#2 New (UK) Amiga Mags
7 messages in this thread
Paul,
I'll give Amiga Pro / 32 some bad reviews if you like…
1. The Doc Sorrel piece was a waste of space without printing the code,
and a detailed explanation thereof. You try learning something practical
with a brief overview and then saying "log onto CIX to actually see how
its done". No more of this fiasco please.
2.The PUG piece about assigns was a painfully extended tutorial that could
have been half the size. ( I thought Pro's stance was to move away from
beginner's stuff ? )
3. Dirty Den's column – How to open a library !!!! Pul-eeze ! Who on Earth
doesn't know how to do this ? Again, either come clean and say you're
doing beginner stuff and I'll accept it OR remove such rudimentary
tutorials.
4. The Big Boy Barry piece in 32 wasn't in-depth enough. ( Sounds stupid
doesn't it ? ) You had an interview with a games celeb but you asked
extremely mundane questions. OK it was meant to be a fun piece but it was
still too lightweight.
5. Minor niggle – the Platinum, Gold, Silver disks you award to games are
confusing because it makes me think these games are on CD32 because of the
picture of the little disk.
6. You're probably trying to be different but the rating of games by
Brilliant, PDG etc. is too oblique. I'm not a massive fan of rating stuff
– I believe you should read between the lines of the copy but games need a
rating I feel and PDG doesn't cut the mustard. Use marks on 5 please. I
can't stand marks on 100. How can one game be 1% better or worse than
another ?
7. Please say whether a game is HD installable in the summary box.
8. I havn't got one but I would think CD32 bods would like to know if a
game has a save game/password continue feature. Put this in the summary
box.
9. Please compare the A1200 version of a game with the CD32 version
directly. If there are versions for each platform include a summary box
saying the differences.
10. It is not actually stated but the name of the mag implies you are not
catering for 16bit gamers. I would like to know, however, if there are two
versions of a game – one for AGA and one for non-AGA, and how the AGA
version has been improved. That also means you should say whether a game
is making no use whatsoever of the AGA chipset.
I hope you find the above useful.
Here's what you got right…
Industry comment. The pieces by Digita, 17-bit, games designers etc. are
marvellous. Very, very interesting.
The David Pleasance interview had teeth – keep it up. No soft option
interviews. I like it.
The CD32x – I'd never heard of it before so you had a nice little scoop.
I like the comparison of Art Dept v2.5 across other platforms. It gives us
Amiga bods a chance to see how the other half lives. Although when doing
comparisions like that you should mention the price bracket of the other
contenders. It appeared that the PD PC package fared the best if it was
cheap but you didn't mention this.
The PostScript tutorial was very hands-on, how not to get it wrong, etc.
Spot on.
Generally the methodology of the reviews of the serious stuff in Pro by
comparison with other products is exactly how all reviews should be.
Finally – your layout, typesetting and design in Pro is superb. 9/10. It
is visually attractive and easy to read and I like the paper it's printed
on.
best,
Tony.
Driving my deck on AutoPilot
Hi Tony,
Many thanks for taking the trouble of noting your likes/dislikes re. Amiga
Pro/32. It's nice to have some feedback. Okay, down to your points.
1. To print the Doc Sorrel code would have taken a further 4 pages. Space I
didn't have and wouldn't want to waste. I'd have had lots of people complaining
that it is rather silly to be asked to type 4 pages of code into any computer
in this day and age. As we have a policy of no cover-disks the most obvious
alternative was a BBS. CIX is the most popular BBS in the UK. Also, if you are
into coding (not beginners stuff but the mid-range stuff Doc talked about) then
chances are that you'll have a CIX account or will know someone who does.
Finally, we didn't suggest that you log onto CIX to `see how it's done'. We
described the ideas behind the code then offered the CIX route to save you
having to type in the final code. You can then re-read the article and have the
code on-screen at the same time. The CIX link will continue until I hear of a
practical alternative.
