Forum - View topicMissing Newtype USA.
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TolkienGuru
Posts: 6 |
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Yes, I know it has been a while now, though not really all THAT long since Newtype USA closed up shop. When I first heard it was going away I was a bit bummed but figured that it was really no big deal and that I would simply have better ways to start spending that annual subscription fee.
Now however, I find myself actually missing it. For one thing, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the monthly exposure to new series through the enclosed demo discs. I have yet to find ANYWHERE a suitable replacement for those. I fully admit that there are shows that I became attached to solely because of the exposure I received from those discs. The biggest to come to mind is Negima! Just reading the small blurbs of it that were floating around didn't really interest me enough to look for it and purchase it. However, once I was exposed to the first episode I decided to try the series out and was hooked entirely by the end of the second or third episode. Those discs also helped prevent me from making a few ill choices in anime. On top of all that I actually enjoyed the articles about anime development and Japanese pop-culture. Though I admit I have found plenty of outlets to satisfy those needs sine the demisee of Newtype USA. So I was wondering, does anyone else miss the days of Newtype USA? And has anyone found a good substitute for the promo discs that were inserted? I realize that they were little more than paid advertisement, but at least they were good advertisement. |
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DragonsRevenge
 Posts: 1150 |
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I miss when the version they had out before they jacked the price up 3 bucks, then lowered the price, and cut the content of the magazine in half.
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DuelLadyS
 Posts: 1705 Location: WA state |
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I miss the days of Newtype and its handy-dandy preview discs. My wallet doesn't.
There really is no proper 'replacement' for the Newtype disc, the only other magazine that tried was Otaku USA, which mostly re-hashed older shows and things Newtype already covered before switching to an online only setup. Quite frankly, I don't think a replacement ever will exist- streaming anime is becoming much more commonplace, and its certainly a lot cheaper than printing sampler discs. I think most, if not all, anime companies will switch to that route. Of course, without the feeling of needing to watch 2-3 specific random shows on the sampler (lest your extra goodie 'goes to waste'), most folks won't bother to watch shows they weren't already curious about. I don't see a way to get around that, aside from personal efforts ("Here's all the show Funi is streaming on Youtube, I'm going to roll a dice and pick the show that matches what I roll!"). |
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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Oddly enough, I didn't read NewType until I returned to anime. I'd see an issue and thumb through it. I wasn't impressed with it. I never did buy one, and even if they were around today, I still wouldn't buy it. I did run across Protoculture Addicts, though, and I feel this magazine is the best out there in regard to anime. Sadly, the staff has had some setbacks and the issues have slowed. Here's to hoping they'll get back on their feet. I bought a few older issues to help out and I just re-read one about 3 days ago. Good stuff.
I call this substitution a "fan sub site". Now, before anyone comes in and chews me out, don't forget I do buy anime. In addition, this route isn't hurting anything in my case. If anything, it's helped me to pass on titles I would have been pissed at spending $50+ dollars on only to buy a title I did enjoy. Though in truth, many of these purchases has stemmed from The Anime Network's On Demand service. I haven't hit a fan sub site in quite some time. Too busy buying up the older titles at $20-$50. 
This is the reason I didn't buy it. If I wanted advertisement, I can get it for free without the need of fluff. |
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TolkienGuru
Posts: 6 |
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I had thought about picking up PA. But none of the anime/comic shops around here seem to carry it and I had wanted to look through it before investing in it. I have heard both positive and negative things about it (like one would expect about anything) but the negative things I have heard tend to be on the very negative side. So I have been wanting to sample first. I'm starting to get to the point where I might just invest in one of their smaller back issue packs and looking at them and trying to decide that way.
*sigh* Yeah, Newtype USA got expensive, but so does buying all the anome I do. I rarely find a title I like where the discs aren't running me nearly $30 or so per volume and in some cases spanning a great many volumes (I invested in Kenshin long before the "season" boxes came out.) I tend to invest in shows as they are released and not once they are complete. This in itself makes my anime hobby highly expensive. |
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PaniPoni61
Posts: 128 |
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I remember when I took off from work to hit the local bookstore to find the latest issue of Newtype, only to keep striking out. That was an extended lunchbreak. However, after about 4 stops I came back to work, and went online to see what was going on, only to see the website say it didn't exist anymore. greeeeeaaaatttt.
Otaku USA almost fills the bill, the only problem with them is they always seem to be at least 3 months behind the times. Though I don't know if Anime Insider still exists, I really hope it isn't. Bad writing, crappy reviews, and just re-hash, re-hash, re-hash. What has saved me is hitting sites like, well, here for one, and there are a few other online boards i'll frequent, which are a lot better, and a heckuva lot more relevant, time-wise. BTW...PetrifiedJello, I love the Miki avatar. I've been watching that series a lot recently, and have been on the trail of the (apparently-) impossible....finding a Miki figure. I think what i'll do instead is find an Asuka instead, and put an apron & bandana on her. |
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DragonsRevenge
Posts: 1150 |
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OUSA is Bi. ha. It's a Bi-monthy mag, which is probably why it's a lot of old news. AI hasn't existed for a while. That magazine did suck. It felt like it was geared too much towards a tween audience. The cream of the crop was Animerica though. I honestly think PA is this generation's Animerica. When I look back, NT was a bit too big and gimmicky. PA and animerica are much more focused. |
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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Every so often, we hear about these mysterious series which get released by creators not backed by TV stations, doll makers, and sticker manufacturers. I think this series is one of them. I can tell because: A) The comedy is written for those who have working brains (not yet killed off by the fanservice offerings of today) and B) There is nothing for this series merchandise wise. Not sure if that's a good thing or not, but it's certain this series fell so far below the radar, not many know it exists, including those who love marking up plastic by 364%. A shame, but if I should run across one, I'll be sure to let you know. |
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XXghostface
Posts: 35 |
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I don't really miss it. Why should I buy a magazine about anime when I go can get news and info information about anime on the internet? Internet>>>>>>>>print media
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cl-shojo
Posts: 70 Location: New York |
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As someone who bought Newtype USA, Animerica and Shojo Beat, I really miss all three magazines. Newtype USA was the main way I found out about what new anime were coming out in Japan, and without it I feel out of the loop. They also had interesting columns and I loved the interviews with the Japanese side of the industry, including directors and voice-actors. I miss some of Animerica's articles as well. But most of all, I really miss Shojo Beat. They had so many manga previews, and there are several series (We Were There, Honey & Clover) that I would never have gotten into without that magazine.
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Beltane70
 Posts: 4016 |
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While I certainly bought and read it, I don't actually miss Newtype USA since I still get the Japanese Newtype magazine.
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HaruhiToy
 Posts: 4118 |
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I had a subscription when they went out of business. The team tried to pick it up with a new magazine that went beyond anime (Pio?) but it didn't' fly.
Too bad. The art in the magazines were worth it and the preview disks were good as well. |
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