Time is a serious hindrance, no? First, to the topic of the thread: My two cents.
Layout: You warned us; and I completely understand. It is for the most part, difficult to read (I.E. Readability) and there isn't any designs or anything to catch your eye. It's just type on a page. I'm a bit overly-critical since I have a graphic design degree; so please forgive me!
Art: This is always difficult for one to address. Graphics is just the emphasis I have in my degree; my specific "title of degree" is a Bachelor's in Art with Emphasis in Graphic Design (Fat lot of good it does me since I don't . I'm not trying to pat myself on the back here; rather I'm just trying to provide a basis on where my opinion comes from other than just a spectator. Art is good in one persons eyes, and bad in another. Style and presentation are important more-so than the actual rendering. In some places, abstract art is a perfect complement to the event. I'm rambling, but basically there is a specific feel one is trying to match. From what I'm reading, this was all basically a free offering. With that thought, one really can't complain. I wouldn't say any of the art was horrible IMO, and given the circumstances, there was a good amount.
Content: I haven't read it all through, but what I did read was exceptional. The over-all content, including the art, has a considerable amount of time put into it. Since this is free and such well done from first glance, I don't think anyone can complain.
Could it be better? Sure. But I think we can all tell that there was a LOT of work done here all for the love of the game. And that's without all the nasty backlash of "glitches" that came in putting the mag together. I'm looking forward to getting more involved.
@Wolfboy: I've been thinking about doing some SR based art. And I also like to write from time to time. I don't have any training or work done for writing, nor have I really had any feedback for it. I think it is ok, but without feedback, it is hard to evolve. We are all busy, I'm sure, but the thought of collaborating on a magazine would be a fun thing I would consider doing. It'd be difficult for me to commit to a deadline since I have an infant and a full-time day job, but something I would be willing to throw some work into.
Oh, and I have done a bit of work in the past for a little freelance company named dreamscarred press. I actually did the cover art for the book Untapped Potential. You can see it at their site or look at it at Amazon. I did quite a bit of interior art for them as well. A lot of the stuff was mostly sketches and it isn't my best work...but that's what happens when you don't have a lot of time and are on a deadline.
