Hyper 200 Feedback Thread

[Darren]

It's here. The big one. Issue 200. Happy milestone for us!

Hyper turns 17 in a flurry of hadoukens, headshots and, umm, scrotalities. Things kick off with a franchise that long-time readers will know right from issue one, and Super Street Fighter IV takes centre stage in a feature review with a difference. Because mere mortals will unlikely notice many of the game's subtle changes and tweaks, we enlisted the help of the country's best Streeties gamers from OzHadou to help us out, lending their keen eyes to assist us in taking the game apart, pixel by pixel.

Then there's our epic industry questionnaire. We sat down with gaming's biggest players - CEOs, producers, directors, founders - and picked their brains over the last 17 years of gaming. From what they were up to in 1993, to their first big break, to what they see for gaming's future, we cover it all, and we're confident that some of the answers will truly surprise you.

We go hands-on with the mob-tastic Mafia 2 and the explosive racer Split/Second, lend four pages to checking out Sam Fisher's latest adventure in Splinter Cell: Conviction, take a look at the current smartphone market, and go behind enemy lines for a first-hand account of game development's ugly side. Plus Jickle kicks a monk in the face and the Hyper team answers all the questions that you probably didn't bother to ask.

As for the rest? Well... there is something else. Something that'll probably attract much of the discussion in this thread. On this, I can only say that I'll do my best to answer any questions you have, but there will be instances where I either can't say or don't know. Please understand.

Anyway. Hyper 200. On sale from Wednesday, 28 April. Enjoy!

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4784/hypercover2002.jpg

[Lazlow]

I'm really loving the covers of late, really letting the artwork breath.

That said, it shoulda been Dudley >_>

As for the rest? Well... there is something else. Something that'll probably attract much of the discussion in this thread. On this, I can only say that I'll do my best to answer any questions you have, but there will be instances where I either can't say or don't know. Please understand.

New editor? No more printed magazine?

[SOX]

I don't want to buy a ****ing sock

[scoz]

*BLOWS PARTY POPPERS* Happy 200th Issue!
I must say, after the "CHANGE IS BAD" hormones have died down, I'm starting to dig the new review format. Putting all the text on one page seems to give the eye candy some room to breath. I was quite surprised to see Development Hell back, but it read like a once off, is it? Also, I've got to say that the "One Small Glimpse" piece was not only a great read, but looked awesome too :D

[Stevorooni]

As for the rest? Well... there is something else. Something that'll probably attract much of the discussion in this thread. On this, I can only say that I'll do my best to answer any questions you have, but there will be instances where I either can't say or don't know. Please understand.

Hyper will now be written solely in hieroglyphics

[Stiz]

That said, it shoulda been Dudley >_>
I would kill for a Dudley cover. Kill.

[Spazzola]

*Dodges the spray from scoz's popper and pops my own*

Here's just hoping the issue isn't delayed this time...although a smell of sushi won't be minded. What's the bet it'll smell like cake, booze and cheap hookers this time?

[Daniel]

I would kill for a Dudley cover. Kill.

If there was any non-shit Dudley art we would have used it.

[Stevorooni]

Should have gotten Jickle to draw some in MS Paint

Don't worry about the legalities and copyright, that's Jickle's problem.

[Spazzola]

Check random art sites?

[aubergine]

Price better be under $10. Haven't bought Hyper since that ridiculous $12 issue. Wasn't so much the sense of being ripped off but the dismissive attitude towards the rip off, and the laughable comparison to PC Powerplay DVD Edition.

Judging from Darren's post though there's attempts being made to expand the scope of features so it seems the competitive environment is benefiting readers.

Also, I'm calling Wells replacing Wilks as the mystery news.

[REQUIEM]

Also, I'm calling Wells replacing Wilks as the mystery news.

Thats what Im feeling also.

[Lazlow]

Check random art sites?

I'm no expert but I'm guessing;

a) publishers/distributors only allow you to use official promotional material they supply
b) even if they allowed you to use "random art" you then have to obtain the artist's permission to use it and possibly pay them a fee.

Price better be under $10. Haven't bought Hyper since that ridiculous $12 issue. Wasn't so much the sense of being ripped off but the dismissive attitude towards the rip off, and the laughable comparison to PC Powerplay DVD Edition.

Get over it.

[WhyMe]

New editor? No more printed magazine?

What happened to the old editor?

[aubergine]

Get over it.

Hey, I don't go telling YOU not to waste your money on hookers and blackjack.

In fact, forget the blackjack.

[Watchers]

Mine came in the mail today.

