Hyper 202 Feedback Thread

[dude]

Why hello there. Here's a cover of a magazine you might like to purchase:

ON SALE 7 JULY 2010!

http://www.cgdata.com/users/53348/f/433/HYP_202_OFC_R1.jpg

The real life version is much shinier!

Anyway, this is the new Hyper. Plenty about it is just like the old, familiar Hyper, but with a few tweaks and some changes to the order things go in. Let's have a look around...

FRONT END
This new, well, front end of the mag contains a whole bunch of shorter pieces on stuff that's happening in the world of gaming. It's as much about gamers themselves as it is about raw product. For instance, we ask:

- Is iPhone gaming just bullshit?
- Why do we keep coming back to Animal Crossing?
- Why do we hate Halo?
- What does the iPad look like on the inside?
- Are you a gamerscore or achievement addict?
- Do gamers have their own charities?
- Who is the world champion Streeties player?

GADGETS
Here we'll round up a few cool gadgets, grouped by type. In Hyper>>202:

- 3D TVs (including ones you can actually afford!)
- Pico-projectors
- Laser pointers!

E3 SUPERFEATURE
Hyper>>202 will be a little "off spec" to how the mag will be normally thanks to our massive E3 roundup. It's all the stuff you've seen, ranked according to what will have the biggest effect on the future of gaming - and of course which games we're most keen to play! What comes in at #1? You'll have to wait and see!

REVIEWS
Hyper game reviews as you know and love them. Detailed, maybe a little acerbic, but definitely credible. Next issue though, we'll be adding a whole bunch of extra stuff to our reviews...

FEATURES
Yep, features go later in the mag now. Why? Coz we want you to be able to read all the short fun stuff first, then settle back for some serious reading when you've got the time and headspace. In Hyper>>202:

- MORTAL KOMBAT
It's back, you've seen the trailers, so what's the real story? And how does this latest iteration fit in a long, long history?

- ADAPTATION
LOTR: War in the North is like a hack'n'slash version of a hardcore RPG. And it's not the first time Snowblind has done this. We look at the process of turning intense, niggly nerd games into stuff for a broader public...

- FAN MOVIES
Hollywood ruins games when it makes movies out of them. But dedicated fans are making films that are incredibly true to their source material, and on tiny budgets! We look at the best, and investigate the process.

BACKEND
We finish off the mag with a bunch of stuff to help you navigate the world of geekery, as well as acknowledge the mag's long and colourful history.

- SiteGeist: Making sense of the web.
- Mobility: The latest handsets and our pick of the latest apps.
- Silver Screen: non-interactive entertainment via cinema, BD, DVD and download!
- What Were We Thinking? We remember a classic Hyper article and interview the writers. This issue, Andrew Humphreys talks Mortal Kombat from Hyper>>001!
- Last Word: Games in the wider world. This month: how a kids novel about games written in 1986 manages not to suck today...

And that's our mag! It's a new team, so we deserve to get ripped to bits. Please, all criticism will be much appreciated. Especially consider this: is there enough AWESOME early enough in the mag? How can we up the early awesome? Suggestions below!

[SOX]

Who the **** are you

[9warbane]

Duuuuuuude

[Lazlow]

Here's a suggestion, don't be so horribly patronising.

EDIT:

Also;

Detailed, maybe a little ascerbic

acerbic*

[AranchineD]

Soooooo when does it come out?

[dude]

Here's a suggestion, don't be so horribly patronising.

Please explain?

[dude]

Soooooo when does it come out?

Cheers and fixt!

[Lazlow]

Please explain?

Why? Coz we want you to be able to read all the short fun stuff first

Seriously?

is there enough AWESOME early enough in the mag? How can we up the early awesome?

You read like an ABC3 presenter.

[Stevorooni]

I am cautiously optimistic

[Jay]

I am cautiously optimistic

I am cautious.

But open-minded.

[Lazlow]

Being the Scorpion mark that I am, the cover does look fantastic.

I'm assuming Malcolm Campbell's still around?

[Spazzola]

I am cautiously optimistic

I'm in a similar boat. I have 5 issue left on my subscription to make up my mind though.

[Stevorooni]

I think I have either 1 or 2 issues remaining, I'll probably just buy from the newsagent for a couple of months to see what happens before recommitting (or wait for a decent subscription competition)

[lex3191]

Why does it need to be the new hyper? What was wrong with the old one?

edit: This sounds promising:eek:

FRONT END
This new, well, front end of the mag contains a whole bunch of shorter pieces on stuff that's happening in the world of gaming. It's as much about gamers themselves as it is about raw product. For instance, we ask:

- Is iPhone gaming just bullshit? NO
- Why do we keep coming back to Animal Crossing? I DON'T
- Why do we hate Halo?PLAYERS ARE C$NTS
- What does the iPad look like on the inside?DON'T CARE
- Are you a gamerscore or achievement addict?DON'T CARE
- Do gamers have their own charities?WTF?
- Who is the world champion Streeties player?vaguely interested

i hope there is more interesting stuff than this, or maybe i should stick to a grown up games mag like Edge.

[Mr.Mew]

Well I was excited about going out and purchasing Hyper tomorrow. Good to have a forecast of how much a day is going to suck.

[Spudzilla]

It just occurred to me that the reason why I see people posting in here, who I've never seen before, is for the sole purpose of seeing their hollow praise in print.

Please don't publish this.

[Mr Pie]

Im on my last issue, so we'll have to see how good/bad it is before I contemplate extending my subscription.

[texta]

Here's a suggestion, don't be so horribly patronising

I suspect the real reason why we don't have an R18+ rating for games is that when politicians read or watch game related media (such as Hyper or Good Game) they appear to be aimed squarely at kids. If the majority of gamers are in fact adults, why isn't there anyone in the video game media in Australia trying to tap that market?

[Spudzilla]

Because adults realise that they don't have to pay $8 for 4-2 week-old news with only 20 pages relevant to their interest, they can instead just read an up to date internet news site.

[enrique]

Especially consider this: is there enough AWESOME early enough in the mag? How can we up the early awesome? Suggestions below!

WTF? Stop this crap-I'm not amused. :rolleyes:

Seriously?

You read like an ABC3 presenter.

This. I dont need this childish garbage in the only gaming mag I buy these days.

Haven't read the latest issue, so I'll hope for the best-but who knows?

[Australian Ninja]

WTF? Stop this crap-I'm not amused. :rolleyes:



This. I dont need this childish garbage in the only gaming mag I buy these days.

Haven't read the latest issue, so I'll hope for the best-but who knows?

Ah the hyper forums, always full of mature adult comments, so refined and distinguished.

[Australian Ninja]

Anyhow, I'll give the new mag a fair go and see what happens.

I'm betting it WON'T be awful and my head probably won't explode when I read the articles.

[Jay]

I tried to give it a go this afternoon but it seems my local newsagent is also not a fan of the editorial changes and has yet to stock it. :p

[AranchineD]

Well there's also the fact it comes out on July 7

[Jay]

Shh! Stop letting logic get in the way of my story, Aran!

[AranchineD]

http://www.hyper.com.au/forums/image.php?u=2662&dateline=1277132455

[Jickle]

- Is iPhone gaming just bullshit?
- Why do we keep coming back to Animal Crossing?
- Why do we hate Halo?
- What does the iPad look like on the inside?
- Are you a gamerscore or achievement addict?
- Do gamers have their own charities?
- Who is the world champion Streeties player?


I wrote one of these. I love me. My optimism is sky-high.

Honestly, based on what I've been hearing/asked to write, I'm pretty sure the magazine is going to remain as good as ever (and I know some of you will chime in with 'u mean itll remain shit, hur hur hur', please don't, it hurts my unbelievably fragile feelings :( ), even if there are some changes. Obviously I can't speak with complete authority, being a freelancer off in Adelaide, but I haven't been given any reason to think that the magazine will become shit (and before anyone points out that I'm hardly going to come in here and bite the hand that feeds me, if I thought things would turn to shit more than likely I would have just not posted at all).

So, yes, I'm hoping to enjoy the issue, and obviously I hope everyone else who reads it does too.

[Mr.Mew]

I wrote one of these.

Option C - you wrote "Why do we hate Halo?"

[Frostillicus]

Man, some of you guys in here are acting like a bunch of arseholes. Express your opinions, but don't insult the guy.

I hope the new direction turns out to be really good. The worst that can happen is I dont like it, and i save $120 a year .

[Jickle]

Option C - you wrote "Why do we hate Halo?"

That's....right, actually. >_>

[Spazzola]

Man, some of you guys in here are acting like a bunch of arseholes. Express your opinions, but don't insult the guy.


It's the Hyper forums. It wouldn't be the same otherwise.

[Spudzilla]

It just occurred to me that the reason why I see people posting in here, who I've never seen before, is for the sole purpose of seeing their hollow praise in print.

Please don't publish this.

Man, some of you guys in here are acting like a bunch of arseholes. Express your opinions, but don't insult the guy.

I hope the new direction turns out to be really good. The worst that can happen is I dont like it, and i save $120 a year .

