dude

[dude]

Hi all,

A quick post to let you know who I am and what I'll be doing with Hyper from now on.

My name is Anthony Fordham, I'm the Group Editor for nextmedia's gaming titles. That means I'm a sort of middle manager for PC PowerPlay and Hyper, working between the mag editors and the company CEO.

Following Darren Wells' sudden departure, I'll be effectively acting as Hyper's editor until we hire a new person to be the voice and face of the magazine.

As many already know, I've been part of the PC PowerPlay team since late 2000, when I joined as Deputy Editor. As PCPP and Hyper are stablemates, that means I've worked with all the Hyper editors since Eliot Fish, to some extent, and I've certainly read every issue before it even went out to subscribers. I've even written for some of them.

I've been offered the Group Editor position because I am primarily a magazine guy, rather than being tied to any particular gaming platform. I rely on my staff and contributors to bring you the best in gaming coverage, and my influence on the magazines is strictly top level - what goes where, how much focus should be on this or that.

I respond well to reader feedback. Unlike some editors, I am not afraid to experiment with new directions and ideas, but I always listen carefully to how readers respond to them.

My aim is to build the ultimate magazine for you - so I do need lots of feedback, criticism, etc.

With around 10 years experience in games mags, I've seen and heard a lot, and been the subject of many unkind words - as well as plenty of praise - on all sorts of forums. So folks who want to sling mud and post links to my unfortunate run-in with Mediawatch several years ago, please do go ahead and enjoy yourselves doing that. :)

Meanwhile, I'll be in the office working to cement and uphold Hyper's position as Australia's oldest and best gaming magazine. How to I balance this with old loyalties to PCPP? Put it this way: PCPP currently outsells Hyper, 3:2. I won't be satisfied until I reverse that ratio.

Thanks!

AF

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

dude.

[Spudzilla]

http://www.nisamerica.com/images/email/prinnybig.jpg

[Lazlow]

http://i44.tinypic.com/vy6p0l.png

[Slippery]

When I saw the thread title I decided to write "in before lock"

I stand by that.

[Lazlow]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v346/SpeedFighter/Stuff/10.jpg

[SOX]

http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww353/soxinthebox/l.gif

[Spudzilla]

Take my pen knife, my good man.

[Stevorooni]

Put it this way: PCPP currently outsells Hyper, 3:2. I won't be satisfied until I reverse that ratio.

Good luck, hope it works out

I suppose if improving Hyper doesn't achieve that goal you could always go the other way and sabotage PCPP

I'm an ideas man.

[Spudzilla]

Good luck, hope it works out

I suppose if improving Hyper doesn't achieve that goal you could always go the other way and sabotage PCPP

I'm an ideas man.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v346/SpeedFighter/Duffless/12.jpg

[TAT]

So folks who want to sling mud and post links to my unfortunate run-in with Mediawatch several years ago, please do go ahead and enjoy yourselves doing that. :)
If this gets its own feature in the latest issue, I'm (back) in!

[Xanafalgue]

Don't mess with that duuuuuuuuuuuuude

If this gets its own feature in the latest issue, I'm (back) in!

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1406194.htm

Its more funny than anything else and it isn't as if that was the first time The Australian ever pulled something from their arse.

[TrinityJayOne]

Well, seems like a fairly un-dick-like entrance to me. Not really much else to say as I don't buy magazines. *shrug*

[Spudzilla]

I'm convinced I could get a job at Mediawatch doing their awesome voice overs reading news headlines and newspaper articles.

Man I love that show.

[dinopoke]

PCPP currently outsells Hyper, 3:2.


An interesting statistic.

[Second]

Where's your car, dude?

[Spudzilla]

dzxss6oepd4

[Watchers]

I should lock this blatant spam thread just to make Slippery happy.

[Slippery]

You could never make me happy.

[Second]

Could I, Slips? Could I?

[AranchineD]

No.


And by no, I mean yes.

