Orphaned Computers & Game Systems

(Archive)
Vol. II, Issue 1     December 1997


Editorial

By Chris Federico and Adam Trionfo

After its first three issues, this newsletter passed into the realms of extinction. Like some strange freak of nature, OC&GS has come crawling back from the grave, much like the hardware and software that will be discussed.

Even from the beginning, I had support from the whole community; but I was the only person responsible for the creation of the newsletter. That has all changed now. Beginning with this issue, it has become a two-person effort.

Chris Federico has been involved with all the classics since, well...since they were the hip new items. Take it away, Chris! -- AJT


Okay, you're making me sound older than you, Adam, so cut it out. You were fighting to gain control of those weird biplanes yourself.

Video games are a state of mind that some people can't tap into. Those poor, deprived souls. I've had a consistent obsession with video games since 1981 that will speak for itself as you read this new and improved newsletter. What can I say? Welcome to OC&GS No. 4. Fortunately, people like Adam begin periodicals with no profit margins, no targeted demographics and no test-marketing...just a love for a hobby that thousands happen to share. Dig in, folks. I'll be hiding in the background until Adam lets me come out and talk. -- CF


Okay; now that I have shackled Chris back into his corner, I can continue.

A lot has changed since I put out the first issue of OC&GS in June of 1994. Paper newsletters have been replaced by Internet sites. Three years ago, there was talk of how everyone in the country could communicate with one another; the Internet was considered, but many people thought that a BBS would be a much better idea!

I grew away from the newsletter scene because I began to use the Internet so often. I eventually became so caught-up in the hundreds of Internet sites that I decided that everything that could be said about video games had been said already. I gave up.

But a few months ago, I got a phonecall from Chris, asking where he might be able to get a Commodore 64. We talked for a few minutes; it was great talking to someone in town about our mutual hobby. Chris and I now get together at least once a week and spend lots of time looking for, playing or reviewing classic stuff.

Between the two of us, we have thirty-two years of game- playing experience. (Ack! That makes me ill!) We have strong opinions about the game-playing world that we see around us today. We plan to express as much as we can about our favorite subject within the confines of this newsletter.

This publication is being created without an IBM-compatible or Apple computer. It is being created on various models of Amiga, which, when I first wrote this newsletter, was an orphaned system, but has since been purchased by Gateway 2000. They say that new Amigas are on the way! -- AJT


If I might interject, Adam, it seems like the new Amiga will be nothing more than another IBM clone. Gateway 2000's declared use of PC boards inside the new box isn't encouraging to me. The Amiga's strengths lie in its speed, multitasking and graphics-handling capabilities, not to mention its dynamic RAM disk and its efficient DOS. What will become of these qualities if a PC chip set is used? If new Amiga games will be anything like the average PC game, we can kiss the Amiga goodbye as far as games go. It will also probably be unaffordable, as this is a brand-new venture for 2000 and they can't hope to compete in a market already established by the current Pentium chip licensees. What's next? Windows for the Amiga, replacing the super-efficient workbench? I guess that's all from me for now. -- CF


Well, you're quite right. It seems that the days of the affordable home computer passed by a long time ago. Even a free OS such as Linux requires expensive hardware.

It seems that all computers are becoming orphaned nowadays; I suppose the Pentium is next, so watch out! -- AJT