SCG writers-who will be premium?

[Moxlotus]

This board is for those who regularly write for SCG.  I was wondering which ones of you will be premium only or if some are part premium/part free.   Would you please post below so the community can see.  This may influence me and others to pay the cash.

Also I don't know if anybody here can answer this but:  It was said that strategy articles will be premium-which I expected.  Will tournament reports (like Kowal's latest or Crazy Carl's last Waterbury report with Deathlong) or things like Zherbus's and Dr. Sylvan's tournament statistics be premium?  What about concepts like "Lateral Thinking" or "The Anatomy of a Team?"-not those exact articles(or who wrote them) but the ideas behind them.

[Jacob Orlove]

Issues articles will always be public. Smmenen will be Premium, Zherbus will be free. That's all I know atm.

[Zherbus]

I think the only premium vintage writers will be Smmenen, Carl, and I think JP... not sure though.

[ump]

What is the approximate number of articles we can expect from Smmenen each month?  The reason I ask is because although I try to read all the Vintage articles, his articles are pretty much the only articles I would pay to read.  I don't like the idea of supporting all the other non-Vintage articles there are, but it might be worth it if I get enough quality Vintage articles.

[Smmenen]

I'll be writing three articles a month.

[Whatever Works]

I'll be writing three articles a month.

Thats pretty good money... 2 Booster Boxes for crappy type 2 cards every single month isnt a bad deal. Hopfully you wont run out of ideas like Mike Long, and start writing crap... You can only talk about soooo many versions of combo =)   Things will get sad if you ever have to write about something like parfeit.

[Mr. Fantazy]

Things will get sad if you ever have to write about something like parfeit.

At least it will be MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change

[Nefarias]

I have a question regarding respecting SCG's Premium policy. Obviously, no one should copy/paste Steve's articles or anything, but it says that SCG P9 coverage would also be premium. Therefore, do you think it's okay to post Top 8 decklists, etc., or here? What about threads like "Ongoing SCG Results" that inevitably happen during big events?

[rvs]

Things will get sad if you ever have to write about something like parfeit.

At least it will be MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change

*grin*

[CHA1N5]

At least it will be MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh gosh! That`s funny. That`s really funny. Do you write your own material? Do you? Because that is so fresh. ``MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change.`` You know, I`ve never heard anyone make that joke before. You`re the first. I`ve never heard anyone reference that outside IRC before. Because that`s what people say on IRC, right? Isn`t it? ``MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change.`` And yet you`ve taken that and used it out of context to insult our team in this everyday situation. God, what a clever, smart girl you must be to come up with a joke like that all by yourself. Hmm, that`s so fresh, too. Any MeanDeck Tendrils jokes you want to throw at me, as long as we`re hitting these phenomena at the height of their popularity? Hmm? Cause I`m here. God, you`re so funny.

[Klep]

<3 Kevin

[The Atog Lord]

What about threads like "Ongoing SCG Results" that inevitably happen during big events?

These sorts of threads are generated by people calling their friends and telling them how everyone's doing. SCG won't really be able to stop this from happening, as it is just someone telling someone else what he's seeing.

Decklists, I suspect that's another matter, unless the deckbuilders want to share.

[nataz]

Decklists, I suspect that's another matter, unless the deckbuilders want to share.

frown

[hulk3rules]

At least it will be MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh gosh! That`s funny. That`s really funny. Do you write your own material? Do you? Because that is so fresh. ``MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change.`` You know, I`ve never heard anyone make that joke before. You`re the first. I`ve never heard anyone reference that outside IRC before. Because that`s what people say on IRC, right? Isn`t it? ``MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change.`` And yet you`ve taken that and used it out of context to insult our team in this everyday situation. God, what a clever, smart girl you must be to come up with a joke like that all by yourself. Hmm, that`s so fresh, too. Any MeanDeck Tendrils jokes you want to throw at me, as long as we`re hitting these phenomena at the height of their popularity? Hmm? Cause I`m here. God, you`re so funny.

I find it quite ironic that in order to try to make fun of someone for being un-original you completely rip off a joke from Family Guy

[Saucemaster]

I find it ironic that in pointing out the irony of the joke, you missed the point that the irony was in fact part of the joke.

