Why is
CrosSynergy Syndicate special?
Syndicated
crosswords have the reputation of being bland and boring due to
mass-production strategies. To a certain extent, this reputation
is justified. But do they have to be that way? Not if you can
get a group of top constructors in North America to construct
the crosswords - constructors who rose to the top not by volume
of production but by attention to detail in individually crafted
crosswords that appeal to the intended audience; constructors
that respected crossword publishers such as The New York Times,
Games magazine, Dell, etc., regularly rely on to maintain their
reputations. CrosSynergy syndicate is precisely that, a syndicate
formed by a group of top constructors with over 100 collective
years of experience in constructing the finest crosswords.
Audience
(mis)characterization and economics have been the major impediments
to bringing carefully crafted crosswords to the syndicated crossword
market.
- Crossword
audience and online publishing
Printed
newspaper audiences have always been perceived as non-discriminating
in their tastes for crosswords. Even though the soaring sales
of crossword compilation books from the respected publishers
mentioned above (despite free, daily syndicated crosswords in
just about every newspaper) would appear to point to the contrary,
the perception has remained essentially unchallenged through
limited choices in most geographical locations. But in the online
world, where the audience is more sophisticated and educated
on the average than the general population and where an alternate
source for a crossword is only a couple of mouse-clicks away,
a crossword in an online publication must do more than simply
exist to keep the audience interested and coming back.
- Economics
As
with any individually crafted artifact, price is an issue. Normal
syndication mechanisms cannot afford to maintain a supply of
high-quality crosswords given all the overheads associated with
such a distribution. What makes CrosSynergy crosswords competitive
with run-of-the-mill syndications while maintaining its high
quality is its unique structure.
The
Syndicate is a co-op of 12 of the top constructors in the US
and Canada who have come together to collectively provide a
source for fine crosswords. With direct control of its operations
and lack of typical corporate overheads inherent in the
major syndicates, the CrosSynergy Syndicate is able to provide
fresh new puzzles on a daily basis at a competitive price without
sacrificing quality. In addition, the synergistic interactions
among the constructors, who collectively take responsibility
for maintaining the consistency and high standards, overcomes
the inherent limitations posed by a single editor as prevalent
in traditional crossword publishing.
The
bottom line is a source of consistent, high-quality crosswords
that are not homogenized in a Syndication operation but rather
distinguished individually with the characteristic creativity,
wit, imagination and humor of its renowned authors.
