PC Gamer wants YOU! To write about FREEWARE ADVENTURE GAMES!
Sigh, if only thats what fish4 said :( None the less, as I've previously mentioned I'd love to start the AGDzine back up, it is the Adventure Game Developer Zine. DEVELOPER being the key word in there :) but adventure and game are just as important :D The Inventory has been axed, Vel's ezine is somewhat delayed - so I feel we could use another "online magazine". Goddamn I hate the word zine. SO! Though I don't want it to be a competitory thing between other zines or online websites, I want it to be good - and I want to set it up with the developer angle strongly in mind - but with reviews and previews, too. I love previews! So it will of course feature developer diaries, tips, techniques and tutorials.
2006 is to be an uber-productive year for myself, which I'm going to make sure of! Lots of game developments & film developments, I beleive. Which will be excellent! So lets see where that takes us. The ezine will have its own website, probably at the defunct Screen 7 ad.com address. If it's a website like the temporary version below - it will have regularly updated features, including interviews. That means no necessary deadlines - but an active amount of contributions must be made. Reviews can be added as and when needed and it will act as a kind of "database". Or it may be issue based, download issue 1, issue 2 etc. Any opinion on this is welcome :)
[I like newsletters because there's less to maintain, but that way a lot of interesting stuff does get lost in time. Maybe a site with a weekly round up newsletter is a better idea....:P]
Whatever whatever! In case you haven't heard of the AGDzine, it was quite successful when it first started. It was originally distributed quarterly as html files in a zip file to form a magazine style. It then went "online" as a website where everything could be kept & read. It's likely no or few copies of the original AGDzine exist, and though a lot of the content was carried over into the newest zine (see the temp zine link below) from the older online zine, a lot of stuff was still lost :( Phil Reed asked to read his old AGDzine interview but sadly the sands of time have taken it from me! :P If you have an old copy with that interview - coulds you put it online? .^^ The AGDzine is also proud to boast one of the freshest Ron Gilbert interviews about adventure game design, currently hosted at Adventure Gamers. We've also spoken to many interesting developers over the years, many of whom have created classics, plus just as importantly - those of US making games. There was an interview with CJ back in the day, but that only exists on a dusty, decaying HD now I'm afraid :(
Okay, I could go on for hours about it all but I won't. You get the jist of what I intend to happen :P What I'm looking for is, as always, that preliminary bulk of content for the website. Mostly, reviews of AGS games you've played lately. But I'm looking for it to be quick and quirky, 50-500 words max. Any game, no matter what you thought of it. Preferably longer reviews if you've played 1213 episode 1, Prodigal or the Stargate Adventure :P
But take note! As I have not fully decided about whether the zine will be web-based or issue based - please only write if you think you will be interested in doing it for future issues or a the future website. You can PM me (but do include 'agdzine' + the game title & your name/credit) or you can email me speilbergjnr at hotmail.com (No really, you can! I've only used 1mb! Sorry, you've only used 1mb! :P)
I would be greatful for any help :) Thanks for considering this, or even reading :D And because its Friday...I think....I'm going to give an advance HAPPY NEW YEAAAR!!! Enjoy it!
:)
old ezine (http://web.archive.org/web/20021122111237/http://agdzine.adventuredevelopers.com/)
temp ezine (http://screen7.adventuredevelopers.com/agdzine/)
:D--(i feature 15 times in this post! go me!)
Hey this is realy intersting we are not much of a writers so don't count on our help but we will be so glad to read it.
Can you put it in a PDF it would be great(if you don't have Acrobat reader pro. we could do it for you).
Keep it up
LD
Quote from: LJUBI on Fri 30/12/2005 02:16:11
Hey this is realy intersting we are not much of a writers so don't count on our help but we will be so glad to read it.
Can you put it in a PDF it would be great(if you don't have Acrobat reader pro. we could do it for you).
Keep it up
LD
LD stands for Lena and Dule? ;)
I used to write for Sylpher's "A" magazine, I even "ran" it for a while....and then it suddenly died...probably no connection....
But I could write stuff.
Hmm, sounds like it can be fun. I write for Adventure Europe, which normally involes 2+ pages review of a commercial game. Perhaps I would enjoy doing some smaller blurbs for this online magazine.
I suppose there is no formal staff? Just review and submit?
I like writing, but what kind of commitment are you looking for? Would you take freelance writers, EG: write an article and then submit it to you and you may or may not include it?
I'm a pretty good writer, though it would probably be best if I did a tutorial. I might be interested in contributing every once in a while.
good for you mods.
I will help with whatever needs to be done
Great to see this back in the works.. I seem to recall replying to a post, long long ago, about looking for writers for the AGDzine. I may be mistaken though..