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/3838/sinnerchilddvdripvp7keg.jpg

[lex3191]

Option C - you wrote "Why do we hate Halo?"

That's....right, actually. >_>

Is it because the people who play Halo multiplayer are *****s?

[Watchers]

It just occurred to me that the reason why I see people posting in here, who I've never seen before, is for the sole purpose of seeing their hollow praise in print.

Please don't publish this.

Nice reverse psychology Spud... >_>

[Spudzilla]

I really don't have any ambition to see what I typed be transferred to another medium.

Not like I would see it anyway, I don't read Hyper.

[Natrak]

But I don't hate Halo or keep coming back to Animal Crossing!

[Watchers]

I really don't have any ambition to see what I typed be transferred to another medium.

Not like I would see it anyway, I don't read Hyper.

He's still doing it!

[fearofthesky]

Especially consider this: is there enough AWESOME early enough in the mag? How can we up the early awesome? Suggestions below!

Don't ever let anyone write like this in the mag itself. Plz.

Fantastic cover, some of those stories seem to have a lil of the old WTF about them. Colour me intrigued.

Either way, I'm up to 187 issues in a row now, not gonna stop anytime soon I wouldn't think.

[Gameboffin]

Via the power of PDF, I have seen TWO WHOLE PAGES of this issue. They looked pretty good.

Also, I should have been consulted on the Gamerscore article. Currently, mine sits at 57 493. Although I do have freaks on my friends list at 90k or so.

[aubergine]

Mystery-dude could use a better introduction but I guess he or she is but filling in until the real person arrives from overseas, Sol Trujilo perhaps.

I like to read the post in the voice of EBs execrable v/o guy.

I'd think that the target market of the magazine is more likely 12-17 year-olds than the 27 kidults who peruse this forum, though I could be wrong?

[Slippery]

...see what happens before recommitting (or wait for a decent subscription competition)

Why? It's not like the prize will ever arrive.

Well let's be honest, it'd probably arrive given past problems, but still

[Mr.Mew]

TWO WHOLE PAGES.

!!!

Holy Hybernite Cryptoman!


90k isn't a big deal with G-score. Upon dabbling with web surf, searching for precious information, I stumbled upon a forum where G-score is recorded into your account. Many people there have over 200k. I think I spotted one individual with near 300k.

[Jay]

Those people with over 200,000k may have found plenty of 'G-score', but I'm willing to bet they've never once found the G-spot.

[Mr.Mew]

Y'know, I knew that was going to happen, but I was prepared to abbreviate it either way.

[Jickle]

Highest legit gamescore in the world right now is 455333. Which is pretty high, I guess.

[Spudzilla]

What a ****ing nerd. I bet he answers the phone in his internet handle.

"You have reached the house of RudderlessHippy"

[Spazzola]

http://happyasamonkey.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/dfmr336q_18gwfhzmj7_b.jpg

[aubergine]

No doubt its some rich kid who pays Chinese Achievement Farmers to finish the games for him, while he snorts cocaine off the breast implants of mega-dick shemales.

Probably not that second part but it made his life sound more interesting for a moment.

[StorminNorman]

Man, I've had my 360 since Aussie launch and only just broke 10k a couple of weeks ago. :/

I have like maybe 10% of the total possible score I could have based on the games I've played too.

[Australian Ninja]

Mystery-dude could use a better introduction but I guess he or she is but filling in until the real person arrives from overseas, Sol Trujilo perhaps.

I like to read the post in the voice of EBs execrable v/o guy.

I'd think that the target market of the magazine is more likely 12-17 year-olds than the 27 kidults who peruse this forum, though I could be wrong?

So are you with the man-children, or against them?

[Australian Ninja]

Man, I've had my 360 since Aussie launch and only just broke 10k a couple of weeks ago. :/

I have like maybe 10% of the total possible score I could have based on the games I've played too.

Gamer Score is vapid, shallow and pointless imo. What is my gamerscore? I have no idea. I don't look at the game screen until it's loaded up, and when those annoying "achievements" pop up on screen, I sometimes swear at the screen in disapproval, especially when it's during a cut scene you actually WANT to watch.

If some people like it, fair enough - but it's shit how developers are forced to implement it, and even more shit that there is no option to turn it off, or at least not display it.

[jawsy]

If some people like it, fair enough - but it's shit how developers are forced to implement it, and even more shit that there is no option to turn it off, or at least not display it.

But you can turn the achievement notifications off.

[schrodingerscat]

I wrote the fan-film article. So you should read it because I'm kind of a big deal.

[REQUIEM]

18457 G Points currently

[oogi2000]

Plug for Hyperactive 360 Leaderboard. (http://www.mygamercard.net/clboard.php?id=nUUqzeKr&gt=&g=&z=&c=&x=112&y=12) ****ing stores around me are late for their copies of Hyper. :\

[Lazlow]

FFS people;

IT'S OUT JULY 7

[AranchineD]

Geez, no need to get so worked up Lazlow, it's just a magazine

[Lazlow]

I'm surprised these people are looking to even buy a magazine, they clearly can't f***ing read!

[Allick]

None of my local newsagents have this in stock. There must be some severe problem with Next's distribution, I'll call them up and ask about it. Don't worry guys I got this one covered ;)

[REQUIEM]

None of my local newsagents have this in stock. There must be some severe problem with Next's distribution, I'll call them up and ask about it. Don't worry guys I got this one covered ;)

Sighs............................................. ...

[oogi2000]

FFS people;

IT'S OUT JULY 7

Well soooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry for going by the date indicated last issue and not reading the first page of the thread. :D

[dude]

Reason for delay: to include E3 coverage.

[Jay]

When's it out? I can't read, but I like to look at the pretty pictures. Laz?

[Mr.Mew]

Reason for delay: to include E3 coverage.

Does this mean it's a bigger magazine than usual?

[aubergine]

No, they just use a smaller font.

[pecka_a]

I thought that they where going to print it on A3 paper.

[Mr.Mew]

I was more convinced they'd make it A5, but with heaps more pages. So it's like a novel.

Then it'd be called "Hyper: A love story".

[Stevorooni]

Printed on a toilet roll so you can read it then wipe as you go!

[jawsy]

That's generally the way I go about it anyway.

[Lazlow]

I find the stock isn't porous enough.

[jawsy]

Just trying to reduce my carbon footprint.

[[m]averick]

Just finished wading through the 'dude' thread. The hostility towards this (supposed) change in direction and new editor is pretty immense and pretty unnecessary.

I'm actually looking forward to the new issue tomorrow, will be interesting to see what has changed and what remains the same. Not a regular buyer of the magazine but I'm really happy that Bottom of the Barrel has gone and Jickle is writing new stuff. BOTB has gotten really stale and it was time for Jickle to graduate onto new things.

Also, one last thing, has Hyper reviewed Super Mario Galaxy 2 yet?

[dude]

averick;1223313']Also, one last thing, has Hyper reviewed Super Mario Galaxy 2 yet?

Reviewed in Hyper>>202 by Dylan Burns!

[Stevorooni]

I had a dream last night that the new Hyper came with a pile of console stickers with versions for both the slim and phat PS3 and 360, and it also had about 15 posters included inside. It also came with some plastic scraper thing and a bag of tiny clear plastic beads but the dream never got around to explaining what those were.

Yeah I don't get it either...

[Spazzola]

Mag just arrived and I've noticed it doesn't have it's usual sushi smell. I miss that smell :(

I've only glanced through it atm, but it does look like it'll be an interesting read. I may also be late to the party on one little detail, but "the Magazine for Gamers"? The reasoning makes sense, but I still can't help but feel that this 'masthead' is a little devalued compared to "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag". This might be because it sounds a touch generic, I don't know. I might address it again once I've read through the mag and had some time to think on it.

[Stevorooni]

Only had a quick glance so far and read through the Mortal Kombat features (which I liked). The new layout and order will take some getting used to and I miss the regular columns (I assume that some will come back next month?)

Other than that it looks like the same old Hyper, just shaken about a bit

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

Shaken not turd?

[REQUIEM]

So its not the Devil in mag form then.

[Stevorooni]

I'm sure it's still evil

EDIT

Why wasn't Darren Wells listed as a contributor when he had 2 reviews?

and who are all these new writers I've never seen in the mag before?

[Jay]

Shaken not turd?

Shaken and perturbed, I think you'll find.

[lex3191]

Why wasn't Darren Wells listed as a contributor when he had 2 reviews?
and who are all these new writers I've never seen in the mag before?


We've always been at war with Eastasia

[Mr Pie]

Noticed the first typo, It was Lazlo that asked what people thought about the end of BOTB not me.

[Jay]

So, you are the typo? That's awesome. If it were me I'd change my handle to TypoMam.

[Stevorooni]

The typo has gained sentience and will soon begin jugedment day

[TSplodey]

I may also be late to the party on one little detail, but "the Magazine for Gamers"? The reasoning makes sense, but I still can't help but feel that this 'masthead' is a little devalued compared to "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag". This might be because it sounds a touch generic, I don't know. I might address it again once I've read through the mag and had some time to think on it.
It sounds like dogshit saying it out loud. It also pigeonholes readers in a way. Obviously gamers are the main buyers, but "the Magazine for Gamers" is telling the readers who they are, where as "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag" says "Hey we're an awesome magazine about videogames, buy us if that interests you at all".

