Lester
Welsh
|
by Lester Welsh |
| Hi there! I'm Lester, Publisher of "Thy Holy Handgrenade!," back again to speak my peace humbly among anyone who would be patient enough to listen. This time, my meditation turns to electronic gaming (E.G.) fandom. Almost every editor or publisher of every American E.G. fanzine has written some kind of feature on their perception of why they think E.G. fandom is on the wane. So, why should I belabor the topic? After all, at the moment I write this article, probably many, many months before you actually read this, I haven't been part of E.G. fandom for more than a month. Who am I to give my input, considering my novice status? I believe that as a beginner, and as the newest member of E.G. fandom to date, I'm able to offer a bit of insight as to how this fandom can draw new members, and perhaps even retain original ones. Through discussing the topic at length with fandom folks, and in quiet consideration, I've contrived my own perception on how E.G. fandom may rebound from its membership recession. So, sit back in your easy chair and sip on your favorite mellowing elixir while I illustrate my understanding of the status of the collective of enthusiasts known as "electronic gaming fandom." To the best of my understanding, electronic gaming fandom is basically a group of electronic gaming/publishing enthusiasts who just let their thoughts flow, through their various publications or "fanzines." Though gamers cannot voice their concerns in an open forum through the prozines, E.G. fandom has been a fixture where gamers can say whatever they please---even (and sometimes especially) against professional E.G. magazines ("prozines"). The many methods, goals and outlooks may differ, but all are in it for fun and discussion. Now, this fandom has been experiencing a membership deficit; as a significant amount of primary fandom members now pursue new interests, there has been little or no influx of new ones. The major factor promoting this fandom’s demise is the present lack of coverage by E.G. prozines. Ironically, E.G. fandom was formed and sustained with the help of E.G. prozines, yet the lack of the same fandom coverage forced those amateur publishers to totally fend for themselves in obscurity, seemingly spurned by E.G. prozines without explanation. Years later and into the present, E.G. fandom as it is presently known seems to many to be crawling to its grave. It seems to be afflicted not only by a deficit in membership, but also (according to popular opinion) a deficiency in ideas, articles, and enthusiasm, compared to the E.G. fandom of generations past. So, instead of lamenting the great zines now gone and idly reminiscing the past, how should fandom folks go about preventing fandom from becoming extinct? I primarily believe that fandom should let go: If E.G. prozines refuse to further feature and/or review E.G. fanzines, fanzines should stop seeming so desperate and adjust to the new conditions. If E.G. prozines spurn fandom, fandom should just spurn it right back. After all, almost everyone in E.G. fandom believes that the only advantage E.G. prozines have is great distribution; the contents in most are poor, to be lenient. The next step I propose for fandom is to evolve. Like the lowly creatures that slithered out of the primordial ooze unspeakably millennia ago, it appears to be time for E.G. fandoms to change a few features in order to survive. It may need an assist from cyberspace, but most likely, E.G. fandom (and fanzines) will need an assist from the zine publishing community. E.G. fandom is not like music fandom, where there is an overabundance of small-industry people who need the help of like-minded small-industry publications to further their efforts, and vice-versa. E.G. fandom is a small collective of people who discuss a singular, big industry hobby. It isn't the same as in previous decades, when ordinary gamers could design, program and publish a game with a library book, and with the help of E.G. fanzines, become popular among small-industry publishers and gamers across the Atlantic and northern border. Neither E.G. prozines nor video game publishers need E.G. fandom, and it shows. Many individual E.G. fanzine editors are now focusing their efforts on zines with miscellaneous topics. This may be an overlooked form of evolution. Consider the facts that E.G. fanzines are no longer being covered by E.G. prozines, and that video game reviews are usually gotten from bought prozines or read from the Internet. Why do people need to read E.G. fanzines, other than for the inconsistent articles? Switching to "miscellaneous" zine (misc-zine) format seems to be a step in the right direction for E.G. fanzines; instead of stifling themselves with a "games only" format, quite a number of E.G. fanzines already feature many other topics other than video gaming. The final step for fandom members would be to advance, accruing members, networking with other zines and other fandoms, and furthering their own interests. Perhaps this may even involve eventually petitioning E.G. prozines to feature E.G. fanzines. At least in this latter instance, if prozines still obstinately refuse, fandom would be in a completely perilous situation. However, I believe that presently, fandom should struggle to survive and succeed as if E.G. prozines didn't even exist; this way, the foundation of electronic gaming fandom would be completely sound and autonomous. It's time E.G. faneds individually pulled themselves out of the rut, and worked on their own personal networking and "collaborating." With a quick analysis and a catalyst as simple as improving public relations (or as drastic as a complete change of direction), E.G. fanzines can individually succeed, independent of prozines, and consequently, E.G. fandom can rise above. |
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