[sausage]

PCPP currently outsells Hyper, 3:2.


Three is right after two!


http://img.youtube.com/vi/NTR2wZAqX48/0.jpg

[Spudzilla]

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4236/thesimpsonss05e15deepsp.jpg

[REQUIEM]

Well met. Lets see what happens.

[^gR]

Wait..what happened with Mediawatch?

[AranchineD]

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4236/thesimpsonss05e15deepsp.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4236/thesimpsonss05e15deepsp.jpg

[Lazlow]

Wait..what happened with Mediawatch?

Larz posted it earlier but see here (http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1406194.htm) and here (http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2530234.htm)

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

Essentially, dude here called a guy outside court a "****ing terrorist", and he was demoted to Hyper editor.

[dude]

Essentially, dude here called a guy outside court a "****ing terrorist", and he was demoted to Hyper editor.

That was the first one. The second one was I wrote a little sidebar story for the Australian's now defunct "IT Alive" section (called It's Alive! by the guys at SMH).

The story was how this Korean company would take your Apple G4 Cube and mod it into a Pentium M by shoving a micro-ATX motherboard inside...

...cool, except the company didn't exist, it was all a hoax started by some woman who ran a website that posted entirely legit-sounding-and-no-punchline-having stories to see how many tech sites she could pick up.

(Internet gotchas were pretty common five years ago, but usually they ended with "Can I get a source for this? A bunch of drunken frat boys? A name? I P Freely? Grrrrr!" As in, the hoax was really obvious. This one wasn't.)

Well, she got me, but there are two things about the whole incident that really, I just had to laugh about.

1. My original story only briefly mentioned the company, then went on to say "why pay for a G4/Pentium M mod when you can do it yourself - see these mods". But that was considered "too hardcore" for IT Alive and the deputy ed had me write it up as the straight "pay to convert" piece.

2. I submitted the story, and then the paper sat on it for a week! I had a full 7 days to realise the error and fix it! But alas, it was only a 250 word sidebar story and I had features to work on...

Learned my lesson though. They say we pay for our mistakes. Cost to me? About $30K a year :(. Those were the salad days, that's for sure.

The incident sparked a spirited discussion in the freelancer community here in Oz about to what extent papers and mags should take responsibility for publishing stuff like this. Yes, it was my error a priori but the story was commissioned, subbed, presumably NOT fact checked even though it should have been, and signed off by the editor.

If the same thing happened in PCPP tomorrow, I would not be telling Mediawatch "the contributor has not provided an adequate explanation". And I would not cut one of my most reliable writers from the team. That said, small publishers like nextmedia view Mediawatch coverage as free TV publicity :).

Which brings me to PCPP's appearance more recently, which was just a real WTF moment for us. Magazine takes ages to publish winners of competition in middle of GFC? Wow. They really got us.

I was actually interviewed by Mediwatch for that piece, but they didn't use any of my statement, because I was like "well we've published them now and sent the winner his incomplete prize and are communicating with him to get the rest of his prize".

[EDIT] Reference removed in the spirit of fair play.

[dude]

Also, for your SMS alert requirements:

http://www.danielhindes.net/files/fluffing.mp3

[Lazlow]

The incident sparked a spirited discussion in the freelancer community here in Oz about to what extent papers and mags should take responsibility for publishing stuff like this. Yes, it was my error a priori but the story was commissioned, subbed, presumably NOT fact checked even though it should have been, and signed off by the editor.

As a designer, I can relate. Nothing pisses me off more when a job is proofed, reproofed, and proofed again, signed off and then they refuse to pay because there's a typo in the text they supplied us.

[Slippery]

Malcolm Campbell has quit as art director of Hyper.

Via Darren Wells on twitter.

Could I, Slips? Could I?

No no, leave the beret on Second.

[SOX]

Only the beret?

[Slippery]

Socks if he feels the need.
See what I did there?

[dude]

Malcolm Campbell has quit as art director of Hyper.

