The Wonderland Board

Regarding the Midnight Post

As mentioned in issue #17 of the Midnight Post, I would like to have a little bit of a discussion with the Wonderland community regarding aspects of the Midnight Post to determine its future.

When I first started the Midnight Post, the goal was twofold: (1) Obviously, it had a business purpose - i.e. to be a vehicle to announce new Midnight Synergy games and keep our games in people’s minds. (2) Our second goal, however, was not to create “just another newsletter” that announces games for sale and nothing else - I’m sure you all get enough of these in your mailbox. Rather, the Midnight Post was meant to have real content that would entertain or educate without having a sales pitch attached to it.

I think both goals have been reached fairly consistently over the first seventeen issues - I think it is a fun read, and based on the e-mails I received when there was not June issue, I think it might even be something that some of you look forward to.

The operative word is “think”. I haven’t gotten a huge amount of feedback (other than from the regulars on this board - and thank you for your continued messages!), so I’m not entirely sure which aspects of the Midnight Post you like, and which you don’t care for much.

Because, I must be honest, the Midnight Post is quite a bit of work to put together every two months - and I wonder if perhaps that time could be better spent (either producing a better Midnight Post, or spending the time on the heart of Midnight Synergy - supporting our old games and making new games!). This has lead me to play with several scenarios in my head - running the Midnight Post less often (perhaps four rather than six times a year), getting some dedicated help in putting it together, making it leaner, or other options.

But I want to start this discussion with a simple question - what do you and don’t you like about the Midnight Post? What else would you like to see? What could you do without?

The Midnight Post has had a number of regular or not-so-regular features:

* Peegue’s Puzzle Page - a mainstay from the beginning
* Retro Gaming Articles - classic games and machines revisited
* Community Spotlight - news from the community (competitions etc) and focus on the work of specific community members
* New Games by other developers (demos of game you can purchase, as well as freeware releases)
* Midnight Synergy Game Updates and New Game Releases

There have also been some not-so-regular features:

* The Wonderland Gallery - showcasing fan-art and other usermade creations
* Behind the Scenes - e.g. the making of Wonderland Adventures
* Silly Articles, such as the iLoof or the interview with Chomper
* Games That Weren’t - the latest addition to the Midnight Post, giving you the chance to peek at some games that never made it past early concept stages.

I would really like to hear back from as many people as possible - either on this board, or via e-mail (to midnight@midnightsynergy.com). This discussion might lead us into a variety of directions, but I want to simply leave all of these possibilities open for now. Depending on how fruitful this discussion is, we might also expand it to Midnight Synergy’s other services - the games, our game support, as well as this community itself - all in an wider “taking-stock” exercise to hopefully make sure that our little spot on the internet remains a fun place to be for all involved.

So - I hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
Patrick

I like the 'games that weren't' section.I also like the 'silly articles.'

Hope this helps

I like the Games That Weren't(or anything that 'weren't').

I often skip the retro games

I really like Behind the Scenes

For me,I usually skip Puzzles and some Not-MS games.

I love commently Spotlight,silly articles and The Wonderland Gallery

Also,I would like to see what's in Midnight Synergy.

My favorites are the Community Spotlight, Peegue’s Puzzle Page, and the Midnight Synergy Game Updates and New Game Releases (especially that one! ). I often skip the Retro Gaming Articles. I usually stick with Midnight Synergy and Wonderland related things.

Games That Weren't, Gaming Spotlight, Peegue's Puzzle Page, Retro Gaming Articles, The Wonderland Gallery and DEFINETLY Behind The Scenes are the ones that I like.

Especially Behind the Scenes and Games That Weren't.

I like it all but If I had to pick one I guess I like the community spotlight the best as it showcases fellow wonderlanders and current events.
I am all for going to only four issues a year if it frees you up to support old games and or designing new ones.

I second that Keeks. I like all of it also. Love the spotlight section because I'm totally addicted to RTW so seeing these creative folks get recognized is awesome.

I've tried the puzzles and really stink at them but still love having them in there to try.

Love the stuff about the old games, cuz I'm an old game player hehehe

When WA came out I gobbled that game up right away and love to see all the new info about the next game coming from your group. Can't wait to play!

Seems like its all good But I have to agree with Kiki about just 4 a year. Or only when you have lots of information to get out maybe. Those options would be cool if it frees you up to make more stuff for us

Thanks again P for all your hard work!

My favourite is the Community Spotlight
There are a lot of interesting members part of this board and it's nice to get some information about other Wonderland addicts. And it's a sign of appreciation from Midnight Synergy for all the work those people are investing for free
I also like Peegue's Puzzle page.

I mostly skip the pages with retro games. I never had a C64 or an Amiga and when I got my first PC I probably was too grown-up to use it only for playing

The new games section is sometimes interesting, sometimes it's not - depends on the games chosen. But some of them have been published earlier on bigfishgames.com or reflexive.com ...

