It's official: The DEF Tribute to Zzap!64 press release!!!

CraigGrannell · Post by **CraigGrannell** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:27 pm

I'm not going to defend Retro Gamer all that much, but the magazine has, to some extent, made an investment. Yes, Rob, myself and everyone else aren't being paid for their work, and, yes, Retro Gamer is, frankly, getting a f——ing excellent deal here, BUT (and this is a big ’ol but), Live wouldn't touch this with a bargepole without the exclusive—as Rob says, if the PDF goes up tomorrow, why would anyone bother buying the mag (at least, those who don't usually—and, believe me, this kind of thing is very likely to see at least a minor sales spike for that issue). Live is spending money on this, in terms of the printing, and the PDF will be up within a few months. Frankly, anyone who doesn't want to buy Retro Gamer will just have to wait. (And, Rob, isn't there some kind of offer going to happen for those people who don't live near a WHSmith?)

Oh, and Rob—sure there are going to still be typos, like there were in z107, despite Gordo and myself going through the whole thing twice with a fine-toothed comb. However, like you say, now it's time to just enjoy the issue, safe in the knowledge that we at least weeded most of the buggers out. I could have done without the "subbing the tribute issue of Zzap!" dreams though... It's almost as bad as those sodding Tetris blocks that haunted me when I was 15...

Gazunta · Post by **Gazunta** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:51 am

Awesome, awesome news, guys. Well done everyone involved, especially the mighty Rob

Looking forward to hunting down copies from eBay in a few weeks, since the special won't make it to Australian shelves...

Can't WAIT to read it! The cover looks bloody fantastic

*sniff*...so proud of you all

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:42 am

CraigGrannell wrote:Oh, and Rob—sure there are going to still be typos, like there were in z107, despite Gordo and myself going through the whole thing twice with a fine-toothed comb.

And me. I gave myself a headache one afternoon, staring at page after page. I sort of know how you must feel about these things now. I'm not sure I even want to read the printed version after going through every word of it in such detail....

Nah, only kidding. I can't wait to see the printed version!

CraigGrannell · Post by **CraigGrannell** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:33 am

PaulEMoz wrote:And me. I gave myself a headache one afternoon, staring at page after page. I sort of know how you must feel about these things now. I'm not sure I even want to read the printed version after going through every word of it in such detail....

Originally, I wasn't going to have anything to do with this tribute, due to being all Zzapped out from 107. Then I got sent some pages by Rob and saw a load of typos*. I then thought, "well, I could give all the pages the once-over". In the end, I pretty much ended up subbing the thing — perhaps not as effectively as with my commercial work, but still to a fairly high standard. As for going through every word of it in detail, I know what you mean, and now you know what I mean, too! I'm guessing (with the exception of the original Zzap! reviews, which I only looked over once), I've read every page of the special four to eight times already (plus I was subbing my own work at the time)! Gah! Still, I hope it's improved the issue, and although I didn't actually write anything for this tribute, I nonetheless had fun _rewriting_ a few pieces (with Rob's consent, of course).

* Mind you, my favourite 'typo' of them all is Liddon's, as you'll see in the printed issue!

Lloyd Mangram · Post by **Lloyd Mangram** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:10 pm

CraigGrannell wrote: Gah! Still, I hope it's improved the issue, and although I didn't actually write anything for this tribute, I nonetheless had fun _rewriting_ a few pieces (with Rob's consent, of course)

I hope it's improved!?
Man, without you the magazine wouldn't have been half as professional as it turned out to be. YOu did an excellent job, Craig. And I'm very grateful you had some spare time and motivation left (after #107) to help me out BIG time.

My English is OK-ish for a foreigner I guess, but writing for a mag that's going to be read for 90% by people who's first language IS English, is a whole different matter.

Subbing is horrible, but correcting all text is just as bad actually. When Craig, Ant and Paul (even Iain and Roger Kean looked through it and came across typos) were done, I had over 30 (A4) pages of typos and changes, took me two evenings and nights to do them all! Gargl.

And IIRC it was you (Craig) who told me to try to get green light from Roger for a print run, while I actually already gave up about the whole idea, making it possible to offer the mag to Games ™ or RG. I did that, and now we all know the outcome!

See, while time ran out I thought it would be a better option to launch the PDF on the web, but I'm very glad Craig told me to be patient, and after 3/4 weeks of waiting and pingponging e-mails with the RG boys (who also were waiting for LivePublishing's decision) we finally made a deal!

So of course, I would have loved to be in time for the exact 20 years after effect (april 2005) but I guess everybody agrees that having the mag printed and made available for all subscribers and UK Zzaperoni close to a WHSmith was an opportunity not to be missed!

