(The Google Play version doesn't seem to have an option for purchase yet, but I'll go ahead with this post since my Dragon Age update is coming soon.)
At last, the new chapter is available on Google Play. Now you can finally read it on your PC or non-Android device. It's also now available on Barnes & Noble, which means it is available in all retailers and everyone should be able to read it now. Google's version works on everything.
If you simply have to read it for free or live outside the US, I want to urge you to wait for the scanlation. There is no good reason to read an illegally shared chapter that is an exact copy of something easily accessible and relatively cheap. The scanlation will be an alternative for those who want one; piracy is not.
I ended up reading the Kindle version yesterday on my Android phone, and I would recommend not reading it on a phone if you have the option. Buy it from Google and read on your PC or at the very least a tablet. I must say, though, I'm overall pretty happy with the chapter. Yen Press has definitely improved vastly since the first few printed volumes, both in translations and editing quality. Of course, I won't be able to judge for sure until I see the original (later today).
The only real problem I have with Yen Press is how they handled the release. They seem to have gotten ahead of themselves by promising a simultaneous release because they apparently did so without a final agreement with the ebook retailers. Furthermore, they put their focus on Apple products, making sure that version went active first. I know a lot of people have an iphone, but most people don't own an Apple device. If they're going to focus on getting one retailer active first, it needs to be Google Play since they make the file available across platforms, even on Apple devices. Someone at YP must be an Apple fanboy because those are the people who tend to think everyone in the world is like them.
I also find it unfortunate that YP isn't making it available internationally. If you live in the U.K., Australia, or pretty much anywhere outside North America, you'll have to wait for the scanlation.
Hopefully Yen Press will learn from this release and improve in the future, that is, if they continue these releases, which according to this post is the plan. This was the first one, so it's obviously not going to be perfect. The best thing you can do to make sure they improve is to let them know how they can make the next one better.
UPDATE 3:
Those of you with a Kindle can now buy the chapter through Amazon. I imagine many people (myself included) will still be waiting patiently. I thing Google Play is the only one of the retailers that will sell a version you can read on your PC.
Actually, if you have an Android device and don't mind reading the chapter on your phone, you can get Amazon's free Kindle for Android app. Personally, I think I'll wait just a bit longer to read it on a bigger and better screen.
UPDATE 2:
Yen Press said on Twitter that the chapter has been made available to Android markets as well as iOS markets, but they have not gone live with it yet. Markets waiting to release the chapter include Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Google Play. You can get the chapter if you have an iOS device at the link below.
UPDATE 1:
Yen Press released Highschool of the Dead Act.30 through iBooks. As of now, it looks like you either need an Apple device or iTunes with a computer running iBooks and iOS. This is extremely frustrating, but hopefully they will make it more widely available in time. They're ignoring a HUGE part of their market by favoring Apple users. I'll keep you updated periodically.
ORIGINAL POST:
Yen Press has issues with Act.30 Release
Are we surprised?
First off, I should tell you I don't think the new Highschool of the Dead chapter is being released in the Yen Plus online magazine. I wouldn't buy a subscription. Not that you could anyway, because it seems their payment system isn't working properly. What a surprise...
It seems the new chapter is actually being sold through the Yen Press parent company Hachette Book Group. The product page for the regular ebook is here. They list myriad retailers through which to buy the chapter, but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. It looks like the promise of a "simultaneous" release was a lie. They could have released it as early as 9 AM EST yesterday, when it was officially April 9 in Japan. Now it is April 10 in Japan and we have no chapter. Nice job Yen Press or Hachette or whoever is responsible for this feeble attempt at bringing the fans what they want.
So I'd like to know from people if/when they are able to buy the chapter. The good thing in all of this is that it will only cost $1.99 now, so you save a dollar and don't have to deal with a renewing subscription. I'll keep trying to access the chapter and update you if I get it.
Thanks for the update. I am little bit confused. Are you still going to scan the new chapter or you will just wait until it will get translated and published online?
ReplyDeleteRenzokusei is taking care of the scanlation of this chapter, but it will be at least a few days.
