Atari ComputingPress Release dated 3 August 1997
A 60 page printed magazine published, written and distributed
Atari Computing will be a year old in September and with issue due to hit doormats around late August we look set to fulfill our aim to deliver six printed issues each year. Atari Computing magazine was launched during September 1996 at the Goodmans Atari shows in London and Birmingham and completely sold out on both days! Delighted by the response we reprinted Issue 1, and increased the print run for all subsequent issues. Issues 2 and 3 have also subsequently sold out. Atari Computing is published by the Atari Computing Group (A|C|G).
Publisher: Mike Kerslake A|C|G Team : Mike Kerslake, Joe Connor, Brian Stanton, Al Goold, Andy Wilson, Sandy Thomson, Neil Martin, Denesh Bhabuta, Chris Good, Ian Braby, Martin Milner, Norman Bland. THE HISTORY OF ATARI COMPUTING In 1996 Mike Kerslake, the publisher, with over fifteen years experience in the industry teamed up with Joe Connor, ex Reader Disk and PD/Shareware editor for Atari World, and a group of on line Atari enthusiasts to create this new printed bi-monthly Atari magazine. The aim from day one was to create a professional quality magazine "by enthusiasts for enthusiasts". Issue 5 was published in June, and currently back issues of numbers 4 and 5 are available. Issue 6 will be available from around the end of August.
So far Atari Computing has featured contributions from respected and
well connected Atarians including: Frank Charlton (STF features
editor), Graeme Rutt, Jon Ellis, Nial Grimes, Mark S Baines, Denesh
Bhabuta, Carl Löfgren, Harry Sideras and Kev Beardsworth (Atari World
regulars), Colin Fisher-McAllum (42BBS/AtariPhile/FFF), Howard Carson
(Current Notes), Xav, Thomas Binder (ST Computer), Al Goold and Ed
McGlone (STAG), Roy Goring and Chris Good (WAG), Richard Spowart and
Chris Holland (Maggie), Steve Llewellyn (Calamus User), Jim Hornby
(Wrinklies), Martin Milner (999 software), Colin Polonowski (Atari
Times), Neil Martin, Mark Wherry, Andrew Harvey, David Stevenson,
Bob Paton, Thomas Mains, Colin Munro, Doug Little (Black Scorpion
Software)... We've also signed deals with two of the leading disk based magazines, AtariPhile and Maggie, to publish regular sections within the magazine. If you've never seen a disk magazine before we think you'll be amazed to find out how much you've been missing! BACKGROUND TO THE LAUNCH OF ATARI COMPUTING The closure of Atari World and ST Format during 1996 left the UK without an Atari specific newstand Atari magazine for the first time since 1987. The men in grey suits expected us to move onto other platforms but hang on a minute, let's take stock of the situation...
New software of better quality than ever before is still being released! That doesn't sound like a dead platform! The Atari platform has been emulated by just about every other platform, we're owners of cult machines! Have you ever noticed ex-Atarians animatedly talking about the 'Good old days' it's a feel good factor missing from all the current machines. We don't need a new platform but we do need information and a printed magazine is undoubtedly the best way to ensure we see in the millenium! Apart from a darn good read the other thing most of us like is some new software to play with. The Reader Disk concept offers all readers the chance to get their hands on the hottest new software around along with exclusive versions not available anywhere else. We offer a Reader Disk to accompany each issue, buy it or not, the choice is yours! What we need is your support, it's going to be tough to keep going and it really up to *you*! Instead of wishing us luck, post us a cheque to order your copy today! WHO ARE THE ATARI COMPUTING GROUP [A|C|G] ? The launch of Atari Computing was financed by the Atari Computing Group [A|C|G], based on CiX, and dedicated to supporting the Atari platform - We're delighted with the response from our readers and are working hard to ensure future issues maintain and improve the same high standard! Atari Computing is an enthusiasts' magazine compiled and distributed by Atari enthusiasts. We're not a publishing company so our efforts have to be directed towards getting the magazine out on time - we do not operate an Atari 'helpline' but are pleased to help wherever possible via the Q&A pages in the magazine. ATARI COMPUTING ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB Unfortunately our original online editor, Frank Charlton, has not been able to update our original web pages so we've put a new set of pages up on Zetnet due entirely to the hard work put in by Bob Paton. We're naturally delighted to have online presence again and hope you find these pages worth revisiting regularly. We're keen to know whether you find these pages useful and what you'd like to see online so please do take the time to send us some feedback... You'll find the new pages on http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/ataricomputing/ ORDERING As we're sure you'll appreciate publishing a magazine in a declining market was a very risky venture and our print run has had to remain conservative - we can't afford to maintain a stock of back issues for long, so we only print what we need. We're not a newstand publication so don't bother looking in the shops. The Atari platform needs this magazine and we need your subscription so do yourself and us a favour, take out a subscription or order an evaluation copy today! If you decide to subscribe you will receive the first available issue, if we've sold out of an issue your subscription will start with the following issue. SUBSCRIPTIONS Money back Guarantee!!! Many of you (and most of us) lost money following the Atari World debacle, and we're determined not to make the same mistake. Atari Computing subscriptions are refundable at any time. Cancel your subscription in writing and we'll return any outstanding credit to you, minus a deduction to cover our costs. We are continually receiving new subscriptions. As we only print "what we need" of each issue, this means that if we have run out of a particular issue, your subscription will start from the following issue. Remember Issues 1, 2 and 3 are now SOLD OUT. (all reader disks are still available though)
UNITED KINGDOM
E-Mail:ataricomputing@cix.co.uk
If you're outside the UK
Submissions: We're always on the lookout for talented new contributors so if you've got an idea for an article please do get in touch. Enquiries: All enquiries about any matter concerning Atari Computing MUST be made in writing either via email or by snail mail, and sent to the following addresses. It would also be helpful if letters, subscription enquiries and editorial material were on seperate sheets within the same envelope. Ideally letters and any editorial should be on disk in ASCII format, or via e-mail or netmail if you have that facility. Unfortunately we cannot enter into personal correspondence on general Atari matters, or guarantee that your question or letter will be published due to the volume of mail we receive. General enquiries should be sent to:
Atari Computing Please enclose an SAE for reply. (IRC if enquiring from outside UK)
E-Mail:ataricomputing@cix.co.uk Subscription enquiries
Atari Computing Subscriptions
E-Mail:ataricomputing@cix.co.uk
Editorial only
Atari Computing
E-Mail:ataricomputing@cix.co.uk Subscription Payments: These payments should still be made to the address published on subscription forms, which are available via email or snailmail. Receipting subscriptions: Just like every other magazine, your payment being cashed is your receipt. We cannnot issue receipts by e-mail, SAE, postcard etc. because of the additional work this would place on the volunteer staff. Issue gone missing? Faulty reader disk? Write/email the office or leave a brief message on the answerphone on 01206 852602 and we'll sort out the problem as soon as possible. Please don't use this number for any other reason - we won't respond anyway so save your money and our time! Advertisors: Atari Computing carries adverts on behalf of the major Atari outlets. Please support them, and mention that you read their advert in Atari Computing. It helps them, it helps us, and it helps you.
The Atari platform is alive and well!
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