The Missing Retro Gamer features

[jdanddiet]

Greetings my friend, and congratulations on being a regular reader of the greatest magazine in the world.

Some excellent suggestions here. I have added some comments if you don't mind!

16k Spectrum games - apart from the early ultimate games and 3d deathchase often overlooked - great idea, I have several 16k game stories under development

A feature on music games - from licenced games like Frankie goes to Hollywood, upto rock star ate my hamster, rock manager , rock band
etc... I like this but did you know Rock Star has been covered already? No effing rock band as well.

Return of retroinspection - loads that havent been done - GameCube , Ps 2 , Acorn Atom , Pet , CBM plus 4, philips videopac ...Gamecube? PS2? *shudder* I was a fan of the videopac though!

A regular feature on classic games magazines - one could be picked every month . Too many copyright/rival publisher issues I understand

An Interview with Uncle Clive. Great idea. Will never happen! (would love it if it did!)

A feature on Sinclairs software division. Mmm. Most of their games were re-releases, oui?

A feature on the people originally responsible for world cup carnival before it was cancelled and replaced by artics world cup - was it really that bad ? Is there any existing code ? Good idea, but not sure anyone would own up to this!

More c16/vic 20 coverage as well as many of the other older sytems that barely get any coverage . Oric anybody?

Less Making of's ... Often about games I've never played/heard of . How do we know which games you've never played/heard of? Make some suggestions! (although last guy that requested a few FTA's, half of them had been covered already )

Less Nintendo - I know its important globally - but in the UK it was all about Sega . I heartily agree!! 4 MD articles UD!

Less Reviews of new games etc... Usually just scan past them . Dont mind remakes or games for old systems , just not new games. Standard Mag fare, and wholly necessary.

[CraigGrannell]

On making-ofs, they are, for me, the core of Retro Gamer, and provide valuable insight into videogaming's history. It's all very well to have article's of opinion and even articles of research about a subject, but it's another entirely to hear from people who made the games how they came to be. They're certainly the thing I head towards first every issue, regardless of whether I've played the game. Just a vague interest in a system is usually enough for me to get engrossed.

[rockdjuk]

On making-ofs, they are, for me, the core of Retro Gamer, and provide valuable insight into videogaming's history. It's all very well to have article's of opinion and even articles of research about a subject, but it's another entirely to hear from people who made the games how they came to be. They're certainly the thing I head towards first every issue, regardless of whether I've played the game. Just a vague interest in a system is usually enough for me to get engrossed.

I agree they should be in the mag , just not so many of them . Its not been so bad recently but some issues have had up to 5 of them . Thats just too many in one magazine . I dont read most of them , unless its a game I remember well or have a specific interest in . Lately many of them seem to have been about more recent games that I've never heard of . Personally seeing how a game I've never heard of was made is like watching a making of film before you see the movie .

As for your earlier comments whats wrong with the ps2 and gamecube ? They are both retro systems now and deserve to be inspected . I also dont see why you are so against rock band ? Its all part of the history .

Surely something could be sorted for the games magazines ? They've covered them before .

Some more things I'd like to see...

Article about Hijack(spectrum , electric dreams) , never seen a game before or after quite like it and only seen a quick mention of it in RG many moons ago .

History of Rollercoaster tycoon

Would love to see more on electronic handhelds - I have many memories of playing galaxy invader 1000 and Puckman . Had a boxing game as well but no idea who made it or what it was called . I just remember it was beige.

One making of I would like to see is Crue Ball (My favourite band)

Would an interview with David Pleasance be possible ? I'm sure he could give wonderful insight into the demise of commodore.

[jdanddiet]

I have an interview with hijack's designer in the bag - just waiting for a commission.

[jdanddiet]

And I think you're getting me and Craig confused.

[Spector]

I can see why some people would start asking for PS2/ Gamecube coverage in 2013. After all, the first issue in 2004 had an article on Streetfighter II if I remember right (and I might not!) Does Retro Gamer have a solid cut off point in time for what is considered 'retro'?

[antsbull]

Please do not have less making ofs! That is what differentiates Retro Gamer from the stock standard interviews you get on the net! They give Retro Gamer content that cannot be found anywhere else, making it a must buy for me. Additionally, the making-of's often provide brilliant anecdotes that the developers went through, and whats more, clearly the developers love talking about making-of's, so please, please don't stop!

Also, making an attempt to have less Nintendo stuff isn't right - surely whatever RetroGamer can source they should cover, instead of trying to focus it on the Spectrum and Sega so that UK fans are happy. RetroGamer is "The Essential Guide to Classic Games", not "The Essential Guide to the UK Games Scene".

[markopoloman]

RetroGamer is "The Essential Guide to Classic Games", not "The Essential Guide to the UK Games Scene".

An extremely brilliant point that should be in lights next to the Retro Gamer logo at the top of the screen!

[Gabe]

Well I've mentioned in the 111 Feedback thread, but I have two feature ideas now:

1 - A feature around the various construction kits that have seen release over the years - The Bard's Tale Construction Set, RPG Maker (from the PS2), Pinabll Construction Set, their relative success, notable stuff created with them etc

2 - A feature about games where you create, rather than destroy. Primarily when I thought about this I was thinking of The Movies, where you could create and share stuff - but you could open it up to other sims to flesh it out.

[Mero]

Bring back Why You Must Play!

[the_hawk]

Bring back Why You Must Play!

YES! Seconded! That was a brilliant feature.

[NES Max]

I'll echo the people who wish for a Retroinspection on PS2 and (particularly) GameCube.

Also, I feel as though most Retroinspections and "Collector's guides" are a bit too superficial/fluffy. I mean, those "Perfect Tens" are total rubbish (hopefully I am using the term correctly ). For instance, I recall Duck Hunt being in the NES Perfect Ten... (Ten games isn't enough for most of the systems... it all ends up being about the same classics everyone and their mothers know through and through - really, how many times do we have to hear about Contra and Mega Man 2? I'd rather read about Super C and Mega Man 6 (even if it's good but not great) for a change.)

[NES Max]

RetroGamer is "The Essential Guide to Classic Games", not "The Essential Guide to the UK Games Scene".

An extremely brilliant point that should be in lights next to the Retro Gamer logo at the top of the screen!

I agree wholeheartedly. I love Retro Gamer, but I feel there is too much coverage given to micro-computers... Of course, having been a console gamer all my life, I am biased, but MANY people in North America (and Europe too, I am sure) are like me and wish for more "traditional" console coverage. (Obviously, many here will disagree. )

[markopoloman]

(Obviously, many here will disagree. )

Yes. I do

[NES Max]

Fair enough, lol.