I don't know if I really expressed my point properly there, but "the Magazine for Gamers" = ugh.

[Natrak]

PC gamers are the only true gamers anyway, so PC Powerplay is actually the real magazine for gamers. Obviously.

[lex3191]

It sounds like dogshit saying it out loud. It also pigeonholes readers in a way. Obviously gamers are the main buyers, but "the Magazine for Gamers" is telling the readers who they are, where as "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag" says "Hey we're an awesome magazine about videogames, buy us if that interests you at all".

I don't know if I really expressed my point properly there, but "the Magazine for Gamers" = ugh.

maybe it should reader 'the Magazine for Casual Gamers'

[Hyperblau]

Haven't read a lot but i dont like the layout so far, just seems like so much stuff is just everywhere, needs to be simpler imo.
Not having a news section threw me off, WHERE DO I START READING!?!?!
Still, I'll read the mag before judging the writing.

[Frostillicus]

I just noticed the cover in the OP. Did Malcolm design that? It looks like a bad British tabloid magazine.

edit: should be more constructive

i thinkk the cover has too much information.
If you have to reduce the cover font to the same size as the text in the magazine, you know you have too much information. The cover doesnt need a list of whats in the magazine... unless its wraped in plastic

[[m]averick]

Picked it up this morning. Actually went to go and get it yesterday, couldnt find it and was ready to post my disappointment at Hyper's usual tardiness until I noticed my computer clock is a day fast...

Thought that the editorial was quite weird. Seemed heavily influenced by the forums. Stating that change can be difficult and that Hyper is ready for a new age in gaming, then paradoxically stating that nothing has really changed and Hyper is here to uphold the law, not change it. :confused:

Not to mention that a casual reader wouldnt really note a difference, apart from a new editor.

[jawsy]

I just had a flick through it and it seems to reek of 'change for the sake of change'.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

Have they quoted me in Hyper yet? Someone let me know.

[TimmyJ]

Letters section...on page 8?
Man, was that a shock to the system.

[enrique]

Letters section...on page 8?
Man, was that a shock to the system.

The end is nigh people!

[Mr Pie]

"The magazine for people who enjoy reading games magazines." Sounds like a good catchphrase.

[Lazlow]

A magazine, that tells you it's a magazine, twice.
Genius!

[Zeph101]

It sounds like dogshit saying it out loud. It also pigeonholes readers in a way. Obviously gamers are the main buyers, but "the Magazine for Gamers" is telling the readers who they are, where as "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag" says "Hey we're an awesome magazine about videogames, buy us if that interests you at all".

I don't know if I really expressed my point properly there, but "the Magazine for Gamers" = ugh.

I agree. The terminology of 'casual' and 'hardcore' 'gamers' really irks me, and incidentally was discussed quite a few times by the DWs. I read books and listen to music, does that make me a 'reader' or a 'listener'? I really hoped Hyper had moved passed this whole concept of classifying people who enjoy video games as Gamers. It was one of the main reasons I got turned off by Good Game.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

But that's a show for gamers by gamers?!?

[dinopoke]

Hardcore listener and casual reader represent.

[]{ing Nothing]

does that make me a 'reader' or a 'listener'?

Sure does! :D

Hi everyone.

Also, went to about 4 news agencies, and a shop called Mag Nation during my lunch break. No Hyper.
:(

[pecka_a]

{ing Nothing;1223875']Sure does! :D

Hi everyone.

Also, went to about 4 news agencies, and a shop called Mag Nation during my lunch break. No Hyper.
:(

I went up a hill to my mailbox no hyper there either

[Mr.Mew]

I just had a flick through it and it seems to reek of 'change for the sake of change'.

This. The layout reminds me of a lousy console centric UK magazine which had everything everywhere and completely wronged it. Baddong. Next thing y'know, Fully Sick Schick Face Fungus Scrapers will be handed to the letter of the month. Endorse that shit quick.

Move along, no charm to see here.

[ireadtabloids]

The new layout threw me at first, but I soon warmed to it as the Hyper I know and love. I'm looking forward to seeing where the magazine goes from here.
Still, I'm gonna miss Daniel and Darren.

[[m]averick]

Not sure if the layout changes are very drastic at all. Letters to the front (standard in magazines) and features after reviews, rather than before.

Let's not get all armageddon here.

[Stevorooni]

I've taken apart my hyper and reglued it back into the correct order

[lex3191]

As the regime change has finally settled down, and we accept 'dude' as our new overlord, I have begun to read the 'new' mag and I must say I am a little dissapointed with its new layout. Now I understand it would be a massive task to be the editor of two mags both out in the same month, so hats of to the 'dude' I hope you aren't too hurt over the negativity towards your arrival, but you know, people fear change. On that topic, i dont like the beginning of the mag, I felt the old layout to be better.

Firstly just move the letters to the back, it maybe standard as [M]averick wants to believe but it is not the first thing I want to read. I want news, even if it's old by the time it goes to print, I am happy to have opinion pieces at the beginning, the 3D TV and the laser pointer bits were just a real drag to read and I felt like 'what is this a gadget magazine?'

Now I am only up to the E3 coverage so this is just early impressions, and I understand that with the swift departure of the brass of the 'old' magazine some scambling must have been in order to get the mag out, but for me the pages up to the E3 coverage were just a mess. I commend the 'dude' for wanting to shake things up, but I think the mag was perfectly fine in its structure before. It had a ease of reading that always sucked me in from the 'first' page.

I do hope Hyper gets a dedicated editor again, nothing against the 'dude' I dont know him, I know there has been some hate, I may have joined in a bit on that, but hey, it was nothing personal as I said I dont know the 'dude'. I am still not sure of the logic behind a group editior for two mags where said group editior is still the publication editor of at least one of the mags under this group. Hyper has survived for over 200 editions I dont see why now drastic changes are needed. That said I may give a more detailed account once i have finished the mag. I am a cover-to-cover kind of reader.

So to recap, thanks to the guys and gals who got the mag out. I am sure it wasn't easy. I think the amount of PCPP contributors in this issue attests to the hurried compilation of the mag, the PCPP proof reader even scored two articles, and they weren't bad. Overall I think an acceptance that change is not always for the best and a recognition of the previous layouts quality is in order as the mag moves on. So instead of a DON"T **** UP MY MAG diatribe, I hope this is some constructive criticism of the new mag, granted the hurried way it must have been compiled.

TL;DR old mag good, new mag needs work. :)

[Australian Ninja]

Mag just arrived and I've noticed it doesn't have it's usual sushi smell. I miss that smell :(

I've only glanced through it atm, but it does look like it'll be an interesting read. I may also be late to the party on one little detail, but "the Magazine for Gamers"? The reasoning makes sense, but I still can't help but feel that this 'masthead' is a little devalued compared to "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag". This might be because it sounds a touch generic, I don't know. I might address it again once I've read through the mag and had some time to think on it.

Seconded. Noticed the "mag for gamers" bit on the front and instantly thought I'd like to have back the old more Fantastic Four style "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag"

[ireadtabloids]

I've taken apart my hyper and reglued it back into the correct order

I reckon that mag of yours will be worth millions in the coming years.
*Special Stevorooni Collectors Edition:
In 2010 one man single-handedly stopped the Mayan Apocalypse by painstakingly returning Hyper to its true form.
Trades offered

[Frostillicus]

Got mine today.

Content is great. Thumbs up there.

For a scary couple of years, Hyper became a boys club under the watch of one particular editor ;) Very cringeworthy(*doesmannerism* now makes an appearance on IGNAU - oh god!)
Mr. Wilks saved the magazine when he took over in 06. Good to see Mr. Fordham has kept it in a professional state with this months issue.

The only critique is the layout. It seems a little cluttered and out of order. It's not bad, but i think it still needs some tweaking. Watch that cover! Way too much text!

[Natrak]

Yeah, Cam's tenure as editor was a bit of a disaster.

[lex3191]

yes i remember it became a series of ever more obscure in-jokes but i don't remember it being a complete disaster, the jokes just became a little boring.

[Stevorooni]

I nearly stopped buying the mag during that period

[Lazlow]

*dmwhistles*

[aubergine]

yes i remember it became a series of ever more obscure in-jokes but i don't remember it being a complete disaster, the jokes just became a little boring.

I wouldn't say disaster either, but after a brief period of invention - some quite good invention I might add - the magazine simply STOPPED inventing and became like a Sushi Train in a shoebox, with room for nothing but stale Tuna Salad Ships. I also happen to absolutely abhor Cam's writing style. Although I see it as epidemic among Australian gurnalists, he's certainly the worst example of it - "wacky & entirely irrelevant opening paragraph(s), actual facts of interest grossly padded out with more ho-ho wacky self-indulgent shit, etc.

Then he left and infected IGN, which I much preferred when I could access the US site - although I think they have become better at providing all the US content as well as the other crap.

I think I might start writing for PalGN or something. Those guys need much more content.

