Retro Gamer 23

[McCoy]

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

I'm guessing this won't be applied retroactively to new-ish subscribers. Only subbed a few weeks ago at £3.50 an issue and then you guys go and chop a quid off. Oh well, these things happen B)

[Meh]

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

Is a good deal, that. I'll have a think about it.

I want you to promise that you'll put Trio the Punch on the cover sometime, though.

[DC Lemon]

I bought the latest issue over the weekend, and I've since subscribed, but I can't deny that the SNES feature was very poor for a cover article in a retrogaming magazine. I'm not complaining about covering things like the SNES, not at all, but this particular piece was incredibly disappointing to me.

There are positive things I could add about the magazine, but what do I look like, a positive person?

[Rev]

Just tried ordering online and it's not changed yet.

It's now changed!

Much, much, much more like the price I want to pay for the magazine. Consider me signed up!

[acidbearboy]

A mate of mine asked me if I'd seen the new issue yet, knowing I'm a SNES fan. What sort of stuff does the feature cover? I'm pretty fond of my SNES/SFC and know a fair bit about it. I don't need to know about how great SMW, SF2 et al were but if there are some more obscure Japanese games discussed I might be tempted. How much is it in the shops anyway and can I read it in Smiths or is it bagged up?

[Harlen Quinn]

I'm guessing this won't be applied retroactively to new-ish subscribers. Only subbed a few weeks ago at £3.50 an issue and then you guys go and chop a quid off. Oh well, these things happen B)

Or, you could cancel your current sub, receive a refund for the issues you haven't yet received then re-subscribe at the new rate. That's what I did.

The subs lady wasn't too keen on carrying this out but she knew it was my right to do so.

I suppose I'll be as popular as a fart in a spacesuit with the RG staff for pointing this out on a public forum but there ya go.

[Rev]

Or, you could cancel your current sub, receive a refund for the issues you haven't yet received then re-subscribe at the new rate. That's what I did.

The subs lady wasn't too keen on carrying this out but she knew it was my right to do so.

I suppose I'll be as popular as a fart in a spacesuit with the RG staff for pointing this out on a public forum but there ya go.

It doesn't make much difference I wouldn't have thought - it's subscriber numbers rather than money that they want really.

[DC Lemon]

A mate of mine asked me if I'd seen the new issue yet, knowing I'm a SNES fan. What sort of stuff does the feature cover? I'm pretty fond of my SNES/SFC and know a fair bit about it. I don't need to know about how great SMW, SF2 et al were but if there are some more obscure Japanese games discussed I might be tempted.

Apart from Umihara Kawase getting a place in the top ten SNES games, the (somewhat brief) article centres on the usual beginner's guide mix of Mario, the Super FX chip and Donkey Kong Country's graphics. Pretty much what you get in GamesTM

[Sketch]

Apart from Umihara Kawase getting a place in the top ten SNES games, the (somewhat brief) article centres on the usual beginner's guide mix of Mario, the Super FX chip and Donkey Kong Country's graphics. Pretty much what you get in GamesTM

Ahem!

You obviously didn't read my GamesTM feature on the SNES then.

It was all about how Sega gave rise to the machine, then how Sony played a key role in its development, before finishing off with some praise for the PAL based British isles.

Seriously, I'm not joking here. That's what I did. Somebody get some scans up, stat.

[Meh]

Apart from Umihara Kawase getting a place in the top ten SNES games, the (somewhat brief) article centres on the usual beginner's guide mix of Mario, the Super FX chip and Donkey Kong Country's graphics. Pretty much what you get in GamesTM

God, that's poor.

[Meh]

I found the SNES article, the Amiga article(Issue 22), and the Ocean article very superficial.

The boxout on the satellaview said it all really.

So why was it limited to a small boxout?

All of the above articles were trying to cover far too much in about 8 pages, 3 of which were virtually text free in the SNES case. Compare that to a 6 page article on the home versions of Gauntlet.

Trying to focus a Retroinspection on part of a machines history, e.g the Starfox games, rather than attempting to cram in 13 years into 8 pages, would be better.

Ha, I knew they'd have something about the Satellaview. Which is fair enough, like, but it gets a fucking boxout? Jesus christ.

The old RG would've devoted half a tree to the thing.

[Lorfarius]

How much is it in the shops anyway and can I read it in Smiths or is it bagged up?

Good God man, its only a few quid. Are you on the dole? Surely you cant be that skint to buy a copy?

[Simon Cann]

God, that's poor.

It's like giving Annie Lennox an annual Brit Award.

Just do it!!!!

[Meh]

It's like giving Annie Lennox an annual Brit Award.

Just do it!!!!

[Simon Cann]

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.

Poor Strider,

Meh, you must understand that getting the balance right isn't easy

Also, they've probably got the poor bastard working on gamesTM again.

Poor Strider.

[acidbearboy]

Good God man, its only a few quid. Are you on the dole? Surely you cant be that skint to buy a copy?

I've flicked through some previous issues of a friends and been unimpressed. I'm not big into retro, I just like my snes. The fact that the feature has been rather poorly recieved means I don't want to waste any of my precious (student) money on a copy. I can't even be bothered to visit Smiths to be fair.

[strider]

I've flicked through some previous issues of a friends and been unimpressed. I'm not big into retro, I just like my snes. The fact that the feature has been rather poorly recieved means I don't want to waste any of my precious (student) money on a copy. I can't even be bothered to visit Smiths to be fair.

LOL I'd hardly say that a few rants from a couple of (regular) people on one forum means that the feature's been poorly received Although I am looking forward to how people respond to our new freelancer... That'll be very interesting.

Oh and Simon, can you put a little star next to your posts when you're being sarcastic, I just can't tell anymore...

