The NL - Volume 4 Issue 7 (The Summer End Issue)

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   ░░░░░░░ZZT-MZX Newsletter░░░░░░░░░░░░Issue 7░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
   ░░░░░░░August░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░The Summer End Issue░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
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              ░░░░░░░░░│ Head Cookie:    E. CyberBRO │░░░░░░░░░
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			  ┌───────────────────┐
			  │ PACK-IN'S include │
	╔═════════════════╧═══════════════════╧═══════════════════╗    
        ║ - Zero's Stuff Newsletter   by ZERO                     ║
        ║                                                         ║
	╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

                                What's the Problem?!

Comthought here. Let's discuss the problems with all the
latest games coming out (mainly on AOL). Yes, yes, they suck. They really
suck. The authors call their games GOOD even though the games suck. Well,
what do you expect? They probably haven't seen the really good games, so
they don't exactly know what is good, in ZZT or MZX terms. Plus, do you
expect them to say "This game sucks. Don't download it!"? Yeah, like they're
gonna say that about their own games...

Anyways, if we at least attempt to help them and not tell them
that they suck, they might get better. Here's a bad letter you could
write to someone who is releasing "sucky" games...

Dear WHOEVER,

       Hi, I'm NAME. I saw your games. They suck. You suck. Bye.

                                          You REALLLLLLY Suck,
                                                      NAME.

Here's a good letter....

Dear, WHOEVER

   Hi, I'm NAME. I saw your games. You seem to be somewhat new to the
   MZX/ZZT (pick one) community. You seem to have promise, but, sorry to say,
   it's not showing. Why don't you go download some good games, study their
   qualities, and then improve on your games. Some good games are GAMENAME,
   GAMENAME, and GAMENAME. (this part optional...) I noticed that on some of
   your games that you asked for a registration fee. It's not a good idea to
   have a registration fee on your first coupla games unless they are really
   good.... Well, that's all. Bye.

                                                                -NAME

Now, if they e-mail you back and start flaming YOU, then feel free
to knock them full of cuss words. :) But they probably wouldn't do that....
If they make games based on already made things (TV shows, video games, etc)
then why not suggest in the letter that they don't do that...? Well, that's
my -$0.02. ;)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

                             The Critic Corner
                             (August Games)
                             By E. CyberBRO
                             -----------------

MZX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME: Starfighters 
AUTHOR: Jesse Anderson (Xzavier R)
GRADE: C+
LOCATION: AOL 
SIZE: 126K

QUOTE: "A space adventure where you play Alex Scott, a member of a military 
group who fights the Zerophites, a race of shape changing, telepathic aliens, 
who like to blow stuff up. Pay no attention to the disclamer at the end 
stating that the sequal will cost money. It will be uploaded to AOL soon. 
You get to fly ships, shoot stuff, and teleport." 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately:

        1. A shooter with halfway decent graphics.
        2. It has a plot.  (While actually playing the game)
        3. Teleport effect is kind of cool, though nothing special.

Unfortunately:

        1. Plot seems confusing.  (Then again I was never a Sci-fi fan.)
        2. In the game, your Intentory option is actually a help option.

MZX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME: Saga
AUTHOR: Adam Zielinski
GRADE: C
LOCATION: AOL 
SIZE: 77K

QUOTE: "This is part 1 of ?? Link's sag by Adam Zielinski. It is a pretty 
good game... not password protected!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately:

        1. It's a Link game.
        2. It's playable
        3. It's a shooter.
        4. Mentions my game in there.  (Link's Adventure)

Unfortunately:

        1. Graphics are average at ZZT standards (Too plain for Megazeux).
        2. Very repetitive.  (Level's 1 & 2 are the exact same concept and
           design)
        3. Not enough health.
        4. Bosses shoot too many "seekers".  (You all know you can't
           neutralize seekers without getting hurt unless you out run them)
        5. Just your average "collect the keys" concept only.


