Feedback & Suggestion 'Timber Maniacs' Questionnaire, Kupo!

[Linnaete]

Kupo!

This is Mogliv calling. I've flapped my little wings as hard as I can to gently descend from my usual hidey-hole up here in these high boughs to present a short questionnaire for our readers, kupo. In case you haven't heard, the team here at Final Fantasy Forums has kicked off 2019 with the successful launch of the second issue of 'Timber Maniacs', a link to which you can find here.

Yes, kupo, I understand that some of you are not too pleased to see yet another Moogle give you a sidequest, but do understand that the input of readers is very important to us. For our Mogazine to continue to offer engaging content and evolve in the future, we would very much appreciate honest, constructive feedback. So don't think of this as a Moogle making you perform the umpeenth fetch quest in an MMORPG, kupo. Think of it as you the reader having a say and influence in shaping 'Timber Maniacs' for issues to come! Perhaps you can even contribute with the team. We're always keeping an eye and pompom out for article and content ideas from you all, kupo!


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1. Which article(s) did you enjoy reading the most?
2. What kind of content would you like to see more of in future issues?
3. Would you be interested in contributing content for a future issue?
4. If so, what would your article be about?
5. Any additional comments, kupo?

To also celebrate the launch of the second issue, kupo, we've put together a relatively brief behind-the-scenes look at the process it takes for the graphics team to turn a text document into a full magazine article.

There's a lot of work that goes into creating every page and we cannot thank the design team enough for their commitment and work, kupo! I'd give them a toast but I'm afraid we Moogles with our stature don't last very long with the bottle, kupo.

Mogliv <hick!> out, kup<hick!>

 

[Jake]

1. Which article(s) did you enjoy reading the most?
2. What kind of content would you like to see more of in future issues?

I'm gonna answer these two at the same time (how impressive) because the articles I enjoy most are the articles I'd like to see more of in the future, haha. While I've not finished reading the entire issue just yet, the interviews with various community members (Kira, Tami, Gal, Kelly... in this issue alone) are the highlights for me so far. More of that, please!

1. Would you be interested in contributing content for a future issue?

Hmmm, I wouldn't say no.

1. If so, what would your article be about?

I haven't the foggiest! I don't know much about Final Fantasy outside of XIV, oops. I suppose anything related to that title I could ramble on about. But if future volumes ever ventured out and started including more general media reviews and stuff, that's something I've always had an interest in doing.

1. Any additional comments, kupo?

Everyone involved has done an amazing job! Congrats on releasing volume 2. Y'all should start a patreon or something if this is going to continue on in the new year

 

[Six]

• Which article(s) did you enjoy reading the most?

I really enjoy the articles that are based on our community. As Ross said, I really enjoy the ones with our community members, and the various things we do together. Though, we need to keep our outside readers interested too, so I like the balance it currently has.

• What kind of content would you like to see more of in future issues?

More light-hearted content. I enjoy the in-depth reviews of games like the FFVII article and... (look I've not read it all yet, okay?!) My point being is that personally I'm not too keen on articles that are pages and pages long.

• Would you be interested in contributing content for a future issue?

I mean... You kinda need me!

• If so, what would your article be about?

All jokes aside, I'll continue my work on the design team. Perhaps I'll have some input with something specific, but... nothing that comes to mind currently.

• Any additional comments, kupo?

We're alive, team. Good job!

 

[Mitsuki]

I really wish I could've done a few more recordings.

1. Which article(s) did you enjoy reading the most?
Kelly’s Ultimate Member. It was a really entertaining read, so hilariously random. Even the serious side to her story really gave some flavor to her personality. I love reading about our members and discovering a thing or two about them.

2. What kind of content would you like to see more of in future issues?
In the future I would like to see more images from FFF members, whether it’s collectible items or even pictures of themselves (or their pugs), it’s always nice to highlight these little things.

More Final Fantasy cosplayers. There are some really nice ones out there that deserves a lot of attention. I can only imagine how fun it would be to design these pages.

More FF-related creations from people as well. I love seeing the creative side of everyone.

More “FFF voted for” type of highlights!

Maybe a few pages dedicated to /gpose for the FFXIV community and those who take the time to post their FFXIV screenshots here? @shivas @Ross @Six @Gaige

So, a balance between our community and outside the FFF platform would be great.

3. Would you be interested in contributing content for a future issue?
...I think I do enough, thank you very much! But besides designing, I’d like to contribute more actual content when I can. I just need to figure out what.

4. If so, what would your article be about?
Okay, okay. Maybe an article about FFF Sims or a fun bio of the human hot dog (the different dressings inside her wardrobe) except not written by me. But you know what, Liv’s quirky storytelling is something that I can’t get enough of. Hint, hint.

Oh, and some insight to some of the behind-the-scenes process of Timber Maniacs magazine. I like to reveal some of these stuff.

5. Any additional comments
Timber Maniacs means a lot to me, therefore it’s pretty rad to see this project being shared by other Final Fantasy fans out there. While we would like to release this a few times a year so that the name gets out there, it just isn’t realistic to the team. It’s a huge time sink and if we continue to release 90+ pages I definitely don’t even see two issues release per year, which is unfortunate. I think it’s worth considering dividing some of the contents, thus cutting down on the number of pages significantly, but still be able to produce at least two issues per year. But until then, the plan is one issue per year because we can’t seem to control ourselves!