In any case, I'd be glad to contribute with reviews or game *development* articles (I like the rant about game design;)), wether this is going to be a website or an issue-based zine.
I don't have much in the way of experience, but I would like to help if you want me. You would probably have to nag me a bit to get it done by a deadline, but I'm sure I could handle it. :=
If you'd like some input from the SLUDGE side of things, I'd be more than happy to offer my services.
I sent you (m0ds) an email a couple of days back and haven't gotten a reply yet, so I thought I'd mention it here, in case you're one of those people who only checks their email once a year ;)
Thanks everyone for the interest you've shown! Tis great to know that some would like to contribute to this. So that you know, I've made up my mind on how this will run for the next year. The AGDzine will be a print publication, a newsletter sent through the post that will arrive on subscribers doors once a month. Yes, that means it will cost money to read. I'm thinking $5 for 12 issues (a year subscription). The first issue probably won't be more than 5 pages, but depending on its popularity, it may expand. It may even be glossy one day, who knows :P
The first issue will be completely compiled by myself, so everyone else that helps with issue 1 will just be a "contributor". But after that I may go back to the old way and have duties for people, I think it would at least be essential to have certain people draw artwork for the magazine. Anyway, I'm still designing it all and working out how its going to work efficiently but it should be good!!!! Plus, there will be a website presence, past content & there will be special offers and all that jazz...
Voh: Dude, I didn't receive an email :( Did it have an attatchment? If so then it probably went into my junk-mail and got instantly deleted. If so tell me, I'll turn that filter off and you can try again. I hadn't thought about this. Otherwise, I really don't know - I didn't receive anything. I check my mail daily, didn't see owt... Feel free to try another address;
cracknore_hard at hotmail.co.uk
SquinkyInSLUDGE: Yes, I would love some input from the SLUDGEy side! Ever since it was created, the AGDzine was a multi-engine magazine, I just don't think I really promoted it or rallied up contributors from many other engines. So yesh, really very welcome!
monkey: Sure, that'd be great! Why don't you try writing some 100 word reviews I can use? If you need pointers, your review should cover briefly what the game is about, anything particularly exciting about the game (i.e. something that was boasted about it when released, etc), how it played, what you liked, what you disliked and a score out of 100%. Anyway, good luck :) Give it a go!!
Ginny: Thanks! Yep, I tried to revive the website but it didn't happen in the end. It would be great to see any contribution from you about game development or reviews :) Just submit something through if you get the time, or wait a while longer if you need some ideas on what to write about :)
LGM: I need you to buy me a pencil
Joey: Yep I would take freelance writers, for any issue. As I said earlier it might come about that I need some "permanent" team members, but that won't necessarily be writers. If you want to comit yourself as a writer, just submit during the deadlines for each issue! :D
Disco: If that works for you, then yes - just review & submit :)
Squinky: Do it! Kick Sylpher up the ass and make him bring back A, too!
LJUBI: There WILL be a PDF to download, but it will be the monthly FREE version of the zine, a single page with some of the content from the full issue. This will always be a single page, so if one day an issue is 20 pages, you'll still only get one free page's worth :P For a full issue, you will need to subscribe :)
I hope that answers some questions, & I hope you enjoy whatever comes out of this!!
Hmm...seeing as I don't really have any form of income right now...could the contributors get a complimentary full PDF version for free? :D
I probably wouldn't mind paying for it if I had the money...but if I have money it's usually already designated for something, i.e., school meals.
I'm going to go find a game to write a review of...(something I can actually beat...:-\)
Course, contributers will certainly get a free version. Probably not a postal version because thats what the subscription is effectivley paying for, we'll see - but yes, you will definitely read each issue for free :)
Heya Marky, I'm working for the local newspaper, so I'll help you. I've been writing articles, interviewing people and working on the layout so I have some experience how it all works. :P
K, so the evil intarweb foiled another of my amazing plans. How I hate you, intarweb... Grrr...
Regardless, basically what I sent you was that I've been reviewing games since forever and have a knack for writing silly, humourous reviews that can be as short as you want, or as long as you want. One of my gimmicks has been the backroom, but that's located on a site that's probably not too well-received on this forum, so I shall withhold the URL. PM me if you want to see some of my reviews :)
I'm more than interested in contributing what I can, be it reviews or whatever. I'm not very good with AGS, and I'm not that good with pixel art and stuff, but I can do web design and PHP/mysql, so if you need any of that jazz, I'm your man :)
I can help out on developer previews(only from break-out, though), tips, techniques and tutorials, if needed. If not, congratulations on starting this! It sounds awesome to the full degree, and I hope it'll go far.
Ha!
I was going through my old folders just last night and found those old banners I did for the 'zine. Nice to see you still have 'em!
