Retro Gamer 23

[Harlen Quinn]

Exxxxxactly.

I'm with the geeks. The Super Fami article was probably only of use to people who weren't around at the time, people slightly younger than Charles and if they're anything like him they don't want to read about things before their time. I rate that article RG-lite.

All in all a good mag though, I just hanker for the detail.

[Klatrymadon]

I don't really understand Charles' argument either. I'm only approaching 20, and I lick up all the stuff that I shouldn't really remember or know of (but do in most cases) like a fucking slag.

[Goose]

I also vote for a "Games That Weren't" article. There must still be 100s of titles that were sadly scrapped at the 11th hour or for some other reason.

[213]

I think that before Darran tries to introduce more 'hardcore!!111!!!11' articles,

No one is shouting for "hardcore" articles, Charles does want any coverage pre 1994.

The guys incapable of using google by the looks of it and looking up machines other than the psone or n64 - what the fuck is there to be scared of, it's all games?

Not featuring games pre 1994 would be the equivalent of Classic Rock only featuring Nu metal.

And finally what constitutes a "hardcore" article? It seems some people want no variance from the "system round up, here's Mat Smith, more from Archers arcade collection, here's another fucking Dizzy game article" forumla.

There are frankly hundreds of machines and games not covered by the retro press, to continually beat the same dead horses will if anything bore the arse off people.

I don't really understand Charles' argument either. I'm only approaching 20, and I lick up all the stuff that I shouldn't really remember or know of (but do in most cases) like a fucking slag.

Well you see mate, I thought that was the whole point of reading RG, finding out about things you didn't already know rather than going over the same familiar ground and opening up whole new horizons.....

No ones asking for a breakdown of the parts of a an atari 2600 but would an interview with the likes of Howard Scott Warshaw or other game makers of that era be a bad thing? Would people not want to read thoses articles? I think they would, I think personally RG is going for cheap, easy to write articles and hiding behind the idea that the readership cannot be challenged.

You know what, a few years ago people would probably have been sceptical that a mag like RG could have lasted and the interest was there but it was built and they came...........

[McCoy]

I'm with the geeks. The Super Fami article was probably only of use to people who weren't around at the time, people slightly younger than Charles and if they're anything like him they don't want to read about things before their time. I rate that article RG-lite.

All in all a good mag though, I just hanker for the detail.

I'm not saying that at all. All I'm saying is lets have a little bit of everything. I responded to the person who complained about the Snes article. Why, I'm not quite sure but he thought the article as too mainstream and he wanted something super hardcore to read about. That's fine, I have no objection to those articles and quite enjoy them myself, all I'm saying is let's not go total Pre NES hardcore geekdom and lets have a nice spread of articles which take a look at everything pre PS2. Obviously the SNES article was a fairly lite article and most of it I already knew but I would still be interested to hear inteviews from people who worked ont he project, games that were never released outside of Japan etc. I'm all for the hardcore articles, lets just not confine them to the days when cavemen discovered fire B)

[Klatrymadon]

I think personally RG is going for cheap, easy to write articles and hiding behind the idea that the readership cannot be challenged.

Yeah, I get that feeling sometimes, but I tend to view the mag as a celebratory thing first and foremost, so I'm usually quite happy to read a 2 page review of a game I already know inside out or a Pocket Neo retrospective. It would be nice to be slapped around the chops with something I know nothing about, though.

[Meh]

I think that before Darran tries to introduce more 'hardcore!!111!!!11' articles, his main battle at the moment is to get readership numbers up, and ensure the magazine is profitable.

Readers to RG (not us, but Joe Public on the street) are going to need to be eased into this sort of thing. Get a decent readership level, and then perhaps the mag can look at putting a few more obscure articles in. Remember, the point of the magazine is to make money!

I'm just pleased that there's a decent retro mag on the shelves and that it finally looks like a professional publication.

Wasn't the magazine profitable BEFORE the ALL-NEW version?

[Lorfarius]

Wasn't the magazine profitable BEFORE the ALL-NEW version?

Yup, it was one of the more profitable mags that the publisher had.

Has anyone here gone to see the new official forum? I went to have a peek today only for my eyes to melt. It looks nasty and cheap. It needs a major overhaul with several redesigned sections. Hardly any defined posting parts. Bleh, thank God I can come back here.

[masterhand]

I think that before Darran tries to introduce more 'hardcore!!111!!!11' articles, his main battle at the moment is to get readership numbers up, and ensure the magazine is profitable.

Readers to RG (not us, but Joe Public on the street) are going to need to be eased into this sort of thing. Get a decent readership level, and then perhaps the mag can look at putting a few more obscure articles in. Remember, the point of the magazine is to make money!

I'm just pleased that there's a decent retro mag on the shelves and that it finally looks like a professional publication.

