From: ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com (Ross Erickson)
Subject: Game Bytes - Introduction
Reply-To: ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com
Organization: Intergraph Corporation
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 21:48:21 GMT

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Quite frequently, I get email from around the world asking a common
question, "Just what is Game Bytes anyway?"  Hopefully, this short
message will help explain just what this is, where it comes from, why
it's here, and where is it going!!  

Game Bytes started out as an idea of mine to produce a high-quality,
user-supported gaming magazine that utilizes the electronic networks
so prevalent in our world today.  I didn't want to create "another"
paper newsletter, but rather, wanted to use the high-speed
distribution capabilities that electronic networks afford us today.
Truly, I wanted this to become the "Computer Gaming World" of the
electronic age.  With the idea of running the magazine on the
ubiquitous PC, there were some other unique advantages that presented
themselves by being in this format.  Through some hard work, we
(started adding some programmers at this point) developed some ways to
incorporate actual screen shots into the "magazine" for readers to see
what they might be getting into as well as reading some comprehensive
reviews.  This has become a very popular feature.

After some initial "spec'ing" and designing, myself and our
programmers came up with an easy to use, yet flexible interface that
makes it very simple for the reader to interact with the information
presented.  It took us several months to get to this point, but at
last we were finished.  Through the gracious efforts of several
"Internetters" we had enough articles to start the first issue.
Looking back, it wasn't as strong as we wanted it to be, but at least
we were moving forward.

There are several points to be made about the philosophy of Game
Bytes:

1)  We aren't "sponsored" by any game publisher or vendor in any way.

2)  Currently, we aren't charging any fee, subscription, or other
"price".  However, we have learned painfully that the $$$ are indeed
significant, and would welcome donations or contributions of any kind
to help us continue to publish Game Bytes.  Anything will help.

3)  At this time, there is no advertising in the magazine of any kind.
Again, considering the investment we have made ($$$) to keep this
going, we may be forced to consider some advertising in the future.
We hope to delay this as long as possible.

4)  We are actively showing Game Bytes to many software vendors (and
making some positive impressions) and intend to try to work closely
with them in the future.

5)  Contributing reviewers/writers are not paid, other than with our
deepest gratitude and our promise to publish their work for all to
enjoy.  If in the future subscriptions, etc. are the only way we can
keep Game Bytes "afloat", this may change, but its too early to tell.

6)  Game Bytes will be distributed over the following facilities:
	a) FTP sites - as many as possible, but FIRST on WUARCHIVE
	   (128.252.135.4) in the /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS directory, and on
	   ULOWELL (129.63.32.1) in the /msdos/Games/GameByte
           directory.  If others are very popular, we'll send them
	   there too.
	b) Mail server - We are working on creating an automatic mail
	   server at my site that will, upon request, uuencode and
           mail each issue to those without FTP access.  This is
           not yet running.
	c) Compuserve - In the GAMERS forum, Library section 16 (Other
	   Magazines).
	d) America On-Line
	e) BBSs - At this time, we upload each issue to large BBSs
	   EXEC-PC (worlds largest) and actively encourage those who
	   download it to copy it freely and put it on their local
	   BBS sites.

7) Game Bytes will be produced in two versions for each issue,
beginning with issue #4.  One issue will have the full pallette of
screen shots included and will be quite large.  The other version will
include exactly the same articles, but not include any screen shots at
all, and thus will be much smaller.  This smaller issue may be able to
be uuencoded and sent up to the usenet newsgroup,
comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.  

8) Game Bytes will be produced once a month, for the time being.

Game Bytes, in a nutshell, presents the following "types" of
information:

1)  Reviews/Previews - These are user contributed articles from
players like you and me who have experience with the product in
question.  They are intended to be judgemental and advise readers
whether the product is a worthy purchase or not.  Reviews are full
length, comprehensive articles, and Previews are shorter evaluations
of products shortly after they are released.

2) First Looks! - This section is devoted to giving readers a sneek
peek at what to look out for soon.  The very short articles are merely
a quick synopsis of what the premise of the game is, and generally,
several screen shots, when available, are included with each article.
This helps build some anticipation for new titles.

3) Editor Notes - This section is devoted to a miscellany of articles.
As editor, I write a regular column called "A View From the Edge"
which are some general observations about issues in the gaming
industry.  We are also working to provide an interesting interview
some industry "luminaries" such as Richard Garriott, Chris Roberts,
Damon Slye, among others in each issue.  Also, this section will host
a "rumors" section where interesting news items are published.
Finally, any other miscellaneous articles that need a home are found
in this column.  Things like running games under OS/2, gaming
peripheral news or other miscellaneous articles will be found in the
Editor Notes section.  We accept submissions of articles of this
nature as well.

4) Vendor Notes - We have reserved some space for the software vendor
community to publish their press releases to announce new products,
plans, or promotions to the reading public.  Occasionaly, we will
include appropriate screen shots as well.

5) Letters - Simply stated, this is YOUR forum to post your feedback,
inquiries, and general commentary about Game Bytes to us.  We ACTIVELY
encourage you to write to us.  The "intro" article listed at the top
of this column has details about how to get in touch with Game Bytes.

So, where do we go from here?  There are a lot of opportunities to
take this even further.  If everybody had CD-ROM drives and multimedia
ready machines, the sky is the limit.  However, such isn't the case
and we'll proceed slowly.  We don't intend to change our strategy much
over the coming months.  We simply want to be known as a solid source
of regular gaming information.  At some point, if finances dictate, we
may have to offer subscriptions to the magazine where a diskette will
be mailed to you each month, but we hope to avoid this for as long as
possible.  Your contributions and donations will help tremendously
with this.

If you feel you have something to say or add to Game Bytes, PLEASE
feel free to contact me and we'll most certainly consider it.  I want
to publically say thanks for the very warm welcome many of you have
expressed to me about Game Bytes.  Your response has been
overwhelming.   We hope to hear from many more of you too.  As an open
invitation to all:  PLEASE consider writing some reviews/previews or
gaming articles of any kind to be published in Game Bytes.  Without
you, we have nothing.  Thanks again for your consideration.

|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  Ross Erickson             |                                     |
|  ross@kaos.b11.ingr.com    | "No individual raindrop considers   |
|  205-730-4019 - voice      |  itself responsible for the flood." |
|  205-730-6445 - fax        |                                     |
|  Internet: 129.135.252.87  |                                     |
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games