Vique's Law:
"A man without religion is like a fish without a bicycle."
AN ATTEMPT AT A RATHER COMPREHENSIVE DISK MAGAZINE ROUNDUP
- or -
(WHY NOT?)
THE PENULTIMATE DISK MAGAZINE ENCYCLOPAEDIA (*)
by Richard Karsmakers
The recent year or so has seen somewhat of a boom with regard to
disk based magazines on the Atari ST. Reason enough for me to get
into contact with some of them, and sufficient reason to set out
collecting some. The idea of this survey came from Dave Mooney's
"ST Enthusiasts Newsletter" (a disk magazine), but I decided to
do the article all anew with my own remarks and views on the
subject - and with use of my own research, mostly. I have tried
to gather information not only about the new ones - I will also
present you with some facts concerning the old and the dead
ones...
Nonetheless, thanks need to go to Dave for lots of help!
Further thanks need to go to Paul Glover of the ST Club for
sending me some of them!
ACUSG
A disk magazine coming from a London Atari ST user group. At
least 2 issues are known to have come out, but they probably
ceased existing after Volume 1 Issue 2. Articles were tiny
(displayed in dialog boxes), and accent was put on programs that
could be run from the shell. The last known issue (i.e. Volume 1
Issue 2) was released in June 1987.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A custom one that was quite bad.
Latest issue: Not certain; probably Volume 1 Issue 2.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
Atari Digest
These are messages and discussions taken off UseNet and
consequently edited. It is primarily focused on American
interests, and a treat for the technically interested. The latest
documented issue is number 206 - a number that also suffices to
let you know how long they've been going on and at what
approximate frequency it appears.
Status: Public Domain, on-line.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Probably still alive.
Language: English.
Athene
I have never seen this on-line magazine. For sake of
completeness I have included it here. It seems to focus primarily
on fiction, and seems to be quite like "Quanta" (Cf.). It is a
monthly publication, and its editor is Jim McCabe.
Status: Public Domain, on-line.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Alive, but not certain.
Language: English.
Big Night Out
Another magazine I have never seen. One issue seems to have
appeared, and it sounds quite English.
Status: Unknown.
User interface: Not known.
Address: Unknown.
Health: Unknown.
Language: Unknown.
Church ST User
This disk magazine which recently arose is set up bij the
Reverend Joe Clemson. Its intent is the forming of a forum for
the mutual support of the Atari ST in Christian Work. It features
Public Domain software, and tries to promote the ST in PC-
dominated pious circles. A subscription to the three 1992 issues
cost £3.50. It's mainly aimed at the UK.
Status: Commercial (sort of).
User interface: Not known.
Latest issue: Not known, probably number 1.
Address: 33 Cromer Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear,
NE9 6UL, England.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
CIP ST
This was the magazine of a German user group, done by editor
Ulrich Veigel. The last documented issue that got out was issue
4, of May 1988. The program has an own shell which consisted of a
large program in which all articles were integrated. Article
loading times, thus, were nonexistent. Loading the program took
quite long, though.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A custom one.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: German.
DargonZine
This is yet another on-line magazine. It has not yet been seen,
but it is known that it focuses primarily in fiction, too. It
does stories written for the Dargon Project, a shared-world
anthology similar to (and inspired by) Robert Asprin's Thieves'
World anthologies, created by David "Orny" Liscomb in his now
retired magazine, FSFNet. The Dargon Project centers around a
medieval-style duchy called Dargon in the far reaches of the
Kingdom of Baranur on the world named Makdiar, and as such
contains stories with a fantasy fiction/sword and sorcery flavor.
It surely sound very inspired, but, as said, no hands-on opinions
are available. The editor is called Dafydd (?).
Status: Public Domain, on-line.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Alive, but not certain.
Language: English.