2. Please read my Editorial. I said that there will be no repetitive questions
printed every month and that the mag won't be swamped by the same – I still
stand by that. Well, we've given you PUG, a *single* page. We cover one subject
per month with NO REPETITIONS. We recognise that SOME beginners will be reading
Pro (although 90% of the mag is aimed at those users who've had their machine
for a few years). At the opposite end of the scale we'll be printing *very*
tech-head articles every once and a while to cater for that element too. As I
say, only 10% of the articles (on average) will cater for the extremes, though.
3. Dirty Den's first column will be delving into more meaty subjects from issue
2 onwards. However, Den thought it best that he *make sure* that everyone is
happy with Libs as many of his future columns will deal with the same. It was a
one-off piece to set foundations.
4. Errm – you try talking to the guy – that was as in-depth as we we're going
to get, I reckon <g>. Seriously, though, yes it was a fun piece. Any more
serious and it might have been included into Pro instead. We will include Celeb
pieces in 32 in the future, the depth of each piece will probably vary – it
depends on many factors which we have to play by ear as and when the interview
occurs.
5. Fair comment. We've sorted this out for issue 2.
6. We forgot to include an explanation to the ratings system in Issue 1. That's
been fixed in 2. I hate ratings too but they're demanded by the games industry
and many readers. I dislike numeric ratings as they mean nothing to me. Even
1-5 ratings are meaningless. However, ask a friend what he/she thought of last
night's movie and they'll probably say "It was brilliant!" or "Absolutely
terrible" – or somesuch. People rarely talk numbers unless they say something
like "10 out of 10". You never say something is 4/5 or 67/100. Hence, I am
merely trying to put some common sense into a non-sensical idea.
7. Hmmm. I'll think about this one
8. …and this one too
9. We do, where applicable. It says so in the body text. I can give you
examples from issue 1 if you wish.
10. 32 is a magazine for 32-bit machines ONLY – hence the name. It is not a
16-bit games mag. We will be putting `for the A1200 and CD32' or similar on the
front cover from issue 2.
Glad you like the rest. Thanks again for the comments.
Paul
High ho-
I haven't found your mags anywhere here in the USA, so I'm making these
few comments blind, but I think they're true anywhere.
I think 7, 8, and 9 are essential. 7 & 8 especially, but they all really
should be in the summary box. If someone is glancing through reviews and
doesn't want to read ALL of them, they glance at the box – and there
should be enough info to let them decide whether this is a game that would
even run on their system.
As for 10, I see your point, but I think Tony has one too – after all, if
someone has or has seen an earlier, non-AGA version of a game, they'll
naturally want to know whether the new version is really much improved and
worth their money.
I also think it might be interesting to compare AGA versions with versions
for other platforms. I don't know, it just struck me as an idea. Might
be stupid though.
Anyway, I hope to find them somewhere here in the States – someone's -got-
to carry them, I'd think, with all the other European mags they have.
Cheers
Paul
Hi Paul,
No, Pro/32 isn't available in the USA at the moment.
I did say that I would be considering the Summary Box points. Also, I did say
that we already feature differences between 1200 and CD32 version of all games.
We do not look at non-AGA games hence looking at those games would be a
complete waste of time and valuable page space, as we are only interested in
the AGA user.
I honestly think comparing AGA games with similar games on other platforms is a
non-starter – as a review policy. If you have a PC you buy PC mags, not 32
(multi-format mags can do this sort of thing best). Comparisons, however, will
only be made where suitable. We do look at a bunch of new games from France in
Issue 2. We do note that the AGA graphics are far better looking than the VGA
screens of the PC. However, this info is inserted during a technical discussion
not a review.
Thanks for your comments. Please risk a sub if you'd like to see the mag. We're
not as expensive as many other mags (2 mags for L2.95 is excellent value for
money, I'm sure you'll agree). As I say, you won't find the mag in the USA.
This may change in the future but not for the foreseeable future.
Best,
Paul
Hi Paul- (<g>)
About non-AGA games – all I meant was that I think it would be helpful to
say something like "While Zool is nice enough, the only enhancement from
the non-AGA edition was the addition of some extra-colour backgrounds".
