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[The Fifth Horseman]

Already in progress.

[JudgeDeadd]

I've seen someone suggest "game guides".

Nice idea, but not for games like Doom or Civilization that already have tons of guides and walkthrus all over the internet, because then it would be pretty pointless. Instead, a guide for some obscure game which wasn't yet satisfactorily covered on GameFAQs or somewhere else. That would be nice.

[Saccade]

Originally Posted by JudgeDeadd

I've seen someone suggest "game guides".

Nice idea, but not for games like Doom or Civilization that already have tons of guides and walkthrus all over the internet, because then it would be pretty pointless. Instead, a guide for some obscure game which wasn't yet satisfactorily covered on GameFAQs or somewhere else. That would be nice.

There're a couple of us (well, Another_Guest and me...) who are starting to write a guide for the game Chaos Overlords. We're using its discussion thread as a starting point.
If you like the look and sound of it and want to download the game and give it a play, let us know what you think..!

Most of the best game guides I've seen for sale in Game stores, or independent game shops, are usually written by more than one person but never more than three or four.
Even then, it would be two groups of two on separate sections.

I'm trying to figure out multi-player that isn't hot seat as it is just not working on my network...
The discussion thread has AG's preliminary ideas on the strategy guide, but I haven't gotten around to writing my brainstorm yet.

[AlumiuN]

Wrath of Earth could do with one.

[The Fifth Horseman]

We could open "challenges" for writing guides for a purposefully restricted gameplay - eg, "beat Fallout without firing a gun".
Or we could have guides covering easter eggs and secrets inside games.

I'm convinced we could review a modern game once per issue - under condition that it's faithful to the classic gaming spirit. Secret Files: Tunguska, anyone?

In addition, inclusion of handheld platforms (GBA, NDS, perhaps - but not neccesarily - PSP) may have a point. Why? Because a lot of games for them are treading in the paths of computer gaming from a decade or so back.
Have a look at Tom Clancy's EndWar for NDS. It's a Battle Isle clone with only slightly improved graphics and almost identical gameplay mechanic (minus one change, which is actually a really nice improvement).
Have a look at Metroid Fusion for GBA. It's in many ways a follower of the SNES Super Metroid.
And on it goes.

[El Quia]

Originally Posted by JudgeDeadd

I've seen someone suggest "game guides".

Nice idea, but not for games like Doom or Civilization that already have tons of guides and walkthrus all over the internet, because then it would be pretty pointless. Instead, a guide for some obscure game which wasn't yet satisfactorily covered on GameFAQs or somewhere else. That would be nice.

Yeah, I think that this is a great idea. I'd like to see the magazine used to increase awareness of the forgotten old games. That way, making guide to not well known games will make the games better known and the other games still have it's presence in the magazine.

Originally Posted by The Fifth Horseman

In addition, inclusion of handheld platforms (GBA, NDS, perhaps - but not neccesarily - PSP) may have a point. Why? Because a lot of games for them are treading in the paths of computer gaming from a decade or so back.

I agree with him, because we do not only like the old for being old (nostalgia) but because its gameplay it's better, compared to a lot of nowadays games.

[Japo]

As long as there are retro elements... A game could be for Solaris Itanium. :P Although I think it would be best if most of the content was still about actually old games.

[Saccade]

Originally Posted by The Fifth Horseman

We could open "challenges" for writing guides for a purposefully restricted gameplay - eg, "beat Fallout without firing a gun".
Or we could have guides covering easter eggs and secrets inside games.

I'm convinced we could review a modern game once per issue - under condition that it's faithful to the classic gaming spirit. Secret Files: Tunguska, anyone?

I'm well with you on the idea of beating games by tightening the rules.
I do it for nearly every game I've got and play. After I've played it through once or twice, I'll start to add extra challenges for myself.

A bit like the Trophies - Platinum (of which I only have four), gold, silver and bronze - for some PS3 games.
Most of them will give you only a few trophies for playing the game through normally and only give you the reward if you do something extra or particularly well or adhere to certain conditions.
Some games just give you all the trophies just for finishing the game... Mind, that in itself can be worth a platinum trophy (for getting 100% of others) because those games are usually pretty naff. Like Dead Space. Well too easy.

eg - Mirror's Edge.
I must've finished it over a hundred times but am only a few trophies away from the Platinum. It is easy to finish the game on hard mode and to achieve all the trophies for special moves and accomplishments. But I just cannot do Level Three in less than eleven minutes to get the "Speed Run" trophy for that level.
Closest I've ever got was eleven minutes and eight seconds.
I'm going to be playing that game 'til I complete that level in under the time limit! There's got to be a short-cut I'm missing or something.

The guides thing:
See above post - I think it is a grand idea to have as a regular thing in AT.
Even if it is available on the web after a bit of searching, if ever the AT gets stuck for content on that section, it could be used as bulk filler. People will still read it and it'd give people more time to write the unique guides for games hosted here on AB.

Easter Eggs and Secrets kinda fit into the suggestion I fielded about the cheats and hacking stuff.
You need to know a game really well in order to know all the Eggs, but you can find secrets. Maybe even use a walkthru or FAQ or something..?

I think that there've been some really good ideas in here for the AT.
I like that there would be a new game, that stems from or is influenced heavily by a classic game or genre, is great!
There are so many out there that can be compared to earlier games that are not just FPS or new Monkey Island (at least, because of old monkey island - perhaps if it were more on SCUMM and point 'n' clicks) and stuff.

Would they be PC games or console games? Both or either/or?
I have several in mind that could be reviewed and also have their gameplay and design, etc... compared to certain older and similar (if not quite how you'd expect to be similar!) games that I've played after downloading them from AB.

[The Fifth Horseman]

Would they be PC games or console games? Both or either/or?
I have several in mind that could be reviewed and also have their gameplay and design, etc... compared to certain older and similar (if not quite how you'd expect to be similar!) games that I've played after downloading them from AB.

Either.

[seanex]

OK, please don't laugh me off the board if this idea is completely awful.
How about a book review? There are plenty of games on Abandonia that are based on novels or series of novels. A quick glance I had through some of the categories reveals the following:
Alone in the Dark, Call of Cthulhu, Discworld, Dune, Frederik Pohl's Gateway, The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes, Neuromancer, Ringworld - Revenge of the Patriarch...
And that is without even checking the text-adventures. I'm pretty sure there is a Hitchiker's Guide one for example. I have read all these books and would be happy to attempt a review. If however they were to be linked to the game-of-the-novel I would have to play through them. Although, obviously, someone could well have a head start on this. I don't know if there would be a lack of interest in the review though? Hopefully, the article would encourage people to read some of these excellent books. Thanks for listening!