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Hello to all my friends and SpGa Newsletter subscribers.  Well, the latest big news is that the Specialty Gamer website is finally open!  I actually officially opened the website to content on December 12, 2007, but I still wanted to fix up some various quirks and do some polishing here and there.  Now, before you rush off to see the website, hold on, let me do a proper Welcome here and give you a status summary of what's going on now and in the future for Specialty Gamer.  (From here on abbreviated as SpGa)

• A proper introduction:

First of all, the owner and webmaster is me - Brian Moy.

Without getting too technical, I've basically crafted the SpGa website ground up from scratch.  I have personally hand edited every single code, script, style sheet, color, font, etc... so no stock anything has been used, this is no "website in a box".  I used to have a website about, oh say... six years ago or so, so my preferred method of coding is thru a HTML box (Notepad style).  I don't like a whole lot of WYSIWYG HTML editors that basically do the coding for you.  So I know how my website works really very well.  But coding in a HTML box does mean it takes me a lot of trial and error.

Type type... save... load... did it work?  No?  Tweak the code... save... reload...

Building the website has been very much a learning process.  I was pretty familiar w/ HTML and a bit of Javascript to begin with.  But I really had to re-learn a lot of things with Web 2.0 now the big thing.  I have tried to take advantage of all the latest technologies for my website.  And as far as looks, I have been designing it extensively to give things a good clean and intuitive/friendly look with easy access to every part of the site from any page.  As although I haven't had as much time to writing actual content as compared to other things, I try to make everything well written, no fluff, and hopefully be informative telling you something you haven't already heard before and repeated on like a hundred other websites and etc.  So using the latest web elements, a classic look, and thoughtful writing, I hope to have the perfect balance of technology, design, and content.

For the structure of the Specialty Gamer website, it is basically split into four sections:

1. Features:
   This is where all the articles will be.  There will be various regular ongoing features, game news, interviews, and etc. posted by me and other authors.  And now I'd like to introduce the first two authors (besides me) to SpGa,
   
    Dant Rambeaux
    John Hancock
   
   (Give them a nice welcome applause!)
   
   I have designed the website to give plenty of credit to its authors featuring headshots next to every entry you do, an author archive page that lists everything that author has on the website, along with an easy to remember author index redirecting subdomain for each author.  With the author subdomain, you have an easy to remember URL to check out all your pages or to easily share with friends what you've done on the site.  For example: [author's name].specialtygamer.com.  Also, posts can be written in full HTML - the online editor thru my website is currently being worked on, but when finished, authors will be able to easily write rich looking pages with no HTML knowledge necessary (although it can be helpful) using a WYSIWYG editor with a Word/Office type of edit box.  For those not in the mood to do that, you can also email your pieces to me in Word, Office or whatever file format and I can go ahead and convert it to HTML and post it under your name - plus I can even spiffy it up and usually do it fast too.  
   
   With only three authors at the moment, I am interested in anyone that is interested in writing some articles, reviews or whatever for the website - whether it is a one off piece, or if interested in ongoing contributions.  Currently, it is not possible for anyone to register their own account on their own so I will have to set up an account for anyone that wants to write/submit content. 
   
   I will give further details at the end of this message for those that are interested.
   
   
2. Talk Boards: (not open yet, current work in progress)
   This is the forum where players can recommend new games to other players, meet, and chat.  Currently, different talk boards are being researched and not ready yet. 
   
   
3. Marketplace: (not open yet, current work in progress)
   This is the store where SpGa will sell games, parts and other items of Specialty Gamer quality.  The product focus will be specific game styles, uncommon and indy publishers, and on games and items you typically don't see or maybe might not even know about.  Items like overseas imports, unusual adapters, shoot em up games, independently released game goods.  The condition will be a mix of collectible quality used and retail new.  I understand a lot of people that buy games are kids who don't have credit cards, so SpGa will offer payment by check, money order and PayPal.  In addition, SpGa will be accepting credit cards over a secure server.  Shipping will be available worldwide, calculated by weight and clearly stated before checkout, and online package tracking always.
   