Good luck in your future endeavors, Wilks. Your curmudgeonly ranting will be missed, though hopefully you still contribute regularly!

I must say I'm sad that you chose to let the Darren persona simply take over like this, rather than learning to co-exist peacefully in the one body, but maybe it is for the best...

[Lazlow]

So where's Wilks going?

Entering the Octagon with his background in capoeira?

l6oiADjOdFg

[BB2K]

Thanks for ruining the suprise, watchers.

[Lazlow]

Hey, I don't go telling YOU not to waste your money on hookers and blackjack.

In fact, forget the blackjack.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7298/dealwithit1b.gif

[Watchers]

Thanks for ruining the suprise, watchers.

Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father. Also, Aerith dies.

[BB2K]

Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father. Also, Aerith dies.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7298/dealwithit1b.gif

[Mr.Mew]

a) publishers/distributors only allow you to use official promotional material they supply
b) even if they allowed you to use "random art" you then have to obtain the artist's permission to use it and possibly pay them a fee.

Either Daniel or Darren expressed how they'd like to use custom art on a cover of Hyper some day, so I assume it's possible. He did say it would cost an entire months pay though.

[aubergine]

Have you ever noticed that "Sith" is an anagram of "shit"?

As in "Revenge of the Shit" and "No sith, Sherlock."

Also, I totally called it.

So what's the cover price Watchers? Will I be buying it, or walking away forever?

[Daniel]

So where's Wilks going?

Entering the Octagon with his background in capoeira?

l6oiADjOdFg

Mea Lua de Compasso - I buggered my left ankle and chipped a bit off my hip bone performing that kick. Feels bloody fantastic when you're whipping them around though.

[HiredMan]

So what's the cover price Watchers? Will I be buying it, or walking away forever?

Under $10, $8.95 iirc, pretty sure the only issue that was over was the sock issue.

[enrique]

I'm getting this just to read about Jickle kicking a monk...


Oh and happy 200th! :)

[Mr.Mew]

Wow. Absolute nostalgia from the collage of issue covers on page 4-5. I remember reading how much trouble the Hyper team at the time went to getting a picture of a basket ball on fire and how the burning rubber caused some severe nausea.

[Stevorooni]

Now that Old Man Wells is presumably in charge I bet he changes the scoring system to some sort of lolcat scale

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3572/catrating.jpg

[ireadtabloids]

Congratulations Hyper crew!! Haven't seen the issue yet, but I bet you're taking a lot of pride in this! 200 issues for any magazine is brilliant, but 200 issues of a gaming mag is just amazing.

[ireadtabloids]

Now that Old Man Wells is presumably in charge I bet he changes the scoring system to some sort of lolcat scale

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3572/catrating.jpg

He should probably stop calling himself Deputy Lad, just a heads-up there!
Wouldn't put it past him for a one-off issue.
Still, would be very confusing.
By the way which game were you reviewing there?

[Stevorooni]

Fallout 3


OH I WENT THERE

[aubergine]

Hang on, isn't Wells the crazy renegade who gave Dead Space and ODST 6/10?

This metacritical defiance to acceptable scoring could have dire diplomatic consequences for the whole country.

[Stevorooni]

Except him being editor won't change the scores of other reviewers in the magazine...

[Lazlow]

Hang on, isn't Wells the crazy renegade who gave Dead Space and ODST 6/10?

This metacritical defiance to acceptable scoring could have dire diplomatic consequences for the whole country.

Ahem...






































































http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7298/dealwithit1b.gif

[Frostillicus]

Not a criticism of the magazine, but guys, why? WHY? Why did you set up a Hyper twitter and facebook account?

congrats on 200 btw

[RunningMild]

@ Daniel- I don't think the mag needs a new set of eyes! Honest! :p

@ Darren- I really liked your Infinite Space review, because I think it hit the nail right on the head. There is one little thing I'd like to mention though:

Landing at a spaceport is not the only way to repair your ships. Your ships will repair to a certain degree while cruising between planets, depending on how high your maintenance skills are. Also, if you assign a character with the 'Medic' skill as your first officer (such as Kira), you will get an ability which allows you to repair your ships mid-battle (it's like 'Heal Party' in any other JRPG ;) ). I've heard that there's also a skill called 'Mercy Angel' which repairs ships and heals crew members mid-battle.

[jawsy]

Bring back Moe.

[JubeiSaotome]

Hang on, isn't Wells the crazy renegade who gave Dead Space and ODST 6/10?
Dead Space a 6? That's terrible. It's at least worth an 8.

[darklord]

Bought this issue. Haven't bought hyper in a while(about 8 months) so it was kinda cool seeing it again and I had to get the 200th issue! It's a good issue from what I've read.

