Why can't we have a magazine (or e-zine) about homebrews?

[+opcode]

I was bored the other day so I decided to check some 2600 homebrews. The first title I checked completely surprised me: Juno First. Very, very cool, extremely well done... Not that I wasn't aware about the port, but I had never actually take the time to check it out. So I started to wonder how many cool titles I have been missing simply because I don't have the time to keep track of everything.

So I was thinking that a magazine or e-zine about homebrews would help a lot. I would subscribe the thing, then every couple or so of months I would read it and get informed about all the cool developments I had been missing. Websites that keep track of homebrew developments simply don't do the job, because the information isn't "digested". I can still miss a cool 7800 game for example, because I forgot to visit the 7800 section. Magazines also include opinions (in the form of reviews and previews), something that tracking websites usually don't offer. For example, I can see a thread about a game under developed here in the forums and completely neglect it, but with a magazine I could read a preview and get excited because the writer thinks the game is shaping up as a must-have title.

So, yeah, I think you got the idea. We have a few retro gaming publications out there, but to be honest none I have tried actually fills the bill to me because of 1)they are not really dedicated to classic system (I find it amusing to say at best that now a lot of people think "classic gaming" = "orphaned gaming". If it isn't produced anymore, then it is "classic"... stupid.) 2)they spend more pages reviewing 20 years old games than new developments. While I find something like Jess Ragan's short reviews very entertaining to read because they are just a quick take on something I am already familiar with, page long reviews of 20 years old games just don't make sense to me, they are just boring. I know what Adventure is all about; I don't need someone to describe the game in detail to me...

That said, I was wondering if someone would someday decide to start a magazine dedicated to homebrew games. I would be more than willing to subscribe (if that is the case), and I would be more than willing to help with games for review and preview (for free). Unfortunately I don't have the time to start such a project myself or even the writing skills (at least not in English as you probably noticed from this post).

Edited October 26, 2009 by opcode

[+GroovyBee]

There is a homebrew section in the UK magazine Retro Gamer. Its written by AA's very own TMR.

[potatohead]

ClassicVGM, here in the US also has a growing homebrew section. I author the column "What's on Tap?" and it's aimed directly at the home brew gaming scene. Labor of love for me really. The homebrew scene is just excellent.

 

First two issues have been about VCS homebrew, but that will change over the next few as more systems are added to the mix. There is the little issue of obtaining them (which is fun), getting setup, etc... and having that all fly under the misses radar, LOL!!

 

Seriously Opcode, many people agree with you. E-mail [email protected] and have a chat with Mike. Maybe there are ways to work together and get that English gap covered.

[+opcode]

There is a homebrew section in the UK magazine Retro Gamer. Its written by AA's very own TMR.

 

Yeah, I know, but that barely covers what is going on in the homebrew scene as a whole, much less the classic video game scene. (there are a couple of pages every issue, and most of it is taken by games for such UK home computers like BBCs, ZXes and whatever, which I personally couldn't care less...)

I was thinking that it would be cool to have a magazine covering homebrews for the classic system, like 2600, 5200, 7800, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Vectrex, Odyssey, VIC 20, TI99, and so on.

[+GroovyBee]

Yeah, I know, but that barely covers what is going on in the homebrew scene as a whole, much less the classic video game scene. (there are a couple of pages every issue, and most of it is taken by games for such UK home computers like BBCs, ZXes and whatever, which I personally couldn't care less...)

 

Beebs, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC are all classic computer systems in the UK. Its a UK mag after all .

[triverse]

The problem with doing a completely homebrew focused magazine would be timelyness and accessibility to said games. Games like Ghost N Zombies (which are produced in limited quantity while cool, will never be enjoyed by many outside the original print run) or the upcoming Mario Bros remake on Colecovision is that they are just so spread out (and expensive when released-which is fine, since these are usually hand created cartridge releases, but still detrimental to a magazine that is 100% voluntary).

 

If there was enough homebrew being released in a relatively quick manner then it might be worth attempting but at the moment, it would end up being a magazine that is released at best, 2 or 3 times a year-with completely out of date information (most interested gamers will have already gotten more information via the Internet than a published magazine could compete with).

