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georgeaelliott posted 26-02-2002 07:20 PM GMT
I am sure you all agree that Zzap64 #107 was a remarkable achievement. Its layout remained faithful to the original magazine�s design, while its content was fresh and distinctly 21st Century. In short it was everything I hoped it would be. But as its contributors bask in the success of the #107 project, there are already murmurs of there being an issue 108 and more, and I must air my concerns over such a prospect.
Nothing would please me more than to see new issues of Zzap64 produced on a regular basis, but if they were I fear the quality of its content will suffer � I mean, there will be few new games to review and even fewer new features to cover. Also, add to this the fact that the contributors gave their time and resources freely, just for the thrill of seeing Zzap64 breathe again. If this were to become an ongoing commitment then they might not be as willing to participate.
This is a time for the Zzap64/C64 communities to take stock, not a time for rushing through another issue, which will most likely fall short of the standard set by #107. If there is to be a Zzap64 #108 then may I suggest it wait until April 2005, when it can be brought out to mark Zzap64�s 20th anniversary. This way none of the contributors will be under any immediate obligation and the magazine will benefit from three year�s worth of suggestions, consideration and planning.

CraigG posted 26-02-2002 08:39 PM GMT
Don't worry--there are no immediate plans to rush headlong into a set of bitty Zzap! sequels.
Personally, I like the fact that it's a one-off tribute, but with the possibility of future Issues should the need arise.
However, the amount of time people put into the project--particularly Gaz, Gordo, Paul and myself--wasn't insignificant. At the moment, I for one am totally Zzapped out and certainly wouldn't entertain doing another Issue for some time yet.
Gazunta posted 26-02-2002 11:35 PM GMT
I was composing a 'de-briefing session' post / yahoo email to talk about this, but what the hell.
(pasted from my site, which I'm sure you all read) ha!
# # #
Damn, it was nice updating the site with the link to #107 the other day. Months of hard work by everyone concerned in one nice (though bandwidth-eating) package. I haven�t printed out a copy - Sabb�s printer is cowering in fear at the very prospect of it but hope to at some point. There�s talk of large numbers of it being sold at the next Back In Time which is a very nice thought, though still not enough to convince me to go :) I really can�t say how proud I am of everyone involved, especially Gordon, Craig and Ant who went the hard yards (and then back again once more for good measure) to make it better than perfect.
Been a lot of talk amongst the staff and some readers about doing another issue and I�ve been mulling it over. As it stands, there�s too much in the way to really facilitate another issue. I didn�t mind asking the staff to contribute their valuable time and creative energies for #107, simply because it was a one off project done out of everyone�s mutual love for the magazine. Asking them to go through all the hard work (and it was hard, especially for the aforementioned people above) without compensation would simply be too much to ask.
I started work on #107 when it was looking pretty certain that my current round of writing gigs was about to dry up. I figured I�d have plenty of spare time to work on it and, thanks to this shitty industry, I was proven right. Things are different now. I�ve got animation course and, frankly, more work than I could handle if I wasn�t so God damn insane. Ant�s about to become a dad. Gordon�s got his new novel to deal with and I�m sure the rest of the staff (Esp. Craig) have major commitments nowdays too.
And besides, let�s face it, we�d be dealing with diminishing returns at that point. Interest in #107 was high thanks to, in part, the novelty value of a fantastically popular magazine being resurrected. Many of the comments on the modern gaming forums about #107 were along the lines of �wow! I used to read this mag once, I�ll go check it out!�. Turning it into a regular ongoing concern would see mainstream interest fall dramtically. There are already several C64 magazines around at the moment - have been for years - and I don�t see Xbox and PlayStation 2 gamers checking them out on a regular basis.
Now of course I�m willing to be proven wrong, here. Would I be interested in seeing #108 at some point? Of course, but it�s not that easy. Sure, we can re-use reviewer heads and some art design and page layouts and other standard items but it will still take lots of commitment from everyone to get it together. Maybe we can convince some publisher that this is a good idea and make it completely legit. Maybe we can set up some Paypal system on the Zzap site and get everyone to donate what they think the mag is worth, and get the mag exclusively. Maybe there�s some way to make the magazine a valid concern that would genuinely be worth everyone�s time again.