Discbox
A disk mag that takes a 'new' approach to the concept, by
showing the articles as "Degas" pictures through a slideshow
program. Articles are extremely brief, and about 40-50 pics
appear in one issue. Lots of the screens are dedicated to ads for
the people who put it out, which are the Prophecy P.D. Library
folks.
Color only.
Status: Commercial.
User interface: No. Well, maybe 'yes', a slideshow program.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: 1,571 Dumbarton Road, Scotstown, Glasgow G14 9XE,
Scotland
Health: Probably alive.
Language: English.
Disk Magazin
A short-lived initiative by Timo Schmidt, who is now one of the
German staff writers of "Maggie" (Cf.). "Disk Magazine" was
published in Germany, and had a user interface that was, by
today's standards, very clumsy to work with.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes, a custom one.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: German.
Disk Space
Though still suffering from the odd bug in its fresh user
interface, "Disk Space" is a promising disk magazine that we're
likely to hear more of in the future. Its editor is Jason
Reucassel, who has nothing against publishing lots of fiction in
his mag - good idea!
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A custom one.
Latest issue: Issue 2.
Address: 10 Stewarts Way, Marlow Bottom, Marlow, Bucks SL7 3QL,
England
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
DNT Paper
Although the editorial contents are entirely in French, this mag
leaves a good impression, even though everything seems a bit slow
(between screens, 'calculating' when going up or down a page,
etc.). It's made by the DNT Crew, consisting of two chaps that
call themselves Flips & Pips. It only runs on colour.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes, a custom one.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: 5, Bis Rue de Planchepaleuil, F-63200 Rion, France.
Health: Alive.
Language: English and French.
F.A.S.T.E.R.
The magazine that started everything with regard to a neat user
interface - one of the very earliest ST disk magazines, having
started somewher in the autumn of 1986. It was Canadian of
origin, and I seem to recall that some of the earliest issues had
a set of English articles and their copies in French. Later
issues were English only. They were the first that had a user
interface, and they survived about two years - probably because
they were commercial. Last known issue was Volume 2 Issue 4.
The "F.A.S.T.E.R." user group still lives on, and is one of our
foreign distributors.
Status: Commercial.
User interface: Yes. A custom one (the first one).
Latest issue: Volume 2 Issue 4.
Address: No longer relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: Used to be French and English. Later issues were only
in English.
Inc Magazine
A disk mag offered by the Incoders, a demo crew from Sweden.
Made by a bunch of real enthusiasts, but once said (I quote) to
have "the effect of a bunch of schoolkids leaping up and down".
Articles are short and its appeal is limited.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes, a custom one.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Not known.
Language: English.
Inside Info
A bi-monthly disk magazine published by the New South Wales bit
of "ACE" (Atari Computer Enthusiasts). It's basically a magazine
for members, so it includes meeting minutes and stuff like that.
Looks OK, especially if you want to stay in touch with down
under. Has a good shell, but you have to wade through a bit too
much before you can get down to the actual reading.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes, the Infodisk shell.
Latest issue: Issue 57.
Address: 20 Blairgourie Circuit, St. Andrews, NSW 2556,
Australia.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
Interleave
A rather excellent disk magazine with literary tendencies that,
unfortunately, folded after two cult issues that appeared in
1991. Its editor was Tom Zunder, who fills the mag with
"software, music, films and sex". What more would one want? Tom
is now writing both for ST NEWS and the "ST Enthusiasts
Newsletter".
For more info, please refer to the review elsewhere in this
issue of ST NEWS.
Status: Licenceware.
User interface: The S.A.N.D. shell.
Latest issue: Number 2.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
Ledgers Magazine
This is the demo group "Untouchables" disk magazine, of which
nine issues have appeared so far. It's from England, and it's
very enthusiastic and full of humour (and indeed, seems to
consist primarily of it). Features short articles, but many of
them. One of the best and definitely one of the most zany disk
magazines around. Separate programs used to be featured for
half/full meg machines, due to the fact that the articles were
located within the main program file. Now the user interface
usually consists of a mega-demo-like playfield with selectable
bunches of articles as opposed to demo screens. The editor and
chief coder is Matt Sullivan. Neat intros. Color only. They seem
to appear about every month, which is quite a feat!
