Editorial

I'm sorry to have to start the editorial with some sad news but
Spellbreaker! magazine will finish with the July issue. Mike has
had promotion at work and will have to study for exams. The fact
that the number of subscribers has remained static for the last
year has also been a contributory factor. I know he is very
disappointed about it but he is hoping that one day he may bring
it back. In the meantime, back issues will still be available from
him and he will probably make a deal if you buy the whole lot.
More details on that as I hear them. It's always a shame when an
adventure magazine or fanzine has to give up but I am especially
sad about Spellbreaker's demise as, not only is Mike a friend, but
Spellbreaker! and SynTax started at almost the same time.

It's a pity that fanzines aren't better supported as they are very
hard to keep in the black and need all the readers they can get.
SynTax is quiet too at the moment so if anyone has any ideas to
give it a boost, let me know. I can't afford to advertise in the
glossy mags so I have to rely on kind reviewers, free advertising,
leafleting and word-of-mouth recommendation. You wouldn't believe
how many leaflets I've sent out to would-be readers and I find it
very frustrating to know that there are a lot of ST adventurers
out there who haven't tried SynTax.

Oh well, that's my moan for the issue out of the way! <Grin>

Contributions were very low for this issue so can I put in a plea
for some for the next issue, please? As an added incentive, I've
decided to start a points system for contributions of 1 point per
published K of information. This will start from the next issue
and at the end of a year, prizes will be awarded to the five
individuals who have contributed the most information. The winners'
points will be zeroed and everyone else's points will be carried
forward for the next year. As you'll appreciate, I can't afford
grand prizes so they'll probably be on the lines of SynTax subs,
software and PD disks. I hope as many of you as possible will
take the time to send something in as I have absolutely no hints
or reviews for the next issue!

In an effort to boost the readership of the magazine, I am
considering the possibility of making SynTax a 16-bit adventure
magazine, either still on disk (in the different formats) or in
booklet form, as a lot of the reviews, hints, solutions etc are
common to the ST, PC and Amiga. However I don't want to upset any
of you who have supported SynTax so faithfully so I'd like to
know how you feel about (a) SynTax as it is and (b) SynTax as it
could be. To this end I have included a questionnaire with this
issue and would be grateful if you'd take the time to make your
views known on both topics. Why not fill it in as soon as you've
read this? Thanks. 

One thing I'd like to make perfectly clear is that, whatever the
results of the questionnaire, SynTax is NOT going to fold.  I'm
just looking for the best way to progress onwards and upwards from
here!

Until next issue, keep adventuring ........
                                                   Sue