But until that happens I just don�t feel right asking these people to make such a sacrifice again.
Or maybe we should just sit on it for a year or two and figure it out then...
I�m immensely proud of what we�ve done - and I think we did exactly what we set out to do. Shouldn�t that be enough?
# # #
On a side note, thanks to everyone for their kind words about the magazine, I am honestly thrilled that it worked so well and brought so much joy into the world. Definitely more proud of it than I am any other project I've worked on so far.
Lots of people downloading it, and word of mouth is helping immensely. Lots of plugs on various forums and big gaming news sites, yay. :)
April 2005, eh? Sounds just about right to me :)
PaulEMoz posted 27-02-2002 01:47 AM GMT
Personally, whilst I would have no qualms whatsoever about working on another issue of ZZAP!, I really like it for what it currently is: a one-off tribute to the mag we know and love. It serves it's purpose perfectly, it's probably exactly the right size and it just looks great. I couldn't be prouder of what everyone acheived, and it should now be left for a good long time for the achievement to sink in (because let's face it, there are very few, if any, other magazines that this would be likely to happen for). Another issue anytime soon would just belittle number 107.
I really think we got it spot on, but maybe in a few years time, who knows? The need and the material may well be there. For now, let's just savour a splendid achievement.
PS. You art and editorial guys are fantastic!
Gordon posted 27-02-2002 02:39 AM GMT
Craig, Gaz, Paul...
I couldn't have put it better myself -- I agree with everything you guys say. Thanks for saving me a lot of typing :)
G
Steve posted 27-02-2002 03:00 AM GMT
Zzap 107 is perfect.
it has the same look and feel as Zzap 1
in their day, Zzap 64 and Crash ZX Spectrum were THE mags for each machine. nothing else came close.
back then they had new games every month, dedicated staff, a huge user base and command of the genre.
to reel out Zzap 108 onwards every month or so could not do it justice.
we dont have 10 - 20 new games every month, we dont have 'staff' that only work on it, we, sadly, dont have the user base we had then. (*we* being the fans, you and me)
the idea of 108 for the 20th birthday would work.
i hope there will be a 109 --- we cant let one of the best things, one of the most influential (spelling?) things of our past fade away !
just dont 'do it' 'coz we can.
i think it would take too much away from what 107 has become.
btw,
my girlfreinds kids are aged 10 and 12, they both play games on CCS64. i was told (in no uncertain terms, that i HAD to install 'the Commodore emulator' on their PC ! ---- the user base will never die.
i think its rather cool. the C64 was replaced by the Amiga before they were born, yet they want to play C64 games on a PC costing about �1000 with more memory in its BIOS, with a hard drive bigger than any pile of 5 1/4" disks, with 64 voices (64 .. kind of ironic) ... kids, you gotta love 'em
back to the point.
let us enjoy 107.
bring out 108 when its needed.
dont dilute perfection.
PeeknPoke posted 27-02-2002 08:40 AM GMT
I loved the idea of it being "a one off"-It feels more exclusive that way.
I agree with the posts above but although would love to work on another issue, it feel it would lose something if say, it was released every so often.
But then again, the buzz surrounding this issue has been big, even such mega-emulation sites such as Retrogames are getting all hot and bothered about it, which in all, is a good thing.
Lee
Mayhem posted 27-02-2002 10:26 AM GMT
Agreed. I know #107 took a lot out of Craig and Ant, and for that, I appreciate their effort. I'd be willing to do more work on any next issue if required though :)
And it would give me enough time to play Newcomer enough ;)
AntStiller posted 27-02-2002 10:47 AM GMT
You've all pretty much read my mind (and used better sentence structure than I could). I'm all for leaving the next Zzap, if there ever is one, to manifest when the stars are right. Let's enjoy 107 for now. Personally I'm still buzzing ...