 

 

With that being said, some magazines like Classic Video Gamer Magazine do offer coverage of some homebrew titles. Is their coverage perfect? No. No magazine currently being published will ever suit your needs 100% but they are trying to fill the void anyhow and doing a good job at it I think.

 

There is a freeware publication called Retroaction Magazine that features A LOT of homebrew coverage that you may be interested in. It is a freeware PDF download (they have other options too that are free). You can get it at Retroaction Magazine.com.

Edited October 26, 2009 by triverse

[potatohead]

Another point to consider is forward looking information sets expectations. Since this is a hobby, it's really difficult to commit people, by running favorable print.

 

Sometimes this is possible.

 

Because of that, homebrew print will lag the actual scene a bit. This is good for a catch up, or to check out a titles for a machine not currently a focus, or perhaps to learn some back story, dev interview, hardware tech...

 

A fair number of projects never go the distance, and this is just part of the homebrew hobby / enthusiest / casual nature. Being involved at that level is fun, but really more appropriate for web.

[+opcode]

With all due respect to the people making CVGM or Retro Gamer, those magazines aren’t what I have in mind. What I really care about are “classic systems”, you know, the ones done before the crash. The machines released during that period were very different of anything that came later, for many reasons. That was an US centric market, opposed to the Japanese centric market that started after the crash. That was a more romantic period, people were extremely naive, systems were as primitive as they could be, there was a lot of experimentation going on, companies doing a lot of mistakes, etc. Even though I have my favorite system from the time, in the end I like them all, I can read pages about the VIC20 if necessary, even think it isn't in my top 5 list. On the other hand, I really don't care about the Neo Geo, I don’t give a damn about the Saturn, and I think the Jaguar was s***. You are going to say that you can't have a commercial magazine about retro gaming if you don't cover all the "orphaned system", and perhaps you are right. But I still think there are enough people out there to justify an e-zine about real classic gaming, I cannot believe I am the only that thinks like that.

For example, a few years ago we had this wonderful e-zine about the ColecoVision scene, ColecoNation. Every issue Nathan could bring us the latest developments, both software and hardware, cover the expos, interview ex-Coleco employees and so on. So it was like “Coleco Today”, no reviews of Zaxxon or Venture to be found, we didn't need that. Nathan was able to put out 3 or 4 issues a year, and he was covering just the ColecoVision scene (I regret that I didn't help him more back then. You can check the ColecoNation archives at my website). Anyway, as I said, in case someone decides to start such a magazine, I would be willing to supply the person with games for review and preview, and while I cannot speak for others, I really hope they could do the same. IMHO that would help the scene a lot, such a magazine has the potential to bring new people, beyond the exiting fanbase, especially if the information is organized and accessible to even the more casual crowd, which I think isn’t that hard to accomplish.

 

 

 

ClassicVGM, here in the US also has a growing homebrew section. I author the column "What's on Tap?" and it's aimed directly at the home brew gaming scene. Labor of love for me really. The homebrew scene is just excellent.

 

First two issues have been about VCS homebrew, but that will change over the next few as more systems are added to the mix. There is the little issue of obtaining them (which is fun), getting setup, etc... and having that all fly under the misses radar, LOL!!

 

Seriously Opcode, many people agree with you. E-mail [email protected] and have a chat with Mike. Maybe there are ways to work together and get that English gap covered.

[accousticguitar]

opcode, I think you are right on. That is exactly the kind of magazine I would read. Something on the line of 2600 Connection but geared towards homebrews. That would be great! I wonder if I could do something like that.

[+opcode]

opcode, I think you are right on. That is exactly the kind of magazine I would read. Something on the line of 2600 Connection but geared towards homebrews. That would be great! I wonder if I could do something like that.

 

I knew I wouldn't be the only one... I would be glad to help, as long as it doesn't depend on my writing skills...

This is AtariAge, we need a magazine that covers the "Atari Age", but with a contemporary approach...

[potatohead]

Good points all around everyone.

