the ASL 89 Annual had an original cover MSRP of $10.00 USD. for this, you got the IIFT, the magazine, and the scenarios, in all 64 pages of ASL in a magazine published by then TAHGC.
Converted to match the inflation rate since 1989, this equates to $21.71 USD in June of 2021.
ASL Journal #12 was published by MMP with 40 pages of ASL material in a magazine and an MSRP of #29.00 USD in 2017, (This is equivalent to a little over $31.00 USD in June of 2021), and with a roughly equivalent number of scenarios therein (15 in 89 Annual, 12 in Journal 12). Journal 12 offered nothing as game-altering as the IIFT. Both magazines dedicated approximately 25% of their available space to advertising upcoming ASL products.
Granted Journal 12 was a huge downsizing from previous Journals in total content and in page count, not to mention scenario counts.
This made me ponder two questions:
1. Are the expanding TPP publications in effect "soaking off" the available amount of decent quality ASL material, analysis, and scenario designs, from MMP's product designed specifically to support ASL? (and if so, is that a good or a bad general trend for the hobby as a whole?)
2. Is MMP expanding their available publishing, coordination, and capital towards pushing more substantial products (such as full modules for ASL), out the door, limiting their ability to continue the generally very good trend we have seen in the ASL Journal for content? (And if so, is that a generally good or bad trend for the hobby as a whole?)
What does the rest of the ASL game-speaking world think? The comparison at the beginning shows that ASL was seeing, for a roughly $10.00 USD less expensive price, a much larger content than Journal 12 offered. (in relative values adjusted for inflation.)