DeleteWhen I went to the link you posted it said it would be available on iBooks. Do you think that it will actually be available on iBooks? Or do you think they just listed it as under an umbrella of different e-books?
ReplyDeleteI think they list every retailer that sells any of their books and publications. Hachette has a lot of divisions covering different material. I don't know where it will be available exactly. Look to see if they sell other HOTD stuff.
DeleteiBooks sells the four color versions of HOTD, not much else though.
Deletewasted 2.99 great. -_______-
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that. I almost did the same, but I was one of the "lucky" ones whose payment didn't go through.
DeleteYen Press handled this whole thing extremely poorly. Their lack of information and costumer support is quite frankly unacceptable for any professional group.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/highschool-of-the-dead-act-30/id633591895?mt=11
ReplyDelete...I LOVE YOU!
DeleteLol Just as excited as you man XD
DeleteWhen I go to the page, I don't even see a button to buy it. Could you screen cap where you're supposed to go?
ReplyDeleteI only see their unhelpful list of online distributors.
Just saw the other guy's reply, nvm.
DeleteHey guys, Im the one that posted the link above. Go to Yen Press twitter and they are giving out info about the release. iBooks is the only retailer selling at the moment but it will be available to Android devices and other outlets very soon. Heres the Yen Press twitter link: https://twitter.com/yenpress. Enjoy XD It's very good!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I've been releasing the information in my updates already, though. I'm watching all of the retailers.
Deletehaha I didn't see that, just kept refreshing the page. But yup no prob! This is a happy day XD
DeleteHere are some pics from the chapter:
ReplyDeletehttp://beatarai.blog90.fc2.com/blog-entry-2793.html
New character introduced?
I'm pretty sure I know who it is, but I won't say in case people don't want it spoiled.
DeleteI have an idea too. :)
DeleteI took a quick glance, and Shouji's art style has definitely changed over the last two years. Still, it is still recognisable, so I'm going to wait for the scanlation and, hopefully, have my mind blown... again.
DeleteHmm I think I know too. I think his art style feels the same. Maybe because I read his H stuff.
DeleteThe chapter isn't available on the UK iBooks store... What do we do? :(
ReplyDeleteI can't help you. Sorry. You should contact Yen Press about that.
DeleteOkay :( Thanks anyway. I've tried contacting them through twitter, awaiting a reply now.
DeleteYou'll probably have to wait for it to be released by all retailers to see if any make it available in your area. I would think Google would at least.
DeleteI've heard complaints that YP doesn't have good support outside the US. Good luck.
Yeah, it's just annoying because iBooks certainly would've been the easiest. A lot less fuss and credit cards... Do you have any idea when the chapter could be scanlated?
DeleteWork on the scanlation should start tomorrow. From there it is out of my hands as to how long it takes. I would say expect it sometime this weekend.
DeleteAh... Thanks again.
DeleteHey, I've waited 2 years for this chapter, I can wait a few more days, I hope ;D
46 pages, thats not too bad. US version just says 'TO BE CONTINUED...' at the end.
ReplyDeleteWow I may buy the Dragon Age issue just for that poster of Saeko and Motoko.
ReplyDeleteYou mean this one?
Deletehttp://natalie.mu/media/comic/1304/extra/news_large_age5_pos.jpg
Nice. I would scan mine to make a bigger version, but I'd have to do it in several parts and join them all together. That's way more work than I care to do.
DeleteWill you still be uploading Triage X raws?
ReplyDeleteYes, tomorrow or Thursday. I haven't even gotten my magazine yet.
Deleteit is available from amazon now but you need a kindle program
ReplyDeleteYou can get a free Kindle app for your Android device if you have one. See the link in my last update.
DeleteI did and the quality was horrible so I got a refund for the chapter. Hopefully a version will come out that you can read on the computer.
DeleteI just read the Kindle version on my Droid X. I thought the quality was excellent. Worth the 2 dollars in my opinion.
DeleteI read it on my GS II, and the quality was great in the vertical view, but in the horizontal view zoomed in it was pretty bad considering how small the pages are. Overall definitely worth $2.
