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INTEREST: Tokyopop Indicates Possibility of Novels on E-Readers


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Sunday Silence



Joined: 22 Jun 2010
Posts: 2047
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:18 pm Reply with quote
Maybe if they didn't let DJ Milky run amok with the company credit card, perhaps they could spend that money on things like...oh, I dunno, ADVERTISING?
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Lyrai



Joined: 04 Sep 2005
Posts: 173
Location: Potatoes (Idaho)
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:21 pm Reply with quote
Sunday Silence wrote:
Maybe if they didn't let DJ Milky run amok with the company credit card, perhaps they could spend that money on things like...oh, I dunno, ADVERTISING?
\

Maybe if the first time he tried to push a terrible idea (Like Princess Ai and all the other shit around that time period), someone swatted him with a rolled up newspaper and told him NO. BAD, Tokyopop would be in a lot better shape nowadays.
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Aura Ichadora



Joined: 25 Apr 2008
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Location: In front of my computer
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:43 pm Reply with quote
As much as I'm sure people like the idea of more light novels on e-readers, I would hate it very much if they would resort to just this. I honestly am against e-readers, being one that prefer to have a book over a digital copy, and would hate it that the only way for me to complete a series like Full Metal Panic! would be either through illegal fan-translations or by wasting my money on an e-reader that I'd only use to read the series.

However, I'd like to think that FMP! will be a great seller for them, especially since the fourth/fifth novel/s have been highly anticipated for years now and I'm pretty sure the sales for it will be high. It'd be nice for someone from Tokyopop to come on for an ANNCast sometime after the release to discuss these issues.
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decepticons2



Joined: 22 Oct 2008
Posts: 56
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:51 pm Reply with quote
I think for something like this they need to consider release in a batch format with some sort of guarantee the rest will be available digitally or in book format.

I went online to finally buy this when i had heard last volume had been out for awhile. Even broke out my old DVDs. But when i saw how sporadic releases were "I said screw it." I am not going to invest in a few books only to be left hanging. I know its a business, but light novel fans seem to get short end of the stick.
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Razzuel



Joined: 27 Dec 2009
Posts: 164
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:21 pm Reply with quote
I have all the Full Metal Panic novels Tokyopop has released so far, and I have the fourth novel on order, so I've done my part, haha.

Also, I agree with Aura; I would hate it if they only released light novels on e-readers. I very much like to read tangible books, and I don't want to have to read digital books on computer screens.
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Juhachi



Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 228
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:48 pm Reply with quote
Aura Ichadora wrote:
or by wasting my money on an e-reader that I'd only use to read the series.

Well, it's not like you couldn't just read it on your computer.

That said, I'd say I'd welcome more electronic translations of novels if it meant getting more titles and getting exiting titles out faster (as you don't have to wait for them to print or deliver them). Still, I would prefer having the book in my hand, but if I have to sacrifice paper for more content, then that's just what I'll do. There's loads of light novels I've always wanted to read, such as the original Maria-sama ga Miteru novels, so I can only see that 30+ volume series getting translated if it's only available as an e-book. Either that, or jump up my studies in Japanese. Wink
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Pelianth
Industry Insider


Joined: 26 Apr 2003
Posts: 52
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:00 pm Reply with quote
Juhachi wrote:
That said, I'd say I'd welcome more electronic translations of novels if it meant getting more titles and getting exiting titles out faster (as you don't have to wait for them to print or deliver them).


Or maybe TP could spend that extra time doing proper editing?

In a related note, does anyone know if there were changes to characters made for the FMP: Second Raid adaptation? Like for instance, changing genders/name? If not, then TP fucked up AGAIN.
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wandering-dreamer



Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 1733
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:07 pm Reply with quote
I've heard that the first Kino no Tabi volume goes for crazy prices these days so I'd love to see much more reasonable e-reader prices. And honestly, yes I like my books printed but it my options are English e-book vs Japanese import then I'll take it.
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xXInfinite026Xx



Joined: 04 Feb 2011
Posts: 63
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:21 pm Reply with quote
Quote:

Or maybe TP could spend that extra time doing proper editing?

In a related note, does anyone know if there were changes to characters made for the FMP: Second Raid adaptation? Like for instance, changing genders/name? If not, then TP fucked up AGAIN


If you are referring to Xia Yu Lan & Xia Yu Fan, they were originally male characters in the novels changed to female in The Second Raid (although I don't remember if their names were different or not). So no, that wasn't a mistake from TP....this time at least.
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kameoosama



Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 48
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:36 pm Reply with quote
As someone who totally loves their kindle i would jump all over this, especially if they do it right (prices at parity or somewhat below paperback, items never leave distribution, etc.) Right now there's like what, 1 or 2 light novels on kindle in English total? It would help me enjoy my copy of Welcome to the NHK that I constantly re-read and apparently shouldn't take out of the house.
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Mobius Archer



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 26
Location: Michigan, USA
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:48 pm Reply with quote
After seeing a Kindle up close, I don't have any problem with releasing things as E-books. Its not like reading it on a computer screen. Honest to God, the kindle's screen looks just like paper. It blows me away that something like that is even possible.
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Nayu



Joined: 23 Dec 2010
Posts: 676
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:55 pm Reply with quote
Maybe if they had rereleased the first three novels in any format, the fourth would have sold better? Its damn hard to find them at a reasonable price.
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d-_-b zzzzz



Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Posts: 22
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:14 pm Reply with quote
It took them a long ass time to release the 4th book so of course alot of people gave up on waiting
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agila61



Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 3213
Location: NE Ohio
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:30 pm Reply with quote
Juhachi wrote:
Aura Ichadora wrote:
or by wasting my money on an e-reader that I'd only use to read the series.

Well, it's not like you couldn't just read it on your computer.

That said, I'd say I'd welcome more electronic translations of novels if it meant getting more titles and getting exiting titles out faster (as you don't have to wait for them to print or deliver them). Still, I would prefer having the book in my hand, but if I have to sacrifice paper for more content, then that's just what I'll do. ...
They've said If print on demand pays its way, they'll keep doing it.

The thing is right in light novels seem to be unbundled, where it makes sense to have a system where the same localization is used for print on demand and for eBooks.
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R315r4z0r



Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 717
PostPosted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:54 pm Reply with quote
I ordered my copy of the 4th novel the other day.

But I still don't have the 3rd volume. I got the 1st and 2nd, but the 3rd is impossible to find for less than $100. This news about bad sales doesn't sit well with me at all... I want to get the 3rd book, but I'm not buying a used copy for $250. Bad sales means less chance they will reprint it...
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