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From:        "Ben Vost" <ben.vost@futurenet.co.uk>
Date:        Wed, 15 Mar 2000 15:57:54 +0000
Subject:     News - not good news, but news all the same


It's been a very sad month for me. Since I found out that AF was to close,
I've had nothing but sleepless nights and now you've all found out in the
worst way possible, when I thought I should be the one breaking the
terrible news. Future's policy was to keep silent until the issue had
finally gone to press, but now there seems little point, and in a way, I'm
glad - there was nothing worse than me having to prevaricate about
subscriptions or future plans for Amiga Format.

The closure of Amiga Format means the end of an era for me. For thirteen
years (pretty much my whole working life) I've been involved with the Amiga
market in some capacity, whether that be in sales, distribution, freelance
consultant and writer, or journalist and editor on Amiga Computing or Amiga
Format. All this time I've been at the heart of the Amiga market and I've
met and got to know some fantastic people, not least of whom are my
readers. I've used some fantastic software and seen hardware dreams come
and go. I've probably spent in excess of ten grand feeding my obsession and
will carry on using the equipment I have at home for a long time to come.
As for what I will be doing, you have no cause to fear on my or Richard's
behalf: Rich has a job on Linux Format as a staff writer, working with
erstwhile Amiga Format editor Nick Veitch. As for me, I hope you'll look
favourably on Future's new launch - 3D World - where I'll be deputy editor
and the editor of its website. 3D World will be aimed at professional 3D
artists and those looking to get into that market, whatever the platform. I
will be honest and say that although the only important criterion for
inclusion in 3D World is image quality, the speed at which those images
need to be rendered, and the quality of the support software, means that I
don't think there'll be much, if any, Amiga coverage and that saddens me
too.

For those of you who are subscribers, there's no cause for alarm. We aren't
a fly-by-night company that will let you down when it comes to dealing with
your subscription. All subscribers will get a letter shortly - included
with your final subscription issue, that will explain all the options.

As far as any future reincarnation of Amiga Format goes, I am not yet
personally convinced that Bill and Fleecy will be able to achieve all they
want to, but if they do succeed I'm sure that Future Publishing will be one
of the first publishers back into a new thriving Amiga market, and you can
bet I'd want to be back. As such, although my new job will probably take me
into the world of PCs and workstations, you can be sure I'll keep an eye on
what's going on here and I've promised Bill McEwen I would remain part of
the AAC in order to be better able to tell him where I think he's going
wrong. :)

In the meantime, I don't think that the Amiga market has died, I just know
it's got to the stage where Future Publishing can't sustain Amiga Format.
At the end of the day, the only reasons for this are an increasing
unprofessionalism in the marketplace and a lack of people willing to part
with their money. There are plenty of good dealers out there that have
their customers interests at heart and it's up to you to make sure that
their level of service and support don't go the way of Amiga Format.

Just remember, there's still an issue on the shelves right now that contains
all sorts of fantastic info (and Personal Paint 7.1b on the CD) and our next
issue on sale, our last, will be well worth buying since it will contain a
dissection of the Amiga market as the freelancers and staff on AF see it and
a history of AF.

On a personal note, it's not so easy to convey emotion while writing an
email. Suffice to say that this page would be wet if it were a letter I was
sending to you all.


All the best,
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ben Vost (x2337)        PGP key available        T: (+44) 01225 442244
Editor, Amiga Format                             F: (+44) 01225 732275