 

I do not disagree. I chose to incorporate that kind of focus (I'm classic oriented in the same way) within a larger context, largely because the opportunity was there, and I thought I could grow it into a decent sub-section worth reading and doing.

 

Totally hear you, and for what it's worth, the expansion of my efforts is aimed right that direction. The pre-crash times were awesome, and my personal favorite. I'm said my piece, and will leave the conversation to go where it will.

[youki]

In France we have a very good magazine dedicated to homebrew.

 

It is called Revival , and you can read test about homebrew on all machine, including Opcode , Collectorvision and NewColeco production.

 

http://www.revival.free.fr/

 

It is published on paper and sold via web.

 

Here, you can see a pdf version of one issue.

 

http://www.revival.free.fr/download/revival31_VF.pdf

[+opcode]

In France we have a very good magazine dedicated to homebrew.

 

It is called Revival , and you can read test about homebrew on all machine, including Opcode , Collectorvision and NewColeco production.

 

http://www.revival.free.fr/

 

It is published on paper and sold via web.

 

Here, you can see a pdf version of one issue.

 

http://www.revival.free.fr/download/revival31_VF.pdf

 

Indeed, very good, probably the best I have seen so far homebrew-wise. Too bad I checked GDG (the US distributor) and the US version seems to be 2 issues behind the French version...

Thanks youki!

[ten-four]

Hi Edurado.

 

It is a good idea you have raised.

 

If any of your guys should feel free to write Interviews, Tests, News, Homebrews, etc.

I can make space available with images, if you send those also.

you guys write it in Word or MS Frontpage, because my English is not the best.

 

See it as an offer, I can publish it on my site.

[RayXambeR]

It is a really good idea to talk about homebrew games!

I am doing it since 1997 in France with ReVival, a quarterly magazine.

Some years ago, I have discussed to purpose an American issue of this publication. And I have made it, with the help of a main translator (not me I am not good enough at English!) and some other translators, and it was done with issue #29.

From the start, Michael Thomasson from Good Deal Games, purposes it to his customers and I would really like to thank him for that. And now, you can find English issue of ReVival on the AtariAge store, too. It has taken time to see again the AA store but now it's done.

 

ReVival wants to be the voice of the hidden side of video gaming and it is devoted to homebrew. Each issue covers a maximum of new homebrew games on all systems and related the last news of course.

 

Yes, I understand when a new issue is published, the news are a little older. That's a fact. But, sometimes a new homebrew game takes only few days to be completely sold! So it is impossible to be reactive! And some other homebrew games are not really limited in quantity (such as Opcode Games, with multiples editions) or AtariAge games. So time is not a big problem. I think a player who will read a complete test of Juno First on Atari 2600 next year will always want buy it after reading a review of this game.

On the other side, I really appreciate myself to read a "paper" magazine, be quiet at home, and find really deep review of homebrew games. With ReVival, we always want to make the best reviews we can, revealing easter eggs, anecdotes, etc.

I think this type of publication is really complementary of what we can read on the Internet.

 

ReVival is not really a magazine for only collectors. Yes, we shows packaging, give details of it but we are mainly focused on the gameplay, the interest of the game, etc.

 

And I think, taking time to make review gives better articles to our readers. The first play is sometimes different after some weeks. Some games are really short, or boring but some others reveals their interest after a long play time.

 

So I think the magazine Eduardo would like, exists since some years. But it is not perfect I suppose.

We listen to any comment, suggestion, critic, help, idea. And, remember, anyone can participate!

 

Actually, we need some people able to translate from French to American language. It could be very helpful for us and allow us to gain some precious time and reduc the delay between French and English issues.We have encountered some problems to made the English #39 issue. This issue is completed now. It rests only some few days to finish the layout and let's go to printing. I really hope you will buy it in a maximum of 3 weeks, in the middle of november.

We hope making ReVival #40 for january. Perhaps before if we can have the help of other people interested by translating (it could be a great exercise for learning French!)

