IMG Mailbox
Letters to the Editors

CD-ROM Version Wows’em
Dear IMG: I have been working on the October IMG CD-ROM for several days now and thought I should give you my opinion. It is absolutely wonderful and better than I anticipated. I like everything including the ads which offer entertainment as well as information when accompanied by a demo. David Alstott - Leicester, North Carolina

Dear IMG: Man, you guys have sure hit a new high with the October IMG CD! The expanded issue looks great. The QuickTime interview with Eric Parker was especially
slick. The inherent value of the CD is absolutely amazing for less that $6 (delivered!) Mac Gamers have access to all the latest demos, cheaters, bug fixes, patches, upgrades, shareware games, and stunning original and exclusive (as far as I can tell) QuickTime and Screenshots (and more!). Downloading even a fraction of this stuff would cost far more.  IMHO, IMG CD is nothing less than essential. Steve Pollock via AOL

Dear IMG: You guys have really outdone yourselves on this one.  I was already wasting a good amount of time every month reading the Internet version cover to cover.  Now I get this and see all the demos, slide shows,  expanded reviews, and other e-zines.  Tell me when I am going to have  time to play all the great games you review?  Anyway, just thought I  would give you another rave review on the new format (much better than  the IMG CD from February, keep ‘em coming!) Craig Luis via Internet

Looking For an Index
Dear IMG: This morning, I was trying to find a review in a back issue of Inside Mac
Games. Fortunately, I had just received the October CD-ROM version with all
the 1994 back issues, so I didn’t need to go unstuffing each month’s issue
until I found the article in question. However, a thought occurred to
me--how about an annual or semiannual index? Some sort of search engine
would be megagroovy, but even a plain text file with article titles and
issue numbers would be a big help. Any plans for this? Brent Sleeper via eWorld

Dear IMG: Do you have any plans to include an index of past articles on the CD version of IMG? It would be very helpful to be able to look up a review or an article in a central index, rather than having to open each issue and scan the table of contents. LOVE the magazine! I’m looking forward to the next issue with great anticipation. Todd Ruston - Pomona, CA

- An index has been one of the most requested features in IMG. Click the icon below to check out the new IMG Back Issues Index (you can also find it in the More Goodies folder). Be sure to use the Find feature to search for demos, articles, etc.

IMG October CD-ROM Problems
Dear IMG: Now that I have had a chance to thoroughly browse the contents of your new CD-ROM based edition of your magazine, I would like to express my thoughts:  WOW!  I was impressed with the quantity and quality of the content.  

The only 2 complaints that I have. The first thing is that the slide show feature did not work, so I had to use drag and drop to view the files.  Not bad, but it got a little tiresome after the first 20 files.  

The other “complaint” that I have is that I wished the CD would come with a jewel case sheet so that I could slide into the front of a CD jewel case to save your work.  I have two reasons for this.  First, It would be nice to have a printed output of the terrific “cover page” of this month’s edition.  Second, the back could be used to list all the contents (Patches, shareware games, demos).  That way, I don’t have to search through each CD (after I have collected a few!) to find a particular patch or game should the need arise.  Aside from this oversight, you have produced a quality product and everyone involved should get a collective pat on the back! Bill Waits via AOL

- The slide show problem was a bug on the October CD-ROM. Please use the IMG Oct Slide Show Fix found in the More Goodies folder if you wish to view the Slide Shows from the October CD-ROM

We thought long and hard about how and what to ship the CD-ROMs in. We had two choices, either mail the CD-ROMs in a fancy, colorful jewelbox-like case (which would also add to the postage) or send it in the blank CD-ROM disc mailers. If we would have chosen the first option, we would have had to increase the subscription price from $59 to over $79 a year. This is due the expensive jewelcases, added postage, 4-color printing, etc, etc. We decided to pass on the savings to our subscribers by mailing the CD’s in disc mailers. So, for now, we will keep on sending them in disc mailers. The feedback we’ve gotten from most people has been favorable, but a few understandably would like a more reliable storage device.

IMG will be offering the LaserLine Flip Disc (pictured below) at a price of $12, plus $3 shipping and handling ($5 shipping outside the US.). The Flip Disc is very strong, holds up to 12 CD’s, and is the coolest CD-ROM storage device on the market. To order the Flip Disc, please use the IMG Order Form to place your order. —TD 

Hollowed Reviews
Dear IMG: I do have one critique of the writing your magazine. Some reviewers tend to summarize the manual to an embarrassing extent. I cannot remember offhand the names of the reviewers guilty of this reviewing sin, but I think you are aware of the fault. If I were caught doing something similar in my field of book reviewing, I would not find very many readers wanting to be told what they would read verbatim when they purchased the book anyway. Am I being too harsh? Rhetorically, no. This is a professional publication, and I believe that the same standards apply across the spectrum. When a reviewer uses to many of the words found in the material being reviewed, a certain energy is lost in the reviewer’s own words; their conclusions about the work being reviewed become hollow. I’m sure you’ve noticed these faults and have already taken steps to dissuade future reviews from the same nasty habit. Steven Howland - Athens, Ohio

A Game Addict’s Heaven
Dear IMG: I read with interest your announcement regarding “Outland Game Network.” As a online game addict <g>, I would like to see some reviews of online games. There are many available these days, all the major networks (CIS & GEnie that I know of) have several. Some are IBM only, some IBM, Mac & others. Good reviews could help me separate the wheat from the chaff, and not waste my online dollars. 

I’d be very interested in hearing more about the “Outland Game Network.” Currently I am playing an online game through a company called “MultiPlayers Game Network” (1-800-GET-GAME). I’d be very interested in hearing how these companies stack up against each other. Jim Oberwetter via AOL

- Be sure to check out this month’s article on the Outland Game Network! Next month we’ll be looking at OMNI games, and other new online game networks in future issues. —TD 

Letters to IMG. If you have a question, problem, comment, suggestion, or idea, just drop us a line. All letters become property of Inside Mac Games. We reserve the right to edit any letters.