DeleteEven though I am a bit disappointed but,I'm sure HOTD manga and anime will return someday in the meantime there are still many other great anime/manga to keep me occupied until then,anyways thanks for the news.
ReplyDelete??? the manga returned today ???
DeleteIt actually looks really good on the iPad, anything smaller and it sucks. If digital catches on, they really should release in color since there is no 4-color printing costs involved. It is 2013 not 1940, we live in a world of color.
ReplyDeletevery very very true. although it takes a lot more work from scratch to color than from scratch to gray-scale manga/comic.
Deletemeaning its much more an investment of the illustrator's time. it's more economical to first produce and sell a grayscale manga... see how fans like it... and then invest time, money, and resources in creating a color version of the original grayscale manga if their is a large fanbase to make profit. you have understand that EVERYTHING in this society is about money. writing/drawing manga is no different. all businesses and products are vehicles and machine to make MONEY. and as MUCh money as possible.
DeleteIt was pretty low-quality on my phone screen. Fujimi Shobo has done a digital magazine (Age Premium) for a while now, but it hasn't caught on. Anyway, coloring a chapter does take more time and effort. Plus they wouldn't make as much money off of FCEs.
DeleteAs far as all manga going digital, though, I don't think it's that far off. It's only a matter of time before Japanese publishers follow the lead of scanlators like English publishers have.
All the designers/artists in our office do everything digitally now. All the old school tools are gone, completely gone. And always in color, then converted to B/W if need be. Its actually quite refreshing to see an artist who can draw with pen and paper.
DeleteI've not seen specifically what tools Shouji uses to illustrate, but in some images on his blog, it appeared as if he was doing it digitally with a wacom tablet and computer software.
It may actually be more difficult to do 'good' B/W now-a-days.
But I agree, it is about making a living. Selling the same content in many ways over a period of time is the manga model.
Shouji Sato has created his art using Photoshop on a PC (and more recently tablet, I guess) since before HOTD. I don't think he starts in color and makes it grey scale because he has talked about the process of coloring the manga for the FCEs.
DeleteId like to see a second season of Highschool of the Dead but there is not enough material so far for that. I'm curious how this story continues though I have an idea in my mind how it ends based on the things they left unresolved.
ReplyDeleteTurambar, if you read this already, what is the name of this chapter?
ReplyDeleteThat is a great question. I don't see it anywhere. I wonder if Yen Press botched that up, or maybe I am blind.
Deletewhatever it is, it should be "Return of the Dead" or "Holy FUCK We're Back from the Dead" or just "Back from the Dead"... since we all thought for 2 years the franchise was dead. LOL!
DeleteOddly enough, they seem to have left out the title. I can't imagine why. I guess I'll have to try to figure it out tomorrow when I get my magazine.
DeleteMaybe it was replaced with "SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE WITH JAPAN!". That text appears under Act 30 where the title would have normally been.
ReplyDeleteI think that page was created by Yen Press. The exact page without the blood is about five pages into the chapter. I think the page before it is the one the title should be on. Either that or they removed a color page from the beginning with the title on it.
DeleteThe yen press version of the manga has been leaked. hopefully enough people actually paid for it(i did)so we continue getting new chapters.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't say I'm surprised.
DeleteI won't allow any links to it here. Scanlation is one thing, but I won't support a pirated chapter. Scanlators and publishers coexist peacefully. There is no room in that existence for piracy.
OK, no links but the site is in the US. Hopefully they get busted.
DeleteThey're just expressing their internet freedom. They don't deserve to be busted for that. I do wish they would completely think about what they're doing. Unlike scanlations, YP has firm grounds to pursue legal action on a direct ripoff. If they take that route, then they could decide not to ignore people like me.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Delete^ i'm just expressing my internet freedom. and no link. let people discover it if they choose to do so. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE.
DeleteI don't want it hinted at either, especially if it's an online reader site.
ReplyDeleteok. gotcha. i understand.
DeleteSpeedy_J here,
ReplyDeleteMr. Turambar doesn't deserve all this shit you guys are giving him. He goes out of his way to give us content, chapters, updates, etc. and this is how you treat him?
