Well, here we are - over a year and a half after I handed over FRED to my successor, Mr Darren Wileman. And we are now six months into the reign of the most recent candidate for the FRED throne, Mr George Boyle.
For various reasons - some of which probably involve me, the combined efforts of both has taken FRED absolutely nowhere. I've lost track of how many issues of the magazine have appeared in these 20 months but I have a hunch it has been five - and it doesn't take a Bruce Gordon to work out that from being an absolutely, resolutely monthly magazine, it has now turned into something that is not even close to being quarterly. An embarrassing shambles. The current situation is that although DW has signed a contract returning FRED to me, I have *not* yet signed it. Hence FRED still lies fully with him - all properties, copyrights and obligations. GB however, has not signed a contract turning FRED over to him - and despite the alleged appearance of one issue in the six months he's "taken over" - looks unlikely to do so. Because I still work in games, I'm not legally able to take FRED back, so I have to look at other possibilities. As you may remember, when FRED was originally looking for a new home two years ago, one of the options that was ruled out was Format. Both I and Bob agreed that the SAM needs as much support as possible, and that if an 'outsider' could be found, it'd be a far preferable alternative to bringing FRED into the Format fold. Now it seems, I can't afford such pride. Format already does two monthly magazines, and taking on a third simply isn't an option. What is feasible though, is that Format could take over the publishing and distribution side of FRED in order to keep all FRED titles available. So that's the high-risk - although admittedly, high-profit side of things covered. The magazine still needs a home, and I'm looking for suggestions : names, ideas, ways forward - anything that can keep FRED going until at least the illustrious issue 100. I can be reached either by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or after 7pm and weekends on 01382 456449. Colin
