Survey Results

Thanks to everyone who returned the questionnaire from the last
issue. 68% of the ones sent to current readers were returned and 
I also sent 23 to ex-readers, 17 of which came back. If you
haven't returned your form, I'd still be interested to see what
you think so it isn't too late. Until then I'll assume that
people who didn't return their questionnaires are ecstatically
happy with every aspect of the mag!

I'll start by dealing with the results of each question in turn,
then answer some specific points raised.

1. Do you like the style of the SynTax program, menus etc?

93% of readers did.

Several people liked the colour changes each issue but some felt
certain colour combinations could be avoided, suggesting a darker
background to avoid eyestrain. I may try this next issue. Function

keys were suggested as an alternative to the mouse. We don't want
to re-write the SynTax program and make sweeping changes at this
stage (for one thing, we took out all the REMs to save space so
can't remember what all the bits do!) but generally using the
mouse went down well.

A few readers said they wished it would run in both colour and
mono. I'm afraid that isn't possible, you'll have to choose one
version or the other. A couple would like a quit button - use
CONTROL-C to get back to desktop.

2. Is bi-monthly the right frequency for SynTax?
85% said yes, 5% no and 10% not sure.

Several people would prefer the mag monthly but realised it just
couldn't be done that often. Some suggested 6-weekly (9 issues a
year) which would, I think, be a nice compromise but I couldn't do
it on the level of contributions I get at the moment....

3. Is it convenient to have the magazine on disk?

Though 5% would prefer paper, 93% of you said they liked it on
disk. Obviously it isn't so convenient for those of you who
don't have a printer but almost all of you do.  Some readers
said that paper mags are quicker to look up and easier when
you're in a middle of a game and you can read paper mags on
the train and in bed!  However a lot of you seem to print off
solutions you feel you'll need and put them to one side ready for
when you get stuck. Some transfer the step-by-step solutions into
a word processor and use them as the basis for their own full
solutions.

Several said that they take more care of disks than paper
magazines which can get tatty, others that they liked the compact
nature of disk storage rather than having piles of magazines to
sort through and store. It was also pointed out that it is far
easier to inadvertently read a hint etc in a paper mag than in
SynTax where you have to deliberately open each file to read it.


I made tentative enquiries about putting SynTax into a Probe-type
booklet and because of the massive amount of information on the
disk, it would too thick to produce as that sort of booklet. It
would have to go monthly, covering just half the information in
each issue, and would cost half as much again (ie œ30.00 a year).
I don't think that sounds a sensible way to go!

The lack of an index was mentioned several times so that has
returned this issue.

4. Is the mix of features in SynTax, solutions/maps/hints etc,
about right?

89% said yes, 5% no. Some wanted more solutions, some more maps,
some more hints, some more features and so forth. Generally it
was realised that I can only put in what I'm sent or do myself
so don't have that much control over it.


5. Does SynTax cover the right mix of software (RPG vs text etc)?

93% were happy with the balance, but 5% weren't. We'd all like
magazines to cover just the sort of software we like, but
though many of you expressed a preference for RPGs, text, icon or
mouse-driven games, strategy or whatever and would ideally like
more coverage of your favourite software type, you appreciated
that SynTax has to cover all types to try to please everyone.

As far as strategy or wargame coverage goes, I can't get to grips
with them at all so must rely entirely on readers' contributions.

6. Is the material covered by SynTax up to date enough?

89% said yes to this one, 4% no. Several of you realised that
if I could be more up to date, I would be! But I get almost no
software or information support from the big software houses,
despite letters, offers of complimentary copies and SAEs sent to
all of them (only two bothered to reply). So I have to get my

information where and when I can, and the same goes for software
as only the independent companies usually send review software.

Quite a number of you said you'd actually like more on the older
games which you can often pick up now at bargain prices.

7. Does SynTax provide good value for money?

Thankfully, 93% of you said yes (some resoundingly!). One reader
wanted the price dropped to œ2.50 an issue - not possible, I'm
afraid.

A couple of readers noted that SynTax has remained at the same
price since it was started two years ago, despite several postal
charge increases. I think I can still weather a few more increases
at the current price so there's no immediate danger of a price
rise. In the same time period, the other fanzines increased their
prices by 20% and most of the glossies shot up in price because of
the way they all added cover disks.

