Randy wrote:
Plenty of stories, but nothing I could put in print!
Anyway, I thought I was annoying?
Heh, heh.
Well, I have to talk for myself now, as I'm not sure about everyone else's opinions and feelings about the Zzap reviewer Randy, or who we thought he was/is and why. See?
Personally and honestly speaking, to me, Zzap's best times were it's first 4 years (especially issues 9 up to 20-something, maybe early 30's) after Julian left, things changed drastically. Although Gordon and his team did a (different) but still pretty good job, I started to worry about Zzap after he and his team were fired. I didn't like the new style and the design, and the reviewers/characters as much as I did in the years before. The games btw, were not as good as in the '85/'88 period as well.
And yes, I admit it, as a kid I got quite a bit annoyed because of you, and your attention drawing photography and writing stylee. A bit too much on the egocentric side of things, for my taste. Not that I actually *knew* you of course, it was just the feeling I got flicking thru Zzap, which I only bought because of for old times sake. So, no, you're not my favourite Zzap reviewer, and yes, of course I am/was a bit jealous because I'd luuurved to have written for Zzap back in the days also. (No chance -because of my horrible English -I'm Dutch y'see)
But still, I'm not judging you personally as a 'annoying' person, since I totally don't know the *true Randy*, especially not since I haven't heard or 'seen' you the last 15 years, you might as well be a very nice chap, and why not!?
Just like most of the other 30 somethings around here, I have to say.
But, regardless of what I or we thought about you back in the days (justified or not) makes not much of a difference, you're ex-Zzap-staff, so
that's cool, and you must have some interesting stories anyway, for us fanboys at least.
Anywhichway you take my words - you're more than welcome, I'm glad you found us, and I hope you feel free to join our 'interesting' and sometimes silly Zzap related discussions. (Btw, last december one third of our messages got lost due to hacking, so a lot of useful and funny stuff got lost

)
Btw, how did you find the topic? Did you use 'search' and your name?
Vanity, hm?

Nah...
Taaa!
Rob