A CPC E-mag

[mr_lou]

I think that the future discmag/papermag editors must consider the advantages of online articles/webzine. I mean: it will be useless to try to compete or imitate them on some aspects like news (risk to be fastly out of date if offline), or even technical articles (easier with internal links, big schemas, and can evolve). A good idea could be to try to make some thematic issues who gather original (= not published before) articles on a well-defined topic.

We can definitely agree, that it wouldn't make much sense putting news on a Discmag.
If we say that "The Internet holds the news", then we could also say that "The Discmag holds the documentary".

So yes, we agree that the Discmag shouldn't be about news. We have the internet for that.

Regarding links, I'm getting more and more fed up with them. I feel I run into dead links constantly.
The Internet is too damn alive. Maintaining any site with just a few links is a pain.
Then I would rather fetch and store whatever information was on that site, and include it in my own solution. (But of course, that'll probably give some "you stole my work" issues).

I really think any site today ought to have a built-in link-checker, that disables any link it finds broken.
Next step could be for the site to have its own little robot to scan the net and find out what (if any) the new link now is, and then auto-replace the old one.
But that's another topic.

For example: an issue about the Shoot'em Up style on CPC with some tests of the major productions (Mission Genocide, Super Edge Grinder, R-Type 64/128k, Relentless), history/evolution of this style through the ages on CPC (synthesis), a making of the recent one (by Axelay/Rex and/or Fano/TotO), some technical points on "How to do a Shoot'em Up on CPC?" (R3 scrolling, tiles/patterns management), etc. Actually, you can't find that on the Internet, and the result could be very new/original, with the contribution of different people, and not only "retro" oriented... Of course, it's just an example, but the idea of thematic issues for discmag could be a good idea...

Ok, interesting.
Not bad ideas. They fit the scope I'm thinking about.

It's like.... there's mood and pace for reading news, and another mood and pace for reading stories, isn't there?
And the news...  a few months later, screw 'em. We don't need them anymore. It's old.
But the stories...  10 years later, we still wanna read them. Somehow they should be preserved. And the internet doesn't do that very well, does it?

It happens that sites changes design, structure, layout. When that happens, things are lost in the process. Most of the time, all external sites that linked to the site, now have a ton of broken links. Sometimes whole sites just disappears too.

For the news, we don't care about that. But for the stories, I prefer some other media. Preferably one that doesn't require me to be online.
I just don't trust any site to hold and keep stories.

On top of that, I don't see a website ever being able to give the same cozy atmosphere that a discmag does.
A discmag just needs cozy relaxing background music, ambient colours and preferably a GUI unlike anything we see elsewhere, in order to separate it from all other sources.

[arnoldemu]

I did write a document with my research into hardware scrolling.
But I didn't do anything relating to patterns etc.

I think you're idea of the magazine concentrating on a single theme or technical discussion is an interesting and good one.

I think there is limited cpc news, and when there is it is on the internet. So thinking of a different content is a good idea.

[arnoldemu]

I really think any site today ought to have a built-in link-checker, that disables any link it finds broken.
Next step could be for the site to have its own little robot to scan the net and find out what (if any) the new link now is, and then auto-replace the old one.
But that's another topic.

this is something I thought about  over 10 years ago.

My links page on Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource used to be generated from a list of urls.

A program visited each site, took the title and any description and put it into the content for the links page.
It also looked at redirection status (303 code for example) and if it was a "permanent" move it changed the link to the new one.

The problem is that some sites are not always reachable all the time depending on many factors. So you can't strike them from the list. So I thought about recording the number of times it was inactive - both marking the link as down on the links page to indicate to the visitor it could not be reached, and if it was not active for a long time removing it from the list.

I also tried to discover the last date the site was updated. But at the time a lot of php was used, and the date was always "now" because the page was dynamically created. It was hard to discover the true update date.

I stopped updating the links because there were other sites (Nich's cpcgamereviews) which did it better and which were frequently checked by Nich himself. A human is often better than a computer!

[TFM]

Sorry for hijacking... but I have to provide information here...

"Try out FutureOS" is one of the many things that's been on my ToDo list for a long time. Too many damn "have-to-do-this-first" things keep getting in the way of my ToDo list though, and new interesting things keep pushing other things down the list.I don't mean any disrespect, but the "Try out FutureOS" is rather far down the list. I may get to it eventually, but until I do I won't be reading any FutureView discmag sadly.