8. Would you be happy if SynTax were to cover the PC and Amiga as
well as the ST?

A slight shift of opinion here with 62% being happy, 30% not and 
the remaining 8% not sure.

Quite a number of you already have other machines or emulators.
Most of the worries from the rest of the readership arose from the
fact that some of you had visions of the ST coverage dwindling
away. I think that this issue may have reassured you as it is the
first one to officially cover the Amiga too. There are still a lot
of ST-only games reviewed because ST owners reviewed them or I was
sent review copies, but, if I'm sent Amiga reviews, hints etc,
I'll put them in too.  Yet another case where the contributors
will determine the final magazine.

One reader said "I don't own either machine so why should I have
any interest in them?". Let me give you an example - I got the PC
version of Wonderland in plenty of time to review it for this
issue.  If I'd waited for the ST version, the review wouldn't have
been in until the July issue, two months later. In this way, a
review of a game on another machine could act as a preview for an
ST game and hints sent in by an Amiga or PC reader would be
waiting ready for when the ST version came out.

9. Would you still buy SynTax if it covered other machines?

Luckily 84% of you said yes, 5% no, 11% not sure, generally
depending on the way the ST coverage was affected. All I can say
is that if any of you genuinely feel that the change has affected
the magazine so adversely that you feel you have been let down by
me, let me know and I'll refund your remaining sub, no quibbles.
I don't think I can do more than that and it's certainly more than
the glossies do when they change their format!

10. Number this list of typical SynTax features to show your
personal preferences.

This was a really interesting (if time-consuming!) section to
check. Top of the league was the review section, closely
followed by 3-in-1 hints, solutions and information. Next came
other hints, other maps, special feature and RPG maps. Least
favourite section was screenshots. Only one reader put it as
first choice, most of you put it as 8th or 9th.

11. Do you have any other comments/suggestions? (This is a
selection, some of which have been paraphrased as several made the
same point. Other comments have been covered already.)

"I hate questionnaires!" - extra thanks to those of you who hate
'em but still filled it in.

"Make it bigger by going double-sided/dual format" - I'd need
almost twice as much information each issue to fill the disk and
couldn't do it on the current level of contributions. If, as
suggested, the second side was filled with maps, screenshots
(which most of you don't like!) and demos (which most of you have
probably already seen), what about the people with single-sided
drives? Do they pay extra for a second disk??

"Have competitions." - erm, check out the competition section.

"What about a free issue for introducing a new member?" - good
idea. If you tell someone about SynTax and they take out a sub,
from now on the person who introduced them will get a free issue.

"What about a series on writing adventures?" - great idea ... any
offers?

"More helpful features like the Mind The Doors article." - again,
any offers?

"Have solutions, reviews etc in alphabetical order in the menus
instead of the usual jumble." - it's done.

"Have at least 3 people's different views on an adventure" - it's
hard enough to get one person to review a game let alone get three
in the same issue. Twice two readers have sent in reviews for the
same game but only once was it by design, not chance!


"It's expensive considering 90% of reviews, solutions etc are
sent in by contributors (most issues)" - 90%? I think you're
mistaken. But, even if it were true, it still wouldn't make the
magazine cheaper to produce, just easier and quicker.

Out of interest, of the ex-readers who replied to the
questionnaire, all 17 of them were happy with the style of the
magazine, 12 were happy with it being bi-monthly, 14 liked
it on disk, 15 liked the mix of features, only 10 the mix of game
type covered (mostly because of their own preferences). 15 thought
it was up to date enough, 13 that it was good value for money.

Half of them owned another 16-bit computer.

The favourite section was solutions, followed by information, then
other hints. 3-in-1 hints and reviews were next (equal score),
then came screenshots, RPG maps, other maps and, least favourite,
the special feature.

Why did they stop taking SynTax?

1 had his computer stolen.
1 didn't like it on disk.
7 were on price, because they were short of cash through being at
school or out of work rather than that SynTax was too expensive.
1 didn't actually play adventures.
1 already got 6 glossy mags so had often seen the info before.
4 changed computer from ST to Amiga, PC etc.
1 was cutting back on mags and doesn't play many adventures anyway.
1 was threatened with divorce if he didn't stop using his
computer!