Editor's Welcome

First off, I want to apologize for taking so long to put out the first (printed) issue. My first mistake was to not notice that Tim's last issue (#50)was a bit late itself -- when I thought I had two months to do my first issue, it turns out I had only about a month. My second mistake was to not know my DTP program as well as I should have -- I ran into problems getting the graphics to size properly so that they looked okay when I printed them out.

At this point I've got the graphics issue resolved and am working on catching up, so all I need to do for each new issue is find the material to print and the time to put it all together... I'm not saying that's easy, but at least it's easier than it was for #51. I still hope to keep the 2600 Connection bimonthly, but if I get late again, I hope you all will understand.

In case any readers don't know me, here's a little introduction... Way, way back I got into videogames after the family received a Pong unit for Christmas and getting to try Breakout at a restaurant up north. Later I fell in love with the 2600 after seeing it in the Sears catalog and in store displays. What a great new thing!

Unfortunately, quite a few Christmases went by without a 2600 (or VCS, as it was then known) as my parents couldn't afford it. In the meantime I kept lists of all the games out there in preparation for the day when I'd finally get a system and could start picking up games too. And to get over my jones, I'd play games at department stores whenever I had the chance. I still have the notebook I kept the list in, and a second notebook I kept for other systems' games, as well as a record book I used to combine both of those notebooks into when they ran out of space. When I couldn't collect games, I collected info.

I eventually did get a 2600 and a few games and, man, was I happy. Little did I know that the crash wasn't that far away... It wasn't good to see companies going out of business, but on the other hand there were $5 games all over, which was good for me. Sure, some were crap, but others weren't bad at all. I spent my allowance on as many as I could and begged Dad for the rest and picked up as many as I could. Sadly, the crash affected even the better companies, and suddenly there weren't many games to find anymore.

A few years later I "met" Tim via BRE Software's catalog, which allowed some ads, and we corresponded a bit. I mentioned my game lists, which at the time I was in the process of beginning to type up on a computer for posterity. He expressed interest in receiving a copy, and I promised to let him know when it was ready.

When finally it was done, I wrote to Tim, who told me he was thinking about starting a newsletter about the 2600. I thought it was a good idea, having wanted to do something similar back in high school, and I pledged to write some articles and help promote it. And soon enough, the 2600 Connection was born. It was about this time I was first getting on the internet, and that begun my collecting in earnest -- now I could pick up more games and systems than I could without the net. I also traded info with other game fans, swapping lists with VGR and other like minds.

After college, there was a fanzine revolution going on, and I ended up writing letters to lots of them, as well as the occasional article for zines like Digital Press, Fantazine, etc. I did more reading than writing, and more letters than articles, but I was pretty well connected.

I eventually started my own zine, Slap-Dash, with an irregular schedule and irregular content to match. It's mostly about games, but not entirely. It was a fun way to comment on the times, and it's made it seven issues so far with an eighth issue delayed by printing problems much like my first (print) issue of 2600 Connection.

Perhaps my proudest moment in gaming was the release of the Stella Gets A New Brain Starpath compilation on CD. This was something I'd wanted to do on my own but couldn't afford to, so I backburnered it. But, a couple years down the road I found out other people were interested in doing a CD release, so I combined forces with them and helped make it happen. We're currently working on a re-release of the CD, as well as a documentary full of interviews celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2600.

And now here I am. Issue 52 has a few less letters, and a center gallery I hope you'll enjoy. As usual, let me know what you think!

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