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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:54 pm
by LeeT
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote:I saw the new tribute before most people -- I work with Roger Kean! (Tho mostly work from home now.)
(adopts Poirot voice)...

"Then I can reveal it is....Warren Lapworth"

:wink:

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:55 pm
by Mangram's Tippex Thinner
Best ignore me anyway -- I'm annoyingly over-critical. Still, got some lively natter going in this thread!

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:59 pm
by Mangram's Tippex Thinner
LeeT wrote:(adopts Poirot voice)...

"Then I can reveal it is....Warren Lapworth"

:wink:
I'm not of any significance in Zzap's history so didn't bother saying so before, but yes, that's me!

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:45 pm
by CraigGrannell
LeeT wrote:"Then I can reveal it is....Warren Lapworth"
And only a mere two minutes after I did! :)

Anyway, welcome, Warren.

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:46 pm
by Iain
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote:To be honest, if 107 was the supplement to RG, it would've been more of a Zzap -- new games to review, no existing staff so various new people write the reviews. Tagging comments onto old reviews seems like filler to me; better to have had lower pagination.
I'm coming a little late into this but the tag of the 'new' issue should say it all, "The Def Tribute to Zzap!64". It's not meant to be issue 108. It's a tribute to celebrate the 20th birthday of Zzap, so I think it's very appropiate to include old reviews and add zzapback comments to them.

I see the interviews etc. as a brilliant added bonus to the magazine.

p.s. Would you have called Commodore Disk User a proper mag? Since towards the end of its life, AFAIK it was only available via subscription.

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:12 pm
by LeeT
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote:Best ignore me anyway -- I'm annoyingly over-critical. Still, got some lively natter going in this thread!
Yes, welcome! 8)

Any interesting anecdotes from your time at Newsfield, Warren?

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:11 pm
by PeeknPoke
Warren (if its you)

You seem a little pissed at the thought of this issue with your posts. If you were an ex zzapper then indeed I think you should be amazed by it all and should at least admire the dedication of everyone involved, the new mag really is like the old magazine coming to life again.

and not to offend you, there is obvious envy in most of your text with comments like your not a real zzap reviewer are you? :wink:

Lee

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:26 pm
by Lloyd Mangram
CraigGrannell wrote:
LeeT wrote:"Then I can reveal it is....Warren Lapworth"
And only a mere two minutes after I did! :)
And you both only over an hour after I did. :wink:

For more info on Warren, look here.
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote: I saw the new tribute before most people -- I work with Roger Kean!
You mean that scrappy preview pdf I sent him in 4 pieces?
In other words: you haven't seen it.

The DEF mag and PDF's are on it's way to Roger at the moment, he was very enthusiastic and supportive about the whole project btw, contrary to you -appearantly.

About some stuff you pointed out earlier:
The Zzap!back part of the mag takes up only 10 pages of the total 64.
Zzap!back was (to me) one of the best parts of Zzap!, so it's just as genuine as the rest to include it, and have a lookback at games and ratings. Btw, Gary Penn and Gordon Houghton's comments were included to give it that extra glance.
So, it's filler to you, but do you think I would mind? If Retro Gamer wants to print a 64 paged Zzap!, why should I cut it down to 48 pages or something? Would it be more interesting if it had less content?

Not counting the restyled reviews, and Zzap!back comments, there's still 35 pages left with other/different/new material.
Like two entirely new pages of the Shadow, three pages of an exclusive Jon Hare interview, a two page gallery of Oli stuff that no retro nerd has ever seen, three pages of Citadel maps (love it or hate it) Seven! pages of new material from ex-staff, including Chris Anderson who's never said a thing about Zzap! after leaving the UK. Ten articles on different subjects not being covered (yet) in any other publication (not easy with Games ™ and RG at my heels) and a couple of other interviews thrown in as well.

All this was done in my rare spare time at night during a couple of months, and not with a whole team!
It's not that no-one should critize the DEF Tribute, it certainly isn't flawless.
But it was only a hobby project that got a bit out of hand.
It's like saying to a bedroom coder who just finished a nifty piece of software, that it's not as good as a Microsoft application, or something.

There's probably only a handful (probably even less) of people on the face of this earth, who'd be willing AND able to pull off this kind of project,
and you are probably the only one (understanding what Zzap! was and meant) who's not jumping with joy. Hopefully this is a wake up warning sign! :wink:

So come on, Warren, don't be so grumpy! :D

Next time, I'll contact you as well for an interview, or a couple of nice words, I'm sure it would help. 8)

Best,
Rob

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:40 pm
by Ant
Well said, Rob.

At the end of the day the Def Tribute was something that some guys (and one guy in particular) lovingly put together as an ode to a great magazine and to all of the great people who worked on that magazine. It just got a little more publicity than expected (understatement of the century right there, folks).

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:48 pm
by Fiery Phoenix
I will certainly pick it up from WH Smith.

Don't usually get excited about fan remakes of mags, etc, thats why I've not posted much about the DEF tribute. But there is NO WAY I would knock someone's efforts, whilst sitting on my arse at home.

I say respect to the guys involved, doing something they love that benefits them all, at their their own cost and time for no money. That deserves a big shout out.