[The M.E.T.H.O.D]

I find it ironic that saucy finds it ironic that pointing the ... omg w/e

[Eastman]

I find it ironic that in pointing out the irony of the joke, you missed the point that the irony was in fact part of the joke.

Cute, nice try.

I don't believe that for a second.

Good attempt though, almost got the save.

[Saucemaster]

Well obviously I can't speak for Kevin, but he's not a guy on whom irony is lost.  He's a pretty clever guy, actually.  And unless you're Paul Bunyan (or Bill Blasky!) he's probably bigger than you.  He once made a whole village of bodybuilders cry like children by kicking their asses while insulting them (and they mamas) in terms so clever they didn't even know what he was saying.  All they knew was that the guy in the alien shirt was TOTALLY pwning them.  And it made them cry in shame as he stomped them into the mud, formed by their tears, that became their mass grave.  And that's how the Nile was formed.

After all that, you think a little meta-irony is beyond him?

[CHA1N5]

I find it quite ironic that in order to try to make fun of someone for being un-original you completely rip off a joke from Family Guy

Good job, you get a Silver Star for detecting the presence of irony.

I find it ironic that in pointing out the irony of the joke, you missed the point that the irony was in fact part of the joke.

Justin, however, gets a Gold Star for identifying the Seven-Layer Irony Dip.

I find it ironic that saucy finds it ironic that pointing the ... omg w/e

Sorry, Ashok, better luck next time.

I don't believe that for a second.

Ooooh, sorry... the answer we were looking for was:  "LOL"

Sorry.

And that's how the Nile was formed.

*wipes tear from eye*

Man, I love it when you tell that story.



And Now:

Kevin Publicly Apologizes for Hijacking This Thread:


sorry



On Topic:

I don't think that SCG has actually made a commitment to specific writers being "always premium".  In fact, they have already stated that Issues articles will be non-premium, by definition.  I expect that Smmenen's articles will usually be premium, but not always.  As for other T1 featured writers, I have no clue.  I bet we'll see a few Carl/JP/Doug/Zherb/etc. articles get promoted to Premium, and that it will be Knut and/or Pete's whim that decides.

[Mr. Fantazy]

At least it will be MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh gosh! That`s funny. That`s really funny. Do you write your own material? Do you? Because that is so fresh. ``MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change.`` You know, I`ve never heard anyone make that joke before. You`re the first. I`ve never heard anyone reference that outside IRC before. Because that`s what people say on IRC, right? Isn`t it? ``MEANDECK Parfeit, with the mandatory 1 card change.`` And yet you`ve taken that and used it out of context to insult our team in this everyday situation. God, what a clever, smart girl you must be to come up with a joke like that all by yourself. Hmm, that`s so fresh, too. Any MeanDeck Tendrils jokes you want to throw at me, as long as we`re hitting these phenomena at the height of their popularity? Hmm? Cause I`m here. God, you`re so funny.

Wow, if something that simple can insult you and your team, that's sad. If I had anything to say about M.T. I would ( oh wait, I already said all I wanted to say in another thread).
And speaking of originality, oh my you threatened my masculinity, that's pretty 1st grade in my book, but hey each to their own level.

You guys are starting to sound a little defensive these days, what a pity. Did you ever consider that the amount of animosity towards Meandeck is a result of their own actions? When members of a team run around spouting about, optimized global metagames, how there is no reason for people to play inferior decks, and all the other bullshit that’s been outright said, or alluded to, threes going to be some backlash. You don't really think us unwashed masses missed the semblance of hypocrisy, when you guys asked to withhold your deck list after a public event, do you?

Now we have Steve running around trying to sell everyone on SCG's premium venue, in a way that makes one wonder if Meandeck might possibly own part of SCG. Of course the fact that he hasn't had an article published in nearly two months, and now will be doing three a month, and talks about love of vintage, and supporting the format, is lost on us too.