MZX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME: CastleVania
AUTHOR: RedSox666
GRADE: F
LOCATION: AOL 
SIZE: 35K

QUOTE: "A FUN and Adventurous game. Sequel coming soon!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately:

        1. Beats watching paint dry.

Unfortunately:

        1. Well, maybe it doesn't.
        2. Sequel coming soon?
        3. No title screen.
        4. Not worth it.  (Tired of giving games like these a long
           "Unfortunate" list)

MZX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME: Masico
AUTHOR: Vandal6132
GRADE: F
LOCATION: AOL 
SIZE: 53K

QUOTE: "This is a special version of a Megazeux game I'm making called 
Masico: Evil Reign of Masico Inc. This version isn't complete yet but if 
enough people sends me good comments I'll complete it."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately:

        1. It's a side-scroller.

Unfortunately:

        1. Hope you have a copy of the "VER1TO2" file.
        2. Side-scrolling engine needs work.
        3. What good comments is he expecting to receive off of this pointless
           no plot, game with bad gameplay.

MZX (Re-Review)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME: Doomsday Dream
AUTHOR: Cecil16
GRADE: A-
LOCATION: AOL 
SIZE: 689K for all 3 separate MZX files.

QUOTE: "This is an RPG that will take a lot of time and thought. The game 
features real RPG battles. To download the music, please go to my website at:
members.aol.com/Cecil16/index.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately:

        1. Another RPG game.
        2. Has nice graphics.
        3. An Okay plot.
        4. Nice interface, has plenty of puzzles, customize your stats (Okay,
           more like buy HPs and stuff)

Unfortunately:

        1. Engine in desparate need of an improvement, too slow and gets
        annoying when running into too many monsters.  (Not bad at first)
        That's about it really.

Interesting Note:

        After doing some research it appears that I have reviewed this game
        before.  I had looked at my list of what I thought about the game
        and it was clearly not the same stuff that I reviewed this time.
        This version is MUCH better than it was before.  I actually enjoyed
        playing this game (Now I'm going to see if I can beat it).


MZX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME: Hero's Journey (Incomplete)
AUTHOR: Vortex Software
GRADE: C (But that could change.)
SIZE: 51K (Current)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fortunately:

        1. Cool graphics.
        2. Nifty animation.
        3. Awesome puzzles.
        4. Has a lot of potential

Unfortunately:

        1. It's incomplete.  (Zero told me beforehand)
        2. Requires some guessing. (But that may be good, so....)
        3. Want more puzzles!


════════╤═════════════════════════════════╤═════════╤═════════════╤══════════
Ranking │Name of Game  /Author            │Grade:   │Time Reign   │Last Month
════════╤═════════════════════════════════╤═════════╤═════════════╤══════════
1st     │Spirit Revenge /by Autumn Soft.  │A+       │3 Month      │1st
2nd     │Doomsday Dream  /by Cecil16      │A-       │NEW (7 Mth.) │NEW (10th)
3nd     │Talon's Tale  /by SnigWich       │A-       │7 Months     │2nd
4th     │Darbytown II  /by DNBishop       │B+       │5 Months     │3rd
5th     │Mechzone Turbo  /by Jeff Stein   │B-       │7 Months     │4th
6th     │Final Fantasy EdVenture(Duky Inc)│B-       │3 Month      │5th
7th     │Bomb Brothers /by SnigWich       │B-       │6 Months     │6th
8th     │Starfighters /by Xzavier R       │C+       │NEW          │---
9th     │Hero's Journey /by Vortex Soft.  │C        │NEW          │--- 
10th    │Arisa  /by Scott Barnes          │C        │7 Months     │7th
════════╧═════════════════════════════════╧═════════╧═════════════╧══════════


-----Those that hit the road, Jack.  And they ain't commin' back-----

1. v1.1 Blue Buckaroo /by TotalKafka   GRADE: C    (Last Month: 8th)
2. Violence Pak /by Xero942            GRADE: C-   (Last Month: 9th)

3. Saga /by Adam Zielinski             GRADE: C
4. CastleVania /by RedSox666           GRADE: F
5. Masico /by Vandal6132               GRADE: F


──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

That's it for the NL this month.  Until next month :-)  Keep those articles
comming.