Reading Rob's comments above about the articles has made my mind up to go to WH Smith's and grab a copy.

Whats the old saying, if you think you can do better, go ahead and do it yourself. I'm sure you have enought time on your hands Mr Lapworth if you can spend time here mocking people's hard efforts

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:07 am
by smila
damn fine mag boyos , big slaps on backs all round

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:13 am
by Lloyd Mangram
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote:Good points, well taken.

Will be interested to see in RG what its readers think of the supplement.
Hi Warren here's a couple of readers comments:
(only the first wave, wait until it's in the shops and all subscribers got their copies!)
the Zzap tribute mag looks EXCELLENT

the Zzap! mag does indeed look fantastic. It's much thicker than I expected it to be too. Ah, how I've missed those little Rockford and Thing doodles.

Very interesting the whole Jeff Minter section though which i didnt know about (eg him falling out with Zzap for a while), didnt realise a lot of the Zzap fans were in the mag as well, good to see the interview with Mort as i've bought a fair few dvds off him in the past.

Excellent addition to RG though, if anything its sad just because it sooo brings back those memories when we were younger flicking through Crash or Zzap or other magazines. I love the way it really captures the style and look etc

Wow! I didn't know the Zzap special was going to be in there until I opened the package and nearly fell over with shock.

Well that bit looks brilliant

Zzap64! I read this before I even opened the RG cover! Excellent stuff

Utterly fantastic and worth all the effort you guys put into it.

I still can't believe its 20 years since I picked up issue 1! The memories are all still in tact - I could remember all of those the reviews from the first time around!

Cheers guys - you made me a very happy man

Just seen the finished copy Rob , all I can say wow, you really pulled off something special.

Well done guys!... that was fantastic!... I can't believe how good it was!... Really well done!

Loved the interviews and talks to various ex members of staff, and the zzap back reviews too!

MASSIVE respect must go to Rob, I can only imagine how many countless hours it must have taken to produce this little gem. If I was the Queen (or hopefully King!) I'd make you a knight of the realm!!!

Loved the layout and in particular the way most of the significant past members of the Zzap! team contributed a few words.

I HAVE however had a chance to read most of the ZZAP64 supplement and it's fantastic!! The authenticity of the layout and writing style is superb, even the paper quality is the same which just adds to the experience! It really does feel like catching up with old friends. Well done guys

The ZZAP tribute looks superb, great work by Mr Zzapback (Rob) and all the rest.

The Zzap! thing, very nice, very interesting.
:D 8)

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:15 am
by Mangram's Tippex Thinner
Saw printouts of the tribute weeks ago -- from Roger's layouts, not a 4-page PDF -- and printed copy at the start of this week (for whoever doubted me).

If I thought my part in Zzap was important I'd have used my real name or said who I was earlier, rather than leaving it till someone worked out I used to be at Newsfield. As I said, all-new reviews by all-new people, fine. But people who read Zzap but don't know this messageboard and gonna wonder why these fans' opinions on old games are more worthy than their own.

Strangely, though I explained by views and apologised, Fiery Phoenix has slagged me down to the ground... [exits stage left]

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:22 am
by CraigGrannell
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote:If I thought my part in Zzap was important I'd have used my real name or said who I was earlier, rather than leaving it till someone worked out I used to be at Newsfield. As I said, all-new reviews by all-new people, fine. But people who read Zzap but don't know this messageboard and gonna wonder why these fans' opinions on old games are more worthy than their own.
I think, to some extent, that you're probably right. That said, there is some continuation from z107 and that had (at a conservative estimate) three to five thousand downloads, and I'll bet a lot of the people who grabbed that are RG's target market. Also, a few of the z107 contributors are RG writers, too. I suppose in retrospect it might have been a good idea to rope in Paul and Robin for some of the Zzap!backs, seeing as they were up for it last time round, thereby having a more obvious mix of old and new.
Strangely, though I explained by views and apologised, Fiery Phoenix has slagged me down to the ground... [exits stage left]
Ah, don't exit. You're more than welcome here. People are, ultimately, being protective of their work (or work of people they know); and Fiery: your comment was a little, erm, too firey, I reckon.

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:28 am
by Lloyd Mangram
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote:Saw printouts of the tribute weeks ago -- from Roger's layouts, not a 4-page PDF -- and printed copy at the start of this week (for whoever doubted me).
What I said. I know Roger printed out my pdf's (I said 4 pieces, not four pages) but that was not the finished magazine. Really you'll see it for yourself when you have the real thing in your hands. It's miles better.
Tomorrow it's in the shops, and Roger will have received his copies from me and/or RG. Have a look!
Mangram's Tippex Thinner wrote: Strangely, though I explained by views and apologised, Fiery Phoenix has slagged me down to the ground... [exits stage left]
I had no problems with your comments, I only tried to cheer you up a little bit. What Fiery Phoenix said is only his opinion, not entirely mine. He's even capable of insulting Gary Penn without blinking with his eyes. :D :wink: (luckily those messages got deleted due to the hack 8) ) Hehe.

Anyway, welcome aboard Warren, and don't feel too bad about our critisicm towards your critisicms. (oi-is that correct?)

Enjoy the mag! :D