A message to all the people leaving "feedback."

[Miketendo]

Wasn't sure about either sending this to the staff for the letters page, or just posting it on the forums, but anyways, here goes.

I've been a long time reader of RG since the issue with Star Fox on the cover. Flipping through the mag, I discovered tons of interviews and information behind the scenes of the game. This is what drew me into buying the magazine.

For the past 3-4 years or so, I've been continously buying every issue of RG, never complaining about any of the content for various reasons. I've also been a forum poster and Retrobate writer for quite some time. There's a few things I wanted to comment on about some of the "feedback" that sometimes shows up on this forum. Complaining about a certain console or 8-bit computer, or handheld or game is getting too much/not enough coverage is similar to a person buying a car before test-driving it, then complaining about it's performance/look/feel/etc. If you don't like what you see when you're flipping through the issue on the newstand, don't buy it. If you don't like the fact that you have a subscription and they don't cover things that you want them to cover, cancel your subscription. Pure and simple.

Now, to those of you who say, "Well, it's my right to tell them how I feel about what they cover," you're correct. However, this doesn't give you the right to be nasty or rude about it. These gentlemen work hard each and every month to provide you a consistent magazine with consistent articles, reviews, interviews and more. Many people actually do their part by offering constructive criticism, and this is valuable to the future of the magazine.

I think what the RG staff is doing is great, and they've introduced me to so many new games and systems I never knew were out there! While I don't always agree with every single issue's content, it's fun to read about games and systems I never saw growing up, and read about the trials and tribulations of creating games back then. Don't rain on this parade by bringing negativity to an otherwise positive place. If you're going to be a troll, go back to your bridge.

::steps off soapbox::

[The Laird]

Sonds like you would fit in well at the Game Gadget forum

[Miketendo]

Sonds like you would fit in well at the Game Gadget forum

I'm just tired of coming to this forum and seeing people whine about how this or that doesn't get covered, especially since we're talking about a magazine that deals with such a niche topic to begin with. It just makes me laugh.

[jdanddiet]

I don't understand when people say "there's nothing for me" in so and so issue. I've not got any nostalgic love for the Atari VCS, but found Marty's article well written and interesting. Why not? It's about an old videogame system and its games.

I found the anti-spectrum stuff from a couple of months a bit upsetting, especially as several posters were slating my spectrum article on the basis of it appearing in the "coming next month" section! How an essentially british magazine dedicated to Retro Games and gaming is supposed to ignore the 30th anniversary of such an influential machine I don't know.

Seems to me that Darran and the team (ie Stuart!) are very focussed on making sure there's a breath of appeal in every issue under the usual magazine requirements of anniversaries, times of year, recent releases etc. They also are not afraid to stick in features on lesser-known games such as the Citadel making of this month.

Having said this, the feedback area is precisely that - for feedback. As usual however, there's always the odd muppet who thinks the magazine should be all Miss Piggy and Kermit with no mention of the Swedish Chef and Beaker at all. That's life.

[markopoloman]

Well, if they don't have the Swedish Chef and Beaker in the next issue - I'll never buy it again.

[merman]

Yes, it's fun to read about games and hardware you know. It's also fun to learn about things you don't know. Even as someone who writes for the mag, I am constantly enjoying learning things in every issue.

[DreamcastRIP]

Sonds like you would fit in well at the Game Gadget forum

I'm just tired of coming to this forum and seeing people whine about how this or that doesn't get covered, especially since we're talking about a magazine that deals with such a niche topic to begin with. It just makes me laugh.

Is retro gaming still a niche though?

[NorthWay]

*shoves more coal*

So, where are the pinball articles then?

*back to coal shoveling*

[joefish]

I'm just tired of coming to this forum and seeing people whine about how this or that doesn't get covered...

Well don't read it then!

It just makes me laugh.

Alright, do read it then!

Make your mind up...

[HalcyonDaze00]

If you don't like what you see when you're flipping through the issue on the newstand, don't buy it. If you don't like the fact that you have a subscription and they don't cover things that you want them to cover, cancel your subscription. Pure and simple.

If you don't like what you read in the feedback thread, stop reading it. Pure and simple.

[Miketendo]

If you don't like what you see when you're flipping through the issue on the newstand, don't buy it. If you don't like the fact that you have a subscription and they don't cover things that you want them to cover, cancel your subscription. Pure and simple.

If you don't like what you read in the feedback thread, stop reading it. Pure and simple.

I love it.

To be honest, I really don't visit the forums as much. I figured I'd pop in and see if much has changed, and it hasn't. Month after month, people come here and say their piece. Most of which bring valid constructive criticism. It's not everybody, it's just a random lot of people, mostly.

I was just trying my best to defend the efforts put forth, and show everyone that sometimes we really are lucky to be able to get a magazine as great as RG every month.

[webding]

*shoves more coal*

So, where are the pinball articles then?

*back to coal shoveling*

Probably with the articles on bandits and passion meters. And change machines.

[clarance]

If you don't like what you see when you're flipping through the issue on the newstand, don't buy it. If you don't like the fact that you have a subscription and they don't cover things that you want them to cover, cancel your subscription. Pure and simple.

If you don't like what you read in the feedback thread, stop reading it. Pure and simple.

I love it.

To be honest, I really don't visit the forums as much. I figured I'd pop in and see if much has changed, and it hasn't. Month after month, people come here and say their piece. Most of which bring valid constructive criticism. It's not everybody, it's just a random lot of people, mostly.

I was just trying my best to defend the efforts put forth, and show everyone that sometimes we really are lucky to be able to get a magazine as great as RG every month.

You just want a free mug don't you?


I see you're American - most here are British, and it's part of our unwritten constitution to moan about things.

[kiwimike]

Feedback is good. It allows people to have a voice, and that's important. Many critiques of the mag IMO are unfair most of the time, but it's an opinion everyone and anyone is entitled to. As is a topic on feedback on the feedback! Free speech is good!

[CraigGrannell]

Feedback isn't good by default. Constructive feedback is good. That does happen here, but so too does plenty of "you're covering [x] too much", when 'x' is a machine that's actually not been covered too much or is an obvious candidate for lots of coverage, for various reasons.

So, yeah, MOAR FEEDBACK! But less "This issue was a pile of poo" would be good.