Mr. Turambar, I apologize on their behalf.
Is a translator for Triage X been found, or atleast being pursued?
ReplyDeleteNo one found yet. I'm spreading the word and having others do the same. Now that we won't have a new HOTD chapter for at least two months, I'm going to put full focus on Triage X.
DeleteIf it comes down to it, I could do a fundraiser here and commission the translations, but I'm sure it won't come to that.
What would an estimated goal be? (I mean honestly. Triage X not being translated is defeating its purpose for existence to us English readers)
DeleteI don't want to set any deadlines because it might turn off some translators. I'm doing the best I can right now. The next step is to approach different groups about doing collaborations.
DeleteWhen I do find someone, I'll try to get a chapter out every 1-2 weeks until we finish Volume 5.
Oh man, becuase so many interesting things are happening in Triage X, which is bringing up so many questions.
DeleteCh 30 was promising, hope it wont be wasted promises and we see ch 31 this summer.
ReplyDeleteBtw whats your thoughts on glasses housewife with sniping rifle ? My wild guesses tell me she can be Takashi's mom. And did we have seen Rey father in previous chapters?
We haven't seen Rei's father clearly in any previous chapter.
DeleteChapter 30 is out on a number of Manga sites in English at this time. I'm not crazy about piracy, I have put my cash on the line more times than not concerning this manga &/or Anime, Yet I would have thought that the fans deserve a freebie for waiting so long. It really baffles me how publishers & artists could ever think that this franchise could ever fail concerning how many fans there are. At least that, is the only rational reason I can think of, for them to be dragging their collective feet for so long. But, As a example of this stupidity, I will site what I have discovered about the new Avatar, Legend Of Kora. They were so worried it wouldn't be received well that they delayed production on the second season until all the critics had their say. Go Figure!
ReplyDeleteI agree that fans deserve to read it for free after so long, but they can wait a few days for the scanlation. An illegally shard version of an English publishers translation is far different from a fan translation given out for free.
DeleteThe official translation and the scanlation are simply alternate translations of the same source material. The pirated version doesn't give fans anything different or new. It gives them something that is already easily available to them at a low price. I don't think there are many people who would think $2 is too much for a new HOTD chapter.
I think the concern here is more how long the series should continue and how often it should be released.
Completely agree about someone being in YP being a mac fanboy. Go look up the statistic's for what type of OS most computers use, 38% is win xp with another 44% being win 7 %5 win vista followed up by win 8 with %3 (lol) and the leftover %10 being split up the various distro's of linux + solaris and mac. Mac having only max 5-7% of the marketshare for computers out there. It'd make NO logical sense to make mac a priority and not windows.
ReplyDeleteYes, but when you figure in phones and tablets (and you have to nowadays) Apple has a much larger share of users. They have a huge piece of the tablet market, and that's generally the realm of ebooks. When you look at the phone and desktop markets, though, Apple really doesn't stand out, but they've fooled people into thinking most people in the country have an iphone, which is simply not in the least bit true.
DeleteWith an ebook release, I would say PC vs Mac isn't a very big part of the process. It's all about the ipads and iphones. What was apparently ignored is the fact that many of the people who own ipads are the same people who own iphones. The Android market is far more diverse.
The whole Windows -vs- Mac thing is just going to cause an even bigger shit storm. Truth is, both computer OSes are important to support, as are all the smartphone tablet OSes. And as it appears, Yen Press finally got there. Maybe not at exactly the same time or for a midnight release as we all hoped for.
DeleteIt's not even about Windows vs Mac, in my opinion. It's the itunes store vs Google Play. One only works on Apple products while the other works on virtually everything. It seems like a bad business move not to make sure the Google Play version goes live at least at the same time as itunes.
DeleteYP has an ipad app, which I think is why that was where their focus was. They'll learn from this because I'm sure most of the people waiting for Google Play ended up reading the pirated version.
The Yen Press App is where I originally expect it to show up. Ironically you still can not purchase Act 30 through their iPad/iPhone app. But all 7 of the B/W volumes are there and the first 4 color edition volumes.
Delete