Alive is Five!
Five years old that is, we've done rather more issues than that!
You might remember the mid-eighties movie, 'Short Circuit', which featured a
regrettable talking robot with an indian accent. "Johnny Five is Alive!"
Well if you remove the robot, the plot about a cutesy metallic ET-like
creature breaking free of its original warlike purpose, and especially that
accent, then you have something like that here.
Or maybe not?
In the beginning...
=====================
The origins of Alive! can be found in the first year of the new millenium.
The idea surfaced during the long hot summer of broken deadlines on the
Maggie 10th anniversary issue. In a cheese-eating wine drinking nation not
so far away, a young gentleman called ST Survivor or STS or even Seb was
also feeling the pinch with keeping the faith on his diskmag, the famous
Undercover Magascene.
It seems strange for what were two apparently mortal diskmag enemies to get
into bed with each other so willingly. It was the case however, that the
animus that had nurtured the feud had dissipated when the participants on
both sides found themselves with much less time than before to spend on
scene matters. With Seb taking over the management at UCM, a change to a
less confrontational style made some form of collaboration inevitable. When
this came, it proved to be very far-reaching.
It is Seb who deserves the credit for coming up with the actual idea of a
unified or combined diskmag. It would be too easy to say "To my surprise I
found myself agreeing with this." In fact, I was half-expecting something
like this to happen, and when Seb articulated the thought, it was easy to
fall in with him.
I've been rummaging in dusty email folders on my CT2 Falcon, and actually
came up with quite a rich source of primary material which nicely covers the
origins of Alive! Not to mention how it got to be called that, and some of
the alternative suggestions which didn't make the grade.
All these old emails have been edited to some extent, for relevance, and to
remove any personal stuff. But essentially, the story of how Alive! became
alive can be seen below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: maggieteam@zetnet.co.uk
Subject: Re: UCM future direction..
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 14:03:59 PDT
hi Chris !
funny thing that is... You are the first one who mailed me after reading my
mail on DHS (I said the first ? I meant the only one so far :) More
seriously you and I have encountered the same problem : few releases and
very little help. But I'm afraid that we cannot do much regarding the first
one...
I don't know what will happen to UCM, I even considered changing the
magazine's name as UCM was really sounding like Moondog's Inside :) Well
whatever I don't know about you but as for me UCM is not my priority as
Toxic Mag used to be... I will continue with UCM but I need enough stuff to
fill it and more time to focus on other things as well.
I remember Maggie's 10th anniversary though I couldn't tell the date
precisely but better late than never : happy birthday to you :) To speak the
truth i've never been a faithful Maggie's reader (nor UCM!) for years as
there were quite many French diskmags. Now, I like to hear about a new
Maggie though I sincerely think UCM is the only real scene magazine left...
No offence :)
Do you remember when I suggested that both Maggie and UCM could merge ? Ok
the bad thing is that one of us should renounce his label but on the good
side, joining forces would help to keep at least one mag alive. But as long
as keeping our babies alive is possible we don't have to make such a
decision :)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This opening missive from Seb raises the topic. At this point, we haven't
decided on starting afresh, a merger was being suggested at this early
stage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
To: larnac@hotmail.com ("sebastien Larnac" )
From: maggieteam@zetnet.co.uk (Christopher Ian Holland)
Organization: Maggie GHQ
Subject: Re: UCM future direction..
> Do you remember when I suggested that both Maggie and UCM could merge ? Ok
>the bad thing is that one of us should renounce his label but on the good
>side, joining forces would help to keep at least one mag alive. But as long
>as keeping our babies alive is possible we don't have to make such a
>decision :)
This is the interesting question, and I thought a bit before replying.
In the slightly longer run, after the current issue of Maggie, this could
well be a possibility. If support levels return to something of their
previous levels, then we can maintain two independant diskmags. If it stays
like it is, then we should pool resources. This is good from several points
of view. Two enthusiastic people can motivate each other, and keep things
moving. This did happen with Mr Pink when he was Atari active, he did cover
a lot of the bases as deputy ed. Now he is working ridiculous 14 hour days
and getting paid loads, but I'm left running Maggie on my own, and it isn't
so much fun as a one man band!