[Spazzola]

I just can't get used to "The Magazine for Gamers". It sounds generic and lacks any real buzz; I'm feeling it is the cheap, inbred hillbilly cousin of the old title, trying to be different for the sake of illusionary variety. "Australia's Ultimate Games Mag" had charm and was a 'masthead' (**** it, the word was used so I'll adopt it) that readers could proudly stand under.

Now, layout. When I turned to the contents page, I noticed something that annoyed me. "Frontend...E3...Reviews...Features...Backend". What the hell? Frontend? What's that? The place where you just spatter all of the miscellaneous content? Looking back, issues 200/201 didn't have it. It is minor, but this little detail really pisses me off. It implies to me that the content of the magazine - other than the reviews - is secondary. To me, what makes Hyper is the features. These "end"s just cheapen the magazine as a whole to me.

Additionally, the magazine now lacks a logical linear structure. The old structure was not only familiar, but it also made sense; Editorial, news and previews introduce the reader wth some light and pleasant reading. The features and reviews form the nice meaty filling. Finally, the reader is sent away with a few opinion pieces and the mail. That makes sense to me, the new issue does not:
The reader is introduced with an editorial, then bombarded with opinions. Features and a few reviews then appear, followed by E3 previews. The reader is then given some reviews, a few more features and the 'backend'. It's disorientating and potentially off-putting.

As for the content itself, I enjoyed it. I've still got gaps I have to read, but I'm looking forward to reading them - even if one of those is now on the other end of the mag. The picture on pg 12 especially made my day and I now want Sky Lasers Green 125mW, just for popping the balloons of children and making myself giggle in sadistic glee. The stuff on fan-films was also interesting; might have to find a few now.

Oh, and a final thing on the mag. The captions are shit. I don't know what happened, but they sounded pathetic. My humour would be better suited to those images, and my humour is like stepping bare-footed in dog shit; it looks, smells, sounds, feels and tastes bad. It offends all five senses.

Overall, for the tl;dr people: The content is good, but the layout is up shit creek and the captions certainly aren't useful paddles.

[jawsy]

Why the hell would the magazine need a second contents page for the features section? There are only three of 'em fellas; I'll find my way around it easy enough (or, you know, if I'm stuck I could just use the first contents page).

[AranchineD]

I can safely say I've never used the contents page for a Hyper magazine

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

You can not read AranchineD.

[BB2K]

I don't like how all of the old opinion columns have been replaced.

[Jay]

But surely we want new opinions, not old ones?

[jawsy]

I can safely say I've never used the contents page for a Hyper magazine

Hence my boggled-mind at the inclusion of yet another one (that serves no additional purpose because it hasn't been wrapped around an opinion piece or some such).

[BB2K]

The whole issue seems to be trying to hold the reader's hand throughout. I counted at least 4 different contents pages.

[grimace06]

The whole issue seems to be trying to hold the reader's hand throughout. I counted at least 4 different contents pages.

Just on this - there seem to be far too many words on the cover. It's very busy.

[Australian Ninja]

Got mine today.

Content is great. Thumbs up there.

For a scary couple of years, Hyper became a boys club under the watch of one particular editor ;) Very cringeworthy(*doesmannerism* now makes an appearance on IGNAU - oh god!)
Mr. Wilks saved the magazine when he took over in 06. Good to see Mr. Fordham has kept it in a professional state with this months issue.

The only critique is the layout. It seems a little cluttered and out of order. It's not bad, but i think it still needs some tweaking. Watch that cover! Way too much text!

While I agree withy your comment, Cam Shea was alright in my book. The best editor? No chance mate! But he was far from the derisive comments some people feel fit to print.

Only met him once in person (along with Wilks) but he was the real deal, in terms of a genuine gamer, who had the passion and the enthusiasm for the medium.

[Spudzilla]

Let me know if there is enough AWESOME at the start of the magazine so I can try to remind myself to flick through it while I grab the latest issue of Prog.

[lex3191]

Additionally, the magazine now lacks a logical linear structure. The old structure was not only familiar, but it also made sense; Editorial, news and previews introduce the reader with some light and pleasant reading. The features and reviews form the nice meaty filling. Finally, the reader is sent away with a few opinion pieces and the mail.

I wholeheartedly agree. There was nothing wrong with the old format. In fact it was very good. why change something for no good reason.

[Australian Ninja]

Let me know if there is enough AWESOME at the start of the magazine so I can try to remind myself to flick through it while I grab the latest issue of Prog.

To be frank Frank Steve, there's a bit of awesome, but I feel there could be more, the only way is up!

Everyone has their own writing style, so I can't be to blame! You know what I mean Anthony.

[Australian Ninja]

I wholeheartedly agree. There was nothing wrong with the old format. In fact it was very good. why change something for no good reason.

You've got to shake things up. Complacency breeds contempt. You do it wrong, or right then get some feedback and move forward.

[Spudzilla]

Australian Ninja is dude's defensive mother.

[Australian Ninja]

No worries, but next time you can finish with spudzulla.

I love how liking hyper magazine automatically means you are full on for whoever is running the show.

If I like a film, does that mean mean I'm getting it on with the director - despite living in a different country and having a bedtime that procludes me from travelling alf way around the world just to have oral copulations with them? Hell if I know, you lot seem to be the experts.

I liked Wilks and Wells, does that mean I am gay for then?

The curious thing is why you lot even pretend to give a shit about the mag. I mean, do you guys have ANYTHING worthwhile to say, or do you just rubbish anything and everything that enters your sphere of existence. Go on and insult me all you like, I don't give a shit. Ohhhh no, somebody is quoting me, which proves some sort of thing about something. Brilliant.
****ing nancy boys.

I'd stab you in the eye if you were stupid enough to talk to me in person the way you do in these forums.
LOL. Well, I'm laughing

[Spudzilla]

Well, you won't see THAT make it to print.

[Mr.Mew]

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/Leo_and_Pals/ghiblibanner2.jpg

[Cerebral]

Australian Ninja is dude's defensive mother.
No worries, but next time you can finish with spudzulla.

I love how liking hyper magazine automatically means you are full on for whoever is running the show.

If I like a film, does that mean mean I'm getting it on with the director - despite living in a different country and having a bedtime that procludes me from travelling alf way around the world just to have oral copulations with them? Hell if I know, you lot seem to be the experts.

I liked Wilks and Wells, does that mean I am gay for then?

The curious thing is why you lot even pretend to give a shit about the mag. I mean, do you guys have ANYTHING worthwhile to say, or do you just rubbish anything and everything that enters your sphere of existence. Go on and insult me all you like, I don't give a shit. Ohhhh no, somebody is quoting me, which proves some sort of thing about something. Brilliant.
****ing nancy boys.

I'd stab you in the eye if you were stupid enough to talk to me in person the way you do in these forums.
LOL. Well, I'm laughing

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6705127/doom.gif

[lex3191]

No worries, but next time you can finish with spudzulla.

I love how liking hyper magazine automatically means you are full on for whoever is running the show.

If I like a film, does that mean mean I'm getting it on with the director - despite living in a different country and having a bedtime that procludes me from travelling alf way around the world just to have oral copulations with them? Hell if I know, you lot seem to be the experts.

I liked Wilks and Wells, does that mean I am gay for then?

The curious thing is why you lot even pretend to give a shit about the mag. I mean, do you guys have ANYTHING worthwhile to say, or do you just rubbish anything and everything that enters your sphere of existence. Go on and insult me all you like, I don't give a shit. Ohhhh no, somebody is quoting me, which proves some sort of thing about something. Brilliant.
****ing nancy boys.

I'd stab you in the eye if you were stupid enough to talk to me in person the way you do in these forums.
LOL. Well, I'm laughing

Last edited by dude; Today at 09:57 AM.

wtf:confused: dude's messing with out minds

[lex3191]

You've got to shake things up. Complacency breeds contempt. You do it wrong, or right then get some feedback and move forward.

Look I agree with your principles, but there is also no need to fix something that aint broke, for the sake of it. I mean 'dude' unfortunately has found himself in a situation where he has been painted the bad guy, due to what I see as Next's attempt to streamline its operation and save some cash in these hard economic times, especially for the printed media. I work at a book publishing company, the industry is quietly shittly bricks over the digital revolution of the book publishing industry with the rise of the ebook.

'dude' has come in as group editor and to 'oversee' the magazine while looking for a full-time publication editor. Now is not the time to be shaking things up, if anything now is the time for fall back on tried and true methods and pump out a quality mag, what I have read is still a great mag, the layout and order just isn't up to snuff imho. If 'dude' can hopefully understand peoples reaction to his sudden appearance and their reaction to him reformatting the mag as a little too much too soon, then slight rejigging and rearranging could take place down the track.

Turning up unannounced, basically saying the old format was wrong and producing a very convoluted first edition as a result is always going to put peoples nose out of joint. I love Hyper, I love PCPP and I also love Edge I read them religiously as well as novels and newspapers. The reason I love Hyper and PCPP more than say Edge is they are Australian mags for Australian gamers, theres a mast head for ya;). I say slow down, relax acknowledge that the old format worked, there is room for improvement sure, and I welcome it. Let's mag the mag as 'awesome' as it can be*.

