Official Feedback Issue 98

[The Laird]

I FINALLY got my copy today, only had a flick through it but in the bit I did read I spotted a massive mistake, you know how I love spotting these

In the back to the 80's bit it says that no other games ever used the Video Touch Pad that came with Star Raiders for the 2600. Totally wrong as you could also use it with Basic Programming, Hunt & Score, Brain Games, Code Breaker and the Seasame Street games among others.

[Gibberish Driftwood]

Is that guy on the letter ´S´ holding up a giant pair of underpants?

[MartynC]

The guy who wrote it was actually a member of the editorial team (or all of them, I can't remember, which). It was a light-hearted article designed to spark some debate, and that's exactly what it did.

I'd forgotten about this. Think it was called 'Don't Believe the Hype'. Issue 9 or 10? It was actually written by one of the regular freelancers under a pseudonym - he was worried that his comments might see him get blacklisted by some publishers if he used his real name.

I also seem to remember that I created the opening image - various 8-bit characters about to get squished by the MM/JSW game over foot - using my image editor of choice, MS Paint.

[RB]

I FINALLY got my copy today, only had a flick through it but in the bit I did read I spotted a massive mistake, you know how I love spotting these

In the back to the 80's bit it says that no other games ever used the Video Touch Pad that came with Star Raiders for the 2600. Totally wrong as you could also use it with Basic Programming, Hunt & Score, Brain Games, Code Breaker and the Seasame Street games among others.

The Video Touch Pad was specifically associated for use only with Star Raiders. The other games you mentioned also had their own specific controllers; the Atari's Kids Controller - used for the Sesame Street Games and the Atari Keypad used for some of the other games/programs.

The problem is despite all three controllers looking completely different outwardly they are virtually indentical internally meaning that were all unintentionally interchangable within those groups of games. The educational/programming titles were never intended to use the Video Touch Pad as they had their own individual controllers. So, maybe BTT80s should have read as the Video Touch Pad was designed specifically for use only with the Star Raiders game.

[retrojc]

Without being sounding like a censored, it's difficult to justify buying Retrogamer these days as at best 3 articles I would like to read etc. Is there a big price difference between Ipad versison and magazine? May switch format if it means saving money.

[jdanddiet]

I just bought some for my iphone, they're £2.99 each. Not a helluva lot cheaper than a sub.

[retrojc]

I just bought some for my iphone, they're £2.99 each. Not a helluva lot cheaper than a sub.

no not at all, I know how expansive (or not) it is to covert to ePud, and how expensive it is to print. Takinbg the censored that pricing.

[jdanddiet]

yeh abut you can read them on your phone, man!

[retrojc]

yeh abut you can read them on your phone, man!

I ahve a Nokia 3310 =/

However, I do have an IPad haha

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

Without being sounding like a censored, it's difficult to justify buying Retrogamer these days as at best 3 articles I would like to read etc. Is there a big price difference between Ipad versison and magazine? May switch format if it means saving money.

You prefer consoles I'm guessing..

[retrojc]

Without being sounding like a censored, it's difficult to justify buying Retrogamer these days as at best 3 articles I would like to read etc. Is there a big price difference between Ipad versison and magazine? May switch format if it means saving money.

You prefer consoles I'm guessing..

Yeah, for a start I got my first PC in 2006, for my 16th birthday

But I had all of the consoles

[neuromancer]

Without being sounding like a censored, it's difficult to justify buying Retrogamer these days as at best 3 articles I would like to read etc. Is there a big price difference between Ipad versison and magazine? May switch format if it means saving money.

I'd say the £5 (actually less as I subscribe) a month spent on RG is the best expenditure I make every month. I'm amazed the cover price has been the same since issue 19 when the magazine was reborn (although the discount on the subs dropped from 50 percent to 30 percent).

My problem isn't the price, it's the storage space required for all the magazines and binders. I'm not switching to emag format unless there is absolutely no choice - I've tried it and no matter how good the display on the laptop / mobile / ipad, nothing beats a real magazine - best resolution, best portability, no battery problems

[Megamixer]

My problem isn't the price, it's the storage space required for all the magazines and binders. I'm not switching to emag format unless there is absolutely no choice - I've tried it and no matter how good the display on the laptop / mobile / ipad, nothing beats a real magazine - best resolution, best portability, no battery problems

That I used to think but in the end I just had no room so I bought the emags and sold the issues covered by available emags on ebay. I love Retro Gamer so it pains me to purge the collection but there's just no other choice.

[psj3809]

I'd say the £5 (actually less as I subscribe) a month spent on RG is the best expenditure I make every month. I'm amazed the cover price has been the same since issue 19 when the magazine was reborn (although the discount on the subs dropped from 50 percent to 30 percent).

Same here, its not the most expensive thing is it at just a fiver a month or less, plus in a niche market i want to continue my subscription as i want the mag to survive. Some months there might be tons of articles i like, others might be a bit 'light' for me but i wouldnt cancel it whatsoever. I bought a few of the compilations on eMag format which isnt too bad, do prefer the paper version though.

[Rory Milne]

Just finished reading issue 98 last night, the highlights for me were:

Making of Metal Slug – an incredibly interesting piece this, and the feature looked fantastic throughout.

Cheap as Chips: Wonder Boy in Monster Land – great to see more Master System coverage, and I thought the featured title was a good choice to champion the system with.

Coin-op Capers: TMNT – I always enjoy Coin-op Capers, but TMNT really did seem to fit the format perfectly. I think this was down to a combination of Martyn Carroll’s humour, Patrick Wheeler making a good subject for interview, not one but two fascinating developer Q & A’s, and a nice visual contrast between the various conversion screenshots.

The Unconverted – another firm favourite of mine, with this month’s interesting games count easily matching the feature’s consistent high.

Making of Alone in the Dark 1 & 2 – games with an intriguing plot should, in theory, make for an intriguing making of, and that was definitely the case here. But, the evolution of the two games was equally intriguing, all of which ensured a really good read.

From the Archives, Rainbird Software – great behind the scenes stuff, and lovingly written throughout what was a very solid article.

Retro Revivals, Thanatos & Target: Renegade – suitable choices for the blown-up pixel look with suitably pithy copy. Retro Revivals just don’t get old for me.

History of Space Harrier – my favourite bit of the mag this month, it looked beautiful, and I learned a lot about a genuine classic that I didn’t know all that much about previously. The screenshots peppered throughout, the box outs, and chronological journey through the various sequels added rather than distracted, giving the piece an almost Zen-like balance between words and pictures.

In the Chair with Bruce Everiss – I couldn’t work out if this was an attempt to capture lightning in a bottle, or if it was a case of winding Mr Everiss up and letting him go! Whichever it was, the end result was incredibly entertaining, and was nicely dovetailed by the Q & A with Paul Anderson on the last page.

All in all, another great issue.