This is the most sensible post in this topic. I quote it only so people have a second chance to ready it.

I also vote for a "Games That Weren't" article. There must still be 100s of titles that were sadly scrapped at the 11th hour or for some other reason.

I've got a few things that would be great for such an article, but as soon as I let them out of my sight they would be on a torrent site.

[Sketch]

I've got a few things that would be great for such an article, but as soon as I let them out of my sight they would be on a torrent site.

Naah, not at all. RG freelancers have reputations at stake. PM myself or Darran if you want to discuss coverage of any unreleased goodies you have.

As for "Games That Weren't", it's been renamed "Whatever Happened to...", and there's been two pieces so far on unreleased games (Sonic X and Wacky Worlds). The reason, from what I can remember Darran saying on the RG forum, is that "GTW" the name and logo are owned by Frank Gasking, and having discussed things, he's decided to dedicate more time to his GTW site. I think, I wasn't paying too much attention to what was posted at the time, so I'm probably wrongly quoting someone somewhere. But things were decided amiacably, and I chatted with him on this subject personally, it's not like there's a conspiracy or anything.

[McCoy]

Pre 1994 video gaming articles are not 'obscure'.

I suggest you read Official Playstation 2 Magazine, it would cover the era of gaming you are actually looking for.

Let us know when your subsequent letter to OPS2M complaining about their lack of Gamecube coverage is printed.

I'm looking for a magazine which covers all eras and areas of gaming. You seem to be looking for a magazine which caters exclusively to what you want and don't take into account other peoples views or wants, which by reading your posts should have been obvious from the outset.

[Simon Cann]

As for Jonathan, I have him on record, so I'll drop him a line.

That guy could squeeze all kinds of stuff out of the Spectrum, amazing work. His Mikie conversion was very very very very good.

I didn't like Firefly too much though.

As for Eugene, I can't help but think of that time when Dennis Pennis asked Steve Martin "Why aren't you funny anymore".

Oh, and I do like Crusin' USA.

[shrimphead]

I'm looking for a magazine which covers all eras and areas of gaming.

The point of Retro gamer is not to cover "all eras of gaming" hence the name RETRO gamer. There are alreasy magazines that cover all eras of gaming, Edge and Gamestm. The reason we read RG is because we are interested in retro games.

[213]

You seem to be looking for a magazine which caters exclusively to what you want and don't take into account other peoples views or wants,

Said the man who doesn't want anything pre 1994 in there..........

[Anthony Taylor]

So nothing prior to 1994 then?

The clue is in the title, RETRO gamer, meaning that it is a magazine about old games. If they don't interest you, then you are reading the wrong magazine!

Said the man who doesn't want anything pre 1994 in there..........

I don't just want to read about stuff that was cool before I was even born

Bit of an exageration I would say - he did say he wanted to read some stuff about old consoles etc, but also wanted a larger amount of more recent information - after all there are consoles around from the turn of the century that are considered 'retro' now. I guess its a difficult balance to get right.

[strider]

I guess its a difficult balance to get right.

You're right it is.

Those wanting more off centre stuff need only approach me with suggestions, I'd be happy to feature them. Come on Meh, I'm sure you must have a great idea for an article... Drop me a line mate.

[McCoy]

The point of Retro gamer is not to cover "all eras of gaming" hence the name RETRO gamer. There are alreasy magazines that cover all eras of gaming, Edge and Gamestm. The reason we read RG is because we are interested in retro games.

And I consider anything Pre PS2 Retro, Edge and GamesTM quite happily cover the current consoles, I think that Retro gamer should cover all pre PS2 consoles which obvious some of you don't becuase we've had people whining about a SNES feature. I consider Snes retro and I'm quite happy to read about it in a retro games mag. I'm also quite happy to read about Amiga's, BBC's and Commordore 64's, but I want a nice mixture between everything. The Snes article was interesting and well written. Could it have gone into more depth? Yes. I'm sure there are lots of things that can and hopefully will be covered about the Snes becuase it's one of my favourite consoles.

So for those of you who obviously have trouble with reading let me try and paraphase my position clearly.

I want to read about all retro consoles. It's really not my problem that some of you think that the Snes is going more mainstream and you want geekier stuff. Good for you, I'm happy with that but I like the mainstream articles and I don't think having a large selection of articles aimed at a large selection of people will do the magazine any harm at all. When you've got a magazine which is going to cover anything that could be considered retro the most important thing is to try and cover as many bases as possible.

You've all had a good time in ignoring what I've been saying in order to have an argument with what you'd like me to beleave but sadly it's really quite pointless in the long run. I'm happy to read all articles about any area of gaming, some of you expressed disappointment in reading a SNES article. Now between you and me, who do you think has a less open mind about what should appear?