Via Darren Wells on twitter.



Darren Wells is wrong. Malcolm is a senior art director at nextmedia working across Hyper and the kids portfolio including Mania and DMag.

Richard Hull is Hyper's dedicated art director, but Malcolm continues to advise in his new senior role.

[REQUIEM]

Malcolm Campbell has quit as art director of Hyper.

Via Darren Wells on twitter.





Stop believing in Hearsay. Thats why courts dont use it. I heard Blake is running for next Liberal leader pass it on or is it puff puff pass it on?

[Second]

Only wankers use twitter anyway.

[Slippery]

Stop believing in Hearsay. Thats why courts dont use it. I heard Blake is running for next Liberal leader pass it on or is it puff puff pass it on?

So if you read that you would assume it's a lie?

[dude]

To be clear: Malcolm has been promoted within nextmedia. Similar to myself he's now responsible for the direction of a number of magazines instead of just one.

[Second]

With all due respect here dude, you don't seem like much of a dude. You should change your name until you earn the title.

[dude]

With all due respect here dude, you don't seem like much of a dude. You should change your name until you earn the title.

Been dude since December 2000...

[Slippery]

On my screen it says since June 2010.

[Second]

Been dude since December 2000...

Maybe you've outgrown it? Still not a dude.

[Dunkurtin]

Maybe you've outgrown it? Still not a dude.http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/blog/2010/04/14/the_big_lebowski___jeff_bridges1.jpg

[REQUIEM]

Any name linked to camel bits is his HIS BUSINESS and HIS ALONE.

[Second]

Let's leave "his business" out of this, mate.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

Also, for your SMS alert requirements:

http://www.danielhindes.net/files/fluffing.mp3

We use **** here m8.

LETS SEE MEDIA WATCH VO THAT!

[Watchers]

Let's leave "his business" out of this, mate.

This ****ing guy...

[Mr.Mew]

Malcolm Campbell has quit as art director of Hyper.

Via Darren Wells on twitter.

The Infinity Ward of the magazine/journalism industry.

[StorminNorman]

...cool, except the company didn't exist, it was all a hoax started by some woman who ran a website that posted entirely legit-sounding-and-no-punchline-having stories to see how many tech sites she could pick up.

I used to hang out with Dana on IRC. It was hilarious sitting around and watching her stories get picked up by various places around the internet and whatnot. You weren't the first.

As for the punchlines, we mostly made them up in the IRC channel. Good times.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

So basically Norman here destroyed your career...

Hey small world!

[Stevorooni]

This has all been a long drawn out sting operation to bring him out into the open

[JubeiSaotome]

This new editor fills me with excitement and boyish glee.

[dude]

So basically Norman here destroyed your career...

Hardly. I lost a pretty sweet client, but I've outlasted the section of the newspaper - It's Alive became Exec Tech and then got axed altogether.

But look, I deserved it. Saw a story online, wrote it up without bothering to contact the "company" behind it. You will note I abstained from ripping Dana's faked-up quotes from the faked-up company fake-CEO.

In a perfect world (and on my magazines) the editor would have picked up the error, given me a slap on the wrist, and then we would all have gone on with business as usual.

Lesson learned. Lesson learned.

What pisses me off those is that ALL the tech sites reported it, then went back and added "this seems dubious but..." or "we're not sure this is real but" or, the most honest ones, said "haha, she got us!" And everyone in blog-land just went LOL and nobody lost money on the deal.

It was a perfect storm for me - Mediawatch presenter Liz Jackson hated the Australian, and the Australian was trying to cut back its freelancer budget at the time. Double whammy.

[jawsy]

Is this whole Hyper thing headed the way of Good Game?

[Second]

http://livingelpaso.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/haters.jpg

[Vindik8or]

I really appreciate this postmodern re-enactment of the Good Game/Junglist bust up you're providing for us, dude! Has it really already been not quite a year? I'm almost convinced that this thinly veiled bitching in the public arena is legitimate.

