Folks...PLEASE check out ACTION DOUBLE FEATURE...new digital comics

[BClayMoore]

We're trying something new and fun.

Give it a shot!:

http://bclaymoore.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/please-check-out-double-feature/

-BCM

[BClayMoore]

More great reviews:

http://www.platformnation.com/2011/04/07/doublefeature-raising-the-digital-comics-bar/

-BCM

[Basque]

I just purchased it. I'm assuming it'll be sent by e-mail or something? Anxiously waiting.

EDIT: Never mind. Just got the e-mail. Downloaded the PDF. PDF is far from my favourite format, but since I don't have an iPad, this is fine. It reads okay in full screen. Art looks great. Looking forward to reading it later today.

[scout1279]

I definitely plan on getting this, and I think Brenda is going to do a review for the site. She had also done some coverage on it from C2E2, and we've been pretty excited about it ever since.

[BClayMoore]

I don't have an iPad, but wish I did. The iPad app is da bomb.

-BCM

[Basque]

Yeah, after taking a closer look at the PDF, I have to say I'm disappointed by the resolution. It looks pretty heavily pixalated at 100%, which should not be happening. It even makes the text slightly difficult to read.

I would not even complain about this if it was a free download or a preview, but when I purchase a digital comic, I expect it to be high-definition enough that it won't draw attention to the fact that it's a facsimile of the "real thing" (which in this case looks like it's not a paper copy, but the iPad version). In the same way that I refuse to buy MP3s encoded at anything less than 320 kbps (and even that's a compromise, as I prefer a lossless format), I wouldn't pay $0.99 for the second issue of this unless I was assured that it would be at a higher resolution.

I hope this doesn't seem overly critical or negative. I still haven't read the comic, because I was distracted by this technical issue, but I still intend to read it later today, and I do think it looks like good storytelling. But since this is being presented as "an experiment," I imagine this is the kind of feedback that will be useful to you. I think this is a great initiative nonetheless.

[jemmons]

Yeah, after taking a closer look at the PDF, I have to say I'm disappointed by the resolution.

The PDFs being low resolution is a fair criticism. Our resolutions are targeted for display on mobile devices (where screens are small and file-size is important). But I'd say we're 100% open to changing this. We're not going to reach "FLAC" or "320 kbps" fidelity, but we can do better.

What resolution would you say is reasonable?

Or to put it another way, what's the largest filesize you'd like a PDF on your phone/iPod/whatever to be?

Cheers,
-Joshua Emmons
-Four Star Studios

[Basque]

Would you be open to offering more than one download option? So people can choose the resolution that fits their needs better? I only ever read digital comics on my computer, so the higher the better for me, but I also understand the concerns for mobile devices.

To be clear, also, the problem I had was not that the dimensions were too small, but that when viewing the file at 100% zoom in Adobe Reader, I could see a pixelation effect, as if I was looking at it zoomed in. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this clearly or using the correct terminology. But it almost looked like the image had been blown up (and thus pixelated as a result), which should never be the case when you're looking at it at 100%. Otherwise, the size was fine.

I'm really happy to see that you guys are open to changing this. It's exciting to see people try something new and I'm totally rooting for you guys.

[BClayMoore]

Basque -

This has all been forwarded to Tim Seeley and the tech guys.

I sincerely appreciate the input!

-BCM

[Basque]

Awesome!

[jemmons]

Would you be open to offering more than one download option?

I think we want to have as few options as possible (so as not to confound non-savvy users) but I'm sure we can find something that fits both mobile and desktop users better.


But it almost looked like the image had been blown up (and thus pixelated as a result), which should never be the case when you're looking at it at 100%.

True that! I'd really like to troubleshoot this with you. Can you email me at "support :twisted: fourstarstudios :surrend: com" and let me know if you see this equally across all pages or if there are certain pages where it's more pronounced?

Thanks! I really appreciate your help with this!

[zemo]

I think I'll try that out. Alas, right now that would mean a German guy in India trying to transfer 99 US cent (even less in Euro) to an American company. That'll be FUN! :D

Though here is a thing: Don't try to fondle around with the resolution too much. You will not be able to find a solution that is satisfactory too all monitor sizes and all resolution settings. Here's an idea: After having sold a representative amount of issues (I propose maybe 500, which you should easily get with the price point and sites like comicsalliance actually featuring you), send out a short survey to the users. Ask them about their monitor size and prefered resolution, and maybe about what they'd like to have improved quality wise. And then, for the next issue, apply the changes that are most comfortable for the majority. The rest can then decide whether something like loss of quality due to zooming deters them from the story.

That's my 2 cent before I pay the 99 cent. :3

[Tom Stillwell]

Here's a piece on did on DoubleFeature for GeekDad.

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/04/double-your-fun-with-doublefeature/

[Basque]

Though here is a thing: Don't try to fondle around with the resolution too much. You will not be able to find a solution that is satisfactory too all monitor sizes and all resolution settings. Here's an idea: After having sold a representative amount of issues (I propose maybe 500, which you should easily get with the price point and sites like comicsalliance actually featuring you), send out a short survey to the users. Ask them about their monitor size and prefered resolution, and maybe about what they'd like to have improved quality wise. And then, for the next issue, apply the changes that are most comfortable for the majority. The rest can then decide whether something like loss of quality due to zooming deters them from the story.

Again, to be clear, my complaint had nothing to do with monitor size. It had to do with the image being pixelated when looking at it at 100%, which should never be the case, no matter what the size of your monitor. (By 100% I don't mean stretched to full screen on my monitor. I mean looking at it at the actual size of the image, neither zoomed in nor zoomed out.) If you look at an image at 100% and it looks like you're zoomed in and can see the pixels, then it looks shoddy.

In any case, the fourstudios guys have been really great about listening to my feedback and they seem really concerned with finding a solution before the next issue comes out. Which is great.

[BClayMoore]

Here's a piece on did on DoubleFeature for GeekDad.

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/04/double-your-fun-with-doublefeature/

Cool! Thanks, Tom.

-BCM

[HamsterRage]

Bought my copy yesterday. I love that Gripper has finally arrived. I miss the Faker colors though.

[BClayMoore]

Since it was featured in the GeekDad piece, here's the revised "cover" for the strip Ryan and I created:

http://www.hawaiiandick.com/monstermen/Mo.jpg

-BCM