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CBR has a great article on the birth of the Longbox. Its a digital comics platform similar to iTunes, is expected to launch later this year as a free download for Mac, PC, and Linux. Developed by Quicksilver Software, Longbox comics can be download for a suggested price point of $.99 per issue, with the potential for block and subscription pricing. I suggest you read that article because it will certainly make you believe that this is the way to go.
If you are not a fan of reading comics online, reading the previews online bothers you...then you probably won't be too excited. While we all love to hold our comics, we should realize that there was a time that holding a CD was just as special. While CDs are still being released, the digital platforms for audio/video media with iTunes is something comic book publishers can not and should not ignore. It makes more sense for them to pay the "extra" cost to digitalize(pretend its a word) the pages, than to continually pay extra on increasing prices for paper, and the increasing prices for distribution(thanks Diamond). The idea is to have a secure, controlled distribution system that allows mass amount of content to come through in ways that modern consumers expect in terms of digital content.
iFanboy have an article on the pros and cons of the Longbox. Guess what? The pros heavily outweigh the cons.
"The reason why Apple iTunes was successful (aside from the iPod integration) was that it was able to get the music that we wanted in their music store"
That's definitely a big part of this. If DC and Marvel jump on board, they may aren't seeing any drop in titles being bought. They'll see an increase if anything. Most people will not suddenly stop going to their LCS to pick up their books. They like the people there, they like to read an actual book. However, if people do decide to buy these 99 cent issues, then they'll have more incentive to buy MORE books because its cheaper. I want to add so many books to my pull list but I can't because that's three dollars I don't have. But if its 99cent per issue, then I'll have 3 issues for the price of one! Its a win-win for both publisher,creator and fans.
Not to mention that Longbox will use more than one output file, which means I can read scripts on this thing instead of Adobe and its everyday upgrades.
How many people would love to hear Alan Moore's commentary on whatever crazy story he has planned? Or hear what Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis were trying to show during certain pages and panels of Blackest Night? Exactly. Hoseley hopes to release versions of the software for Kindle, iPhone, WiiWare, and X-Box Live.
They are even taking forum communities into account. Longbox users will be greeted with news feed from Comic Book Resources and be able to access the Community forums from the software, and there may be further connectivity down the road
The full version is expected to launch in September or October 2009. This is the future people. You don't have to like digital comics but this is too good to pass up.
If you are not a fan of reading comics online, reading the previews online bothers you...then you probably won't be too excited. While we all love to hold our comics, we should realize that there was a time that holding a CD was just as special. While CDs are still being released, the digital platforms for audio/video media with iTunes is something comic book publishers can not and should not ignore. It makes more sense for them to pay the "extra" cost to digitalize(pretend its a word) the pages, than to continually pay extra on increasing prices for paper, and the increasing prices for distribution(thanks Diamond). The idea is to have a secure, controlled distribution system that allows mass amount of content to come through in ways that modern consumers expect in terms of digital content.
iFanboy have an article on the pros and cons of the Longbox. Guess what? The pros heavily outweigh the cons.
"The reason why Apple iTunes was successful (aside from the iPod integration) was that it was able to get the music that we wanted in their music store"
That's definitely a big part of this. If DC and Marvel jump on board, they may aren't seeing any drop in titles being bought. They'll see an increase if anything. Most people will not suddenly stop going to their LCS to pick up their books. They like the people there, they like to read an actual book. However, if people do decide to buy these 99 cent issues, then they'll have more incentive to buy MORE books because its cheaper. I want to add so many books to my pull list but I can't because that's three dollars I don't have. But if its 99cent per issue, then I'll have 3 issues for the price of one! Its a win-win for both publisher,creator and fans.
Not to mention that Longbox will use more than one output file, which means I can read scripts on this thing instead of Adobe and its everyday upgrades.
Other potential features and exclusive Longbox content may include DVD-style commentary by writers, artists, or editors; a page-by-page look at the creators' process from script to final art; and integrating backmatter, such as that found in Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith's “Fell” or Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's “Phonogram” into the narrative pages. “It really comes down to the publisher and the creator,” Hoseley stated. “You're taking material you would find in an Absolute Edition integrated in with the comics in a way that you can either turn off and simply read the comic or you can dynamically see as you're going through the book the making-of stages, you can hear audio files of the writers or artists or editors about the process the book went through. We've got some incredibly creative and incredibly talented and driven creators out in the industry right now who really pride themselves on pushing the boundary of what is a comic.
They are even taking forum communities into account. Longbox users will be greeted with news feed from Comic Book Resources and be able to access the Community forums from the software, and there may be further connectivity down the road
The full version is expected to launch in September or October 2009. This is the future people. You don't have to like digital comics but this is too good to pass up.
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