Whilst there is potential in this, I don't really think it reasonable to charge for something like this. First of all, it acts as a barrier to entry. The GM community isn't super huge anyway, I feel the main goal should be to deliver content to as many people as possible, rather than just a few who may happen to buy it. I know you are offering that coupon code now, but if you are offering this issue for free, why not just have a pdf download link.. It's annoying having to go through this platform, and I don't really feel like just spurting out my email address.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that you will have had to put a lot of work into developing this article, however I think there are better ways you can make money, if that is your goal:
- Adverts in general on the site. Whilst not a load of money, if you get a couple of thousand people who enjoy browsing the articles, this can generate a fair few impressions ad impressions
- Selling advertising space that people can use for their projects. Let say you already have a community of readers, well, now you have an audience of developers and gamers a like, this is potentially a prime market for others to advertise their game products on.
- Donation model, or purchase incentives. For example, you could have a basic "free" edition, then an edition which people pay for, but comes with asset packs/game demo's. Think of a Loot Crate style thing, but for game developers.
Note, I haven't actually read the article, as I am quite stubborn about understanding why people have taken the approach they have, and I equally don't like catering towards systems and setups that I think are anti-consumer. My personal opinion is that your number one focus should be on building a community and a base of interest around your product first, then trying to monetize it after. You want to create something where people know what they are getting, and equally, you want to create something that is easy for new users to find. Having to battle through payment walls, registration forms, coupon code entry is just a waste of time for most people, and I can promise you that there is so much out there on the internet, people don't want to waste time taking risks on things they don't really have a comprehension of.
I'm going to be harsh in saying that this doesn't really feel like you've given it your all. The cover work alone is relatively low-effort, and I can only imagine the rest of the magazine is similarly light. In an odd way, I get the impression that you are trying to use this as a means of propelling your payment portal (and putting it in the eyes of developers), rather than trying to actually create a magazine that highlights the wonders of our community.