Mayhem, if only you knew ... ;-)

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Author	Topic: ...108 ...109 ...110
georgeaelliott	posted 26-02-2002 07:20 PM GMT I am sure you all agree that Zzap64 #107 was a remarkable achievement. Its layout remained faithful to the original magazine�s design, while its content was fresh and distinctly 21st Century. In short it was everything I hoped it would be. But as its contributors bask in the success of the #107 project, there are already murmurs of there being an issue 108 and more, and I must air my concerns over such a prospect. Nothing would please me more than to see new issues of Zzap64 produced on a regular basis, but if they were I fear the quality of its content will suffer � I mean, there will be few new games to review and even fewer new features to cover. Also, add to this the fact that the contributors gave their time and resources freely, just for the thrill of seeing Zzap64 breathe again. If this were to become an ongoing commitment then they might not be as willing to participate. This is a time for the Zzap64/C64 communities to take stock, not a time for rushing through another issue, which will most likely fall short of the standard set by #107. If there is to be a Zzap64 #108 then may I suggest it wait until April 2005, when it can be brought out to mark Zzap64�s 20th anniversary. This way none of the contributors will be under any immediate obligation and the magazine will benefit from three year�s worth of suggestions, consideration and planning.
CraigG	posted 26-02-2002 08:39 PM GMT Don't worry--there are no immediate plans to rush headlong into a set of bitty Zzap! sequels. Personally, I like the fact that it's a one-off tribute, but with the possibility of future Issues should the need arise. However, the amount of time people put into the project--particularly Gaz, Gordo, Paul and myself--wasn't insignificant. At the moment, I for one am totally Zzapped out and certainly wouldn't entertain doing another Issue for some time yet.
Gazunta	posted 26-02-2002 11:35 PM GMT I was composing a 'de-briefing session' post / yahoo email to talk about this, but what the hell. (pasted from my site, which I'm sure you all read) ha! # # # Damn, it was nice updating the site with the link to #107 the other day. Months of hard work by everyone concerned in one nice (though bandwidth-eating) package. I haven�t printed out a copy - Sabb�s printer is cowering in fear at the very prospect of it but hope to at some point. There�s talk of large numbers of it being sold at the next Back In Time which is a very nice thought, though still not enough to convince me to go :) I really can�t say how proud I am of everyone involved, especially Gordon, Craig and Ant who went the hard yards (and then back again once more for good measure) to make it better than perfect. Been a lot of talk amongst the staff and some readers about doing another issue and I�ve been mulling it over. As it stands, there�s too much in the way to really facilitate another issue. I didn�t mind asking the staff to contribute their valuable time and creative energies for #107, simply because it was a one off project done out of everyone�s mutual love for the magazine. Asking them to go through all the hard work (and it was hard, especially for the aforementioned people above) without compensation would simply be too much to ask. I started work on #107 when it was looking pretty certain that my current round of writing gigs was about to dry up. I figured I�d have plenty of spare time to work on it and, thanks to this shitty industry, I was proven right. Things are different now. I�ve got animation course and, frankly, more work than I could handle if I wasn�t so God damn insane. Ant�s about to become a dad. Gordon�s got his new novel to deal with and I�m sure the rest of the staff (Esp. Craig) have major commitments nowdays too. And besides, let�s face it, we�d be dealing with diminishing returns at that point. Interest in #107 was high thanks to, in part, the novelty value of a fantastically popular magazine being resurrected. Many of the comments on the modern gaming forums about #107 were along the lines of �wow! I used to read this mag once, I�ll go check it out!