*magazine was already awesome

[Lazlow]

the industry is quietly shittly bricks over the digital revolution of the printing industry.

working at a print company, we're not. Granted there's been a few closures, bit that was more due to the GFC than anything else. There is a decline but it's very shallow.

That said books and magazines are products people seek out, so I can see the net's instant delivery being a great threat. Promotional material and advertising is something you shove in people's faces, so a poster on a wall or a brochure on a rack has the advantage.

Noticed the Hyper front end is still being largely neglected. It was getting a steady update since it's launch, but it's been sitting idle for over a month now.

[lex3191]

FIXED sorry did really mean 'publishing' industry, books, in my case

[Stevorooni]

Yeah well I think that dude is a swell guy


Last edited by dude; Today at 11:06 AM.

[[m]averick]

Let me know if there is enough AWESOME at the start of the magazine so I can try to remind myself to flick through it while I grab the latest issue of Prog.


Because adults realise that they don't have to pay $8 for 4-2 week-old news with only 20 pages relevant to their interest, they can instead just read an up to date internet news site.


I really don't have any ambition to see what I typed be transferred to another medium.

Not like I would see it anyway, I don't read Hyper.



I'm guessing Spud wants everyone to know he doesnt buy the magazine?

[Spudzilla]

Just checking.

[Lazlow]

He does steal it from the library though.

[Spudzilla]

And I don't even have a library card!

[enrique]

And I don't even have a library card!

You monster!

[pecka_a]

Still no hyper for me. My mailman better stop reading my mail.

[FX-GTZ]

Great work on the Mortal Kombat feature Dan, i enjoyed reading about the Super Nes fighter. Its good to see you referenced Street Fighter alot also, that damn game consumed me for hours. But i definately played Mortal Kombat 1 and 2 for much longer ;)

[Ryan Hayward]

You guys should ask Elliot Fish or Dan Toose to come back to hold the fort. Relive the glory days....

[Natrak]

Dan Toose, now there was an editor. Such long, grand, editorly hair.

[Frostillicus]

I only have one issue of Hyper edited by Dan Toose back from 1998. I remember when i got it, my friends and I where reading it in class reading time(year 4 or 5 in school) and we where reading an article on pokemon snap. On the other side of the spread, was a pucture of a 3D modeled chick with huge boobs (little stars covering her bits). The teacher walked past and saw it. took it from us, had a look through the magazine and decided it was 'ok' for class reading time.
damn, 11 years goes by so quick

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

Well you would say that.













http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/698196189_fedcf8cbeb_o.jpg

[Spazzola]

Wait, didn't Elliot Fish appear on Cheese TV a few times?

Edit: Apparently it was Cam Shea.

[REQUIEM]

GAME didnt have it still. So once again I returned home empty handed.

[Ryan Hayward]

I didn't like this Chad Drake's coverage of E3 at all, it sounded more like a promotion for the games & new consoles, rather than a genuine coverage. The guy is just so positive and optimistic about every little thing that I really miss Wilk's and Darren's skeptism and weary reporting. His praise of PS Move & MS Kinect was simply excruciating to read through especially when he announced that one day they'll be the ultimate setup. ROTFL!! They are simply gimmicks like the playstation eye to try to appeal to your grandma, dude.

Also while I praise the will to change within the magazine, it feels like I'm reading PCPP and not Hyper. It needs its own identity and get rid of the horrible clinical whites and tech promotions disguised as reviews. If I want commercials, I'll watch TV....

[BB2K]

Seriously, dude has tro take the full life consequences of taking over a magazine and then changing almost everything about it.

[lex3191]

I didn't like this Chad Drake's coverage of E3 at all, it sounded more like a promotion for the games & new consoles, rather than a genuine coverage. The guy is just so positive and optimistic about every little thing that I really miss Wilk's and Darren's skeptism and weary reporting. His praise of PS Move & MS Kinect was simply excruciating to read through especially when he announced that one day they'll be the ultimate setup. ROTFL!! They are simply gimmicks like the playstation eye to try to appeal to your grandma, dude.

Also while I praise the will to change within the magazine, it feels like I'm reading PCPP and not Hyper. It needs its own identity and get rid of the horrible clinical whites and tech promotions disguised as reviews. If I want commercials, I'll watch TV....

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, what i didn't like about the E3 comments were the veiled jabs at console gamers. Firstly twice in Crysis 2, '[Crysis] loved by PC users ... envied by console owners' and 'The unfortunate thing is it seems to have been simplified...which will envy PC enthusiasts' which I'm not even sure makes any actual sense but sounds like a PC gamer writing bitterly about the PC exclusive franchise moving to consoles and throwing in a jab about the game being dumbed down for console owners.

It happened again in Portal 2 'let's hope the puzzles are not 'toned down' for console release'. seriously wtf is this... I am both a PC gamer and a console gamer, the whole dumbing down for console is the biggest bunch of BS, aside from RTS for obvious reasons, and it all stems from, in my opinion, the release of Deus Ex 2 with a radial menu and small environments, which according to Harvey Smith, was a result of them ****ing up the engine as much as it was a console memory issue. This is a multi-platform mag we don't need your PC superiority or should that be inferiority complex defacing our mag and passing judgment on our platform of choice.

Also the layout of the reviews is bad, it is hard to read, way too much text on one page broken up by screen shots on the other, I am not a fan of it.

[Ryan Hayward]

Loved Dylan's review of Super Mario Galaxy 2 and good to see Nick Gilbert pop up as he was my favourite writer from PCPP. Will he be joining the team, Anthony?

[TimmyJ]

I personally missed Staines' cynical view of E3 from last year.

[Hyperblau]

Honestly that Laser Pointer section may have been the single worst thing I've ever seen in Hyper mag. Rest of the issue seems OK so far, haven't read the E3 section yet, but I never seem to enjoy the Hyper E3 coverage since I've already consumed a couple of weeks worth.

[[m]averick]

The laser pointers article was genuine face palm. Could not bring myself to read it. Seriously, who actually needs a laser pointer to the point where they are comparing and contrasting the differences between individual pointers?

[REQUIEM]

averick;1225491']The laser pointers article was genuine face palm. Could not bring myself to read it. Seriously, who actually needs a laser pointer to the point where they are comparing and contrasting the differences between individual pointers?

I had a Lazer pointer that I bought from ebay STOLEN by customs about 6 months ago stating that it was a banned item. Lazer pointers really? It does smell of PCness whats next month the Ultimate Pocket Protector comparison?

Went to GAME yet again today to grab a copy of HYPER and its still not in. The little plastic Hyper Mag stand is empty on the counter like most of last month aswell. I could go to a newsagent but the points count on my GAME membership card so it all helps. Good deal you guys made with GAME Hyper as they rekon they dont recieve any stock. Well thats what Im told when I ask ifthey have it.

I want to read the mag but I am going to get it from GAME when or if they get stock. I have been to two different GAMEs also.

[]{ing Nothing]

whats next month the Ultimate Pocket Protector comparison?

Best. Idea. Ever.

[Jay]

Finally found a copy today. Will post impressions later, though initial flick borders on positive, fwiw.

[/backslash]

Still can't find Hyper. I swear this magazine has disappeared from all newsagents nearby to me over the past 4 months. Seems like I have to visit 5 places just to find a single copy. Meanwhile they find space for Games TM & EDGE...

[Lazlow]

I had a Lazer pointer that I bought from ebay STOLEN by customs about 6 months ago stating that it was a banned item.

After some debate, Australian government voted to issue a nationwide ban on importing of lasers that emit a beam stronger than 1 mW, which was effective on July 1, 2008. Those whose professions require the use of a laser can apply for an exemption

Individual states have their own regulations as well with some banning them, classing them as a weapon, or only allowing a certain strength (ie 1mW)

[Jay]

A few issues with the tone of the magazine, but certainly not as many as I had during the Shea era, where I found the magazine's boy's club culture and in-jokiness virtually impenetrable. Certainly these tonal issues feel more like a new editor/staff feeling his/their way rather than anything endemic. I actually really like the new layout for reviews, but think that some of the features are filler in the extreme, and feel like PCPP rejects, tbqh (Projectors in Gadgets, for eg). Also not sure about the way the magazine has been ordered/structured, but that could be more a knee-jerk reaction to change than a concern with any real substance.

Overall it feels far less like the harbinger of doom people in here had feared and much more like a slightly remixed issue of Hyper. And as a child of the 80s - and by extension a fan of the 12" Remix, no matter how unnecessary - I say 'w-w-w-word'.

[grimace06]

I found the magazine's boy's club culture and in-jokiness virtually impenetrable.

Sounds like this forum.

[AranchineD]

Sounds like this forum.

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/360/thesimpsonss04e06itchys.jpg

[Australian Ninja]

Look I agree with your principles, but there is also no need to fix something that aint broke, for the sake of it. I mean 'dude' unfortunately has found himself in a situation where he has been painted the bad guy, due to what I see as Next's attempt to streamline its operation and save some cash in these hard economic times, especially for the printed media. I work at a book publishing company, the industry is quietly shittly bricks over the digital revolution of the book publishing industry with the rise of the ebook.

