Hello
And welcome to piqmag.com — the official site of PiQ, an exciting new magazine devoted to TV, anime, movies, DVDs, video games, comics, and anything else that strikes our fancy. (”Entertainment for the rest of us,” as our marketing guy likes to remind me every couple hours.) My name’s Kevin Gifford, and I am one of the people running this little thing. If you’d like, you can email me — just take my first name, add an at-sign and piqmag.com after it, and Bob’s your uncle.
Why are we launching something like PiQ, in 2008, and having the gall to charge cash money for it, even? I’ll ignore the real answer for a moment — that writing a magazine beats frying up mac-and-cheese at T.G.I. Fri’s all night — and shift the question over to you instead. What do you want out of a mag…and out of what you watch, play, listen to, whatever every day?
You know who you are by now. The sight of your parents sitting there every night, disinterestedly watching CSI or Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, is a bit scary to you. You’re more likely to spend a Sunday afternoon bumping around YouTube, reading about old computers, or acting like an idiot on Team Fortress 2. You also like the road less traveled, the more hidden bits of modern life. It’s not that you hate popular things (South Park is still good, sorry guys), but you get a thrill out of discovering amazing things in the unlikeliest of places—the one Mushishi foundering in a sea of Love Hinas.
To you, leisure is something you define — the time, the place, what it runs on. You’re the future of consumerism, really…but in the eyes of most companies, you still aren’t “normal.” That’s why PiQ is entertainment for the rest of us (man, our marketing guy can’t get out of my head). Video games, movies, TV, anime, comics, tantric sex—whatever it is you have fun doing, we’ll cover it, except that last one unless I can find someone to demonstrate it for me at the office).
And “you” is the operative term here. We’re dying to hear what you think and what you want, so let us know, either via your blog comments or by mailing us at feedback@piqmag.com. You’ll be seeing more from all of us on the PiQ staff shortly, so stick around.
I may be interested. Tell me more.
I hope that it is even better than the real thing! But please include a dvd of preveiws of shows that are showing right now in Japan anime and wacky entertaining shows. Include a kanji guide in the magazine at least a page each issue and explain to us who are not japanese at least briefly what if any japanese cultural thing we could learn by watching anime. Show toys, figurines and shops that cater to our special needs . Also include a guide to the best anime conventions that you can find in the USA and in the world. I’ll give you a hint for starters the best one in Puerto Rico is DCC (David Comic Clan the next one is this sunday for those of you who are interested, find out more)…
What is the best anime convention you have ever gone to? These are things of interest for us otakus of the world…Now, no more hints…Do your job and do it right!
I’m real excited to see the first issue :). Will this mag be covering more the anime and japan? if so id love to see a section on more alternative artest like mark ryden, voltair, brom, etc. Also an articale about steampunk culture would be really cool too ^.~*.
Hey! I followed the white rabbit here after seeing that ntusa is closing… I can’t wait to see what this mag will look like!
For my part, I just really hope you can be honest when doing a critic. Which means, not always trying to find the best in animes but telling us straight to our face when it’s pure crap so we don’t waste our money on it!
Publish fan art. Munny-Dunny contest are always fun.
Well the best of luck to you all!
Will buy as soon as it comes out!
Well, about September 2006, I found the money to buy my first NEWTYPE USA magazine… and I was hooked after reading a few more issues as well ’cause it was a pure and high-quality anime/manga/Japanese entertainment magazine, better than all the rest… I finally got a year subscription for my birthday last September (highlight of my birthday–though I somehow got October after November, so I had already bought it, thinking it wasn’t coming then)… and well… I’m deeply deeply saddened about the discontinuation…
However, I trust in everyone here, whether they are the same crew or not. I will take a look at this new PiQ magazine. I just hope that I don’t see any (or too many) American-only movies, TV, music, etc. I’ve had enough of those gamer magazines, too… I’m a [respecting] puritan of Japan, so I hope that it’s a bit “pro-Japan” and not just another casual general-entertainment magazine… And remember: I loved the DVDs, anime centerfolds, and other bonuses alot. I hope they come back as well.
Oh yeah. I’m not saying to recreate another NEWTYPE magazine. Just to try your best not to get too commercialized or stray from the stuff that all us NEWTYPE-only lovers really loved.
I don’t like the way the whole thing sounds but it’s just my opinion, in other words, might as well stick ’round & check PiQ out.
you guys have to make to the noe thing work just like NTUSA or you guys are going to be a complete jokeP.S. Iliked NTUSA better than what you guys are going to try to publish
@Mr. Hater - Indeed.
I await my first issue of PiQ with great trepidation. I enjoyed the DVD previews and the great big beatufile pictures and the reviews of all the manga and anime. I loved reading about the little tid bits of culture from Japan. The give aways were great, even though I never won over the four years I was an avid reader.
My greatest fear is the dedication NTUSA had for things Anime, Manga, and Otaku will be gone. Now I’m going to be bombarded by mainstream media crap that bored me and “alternative” “coffee house art” crap that I was told was cool.
I truely hope you prove me wrong.
