One Year Review as Editor

[Dynasty]

Mason Malmuth, as the Publisher, is who I report to each month when publishing a new issue of the Two Plus Two Internet Magazine. However, both of us are mostly intrested in readers' opinions about the quality of the Magazine. Now that I have published a year's worth of issues, it seems a good time to get a job review.

The Two Plus Two Internet Magazine started in January of 2005. Since then, there have been three editors.

Mason Malmuth: January, 2005 to June, 2005 & August, 2006 (7 issues)
Ed Miller: July, 2005 to July, 2006 (13 issues)
Bryan Clark: September, 2006 to present (12 issues)

I've been in the position of editor long enough so that now I should get the credit for what's good about the Magazine and the blame for what's bad about it.

Those who were reading the Magazine regularly a year ago should recognize that there has been a fair amount of change including our staff of regular writers and the general emphasis of the content.

So, I've created this thread hoping readers will let loose with all their opinions of the Magazine, what's been done right and wrong over the past year, and what readers want to see going forward. You're the boss. What do you say?

[1p0kerboy]

Honestly?

Does every article have to be a serious article about poker strategy?

If you look at the mainstream poker (paper) magazines they are full of articles about a wide assortment of things, such as trip reports and whatnot.

Even the strategy articles in the 2+2 mag are predominantly covering unpopular games.

I think the whole direction of the magazine should be reconsidered.

[disjunction]

[ QUOTE ]
Honestly?

Does every article have to be a serious article about poker strategy?

If you look at the mainstream poker (paper) magazines they are full of articles about a wide assortment of things, such as trip reports and whatnot.

Even the strategy articles in the 2+2 mag are predominantly covering unpopular games.

I think the whole direction of the magazine should be reconsidered.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm I think the magazine would be more popular if there were an NVG element to it. But I don't know if the goal of the magazine is necessarily to be popular. I know 2+2 has it's standards on things, and if that's the case, I think the magazine is very good as it is.

In practice, I wonder why I don't read it more. I guess I get my fill of strat from the strat forums. The articles definitely have their place in that they have the math that would be overkill for an everyday strat post, and it would suck if there weren't a place for those who want to do rigorous math. And there always seem to be a couple of articles with good insight on a game I play. So I definitely think the magazine is a good thing to have that rounds out this website, regardless. It is something more than its individual views. For instance, this wonderful post is oddly out of place in a strat forum, it got 12 replies in 18 hours and none for the next day and half now. It's what we say we want, but once we get it we don't want to read through it.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...=2#Post11803050

I also wonder if, on a subconscious level, I'd read it more if there were more pictures and graphics? Presentation seems to be blah.

[Niggel]

In General I really like the magazine, but I would like some more practical Acrticles where a hand is discussed from all angles to give Players the chance to see how many factors come into the decision making of a really good player.

More STT and MTT stuff please [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Howard Burroughs]

I think you are doing a great job.



Off the top of my head, I'd like to see more .......

a) Limit Hold'em

b) Ray Zee

c) Sklansky (new)

d) Nolan Dalla

e) Stoxtrader


All in all, I really like the 2+2 mag.


Best Wishes

Howard

[1p0kerboy]

Let me add that I think your efforts and dedication appear to be impeccable.

But let's call a spade a spade here. You're simply not going to attract that many readers when there are a bunch of topics that nobody is really interested in, such as strategy articles on Badugi or Chinese Poker or the other unpopular games.

In my experience magazines are meant to entertain.

I think strategy articles are important, especially considering this is a 2+2 product, but at the same time I think this should only be one part of the formula.

I can think of a lot of interesting articles that don't really appear anywhere else right now, such as following some of the results of the high-stakes online cash games (there is a site that tracks these and the guy posts here as well) and following the legal landscape of online poker amongst other things.

[Your Mom]

[ QUOTE ]
Let me add that I think your efforts and dedication appear to be impeccable.

But let's call a spade a spade here. You're simply not going to attract that many readers when there are a bunch of topics that nobody is really interested in, such as strategy articles on Badugi or Chinese Poker or the other unpopular games.

In my experience magazines are meant to entertain.

I think strategy articles are important, especially considering this is a 2+2 product, but at the same time I think this should only be one part of the formula.

I can think of a lot of interesting articles that don't really appear anywhere else right now, such as following some of the results of the high-stakes online cash games (there is a site that tracks these and the guy posts here as well) and following the legal landscape of online poker amongst other things.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's all kinds of good info on the popular games. I appreciate reading about the less popular games even though I rarely play them. It helps you think about poker in a different way. There's still enough in the mag about hold em. Plus, I really like anything Yao writes on sports betting.

[HiatusOver]

Wow I love the magazine. We have so much info on the "popular games", and u guys still include articles on those too I dont understand the complaint. I think the fact that u run articles on these other games sets you apart from anything else going on in the poker world media.

I only read the draw/badugi/chinese articles right now, but they are all good and I am a poker information junkie and see myself attacking the archives on a rainy day.

[PopeInRome]

You had two press passes to the WSOP. Why no articles? You wasted a great opportunity. Also, two of the most memorable pieces from the past year were written by you.(Stud & Stardust articles) You should write more.

[tobbilla78]

I think you are doing great job just keep it up.