I would think you feel dragged down by the current UCM set-up?
My suggestions are:-
Complete new start and name-change, neither Maggie or UCM, but something
totally new, refreshing, original.
Probable refurbishment of menu-shell, Delta Force shell is overdue for
retirement! Shell to be dual Falcon/ST along lines of current UCM shell? Any
other ideas for this from your end?
Issues should be fatter, 2-3 issues a year, depending on activity rate of
general Atari scene, should be feasible. I should be able to maintain a
reasonably high productivity rate for articles :)
Another nice thing, if we combine resources, we will have a widespread and
reasonably sized pool of writers to utilise! :)
Not sure if we want to do 'joint editor' system, or main editor/deputy
editor. I'm not too bothered about pulling rank if it is the second option.
Chris.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, we're getting serious, a fresh start under a new banner is being
proposed now. This is how it sort of actually turned out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "sebastien Larnac" <larnac@hotmail.com>
To: maggieteam@zetnet.co.uk
Subject: Re: UCM future direction..
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2000 10:51:57 PDT
Hi Chris !
so but time goes by so fast that I wasn't aware you were expecting a fast
reply :) Well we both need time before any decision is made but surely that
would be nice to join forces and have a new mag. To be honest UCM was more
like Moondog's baby and I, on my own, don't like the idea of having a new
main editor for Toxic Mag whereas I perfectly know everything is going to be
different...
about the shell : I also think that using the UCM shell would be nice esp
if we could find someone to code a Falcon version of it (or maybe we could
ask Mystic Bytes help and use their magnificient shell used in their SV2K
invitro ???).
I really don't have time now but I feel motivated enough to have a deep
thinking... I mean it's the only solution to keep at least one magazine
alive I think. We still have to find out if we are "mind" compatible :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, we've decided on the shell, and inadvertently named the new mag, just
look again at that last paragraph!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: larnac@hotmail.com ("sebastien Larnac" )
From: maggieteam@zetnet.co.uk (Christopher Ian Holland)
Organization: Maggie GHQ
Subject: Re: Undercover 20
>re hi Chris !
SNIP! Lots of non-relevant stuff removed!
>about the mag name : I first thought of SCENERS but it could appear too
>similar to Undercover Magascene and also targeted to sceners while I'd like
>it to draw as many Atarians as possible, sceners or not... Fujis all Around
>is a name I like too (meant to be the latest online compo on DHS but was
>quite a flop). If you have any idea, I'd be happy to share them !
>see you then, cheers
How about 'Fistful of Fuji's' - very spaghetti Western style. Abbreviates
nicely to 'FoF' magazine too..
Chris
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well here it is, the first attempt at naming the new mag. I liked that name,
maybe we should have just called it 'Clint Eastwood Mag' instead!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: larnac@hotmail.com ("sebastien Larnac" )
From: maggieteam@zetnet.co.uk (Christopher Ian Holland)
Organization: Maggie GHQ
Subject: Re: finding a new name
>Hi Chris !
>>How about 'Fistful of Fuji's' - very spaghetti Western style.
>>Abbreviates nicely to 'FoF' magazine too..
>To be honest, tho this name sounds good I think it's a bit too long and the
>abbreviation wouldn't be recognizable I'm afraid esp as there was a cracking
>band named FOF if I remember well (and I have no idea what their full name
>was :).
Fair enough, so something short and to the point better.. No more
ideas at the minute..
>Oki, let's try to find the suitable name then.... brainstorming ahead. Also
>remember that this name should be painted in each issue's banner and cover
>pic and once again your suggestion may be a problem as it features too many
>letters... Up to you now but i'm opened to all ideas (except for PC lovers
>:)
Names... A few (mainly bad) suggestions coming up..
Sit on your arse monthly
InertScene Zine
Felice Spanking Pages
Pizza Chaser
Elemental
Serial Killer Format
Morbid Text
Scene-Philes
Hex-Files (groan!)
Asian model cum bath extra!
AntiGates
You can tell not many of these are serious ;-)
Can you do better than this, surely you can...