Hopefully RG haven't screwed up the magazine in print!

Wizball 87 · Post by **Wizball 87** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:37 pm

Guys, this is such excellent, EXCELLENT news. First off, i (like everyone else who saw all the effort go into this) just want to say a HUGE well done to ALL the contributors for your time, patience, hard work, etc - its the folks like *YOU* that keep the memory of Zzap alive, and its totally appreciated by all of us who remember those good ol' days and craved "just one more". Just the fact that i'll soon hold another Zzap is making me freak out - Rob, Craig, etc etc (too many people to mention, not enough time here) - THANKYOU - for all your time & hard work to pull this off.....i honestly can't tell you how much i appreciate this.....

*A big round of applause, and a standing ovation from me*

Ps, Dont post for a few days, I'll still be clapping - and frankly, its rude to interupt!

Mort · Post by **Mort** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:13 pm

Great news Rob,
Even my fish are exited in the tank at the moment (well just changed their water). Seriously though well done on completing such a monumental task, without you it would not have happened.

Ta!

Stephen

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:44 pm

Gazunta wrote:Looking forward to hunting down copies from eBay in a few weeks, since the special won't make it to Australian shelves...

I've already asked Martyn how foreigners who don't subscribe might be able to get the supplement, so I'll let you know when I get a reply.

Lloyd Mangram · Post by **Lloyd Mangram** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:47 pm

Gazunta wrote:Awesome, awesome news, guys. Well done everyone involved, especially the mighty Rob

Looking forward to hunting down copies from eBay in a few weeks, since the special won't make it to Australian shelves...

Can't WAIT to read it! The cover looks bloody fantastic

*sniff*...so proud of you all

Hi Gazunta,
don't worry you'll get your personal copy, y'know being the ringleader for Zzap #107 and all that...

I'll sent Ant two copies (when I have them somewhere soon) and Ant will make sure you will get your copy. So, there!

PeeknPoke · Post by **PeeknPoke** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 7:55 pm

Wonder if this is the start of something?

Lee

White Demon · Post by **White Demon** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:49 pm

Mayhem wrote:
Gazunta wrote:Looking forward to hunting down copies from eBay in a few weeks, since the special won't make it to Australian shelves...
I've already asked Martyn how foreigners who don't subscribe might be able to get the supplement, so I'll let you know when I get a reply.

I hope there will be a way to get this supplement. Hell, I'm even considering ringing them up tommorrow and subscribing just so I get it, even though it will work out at $30 (about £13!) more than getting it from the newsagents.

Any (slightly) cheaper option would be much welcomed.

EDIT: Well I've gone and done it now. After seeing the Profs post (below) I took a quick look around the Live website (so I'd know where to look after july 7) and found the subs are a bit cheaper than listed in the latest RG available in Australia (issue 14). Now It's only $12 dearer (less than the cost of one extra issue). So I thought, for getting that extra supplement for the small extra cost PLUS getting each issue ON TIME (not three months later) was enough to make me subscribe - and the fact it had START FROM ISSUE 18 listed on the order page helped too.

So I'm ready. bring on the ZZAP!py goodness.

Professor Brian Strain · Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:52 pm

According to the Live Publishing forum, there will be a limited number of printed supplements to buy direct from their website - www.livepublishing.co.uk - as well as a coupon for readers who don't get a supplement to send in and get one.

Sixteen Plus · Post by **Sixteen Plus** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:06 pm

well done to all involved in this venture... i've just ordered my copy from live-publishing although now i apparantly have to wait 28 days to receive it...well if i was able to wait eight years then this'll be a doddle

sod waiting for the pdf format to materialise though, i'll download that in time for backup...i'm now patiently waiting for that day i own a nice unvirtual brand-new crisp zzap magazine again...all 64 pages of it...maybe i'll find issue 107 lurking on ebay sometime...it's more my way of saying cheers for all the hard work and effort that you've all contributed your valuable time towards as a tribute to our bygone days with the best-selling c64 mag, fun memories...i probably wouldn't of bothered if it were another mag.

CraigGrannell · Post by **CraigGrannell** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:36 pm

Baz wrote:maybe i'll find issue 107 lurking on ebay sometime

Well, you never know. I think I've seen something like three copies of 107 on eBay, and you never know when someone's going to off-load their one. (I'm not, though!)

Post by **Iain** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:32 pm

Kinda suprising there hasn't been more of them up there, but I guess people are too attached to them to sell them or maybe everybody who wanted one, got one with the original 200 printed.

Ah it's nice to be off topic in Mr. Zzapback's forum! He deserves some payback! :-p