�. Turning it into a regular ongoing concern would see mainstream interest fall dramtically. There are already several C64 magazines around at the moment - have been for years - and I don�t see Xbox and PlayStation 2 gamers checking them out on a regular basis. Now of course I�m willing to be proven wrong, here. Would I be interested in seeing #108 at some point? Of course, but it�s not that easy. Sure, we can re-use reviewer heads and some art design and page layouts and other standard items but it will still take lots of commitment from everyone to get it together. Maybe we can convince some publisher that this is a good idea and make it completely legit. Maybe we can set up some Paypal system on the Zzap site and get everyone to donate what they think the mag is worth, and get the mag exclusively. Maybe there�s some way to make the magazine a valid concern that would genuinely be worth everyone�s time again. But until that happens I just don�t feel right asking these people to make such a sacrifice again. Or maybe we should just sit on it for a year or two and figure it out then... I�m immensely proud of what we�ve done - and I think we did exactly what we set out to do. Shouldn�t that be enough? # # # On a side note, thanks to everyone for their kind words about the magazine, I am honestly thrilled that it worked so well and brought so much joy into the world. Definitely more proud of it than I am any other project I've worked on so far. Lots of people downloading it, and word of mouth is helping immensely. Lots of plugs on various forums and big gaming news sites, yay. :) April 2005, eh? Sounds just about right to me :)
PaulEMoz	posted 27-02-2002 01:47 AM GMT Personally, whilst I would have no qualms whatsoever about working on another issue of ZZAP!, I really like it for what it currently is: a one-off tribute to the mag we know and love. It serves it's purpose perfectly, it's probably exactly the right size and it just looks great. I couldn't be prouder of what everyone acheived, and it should now be left for a good long time for the achievement to sink in (because let's face it, there are very few, if any, other magazines that this would be likely to happen for). Another issue anytime soon would just belittle number 107. I really think we got it spot on, but maybe in a few years time, who knows? The need and the material may well be there. For now, let's just savour a splendid achievement. PS. You art and editorial guys are fantastic!
Gordon	posted 27-02-2002 02:39 AM GMT Craig, Gaz, Paul... I couldn't have put it better myself -- I agree with everything you guys say. Thanks for saving me a lot of typing :) G
Steve	posted 27-02-2002 03:00 AM GMT Zzap 107 is perfect. it has the same look and feel as Zzap 1 in their day, Zzap 64 and Crash ZX Spectrum were THE mags for each machine. nothing else came close. back then they had new games every month, dedicated staff, a huge user base and command of the genre. to reel out Zzap 108 onwards every month or so could not do it justice. we dont have 10 - 20 new games every month, we dont have 'staff' that only work on it, we, sadly, dont have the user base we had then. (we being the fans, you and me) the idea of 108 for the 20th birthday would work. i hope there will be a 109 --- we cant let one of the best things, one of the most influential (spelling?) things of our past fade away ! just dont 'do it' 'coz we can. i think it would take too much away from what 107 has become. btw, my girlfreinds kids are aged 10 and 12, they both play games on CCS64. i was told (in no uncertain terms, that i HAD to install 'the Commodore emulator' on their PC ! ---- the user base will never die. i think its rather cool. the C64 was replaced by the Amiga before they were born, yet they want to play C64 games on a PC costing about �1000 with more memory in its BIOS, with a hard drive bigger than any pile of 5 1/4" disks, with 64 voices (64 .. kind of ironic) ... kids, you gotta love 'em back to the point. let us enjoy 107. bring out 108 when its needed. dont dilute perfection.
PeeknPoke	posted 27-02-2002 08:40 AM GMT I loved the idea of it being "a one off"-It feels more exclusive that way. I agree with the posts above but although would love to work on another issue, it feel it would lose something if say, it was released every so often. But then again, the buzz surrounding this issue has been big, even such mega-emulation sites such as Retrogames are getting all hot and bothered about it, which in all, is a good thing. Lee
Mayhem	posted 27-02-2002 10:26 AM GMT Agreed. I know #107 took a lot out of Craig and Ant, and for that, I appreciate their effort. I'd be willing to do more work on any next issue if required though :) And it would give me enough time to play Newcomer enough ;)
AntStiller	posted 27-02-2002 10:47 AM GMT You've all pretty much read my mind (and used better sentence structure than I could). I'm all for leaving the next Zzap, if there ever is one, to manifest when the stars are right. Let's enjoy 107 for now. Personally I'm still buzzing ... Mayhem, if only you knew ... ;-)