Roguelike magazine launches, focuses on game aesthetics
by John Bardinelli 
{ Mar 23rd 2007 at 9:09PM }
Real gamers know that if you see an uppercase letter D, turn tail and run. Dragons are fierce. Forget polygons, forget sprites, Roguelike games do it with text on a black screen. And they're some of the most complex and enjoyable games ever to grace a computer. Unfortunately most modern gamers turn their noses at the dated visuals and refuse to give Roguelikes a second look.Well, Mario Donick is not gonna take it anymore. He recently launched Roguelike. The magazine, a publication dedicated to increasing awareness of the art and aesthetics behind the Roguelike genre. Each issue will dive into the inner workings of these games and discuss things like typography, interface, coding, and more. The first issue is online and ready for consumption, while number two is on its way April 2nd.
It's a little slice of old school heaven for many gamers, and required reading for whippersnappers who can't tell their NetHack from an Angband.
[Via TIGSource]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dansk @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:05PM
I like my Nethack with tiles.
Why? So i don't have to spend a lot of time using ";" to identify every character all the damn time, until i remember them all by heart, only to have another roguelike use another terminology.
We arent limited to ASCII graphics anymore. Im not asking for Oblivion like graphics, but good looking tiles make a world of difference!
(and mouse support too!)
thebiggameover @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:18PM
it took me 2 years to beat moria. i think thats why im so fast on the 10 key....
John H. @ Mar 24th 2007 12:27AM
Wasn't there already a Roguelike magazine website? Lemme look real quick....
Ah, it looks like the return of the old one. Most excellent.
Matt @ Mar 24th 2007 2:17AM
I like my nethack on an online server like alt.org....no tiles here, just DEC Graphics.
On another note....unless you are playing foolishly you will rarely if ever see a D before you are prepared for it.
Yoshi Likes Boys @ Mar 24th 2007 2:52AM
Rogue: Now THAT is a video game. I still have my original Rogue.com that I got in like 1986 from a friend. Back when dot com had a whole different meaning. It doesn't get any better.
pablo @ Mar 24th 2007 3:44AM
As a Moria, Angband, and T.O.M.E. vet, I've got to say, these are some of the best games ever created. Most of the monster lore and legend that I know comes from these games. A "k" will always be a kobold, an "X" a Xorn (or Xaren), and a "Q" is certainly a Qualythug (quivering flesh mound).
Rubang B @ Mar 24th 2007 3:57AM
I'd like to represent Rogue, Hack, Moria, and most importantly, ADoM (Ancient Domains of Mystery). Big ups to my roguelikes. Graphics are for pansies who could never hope to handle the Amulet of Yendor.
James @ Mar 24th 2007 12:13PM
Nethack is quite simply the best game ever made. Yeah, I use tiles now-- That sheer time wasting playability. It's been the better part of a decade without an Ascension, I think I'm due.
Charros @ Mar 25th 2007 10:28PM
Thinking of Maud you forget everything else.
Matt @ Mar 24th 2007 5:46PM
It took me three months to learn the game and get my first 3 ascensions....
Maybe you are doing something wrong?
halobreaker @ Mar 24th 2007 7:37PM
I like RogueBasin for my RL info.
http://roguebasin.roguelikedevelopment.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
Tim @ Mar 27th 2007 10:33AM
I remember trying out some of those games back when I was young, and ended up not getting into them because the use of ASCII was hard to memorize.
Then I got interested in an open-editor game called MegaZeux, which is along the same theme only with editable characters. I spent many years of my childhood playing those games.
I miss the old DOS-based gaming...