'dude' has come in as group editor and to 'oversee' the magazine while looking for a full-time publication editor. Now is not the time to be shaking things up, if anything now is the time for fall back on tried and true methods and pump out a quality mag, what I have read is still a great mag, the layout and order just isn't up to snuff imho. If 'dude' can hopefully understand peoples reaction to his sudden appearance and their reaction to him reformatting the mag as a little too much too soon, then slight rejigging and rearranging could take place down the track.

Turning up unannounced, basically saying the old format was wrong and producing a very convoluted first edition as a result is always going to put peoples nose out of joint. I love Hyper, I love PCPP and I also love Edge I read them religiously as well as novels and newspapers. The reason I love Hyper and PCPP more than say Edge is they are Australian mags for Australian gamers, theres a mast head for ya;). I say slow down, relax acknowledge that the old format worked, there is room for improvement sure, and I welcome it. Let's mag the mag as 'awesome' as it can be*.

*magazine was already awesome

Looking through the mag from the last few months, I really liked the layout - good fonts and design etc etc. The latest issue is a bit confusing, and hopefully the wrinkles will get ironed out in the coming months.

I very much liked the evolution of Hyper we saw over the last 12 months under the guidance of Wilks, and it's a damn shame to see the mag shaken around so much in recent times, but I'm hoping it will continue to be a great mag.

I'm not a pessimist, so I tend to think things will work out for the better in the long run, no matter who is running the show - if they are listening to / communicating with their audience then I'm confident that Hyper will continue to be worthwhile reading and caring about.

[REQUIEM]

Only a few pages in and I must say I approve of the feedback section being moved to front. Great idea IMO. As I have mentioned in the What do you want to see in HYPER thread Please remove the "Magazine for Gamers" tag. Its like you have been merged with the ABC and are now the sister mag of Good Game and they are known for their tackyness where Hyper is known for its credability, well in my eyes at least. It just feels like you copied GG.Will comment more as I read.

[enrique]

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/360/thesimpsonss04e06itchys.jpg


"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to AranchineD again"

Had a brief flick through this month's issue this morning. Not as bad as I thought. It was still weird seeing the letters in the front of the mag as opposed to the back, felt like I was reading the mag upside down at first. So far so good.


As I have mentioned in the What do you want to see in HYPER thread Please remove the "Magazine for Gamers" tag. Its like you have been merged with the ABC and are now the sister mag of Good Game and they are known for their tackyness where Hyper is known for its credability, well in my eyes at least. It just feels like you copied GG.

Couldnt agree more. Hyper doesnt need this.

[Australian Ninja]

Wait, didn't Elliot Fish appear on Cheese TV a few times?

Edit: Apparently it was Cam Shea.

Yeah Eliot and Cam appeared on Cheese TV a bunch of times.

[Australian Ninja]

I agree with a lot of what you are saying, what i didn't like about the E3 comments were the veiled jabs at console gamers. Firstly twice in Crysis 2, '[Crysis] loved by PC users ... envied by console owners' and 'The unfortunate thing is it seems to have been simplified...which will envy PC enthusiasts' which I'm not even sure makes any actual sense but sounds like a PC gamer writing bitterly about the PC exclusive franchise moving to consoles and throwing in a jab about the game being dumbed down for console owners.

It happened again in Portal 2 'let's hope the puzzles are not 'toned down' for console release'. seriously wtf is this... I am both a PC gamer and a console gamer, the whole dumbing down for console is the biggest bunch of BS, aside from RTS for obvious reasons, and it all stems from, in my opinion, the release of Deus Ex 2 with a radial menu and small environments, which according to Harvey Smith, was a result of them ****ing up the engine as much as it was a console memory issue. This is a multi-platform mag we don't need your PC superiority or should that be inferiority complex defacing our mag and passing judgment on our platform of choice.

Also the layout of the reviews is bad, it is hard to read, way too much text on one page broken up by screen shots on the other, I am not a fan of it.


I agree with your comment on the mag layout, it's the one thing that I really didn't like about the issue. Can't say I got any "anti-console/ pro PC" attitude from reading it though.

[Australian Ninja]

Honestly that Laser Pointer section may have been the single worst thing I've ever seen in Hyper mag. Rest of the issue seems OK so far, haven't read the E3 section yet, but I never seem to enjoy the Hyper E3 coverage since I've already consumed a couple of weeks worth.

No more pointless than all the "tech" related filler that goes in the mag every year. I just ignore those promos for monitors/phones etc.

[]{ing Nothing]

No more pointless than all the "tech" related filler that goes in the mag every year. I just ignore those promos for monitors/phones etc.

So wait... are you saying you WON'T read a pocket protector round-up?

[RunningMild]

I just had a flash-forward that I'd like to share. In about five years, a new Bottom of the Barrel will be written for Naughty Bear, and it will contain this quote: "The highest score this game received was an 8/10 from this very magazine. What on Earth were they thinking?" :p

[Natrak]

Better than Dead Space, then.

[Stevorooni]

Just realised that the mag was missing "Caption This!"


dude, you're breaking my heart here

[REQUIEM]

I actually like the new look. Its lost its Kiddie feel and matured IMO. Just lose the "Magazine for Gamers" and it will be sweet. Im sure im picking up on a bit of Attitude in the mag and I like it. Havent read the whole thing as yet but I always stretch my Hyper reading through the month.

[jawsy]

Plenty of the stuff in this issue kinda sucks.

[lex3191]

I just had a flash-forward that I'd like to share. In about five years, a new Bottom of the Barrel will be written for Naughty Bear, and it will contain this quote: "The highest score this game received was an 8/10 from this very magazine. What on Earth were they thinking?" :p

Yeah and after reading that review I had no idea how the game actually played. It was like reviewing GTA and saying there is a city full of people and you have to murder them.

[REQUIEM]

Naughty Bear getting an 8 was a suprise. I really enjoyed playing it for the first 90 mins that was it. Been there done that after first few levels. It didnt stay in the collection long enough for the DLC.

[AranchineD]

Okay, I absolutely have to buy Hyper now for that Naughty Bear review, it has to be a troll.

[duffmanslim]

Can't say i'm that pleased with the issue.

I mean... Laser pointers??? Why TF am i going to need one of them for anything in my (and most likely a fair few others) life. No SRSLy now.
If this is the "Magazine for Gamers" what are we going to be doing with them?

Also missing the caption this. that's one of the best parts...

Hoping that the News segment makes a reappearance too.
Structure of the magazine is interesting but seems a little like it's been ripped apart and thrown back together again randomly.

I still have 5 issues left on my sub, so hopefully an improvement can be made before then...

[aubergine]

I looked at it briefly at a newsagent. I asked before and will again, less or no text on the cover. Hyper's never had the balls to put just one game / little or no text on the cover. This issue has RIDICULOUS amounts of text about STUPID SOUNDING ARTICLES so you can't argue it's necessary salesmanship. Laser pointers! Oh boy!

Maybe you can't afford the low-text wraparound delights that Gameinformer manage, but your magazine is hideous.

I don't read mags in newsagents but I did note that Darren Wells has a review but isn't listed among contributers.

[REQUIEM]

I looked at it briefly at a newsagent. I asked before and will again, less or no text on the cover. Hyper's never had the balls to put just one game / little or no text on the cover. This issue has RIDICULOUS amounts of text about STUPID SOUNDING ARTICLES so you can't argue it's necessary salesmanship. Laser pointers! Oh boy!

Maybe you can't afford the low-text wraparound delights that Gameinformer manage, but your magazine is hideous.

I don't read mags in newsagents but I did note that Darren Wells has a review but isn't listed among contributers.

So I gather you like it then.

[Lazlow]

I used to be pretty critical of the amount of text they had on the covers a few years back, and while this is certainly more than usual, its not the visual overload it was. There's a clear heirarchy and none of it diminishes the strength of the central image.

That said, you could easily lose the "PLUS!" block of text.

Hyper's never had the balls to put just one game / little or no text on the cover.

They did, once, I think the cover game was The Darkness. That issue was sold in a plastic bag though, so all the text was on the wrapper.

Also, found this Flickr gallery with every EDGE cover from 1 - 210 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_d/sets/72157616611119113/)

[aubergine]

Text on gaming covers is utterly pointless - if I'm at the newsagent and want to know what's in it, I'll look in it!

A good image and attractive cover trumps repeating-the-contents-page.

[Lazlow]

Text on gaming covers is utterly pointless

You greatly underestimate the power of cover lines. Hell, type in general.

[StorminNorman]

Hyper's never had the balls to put just one game / little or no text on the cover.

If you want Edge, you know where to find it.

[Lazlow]

Edge don't even follow that design style explicitly.

[aubergine]

Edge tend to have a bold image in wraparound with little or no text. It's also not sold anywhere near me, costs too much and is three months late.

[Lazlow]

Edge tend to have a bold image in wraparound with little or no text.

You should probably look through that Flickr gallery I linked to earlier. Edge covers vary from minimal type to having about as much as your average Hyper cover.

