The State of Adventure Gaming

By Randy Sluganski
March 2000

We Don't Want Yer Stinkin' Awards G Me Crap

More feedback from Part 1 of (Not) Playing the Game. Look closely at the PC Gamer cover we have reprinted for your amusement. It is their annual awards issue. Notice any category missing? Is there still a plausible reason why any true-blue adventure fan would soil their hands with this rag? Yes, we know it is more cost-effective to use Scott Tissue, but imagine the joy you will receive wiping yourself with the Alternate Reality column. Remember, when you rearrange the letters in PC Gamer you get--G Me Crap.

Hell Hath No Fury Like an Adventure Gamer Scorned!

No sooner do we give Incite PC Gaming a grade of B+, citing them for having the courage to employ Nikki Douglas, a female adventure reviewer, and for offering a balanced coverage of the adventure genre, than ... what do they do? Well, as of the April issue Nikki Douglas is no longer on the staff, and now they a have scantily clad woman on the cover! And the accompanying pictorial is worthy of Playboy. Now I like half-nekked women as much as the next man, but not on the cover of my computer gaming magazine, thank you. How about we knock that grade down a letter to C+ until this now all male staff get their hands out of their pockets and start playing more games instead of playing with their joysticks.

Be in the No Know

Yes, you too can be the envy of every adventure gamer by subscribing to our newsletter. Newsletter readers got the inside story on where to order Dracula Resurrection and what large company has a secret adventure game under wraps. Not to mention my secret recipe for Taco Chicken! Our newsletter is not a rehash like many others. We dig deep for that little extra to make it special. If you want to be part of the fun, then drop a line to randy@justadventure.com with the word "subscribe" in the subject and you too can proudly wear the JA seal of approval.

Watch, Read, and Play

In our continuing effort to be a step ahead, we have instituted a new policy. You may have noticed that other sites will review a game and then suggest a similar game. Knowing as we do that the typical adventure gamer is smarter than the average bear, we have decided not only to adopt a similar policy but to take it one step further. We like to think that there is more than life than just playing computer games, so all of our reviews will now suggest similar subject matter that you may want to Watch, Read, or Play if you enjoyed a certain game. For instance, if you played and enjoyed Dracula Resurrection, then you would probably want to Watch the 1932 version of Dracula starring Bela Lugosi, Read the 1888 novel by Bram Stoker, and Play Viacom's Dracula Unleashed. We want the adventure gamer to develop all areas of their life, not just their trigger finger.

Just RPG

Coming soon to a server near you--Just RPG. All RPG, all the time. Just as JA has become the most popular adventure site on the web by daring to be original and by (gasp!) breaking the unwritten rules, so too shall Just RPG be a torchbearer for the role-playing aficionado. Keep your broadsword sharpened and your shield held high as we bring you the fantasy world of RPGs--Just Adventure style.

Is That Your Final Answer?

For the first time ever, the readers of a webzine have the opportunity to choose the box art for an upcoming release. Dreamcatcher has asked that the Just Adventure readers vote for their favorite Traitor's Gate cover, and when the final votes are tabulated the winner will be seen on store shelves around the world. Five entries will also be chosen at random to receive a copy of Traitor's Gate. Even if you do not want to enter the contest portion, please still vote and show your support for this original promotion and the adventure genre.

This Bites--Part 2

The requests for information concerning Dracula Resurrection and its upcoming sequel has been overwhelming. Please reread our review and visit the Dracula Resurrection site, and then if you are convinced that this is a game for you, drop us a line and we will pass it on to some distributors. As is common nowadays, this is an adventure game that is on the shorter side, but the atmosphere and graphics more than compensate for the shortness of gameplay. The sequel promises to be even better and much lengthier, but first we need to have the original Dracula Resurrection in North American gamers' hands.

Text-to-Speech Software

Not yet, but we're working on it!!!!! Only kidding. Just wanted to send a big wet one out to Sargant, Gunther, Marvin, BoingBall and the rest of the dangerous diaper gang at ifMUD.