What I would like to read is some more info about Midnight Synergy. Who are the people who are working there? How do they look like? What's their job? Are they playing our custom levels? ....

Lutz wrote:What I would like to read is some more info about Midnight Synergy. Who are the people who are working there? How do they look like? What's their job? Are they playing our custom levels? ....

Hmmm I've often wondered that too. Good points Lutzie!

I like the community spotlight, Peegue's puzzles, updates on WA, silly things. I have had a dabble at some of the new games you've focused on, although some of them aren't 'new' by the time you put them in the post.

I'm not so bothered about the retro games, even though I did play some of them years ago.

Like Lutz, I would like to know more about the working day of Midnight Synergy, and the people involved in making it work. How frustrated you get when things don't go right, and how excited you get when they do.

I think quarterly issues would be good, or maybe even just biennially. I would rather have less issues but packed with goodies, than lots of issues with not much in them.

My favorite is the community spotlight and I did enjoy the article about how the game was developed.

I've checked out a few of the games that are mentioned but not often. I too would love to see more info on the people involved in the production line.

If posting this on a quarterly/semi annual basis would free up time for you to add another revision to RTW, I'm all for that

I love the Midnight Post! It helps me learn who's who and who does what! Mostly, I just read the Community Spotlight. I've played a few of the games, but not for a long time. I also loved the story of how Midnight Synergy began.

I'd love to know what type of candy bar is your favorite and what color your hair might be.....these things just go through my head all the time. Maybe you'd like to show yourselves in one of the posts. (but you don't have to, ofcourse it's only a suggestion)

I skip PPP and not-MS games.

Whenever there's a new Midnight Synergy game release, I just have to look! So, I really love seeing your new games come out. I hardly ever properly look at other games by other developers though, but there was a game you showed us that I really liked when I played it, so I don't mean, "I don't care about this section."
I've read through a lot of the Retro Gaming Articles, and find them quite interesting (especially the one about the first game with an 'easter egg', "Adventure").
Most of the time, I don't care about the Community Spotlight, but I still look through it. If I find something that strikes me, like a level series, I download it.
I always see what puzzles Peegue's Puzzle Page has, but I can never be bothered solving the puzzles.
I really liked the "Behind the Scenes." You should have more!
I found the ILoof a bit strange when I read it, but I like how in the interview with the Chomper you made it look like the Chomper was talking. I think you should have more 'Silly Articles', because, couldn't you say that it makes the issues more 'real'?
I skipped the "Games That Weren't" section, but that might just have been because the game there didn't interest me. It's only the very first one, though.
There doesn't seem to be enough of The Wonderland Gallery for me to really say how much I like it. You've had it in two issues so far, but do you think it should be more common?

kiki wrote: I like it all ... I am all for going to only four issues a year if it frees you up to support old games and or designing new ones.

Me too!

Lutz wrote:The new games section is sometimes interesting, sometimes it's not - depends on the games chosen. But some of them have been published earlier on bigfishgames.com or reflexive.com ...

What I would like to read is some more info about Midnight Synergy. Who are the people who are working there? How do they look like? What's their job? Are they playing our custom levels? ....

I agree! Also, part of the homepage is dedicated to games from other websites, so it is not necessary in the newsletter.

I like Peegue's puzzles, but no the ones you need to print out.

Janelle

My favorite is community spotlight, and behind the scenes. I love it all, but I often skip the retro part.

I would also love to have the "behind the synergy" Idea.

I'm always excited when a new Post comes out! I read all of it but I like the community spotlight best. (And I love Lutz's idea for a "Midnight Synergy Spotlight" so to speak!)

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Susan

I LOVE the midnight post, even though i have barely enough time to read it(school).

I like silly articles the most.

Many thanks for the replies, it definitely helps me figure out what to do with the MP.

In general I think I will go with a slightly less regular schedule for the next little while, as I'm still figuring things out. The next issue of the Midnight Post will likely be closer to the end of the year, when WAMOFI is ready. Maybe I'll do a mini-update in-between.

My next question along this subject:

* Community Spotlight: if you wish to nominate a particular forum member for the spotlight, please e-mail me!

* Midnight Synergy Spotlight? I suppose that's an option, although I can't promise. Here's an idea: e-mail me a question that you'd really like to have answered in regard to Midnight Synergy (could be related to specific games, game development, the company, life in general, etc).

* Community Member Submissions: this is another possible direction - would some be interested in writing an article for the Midnight Post. Of course, I'd be happy to compensate for submissions (e.g. payment or freegames). If you have an idea for an article that you think would be of interest in the Midnight Post, again, e-mail me. Also, as a reader, if you have an idea for an article that you'd like to see, let me know.

Sorry for my late reply.

I like the Midnight Post, ecpesially the interwiev of members.

BUT, I would like to have a "next page" option at the bottom of each page. Can it be? Please?