Whilst there are no hard an fast specific rules for magazine cover design, limiting it to a title and cover image really only sells one specific article included wiithin the entire publication. Pretty pictures are all well and good, but cover lines are a call to action, to get people's interest in other features contained within, so that they will pick it up amongst the multitude of other magazines on the rack.

The other factor with limiting your cover to a lone image, is that the image can be obscured depending on how the magazine is presented on the newsagent shelf. One or two visible cover lines can be more effective than a half covered image.

[lex3191]

Started reading the new Edge last night actually after finishing Hyper and tossing it to the side not even finishing the final piece on some obscure book from the 80's based around a fictional video game. While I have already weighed in on my thoughts of this months issue, after finishing the mag I must say one word comes to mind after reading it, and that word is 'filler'.

As I started to read Edge the magnitude of the shoddyness of this months issue really stood out. Beside the layout, which for me is a disaster, The rest of the issue was marred by poor writing and filler content. Now i will cut the guys some slack because it may have been a slapped together job given the sudden departure of Darren I just cant understand how it went so wrong so quickly.

It did however make me appreciate the good writing in the mag from contributors like Dylan Burns, Darren Wells and Dan Staines. The quality of the Super Mario Galaxy 2 review was such a contrast to the Naughty Bear review. It gave me a new found respect for the skill of writing a review, how you can get it right and how you can get it wrong.

Overall the mag to me this month felt amateurish and devoid of meaty content. Where was the news? Granted the E3 coverage covered the previews but i want previews too! Only one real feature, by Staines, which was a good read. I feel sorry for James O'Conner getting lumped with all the DVD reviews, he did a good job considering, but I miss the old DVD and Anime reviews, BOTB and the lighter more humorous pieces that round out the mag, and finally, no Editorial pieces to finish off the mag with serious games discussion. I hope next months issue addresses some of these issues, I am sure it will. It is only uphill from here. right? right??

[Gameboffin]

It did however make me appreciate the good writing in the mag from contributors like Dylan Burns, Darren Wells and Dan Staines. The quality of the Super Mario Galaxy 2 review was such a contrast to the Naughty Bear review. It gave me a new found respect for the skill of writing a review, how you can get it right and how you can get it wrong.

Aww shucks! (Disclaimer: I have not paid this man)

[REQUIEM]

Overall the mag to me this month felt amateurish and devoid of meaty content.

I completely disagree with that comment. I do however feel that the 'news' section should return but you can keep the BOTB out the mag as I have always stated that If the game was shit then it doesnt deserve any more page space now as I would rather be reading about something worthy like classic Arcade machines or classic games systems like the Spectrum 48k, the Atari ST & Amiga . These kids today dont know what classic gaming was and when there was no such thing as good graphics and it was all playability.

[lex3191]

I completely disagree with that comment.

Really? what parts of the magazine were the highlights for you? A retrospective for old games machines would be cool. I always thought my first computer, an ACORN BBC Micro, never got the attention it deserved:)

[REQUIEM]

Really? what parts of the magazine were the highlights for you? A retrospective for old games machines would be cool. I always thought my first computer, an ACORN BBC Micro, never got the attention it deserved:)

ACORN BBC Another classic old timer in here :) My primary school had them also so i could take my games to school to play at lunch etc.

Elite on the BBC was the greatest game and my first addiction to gaming. The original gaming franchise. I didnt get that feeling playing a game again until Privateer.

http://www.djgallagher.com/games/pc/privateer/

[lex3191]

Yeah Agreed Elite was awesome. Did you ever play Citadel or Strykers run? I loved those games on the BBC. I never played Privateer which is a shame, I've only heard good things.

[sausage]

Man, a retro story on the Sinclair ZX-81 would be ace.

http://ziontech.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/zx81.jpg

[Stevorooni]

If we're going retro then I want a feature on the awesomeness of the Sega Master System

Hell, I'll write the feature myself if you want. I'll dig out the old beast for some fun.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

I'll write an accompanying article criticizing stevo's article and pointing out how it's all very wrong.

[REQUIEM]

Man, a retro story on the Sinclair ZX-81 would be ace.

http://ziontech.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/zx81.jpg

I only had the Sinclair ZX48k with the rubber keys. 81k was far too much processing power.

[lex3191]

I had in my possession a Sega Mark 2 for a while as a kid. It was a precursor system to the master system that a japanese friend I had at school gave to me. It was pretty cool, the games came on a business card sized 'cartridge'. unfortuanetly it was all in japanese. It did have Alex Kidd in Miracle World though. If only I still had it. My mum threw it away along with all my other cool stuff at her first opportunity.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p319/lex3191/sega-sg1000.jpg

bottom one

[REQUIEM]

Yeah Agreed Elite was awesome. Did you ever play Citadel or Strykers run? I loved those games on the BBC. I never played Privateer which is a shame, I've only heard good things.

Strykers run... dam the memories come flooding back. I remember on my Commodore Vic 20 spending all weekend typing game programs out of gaming mags only to find the bastard didnt work. It was criminal.

[Stevorooni]

Strykers run... dam the memories come flooding back. I remember on my Commodore Vic 20 spending all weekend typing game programs out of gaming mags only to find the bastard didnt work. It was criminal.

ahhh I used to do that on the Commodore 64

I tried to do this one animation thing which had a tank driving along the ground and a UFO flying through the sky, and after typing in 4 million lines of BASIC I must have made a mistake somewhere because the UFO was just a garbled mess of pixels.

Also used to like this trick

10 PRINT "HELLO"
20 GOTO 10
RUN

[Jay]

I wrote a Maths Olympics game in 1984, inspired by Track and Field, the LA Olympics and my new found love of basic programming (like all my relationships it wouldn't last). That's right friends, MATHS OLYMPICS! It had 5 events, gave out medals, used all 16 colours from the C64's colour palette, gave you a choice of 8 nations to compete as - what more could you possibly want from a game of Maths Olympics? Only problem was that the c64's random number generator always generated the same sequence of numbers from booting up (I should have programmed it to run off the clock (get the user to put in the time at the start of the game and use that to scramble the number sequence), but shit I was about 10), so the questions and answers were always the same.

Looking back at it I really had no chance to not be a nerd.

The problem with those games you typed in from magazines was that they were such long strings of data and one small mistake ****ed everything up. It was almost impossible NOT to make a mistake, and that's not even taking into account possible mistakes in the code to begin with.

[REQUIEM]

I wrote a Maths Olympics game in 1984, inspired by Track and Field, the LA Olympics and my new found love of basic programming (like all my relationships it wouldn't last). That's right friends, MATHS OLYMPICS! It had 5 events, gave out medals, used all 16 colours from the C64's colour palette, gave you a choice of 8 nations to compete as - what more could you possibly want from a game of Maths Olympics? Only problem was that the c64's random number generator always generated the same sequence of numbers from booting up (I should have programmed it to run off the clock, but shit I was about 10), so the questions and answers were always the same.

Looking back at it I really had no chance to not be a nerd.

The problem with those games you typed in from magazines was that they were such long strings of data and one small mistake ****ed everything up. It was almost impossible NOT to make a mistake, and that's not even taking into account possible mistakes in the code to begin with.

The pain I felt after all that work for nothing. Did anyone play Shadowfax I loved that game due to the horse running animations.

http://www.lysator.liu.se/tolkien-games/entry/shadowfax.html

[RunningMild]

Yeah and after reading that review I had no idea how the game actually played.

How so? I thought it provided a very good description of how the game played.

[lex3191]

How so? I thought it provided a very good description of how the game played.

I felt the review just didn't explain the mechanics of the gameplay at all. What i mean is; Is the game an open world third person shooter? Does it have a hub where missions are given out or is a linear level by level challenge style game? Does attacking the bears require a lock-on to delve out damage, and how does that work in the game? How are the missions/levels constructed? Does the camera function as it should? What are the faults of the game? etc. I mean this is a game that has a game rankings score of 45% and a metacritic score of 44%. Standards slipping much? Reading the Super Mario Galaxy 2 review (should have been lead review) just re-enforced for me that the Naughty bear review wasn't a well written review, or a well reviewed game. Just my opinion though.

[Jay]

Yes, why wasn't SMG2 the lead review? Not that it matters overly, but I did raise an eyebrow.

[dinopoke]

Who reviewed Naughty Bear?

[lex3191]

Patrick Lum, dont know much about him other than i believe he used to be, or still is, a PCPP intern.

[Jay]

Looks like Naughty Bear is the new Dead Space, just in reverse.

[Natrak]

Naughty Bear is better than Dead Space, obv.

[Australian Ninja]

{ing Nothing;1226047']So wait... are you saying you WON'T read a pocket protector round-up?

No, my pockets will have to remain unprotected.

[Australian Ninja]

Edge tend to have a bold image in wraparound with little or no text. It's also not sold anywhere near me, costs too much and is three months late.

I like to think of it as nine months early.

Text on gaming covers is utterly pointless - if I'm at the newsagent and want to know what's in it, I'll look in it!

A good image and attractive cover trumps repeating-the-contents-page.