For more info refer to the review elsewhere in ST NEWS.
See elsewhere in this issue for a more complete review!
Status: Licenceware, shareware as of issue 9. Costs £3.
User interface: Yes. A fully custom one. It differs per issue.
Latest issue: Issue 9.
Address: 24 Kingsway West, Penwortham, Preston, Lancs PR1 0JA,
United Kingdom.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
Maggie
Now probably one of the most successful disk magazines on the
ST, having started some two or three years ago. Initiated by the
British Lost Boys and almost entirely written by Michael
Schussler. The latest issue is unbelievably much better, with a
slick menu, music, picture and a fast page viewer. Definitely one
of the top quality disk mags on the ST nowadays, though very
demo-oriented.
See this issue's "ST Software News" for more in-depth comments.
Status: Licenceware.
User interface: Yes. A nice custom one.
Latest issue: Number 8, version 2.
Address: Seestraße 34/II, D-7254 Hemmingen, West Germany.
Health: Alive.
Language: English, with some German.
MAST Newsdisk
In 1988, our ex-US distributor David Meile started his own disk
magazine with the MAST user group. It was called "MAST Newsdisk",
of which only two issues have been known to be released (the last
one in April 1988). It used the "Newsdisk" shell program.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. The "Newsdisk" shell.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
News Channel
A fellow Dutch disk magazine that arose somewhere in 1987, and
that survived a bit over 1 year. Somewhat notorious for its
mainly polemic battle with yours truly - mainly concerning them
using our authors, our music and our foreign distributor network.
Some of the people behind "News Channel" are getting back in
the picture with "STabloid" (Cf.).
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A custom one.
Latest issue: Volume 2 Issue 1.
Address: No longer relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
Nutworks
Available through US networks, this is a multi-format on-line
disk magazine which concentrates on stories, jokes, songs and
everything you might care to think of. Not particularly computer-
related. At least 20 issues have been made.
Status: Public Domain, on-line.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Not known.
Language: English.
ON-Disk
A British disk magazine by Paul Wilson. Last known issue is
number 3, that appeared spring 1988. The program had quite an
unintuitive and buggy user interface, but the editorial contents
were OK.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A custom one that was not too good.
Latest issue: Not certain, but probably number 3.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
Quanta
A multi-format on-line magazine that concentrates solely on the
publication of fiction. And quite excellent fiction, one might
want to add. It was founded in 1989 by editor Daniel K.
Appelquist. The last reported issue is Volume 3 Issue 5 of
December 1991. A total of 12 issues have appeared so far.
Status: Public Domain, on-line.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: UCC A-68, 4910 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburg, PA 15213, USA.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
STabloid
Fabulous looking disk magazine made in Holland by Sewersoft and
Galtan Six. Very inspired, but a bit slow at finally becoming
available (only a preview issue so far, that came out in
September 1991). The only serious competition for the new type of
"Maggie" (Cf.). For a full review, please refer to ST NEWS Volume
7 Issue 1. Color only.
Status: Commercial.
User interface: Yes. A custom one that's rather brilliant.
Latest issue: The preview one.
Address: Houttuinen 6, NL-2611 AH Delft, The Netherlands.
Health: In the process of getting born properly.
ST Age
After "STUNN" (Cf.) died, Dave Burns started off with "ST Age".
Status: Not known.
User interface: Not known.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: 10 Tilly Close, Staddiscombe, Plymouth PL9 9DD,
England.
Health: Alive, but not definitely certain (might be in the
process of getting born).
Language: English.
STampede
Another mag I have never seen. From what I've heard of other
people, I should be well glad of this. It was commercial, made in
England, and largely filled with ads, lists of PD software and
'free games'. Basically a load of ballocks as far as I've heard.