One question though, you want to make the ultimate magazine for us? Am I correct in thinking that since you're group editor there are several (at least two) magazines under your supervision? Which of these do you plan to take the mantle of "ultimate magazine" and which will be the penultimate magazine, and so on and so forth, through all of the magazines you oversee (in order if you don't mind)?

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

That's just vin. You can ignore him WE ALL DO!!

[Mr.Mew]

Lesson learned. Lesson learned.

Wish I could be that relaxed about mistakes I've made. Simply missing the toilet seat turns me into the Hulk.

IN OTHER NEWS Hungry Beast did something like that recently, or last year, and everyone everywhere ever latched onto it and was tittally fooled. I rolled.

[lex3191]

meh I will buy next issue. Imho there is nothing wrong with the mag as it stands, so it would be pretty hard to screw it up. It's the old, if it aint broke don't fix it cliche. It's fine the way it is, no need to reinvent the mag. keep the same irreverent humour with all the bits in-between and i'll be happy.

[Xanafalgue]

Is this whole Hyper thing headed the way of Good Game?

More female writers? I can see the "GURRRRRRRRRL GAMERZ" section already.

[REQUIEM]

I can see the "GURRRRRRRRRL GAMERZ" section already.

Well if they are like the girls in " The Guild " they would be funny as.

[texta]

I'll tell you this out of school - I had to do the cleanup of the old Hyper cubicle, and Mr Wilks had dozens of prizes, art books, games, even a Wii Balance Board under his desk. All prizes he never sent out. Looks like he dodged a bullet there!Reported to media watch.

[darklord]

With all due respect here dude, you don't seem like much of a dude. You should change your name until you earn the title.


http://i48.tinypic.com/m81v6a.gif

[SOX]

Wish I could be that relaxed about mistakes I've made. Simply missing the toilet seat turns me into the Hulk.


I don't think anyone is thrilled when they shit on the floor.

[sausage]

I do; it gives the missus something to do after the dishes

[Australian Ninja]

Reported to media watch.

That's surprisingly common is it not? I imagine part of it comes down to time, do busy worker bees always have time to send out the ten tons of promotional crap that companies send them.... not always.

[Spudzilla]

You're such a fanboy

[Second]

That is correct! You win the money.

I would have also accepted ****** or fag.

[Araenel]

That's surprisingly common is it not? I imagine part of it comes down to time, do busy worker bees always have time to send out the ten tons of promotional crap that companies send them.... not always.

If they didn't have time, don't hold competitions.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

To be fair, all those bees probably didn't make for a very good working environment.

[Natrak]

BEES? allcaps

[Jay]

To be fair, all those bees probably didn't make for a very good working environment.

Are you sure it's not just because they are so sting-y?

[Spudzilla]

It's okay, Jay. I got this. (http://www.audioatrocities.com/games/lastalert/clip1.mp3)

[Jay]

Haha, brilliant. :)

[aubergine]

Ahh, so mystery-dude is Anthony Fordham, I remember you. Did you have the sunglasses-on picture for years in PCPP?

Tips:

Your username sucks. I suggest "MANTHONY COCKGREASE" as an improved alternative.

The price of Hyper went up to $12 for the purpose of a sock when a glossier $5 alternative magazine became available. This, and the Wilkes/Wells attitudes expressed in defence of it, catalysed my ceasing to buy Hyper after 100+ issues. If, like them, you want to poo-poo the value-for-money aspect as they did, well, good luck with that.

If the new "blog" frontpage is not going to be updated, then get rid of it. You might consider using it to foreshadow the coming issue's features - eg instead of the forum thread essay, put something there then post a thread here with a link to it.

If the "blog" is not going to stand up against joystiq or kotaku or even PalGN, then I'm not sure you should bother with it, it just makes you look like you fail at internet. That said, given print's inevitable doom, you should be working on not failing at internet.

