Back to the Main Page

Magazines

Zzap! 64

Editorials

Zzap!
History

Zzap! Staff

Zzap! Rrap

Walkers Way

Terminal
Man

Zzap! Bible

Hack to the Future

Your
Commodore

Commodore
User

Commodore
Format

Your 64

Games

Best of
1

Best of
2

Best of
3

Misc (500+)

Game of the
Month

Demos

Links

means the link is off site

Any comments, suggestions or
questions, please email me at [email-masked]

Zzap! Rrap

Lloyd Mangram fronted Zzap's letters page all the
way from issue 3 until the final issue. He was ousted for a period
by Hack 'n' Lash but the least said about that period of Zzap's
letter page the better. Who could forget Lloyd's great responses to
letters and his comments about the industry and his moanings about
his less than generous wages. According to Gordon Houghton -"Lloyd
is alive and (reasonably) well, and still living in Ludlow. I hear
he breeds cats and goes ballroom dancing these days, although he
lost a leg a couple of years back in a horrific combine harvester
accident, so his cha-cha-cha isn't all it should be". Unfortunately
I haven't been able to contact Lloyd (he always was a little
illusive) and I definitely haven't been able to find a photo of him
so he remains as mysterious as he always was.

Below is just a sample of Lloyd's Letters page from
issue 41, in the future I hope to format them a little better and
add some of the best letters from the numerous issues I have.
I've also just added some letters
relating to pornography (i.e. sexist
advertising) and bananas.

(Here's some extracts from issue 41 - Sept
88) I.B.

I would say 'hello, it's Lloyd' again. but
the weather's making me feel a bit miserable, and I'm not
really In a cheery sort of mood. Where's the Summer gone?
Ludlow's been besieged by rain for too long now, and I haven't
even had the chance to do a spot of gardening. Oh well, life
goes on and I suppose there's always your letters to keep me
going. Ho hum. If you look below you'll find NO Ietter of the
month, NOTHING about sexism and NOT A SAUSAGE dedicated to the
reconciliation of Cartesian values with an objective universal
framework. However, them's a hue, ginormous hunky chunk on the
Amiga-in-ZZAP! debate. a few snippets of Piracy and multiloads
(again), a review of your favourite reviewing magazine, a
Karnov lookailke competition and a letter from a fan of that
great Geordie epic comic, Viz.

THE LAUGHING
GUINEA
PIG

Dear Lloyd,
Just popped in to ask how you
all are at ZZAP! residente and to make a few brief comments
upon the mag... Well, actually, I must confess that the main
reason I wrote to you was because I discovered a stamp from
the previous Christmas batch, in the unchartered murky depths
under my bed, where undergarments and soggy thingies thrive
with algae.

The second slightly less insignificant
reason was to say how ZZAP! has changed throughout its
three-and-a-bit-year lifespan, and indeed it has matey lad
Lloyd, indeed it has. The mag seems to be more mature and
professional these days. It's now in full colour and the
quality of style and layout of the mag has very much improved.
This can of course be reflected in the doubling of its
circulation figures since 86.

Hovever, I am missing
that one very essence of ZZAP! The sense of fun and humour
which was very evident in the rookie days. I am pleased to say
though, that there has been signs of the jollyness seeping
back, I am glad.

And now to all those rectum faced
degrades of society who moan about 16-bit machines. I've only
one thing to say to them. 'Go and make love to a fried
chicken'. Have you got no consideration for trillions who wish
a wider knowledge of the Amiga software. Are you lot sadistic
enough to force us into buying another mag and deprive lots of
something you obviously don't even glance at. I'm not exactly
chuffly smugged to smitherines about Mel's contributions, but
I have respect for othors who find them stimulating. How can
you lot be so paranoid and narrow minded and selfish? Eeeh I
don't know!

Well I must depart from your pleasant
company now, Lloyd. It has been a most tummy-tickling
experience, but my revision books await collecting dust. I've
got a chemistry exam in a couple of days. Guinea Pigs we are,
damn Guinea Pigs, mumble mumble moan.
Dr J Ane, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancs.

I hope you've found
some of the sense of humour you're thinking of in the last
couple of issues - certainly ZZAP! is now populated by a group
of the most stupid, wacky and degenerate fools I've ever seen.
God knows how they manage to even write their own names. The
reviews side of ZZAP! is a more serious business, however...
The
Amiga debate is very much an ongoing situation, as the
comments below testify.
LM

AMIGA LOVING FUN

Dear Lloyd,
In Germany the Amiga is very
popular, and I cannot understand why the British buy so many
STs and not Amigas.