Chris
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We're a couple more emails down the line now. Seb has shot down the Fistful
of Fuji idea, asked me to try again. BAD IDEA! On an odd note, I bet Future
Publishing did a 'Serial Killer Format'. Also 'Felice Spanking Pages' has
yet to find its publisher, but I'm sure it'll be a winner!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "sebastien Larnac" <larnac@hotmail.com>
To: maggieteam@zetnet.co.uk
Subject: Re: finding a new name
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2000 12:41:56 GMT
Hi Chris !
seems like we haven't been in touch for a while :) As always time runs
against me when I have to complete the latest UCM issue but I'm sure you
know the feeling :) Completion is getting on well, only a few articles are
expecting to reach my mailbox anytime now.
anyway it's time we think of our new name... I've come up with some ideas
i'm not too satisfied with to be honest...
ScenerZ > as said before I like the name but may sound too
elite directed
Atarivival > This one is of course a pun with the word 'revival' but
once written it becomes a bit confusing to read, don't u
think?
Fujis All Around > was the name of my - failed - online compo. I like
the idea but it would be difficult to find the adequate
abbreviation
Addicted > could fit in spite of the drug relation :)
Freaks > it may sound a bit odd and remind of elephant man :)
Alive > is the one I like most. Short and straight to the point.
Last but not least i've been thinking of your 'fistful of fujis' suggestion
and in spite of the many letters (may be hard to paint logos) it could fit.
But first let me know what you think of my ideas.
see you then, Sebastien
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seb comes up with a much better list, and look, there it is, 'Alive', for
the first time in there. So it was him who came up with the name in the end!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "sebastien Larnac" <larnac@hotmail.com>
To: maggieteam@zetnet.co.uk
Subject: Re: finding a new name
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2000 15:57:29 GMT
Hi Chris !
>I like 'Alive' a lot, short, elegant, and to the point (Might work
>with exclamation mark on end - hence, 'Alive!' )
Believe it or not, but the idea of adding an exclamation mark also reached
me after sending you this mail :) So I think we have found the new for our
diskmag :)
>I've read the sample article/advert, and there isn't really anything I
>need to add. It's a good idea to restate the need for more teamwork.
>People seem to forget that a lot of contributions are needed to make a
>successful diskmag work, and not just one or two people struggling all
>the time.
yeah ! I think we can rely on Paranoid and Tao who have always been
supportive since I became the UCM main editor. MC Laser will still handle
the emaillists but said he wouldn't be a permanent writer. I'm currently
looking around and see who could help out.
>One of the reasons for teaming up with you, is to rekindle the
>enthusiasm with active collaborators and Atari Scene fans that made
>Maggie so enjoyable. It also provides some sort of guarantee of
>release within a reasonable time-frame, as opposed to the present
>situation, where two diskmags are currrently running, but so damn
>slowly, as to not really be visible?
I would also like to offer new sections about other machines than the ST and
Falcon. I have a LYNX 2 that I love but haven't heard of games for years.
Yet thanks to some articles I received for UCM20 I found out that there were
still new games ! What about the Jaguar then ?
Ok now if we agree on the name ALIVE! then I think I can work on my article
called "Changing direction" :) Btw does Felice know about your decision to
work with me ? Could he be a permanent ALIVE! writer ? If you know someone
who could be helpful, don't hesitate to tell me
ok got to go now :) I may leave for Holland in a few days and visit some
Atarians so maybe I won't be online for a couple of weeks :) But i'll
release UCM 20 before of course.
I look forward to working from you !!
cheers, Sebastien
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
And that has sorted that issue out. So 'Alive!' it will be!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The formal announcement of this new marriage followed in UCM 20. All through
this period, I was still struggling to garner together the makings of a
decent issue for the 10th anniversary Maggie. I did manage to rally enough
time and a few articles for the first issue, which was released on the 10th
November 2000.
Alive from Undercover, a few words about the shell.
=====================================================
As described in the emails above, we decided to go with the existing
Undercover Mag (UCM) shell, as it was a dual ST/Falcon shell, without having
to make two separate versions an issue, as with Maggie.
