Editorial

Welcome to the latest issue of SynTax - 18 months old and still
going strong! It seems so little time since John and I first
discussed the idea and yet, here we are, up to Issue 9 already.

Despite recent letters in the glossy magazines, I can't say I've
noticed a decline in the popularity of adventure games. RPGs and
graphic adventures may be taking over from text adventures in the
eyes of the large software houses but I still get a lot of
people saying how much they prefer text games. It's just as well
that some of the smaller software houses and enthusiastic
individuals are still continuing to produce text and text/graphic
games for those who want them.

Quite a few more readers have also told me recently that they have
joined the ranks of PC emulator owners, mostly so they can play
the Infocoms which were never released on the ST. As you know I
already include a few PC adventures in the PD list but if you'd
like a small amount of PC coverage in the magazine, just say.
There's certainly no way I'd let it swamp the ST coverage but if
you'd like an odd review or solution, drop me a line or ring up
and let me know. I won't consider it unless enough people are in
favour.

Talking of ringing me up, anyone who has rung over the last few
months will know that we have an infernal answering machine! I
keep it permanently switched on and it doesn't give me long to get
to the phone before it cuts in so if you get it, please leave a
message - after all, you've already paid for the call! - and I'll
always call you back if you want me to.

Due to popular demand, this issue has the faster letter printing
on the loading screen and just to remind you all that SynTax is
also available in mono if you want to change......

The special feature this issue is longer than usual and I hope
you'll all find it as interesting as I did as it explains the time
zones in Chrono Quest 2. Even if you haven't played the game, I'm
sure you'll be fascinated by Martin's research into it.

I've already mentioned PC games, well, if you have an Amstrad as
well as an ST, you'll be interested to know that a SynTax
subscriber who also has both machines has set up an Amstrad PD
library. For more info, send an SAE to Adventure PD, 10 Overton
Road, Abbey Wood, London SE2 9SD. Any contributions for the
library will also be welcome.

Talking of contributions, the situation here is getting rather
desperate. I have the special feature for the next issue lined up
already and some solutions (none of them for recent games) and
that's it! There's far too much of me on these disks, folks, and
I'd rather see your names plastered all over them! Obviously, if
I'm doing as many as six reviews for an issue, I have no hope of
completing any of the games and can often only skim the surface of
them, trying to pick out some hints as I go. Some readers, bless
'em, are great at sending in at least one file each issue, some do
so much more that I couldn't cope without them. So, please, if you
can find time to do me a review or some hints for a game you've
played, you'll earn my undying gratitude!

Finally, it's apology time. Thanks to Jack Lockerby for pointing
out a typo in the STAC getall routine last issue. In special
condition 20, line 2 should have read:
if zero? firstob 9999 then newcom
and not firstob room as printed.

Also in the last issue, the solution I included for Amazon was
evidently the Commodore version. Argh! The ST version doesn't have
the arcade sequences that were mentioned and when you get to those
points in the solution you should just keep going north (or
whatever) to continue. Thanks to Neil for pointing that out.

Right, that's it for another issue - see you next year in Issue
10!
                                           Sue