Hell, why not just take the hyper logo off all together, no wait, let's just have an entire newsagent full of magazines with blank covers, it's a lucky dip!

I wrote a Maths Olympics game in 1984, inspired by Track and Field, the LA Olympics and my new found love of basic programming (like all my relationships it wouldn't last). That's right friends, MATHS OLYMPICS! It had 5 events, gave out medals, used all 16 colours from the C64's colour palette, gave you a choice of 8 nations to compete as - what more could you possibly want from a game of Maths Olympics? Only problem was that the c64's random number generator always generated the same sequence of numbers from booting up (I should have programmed it to run off the clock (get the user to put in the time at the start of the game and use that to scramble the number sequence), but shit I was about 10), so the questions and answers were always the same.

Looking back at it I really had no chance to not be a nerd.

The problem with those games you typed in from magazines was that they were such long strings of data and one small mistake ****ed everything up. It was almost impossible NOT to make a mistake, and that's not even taking into account possible mistakes in the code to begin with.

And far too many listings had typos.

[the_sal]

The car-crash that is this current issue actually brought me out of years of lurkerdom, just to post my opinion! Congratulations!

See, I'm a regular reader of Wired, dude, and I can see what you're doing here - you're trying really, really hard to be Wired. The break-apart iPad diagram was a dead giveaway. The fact that the first section of your mag has turned into a confused mish-mash of mini-articles, news, opinions and graphics makes it pretty obvious as well. Add to that the fact that all your features have suddenly dropped to the back, exactly like Wired, and it's completely crystal clear.

The problem is you can't just pick up Hyper and try to jam it into the Wired mold. For instance, their bitsy newsy graphics section up-front works because it goes for 100 pages and is divided into roughly 3 themed sections, and establishes a rhythm of longer and shorter articles within those pages. Your upfront section goes for just 20 or so pages, and so it feels like everything you didn't know where to put just got jammed in up the front.

Also laser pointers, seriously?! And the iPad diagram is pointless - it tells us nothing about the damn thing that we couldn't have known from reading five lines of specs. And that's just upfront...

Look, I'm not saying "Never change Hyper!". Change can be excellent. But put a little more thought into what you're doing, and consider easing people into changes like this, rather than turning their magazine upside down out of nowhere.

Although even if the mag had stayed exactly the same, I'd still be utterly baffled by your decision to run the Naughty Bear review over four pages at the start of the section, and then score it 8. That, and up-front you have a two-page article that starts on a single left-hand page - which I thought was a lone single page with a headline I couldn't read because it goes into your gutter. No-one starts a multi-page article on a single left page, unless they hate their readers and want to confuse them. Also the wisdom of putting a page on internet trends in a monthly print magazine is really debatable...

...ah well.

[/backslash]

Although even if the mag had stayed exactly the same, I'd still be utterly baffled by your decision to run the Naughty Bear review over four pages at the start of the section, and then score it 8.
Naughty Bear got an 8?! That's not very good advice...

[BB2K]

Wait a minute, there's no Weird magazine!

[fiddlesticks]

so basically we've established that given dude's changes to hyper, he's going to be in the same line of work as aubergine by the end of the year?

[Spazzola]

Unemployed or unsuccessful prostitution?

[REQUIEM]

I find it SO funny that all these new members crawl out to dog the issue. Hmm I smell a rat.

[Jay]

Oh fiddlesticks is no newcomer...

[aubergine]

He's an oldcomer.

[the_sal]

I find it SO funny that all these new members crawl out to dog the issue. Hmm I smell a rat.

Actually I've been around for two years longer than you. Young whippersnappers...

But anyway, I did a quick scan of the postcounts in this thread, trying to find other new members to be a horrible bore with, and I see no new accounts saying bad things other than me...?

[Natrak]

Just ignore REQUIEM. He's the village idiot/videogame pirate.

[REQUIEM]

Just ignore REQUIEM. He's the village idiot/videogame pirate.

Mate you are a little school boy with no life experience and absolutley no idea so just STFU. Your constant petty attacks on me are about as good as giving Naughty bear an 8 out of 10, we all know the game is shit and giving it an 8 wont make us buy it just like we all know you Natrak are an immature idiot you dont have to keep proving it in schoolboyish insults.

[REQUIEM]

Actually I've been around for two years longer than you. Young whippersnappers...

But anyway, I did a quick scan of the postcounts in this thread, trying to find other new members to be a horrible bore with, and I see no new accounts saying bad things other than me...?

All post counts and dates are fooked mate. Dont use these for example. If you do add another 2000 posts to me and push back the joining date.

[BB2K]

Mate you are a little school boy with no life experience and absolutley no idea so just STFU. Your constant petty attacks on me are about as good as giving Naughty bear an 8 out of 10, we all know the game is shit and giving it an 8 wont make us buy it just like we all know you Natrak are an immature idiot you dont have to keep proving it in schoolboyish insults.

Outstanding.

[Natrak]

Haha, holy shit.

[fiddlesticks]

REQUIEM is right, you can't trust the current join dates. He was the village idiot long before September 2009

[Second]

Mate you are a little school boy with no life experience and absolutley no idea so just STFU. Your constant petty attacks on me are about as good as giving Naughty bear an 8 out of 10, we all know the game is shit and giving it an 8 wont make us buy it just like we all know you Natrak are an immature idiot you dont have to keep proving it in schoolboyish insults.

10/10

Keep up the good work.

[aubergine]

So I've never heard of naughty bear, was the review written by someone no one's ever heard of? Like the Goldeneye Rogue Agent debacle?

[sausage]

HYPER; bringing new game info to the strayan pubic

[Xanafalgue]

So I've never heard of naughty bear,

Its shit, 0/10

[punkgorilla]

So I've never heard of naughty bear, was the review written by someone no one's ever heard of? Like the Goldeneye Rogue Agent debacle?

http://www.hyper.com.au/forums/showpost.php?p=1226370&postcount=211

[fiddlesticks]

this is one of those times where it would actually be useful to have regular website content. at least if you have a newcomer to the team post an article online that is subject to a large volume of criticism, you can remove it.

or dude could always do his original job of editing the magazine.

so option A is probably looking like your best option.

[Beinkasaurus Rex]

Mate you are a little school boy with no life experience and absolutley no idea so just STFU. Your constant petty attacks on me are about as good as giving Naughty bear an 8 out of 10, we all know the game is shit and giving it an 8 wont make us buy it just like we all know you Natrak are an immature idiot you dont have to keep proving it in schoolboyish insults.


Pretty sure Natrak's beard alone is manlier than your stay-at-home Dad lifestyle.

[/backslash]

Had a flick through Hyper today (yes, I found an issue somewhere!), wasn't really bought on the presentation, everything seemed very jumbled & messy. I put it back on the shelf & left

/insightful news

The previous issue looked better than this imo

[Australian Ninja]

Actually I've been around for two years longer than you. Young whippersnappers...

But anyway, I did a quick scan of the postcounts in this thread, trying to find other new members to be a horrible bore with, and I see no new accounts saying bad things other than me...?

Yeah, when the forum got shaken up a while back all the post counts reverted to a big fat 'zero'. I blame the Y2K and the communists.

[enrique]

So I've never heard of naughty bear

Naughty bear has heard of you (dont ask me how?).

[Ryan Hayward]

Average Critics Score of Naughty Bear is only 4.2
The average gamespot readers score is 6.2 but you have to allow for the idiots who give a game a 10 because they don't want to accept they have just spent 100 bucks on a polished turd.

So Hyper, how much were you paid for the glowing review? ;-)
Fancy wasting two pages on such a shit game and then giving it an 8, something's not right there....

[REQUIEM]

Its seems said NB reviewer also is an artist of sorts. page 71.

[JC Henderson]

Haven't read it yet but my initial impressions is that the layout feels far to busy. Also content goes way to close the the edge of each page.

[Australian Ninja]

In Soviet Russia, Bear shoots you!

[Ryan Hayward]

Alec Ritchie's indie-fan movie-making feature was top-notch. Get this guy to do an indie feature every issue previewing/reviewing/interviewing the indie darlings of computer/videogames and I bet it'll kick arse. He's a bloody good writer so don't waste his talents or else.

[Australian Ninja]

Alec Ritchie's indie-fan movie-making feature was top-notch. Get this guy to do an indie feature every issue previewing/reviewing/interviewing the indie darlings of computer/videogames and I bet it'll kick arse. He's a bloody good writer so don't waste his talents or else.

Don't do it. Get him hooked on drugs and waste his talent.

Yeah, I really dug that feature. Will have to look up those films some time.

[REQUIEM]

Alec Ritchie's indie-fan movie-making feature was top-notch. Get this guy to do an indie feature every issue previewing/reviewing/interviewing the indie darlings of computer/videogames and I bet it'll kick arse. He's a bloody good writer so don't waste his talents or else.

Totally agree Great feature IMO.

[Australian Ninja]

Three bears for Alec Ritchie..... I mean three bears, no cheers, that's the one.

[Ryan Hayward]

Australian Ninja is still trying to be the thread closer of every feedback thread, LOL!

[ireadtabloids]

I say good luck to him.