I sit here writing this after just having been informed of NTUSA’s demise. I have been an avid reader (and subscriber) for nearly the entire run of the magazine. I hope PiQ can live up to the spirit of what NTUSA was even though I understand the magazine’s aim is a bit broader. I will give it a try.
@Mr. Hater: Because you’ve totally read a copy of PiQ already.
Well.. I loved NTUSA, but this new mag seems like its going to focus to much on American stuff.
To tell the truth i`m a little excite in fineing out whats. In store for Piq? Can it fell NEWTYPE USA shoes! LIST sit back and watch!! I`ve been with NEWTYPE
USA!! SINCE THE VERY FIRST MAGAIZINE BACK IN DECEMBER 20002 ?
if they’re focusing on just american stuff, then i’m just gonna reread the newtypes (so what if they’re outdated?!)
i am hoping you do a good job. i love anime and was in love with new type and they are hyping you guys up so i hope I’m not disappointed. i have a new subscription and am anxiously awaiting to see the mag you guys have created. good luck you will need it with all the nt transfers.
I’ll check out the first issue…. but I really enjoyed Newtype USA. If it’s not at least 75% Japanese Anime related then I probably won’t bother getting a subscription. My NTUSA sub didn’t expire until April…. but I guess I won’t worry about it. I’m glad I didn’t renew back in December when they sent me an email asking me to renew.
I hope that this will either be sold i england or that I will be able to have it sent ot england.
We british miss out of cool stuff like this
While this is disappointing, hopefully it will draw a few people to read Otaku USA. I can’t say I understand the move to mesh NewType with a Popular Science or Wired styled content, I’m worried that the overall feel will be a watered down over extension. Yes, I understand the overlap in peoples’ interests, but I prefer a magazine that does one thing well, as to a magazine that does multiple things poorly. Magazines with a similar reach have failed before, what makes PiQ different?
At least I’ll be able to start a magazine from it’s premier issue this time. Looking forward to seeing what PIQ has to offer. I’m still an anime fan first, but I’m not naive enough to think that there isn’t anything just as good out there. Maybe this new mag will show me new directions to take my entertainment interests. And who knows? Maybe if PIQ doesn’t work ( not that I want it to fail) ADV will return to an all-anime format. The future is wide open, let’s see what it brings.
PiQ is no Newtype USA. Looked over my first issue of it and it gives me the impression of being a cable tv guide right from the front cover. I loved NUSA because it was about Japanese cartoons, movies, music, games, a bit about their society and much more. It wasn’t just a magazine, it was a monthly event. PiQ steers very far away from that. My NUSA subscription was supposed to end August 09. I hope I am able to get a refund……….
Long live Newtype USA! You will be incredibly missed…….
Mark, funny that you would list no specifics from the first issue, as the only way you’d have one right now is if you robbed the printing plant.
Give it a chance, guys.
Hey Scott,
As far as specifics are concerned the things I enjoyed about NUSA are either truncated or missing from PiQ. Obviously the poster and dvd are missing. The The modeling of the Japanese edition is obviously missing. I enjoyed that Japanese wimsy that differentiates the silliness of Japan from the silliness of America. The artwork is nowhere near as prevailent; no extensive drawing examples from different anime, nor are there any cg tutorials. Did I subscribe to NUSA to find put about Sweeney Todd, Sam and Max, Skrulls, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Tin Man, Battlestar Galactica: Season Three, Frisky Dingo, Justice Society of America Vol 2, Independence Day, Smurfs, old American video games, …………..? In a word: no.
Those items mentioned above can easily be digested by turning on my American tv. They are easy to come by if your willing to put up with the mistreatment of the fan when the money makers want more money. After Farscapes (and others) beatdown, I lost much interest in American media. It’s difficult enough to come by anime on tv so a dedicated manga and anime magazine with a bit of flavoring from the parent country hit the spot. NUSA definately hit the spot. The dvd was great at providing tidbits to wet ones appetite. I thought it was a nice marketing tool also.
If the PiQ mission statement is for you, great. There is quality in this magazine concerning the above metioned and with manga, anime, some games, some Japanese products, and cosplay (sorry I saw no music). The articles (haven’t read them all) are good but the over all feel and impression was set in one glance. When I checked my mailbox I glanced at the cover of PiQ and thought that Comcast had sent me a publication. I have recently added cable internet so I figured they were sending some sort of cable guide or something. The little red-to-tan icon that says “Premiere Issue Watch. Play. Read.” in the upper right of the cover reminded me of a Dishnetwork program guide (I was an advanced tech there for 2.5 years, had a desk full of program guides) and the rest of the cover lay out was of the same cookie-cutter mold. It wasn’t til I got inside and cracked it open that I realized what it was and the full weight of NUSA’s demise hit me.
I wish PiQ success. But, for my wants, desires, and interests, I feel I have been downgraded. There is not alot of information out there concerning PiQ and it’s future so I don’t have anything that sticks out to cause me to go beyond an issue or two………………… It’s a sad day for me. But remember I can only speak for myself.
Cheers…….Mark