@database BenSpeaks
@author "Ben Vost"
@$VER: 1.3 (25.11.96 - AFCD9)
@node MAIN "Welcome to AFCD9"

@{b}AFCD9
January 97@{ub}

Well, as far as we're concerned in the magazine trade, Christmas has been and
gone and you lot are reading your copies of Amiga Format balanced on bloated
stomachs while a couple of Alka Seltzer plink, plink, fizz in a glass at your
side. In reality, of course, it's only the end of November and I'm not even
feeling the slightest bit Christmassy. However, it is my birthday in a week's
time, so I am looking forward to that.

What about the CD? Well, I'm taking careful note of what you are saying in the
surveys, but don't stop sending them in. As I change and improve the CD your
ideas will still be relevant. You'll notice that the CD-ROM pages in the
magazine now detail certain programs, games and utilities we think are
specially worth a mention and I'm pleased to see that most of you think that
the disc is reasonably well organised. One thing that has surprised me is the
fact that quite a few of you think we put too much data on our CD for you to
look at in a month - and very few of you think we should just fill the disc to
the brim with any old rubbish just to make sure that you get 650Mb every month.

I dare say we'll get more and more surveys back stating that we are giving too
much away now that we have started to put a second CD on our cover. Amiga
Format gives you another exclusive and even more for your money each month.

All the best and lay off those After Eights,

 @{"Ben" link "thought" 0}

PS. @{b}STOP SENDING YOUR MODULES! WE CAN'T USE THEM!@{ub} (If you don't
understand why, try taking a look at the submissions advice)

Here's that link to the submissions advice that so few of you pay attention to:

                          @{"submissions advice" link "sadvice" 0}
@endnode
@node sadvice "Submissions advice"

                      @{b}HOW TO SEND US YOUR SUBMISSIONS
                      ===============================@{ub}

@{b}IMPORTANT! We can no longer accept your music modules as submissions for the
Amiga Format CD owing to copyright problems with sound samples from copyrighted
sources. Thanks for all your music submissions up till now, but please don't
send any more...@{ub}


We want you to send us your programs, animations, pictures, game tips and
cheats, hacks, hardware projects, basically anything you can think of that you
have done with your Amiga. It must be your own work - no passing off Chris
Achilleos' greatest masterpieces as your own, and we need a variety of things
from you in addition to your submission and we need them on your disk.

     @{b}1.@{ub} We need your name and address so that we know where to send your prize.
	You should also put your name and address on labels on your media.

	
     @{b}2.@{ub} We need two read me files accompanying your work; one for us and one
	to go on the CD itself (title them @{b}AF_ReadMe@{ub} and @{b}ReadMe@{ub}). These can be
	as in-depth as you want them to be, but should contain instructions for
	us on getting your work running if it is a complicated procedure,
	including things like necessary libraries and so on. The readme that
	will go on the CD will be the introduction of your work to the whole
	Amiga Format reading world so check your spelling and grammar and show
	people just what is so good about your work.

	
     @{b}3.@{ub} If your work requires files such as libraries which you cannot send
	us owing to copyright reasons make sure we know about them so that we
	can either arrange to put them on the CD, or warn our readers about
	them (you will probably do this in your CD read me).

     @{b}4.@{ub} Be aware that we won't be as interested in programs that need to
	boot or that require to be in a certain place on the CD, unless, of
	course, that place happens to be in your directory on the CD. Your
	directory will almost certainly have the path:
	@{b}"AFCDx:ReaderStuff/your_name/"@{ub} but then no-one will be able to run your
	program except from the CD, limiting its usefulness or appeal.
	
	If we do put something on the CD that needs to autoboot, it will almost
	certainly only be as a DMS that readers will have to extract to disk
	before they can use it.

	
You can send us your work on pretty much any sort of media whether it be floppy
disks (high or double density, but don't send us work on high density disks
unless you yourself have a high density drive. High density disks used in a
double density drive aren't as reliable as using double density disks), a
floppy disk back up using AmiBack, Quarterback or any of the shareware backup
tools, Zip disk, Jaz cartridge, SyQuest 44MB, 88MB or 105MB or EZ Drive, DAT
tape backup from any of the above-mentioned programs (the only thing we're not
very keen on is the Video Backup System that Power Computing sell in the UK,
we've had nothing but trouble with it), MIME e-mail to @{b}afcdsubs@futurenet.co.uk@{ub},
basically anything apart from a listing on paper. We don't want to have to type
in your program too!


We will return any media more expensive than high density floppies via
registered post, so you won't have to worry about losing seventy quid's worth
of Jaz cartridge.

Send your submissions to:

	@{b}CD submissions
	Amiga Format
	30 Monmouth Street,
	Bath, BA1 2BW@{ub}

@endnode
@node thought "Thought for the month"

@{b}On my soapbox again!@{ub}

Computer 96 - Köln

This is the seventh year I've been to the Cologne show and while it's not as
big as it once was, it's still as good for Amiga users the world over. Whenever
I attend shows like this these days, I always expect the dealers to say that
they won't be doing another show, that it isn't profitable for them, that the
Amiga market is dead as far as they are concerned, but it never happens. There
are always new products and punters four deep around them going oohh and aahh,
dealers always sell out of top titles and hardcore hardware before Saturday's
out and the beers always flow freely.

This show was no different apart from the fact that once again, the Amiga has
no clear owner. Whispers about VIScorp were stronger than ever and it seems
that most Germans don't trust the American company notwithstanding the fact
that they have paid half a million DM just keeping Amiga Technologies afloat.
Even so, there has been no movement in the Amiga camp and with the highly
publicised castigations of the company from Amiga luminaries such as Carl
Sassenrath things don't look good for Bill Buck's boys. In fact, this
journalist has even heard tell stories of other bids for the Amiga technology
and name from @{b}other companies@{ub}. Now, at the moment I am not in a position to
reveal what I have been told, but the next couple of months may be the most
interesting the Amiga platform as a whole has experienced since it was launched.

Keep reading, all will be revealed...

@endnode