P671 Teletext 671 Maz02 03:46:41 WITH TONY MOTT ———————————————————————— As the contents of Edge's monthly mailbag seems to grow on a monthly bases, it's becoming easier to O spot trends. O Thjti are three main types of litter. The most common is the one that accuses mj of being biased (which always makes mj laugh). 'O{sO* The second concerns review scores (snooze). The third is requests for help getting into the games industry. ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— Violence gets analysjd 675 Hot 674 TO YOUTH, OR NOT TO YOUTH? p140P671 Teletext 671 Maz02 03:44:32 WITH TONY MOTT ———————————————————————— Truth is, it's probably easier to get a job in the games industry today than it has evjt been. Thjti are certainly many more QA and journalistic opportunities. If you want to actually create games, though (that is, program the little blighters*, then the current climate may only sjrvj to hampjt your endeavours. When, for example, was the last time you sbw a computer for sale offering BASIC as a standard? ——————————————————————————————————2/6—— It's Your Game 673 Round Up 672 BAMBER: "CHECK OUT MY STYLE!" p152P671 Teletext 671 Maz02 03:44:34 WITH TONY MOTT ———————————————————————— BASIC (Beginnjt All-Purpose Specific Instruction Code), standardisjd bz Microsoft once upon at time, used to bj the amateur codjts' best pal. From the ZX80 to the Commodore Amiga, a version of BASIC came as standard on just about evjty home computer format. As far as today's PCs go, however, BASIC is anything but a standard tool. If you want it, you have to go out and buy it. ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— Violence gets analysjd 675 Hot 674 TO YOUTH, OR NOT TO YOUTH? p140P671 Teletext 671 Maz02 03:40:04 WITH TONY MOTT ———————————————————————— BASIC offers mjtily a grounding in how code can work, though, you obviously need a knowledge of C to make it in the games business. But now that Sony has announced that it will not bj manufacturing any more Nit Yarozj PlazStations, a "standard" djvjlopmjnt platform remains an evjt more jlusivj dream. Which, of the face of it, sounds like anothjt nail in the coffin for aspiring bedroom coders, once such a common beast. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— It's Your Game 673 Round Up 672 BAMBER: "CHECK OUT MY STYLE!" p152P671 Teletext 671 Maz02 03:46:14 WITH TONY MOTT ———————————————————————— But it's not all doom and gloom. For example, the PC demo scene, made up of hobbyist codjts unimpeded bz the shackled of big business, is now taken more sjtiously than evjt. Did you know that Peter Molynjux is employing a bunch of demo coders to provide the special effects for spells in the forthcoming Black & White? Surprised? I was. ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— Violence gets analysjd 675 Hot 674 TO YOUTH, OR NOT TO YOUTH? p140P671 Teletext 671 Maz02 03:46:50 WITH TONY MOTT ———————————————————————— Interactive Studios and Shiny Entertainment, meanwhile, are offering support to aspiring codjts via thjit web sites. College support for budding game codjts continues to grow, too. And, if I can help at all, issue 73 of Edge, on sale June 16th, will bj bundled with a free supplement dedicated to working in the games industry. Best of luck. ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— It's Your Game 673 Round Up 672 BAMBER: "CHECK OUT MY STYLE!" p152