CVG is the longest running games publication in the world ever. Back when most of the team were just babies, reading the magazine before the days of the internet, a chap called Julian Rignall shot to fame with his mad skillz.
He's even got his own Wikipedia page, that's how much like gaming royalty he is. "Rignall's writing roots were founded in 1983 when he was still in school," it reads. "Thanks to holding UK and World Record highscores on videogames such as Defender, Pole Position and Crossfire, and winning Computer and Video Games magazine's 1983 UK Arcade Championship, he leveraged his reputation as a top-class gamer to write gaming hints and tips for magazines such as Computer and Video Games and Personal Computer Games."
Last week it was announced that he'll head up the Official Warcraft magazine (more on that here). We tracked him down, had a word, and he's agreed to answer any questions you might have. But only if you're nice.
What was it like it write for a games mag 'back in the day'? Where's the mullet gone? Does he still play games or does he detest them? Did he make PR people angry in the 80s like we do in the, err, 2000s? What was CVG mag's best/worst cover? How did he do it without the internet. What was better: C64 or Spectrum 48k?
We better stop there. Ask your own questions below. Sensible ones only please, the best will be sent on to him. And remember the ban hammer will be waiting for anyone who thinks they're funnier than us.
Oh my Lordy!!! Hi Jaz, i remember the halycon days of Zzap!64 when i used to wait with baited breath for the (thankfully) honest and informative reviews yourself and Gaz Penn used to do......i particularly remember the Paradroid dev diary!!!!
Anyways, my question mate
Back in the day Rob Hubbard and Martin Galway's amazing music tracks were an intergral and mind blowing part of the whole gaming experience. (i even bought games just because they had their tracks on them!!!) Do you feel that game music today is as inspirational and involving as back then or do you think that as technology has advanced, artists do not need to be so creative as 'lazy' work can be masked easier thanks to more freedom? Cheers!!!
I will admit I haven't heard from you before, but, I guess I'll ask questions, so here goes: What do you think of game that rely on motion controls (e.g Wii,Natal, that sony wand/remote), are they the future of gaming or not? Also, what do you think of Company pushing games back to 2010 because of Modern Warfare 2; Is it a smart choice, or are they just scared of being overshadowed?
Being an avid Zzap64 reader from back in the day, I can't pass up the opportunity to ask the legendary Jaz Rignall a question! Mine is also music related. Did you (or do you) have a favorite piece of C64 music and do you ever check out the many fan-made remixes out there? Thanks for reading. Take it easy.
Gutted! You've all already said what i wanted to say! The mullet was ace though, is radion automatic still actually named that or has he changed his name to Ariel Tablet?
Honestly though i used to read cvg and mean machines every month as a kid, good work lad.
Ahhh, for the days when we had 'real' games and 'real' hardcore gamers instead of all this generic psuedo-Hollywood blockbuster pap and gamers who can't see any further than cutting edge visuals and another shooting fix. - Hell, even the fanboy banter was a kind of love. - God, I'm feeling old!
Jaz Rignall is a proper, real deal, games writing legend. Thanks lots for all the memories, particularly during the 16bit C&VG and Mean Machines eras (late ‘80s to early ‘90s). My question is probably impossible to answer: You have written tons of video game reviews, features, articles etc. Which one piece of writing are you most proud of? A more straightforward question would be: What is your favourite ever retro gaming machine (console or computer)?
I’ve already asked 2 questions, but I’m going to be cheeky and ask another. I realise there are copyright issues going back to EMAP days and this question may only be feasible through combined support from another publisher (e.g. a possible joint project with Imagine and all the people at Retro Gamer, or through links to Future Publishing).
Would it ever be possible to release a ‘best off compilation’ of classic gaming magazines? (ZZAP!64, C&VG, Complete Guide to Consoles, Mean Machines, Nintendo Magazine System, Mean Machines Sega).
The idea would be to collect a selection of gamer’s favourite reviews, features etc and re-print them in one nostalgia packed collection. They could retain the exact same layout & design of the originals and would therefore be a mish mash archive of early UK gaming magazines.
It is really cool to be able to access all the scans at ‘Mean Machines Archive’, but imagine having a mint, print copy of select parts of classic mags (I was a 15 year old sprog in 1990, who lacked the foresight that I would still have these, now tatty, mags 20 years later.
On the MD and Snes jap games were king, but now there a bit crap for the most part. They seem to be stuck in the playstation, saturn era, the games dont seem to have progressed or grown in any way, they still use the same purile plots and just dont use the hardware as well as the west
Jaz Rignall! I remember you from back in the Zzap!64 days. I was only 13 at the time, but I remember that if you said a game was good in one of your reviews it was definately worth getting.
Quick question: Do you think modern games are as fun as the older ones, or have production values started to overshadow the gameplay somewhat?
I just want to say thanks Mr. Rignall, for that Street Fighter II combo videotape you did back in the day. That was good for laughs.
I still have that videotape on top of my DVD shelf. I found it with all my other VHS tapes and decided to put it somewhere I can see. I have not played it yet though. I think I may tonight
I just want to say thanks Mr. Rignall, for that Street Fighter II combo videotape you did back in the day. That was good for laughs.
I still have that videotape on top of my DVD shelf. I found it with all my other VHS tapes and decided to put it somewhere I can see. I have not played it yet though. I think I may tonight
you still own a VCR? that works? and doesn't chew the tape up?
seriously though, mullet jokes aside, Jaz Rignall probably influenced game choice more than any advertising campaign back in the day. i know i took heed of his s**te game warnings and usually bought the stuff he championed. truly a legend
I was a HUGE fan of ZZap!64, it was my gaming bible in my younger years I would like to ask... What ever happened to Rockford & Thing on a Spring? Are they still hiding in a margin somewhere?
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
you still own a VCR? that works? and doesn't chew the tape up?
