Editorial

Writing the Editorial is almost the last thing I do when putting
together the magazine and, this issue, time has got a bit tight so
I'm going to keep it short (stop cheering at the back!)

Despite not having much free time, I've bought a few pieces of
software, most of which I haven't done much with yet. Beasts and
Bumpkins, another God-game, looks great fun and I think the Magic
the Gathering add-on will really enhance the basic game ... when I
get round to reinstalling it. Jean Childs told me all about a
really silly program called Creatures which I picked up for under
a tenner on re-release and, again, it is good fun and a real
time-waster. Look for reviews soon.

At the moment, though, I am playing a puzzle game called
Safecracker which has been loaned to me and it is excellent.
Basically you have to crack the codes of a series of safes in a
mansion to, ultimately, be able to open the final safe. The
graphics are similar to 7th Guest and the safes vary from
easy Simon-type puzzles to far more complicated ones. There are
various clues and items to collect. You'll even have to decipher
a few codes en route.

Now, a bit of personal stuff. At the end of October I made the
decision to resign from PC Mart. I had thoroughly enjoyed my four
years editing the PD/Shareware and Venture Forth columns but as I
am much busier now with my DTP business, as well as other things,
it seemed the best course to take. The position came up at the
right time for me, and I learned a lot doing it, but now it's time
for a change. Theoretically this should give me tons of spare time
but I bet it doesn't; work just seems to expand to fit the
available time (and then some!)

As we head towards Christmas, and the weather gets colder, I know
most of you spend more time on your computers. Please think of
SynTax when you play a new game and consider sending in a review
or a few hints ...  talking of Christmas I know it's a bit early,
but this is the last chance I have to wish some of you a happy
Christmas as the next issue is in January (if I'd thought about it
back in '89 when SynTax started, I would have timed it better so
we had a Christmas issue!) I hope that you will all have a great
time over the holiday and that next year will be a happy and
healthy one for you. I would like to send special 'get well'
wishes to Marion Taylor who had an extended stay in hospital this
summer. Many of you know her through our joint-editorship of Red
Herring or, going back even further, when we were on ClubSpot's
Adventure Helpline on MicroNet m-a-n-y years ago ... and I'm sure
you'll want to join me in wishing her a speedy recovery.

Right, I said I'd keep it short so ... I'm off! Take care and I'll
see you again in 1998.
                                                          Sue






                              - o -