I'm sure you could say that more economically than I did, too! <G>
Yah, I guess the other-platform-comparison was a dodo idea.
Btw, I lost the message which had subscription info. Could you post it
again? Also, do you ever plan to decouple Pro from 32? I have no
interest, or little anyway, in the latter.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Well, we might include that particular type of non-AGA info if it's relevant
but not within every issue.
<Yah, I guess the other-platform-comparison was a dodo idea.>
Hey, it was worth suggesting! <g> You never know when you're gonna hot on
something…
Pro & 32 are linked for the forseeable future. You don't pay any more for the
extra mag so don't think you're wasting cash on it. It's the same for 32 users,
they get Pro for free. Depends on your point of view. It's called 'creative
budgeting'.
Write to the SUBS DEPT., AMIGA PRO/32, ACEVILLE PUBLICATIONS, CASTLE HOUSE, 97
HIGH STREET, COLCHESTER, ENGLAND, C01 2QL
I believe the subs from the USA is L65.90. You can pay via Mastercard/VISA,
too. Tel: 0206 540621 Fax: 0206 571607.
Paul
Hi Paul:
As an Amiga user since 1986, I thought that you might like a few thoughts,
comments and first impressions about Amiga Pro:
1) With the demise of Commodore, this is not the most auspicious time to
launch a new mag!!
2) Amiga Pro has a quality feel about it and the content is different to
the main run of other mags – well done, the challenge will be to maintain
this distinctive identity…
3) As a user of WWorth V2 for the past 2 years, I was interested to read
the comparison of WW3 with Final Writer. I have no problems with speed at
all although I don't type as fast as Mark Smiddy! I prepare everything in
the default font Pica 9 and when editing is complete, I change to the
font(s) I need for printing on my HP 550C – easy!
What Mark Smiddy didn't say is that FW prints everything as a graphic
whereas WW can access the printer's internal fonts which means printing is
much faster. This feature alone means that FW would be a non-starter for
my business correspondence.
WW2 can load/save in many different formats, inc. MS-DOS Word, WP 5.1 etc.
Much of my businesss correspondence comes in on MS-DOS disks in WP 5.1 and
imports effortlessly. (I am not sure whether WW3 is as versatile in this
important respect).
I found it confusing that in the Bench Test, FW is the LH column and WW3
the RH column but in the Feature List, the columns are reversed.
I went to the launch of WW3 at Silica systems in London on March 10th and
decided there and then that the upgrade was not worth L50. What a wise
decision in retrospect! I hope that Digita persevere and get it right in
the end but with the demise of Commodore, my fear is that they and other
software houses will progressively withdraw their support for the Amiga as
Gold Disk have already done.
4) I hope that you do not intend to continue to bundle the 2 mags
together. Many of us have no interest in the CD32 and wouldn't want to pay
for something we shall `bin' straight away.
5) May I suggest that you include a comprehensive overview of the world of
comms. in a future issue. I have just joined Compuserve only to be told
by a number of people that Internet/Freenet/Fidonet/CIX/etc.etc are
cheaper and/or better. I am totally confused and I am sure that I am not
alone!
6) I hope that you will also include a feature on the future of the Amiga
in the post-Commodore era. Many of us have major investments in Amiga
hardware and software. What does the future hold in store for us? Should
we stay with the Amiga, consider a PowerPC or what?
Some other questions that come to mind are:
– What is likely to happen to the prices of 2nd hand Amiga hardware and
software?
– What ongoing support can be expected for the existing user base?
– Is there likely to be any ongoing R&D leading to new generation
machines? If not, how soon will the Amiga be completely overtaken by the
competition?
Such an article needs to be brutally honest. There is no point in any of
us kidding ourselves. If the demise of Commodore is `the beginning of the
end' for the Amiga, we must face up to it and think about what it means
for each of us in the future. Hopefully, by the time you go to press with
this article (Issue 3?) some of the answers to these and other questions
will be forthcoming.
That's all for now, I hope that I have at least given you some food for
thought!
Regards.