There's is nothing to it:
- Put DISC / DSK in
- Tag drive letter and klick at DIRectory icon
- Klick at a file like "-Run Me" and at RUN icon.

That's way more easy & quick than type letter by letter something like: run"slow-mag.bas"

But I really think you should consider making a plain AMSDOS version or ROM version too.

As Prodatron already pointed out. A program for native amsdos has to bring everything by itself. So why inventing the wheel again for every program, when life can be so much more easy? 

Is the IDE rom available anywhere... If I could use the SD card adaptor in my symbiface I might have a change of mind
Craig

Please let's move a discussion about FutureOS to the designated thread (it's called FutureOS corner). Let's come back to topic here. That's also true for me, I kinda took the E- Mag as Disc-Mag. One could call it similar though. Maybe not.
Ok, we all agree it would be good to have some kind of E-Mag / Disc-Mag publication. Now what would you like to read in it?

Ok. last time I comment on FutureOS crap... (hopefully)...

I tried to install FutureOS on my xmem last night. No joy. No matter I placed to Roms (auto install or manual) it broke the keyboard mapping with fw 3.15. It installs fine on the symbiface however but with no access to the ide on the symbiface seems a little restricted.Craig

It has absolutely no impact on FW 3.15 or other, since it doesn't touch the firmware. If your X-MEM has an SST chip please choose option: Install to FlashGordon. Please PM me the precise description of the problem, so I can fix that. I couldn't test the Autoinstaller in person since my X-MEM has the Winbond Flash.

[mr_lou]

There's is nothing to it:
- Put DISC / DSK in
- Tag drive letter and klick at DIRectory icon
- Klick at a file like "-Run Me" and at RUN icon.

That's way more easy & quick than type letter by letter something like: run"slow-mag.bas"

You forgot to download FutureOS, extract files, copy ROM files to DSK, convert DSK to HFE, copy HFE to SD card, boot CPC, load ROM manager, flash ROMs, start FutureOS, and then continue from where you started....

[CraigsBar]

Sorry for hijacking... but I have to provide information here...

It has absolutely no impact on FW 3.15 or other, since it doesn't touch the firmware. If your X-MEM has an SST chip please choose option: Install to FlashGordon. Please PM me the precise description of the problem, so I can fix that. I couldn't test the Autoinstaller in person since my X-MEM has the Winbond Flash.

That'd be it then, yes SST chip in my X-Mem, will try again tonight,


Thanks


Craig

[villain]

Diskmags just gives a special atmosphere that anything online simply can't give.
I've been trying to figure out why a webpage can never give the same mood as a real diskmag, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Probably diskmags are some kind of art, like demos are. It's a good combination of good gfx, sfx and content that keeps - for example - an app. 20 years old issue of the Bad Mag still worth to read from time to time. I really doubt this would happen with a 20 years old website. :-)


I think it could be a problem to find enough contributors for any kind of CPC-mag nowadays. In September 2006 I released (together with Kangaroo) the third issue of CPC forever. For the fourth issue I planned to include english articles as I already had problems with the third one to gather enough content from the german speaking countries. But the attempt to make an international fanzine out of CPC forever wasn't successful. I never had enough articles for a fourth issue. Compared with Targhan I am not able to fill a mag with self-written articles. ;-)


Maybe another idea could be to make a multi-platform diskmag for SymbOS by using Trebmint's Unify? But I don't know the situation inside the MSX-scene. And there are probably not to much PCW-users around. :-)

[CraigsBar]

I've been trying to figure out why a webpage can never give the same mood as a real diskmag, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Knowing that you're offline definitely counts. Makes it easier to disconnect, which in my opinion is the general idea with a diskmag. To unplug and chill with some cosy background music.

I guess a diskmag still to me brings on the excitement and expectation of seeing a new issue in the catalog of your favourite PD library, posting off the required blank discs and duplicating fee then waiting expectantly for the discs to return in order that you can settle down to read the latest news, gossip (or risque content in the case of BTL) and enjoy.


All of that to me added up to the whole diskmag experience, and some fancy coding tricks that provided a slick presentation also helped.


We all like to see something new on our trusty amstrads and diskmags provided this along with the interesting read.