Good luck Mods!
I'm hoping to figure out a way to make animation less of a pain in the ass for me. I've got a game with 20 or so really nice backgrounds done and no animation. If I can do that, I'm gonna try to get back involved in the community. We'll see where that goes.
As much as I like to help, it's partly my fault that Vel's not released his Zine.
So, I'll just be an avid reader.
The printed issue idea hasn't occured to me, but I like it.
Would there be no problem with overseas shipping and delivery? I'm quite sure I can afford the 5 bucks-a-year or whatever it costs, though I've never used my bank account over the internet yet, and not sure if I can. Anyway, I'll try and figure that out, as I've always wanted a "real" adventure magazine delivered to me :D.
Yep - I would prefer to give the zine that "golden age" feeling and so would prefer it to be printed. Admittedly, I don't have a colour printer so the first issue might be a bit shoddy, but there is always time for improvement :) There wouldn't be a problem with shipping, it won't cost me too much especially if a lot of people subscribe. It'll be posted in an A4 envelope to anywhere with an address. A databse will print envelopes out before each issue is released :) It might turn out that I'll need help with the printing side but I've got some ideas about that.
Rodekill - good to hear from you man!! Yep - thanks for all those graphics you made for the old zine! They rock & some are still to be used in the printed version don't you worry :) Will you be able to make any more? .^^ Though I don't really know what you're working on it sounds cool and I hope you find some way of animating :D Your animations are usually sweet though so is it more of a time issue for you?? Anyway, send me some art to oogle over at some point when you feel you're ready to make a return! & don't forget to order the zine :P
HillBilly - it'd be great to get a preview for BreakOut, I'll PM you at a later stage to discuss that. If you want to submit a bunch of tips or a tutorial in the mean-time, that'd be great :)
Voh - thanks for the kind offer! That all sounds good, and I will PM you to read some of your reviews. I'd quite like to harness your html abilities because the zine needs a snazzy looking page (it will only be one page to start with) that includes the title (AGDzine), an area with information on the full issues and a button to subscribe, plus an area to explain the free zine (AGDpad) with a link button to download. That kind of thing. If you're feeling constructive and perhaps want to whip up a sample that'd be awesome! If not I can work on some designs & perhaps you could smoothen them out?
Petteri - Thanks, and thanks for the email! I am yet to respond but basically I will try & use a lot of your services! So far as design, for the first stages that is something I wish to control - but providing things go well then there may come a time when the zine uses a professional design & is quite a bulky, I'll definitely ask for your help as an editor & designer. Until then, I would appreciate anything you can come up with!
I'm soon to list some specific content I'm looking for in the first issue, and some pictures that I think would compliment the magazine - so feel free to try your hand at any of those. I'll do that in a couple of days or so :)
Thanks again for all the interest! Wooop! Its exciting :D And FoY beta 4 is looking phat too! :P
Hiya m0ds.Ã, Read all through this thread now, and I like your Zine ideas.
Ã, Ã, I'm an "oldie" with computers and adventure games, so I'd be happy to contribute sometimes to your Zine with either Reviews, Previews, Adventure-Gaming related articles, or whatever I'm able to offer.
Ã, Ã, Just let me know what I can do for you and where to send it, and I'll do my best to give you something interesting to include with your Zine.
Ã, Ã, Best wishes.
If you could MSpaint me a basic layout that you'd like to use, go ahead, I can make a basic layout that's adaptable to whatever images you wish to place on it. Of course, if you want me to smoothen a website that you've designed, that's fine as well.
I do XHTML 1.0 + CSS, but that's basically par for the course. Any proofreasing or spell checking not done by Microsoft Office (which misses a lot of grammatical errors), I can also do, if needed :)
Me writes good engleesh. Eef eet not leit me could write :)
But seriously, if there are any free positions - well, I think I make a good writer (I chose this nick for some reason, dammit). Do I make a good reviewer? Can't say at the moment, but I hope I do.
Write & submit, thats all I can say! Then if your articles are included, you must be a good writer :D If you don't want to necessarily "lose" anything (something may not be included in the issue) - just don't write a large article. It is risky. But anyone with generally good English will probably get their's published. I do most of the proof-reading, and I'm happy to correct a bundle of mistakes - but not an article with a mistake every other line :P
Anyway - as you say, your name is The Book, so it is without a doubt that you should be contributing :P If you could also ask your sister Magazine and uncle Auto-Biogprahy, I'd be greatful for their talents too ;)
Quote from: m0ds on Sun 08/01/2006 17:27:33
HillBilly - it'd be great to get a preview for BreakOut, I'll PM you at a later stage to discuss that.
I'll be eagerly awaiting.