REFLECTIONS
This issue is being prepared over the quiet summer
period, quiet that is from the point of view of computer users who
seem to forget about computing while the sun shines. Ask all the
retailers (the honest ones) how business is in the summer, they
would love to see more of you, and our postbag seems quite
diminished too. One local micro shop has actually closed down for a
month and is sending postcards to their customers via adverts in the
local press! Behind the scenes, however, it is still very hectic. It
still takes the same amount of time to prepare this issue and we
also have to plan for the PCW show which will be upon us as you read
this (Go and check out the huge Atari village!). Nevertheless it
seems a good time to be a little reflective.
As I prepare this issue I am amazed at the amount
of information that we manage to pack into each issue of PAGE 6.
Those who complain that we are not monthly ought to reflect for a
moment on the depth of some of the reviews and articles. What I tend
to do is try and squeeze as much as possible of the written word
into each issue, I am loathe to wield the editor's blue pencil
because often you see in other magazines just a skimpy outline of a
review that tells you little about a program and which is obviously
written to fill a small allocated space. I believe that you are
entitled to read as much as the reviewer or author wants to write
and if he is sufficiently enthused, or otherwise, to write at
length, why not give you the chance to read it? Some of the reviews
we have done have been amongst the most comprehensive you will find
in the U.K. computer press and will serve as a good reference for
the future. One good case in point is John Sweeney's enormous review
on Ultima IV (which may yet be squeezed out through lack of space).
It is virtually a story in itself and makes good reading from that
point of view. I thought long and hard about including it, but if we
can make the space, it will be here for you to read or not, as you
choose.
One thing that suffers by packing it all in is
design in the traditional and classic sense. We don't use a lot of
white space and huge headlines, nor do we often have half page
illustrations (and never full pages) and from a design point of view
I do regret it. But you can't have everything and with a two month
wait between issues, wouldn't you rather have lots to read than be
knocked out by some stunning design?
On the subject of reviews and the summer, Jim
Short is taking a short rest due, in great degree, to a lack of
8-bit software sent in for review. We are swamped with ST software
but no 8-bit games. Software companies where are you!!!!
Enough reflecting. Let's put this issue to bed and
get ready for the PCW Show. Hope to see you there, it looks like
it's going to be good.
NO MORE DATABYTE
Due to a dispute over payment for their colour ad
which appeared back in Issue 20, it looks like we will be unable to
bring you reviews of Databyte's products in the future. I am
saddened by this as they are releasing some excellent products which
we would love to review. I am doubly saddened because I used to have
long conversions with them last year about how badly the 'big boys'
treated Atari owners and the smaller companies, and about how we
need to support each other for the benefit of all. It seems that the
bigger you get the less you need to care. Hopefully that is not so
and maybe by the next issue I can report better news.
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