Craig

[CraigsBar]

Maybe another idea could be to make a multi-platform diskmag for SymbOS by using Trebmint's Unify? But I don't know the situation inside the MSX-scene. And there are probably not to much PCW-users around. :-)

Well I got my PcW out of the loft yesterday and found that most of my discs are worn out. Locoscript and CP/M plus still boot OK but RoutePlanner and Symbos discs are pooched i guess I need to recreate a new Symbos disc from the latest release bu tlike you say I am not sure how many PcW uses still exist. It is a better machine for reading text on, as the display is much better and higher res than the CPC, but with only 2 colours and no sound it is much less of a diskmag target machine.


Oh Anyone got a copy of PcW routeplanner they would be prepared to dump for me. (Preferably a 3.5 inch PcW 9512+ copy)


Craig

[TFM]

You forgot to download FutureOS, extract files, copy ROM files to DSK, convert DSK to HFE, copy HFE to SD card, boot CPC, load ROM manager, flash ROMs, start FutureOS, and then continue from where you started....

Haha! Well, that's what you have to do for EVERYTHING you download for the internet. 


BTW: FutureOS comes with an Autoinstaller. Get the DSK/Disc and type run"disc
Everything else is done by the software installer. 

[TFM]

That'd be it then, yes SST chip in my X-Mem, will try again tonight,
Thanks
Craig

The option for FlashGordon shall work. I already started to overwork the Autoinstaller. Will provide an update soon. Thank you for your comments. 

[TFM]

Maybe another idea could be to make a multi-platform diskmag for SymbOS by using Trebmint's Unify? But I don't know the situation inside the MSX-scene. And there are probably not to much PCW-users around. :-)

That's an excellent idea. SymbOS targets already three platforms. From the MSX scene I expect a lot of input, since their scene seem to be very big. Also the Joyce people shall not be underestimated. 

[CraigsBar]

Haha! Well, that's what you have to do for EVERYTHING you download for the internet. 

Teeheehee not quite.... I find the Minibooster and Bluetooth faster than HXC and SD cards for single DSK file transfers

[TFM]

That's right! Can't get it better. 

[mr_lou]

Probably diskmags are some kind of art, like demos are. It's a good combination of good gfx, sfx and content that keeps - for example - an app. 20 years old issue of the Bad Mag still worth to read from time to time. I really doubt this would happen with a 20 years old website. :-)

That is very true. I enjoyed Bad Mag (and many other CPC discmags) many many years later after it was created.
Bad Mag is one of those who got it right, imho, if I remember correctly. Good presentation, good music, good readable articles.

I think it could be a problem to find enough contributors for any kind of CPC-mag nowadays. In September 2006 I released (together with Kangaroo) the third issue of CPC forever. For the fourth issue I planned to include english articles as I already had problems with the third one to gather enough content from the german speaking countries. But the attempt to make an international fanzine out of CPC forever wasn't successful. I never had enough articles for a fourth issue. Compared with Targhan I am not able to fill a mag with self-written articles. ;-)

I recognize that there aren't too many people in the CPC community who's willing or able to write for a discmag.
But as far as I can see, the real problem regarding content, is language.
I see content in french and german out there. Maybe what we're after isn't really content authors as much as it's translators who can translate french and german content into english, and vice versa?

CPC Forever looks great, but despite the content being about the CPC, I just can't help getting associations to general texts I had to read in school.
The paper white background black font and layout, just reminds me too much of school. (And yes, I recognize that I'm most probably the only dude with this defect).

I'm after something that gives a clear impression that it's something else. Something that is "ours".
I still remember when I saw the very first discmag in my life. It was the first time I saw that apparently "our kind" can write too - and write well. (Yea yea, sounds cheesy I know, get on with it). We just presented it much more interestingly. The discmag was Buzz issue 5 on the Amiga, released at The Party IV in Denmark.
I was so excited by it that I had to show it to everyone I knew, and then I'd just get a reply like: "Don't you have anything new?"
And I'd think to myself: Man, he totally doesn't get it. It's not about news. It's about discmags being what they are. It's about the cozy atmosphere they bring. The relaxed mood. The feeling of unity they give. This work was made by people like me for people like us. Finally something worth spending time reading. 

Maybe another idea could be to make a multi-platform diskmag for SymbOS by using Trebmint's Unify? But I don't know the situation inside the MSX-scene. And there are probably not to much PCW-users around. :-)

A multi-platform diskmag is a good idea.
The project I'm working on at the moment will run on older cellphones and blu-ray players and modern smartphones/tablets. I've been thinking about whether a CPC version should also be made, but I can't make up my mind. The content is primarily about the Phillips G7000 and Amstrad CPC, but there are also stories about the C64 and Amiga in there.
But as I said above, maybe it'll fail completely with the french and germans, because I write everything in english? Maybe I really ought to be looking at finding translators if I wish to make the french and germans happy?

