Azaroth

A while ago, it was announced on Gamasutra that a new MMO-centric magazine, “Massive”, was to be launched as of January this year.

Now, put aside the fact that they were claiming to be first, but they certainly would be the only one operating. Seemed like a fair idea in some aspects, but since, by their very nature, online gamers tend to be… online, and any “news” a magazine could print would be pretty much behind by weeks or months - it may not have been the BEST idea.

However, combine it with in-depth reviews, good writing, beta stuff, some sort of user forum for maniacal and amusing rantings, and a CD with MMOs to try… I can’t tell you that I wouldn’t pick one up if I saw it on the shelf.

It’s sort of like… racing cars.

Those guys know pretty much everything about what they’re doing. They can’t afford most of the shit in those magazines. They can’t fly out to the events being advertised, and any amazing news about car racing that’s broken… they’ve either seen it on some car racing television channel or heard it in the garage.

Yet they pick up that magazine with their slim jims and smokes because it’s what they’re interested in.

I get all the hockey information on the internet that’s ever needed by one human being not directly employed in hockey. But I still subscribe to The Hockey News. Why?

Because I just do.

Not the best business plan, and I wouldn’t pitch it to any investors.. but being the only person serving a certain niche is generally worth the shot.

So good for them, they gave it a shot. Or, intended to. See, that’s all over with.

Apparently their parent company, TheGlobe.com has been found liable for sending “at least 100,000 unsolicited and unauthorized commercial email messages to MySpace members using MySpace user accounts improperly established by the Company”.

Here’s the big snag with that - It could cost them $40 to $120 million dollars, probably shutting them down. In fact, recent calls to their publisher yielded “an automated recording indicating that the number had been disconnected.”

Ouch.