[Ambrosius]

I was thinking of making some changes to Darkspace Dispatch and would like feedback. What I was planning was to shorten the emailed version to a summary, and to change the hosted version to more of a magazine (rather than newsletter) in PDF format. The Magazine approach would have a Table of Contents up front (which would basically be the emailed version) with links to the various articles and features.

I have noticed that fonts and layout apearance vary greatly depending on the computer you are viewing with. Going to PDF would allow for better consistency of "look" and would also be more printer friendly.

Thoughts?

P.S. I'll also make my usual pitch for help here. -- if you like writing, illustration/screenie editing, voice acting/sound effect creation . . .

I have plenty of enthusiasm but limited time and talent so more help should translate into more/better DsDs. Email me if you're interested.

[vorlon31]

As a fan of dsd the only change I would like to make is to have it delivered to my inbox more often.

Regarding a format change, would there be enough material for a magazine format dsd or would it need a big step up on reporting both whats going on and whats thought to be going on from the various pilots involved and from those at the edge of play?

[Ambrosius]

Originally Posted by vorlon31

Regarding a format change, would there be enough material for a magazine format dsd or would it need a big step up on reporting both whats going on and whats thought to be going on from the various pilots involved and from those at the edge of play?

Yeah I'm really not sure about that part. I like the newsletter format we currently use but I find myself doing more links to full-page stories" and more sidebars.

I was concerned, for instance, that if someone didn't read it carefully they could miss what I thought was a very interesting sidebar story under the OPL article.

Ideally, I would like to dedicate a full-page to each article or feature.

[Jump]

Most people hate pdf formated documents. I know I close them immediately when I find something I clicked opened one up. And I know plenty others do the same. It's just not a user friendly format.

[Ambrosius]

@Jump: What do you find "unfriendly" about PDF?

@others: do you feel the same way about PDFs?

[Reece]

Yup. What' unfriendly is that you have to learn to use it to use it.

If I want to print something from a web page, I'd sooner cut and paste it into word to be honest, but it's not environmentally friendly to do that anyway. If you want to do a separate page for everything, i'd prefer to see a separate webpage

[Ambrosius]

The issue is not about separate pages, but about easier creative control, and ease of print and/or download for offline reading.

I personally feel that PDF is far easier (as a user) than HTML for this type of thing.

[Chemdog]

Then offer a pdf download if a user wants it, but have it as an html site with multiple pages. Personally, I would think the ability to work in a web environment would give you more creative avenues. Just my opinion, though.

[Jump]

Just create a print page which is easy to do with CSS right in the web page.

A List Apart: Articles: CSS Design: Going to Print


Besides the problems of using antiquated Web .01 technology in a Web 2.0 age, PDF's are isolated. Meaning search engines can't read them and they will not turn up for the non Jumpgate player in searches. Which is useless for bringing in new players.

[-Vomir-]

If you have enough enthusiasm to do some kind of magazine style DsD this certainly would be cool.
As to pdf, I personally like the format, but that might be due to my different setups on my different workplaces (read: portable). I see the problem with pdf on windows tho, as it just takes a long time to load acrobat. If the magazine would take like 5 to 6 pages, it might be worth it, else it might just scare of ppl.

[Ambrosius]

Originally Posted by Chemdog

Then offer a pdf download if a user wants it, but have it as an html site with multiple pages. Personally, I would think the ability to work in a web environment would give you more creative avenues. Just my opinion, though.

I'll have to see how easily PDF conversion goes. On the creative side, the issue is fonts. I have 3 different computers with three different resident sets of fonts. In designing DsD I use different fonts for different types of articles -- What happens is that fontts looks different and spacing gets screwed up (for headlines and sometimes graphics) when the "reading machine" does not have those fonts available. One solution would be to use "least common denominator" fonts but that's visually boring. Another solution would be to offer a link to a downloadable font pack, but I'm not sure about copyright issues there.

I'm trying to come up with solutions that look cool, are user-friendly and EASY FOR AMBRO!

@Jump, your point about search engines is a very interesting one that I had not considered. Probably the most compelling reason NOT to PDF so far. Thanks.

[Jump]

You can also embed the font on your server. Not something I have experience with but I know it can be done.