I myself own a Commodore 64 and an
Amiga, and many of my friends own both computers too,so I find
ZZAP! excellent. When the new ZZAP! arrives I open the Amiga
Action pages first to see what is new on the Amiga. Please go
on with Amiga Action, it's really great. Myself, I think that
the Amiga Action is too litte, please make it bigger, a lot Of
people would thank you, even if they don't write a
letter.

In my opinion you should give an Overall,
Graphics and Sound grade for each Amiga game. The Amiga Owner
Group will grow and grow, and a lot of them own a C64 too, so
ZZAP! will sell very well.

Up to now you only printed
letters from people who wanted the Amiga Action out of your
mag. It would be great if you printed this letter, so that a
positive Amiga letter can be seen by all your
readers.
Joohen Jhring, Aldorf,
Germany.

...I am a 32 year old
avid computer user in Australia, where the Kangaroos hop down
the middie of the street and the Koalas are up a gumtree with
a Fosters. I have bought your magazine since day one and think
it is excellent. At this point I had to write to you to voice
my opinion.

I sold my C64 about 18 months ago and
bought the Commodore Amiga 1000 Computer which I think is
fantastic, and I still continue to buy ZZAP! for its reviews
and comments. I do not agree with evervthing that you say, but
I like the way in which you present your magazine. It is very
professional. I would like to see more reviews of Amiga
software, as there are very little in mags that cater for it.
I am not giving the C64 away as I've had it for three years
and it gave me great pleasure and enjoyment. I am not one for
adventure games, but I do not write in and complain about them
and say they should be taken out - this is only one man's
opinion, as I'm sure there are thousands of people out there
who love adventures. That's the thing about your magazine, it
caters for everyone and not just for a few people. ZZAP! is
just great the way it is.
David
Salyor, Latham, Australia.

...I have been an avid reader of ZZAP! for 3
years now and have enjoyed it immensely. Well, most of the
time anyway as I thought around August last year ZZAP! was
losing her direction. Now I can gladly say you have rectified
her problems and produce a thumping - read each month and I
hope many many more.

Anyway, onto some serious things,
the 16 bit market. I am tempted to buy one every month when I
see luscious graphics and sound.However, I hesitate to do
so.Now of course the Amiga/ST are the 64/Spectrums of the
future. No one can deny that, but I feel that the 64 will be
alive and kicking for a few more years to come. Every month we
are presented with a program that pushes the limits somewhat
further. The SID chip is obviously surpassed by the Amiga but,
as we have most heard, can still produce some nifty effects,
take Mega Apocalypse for instance. I
have yet to see a totalty crucial Amiga/ST game which is
totally original with fantastic sound and graphics. All we'v
eseen so far are 64/Spectrum conversions and some mediocre
Amiga/ST only games.
Yours
sincerely, Andrew Barratt, Oulton, Leeds

...I am an avid reader of ZZAP! 64 and always
appreciate your detailed reviews. But I really put pen to
paper because would like to know whether or not it it is worth
upgrading your Commodore 64 to an Amiga, as I am thoroughly
impressed vith the power of the 16-bit machine. What it really
boils down to is, has the 64 sill got much life in it and do
you think it is still here to stay for a few more years?
Please put my mind at rest.
Steven
Smart, Luton, Beds.

The
Amiga content in ZZAP! is currenty limited to a double page
spread of round-ups, interpersed with the occasional Amiga
special packed with comprehensive reviews. Whether that will
change or not is something you can decide by writing in: the
more people who want it included, the more change there is of
permanent full-blown Amiga reviews. EquaIly if there are
overwhelming objections, Amiga in ZZAP! will belimited to two
pages a month.

The quality of orginal or arcade
conversions software for the 16-bit machines is improving all
the time, reproducing quality and depth which isn't
conceivable on the 64. That said, the 64 does have some life
left in it! The number and overall quality and addictiveness
of 64 software far outweighs that of its 16-bit counterparts
and there's always the price difference in software to
consider... The best solution, if you can afford it, is to
hang on to your64 and get an Amiga as
well.
LM

FOR GOD'S SAKE,
SHUT UP!

Dear Lloyd,
These days, in ZZAP! Rrap
everyone seems to be moaning on about something or other in
the magazine. So I thought I'd write a letter just to say what
I thought of each section in ZZAP!