 

You know, ReVival has no commercial purpose. It is published by a non-profit association, with professional quality standards in mind, for the content as well as for the layout. All the team and myself dedicate our heart, our passion and our motivation. And it's only done in our spare time! And we don't make many advertising because we have not really time to do that. And if we take time to make advertising, this time cannot be used to review games! It is simple. We perfer doing a great job before making "profit". It is the goal of ReVival, since 12 years now!

So, don't hesitate to participate by writing articles, notably in English (it is easier for me to translate from English to French!)

 

Thanks for your interest in ReVival. Don't hesitate to read our free issue #32.

(and thank you Youki for talking about ReVival

 

And sorry for my poor English, the quality of translation is far better in ReVival issue (thanks to Didier Briel for that!)

[Lord Helmet]

I already read Retrogaming Times Monthly...I wonder if they would consider doing a section on current homebrew developments...

[Albert]

Speaking of ReVival, the English versions of the magazine (Issues #29 - #38) are now available in the AtariAge Store, and they are discounted slightly from their normal cost:

 

http://atariage.com/store/index.php?l=product_list&c=32

 

Definitely worth checking out, tons of homebrew reviews and information covering a wide variety of classic systems. I'm really impressed with the amount of content they've jammed into these magazines. The latest issue, #39, will be in my hands soon.

 

..Al

[TMR]

Yeah, I know, but that barely covers what is going on in the homebrew scene as a whole, much less the classic video game scene. (there are a couple of pages every issue, and most of it is taken by games for such UK home computers like BBCs, ZXes and whatever, which I personally couldn't care less...)

 

Beebs, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC are all classic computer systems in the UK. Its a UK mag after all .

 

It's more a case of the developers on those platforms making it far easier to keep up with their work than it can be with the Atari platforms; there are four or five possible places on Atari Age that a project can end up being documented, if i forget to check the right one on the day of release i miss it, if it appears in a non-programming section of the message board (apart from the A8 section, i read that one) i miss it, if the announcement is buried at the end of a year-long development thread i miss it and that all assumes it appears here and not at one of the Polish A8 boards for example where i can't follow it's progress anyway.

 

In every issue of RG there's a boxout at the top right of the second page headed "new games needed" with an email address at the magazine (it goes to my editor rather than me) but i think we've had one person from AA use it in the eighteen or so months i've been writing the reviews... the Amstrad CPC and Spectrum people use it, the C64 and BBC guys send press packs with multiple disk and tape images, cover artwork, instruction manuals and usually a couple of months notice to boot but nobody in the Atari camp seems willing and i've even had to argue with developers to get cartridge images for review before now!

[Albert]

In every issue of RG there's a boxout at the top right of the second page headed "new games needed" with an email address at the magazine (it goes to my editor rather than me) but i think we've had one person from AA use it in the eighteen or so months i've been writing the reviews... the Amstrad CPC and Spectrum people use it, the C64 and BBC guys send press packs with multiple disk and tape images, cover artwork, instruction manuals and usually a couple of months notice to boot but nobody in the Atari camp seems willing and i've even had to argue with developers to get cartridge images for review before now!

I can make it a point to send you information and images when new homebrew games are released, at least through AtariAge. You would not need to argue with me to get cartridge images!!

 

..Al

[TMR]

I can make it a point to send you information and images when new homebrew games are released, at least through AtariAge. You would not need to argue with me to get cartridge images!!

 

That would be very welcome indeed Albert, thanks. =-)

[atarian63]

With all due respect to the people making CVGM or Retro Gamer, those magazines aren’t what I have in mind. What I really care about are “classic systems”, you know, the ones done before the crash. The machines released during that period were very different of anything that came later, for many reasons. That was an US centric market, opposed to the Japanese centric market that started after the crash. That was a more romantic period, people were extremely naive, systems were as primitive as they could be, there was a lot of experimentation going on, companies doing a lot of mistakes, etc. Even though I have my favorite system from the time, in the end I like them all, I can read pages about the VIC20 if necessary, even think it isn't in my top 5 list. On the other hand, I really don't care about the Neo Geo, I don’t give a damn about the Saturn, and I think the Jaguar was s***. You are going to say that you can't have a commercial magazine about retro gaming if you don't cover all the "orphaned system", and perhaps you are right. But I still think there are enough people out there to justify an e-zine about real classic gaming, I cannot believe I am the only that thinks like that.

