By addressing all these groups, the readership increases - good for everyone!

Well, I think I have some issues with these ideas. 

If you had every comic accessible, it would only be a matter of time before all those comics are looted and then made available elsewhere in a torrent or whatever.  People's motivation to pay for the entrance fee would be greatly diminished.  This is pretty much what has happened in another not family friendly internet industry I think.  lol

And about the idea of reading a digital comic that links you to comments/discussions on it.  I think that's just really bad for creators.  Sure we have forums and stuff where we discuss these things, but the fans shouldn't literally become part of the work.  If I wrote something, I honestly would not like having some loud mouth given a soap box to stand on about how this story sucks, this character sucks, etc. If he wants to do that on his own independently, ok.  But I just don't think it should literally be part of the work.

The key question is how can digital content be monetised ? Google succeeded where millions failed because their idea was inovative and it clicked ( sorry for the pun )

A great stumbling block which stands against digital data is what makes them appealing in the first place. They are forever. They never get old, do not tear or wear and can persist ( theoretically ) forever. If someone buys a digicomic, he or she can pass it on to whosoever they want. Selling or passing away paper books is not illegal, it should be the same for digibooks, although those in charge would definitely want otherwise.

Adding value, like re-mastering graphics, adding extra content like 3D, sounds, motion etc. would make a compelling case for the product and even though you may have your grandpa's digicomics, you would want to get those new comics which talk to you !

Interactive stories where readers suggest and even drive the course of the story is a great concept. Of course, nothing is stopping you from sticking to your own version. On news sites and blogs, you can find articles of any length on any thing by anyone followed by any number of comments by any number of people ( annoying, I know ). Still that does not reduce or augment the actual article in any way.

The idea that digital files last forever is a misconception I think.  Computers and digital devices have a very short lifespan.  Like three years I think.  When those things stop working, most people don't pay the exorbitant fees to have them repaired, so the data is lost.

I don't think a contract for something digital lasts forever either.  I'm pretty sure that most of the contracts are for a limited time only due to the contracts with right holders who want a constant stream of income for making their intellectual property available.  So if you lose something like a digital comic and want it again in ten years, you'll have to buy it again.  Another example is Neflix's streaming service.  It's notorious for only having certain things available for viewing for months, not years.

I'm also pretty sure it's technically illegal to copy a digital comic book and give it to others.  That's what they call piracy, and one of the reasons why I don't think that products that exist only as files are a good way to run an entertainment business long term if what you care about is quality.

On the other hand, a very scratch resistant Blu-ray (which is one of the improvements over DVDs) is probably likely to still work 20 years from now unless you try to bend it in half or something.  Similarly, a book will still be readable unless you throw it in the bath-tub or burn it.  Comic books are obviously more fragile, but that's why they have graphic novel archival volumes now.