Hang on, isn't Wells the crazy renegade who gave Dead Space and ODST 6/10?

Accurate scores for both.

[AranchineD]

Accurate scores for both.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/9729/simpsons.png

[Lazlow]

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/7298/dealwithit1b.gif

[Australian Ninja]

Still have not had anything confirmed (and is anything mentioned in #200 RE: Wilks?)

So just wanted to say to Wilks:

Thanks for kicking hypers ass into the best shape it's ever been in.

Thanks for not being afraid to mix things up with the mag, and always telling it like it is in your editorials and columns. All the best for your future endeavours.

Just curious, if you are an "ex" hyper editor, do the secret service still run out to get you coffee and $2 hookers after midnight?

[Hemish71]

I loved the To the Editors section
Make that a feature, put in some of what you rated 12months ago and look at it now
The short and sweet had me laughing hard

[FX-GTZ]

I loved every page of your 200th issue except for a few annoyance's:

- Page's 18 and 19 is sh*t.
- Lack of Wii Exclusives reviewed.

But the rest of it was brilliant.

[Lazlow]

Nintendo, for a very long time, have a very poor record of suppyling games to publications for them to review.

I wish people would stop complaining about it, its almost entirely out of the magazine's hands. I say almost because I assume the import reviews are a self sourced luxury.

My favourite bit; Wells sticking the boot to the Dead Space faithful :D

[amcam]

Vispiiiiii bhoptiiiiii...

[oogi2000]

A great read. I like the layout of the reviews in this issue. 200 more issues I say!

[Mr Pie]

Why stop at 200? Why not go for 500!

[REQUIEM]

Nintendo, for a very long time, have a very poor record of suppyling games to publications for them to review.

Thats because 90% of them are shit.


(hating the controls on Monster Hunter tri)

[RunningMild]

(hating the controls on Monster Hunter tri)

But is that Nintendo's fault or Monster Hunter's fault?

[BB2K]

It's UKG's fault for not getting the Classic Controller Pro. Bundle.

[aubergine]

But is that Nintendo's fault or Monster Hunter's fault?

Well, Nintendo manufacture the controllers, so logically, it's their fault that all Nintendo third parties fail at life.

[Australian Ninja]

#200. Cracking good issue. Fun to see a look back at the old hyper (including some rather gaudy colours in certain features).

A really fun issue, and I'm somewhat relieved to see that Wilks made his own choice about leaving the ever-so-comfy editor's chair - rather than being pushed out by "the powers that be" - or as I refer to it "a Junglist situation".

Only read about half of the mag so far in front of the heater over the last couple of cold mornings before leaving for work. Have not written a letter in a while, so it was nice to get one in for #200. I figured people got tired of seeing them, but now and then it doesn't hurt to hear the ravings of a demented ninja.

[amcam]

I normally read Hyper off my local Library. #200 was the first I ever bought, and if you keep it up, you'll expect more cash from me...

[Spazzola]

I normally read Hyper off my local Library. #200 was the first I ever bought, and if you keep it up, you'll expect more cash from me...

I was the same until Nov last year...for some reason that issue sold me. Probably because it got me through an uneventful fishing trip and I had the available cash.

In relation to the 200th issue, I'm loving it. Yet to get all the way through it, but it's an issue that certainly contains plenty of content. There was also a typo that tickled my humour quite a bit...not that I can find it again. Oh, and Stevorooni...nice.

[aubergine]

Makes me wish I'd photographed myself sliding naked all over 100+ issues of Hyper but I recently gave the whole collection away. Magazines are a fore hazard, not to mention herpes risk.

[REQUIEM]

It's UKG's fault for not getting the Classic Controller Pro. Bundle.

Dont think they had that from day one launch did they ? I only remember grabbing a wii play or sports (whatever didnt come with it) and Zelda.

[BB2K]

I meant the Monster Hunter Tri one.

[TimmyJ]

Great milestone issue. Nice balance between nostalgia and weirdness.

[Australian Ninja]

First time I've enjoyed the Development Hell section. Groaned when I saw it was back, but found it good to read. I think maybe because it was a bit more serious and informative instead of 'trying' to be entertaining - which is what bugged me about the old ones.

[Mark]

There is no way Matthew Harris is Hyper's biggest fan. I know for a fact I weigh more than he does...

[Australian Ninja]

There is no way Matthew Harris is Hyper's biggest fan. I know for a fact I weigh more than he does...

Yeah, when I saw those boxouts I thought "time for me to start packing on the pounds" to live up to that "biggest fan" line.

