Brett--
Sorry for the length of time it has taken me to get back to you.
I've looked at your site and the four issues of the 'zine, and I really
like it/them.
In my previous message I mentioned that I like the cool, blue and white
color palette. It reminds me of the new liveries that Boeing and Airbus
have come out with, which I think are very pleasing.
I think you have a nice broad cross-section of topics, useful to any
players in your universe, and the information is laid out nicely. I have
to ask, where did you get the artwork of the nekkid lady in the low berth,
smiling because it's so much fun to be in a low berth? :-) I noticed the
absence of any power draw figures on the portable and permanent low
berths, but assume that's because of the version of the rules you are
working with. The way that you've developed some new families of
technology in the stun devices is nicely done, and gives color to your
universe.
I really like the scenario, world, subsector, and adventure maps in the
'zines. Although you moved away from the hand-drawn maps you used in the
first issue, I thought those were nicely done. The subsequent styles are
very nice to look at: crisp, uncrowded, nice clean use of color and map
keys/legends.
I also like the way in the 'zines the way you break up the pages with
in-game adverts, call-outs to articles elsewhere in the issue, etc. It
makes it visually interesting and intellectually stimulating to see the
presence of other levels of detail throughout.
One thing did catch my eye, and this is not a criticism, but an
observation. Your use of varying styles of art (photographs,
computer-generated stuff, scanned comic book-style art) is really
completely typical of something like a Challenge magazine back in my day,
and I liked it very much. Then it began to strike me that in the presence
of the more modern computer-generated graphics, the comic book-style
character art looked kind of old-fashioned and retro, and I didn't like
noticing that response. I like the variety of art, and it takes me back to
a million game products that look just like that, but I realize also that
the more advanced (crisp, sharp) the computer graphics look, the more the
classic comic book-style illustrations call attention to themselves by
seeming to be from another era. And those character illos are of better
quality than a lot of the professional stuff we used 20 years ago. Just an
observation, though.
I also really like your deckplans, they are a good update of the CT
deckplan feel.
Overall, a very good updating of the JTAS things GDW used to do (which is
what I think you are shooting for), with all of the breadth and depth of
information that I'd want out of something like that. So I think you've
done a really nice job, and ought to be happy with what you've
accomplished.
Or did you have any more specific questions you wanted me to think about?
Dave
> Thanks Dave,
>
> In the 2 years I have been creating the website and content for my game I
> think I have gotten a brief insight into what you guys at games companies
> went through. I get regular emails asking for the next issue, but with
> work and life I think 'do I pay the bills or do create something I enjoy.
>
> Food on the table tends to win.
>
> Brett
>
> PS. No rush. I've been asking my players and readers for feedback for
> years with minimal response. I guess as there are no complaints then I
> must be doing something right!
>
>
>> Yes, I would be happy to. I will try to do it some evening this week in
>> the hotel room, okay?
>>
>> If you don't hear back from me on it by the end of the week, please feel
>> free to remind me.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> > Dave,
>> >
>> > If I'm not being too bold, would you mind visiting my Reavers' Deep
>> web site and casting your eye over my fanzines? I'm a
>> programmer/manager by trade so this is my first leap into design and
>> publishing and having someone who did this for a living look over them
>> and give me feedback would be a great learning experience for me.
>> >
>> > I promise not to gush and only if you have the time. The site is at;
>> >
>> > http://sites.google.com/site/reaversdeep/file-cabinet
>> >
>> > Brett.