The original shell was coded by Drizzt, and in appearance, is not much
changed from what we've got today. But there were bugs underlying it,
particularly with parts of the sound replay. There have been multiple
attempts to fix these bugs, but for some reason, they never quite lay to
rest. Various updated soundplayers were added, and the last major attempt to
rewrite came from Earx, and the code is itself open source.
It even seems that new bugs manage to creep in with each modification. Issue
9 of Alive managed to lose the ability to run in Falcon screen resolutions!
The shell has some nice features, including ST low-res pictures in text, the
ability to partially display different parts of that picture in various
places in the text. There is the less commonly used hyperlinking to other
textfiles elsewhere in the magazine. I gather there may be 8-channel modfile
playback now included. So far, no-one has got around to working on the open
sourcecode. If there is a Falcon-enhanced version with full colour
screengrabs catered for, to take one item from my wishlist, then the person
concerned is keeping it very quiet indeed. (Or multi-choice on fonts, or
user-configurable background and text colours, to take two more.)
There hasn't been any serious move to replace it with something else either.
In fact, out of all the aspects of producing Alive! I'd say that the shell
is the only real disappointment of the story.
Maggie versus Alive?
======================
The inevitable question arises as to how does Alive compare with Maggie for
the first five years? As you recall, Maggie managed seventeen regular issues
in that time period, including the birthday issue itself. If this sounds odd
considering the birthday issue was number 18, don't forget that there was a
missing issue 6!
Alive has been going at a slower rate of activity. We have managed twelve
issues in that time. In our case, there was the extra 'EIL special' to throw
the numbering system into confusion! The average issue of Alive tends to
resemble the later issues of Maggie in size, being bigger on the whole.
Whilst Alive has managed to appear consistently, albeit with a pause between
issues 8 and 9. Maggie had a major break, namely the long lay-off between
issues 10 and 11 in the 1992-3 period. After that, Maggie managed a decent
release rate in the order of 3-4 issues per year.
Maggie also went through much evolution on the menu shell. There were two
versions of the original Sammy Joe GFA Basic ST-News style menu. This is not
counting any possible clean-up attempts on the code inbetween? Then Delta
Force intervened with their fabulous custom shell, which lasted with
modifications right to the end. The Reservoir Gods got involved thereafter.
There was a fix to make it run on the Falcon. Then there was a further phase
of modification, with user-definable menu bars being added for issue 17,
finally for the 5th anniversary, there was an entire new custom Falcon
shell.
Also Maggie had three complete editorial changes in its first half-decade.
Each completely broke apart from the other' style. We started with Sammy
Joe's easygoing insider style, to the more distant 'Leet' attitudes of the
Delta Force team. The third editorial rebirth, you are intimately familiar
with today! By comparison, Alive has managed to maintain a much greater
continuity over the same timescale. We avoided a clean break when Seb left
the top job. The handover to Cyclone was relatively smooth. The Alive you
see today is recognisable from the product we put out on the launch issue.
I'm not sure if this is totally a good thing though, as this continuity also
reflects the slower pace of diskmag evolution and lesser resources available
in the last few years.
Some principal cast members in more detail.
=============================================
Here we consider the editorial team, and the more notable contributors to
past issues of Alive.
CiH. Yes, Im talking about myself in the third person again.
He is a writing machine when the deadlines loom. This fact is known from the
Maggie days. As 50% of the original two man editorial team, he was always
going to be a major contributor from issue 1. After the final issue of
Maggie was signed off, this role expanded as time went on. As with certain
later issues of Maggie, the longer pauses between more recent issues give
more scope for more text.
Editorially, CiH, had the best job, as he managed to neatly sidestep the
more hair-tearing job of physically building the issue. As well as chasing
late articles, this also involves the task of chasing graphics and music for
the shell, and intros were often promised but delivered late, if at all. He
had quite enough of doing that for Maggie, so was happy to leave this to the
others ;-)
ST Survivor, or STS was the first co-editor. Another experienced diskmag
editor who was able to seamlessly take up Alive from his experiences of
producing the Toxic Mag and Undercover Magascene. He did a good job both in
writing, and with the tedious process of contributor arse-kicking and
building the issue. I would say that he contributed as much as I did on the
writing side, and took care of important sections like the interviews almost
entirely on his own. Eventually the frustration inherent in diskmag editor
job got too much, as it does for all of us. He decided to give it up after
issue 8, but he is still around as a useful contributor, so I guess he got
out in good time before the damage got too far reaching! His contributions
are always worth reading.