Here's how I support Vintage;
I hold monthly events with prizes guaranteed through fourth place. Every first place prize is a power/workshop caliber item. I return the entry fee for the person who traveled the farthest. Everyone who attends, walks out with something, on top of random door prizes, and I'm doing this in California, where we don’t get the huge turnouts like other areas. It isn't hard to see that on the event itself I'm breaking even, if I'm lucky. If somebody wants to insinuate that my not giving money to a rival company is a lack of love for the format, they can kiss my ass.

Oh well, it's all internet bullshit anyways. I'm really sorry if I bunched your panties up, it was a offhand comment, that really meant less then all this is worth.

Signing off from the West Side...
Shawn

[jpmeyer]

The reason that us writers have been trying to sell people on the idea of premium is so that our site doesn't go under.

[Hi-Val]

When members of a team run around spouting about, optimized global metagames, how there is no reason for people to play inferior decks, and all the other bullshit that’s been outright said, or alluded to, threes going to be some backlash.

Ein minuten bitte...

How are these ideas bullshit? Should people play inferior decks in a fragmented metagame?

[Mr. Fantazy]

I understand, and agree with that sentiment JP.

However, this whole situation doesn't exist in a vacuum. I am not faulting SCG or any of the writers here for the current state of affairs. I have to wonder what this will do to the TMD community though. At first glance it isn't hard to imagine a larger gap opening between members and basic users, as the payers and non payers widen the gulf.

For me the decision to pay or not hinges on how much importance, (and how accurate and truthful I think they'll be) I end up placing on SCG's sales figures. Luckily I am in a position where if I decide the information warrants it I can buy a subscription with no concerns. Not everyone is in that position.

TMD's members/basic users policy is fantastic in my view. The ability to move from one level to the next by way of experience and accomplishment works well. To couple that with a persons ability to pay is not so good in my opinion. How many members will now be left out of productive conversations, because the choice between books for school or reading articles about their hobby, shouldn't be a difficult one? I hope it doesn't work out this way, but it is a possibility.

An example of the problem I have with the tone of this whole thing is, when people talk about how unlimited proxies should be standard so that people can have access to the best decks, then, to paraphrase, talk about how paying for the best information is needed and shows support for the game. Maybe it's just me, but the two ideologies seem to conflict.

Again JP, I understand that SCG may be having problems and this is how they have determined to fix those problems. It's just what has been said in the past is not meshing with todays speeches.

Shawn

EDIT...

@Hi-Val

No, I'm saying that if you talk about how there should be unfragmented metagames and top tier decks available to all, witholding deck lists after a public event is a bit on the hipocritical side and bullshit.

[nataz]

The reason that us writers have been trying to sell people on the idea of premium is so that our site doesn't go under.

Which is what is kinda the problem. Although it may be your site, it isn't my site. I don't buy cards there, and very few articles are worth the time it takes to read them. If I wasn’t able to speed read, and also have a problem with procrastinating, I would almost never go there.

Sure, their power events are a really a great thing, and I would support that if they were under 10 hours away. Their web-site however is another matter entirely. My view as a type one player, if the SCG website goes down, meh.    

I'll be honest, I don't care about the charge for articles, its not like I don't have the .08 a day. I just don't approve of how SCG's new premium policy affects the TMD community.

I think it is moderately ironic, that as SCG whines about how M:TG.com "stole" all of their good writers by paying them more, and then goes and goes it themselves.

SCG might be your site, but TMD is my site.


(Well, Zherbus's site, that he is nice enough to let me use for free)

<3 TMD
meh SCG
[/i]

[Saucemaster]

Which is what is kinda the problem. Although it may be your site, it isn't my site. I don't buy cards there, and very few articles are worth the time it takes to read them. If I wasn’t able to speed read, and also have a problem with procrastinating, I would almost never go there.

Sure, their power events are a really a great thing, and I would support that if they were under 10 hours away. Their web-site however is another matter entirely. My view as a type one player, if the SCG website goes down, meh.

All of which is a perfectly valid reason not to pay for a premium subscription yourself, and makes total sense; but none of that is an argument against the idea of SCG charging for the content that they provide.  I may be mis-reading you though, and you may not actually be arguing *against* the idea of SCG charging, just explaining why many people will choose not to.  In which case I totally understand, even though I love SCG and I already bought my subscription.