Bit of an exageration I would say - he did say he wanted to read some stuff about old consoles etc, but also wanted a larger amount of more recent information - after all there are consoles around from the turn of the century that are considered 'retro' now. I guess its a difficult balance to get right.

Maybe people have misinterpreted my position. I have no problem with reading about older consoles, but I also enjoy reading about some of the more recent consoles and enjoy having a good mix to read about. that's all I'm asking for, variety in the consoles and games featured, not just geek stuff, not just mainstream stuff, simply variety in the articles featured. The only criteria should be that the articles are interesting, beyond that I have no interest in saying what should and should not be featured. I want a mag that covers pretty much the whole span of gaming history, not one which excludes particular consoles becuase they were mainstream or have been written about before. I can go on the web and find out about nay particular console I want, it's the actual person writing the stuff and putting his or her own spin on things which makes them interesting.

[nausea]

not enough people want to read about Spectrum, Commodore, pre 1985 etc stuff. it's just too obscure, unfortunately.

the focus of the new magazine should be on console games between around 1986-1996, because that's probably the era that's most popular right now regarding retro stuff.

[Sketch]

Those wanting more off centre stuff need only approach me with suggestions, I'd be happy to feature them. Come on Meh, I'm sure you must have a great idea for an article... Drop me a line mate.

I'm tempted to tell them about the really unusual pieces I've been working on... Then again, it makes the wait so much more exciting if you keep these things under your hat.

Trust me chaps, there's one or two nice really pieces (that's accessible for everyone), which I'm sure no other magazine has ever written about, even back in the day.

[213]

You're right it is.

Those wanting more off centre stuff need only approach me with suggestions, I'd be happy to feature them. Come on Meh, I'm sure you must have a great idea for an article... Drop me a line mate.

done that, had bugger all feedback.

not enough people want to read about Spectrum, Commodore, pre 1985 etc stuff. it's just too obscure, unfortunately.

the focus of the new magazine should be on console games between around 1986-1996, because that's probably the era that's most popular right now regarding retro stuff.

Frankly MOST people want to read about spectrum stuff, thats why smith got featured so much...

[Simon Cann]

Remember, the point of the magazine is to make money!

Is that you Damian?

That's a very capitalist stance you're taking there Mr Hazelby.

Isn't the point to "Educate, Entertain and Inform" or whatever the fuck IP's mantra (when it isn't selling itself to itself) is this month?

[Meh]

You're right it is.

Those wanting more off centre stuff need only approach me with suggestions, I'd be happy to feature them. Come on Meh, I'm sure you must have a great idea for an article... Drop me a line mate.

Give me some cash, and I'll write you some cracking ones

[sdaonline]

Excellent mag as usual! I've been meaning to say this for a few months, but as the last issue didn't appear to suffer from it, it doesn't matter. Basically jpeg compression artifacts all over some scans and screenshots (the tomb raider article comes to mind a few issues back). Spoiled the look of the mag. I'm glad this seems to have gone!

Also any chance of the option to buy the mag online? Used to do this when it was at Live.

[Antiriad2097]

Basically jpeg compression artifacts all over some scans and screenshots (the tomb raider article comes to mind a few issues back). Spoiled the look of the mag. I'm glad this seems to have gone!

Funny, as my copy finally arrived on Saturday and I found it particularly bad in this issue and normally it doesn't bother me much.

[strider]

Indeed, the Ocean article has some horrendous ones in it. This should be rectified from next issue though...

[LeeT]

not enough people want to read about Spectrum, Commodore, pre 1985 etc stuff. it's just too obscure, unfortunately.

the focus of the new magazine should be on console games between around 1986-1996, because that's probably the era that's most popular right now regarding retro stuff.

You are joking, right? In the UK (where the mag is published) many people were introduced to gaming through the likes of the Spectrum, C64 and Amstrad CPC. I can't see why you think console gaming is more popular at the moment - For every MegaDrive fan, there will be also an 8-bit one.

I think RG is doing a pretty good job - Looking at the current issue, there are several formats covered - Spectrum, Amiga, SNES, Dreamcast, Arcade - to name a few.

[Meh]

Latest issue looks rather good actually (just flicked through it on the bus so far), but the SNES feature looks incredibly boring. I'll have plenty to moan about later, I promise!

[strider]

Latest issue looks rather good actually (just flicked through it on the bus so far), but the SNES feature looks incredibly boring. I'll have plenty to moan about later, I promise!

You mean to say you've actually bought a copy!!! Christ Meh, are you ill?

[Meh]

You mean to say you've actually bought a copy!!! Christ Meh, are you ill?

I always buy it. I'm such a retro-slut.

[strider]

I always buy it. I'm such a retro-slut.

take out a sub then, it's only £2.50 an issue.