Editorial

It was great last month to meet so many SynTaxers and other
adventurers at the 2001 Adventure Convention at Coventry. Having
known so many of the names for up to 14 years, it was lovely to be
able to put faces to them.  And, in other cases, to catch up with
old friends who I don't see as often as I'd like to.

There are two reports of the weekend in this issue, so I haven't
written one as well.  But I'll briefly say that Alan and I made a
weekend of it, taking Robbie the dog of course, in our
motorcaravan and spending two nights on Oxfordshire camp sites.
That gave us an early start on Saturday to drive from Banbury to
Allesley.  I took a number of photos on the day and they're up on
the SynTax website at www.syntax2000.co.uk/photos.html

It had looked as though this would be the last convention but
Doreen and Jon have said they'll take over from Larry next year -
excellent news. I'll certainly be there again in 2002 and I hope to
meet even more of you then and spend more time talking to those
that I only had a short time with this year. The day went so
quickly!

During the course of the day, most of us had a go at the
Megapoints competition. For any who don't know the routine, we all
played a text adventure that none of us had seen before (specially
written by Jon and Frank about the previous year's convention). We
each had 20 minutes to score as many points as we could. Panic
stations! Was I going to lose all my street cred as an adventurer
(if, indeed I had any to start with) by scoring nothing? I heaved
a sigh of relief when I got my first 5 points and at the end got a
respectable 45 points which I was pleased with even though it was
nowhere near the top.

Having played the Magapoints comp, it made me realise just how
much I'd missed playing a traditional text adventure so I dug out
a couple to review this issue.

Talking of the SynTax site, it's still being added to. Really I
should have done this a year ago - made a start, then added bits
when I had time.  The mistake I made was trying to find enough
time to put the whole site up at once and it just wasn't feasible.
In the time I was dithering I designed 3 websites for *other*
people but couldn't find time to do my own. Never mind, it's up
and running now.

Anyway, back to this issue's editorial. I must apologise to
Carolyn Brown whose review of Redguard was attributed to Stefan
Herber by mistake last issue. I've adjusted the points this issue.

Also this issue I'd like to make an until-the-end-of-the-year
offer on the SynTax CD. Normally you'd have to pay a surcharge for
any issues you've missed. But until 31st December, you can buy it
for just the basic œ10.

The Gamers CD has been updated too, with the addition of the 2001
IF competition files. This is at the normal price of œ10 with an
upgrade offer, see the relevant section of the magazine. I've got
plans for some more game CDs as the IF one has been popular. The

new ones will cover strategy game demos and RPGs. Look out for
those next issue.

The SynTax Diary will also be available shortly for the usual
price. An order form is enclosed for mailed copies of this
issue, or attached to the email you got this with.

Well, I think that's about it for now except to wish you a happy
Christmas as the next issue will be in January 2002 - doesn't time
fly?! Have a lovely holiday and I'll see you next year.

                                              Best wishes,
                                              Sue






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