For example, a few years ago we had this wonderful e-zine about the ColecoVision scene, ColecoNation. Every issue Nathan could bring us the latest developments, both software and hardware, cover the expos, interview ex-Coleco employees and so on. So it was like “Coleco Today”, no reviews of Zaxxon or Venture to be found, we didn't need that. Nathan was able to put out 3 or 4 issues a year, and he was covering just the ColecoVision scene (I regret that I didn't help him more back then. You can check the ColecoNation archives at my website). Anyway, as I said, in case someone decides to start such a magazine, I would be willing to supply the person with games for review and preview, and while I cannot speak for others, I really hope they could do the same. IMHO that would help the scene a lot, such a magazine has the potential to bring new people, beyond the exiting fanbase, especially if the information is organized and accessible to even the more casual crowd, which I think isn’t that hard to accomplish.

 

 

 

ClassicVGM, here in the US also has a growing homebrew section. I author the column "What's on Tap?" and it's aimed directly at the home brew gaming scene. Labor of love for me really. The homebrew scene is just excellent.

 

First two issues have been about VCS homebrew, but that will change over the next few as more systems are added to the mix. There is the little issue of obtaining them (which is fun), getting setup, etc... and having that all fly under the misses radar, LOL!!

 

Seriously Opcode, many people agree with you. E-mail [email protected] and have a chat with Mike. Maybe there are ways to work together and get that English gap covered.

Same here, I would really dig that. Heck I would be willing to pay for a subscription.

[littleman jack]

While it was in full force, the 2600 Connection often covered homebrews. You might be able to order back issues.

[newcoleco]

Did Opcode just did a rant about e-zine? The e-zine I know is published in paper format, called Revival, I don't don't really the others.

[STGuy1040]

It really depends on your perspective. ClassicVGM covers and reviews homebrew software, but the frequency of these titles are difficult to coordinate for a print release. ClassicVGM covers Atari systems (including the Jaguar) so it fits the demographic of Atari Age (CVGM began here after I was exposed to the Atari Jaguar). There are a lot of people here who consider the Lynx and Jaguar classic systems. Both systems have very active homebrew scenes and ClassicVGM covers it. Do we cover every release? No, it is impossible to cover everything. Why?

 

You have to consider the financial aspect of covering homebrew titles. First you have to take into consideration the sheer volume of titles released every year for the Atari 2600, etc., (especially in Europe). Most homebrew titles sell between $30-$60 each. Please keep in mind that some homebrew developers will be reluctant to support you regardless of what you represent. In cases like this, you will have to be selective about your content. You’re not always going to have access to a store like Atari Age (which is willing to donate games) every time you want to review something because some homebrew developers sell independently (as we all know).

 

ClassicVGM covers the homebrew scene, but it also covers other aspects of classic gaming too. We have two large columns; one is dedicated to bBasic Programming and the second is ‘What’s on Tap’; we cover everything. ClassicVGM will continue to cover as much homebrew content as we can.

 

I think having a homebrew-only magazine is a risky idea (especially if you plan on printing it professionally). I wish you the very best in your endeavors nonetheless.

 

Edit: The E-zine idea would be less risky, but its frequency would be difficult to coordinate based on the unpredictable nature of homebrew release dates. There are plenty of incredible titles out there, but you would be looking at 2 issues a year to cover what is available. At that point, your content would be considered dated.

 

There is a homebrew magazine called Indie Gamer on Zinio.

Indie Gamer Magazine

 

They cover indie games for every system though.

Edited October 31, 2009 by STGuy1040

[accousticguitar]

Please keep in mind that some homebrew developers will be reluctant to support you regardless of what you represent. In cases like this, you will have to be selective about your content. You’re not always going to have access to a store like Atari Age (which is willing to donate games) every time you want to review something because some homebrew developers sell independently (as we all know).

They would be crazy not to send you a free game for review. That is cheap advertising. It doesn't get any better than that.