Cyclone (CXT), stepped in to take over from STS. There was a long delay for
the first Cyclone headed issue, number 9, but issue 10 followed shortly
thereafter. He generally carried on as before. There was no alarming change
of style. I've found him to be an effective communicator and maintainer of
the two-man editorial partnership. This is a team which works well.
He was also responsible for the web edition of Alive. In general, Alive
seems to have survived the transition to Cyclone, and is prospering.
And we have another team member, who can be considered as another of the
joint editors. This is none other than Moondog, the Undercover Magascene
editor extraordinaire. He has been doggedly plugging on with UCM almost
alone, but decided to come in with us latterly, as there were not sufficient
resources coming in to maintain UCM. You all know Moony, he brings his own
distinct style, adding a degree of tabasco heat to some of his reviews, but
this is backed up with a very fine-tuned critical judgment which generally
gets it spot on.
There are several other worthy people who have helped us out over the last
five years. Only just down from the editorial team is Oliver Heun or
Paranoid. His role in Undercover, then Alive was as a sort of extra editor,
or perhaps a super-contributor. In my opinion, his finest hour was his
detailed analysis of the Milan 2 debacle. He also kept us informed of the
changes at Sega, being a big fan of that companies products. Unfortunately,
we've missed him lately, as he didn't feel compatible with the change of
management.
Exocet revealed a useful writing talent, and has donated some very nice
cover pictures as well.
I remember Marrss had a special relationship with us. He was a very copious
contributor for some of the earlier issues, with much of it being netgrabbed
;-) He could also write reasonably good original articles, when pushed in
that direction latterly.
George Nakos, or GGN, has been with us all along. Apart from contributing
several articles, he also managed to get in with an intro for the first
issue.
Dma-Sc is another semi-regular who contributes well on the music reviews.
Many people have written for us. The names are a good cross section of the
current Atari scene. So we greet Earx, Evil, Havoc, Deez, 505, Felice, Jace,
Cooper, Strider, and even people like Mr Pink when they are on day release
from Electronic Arts. There will be others that we overlooked, for which I
apologise.
I'm going to mention Ray of tSCc being good with coding articles, and
contributing that brilliant issue 5 intro as well.
In more recent issues, we've also had people like Simon Sunnyboy and gwEm
signing up to join the 'team'. Their fresh presence is most welcome.
Overall, many active people have been motivated to contribute something over
the years. Alive is mainly the reflection of the views and work of a smaller
number people when all said and done. This is like the later stages of
Maggie, when casual writers were also getting hard to find there.
Sort of returning to the previous topic, it is useful to compare the Alive
team line-up with that of Maggie. The Maggie team included a lot more
people, but this was over a very long time, with two or three almost
complete changes of personnel, in the ten years, and a huge quantity of
casual fly-by-night contributors in the early days. There were some strange
characters who flew in, and drifted out again. There is a corner of Maggie
hell that is forever Alan Johnston and Captain Cockup! I don't think we'd
write something in a drunken haze now, although the 'TBC' "interview" in
this issue, which was done 'live' on IRC might have come close!
Now, the people we have got, are generally those people which are still
around from the last five years. This reflects a slowing down and greater,
dare I say, maturity amongst the participants in the Atari scene now. I
can't help recalling how relentlessly young the Sammy Joe issues of Maggie
were.
Some other people's views..
=============================
What has Alive meant to you in the last few years?
Co-editors, CXT and STS for sure, maybe throw open to more people (DHS bbs
posting?)
Seb (STS) is the first person to step up and answer that question, he
graphically compares himself to Sigourney Weaver in the following extract;
"Alive was like giving birth to an alien to me : meaning it totally blew my
asshole and I'm still feeling the pain 5 years later" :)))
We also get a useful missive from Carbon about his feelings for Alive.
