Again, feature creep - I've been working on this for almost 3 years, not gonna start branching into multiple versions and what not before finishing the one I set out to make.
That's why i'm asking you in my last post, to at least think about it, after finishing your work with the printed version.
Second, you're being extremely naive. We already have tons websites like you're talking about... Abandonia, My Abandonware, IsoZone, Old PC Gaming, DJOldGames, The Legacy, Hall of Light, Hardcore Gaming 101, Moby Games... hell, there's even genre specifics databases like the
RPG Database. And motherfucking Wikipedia, of course. They are much larger, older, established and full of content than I ever hope/want to make.
Shit, you still don't get what i'm talking about. The sites you mention don't have anything in common with a book (in terms of layout/design).
I'm not a professional web designer, but even i know that there are some cool, cheap and easy-to-use web layouts, perfect for creating a site in a book format.
I'm not talking about doing a site about cRPGs, but just transcribing the book to a website. And yeah it costs money, but it can be cheap as fuck with some help - so that isn't a valid reason for 'not even thinking about it' stance you took.
I get it that you like the book format for the web version, but it's impossible that i'm the first person you encounter, that says something like: 'physical books are great, e-books are great, but going with interactive (bookmarks, hyperlinks) straight-up pdf is inferior to other methods you could go with'.
Pdf version really carries the same weight and is as meaningful as the physical book, in your opinion? (And again, i'm not talking about throwing the pdf version to the garbage)
There is even an option, with no work or money needed, of putting the pdf file on a site that allows annotations/comments made by you or the authors (or anyone you want).
It's so fucking easy, that i'm really surprised by your assumption that i'm spewing some bullshit, without even considering it.
Or without telling me that - yes, you considered it, and you see the upside, but it's just too much work. Or that your work is open-sourcy, cc and stuff, and if i want to do so, then i can do a fucking website. Anything on the subject would be good.
When i'm talking about newbie hooks, you're assuming that i'm anti-oldschool and pro-casual. When discussing if there is a better way to view the book on a pc, you're assuming that i'm anti-books. When i'm suggesting that you can do a website, you assume that i want to make Gamespot for old crpgs.
So, you would take my suggestions out of context, turn them around, and tell me that i'm naive, rather than read my post, understand and discuss?
You are the one that wanted to brainstorm the shit out of this topic, so maybe take a step back and look at the big picture. I'm really not trying to rape your book, just throwing some ideas around.
And yeah, maybe i'm 3 years too late to influence you in any way, but if you don't want to do anything with this project after the release of printed version (cause you're burnt-out or smthn), then just say so!
I set out to compile info spread through the internet, through all these websites, forums, databases and users that are online but no one else can be bothered to read - I won't do the opposite and add more noise.
But that's what my other point is about.
When looking at your pdf, i see that it would look perfect as a physical book. But when reading it on a computer screen it's just too crammed and noisy. Even lists at the end could look ok in print, but on a screen it's just horrible mess, adding to the fact that they are completely disconnected from the rest of the book.
It's almost standard practice to re-cut the book for big screens, if you think that the readers would be mostly using big screens.
Ok, so it's a lot of work, but is kinda shitty of you to answer my question with 'i won't do that cause i'm doing some other stuff right now'. But you WILL do that? Are you thinking about it? You won't do that ever cause you don't like the idea?
For some reason i care enough to propose stuff, some half-baked and some valid. If you absolutely don't care about the topics that i'm talking about, then just say that you've got it covered - and i will fuck off (and maybe come back when you release the printed book).