Retro Gamer Issue 34

[Lost Dream]

Hi guys, just trying to raise awareness of the mag. Hope you don't mind.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2537/rg34small9ph.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Definitive Xevious
Stuart Campbell continues his definitive journey, this time it's one of Namco's earliest franchises

The Making of The Last Ninja
Mark Cale and John Twiddy discuss the difficulties of creating one of System 3's most successful games

The Classic Game - Donkey Kong Country
Retro Gamer decides to revisit one of the greatest 16-bit platformers of all time

The Big Article - Gaming Illuminati
John Szczepaniak goes deep undercover and discovers a new side of the videogame industry

Retroinspection - Sega Saturn
Forget the cynics, Sega's Saturn was one of the best 32-bit consoles ever made. Here's why.

The Making of - Dungeon Master
Dungeon Master was one of FTL's most successful games and spawned a host of copycat imitators. Creator, Doug Bell, reveals every aspect of its fascinating creation.

The Making of - The Secret of Monkey Island
Retro Gamer looks back at the making of one of LucasArt's funniest point-and-click adventures.

Why you must play - Panzer Dragoon Saga
It's one of the greatest RPGs ever made, yet hardly anyone bought it. Time to discover it for yourselves…

The Making of - Head Over Heels
Jon Ritman takes time out to talk to Retro Gamer about his amazing isometric adventure.

And much more including,
Double Dragon
Ranger X
Prehistoric Isle
Metal Slug 1st Mission
Zillion

[tom]

Subscription is too expensive to Germany.
The old Retro Gamer was far better, Live Publishing had an online service, were you could buy one issue at a time for GBP 7.00 (using your CC), and that included the CD and shipping.

[Mayhem]

Having just checked the online shop out, the cost of sending one issue to the EU with shipping is still 7 GBP.

The cost of a 13 issue sub to the EU is 106 Euros, though I'm sure the higher exchange rate has something to do with that now. Was it really that much cheaper during Live's time? This works out at around 5.50 GBP per issue, or just over 8 Euros each.

[kaedesdisciple]

I used to get them regularly, then one by one places where I could find it just stopped carrying it. Can't find a trace of it now and subscription is just too expensive.

[Mayhem]

Which is really only because massively subsided subscriptions don't exist in the UK. Would be nice but there you go. Us writers need to get fed somehow ;)

[Kevincal]

Why is a subscription to this magazine so much higher than any other magazine?!

[tom]

>>>>>Mayhem said: Having just checked the online shop out, the cost of sending one issue to the EU with shipping is still 7 GBP.<<<<<

You got it in one...Retro Gamer (the original with CD) was GBP 5.99 and shipping to Europe altogether GBP 7.00

Retro Gamer (the reborn, no CD) is GBP 4.99, and shipping is to Europe still GBP 7.00 incl.

I know, you say Euro 106.00 is a fair deal for 13 issues, I just preferred the buy 1-issue-a-month-with-CC-whenever-I-was-up-for-it option :-)

[98PaceCar]

Is this issue on the newstands in the US yet? I'm supposed to be a part of the Gaming Illuminati article. At least a mention and a picture anyway!

[Mayhem]

@Tom - Live subsidised the postage costs back then. I've sent single magazines to Europe for people who were missing issues and it's cost over £2 a time before asking anything for the padded bag to put it in.

@98PaceCar - may I ask what? I can go check at least for you. Though the article is in two parts, so you might be in the second half next issue.

[tom]

Mind you, living in Germany now, Gaming magazines like N-Zone, Maniac or Bravo Screen Fun are so cheap. I mean Bravo Screen Fun with DVD cost Euro 4.50, that is GBP 3.00 (Although not as good as UK Gaming magazines. UK Gaming magazines were the best. (Ok, besides EG and Antic and EGM, which are/were American))

[Mr.collection]

I was so happy when I went into a store and saw it then I saw the price $12 and I didn't have any money and I made my ant buy it. It was only $1.99 so now I have to go there like every time a new issue is out.

So when does it come out, monthly or some other time amount.

[98PaceCar]

@98PaceCar - may I ask what? I can go check at least for you. Though the article is in two parts, so you might be in the second half next issue.

I sent a bunch of pics of the Halcyon to to be used for the article. I'm not 100% sure they ended up using them, but the writer said they would be there.

Thanks for checking for me!

[RJ]

Cool- I just logged on to ask if anyone had a look at the Feb issue yet. A $15 Borders gift card is burning a hole in my pocket, looks like this'll be the perfect issue to buy! (I likes me some Xevious.)

I actually drove to the store for a peek at the Jan issue, had too many articles I had no interest in...

[fishsandwich]

I really like this magazine and look forward to it. It has taught me so much about the UK gaming scene... I had no idea that computers (non-pc) ruled the European markets, even more so than the SMS (and the NES.)

I am waiting for the new issue to make it to my local bookstore.

I just got issue 24... I now have a complete set of mags and CD's except for the newest issue.

[Fanboy]

I just bought issue 32 on my local newsstand. So we're probably still 2 months out from #34.

[fennec fox]

Is this issue on the newstands in the US yet? I'm supposed to be a part of the Gaming Illuminati article. At least a mention and a picture anyway!

Issue 33 just appeared on US stands, so issue 34 will be a month away.

Just adding to the commentary, I stopped buying Retro Gamer during the Live Publishing era because I found the CD pointless and the writing/design terrible. The mag's done a complete turnaround with the new publisher, though, and I buy it every month now.

[RCM]

"Why you must play - Panzer Dragoon Saga
It's one of the greatest RPGs ever made, yet hardly anyone bought it. Time to discover it for yourselves…"

Yet hardly anyone bought it? When you have a limited run like that "hardly" anyone will buy it! Anyone have numbers for how many units PDS received in Japan?

[TheHammerGod]

I've been a loyal reader of the magazine since issue 2, damn ebay prices for the first one! Although they sometimes get a little too British for my tastes (another article on Sensible Soccer!) I always enjoy the articles, even the ones for games I never played.

[Mayhem]

I sent a bunch of pics of the Halcyon to to be used for the article. I'm not 100% sure they ended up using them, but the writer said they would be there.

No Halcyon this month, perhaps it'll be in part 2 then.

[98PaceCar]

No Halcyon this month, perhaps it'll be in part 2 then.

Thanks for checking on it for me! Sad I didn't make it this time, but at least there's still a chance.

[smork]

i find it really funny that I can buy Retro Gamer at my local Borders or Kinokuniya in Kuala Lumpur for only 32 MYR, which is only 4.6 GBP. Why is Retro Gamer cheaper in Malaysia than England? Crazy. Not that I am complaining!!!!!

Definitely no need for a subscription when I can get it cheaper :)

I actually like the reincarnation more than the original magazine. I thought the original spent too much time on Europe-only retro (notably, Spectrum) rather than the broader scope the new mag has. I guess it's understandable given it's a UK mag, but there's alot of us in North America and Asia who like retro, too. And why is it there's not a US retro mag anyway? Only mags with consistent retro content are Retro Gamer and GamesTM (not counting the File compilations by Edge).

[RJ]

Aw crap, I got the issue #s mixed up, also didnt realize Borders gets it a month "late". Dammit, I was all excited to pick up #34 tomorrow...

I guess I can hold off another month.

[Mayhem]

On the other hand, I have a spare copy of #34 here if anyone's interested ;)

[Melf]

I buy it religiously every month.

Maybe someday they'll mention Sega-16 in their sites section. :(

[boatofcar]

I loved this magazine, but when they got sold they started sending me GamesTM instead, and I fell behind. I'm still missing issues 1-5.... :(