"To me, Alive brought back happy memories of the days gone by. The time when
diskmags were plentiful and I would excitively await the next issue. The
name is significant in that it sums up the entire Atari scene today - it's
not dead, it's still alive and you are not going to kill it! Total
highlights of the magazine over the years have always been CiH's random
topics which seems to spiral out of control into an amusing mess. But he's a
funny guy! Alive for ever."
Simon Osborne aka Carbon, aka Flibble
(do I get that fiver now?) - Er, no. (Ed)
Well to update this small and never-growing part, it is now mid-November, and
no-one else has been motivated to put their thoughts on Alive! over the past
five years into text.
I'm in a good mood, I'll be charitable and say that people are working too
hard on their part of the 20th Anniversary ST Megademo DHS competition, to
want to add to this. Now that is an anniversary worth celebrating!
So where to next?
===================
The diskmag in the webzine age and other issues considered..
The question of a diskmag being relevant in the internet age is always
pertinent, and the answer is constantly being reshaped in new and subtle
forms.
Diskmags and webzine boundaries are blurring, current diskmags now offer
both traditional shell and website options. The 'hot news' function was
taken over by the web a long time ago. Now it also seems the valuable
'community' function of diskmags is also running on web domains such as
Pouet, or our closer to home Dead Hackers site.
So we must ask how Alive has fared against a background of fading diskmags?
It is getting to the point on the mainstream scene, that even Hugi is having
to put back deadlines for lack of contributions. On the other hand, other
systems like the C64 and Amiga still have a great interest in the
traditional diskmag. Also the recent 'Pain' issue was greeted with
jubilation through the mainstream scene. So it seems that if you do it
right, there is still plenty of interest in the traditional diskmag.
The immediate competition, has faded. We are not quite the last, as Chosneck
is still going, with a super-intense Falcon shell, but is suffering from
lack of time. As for the mighty Undercover Magascene. That has suffered from
the drop in contributions to the extent where they have thrown in their lot
with us.
There is also the possibility of going for a complete web issue solution,
and abolishing the menu shell. In my opinion, the major weakness of Alive is
with the lack of updating and innovating on the shell program. As we
discussed earlier, it seems to be almost resistant to attempts to improve
it? Capability-wise, this is somewhere between the Delta Force ST Maggie
shell, and the Reservoir Gods Falcon Maggie shell. It is biased towards the
ST end of capabilities, and there are those persistent bugs, in spite of the
best efforts of various people to remove these. There is no real prospect
for replacement as far as I can tell?
Personally, I could accept web issues, as long as these are done as proper
issues, and are also available as offline 'packages'. Alive 11 will be my
first 'broadband' issue, so the time spent online and scope for rapid
downloads is less critical than before. There would be a welcome scope for
proper screenshots in decent colours.
Having said that, there are still a substantial number of people expecting a
ST diskmag within a fairly traditional format, if the recent online DHS poll
is a reliable guide, so who are we to disappoint them? Then again, I seem to
remember that a large part of the appeal of Maggie was its ability to
reinvigorate itself from time to time. The Alive shell environment seems to
be gently fossilising? There will be no quick and easy answer to the
question of what should we do next.
A wider scene perspective on diskmags..
=========================================
Across the scene, diskmags tend to be occasional rather than frequent
releases, more like conventional software than magazines. The wider view
suggests that there is a strong demand for diskmags for that older hardware
which isn't connected so easily to the net. Indeed, the better diskmags are
considered to be guardians of the scene spirit.
In fact, where the wider scene has been exposed to Alive, such as Pouet.net,
the reaction has been very positive. Maybe diskmags are coming back into
fashion, with the controversy over recent Hugi issues, and what almost seems
to be a diskmag hunger on the comments for the latest issue of Pain.
Conclusion..
==============
It's been an enjoyable five years. Time just seems to have melted by. There
never was a plan to go on for a set period, just like Maggie really. We took
each issue as it came, putting one foot in front of the other, and all of a
sudden, we're knocking on the door of the half-decade!
I'm not going to say anything about the chance of doing the full ten years,
no, that would be ridiculous!
CiH for Alive! Mag,Oct '05
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