Tracerr Magazine, the latest airsoft e-zine to hit the web for the airsoft community, will be launching its maiden issue today, 31 October 2007. The first issue covers the TSI Armories Galil replicas, Modify Gear Set, and much more. The Magazine is a free e-zine which you can receive as long as you subscribe at their website, or if you want a print version, they can print out a copy for you for a fee.

We have been in regular contact with the Tracerr Magazine guys for some time now, and they have been working hard to ensure that they can get the magazine out.

They've been actively seeking out contributions from the airsoft community, and we encourage everyone to send stories, reviews, and other articles that can be shared with the larger airsoft community to them.

We have gotten in touch with Daniel Romney, one of the founders of Tracerr Magazine, so he can discuss with us more about their magazine, and how it came to be.

Popular Airsoft: Hi Daniel, thank you very much for agreeing to an interview with us even with your busy schedule preparing for the first issue of Tracerr Magazine. Can you tell us more about yourself, what you do, and what made you get involved in airsoft?

Daniel: I'm 23, a starving graphic designer, who loves to play airsoft and wants to give back to a community that has given so much to me. I started playing airsoft because one of my friends told me I need to come play airsoft with him. He told me about the guns and the BBs and the lack of paint, and I thought it sounded pretty cool. So I played with him that weekend and have been hooked ever since. I think that was in the summer of 2001.

Popular Airsoft:  What made you launch a new airsoft magazine? Any inspirational moment that moved you to conceptualize the magazine?

Daniel: Truthfully it wasn't my idea. My partner is responsible for that. He came to me with the idea on August 13th. We talked about it for a little bit and decided we should go for it. So in only 3 months we managed to get a small magazine together from absolutely nothing.

Popular Airsoft:  Why Tracerr Magazine? We're curious about the additional "R" in "Tracerr". How did you come about with the name for the airsoft magazine?

Daniel: It sounds stupid, but www.tracer.com was already taken, so we did Tracerr. There isn't much more to it than that.

Popular Airsoft: How many are involved in the production of the magazine?

Daniel: We have a couple people writing articles for us, Jake from one of the many teams in Utah, and JD, who is one of our fellow teammates on the team Justin and I play for (Justin is my partner in this). The actual production side of it, meaning the design staff is me. Justin takes care of most of the managing of the magazine for now.

Popular Airsoft: How did things go when preparing for the production of the magazine?

Daniel: Well for this first issue we ran into some unexpected problems. We are realizing that getting people to give us articles is harder than we thought. Everyone thinks, "oh some one else will do it," or "my gun isn't cool enough to make it into the customs section of that magazine." Believe it or not more of the communities articles might get published than people think. Just give us your ideas, pictures, or article and well will [publish it].

Popular Airsoft: Since Tracerr is a free e-zine, how will subscribers get their copies? Will it be via email or a download area when this is released?

Daniel: We anticipate being able to email the e-zine to the subscribers. If they happen not to receive it this way, we will also provide a download area.

Popular Airsoft: You accept reader contributions for Tracerr, how can Popularairsoft.com readers submit contributions? And what type of articles would you welcome?

Daniel: The guidelines for submissions are on our web page. Just click on the submissions button and you will see the instructions. We will soon have a form there to ease the process. We would like any submissions that people think would be interesting. If your gun looks cool, submit it for the customs page. If there is a team in your area you think we should spotlight, send us the team name, website, and how to get ahold of them and we'll do it, or if you have gone ahead and written an article, even better. Same thing if there is a person you feel is making a difference in the community. Articles about organizers of operations, about operators of airsoft retailers. Pretty much anything that is affecting the airsoft community.

Popular Airsoft: At your site, you have decided to do an e-zine until you can get the publication printed, when will you go full regular printing of the magazine? Any set criteria or "critical mass" of subscribers interested in paying for the print version?

Daniel: I don't know if people realize the cost that goes into printing something like a magazine. After looking at the cost, we think that when we get 500 subscribers that are willing to pay for a subscription, we will actively pursue getting the magazine printed.

Popular Airsoft: We know that you are busy ensuring that you get to launch the first issue of Tracerr Magazine and we appreciate very much your time in accommodating us. Anything that you want to impart to Popularairsoft.com readers?

Daniel: We want this magazine to be the best that it can be. We really want to know what people think and what we could do to improve. So don't be scared to write us. We won't blackball you for telling us the truth about an article or something. Feel free to write us at [email protected].

Popular Airsoft: Thank you very much!