[CraigsBar]

I know this is a total indictment of the English but....
I guess more French and German folks can read English, than English can read French or German.

[steve]

An E-mag is not necessarily a disk mag, it could be on cassette or downloaded as a BIN. or COM.  file that could be run on a CPC.

[mr_lou]

An E-mag is not necessarily a disk mag, it could be on cassette or downloaded as a BIN. or COM.  file that could be run on a CPC.

I think we're all talking about the same thing, regardless of the name.
(I think Hugi is still called a diskmag, isn't it?)
I think the name "diskmag" is great, because it tells that it (can) run on a disk, i.e. offline.
Putting it on a harddisk, is your choice.

(So my blu-ray thingy will be a discmag.  But I can't prevent anyone from running it in their favourite media center as an ISO file).

[mr_lou]

I took a look at the Retro Gamer CD Discmag again just now, and was reminded why I don't like web-technology to be used when it comes to diskmags.

First of all, I was sitting in my couch using my TV, so I wanted to zoom quite a bit. This didn't seem like a problem at first, since there were plenty of room for zooming. But, the problem was that I needed to do this zooming for each article I wanted to read. This is because of the way RGCD is made, and not all web-solutions do this.

Anyway, the very first game on the list was a PC version of 3D Star Strike. I look in the folder to see if the game is included, but it doesn't seem so. So I clicked the link in the article...... dead link.

I don't have a golden solution. I just like to complain.
My only suggestion is to always include as much as possible in the discmag, and provide as few links as possible.
If you insist on making an online thing, then the few links you provde should be checked up on every now and then.

[Gryzor]

That is awesome! And it shows that someone in the CPC community does infact do this, contrary to what Gryzor believed.

Seriously, that's what you took away? What I said was it doesn't make sense to create your own mag if you have complains with the ones you're buying since it's time-consuming etc etc etc. I didn't say nobody can/does make one!

[mr_lou]

Seriously, that's what you took away? What I said was it doesn't make sense to create your own mag if you have complains with the ones you're buying since it's time-consuming etc etc etc. I didn't say nobody can/does make one!

I asked: But do you really believe that within the whole CPC community, a CPC magazine wouldn't take priority for a few guys?

You replied: Absolutely not. A fanzine, maybe, and this would only run for a few issues, far between.

Since that was in a thread about diskmags, yes I gathered that you didn't believe anyone would be interested in making a diskmag. Apologies if I got that wrong.

[Gryzor]

Given I distinguished between a fanzine and a magazine I'd say I wasn't talking about diskmags - which clearly exist, so it would have been pretty stupid of me to discard.

[mr_lou]

Given I distinguished between a fanzine and a magazine I'd say I wasn't talking about diskmags - which clearly exist, so it would have been pretty stupid of me to discard.

We weren't talking about whether or not diskmags existed. We were talking about whether or not it was possible or viable or a good idea for the CPC community to create our own magazine.
Some said it would be too expensive, which made me suggest that we could compromise and make it an electronic-only magazine.
To this you replied: As I said in another thread, having grown up reading tons of books, digital magazines and books just don't compare. Not to mention that e-readers are not even there yet (only e-ink is a viable solution for reading for hours on end, and it can't show colours or graphics well). And reading an e-magazine on the beach, for instance? Yeah, no soap.

But ok. So I misunderstood. Glad to hear you don't think diskmags are worthless spending time on creating.

My own project is coming along nicely. Whether it'll be called a discmag or e-mag or e-book, will probably be debated later....

[Gryzor]

diskmag=/e-magazine...

[mr_lou]

diskmag=/e-magazine...

Content-wise, I agree with that.

But presentation-wise, I think a diskmag brings a lot of things an e-magazine doesn't. The music particular noteworthy, but the whole diskmag-presentation is just much more demoscene-like, while an e-magazine is more "electronic version of paper"-like. Sometimes just a PDF.
Diskmags also brings their own navigation system, while e-mags stick with certain standards.

And it is exactly that presentation I'm missing when visiting any website.
The content alone isn't enough for me. I'm missing this diskmag-like presentation. 

A matter of preference of course. But I think everyone has this pickyness in some degree. E.g. the notepad text file vs a website => a website or e-mag vs a diskmag.
The diskmag being the ultimate way of presenting articles and stories, in my humble opinon.