[Smmenen]

An example of the problem I have with the tone of this whole thing is, when people talk about how unlimited proxies should be standard so that people can have access to the best decks, then, to paraphrase, talk about how paying for the best information is needed and shows support for the game. Maybe it's just me, but the two ideologies seem to conflict.

Again JP, I understand that SCG may be having problems and this is how they have determined to fix those problems. It's just what has been said in the past is not meshing with todays speeches.

Shawn
.

Shawn,

I have been an advocate of proxies and said so many times.

But here is why the ideology doesn't conflict.

Without Premium, SCG stops doing articles.  If they stop doing articles, I stop writing articles.  Aside from issue articles, I probably would not have written a single article for SCG since my GroAtog or Stax primer unless I was being compensated becuase I am simply too busy (as a full time law student) to write what essentially amounts to term papers (my articles are usually 20 pages long) for nothing whatsoever - and even damage my teams competitive advantage by providing information.  

My financial interest sans SCG is not to write at all.  I write becuase I love writing, but it simply wouldn't be worth it without some form of compensation.  

Without premium, SCG has no articles.  Without SCG having articles, I don't write.  So under this strict logic, the premium content actually INCREASES the amount of information out there.

[Dr. Sylvan]

I can also attest that I wouldn't have written a solid half or more of my articles if I wasn't being paid. They're just too much work to do for nothing, even if I like doing it.

[nataz]

I'll be honest, I don't care about the charge for articles, its not like I don't have the .08 a day. I just don't approve of how SCG's new premium policy affects the TMD community.
[/i]

I really don't care about their charge. I may even buy a subscription for a month to see how it goes, its not like I don't have the 5 bucks or whatever. Its more that I am unhappy with what it does to TMD, fragmenting it, and in part, making TMD a pay sight. *frown*

Steve's thread with a link to his article really pissed me off for a second, but I was drunk, it was late, and then I moved on with my life. "Quick, come discuss on these public message boards which I take advantage of, a pay-per-veiw article". That was about as useful as that tourney report with the *witheld* deck, and 2 liner match notes. If we all can't talk about it here, why post it here? Go do it in the SCG forum, or a team forum, thats what they are for. TMD is for public information.
(that of course is just my POV, but I don't think I am feeling totaly unreasonable)  

The thing is, if it stopped there It would be fine, but I can't help but feel we are on a slippery slope. The fact that there are rummors of decklist not being published for the SCG P9 unless you are a premium dissapoints me.

//sigh//

[Hi-Val]

Well the big reason that people are advocating it is because they make money from it, as well as it having that altruistic support for the community, etc...

If you're concerned that there will be problems disseminating information, I'll gladly post every one of my articles on TMD instead if you pay me what SCG would pay me for articles. I'm sure a lot of other writers would if someone wants to charitably subsidize writers for TMD.

[nataz]

If you're concerned that there will be problems disseminating information, I'll gladly post every one of my articles on TMD instead if you pay me what SCG would pay me for articles. I'm sure a lot of other writers would if someone wants to charitably subsidize writers for TMD.

don't flatter yourself, if I won't pay 8 cents a day for Steve, you certainly aren't worth the time.

quick question, would you want Mike Long posting adds for his eBay auctions?

-Like Steve, he makes money off it
-and it could contain good info (i.e., his SV deck, or something random) that at the very least could give some interesting insight into the format

And sure, anyone who bought the auction, and therefore got the tec, could discuss it. But anyone who didn't buy the auction, couldn't discuss the tec.

What Steve and other premium writers are doing is very similar to just that, and quite frankly it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I don't care if they do it, I just wish they wouldn't do it here.

I certainly can't, nor would I, demand that Steve's article/link be taken down even though it seems to violate TMD policy. Half the moderators here are Meandeck/friends, at least a few will be premium writers, not to mention the owner. I can understand if you all see this in a differnt light. But I don't think I'm out of line voiceing what I'm sure others are feeling.

Hi-Val, If you want to be childish and trite, meh, whatev.