Thanks for the offer but I already have a copy that MIT Press sent me. It's the principal of the thing here. I don't know how much Van made on the book but I'm sure that MIT Press didn't reneg on her contract.
I was stunned and saddened to discover this thread.
I'd like to go on the record to say that I received a total of eight copies of my own book from the publisher. These were all given to contributors and friends I saw at a game industry event a few weeks later. I expected, and was supposed to receive, many more (I believe my contract called for 30) and never, ever did. My own father had to buy copies from their bookstore.
The copies I sent Leonard from Amazon, at my own expense, were certainly not bought with profits. Supercade was a labor of love. Period. And the fact that I had a photo-op with Bill Gates doesn't change that.
I had considered Leonard a friend and yet he stabbed me in the back, trashing my name in public forums. Over what? A few books? That is truly depressing.
More important, I have not abandoned this community or this hobby. It is true that I have a family now, which takes priority... but I have also been working tirelessly on my next project these past few years, which I hope to discuss publicly soon. I think you might like it.
As for the game, I had every intention of making those cartridges. Unfortunately, the company I was working with to build the carts went out of business and I have not been in a position to make them myself. There is no mystery or grand scheme. Just life.
Thanks to all of you who read Supercade. Hope you enjoyed it...
xoxo van
ps. If anyone feels cheated out of their free game, I'd be happy to send you one of the hundred brand new red box copies of Atari 2600 Venture I have in the garage that I bought for the cartridge cases. Please feel free to contact me at "escapefromsupercade(at)gmail.com" with your mailing address.
You can also find me at www.myspace.com/vanburnham
Game on.