   For independent game designers, developers or makers of game goods, etc., SpGa will offer distribution of their products thru my Marketplace.  SpGa will take care of promoting your product, shipping, collecting payment and everything on the service end.  You will have your own brand page where you can put whatever you like to represent your brand on the SpGa website.  In return, SpGa takes only a one-time storage space deposit (returnable) and SpGa will take only a flat rate per item sold (no closing percentages or other fees) based on size.  The flat rate will be extra for heavy/oversize items for the extra time, trouble to package them.  Payment will be either monthly direct deposit into your checking account or mailed check (small mailing fee may apply). 
   
   For private game collectors, SpGa will also offer closed consignment - on a selective basis at least to start.  Basically, SpGa will offer the opportunity to sell your collectible game (or whatever) to a bigger audience and be promoted thru/represented by a website that accepts credit cards.  You won't have to worry about dealing with buyers, collecting payment or shipping your items out.  Plus SpGa will offer a much better rate than Ebay, Amazon or etc. which like the distribution deal will take only a flat rate per item sold based on size.  No closing percentage fees or listing fees, etc. besides the one-time storage space deposit, which is fully returnable to you whenever you want your items returned or all your items have sold.  Now about the "selective basis" part... consignment will not be open to everyone (at least to start).  If you have a box of old Genesis cartridge only games, then this isn't for you.  This is more for people who have some kind of unique or high value items (for example: SNES Miracle Piano System) and are looking for a bigger market to sell it and not worry about dealing with it themself.  I am sort of hesitant to even mention the consignment thing yet as for now, I'm only willing to deal with friends and people I know the quality of stuff they have.  I hate for anyone that just has a bunch of resale stuff to ask me and I have to turn them down.
   
   For anyone interested in distribution or consignment, things are not ready yet but check the SpGa Newsletters for updates when it will be available or contact me thru this email.
   
   
4. Biz Prog Log:
   This part of the website is currently the most active with probably more than half of all content in the Prog Log. 
   
   Since I started the website and my ideas for the business, I posted every part of my progress with Specialty Gamer in a log - originally on my personal home page, The Brian Pages.  Eventually, I migrated the Prog Log to the SpGa website.  Also, most of the business details have become complete so the log has now basically become where I keep track of changes to the SpGa website and status.  For the past month or so, I have been very busy, typically adding an average of one major feature to the website per day.  If anyone saw the website when I first made it public in December 12, 2007, it has drastically changed since then and even on a day to day basis if they have been checking it out every couple of days or so.
   
   To see what the latest feature added to the SpGa website is, check out the Prog Log.  I post on there about every day or every other day so there is always recent news. 

•  Interested in becoming a SpGa Author?

I definately want to hear from you, whether you just make to add one thing, randomly, or regularly.  Please email me directly and I'll set you up an account. 

• Want to see the latest cool updates to the SpGa website?

Check out the Biz Prog Log.  Posted almost every day!

• Newest Articles:  (Ha ha, since the articles went public a week ago they are ALL new.)
  • My article on NWCGE 2k7
  • Interview w/ Rick Weis of NWCGE
  • An Open Letter to the Gaming Industry by Dant Rambeaux
  • The Northwest Gamer: Volume 1, Issue 1 by John Hancock
  • The Northwest Gamer: Volume 1, Issue 2 by John Hancock

• A closing and thank you for your support:

I wish to sincerely thank you for reading this whole Newsletter if you did (I put a lot of thought into it) and for your support on my new business project.  Look forward to more SpGa Newsletters at a more regular rate that will hopefully be as attractive to look at as interesting to read.  And... as a reward for being the first subscribers to the SpGa Newsletter, I have a $free surprise SpGa souvenir for you to help celebrate the new year.  Its limited to 20 only and I will not make more of this special item just for the first 20 SpGa Newsletter subscribers.

To get your special SpGa gift, please email me (or just reply to this email) with your mail address.  Note that your gift will likely not arrive til early next year, 2008.

Best holiday wishes,

Now if you haven't yet, check out Specialty Gamer!!