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So you want to write an article for The
Atari Times, but don't know what to write? Well, here are some ideas
that will help you get started. Reviews (3 kilobytes): Every
gaming publication has reviews of some sort. You can review any Atari
game that has not previously been reviewed. This includes Jaguar, Lynx,
26/52/7800, Atari ST, Atari 8-bit, and Arcade games. TAT has just
implemented a new policy allowing for reviews of Atari releases on other
systems! That means you can finally write a review for Unreal
Tournament 2003 (or any other Atari-type release)! The first review
of this type will be the Activision Anthology for the Gameboy
Advance that appeared in the 2004 Compendium.
Submissions for reviews must be unique. We're not looking for
reviews from your archive that have been posted to your website (unless
your website is dead). Also, TAT
reviews have five separate ratings: Music/Sound, Graphics, Playability,
Control, and Overall. All ratings are in percentage (80%, 73%, 10%,
etc.) Overall is your overall rating for the game and is not
meant to be an average of the other four.
Typically, reviews follow this format: Introduction, graphics, sound,
gameplay, dislikes, overall impression, and lastly the conclusion. Stick
to that format, and you'll easily make the 3 kilobyte requirement.
Note: We especially like reviews of new games that have been
released in the past 2 months. Get in a review of a new game and receive
double ($4) the review pay!
Guides (5 kilobytes): Again, many publications have strategy
guides. If you're really good at a particular game, why not write a
guide that can help others out? You could probably write it in your
sleep! Previews (3 kilobytes): Know someone who is releasing a
game soon? Ask them if they'd be interested in releasing some
screenshots of their game to generate interest and, eventually, sales!
Interviews (5 kilobytes): These are always good for a read. If you
happen to know a notable Atarian who is willing to be subjected to an
interrogation, please submit it!
News (3 kilobytes): What's new in the world of Atari? Are
there any shows to go to? How about new games in development? Are there
any new peripherals coming out soon? What is going on in the Atari
world?
Features (5 kilobytes): This is a wide open category. Many
features start by asking a question as the title: "What ever happened to
Atari?" and uses the body of the article to answer that question. Here
are some examples:
- All About Series: Pick a game and cover it's history!
- Write about the multiplayer games for the Jaguar, Lynx, 2600,
5200, or 7800.
- Sports games for the Atari! (You could to a rundown of all the
football games for instance.)
- Light gun games for the Atari!
- How has piracy affected the games industry?
- Jaguar Models: Is there a difference?
- How do you "hack" a 2600 game to create a new one?
- The Atari Holy Grails.
- Why Collect Atari Games?
- Are remakes any good?
- Why are there new Jaguar games?
- How to write a Lynx (or any other system) game.
- How to break into the games industry.
- Here are the Atari Innovations!
- Parody of worst games of all time (all Nintendo games).
- Compare 5200 to 8-bit computer or Coleco or Intellivision.
- Compare: Falcon vs. Amiga.
- Jaguar II - Midsummer Comparison to Jaguar I.
- How to store your Atari cartridges.
- Protecting/getting the most value from your games (Don't throw
out the boxes).
- The Atari Cosmos and Hologram patents.
- Jaguar Homebrew Game Progress (Native, Star Alliance, etc.)
- Doug Neubauer's games (Solaris, Radar Lock, Star Raiders)
- Atari Joysticks on your PC!
- Atari ST Viruses/Webbrowsers/newsreaders/etc.
- STOS! and games written with it.
- Getting your files off of an 8-bit.
- Atari Vaporware/Protos.
- Comparing arcade to 2600 conversions.
- Profile of an Atari Troll, why do they do it?
These are just a few examples! I'm sure you can think of
some better ones. Now get out there and start writing! |