[DC Lemon]

Although I am looking forward to how people respond to our new freelancer... That'll be very interesting.

Stuart Campbell? Gradius's 'definitive history'? Sounds fab.

[Meh]

Poor Strider,

Meh, you must understand that getting the balance right isn't easy

Also, they've probably got the poor bastard working on gamesTM again.

Poor Strider.

There is no fucking balance!

[strider]

There is no fucking balance!

See, I'm sure you're said something then, but you're the forum equivalent of my wife (I just switch off when you start ranting)

[Simon Cann]

LOL I'd hardly say that a few rants from a couple of (regular) people on one forum means that the feature's been poorly received Although I am looking forward to how people respond to our new freelancer... That'll be very interesting.

Oh and Simon, can you put a little star next to your posts when you're being sarcastic, I just can't tell anymore...

Bad day at the office Dear?

I can't tell anymore either, I think an important part of my brain may have snapped/broken off.

That was me doing my best 'tea and sympathy' impression and you go and throw it back in my face, *you unfeeling bastard!!!

All my love,

Si

PS. Give the guy a break Meh, really. Jesus, trying to please the retro crowd is an almost impossible task, it has broken some pretty big men. There is a house...

[Burai]

I still haven't received my subs copy.

Has anyone else not got theirs yet?

[Sketch]

I haven't got mine yet, but I'm on the mainland.

[Meh]

Bad day at the office Dear?

I can't tell anymore either, I think an important part of my brain may have snapped/broken off.

That was me doing my best 'tea and sympathy' impression and you go and throw it back in my face, *you unfeeling bastard!!!

All my love,

Si

PS. Give the guy a break Meh, really. Jesus, trying to please the retro crowd is an almost impossible task, it has broken some pretty big men. There is a house...

I'll never give him a break, not until Trio the fucking PUNCH is on the cover! Dooo youuu hear meee!

[DC Lemon]

Jesus, trying to please the retro crowd is an almost impossible task...

But it'd be the same if, for instance, Uncut magazine decided to do a cover feature on the Beatles and then ended up doing nothing more than repeating the basics that everyone already knows over, say, the nine paragraphs RG devoted to the SNES in its cover feature, and then just added some photos of the Sgt Pepper and Revolver sleeves. That'd be unacceptable to Uncut's readership - and the SNES is very much the Beatles of videogaming.

[Ash]

The boxout on the satellaview said it all really.

So why was it limited to a small boxout?

I've already planned an article on the Satellaview (and the 64DD) and put the line to which you refer into the boxout to see if there was any reader demand for such a feature. Still, you're the only person who's so far picked up on it so I suggest you register on the RG message boards and make yourself heard there. It may even encourage a few more people to support you: after all, these things don't happen unless there is enough demand.

[Meh]

Says it all, really.

[Sketch]

I've already planned an article on the Satellaview (and the 64DD) and put the line to which you refer into the boxout to see if there was any reader demand for such a feature. Still, you're the only person who's so far picked up on it so I suggest you register on the RG message boards and make yourself heard there. It may even encourage a few more people to support you: after all, these things don't happen unless there is enough demand.

Good god, Ash, I knew you were secretly planning something huge for the future, now I know what it is! I followed the 64DD religiously through the days of N64 mag, so I'll be keeping a sharpened eyeball out to make sure it's of a high quality. I see that I also need to be quicker on the draw regarding pitches.

[Ash]

Good god, Ash, I knew you were secretly planning something huge for the future, now I know what it is! I followed the 64DD religiously through the days of N64 mag, so I'll be keeping a sharpened eyeball out to make sure it's of a high quality. I see that I also need to be quicker on the draw regarding pitches.

Don't get all excited yet John. I only pitched those articles. Nothing is for certain at all.

[Simon Cann]

But it'd be the same if, for instance, Uncut magazine decided to do a cover feature on the Beatles and then ended up doing nothing more than repeating the basics that everyone already knows over, say, the nine paragraphs RG devoted to the SNES in its cover feature, and then just added some photos of the Sgt Pepper and Revolver sleeves. That'd be unacceptable to Uncut's readership - and the SNES is very much the Beatles of videogaming.

I must admit (mustard mitt, etc) that I haven't read the offending feature, but I can just imagine it and all. I'm not trying to excuse lazy writing (for the record, some of the shit I churned out would have made your nose bleed), but you're probably moaning to the wrong man.

*Public breakdown alert* By the end of my wonderful videogame "journalism" career - which concluded with me being the gamesTM Retro Editor - I could hardly put out more than one page a week (I quite like a drink).

The pages were littered with mistakes, but they were my mistakes... what broke my heart, was not being able to write the whole section myself and having the work of certain contributors thrown into the mix (and seeing my name put next to their mistakes), I still had my pride.

Anyway, Darran seems quite open to criticism and I imagine he understands, better than most, the demands of the retro crowd. I suspect the order to launch, yet another, tedious SNES feature on a suspecting public, came from a man/men/women higher up in the pecking order who "Know their audience".

You can't (well I certainly couldn't) do it all yourself and sometimes the stuff you get in from internal (*pay for proper writers? Fuck that! We'll do it on the cheap!) contributors isn't great (R-Type by Taito and all).

I don't work for RG, but I'd guess it's a bit of a cash from chaos scenario, with the emphasis on the cash.

Where were we again? Oh yes, I hate shitty/lazy SNES features as much as the next man, but Strider is probably working with a very limited freelance budget and having to fight the power and so forth, have a heart.

*As I understand it, the magazine has got Mr Campbell back into print, so it can't be all bad. Say what you like about Campbell, but his features are usually (at worst) worth a read and at best (well, just look at some of the CTW stuff).