Editorial: Quite
good, although it's always one of the last things I read when
lget ZZAPP! each month.It's nice to hear what the editor has
to say on various subjects.

Under the Baudwalk: To be
honest, I don't read this anymore. I read the first
installment and it nearly killed me with bordom. I don't mind
other people enjoylng it, though.

ZZAP! Rrap:
Excellent-it's always one of the first things I read. Lately,
there have been a lot of letters concerning 16-Bit and other
sections in the mag. I feel that when you listen to these
people you are giving into a minority.

ZZAP! Challenge:
I really enjoy reeding the challenge and I can only find one
quib about it. Why are the photos always In black and white?
When the challenge first started in the first few issues, the
photos were dreary B&W and even now, when ZZAP! has nearly
full colour, they're still the same. C'mon, Cameron get with
it!

The Scorelord's high-scoring heroes: This is OK
because it gives us something to aim at in games, but I've
always wondered how the mighty scorelord knows if someone has
entered pokes to get the highscore?

Competitions:
Good,but why the decrease in drawing comps? Bring them back, I
was quite good at them.

Manoeuvre: Never read
it.

Enter The Harlequin: Never read it. Hate
adventures.

Hack To The Future. Total crap!
Never funny or interesing at all. Mel Croucher is a talented
writer, though, Tamara Knight was brilliant in my
opinion.

ZZAP! Back: Not very important for me, because
I already have all the ZZAP! sizzlers and Gold Medals that are
likely to be ZZAP! backed. But I can see the necessity for a
new 64 owner who is thinking about picking something in the
bargain bin.

Playing Tips: Generally very good, but for
God's Sake, why so many listings? They are pointlessly long
and take ages to type in sometimes. What is wrong with
POKEs?

Budget Test: Fine,a good round up of the budget
scene.

Classifieds: Lloyd breathes a sigh of ralief, as
penpals have to be paid for now.

Readers Charts: Good,
but it's easy to see that the same bunch of people are voting
every month, for example, the way Delta has been number one in
the Music Charts for ages. I have no qulbs about the video
charts because they can be a good guide to what to rent out.
Coin-op charts are ddifferent however, they are real money
spinners and millions of pounds are being made by arcade
owners of young people. In one arcade I visited recently in
the city, a single go of Afterburner cost £1. Even so, there
were loads of people queuueing up for a go with money in their
hands. I kid you not, and it usually takes three to four goes
just to find out what's going on. How many machines have you
seen with the instructions on them? I can imagine that hundeds
of young boys are gladly pouring their week's pocket money
into arcade machines, and for these reasons I wish ZZAP!
didn't promote them so much.

Winners Pages: Well it's
like essential, man, to see if you've won or not Also please
tell Glenys that if she made the print smaller, like in ZZAP!
Rrap then she would have enough room for all the winners'
names, all the answers to the comps and pictures of the
winning ents.

Diaries of Games: Very interesting,
sometimes amusing, and always well written!

Amiga
Action: Excellent, excellent, excellent. But what happened to
the proper, persentage reviews of Issue 36? Again smaller
print would give more depth and satisfy the peope who moan
about extra space being given to it.
Adrian Donnelly, Kilmacud, Dublin.

By popular demand,
'Baudwalk' has now been dropped in favour of more space for
'The Word'; Mel is still with us, however, in his penultimate
'Future of the Software Industry' and in some surprise
articles in a couple of issues time. Black and white is used
in the Challenge to break up the colour of the rest of the mag
and because someone thought it was 'arty'. Oh well... As for
the Scorelord being able fo suss out cheats, beware! He knows
all and will reduce to component atoms all those he finds
attemping to trick him. You have been warned!
LM

Since I started reading
your letters the weather's brightened up considerably, as has
the mood in the Towers: Mr Tips Glancey is coming out with a
stream of ancient Geordie phases and Gordon has invested in a
Doughnut and Treacle mine. Meanwhile, new boy Maff Evans is
putting on his trendiest gear and trying to look cool. sorry,
Maff, but it just doesn't work. Anyway, I'm wandering a bit -
if you've got anything to say-funny, sensible, rude or dull
-just drop me a line at the address below and a £30 software
voucher could be yours...
LLOYD
MANGRAM ZZAP! RRAP, PO BOX
10, LUDLOW, SHROPSHIRE, SY8
1DB.
Toodlepip!

Since
5th November 1999
and 340 from 19/4/99
to 5/11/99