[Lazlow]

I'd take Aubergine's advices with a pinch of salt..




























and about 2 cups of flour, 7 grams of yeast, olive oil, caster sugar, tomato paste, a handful of shredded mozzarella, ham, cheese, pepperoni, olives, green capsicum, sliced mushrooms and 10 minutes in an oven.

[Jay]

A bit of aubergine on top of all that would be great.

[texta]

And a glass of milk.

[BB2K]

BEEDS!?

cap

[REQUIEM]

Ahh, so mystery-dude is Anthony Fordham, I remember you. Did you have the sunglasses-on picture for years in PCPP?

Tips:

Your username sucks. I suggest "MANTHONY COCKGREASE" as an improved alternative.

The price of Hyper went up to $12 for the purpose of a sock when a glossier $5 alternative magazine became available. This, and the Wilkes/Wells attitudes expressed in defence of it, catalysed my ceasing to buy Hyper after 100+ issues. If, like them, you want to poo-poo the value-for-money aspect as they did, well, good luck with that.

If the new "blog" frontpage is not going to be updated, then get rid of it. You might consider using it to foreshadow the coming issue's features - eg instead of the forum thread essay, put something there then post a thread here with a link to it.

If the "blog" is not going to stand up against joystiq or kotaku or even PalGN, then I'm not sure you should bother with it, it just makes you look like you fail at internet. That said, given print's inevitable doom, you should be working on not failing at internet.

Dam someone has a sore toe, or your cat died or your mum ran off with William Shattner either way OUCH.

[Australian Ninja]

You're such a fanboy

I'm thinking of someone else I know, unrelated to Hyper RE: hoarding.

But yes, I am a fan of Hyper. Otherwise what the hell would I be doing in the feedback forum?

[Second]

I think they would prefer honest feedback instead of you attempting to jerk off on to them.

[Australian Ninja]

I think they would prefer honest feedback instead of you attempting to jerk off on to them.

Thanks for the tip genius!

It's $20 to join in.

[Mike-Towns]

Is this guy the reason Bottom of the Barrel was axed or had that been done before he took the reigns?

[Lazlow]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8643/pic00124.jpg

[lex3191]

Is this guy the reason Bottom of the Barrel was axed or had that been done before he took the reigns?

he's the reason

[Allick]

According to most members, he's the reason for the holocaust.

[Vindik8or]

So his nibs has quietened down. Hopefully we've gotten lucky and he'll leave us alone and not try to be "part of the community".

[pecka_a]

I was told he was the reason they axed futurama the first time.

I say we give him a few issues of hyper before the tar and feathers come out.

[Vindik8or]

Issues? Of what?

[pecka_a]

Issues? Of what?

hyper. fixed first post forgot he is a multi editior

[Second]

So his nibs has quietened down. Hopefully we've gotten lucky and he'll leave us alone and not try to be "part of the community".

I'd hate for the fun to end so soon.

[Vindik8or]

hyper. fixed first post forgot he is a multi editior

Oh right... the forums have issues?

I'd hate for the fun to end so soon.

Yeah, that's true.

[Australian Ninja]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8643/pic00124.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a88/Jonny9999/thumbsup.jpg

I'm excited about BLANK!

[Spudzilla]

It's been done.

By me, no less.

[REQUIEM]

He was the powerbroker behind the Removal of Kevin Rudd, or so I have been told.

[aubergine]

Another username which would be better than "dude" is Seneschal Manfat

[Spudzilla]

or uded

[Second]

Or dud.

[lex3191]

meh maybe 'rude dude'

[fearofthesky]

Rude Crude Dude.

But we'd need two of them.

[aubergine]

Lewd crude rude bag-of-chewed-food dude?

[JimmyKane]

Poo'd.

[REQUIEM]

Seriously where is this all going?

[Jay]

Poo'd.

Seriously where is this all going?

To shit by the sounds of it.

[Lazlow]

Sued!

[Starscream]

To shit by the sounds of it.

Subdued.