I would like to take this opportunity to answer some of the most frequently-asked questions that have recently been submitted to our offices.
Q: What is the meaning of your name A.N.A.L.O.G.?
A: When Michael and I came up with the idea of starting the first ATARI-only publication, one of the most difficult aspects of the magazine was coming up with a suitable name. Since DIGITAL Equipment Corporation is predominant in our area (their headquarters is a half hour from our office), I jokingly suggested we call the magazine ANALOG (Amazingly, we have had people ask us if we know that an ATARI is a digital computer.) Michael then came up with A.N.A.L.O.G.; ATARI Newsletter And Lots Of Games.
Q: How do you print your program listings?
A: Our program listing method didn't just come about. A year ago, Charles Bachand wrote a custom program called, appropriately enough, LISTER, which has options to work with either C.Itoh or Epson printers. The program will print out all ATARI special graphics characters and inverse video. Our listings are printed 38 characters wide, the same format that they will appear in on your TV set if they are typed in correctly. This makes visual debugging of your typed programs easier. Our program listings are also printed out directly from working copies of the program. This helps to eliminate errors. While other listing methods are available, time has proven this as the most effective.
Q: Who writes the articles and programs in A.N.A.L.O.G.?
A: Roughly half of the editorial content in the magazine is produced by readers like yourself. I feel our publication, for its size, has the most talented staff of any computer magazine in the country. We are very lucky to have the services of Charles Bachand, Tom Hudson, Tony Messina and Brian Moriarty, who are among the most knowledgable ATARI programmers in the field today, bar none. Our programs such as FiII'er Up, Adventure In The Fifth Dimension, Maniac, and Livewire are equal to, and in some cases better than, many commercially available pieces of software. Our utility programs ARE useful, our tutorials DO educate.
Q: What back issues are available?
A: Though several previous issues have been reprinted, at present only issues #2, & #7, and a limited supply of #9 & #10 are available. The A.N.A.L.O.G. COMPENDIUM will be ready shortly. This 160-page book will include the best programs and materials from the first ten issues, along with fresh material from the A.N.A.L.O.G. editorial staff. The COMPENDIUM will be spiral bound in 8 1/2" x 11" format, will accept no outside advertising, and should be on sale at your favorite book or computer store August 1st.
Q: When is A.N.A.L.O.G. going monthly?
A: We have been contemplating going monthly since the publication of the first issue. Our first obligation is to our readers. When we feel that we can maintain the present quality of the magazine as a monthly publication, then we shall go monthly. With a bimonthly circulation approaching 100,000, few of our readers have seen our total growth potential.
This issue of A.N.A.L.O.G. marks the end of our second year of publication. Michael DesChenes and I, along with the entire staff, would like to thank our readers, contributors, advertisers, and ATARI, for making A.N.A.L.O.G. what it is today: the first and best ATARI-only computer publication in the world.