It ceased to exist quite a while ago.
Status: Commercial.
User interface: Not known.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
STanzine
Would have been called "ST World" but eventually wasn't. Its aim
is humorous coverage of ST and stuff. It costs £1.50 (or £1.00 if
you send your own disk). The editor is Martin Betts. So far, only
one issue seems to have been released.
Status: Commercial.
User interface: Yes. The S.A.N.D. shell.
Latest issue: Not known, probably 1.
Address: 5, Hempsted Mews, Lakeview Park, Chapel Break,
Bowthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk, NR5 9NL, England.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
ST Applications
Not to be mistaken with the British "ST Club" 'regular'
magazine, this is an American effort. Offers loads of programs
with it.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Not known.
Latest issue: Volume 1 Issue 7
Address: Not known.
Health: Not known.
Language: English.
ST Bulletin
The Dutch disk magazine, intended to be the reincarnation of "ST
Info" (Cf.) that quit end 1988. It never happened, unfortunately.
ST Digital
Quite an excellent disk magazine, but unfortunarely written only
in German. Its editor and programmer, Christian Geltenpoth,
surely was one hell of a talented chap. In 1989, his shell
already offered pictures within the text and all that. It only
works on old TOS versions and monochrome monitors. Last reported
issue is number 2.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes, a rather nifty custom one.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: German.
Stellar
Another magazine I have never seen. One issue seems to have
appeared.
Status: Unknown.
User interface: Not known.
Address: Unknown.
Health: Unknown.
Language: Unknown.
ST Enthusiasts Newsletter
One of the best disk magazines around, from editor Dave Mooney.
Enthusiastic and very much alive. They started at issue 0. For a
full review, please refer to ST NEWS Volume 7 Issue 1.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A custom one.
Latest issue: Number 9.
Address: 14 School Road, Morningside, Newmains, Lanarkshire ML2
9QW, Scotland.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
ST Klubben
This magazine was started, I believe, in 1988. It was initiated
by the infamous Nutty Norwegians. It's almost an exact ST NEWS
clone, founded by ex-editor Ronny Hatlemark. It's also a bit of a
mag for members of "ST Klubben" (a Norwegian ST club), but a good
one. It is now done by Torbjørn Ose and his apprentice, Karl-
Anders.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A good one.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Haueteigen 1, N-6150 Ørsta, Norway.
Health: Alive, though rumours involve death pending.
Language: Norwegian.
ST Info
This mag appeared from Holland in 1987 and 1988, initiated by
Chun Wing Lai. It was a good magazine, but did not have a user
interface and basically consisted of a large "1st Word Plus"
file. Was supposed to fold and re-emerge in "ST Bulletin" (with
user interface), which did not happen.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
ST News
The oldest ST disk magazine, started July 1986. Originates from
Holland. Nothing more to be said here.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. And a rather nice one, actually (ahem).
Latest issue: Volume 7 Issue 2.
Address: Sibeliuspark 771, NL-5343 BT Oss, The Netherlands.
Health: Alive and very much kickin'.
Language: English.
STOP
Never seen. It is firmly believed to be dead, too. All that is
known is that it once existed and that it was a German-based mag
of the "GfA Basic" users.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Not known.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Dead.
Language: German and English.
ST Plug
This one originated from Canada. At least 14 issues were made,
the last two being from June and August 1990 respectively.
Editor: Dan Panke. The last issues are licenceware; at least up
to issue 7 they were Public Domain. In North America they may be
distributed by User Groups by purchasing "ST Plug" disk labels
for $2 a piece. User interface allows pics to be show through
imbedded commands in the text. Offers many programs on disk.
Status: Licenceware.
User interface: A custom one called "Peruser".
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: 1670 Heron Rd., Box 22026, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1V
0C2.
Health: Probably alive.
Language: English.