[/backslash]

Saw the latest issue (finally found it but in a much, much larger shopping mall), nearly bought it but didn't see much I was interested in & woah...the layout has certainly changed. Looks clean but makes me think I'm reading PCPP :p Not too sure if I like it

Awesome cover though

[Hotaru_oz]

Just bought it yesterday unfortunately I've been too sick to actually read it :(

[REQUIEM]

There is no way Matthew Harris is Hyper's biggest fan. I know for a fact I weigh more than he does...

He might be Aran or JimmyKane in disguise, even Blake or TAT ?


Edit: Posted names were random off the top of my head at time of posting.

[Mr.Mew]

I wish every issue from here on in was celebrating the mags 17th birthday and the number 200. Had much fun reading.

[/backslash]

I'm pretty annoyed atm, my semi-decent newsagent has stopped supplying both Hyper & PCPP - been about 6 weeks since I last saw either. So now I have to go out even further just to look at it :(

[Australian Ninja]

I'm pretty annoyed atm, my semi-decent newsagent has stopped supplying both Hyper & PCPP - been about 6 weeks since I last saw either. So now I have to go out even further just to look at it :(

Dude, just get a sub. It's pretty cheap.

[/backslash]

Already had a sub which normally arrived late & I'd rather choose whether or not I want to actually buy it

[Spazzola]

So you'd rather save money then be able to bathe in Hyper mags?

Regarding paper cuts, fair call.

[/backslash]

I don't hold onto my mags long enough to have a bath with them :p Usually chuck them out once a year to keep the house tidy

[Australian Ninja]

Already had a sub which normally arrived late & I'd rather choose whether or not I want to actually buy it

I'd rather choose the money every time. But it works out cheaper so meh...

Finally got through all of 200. Fav bit was the roundtable discussion about the future of the very thing that they were discussing with the speculations and wild predictions *ga-hoy* and other things.

#200 has to be one of the sexiest covers yet. Nice one Mr Moe.... I mean Malky.

[Mr.Mew]

I'd really like to know what MMO Christian Read was working on. I mean if it's gone belly up then there shouldn't be a problem with telling what the title it was. At first I was thinking The Secret World, but because of how literally the redundant title is being taken I wouldn't have a clue.

[Beatrix]

Wow 200.

I was in issue 100. Where does the time go?

[Starscream]

Issue #1: Street Fighter on the cover.
Issue #200: Street Fighter on the cover.

Whoa.

Some good articles in issue #200 as well.

Congrats.

[/backslash]

My Edge magazine subscription has finally ended (the one I never bothered to read properly). Now I can consider resubscribing to Hyper again!

[Australian Ninja]

My Edge magazine subscription has finally ended (the one I never bothered to read properly). Now I can consider resubscribing to Hyper again!

And you'll have less paper cuts with hyper.

[SOX]

Picked this up yesterday and I really dug the style of the SSFIV review - better to go to people more experienced with these things to get a more relevant perspective. Good work :)

[ireadtabloids]

Hey I really loved the issue.
Haven't been able to get into an issue of Hyper like I did this one in a long time! Really good work!
The issue was a great comfort when I was going through the process of getting finger surgery.

Ps
I'm gonna be able to use double shoulder bumpers again one day! Yeee-esss!

[Mr Pie]

Wheres the Hyper 201 Feedback, I've been waiting like 2 days...

[Australian Ninja]

Man, we're still waiting....

I guess that's what happens when your editor leaves and makes more work for everybody else.

The new issue is chock full of heady goodness with a sweet Red Dead Redemption cover, some lovely special features (people say hyper's slim figure is it's best special feature), comments from the usual gang of forum idiots as well as some interesting letters this month.

Also D.Staines lets loose and takes over half of the magazine with original content.

Meanwhile, Malky has gained +10 exp in page layouts and +25 in colour schemes.

Plus from beyond the grave Daniel Wilks (hey wait a minute he's not dead, he's just in jail...) spookily comments on things in his usual Cop Minus Donut section.

Plus, other (way more useful) stuff about games that will appear in the ACTUAL intro bit to the #201 forum by someone who has seen the magazine content for more than the 10 minutes I spent browsing it on Saturday.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a88/Jonny9999/untitled-2.jpg

[Darren]

Wait, people have their copies already?

Right. 201 thread is on its way!

[Australian Ninja]

My sub arrived on Friday.

I hear the Hyper office was ransacked by ewoks this month, and all the issues were hurried out the door befor the little critters could set fire to them.

[Mr Pie]

S' Alright, I'm godlike, so ill forgive your sins... No problem.