BLAST ANNUAL 2020: VOL 2 PDF now available

BLAST ANNUAL · 22:42, 21 November 20

Blast Annual 2020: Vol 2 PDF is now available from the Blast webpage grab your copy from the link here https://blastannual.com/product/blast-annual-2020-vol-2/

Image may contain: 1 person, text that says 'BUAST 2020 ANNUAL ANNUAL RETRO GAMING BOOK VOLUME 2020'

Image may contain: 1 person, text that says 'BUAST 2020 ANNUAL ANNUAL RETRO GAMING BOOK VOLUME 2020'

Full description and more images on the website.

Every purchase of any Blast Annual product receives a FREE CRAZY BLASTER V1.2 game by Misfit. CPC Speccy and C64 versions.

norecess · 03:23, 22 November 20

FINALLY ;-) I got my copy and I can confirm how great its content is.
Unlike Vol.1, that one has numerous articles related to the Amstrad's 8-bit machines: programming tutorials, game reviews, Batman Group interview and finally, pages related to the making of SonicGX.

Gryzor · 13:51, 22 November 20

Quote from: norecess on 03:23, 22 November 20
FINALLY ;-) I got my copy and I can confirm how great its content is.
Unlike Vol.1, that one has numerous articles related to the Amstrad's 8-bit machines: programming tutorials, game reviews, Batman Group interview and finally, pages related to the making of SonicGX.

Ah thanks for the comment, I was disappointed on that aspect by vol 1...

Great cover by the way!

reidrac · 16:11, 22 November 20

I don't know why there are a lot of these things coming out and they never publish the table of contents.

I guess people will buy it anyway, but I find it weird.

Skunkfish · 11:42, 23 November 20

I got the PDF yesterday, and I've enjoyed reading it - there is lots more CPC content including a massive write up of #CPCRetroDev2019, an interview with Batman Group and an article on Sonic GX by NoRecess.
It's only a few £/€ as a PDF, so definitely worth it.

reidrac · 14:09, 23 November 20

Yep, I bought it as well. Is not that much money, but I think it would be better if you have a ToC before buying it. I mean, it makes sense to know what are you buying!

(I haven't read much, can't comment; found the homemade controller a nice idea I'm tempted to try now

)

BLAST ANNUAL · 19:54, 30 December 20

got a couple of test prints done for Vol 2 and its looking as spiffy as vol1.

however am going to see if i can find a cheaper printer so vol 2 will cost everyone a little less than vol 1 has.

I am finding out its not easy sourcing a cheap printer that also does high quality work for a book like this.

anyway i will plod along and see what i shall see and find out.

when vol 2 ready for purchase i will inform everyone in due course.

GUNHED · 20:10, 30 December 20

What's about a CPC only version, maybe containing everything released until now. I would love to get that kind of Blast Annual.

SharkusMaximus · 14:30, 31 December 20

@BLAST ANNUAL : Would offering it in softback be a possibility? I've ordered John Kavanagh's Retro Annual which is a softback and the cost is significantly lower than the Blast Annual, making it much more appealing.

BLAST ANNUAL · 09:21, 18 February 21

It was an option and I looked into this last year and got 2 test prints done.

What I found out that the glue binding is inferior to the sewn binding.

First I noticed the pages were sticking together and then

Within hours of having the softback in my hands the pages began falling out.

Also the other problem with the softback was that the pages began to bend very easily and quickly.

Perhaps this was a problem with the printing firm I used I don't know but it wasn't a good experience watching those pages fall out.

I am and have been looking at finding a printer who can do the hardback with sewn binding for a cheaper price for vol 2 but now with Brexit the laws for everything are changing.

I might be able to find a cheaper printer but I am being informed by printing firms as I contact them that because of new Brexit laws I am going to be slugged a 23% VAT charge plus extra costs for Customs charges for posting / delivery to address outside of UK or is that EU its one or the other. It has become very confusing and very costly now.

Anyway the challenge continues and I keep on preserving.....

below is some images of the softback i printed... these images show the mark from where pages had been stuck together and the pages bending.

SharkusMaximus · 01:12, 20 February 21

@BLAST ANNUAL I've got the CPC Oxygen Yearbook and AA Tribute Annual from Lulu in softback and they're both standing up to reasonable usage, so perhaps it was the printer. Interesting to hear your experiences, though.

ikari · 09:34, 05 March 21

I'm volunteering to translate the entire book to Polish. Why? Just to say "well f**k you too" to all the French-only publications! :x

GUNHED · 14:14, 05 March 21

How many CPC users are there in Poland? Is there a CPC specific scene?
I know that there are some retro people, but CPC seemed not to be too much there.
Would it make sense in General to translate into Polish too?

ikari · 08:53, 08 March 21

If all goes well, I'll know later this year (after LostParty 2021) ;-) never met many users face to face, I have to say that C64 was the most popular thing here, probably with Atari 65XE being 2nd, and then some Amstrads, I guess. Or, actually, mostly german Schneiders.
In the 80s-90s computer paper 'Bajtek' (targeting ages 5-99

) C64, Amstrad, Atari and Spectrum were surely made equal and got equally much content.

As for languages, I mostly feel the urge to learn French and Spanish, as the communities there seems really strong, plus all the software that's in those languages only...

BLAST ANNUAL · 20:25, 16 April 21

@SharkusMaximus and everyone else

I have found a new printer in Germany and the cost is much improved on the previous printer I had for Blast Annual 2020 Vol 1

Blast Annual 2020 Vol 2 printed book is now available for pre orders via the Blast Annual website here https://www.blastannual.com/

due to the cheaper cost of printing in Germany the cost of Vol 2 Vs Vol 1 for a printed book has come down quite a bit

BLAST ANNUAL · 20:45, 16 April 21

For those who are not aware what Blast Annual is about...

It is a 210 plus page hardback cover high quality full colour printed book.

It covers just about everything retro related during 2019 from major events, demo scene, game reviews, wip's, DIY projects, product reviews and so much more.

Attached are a couple images of the test print from the German printer... and the contents pages

SharkusMaximus · 00:25, 18 April 21

@BLAST ANNUAL Thats great that you've taken the time to source a new printer. Any chance they could do a better quality softback at a lower price?

flag26838 · 09:23, 18 April 21

@BLAST ANNUAL Any chance you could do another run on VOL 1 for those who missed it? Perhaps a bundle VOL 1 + VOL 2 in a single order?