ST Programmer
This magazine, written by editors Terry Mancey and Richard Gale,
is aimed at the ST programming fraternity. Although one will not
find the hottest demo tricks here, it does offer lots of useful
information for the layman and averagely experienced programmer.
The mag even features some of the editors' own programming
things, like games and such. Only works in color and with TOS 1.0
(at least not with my 1.4).
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. An STOS one.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: 34 Austin Avenue, North Prospect, Plymouth, Devon PL2
2LD, England.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
ST Report
A U.S. based on-line magazine. About two or three issues are
made per month. Public Domain. The last issue reported is Issue
43 of June 1988. Its death, however, is not certain, so they
might have done another couply of dozen issues by now.
Status: Public Domain, on-line.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Uncertain.
Language: English.
STuffed
The disk magazine by Steve Delaney's "Floppyshop". A rather nice
one, based around a picture of a desk top where clicking on
relevant items resulted in the loading of submenus from which
articles could be selected. Pictures could be loaded with the
articles, which was altogether a good thing. Unfortunately it
only worked on color.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
STUNN
This is the "ST UNemployed Newsletter", which was principally
free if you join the group (which cost £1). The magazine was
quite slow and didn't offer lots of articles, but the user
interface constantly played some digi music - all docs are loaded
at booting.
Status: Public Domain (sortof).
User interface: Yes. The DiskZine shell.
Latest issue: Number 10.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
ST XPress
An American disk magazine that offers lots of Public Domain
software. Last known issue is Volume 2 Issue 7. It was made by
Rich Decowski, editor of the regular American magazine "ST
XPress". Its custom shell could de-ARC programs and was quite OK.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: Yes. A custom one called "Diskmate".
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not relevant.
Health: Dead.
Language: English.
Untouchables Disk Magazine, The
See "Ledgers Magazine".
Way Station
A disk magazine that is yet in the stages of being born, with
the first issue due whenever a user interface will be done and
enough articles can be compiled. It intends, like "Quanta" (Cf.),
to focus on fiction. Its editor is Bryan H. Joyce, quite a
talented writer of fiction himself.
Status: Public Domain.
User interface: It will get one.
Latest issue: None so far.
Address: 25 Glenacre Road, North Carbrain, Cumbernauld G67 2NS,
Scotland.
Health: In the process of being born.
Language: English.
Z-Net
An oldie here. Up to November 1990, they have done 545 issues
and there will have been more as you read this. It primarily
focuses on compiling messages and documents found on BBS systems,
and brings lots of American news (as it has not been physically
sighted, it could actually also be Australian).
There may be different magazines with the same name here, as
September 1990 saw Volume II Number 8 as well (miraculously).
This is all very confusing.
Status: Public Domain, on-line.
User interface: No.
Latest issue: Not known.
Address: Not known.
Health: Alive.
Language: English.
In case you are editor of a disk magazine not mentioned here, or
in case you're the editor of one that's mentioned here
incorrectly or incompletely, please feel free to send information
to ST NEWS, c/o Richard Karsmakers, Looplantsoen 50, NL-3523 GV
Utrecht, The Netherlands. Your latest issue would be appreciated
(returned on a disk you will then get the latest issue of ST
NEWS).
(*) The reason for the asterisk following the subtitle is the
fact that a revised version may be published in a future
issue of ST NEWS, pending the large amount of correspondence
I hope to receive from the editors of the above mentioned
magazines (containing the latest issues and miscellaneous
historic remarks).
Disclaimer
The text of the articles is identical to the originals like they appeared
in old ST NEWS issues. Please take into consideration that the author(s)
was (were) a lot younger and less responsible back then. So bad jokes,
bad English, youthful arrogance, insults, bravura, over-crediting and
tastelessness should be taken with at least a grain of salt. Any contact
and/or payment information, as well as deadlines/release dates of any
kind should be regarded as outdated. Due to the fact that these pages are
not actually contained in an Atari executable here, references to scroll
texts, featured demo screens and hidden articles may also be irrelevant.