CDRom Project News

[hunter]

From Marc:

This project is a go. We'll start with the scanning next week, and go from there. The CD will have the MT canon, plus Imperiallines, plus all Challenge articles for MT. Unfortunately not the DGP material because it is still tied up with Roger Sanger, but we have hopes it will be available someday.

Despite some opinions, this is planned for a DVD-type case with color cover and color insert and color disk imprint. This is intended as a series of Traveller canon (the next one is theoretically TNE), so they will have go
together.

The actual files are similar to ebook, but are actually printable, editable PDF, most probably without DRM intruding.

Marc

 

[Captain Zoom]

Yah!

 

[Ben W Bell]

As long as the scan quality is cleaner and clearer than the DrivethruRPG versions.

 

[vutpakdi]

That's great news. I'll definitely buy a copy as long as the scan quality is better than the DrivethruRPG version (cleaner, straight pages).

Ron

 

[daryen]

Can you include MTJ 3 and 4? They were GDW copyright, and I would love to get my hands on the original Lords of Thunder adventure.

 

[Malenfant]

Is this going to be something that's sold in gaming stores?

 

[Wayne]

And if it is going to be sold in gaming stores, who will be the distributor.

I would love to buy my non-GURPS Traveller stuff from my LGS, but like Malenfant, unable to get them here on Vancouver Island as the 3 LGS can not get them from there distributor.

 

[Tekrat04]

Is it possible to see the list of books that will be included on the CD-Rom?

 

[FlightCommanderSolitude]

Here it is:

http://www.travellerrpg.com/cgi-bin/Trav/CotI/Discuss/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=46;t=000034;p=2#000022

 

[Tekrat04]

Thanks for the info. I can't wait for the CD-Rom.

 

[Spud]

Put me down for a copy, too. Wouldn't miss it!

 

[Elliot]

What about errata? In/Out or incorporated?

 

[BetterThanLife]

WIll we be able to get it through here or just through the FFE website?

 

[kafka47]

Fantastic! Now if can begin to consolidate every part of Shadow canon...if RS, would be so kind but wait...sorry, it was only a Canada Goose heading South for the Winter...it looked like a pig for just a sec. <smiles>

 

[mctesla]

I can't wait for a copy--- I'll definately be throwing down the credits.

 

[Reg Redblade]

Re: Megatraveller CD-ROM

Fantastic news !

I am really looking forward to picking it up.

How soon can we expect the disk to be available (roughly speaking )

Thanks for the ongoing traveller efforts - I have picked up all the FFE reprints but it's MT that got me hooked on Traveller - and can't wait for the re-release - particularly Arrival Vengeance which I have never managed to find.

Kind regards

Des.

 

[daltoncalford]

I know, I must be crazy, but, I have bought all the MT pdf's from DriveThru.
My biggest problem is that the DRM on the files prevent me from using linux (I had to buy a laptop to run windows so that I could view the pdf's)
My other problem is that the original material was optimised for print not screen media.
The beauty of pdf's are that you can carry all your books with you on a PDA. Unfortunately, scaned pages do not render well on a small screen.

I would be willing to pay extra, if the material was OCR'd into a plain, vanillia, text format pdf.
No columns, no pics, one font, with only bold or italics for formating.
This would allow us to search the material, easily format it for viewing and use it as a online reference book.

best regards

Dalton

 

[clementk]

Originally posted by Dalton:
I know, I must be crazy, but, I have bought all the MT pdf's from DriveThru.
...
(I had to buy a laptop to run windows so that I could view the pdf's)

Um...for the cost of all the MT pdfs and a laptop I'm guessing you could have bought at least one set of every MT product ever made, including all the DGP stuff. Hope you have another use for that laptop aside from viewing DRM pdfs! I think the modern usage of the word Otaku (link) applies. ^_^

This would allow us to search the material, easily format it for viewing and use it as a online reference book.

Well I've found even the DTRPG scans of older material to be fairly searchable within Acrobat.

Casey

 

[daltoncalford]

It is not an issue of cost, it is an issue of being able to find the materials to buy them.

If you consider a simple hobby, such as trains, miniature wargaming or even collectable card games, you will soon see that $2000 is spent quickly.

A $1600 laptop with $400 of PDF's is not out of the ordinary. Most people just don't spend it all at once - but if they actually priced out thier collection, it would easily add up.

Roleplaying games, at approx $40 a book these days, and with 10-15 books as part of the main cannon combined with magazines and other misc items can easily add up.
When you are the Ref and you need to find that particular item while developing an adventure, or when you are tired of lugging all those books, a laptop sure starts making sense.

PS, all the above prices are Canadian.

regards

Dalton

 

[clementk]

Originally posted by Dalton:
It is not an issue of cost, it is an issue of being able to find the materials to buy them.

While it might take you a little while all the MT books on DTRPG are available on ebay, Titan Games, and other places fairly regularly. Nor does DTRPG have any DGP MT books for example. <shrugs> But I've got a touch of bibliophile though not a true completist.

A $1600 laptop with $400 of PDF's is not out of the ordinary. Most people just don't spend it all at once - but if they actually priced out thier collection, it would easily add up.

Cost-wise I agree. Personally while I like pdfs and can see the advantage of using a laptop at the table I'm in the minority here, esp. for Traveller it seems. PDF sales seem to be increasing but they are very few in number compared to print sales if RPGNow's info is any indication.

When you are the Ref and you need to find that particular item while developing an adventure, or when you are tired of lugging all those books, a laptop sure starts making sense.

Since I play Traveller online I agree here as well. I'm one of the few who would buy a T20 THB pdf and still think the Gateway pdf should still be for sale. As you'd said though, the DTRPG pdfs in question aren't that ideal for this purpose though.

If you haven't already I'd suggest sending a nice long email to DTRPG and check out their forums. They seem nice enough folk to deal with and have rescanned some of their pdfs. You might also want to email Mr. Miller via FFE's site esp. in regards to the errata.

As always, YMMV and HTH.
Casey