GAMES OR NOT?
Many of you wrote with congratulations on issue 7 which, to celebrate the Christmas season, had some of the best games yet published but several people seemed to think that we had abandoned the aims outlined in our very first Editorial, to treat the Atari as 'more than just a games machine'. The truth is that it IS a games machine AND it is very much more. The READERS' POLL results show that a great many of you appreciate the serious side of
your Atari and an equal number enjoy the games. It was particularly pleasing to see Tiny Text voted into second place and we will publish more programs like it if we can find them. Once in a while though we will have an issue devoted to games as they do form an integral part of the experience of owning an Atari computer. This issue has another game from Stan Ockers but is mostly about programming.
I hope that you learn something new.
It is sad to see that Atari failed to make the impact it should have done over Christmas due to failure to get sufficient stocks to retailers. There seemed to be a lot of interest but many retailers just did not have anything to sell and a lot of potential Atari owners drifted away to other pastures. The 600XL is now creeping up the charts but has still not reached its rightful place. Things do seem to be improving though as certain distributors who have previously not touched Atari software have reported that small retailers are demanding software for the Atari. An encouraging sign after many shops seemed to have dropped Atari in the last year.
NOT HAD A REPLY?
A word about correspondence. Your letters are always most welcome but if you want a reply, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope and be patient. Editing and publishing PAGE 6 is an extremely hectic business and sometimes your letters do not get answered very quickly. You will get a reply if you are patient, sometimes even by return, but if you have just a simple query, why not phone? It is far easier for me and you will get an answer straight away. Don't stop writing altogether though for
I need to know what interests you and how you feel about everything Atari. Despite all the modern technology, a letter is still the best way to express your thoughts.
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