Like Kira, I also agree that we should be mindful about the length of each articles. More pages per article means a lot less room to feature other things. Personally as a reader, I tend to gravitate more on the 1-4 pages...as in, these are the ones that really catches my attention.

On a positive note, great job to the writing department for all their hard work! The varied style and tone are so important in an editorial magazine so kudos for that.

 

[Dionysos]

1. Which article(s) did you enjoy reading the most?
I won’t comment on any of the articles I wrote, so to pick two by other writers:

Loss and Grief by @Paddy McGee . I really appreciate this one. It is deeply personal, and Adam was brave writing it, but it is well written and sincere and is one of the most important articles in this issue for me.

Paradise Lost: Midgar as a Corporate Dystopia by @Linnaete . Comparing Midgar with Walt Disney’s original concept for EPCOT is a truly original and interesting take on FF’s most iconic city. I really love how this article turned out.

2. What kind of content would you like to see more of in future issues?
The in-depth articles are where my heart is as we can break new ground here and cover things only a handful of people even consider, but I really loved writing the community stuff too (this is really important and this is a great platform for that).
A healthy balance.

3. Would you be interested in contributing content for a future issue?
!

4. If so, what would your article be about?
I have a lot of ideas and only some of them will be possible to include (either for now, or ever). I'm not sharing them because Adam's article about Early Announcements has warned me about the dangers of that...

5. Any additional comments, kupo?
I've waited a while to see what the reception of this issue has been. I'm happy with the response. Everybody seems to like it, so that's always good. We're still learning the ropes, so thanks to everyone involved, and thanks to everyone who actually read some of it.

Off-site we have had particularly positive feedback too -we've even had a couple of offers!

Our audience might be varied and have different tastes, and that is okay. Nobody is forced to read the whole magazine, so long as certain aspects speak to them. We cater for a lot of different tastes in this magazine and I do think that is one of its strengths.

 

[charmy]

Finally had time to read through the latest issue! Yay!

1. Which article(s) did you enjoy reading the most?

There is so much good work put in all of them! But the ones that I particularly enjoy are the articles that explore the culture and history behind some FF ideas/characters (e.g., the Mythology Manual) and the articles that have to do with the different members - whether it's their artwork, music, or just hearing their stories.

Which I think is kind of a lot of the content anyway

2. What kind of content would you like to see more of in future issues?

As above! I love this sort of content. But you guys are doing a great job already so I look forward to what you come up with.

3. Would you be interested in contributing content for a future issue?
4. If so, what would your article be about?

I don't really think I have much that I could contribute ^^; But, if there was anything I could do, I would be happy to help out.

5. Any additional comments, kupo?

You all do such an amazing job! I enjoy reading the magazine and appreciate all the work you do to put it all together

 

[JigoKuu]

Which article(s) did you enjoy reading the most?
That is a tough question, but if I have to pick one or two article, they would be Mythology Manual and Empires and Final Fantasy! I love the other articles as well, but since I have read some of Dionysos's articles, I totally fell in love with them. Oh, and I love to read about the empires of FF games as well. I guess I really like anything that is directly connected to FF games (their worlds to be precise)? But don't misunderstand, I really like community content, too! I love the balance of the magazine.

What kind of content would you like to see more of in future issues?
There are a tons of things I would like to read more about! I will just list some:

• games and platforms (original platforms vs remakes or anything like that, I really love that stuff xD)
• history of Square Enix
• directors of FF games (but can be also about composers, artists, voice actors, developers etc.)
• game universes (like FF7 compilation for example)
• game locations (like the Midgar article, I loved that!!!)
• concept arts vs final designs (or just to see how characters/game locations/anything changed during the development of the game)
• special, FF-like things common in games (for example the different Cids appearing in the games, chocobos, magic etc.)
• FF-related series (like Mana series 3), FF spin-off titles, other SE titles

Would you be interested in contributing content for a future issue?
Yes, definitely! (I mean I don't know if I am good enough to contribute, but I am enthusiastic. C:

If so, what would your article be about?
Hmm, good question. It would be maybe a Mythology Manual-like article about the world of Final Fantasy Type-0 (you know, about how the four symbols of the Chinese constellations were made into four nations in the actual game, it is truly brilliant). Or maybe I could write about the works of Yoshitaka Amano? Or a review about one of the FF games I played. Or FFVII Advent Children. I could write about that masterpiece any time lol. To be honest I have some ideas and it would be such an honour and fun to work with you!
Only two "problems" could occur: since I'm not a native English speaker, my article(s) might need some checking (you know, sometimes I don't use the right words or my grammar might be off (hopefully nothing totally absolutely fatal haha), and I will have time to work on any article only on summer (or later).

Any additional comments, kupo?
I really love the magazine! I was really impressed to see how wonderful and interesting it is. Can't wait to be able to read the next issue!
Btw I would love to read it like a real magazine. It is possible/okay if I go and print it to myself?:,D