Cassidy Nolen

As for new games, Nolan has a company called uwink.com. Its a bartop network machine that changes games pretty regularly. His philosophy is the same as it ever was; easy to learn, hard to master. I thought it was funny, Steve Russell's (original Space Wars programmer) favorite modern game is Doom (he liked the dungeon designer portion) and Nolan like Myst and Warcraft 3. Interesting to see what the masters play. It was a trip to see Nolan playing Steve at Space Wars on the original Stanford Galaxy machines. One of those once in a lifetime things. Al Alcorn was there watching this all, too. Way too much. Pics soon (still trying to muddle through the week!) Cassidy

I just want to follow what you all have started. AtariAge readers just simply rock. I used to read the RGVAC boards, and met some great people there, but was flamed for selling some games to pay for grad school. No one here is out to make a fortune, but we all know things cost money. I am thankful for finding this group. I am also thankful to Al and all the others that allow us a medium to share. I would gladly contribute to keep this forum alive. Cassidy BTW, StanJr. is just the man, no two ways around it.

If you would like to part with it, I have a LOT I would be willing to trade for it. Let me know... Cassidy

I figured that it being the capital of all that is/was Atari, there should be some pretty good finds, right? WRONG! Nicole and I hit over 20 places in Silicon Valley this last week and found virtually nothing. Total haul did require a thriftstore suitcase to get home, but still was not enough for what we did. Thrift store finds: Atari 800 boxes (no carts)-Gateway to Asaphai, PitStop, Atari Graphics (with cart), bunch of common 2600's (total 10 carts made up of SI, Pac's Combats and Missile Commands), few Atari Power supplies for 5200s. Flea Market in San Jose- Sunnyvale heavy sixer in reconditioned box, rough shape with 8 common games, 60 bucks! Way too much for even ebay. I talked to everyone at the market, and they all said about a year ago all the Atari dried up there, said we should check the internet. DUh? Did find some Intellivision carts boxed and 3 Tengen unlicensed NES games, no Tetris though. Matts Game Shop: The best of the trip: Fairchild f2 with a bunch of boxed carts, 2 2600's with power cords, and a 1200xl (did not have one) Also managed to find a Superman cart with pic label and a Flight Sim for the XL. All in all, a great trip (went to meet Nolan, heck that was enough) but still some decent finds. Cassidy BTW, everyone has those "yeah this guy that used to work for Atari gave me a bunch of..." stories, but nobody ever seems to know what or where the stuff was/is......Strange.

I am back, Wow, what trip! Got to meet Steve Russell, Al Alcorn, and the man himself. I was a bumbling idiot but I did shake his hand, hand him my card, and got my 2600 signed on the wood front in Sharpee. Got to watch Nolan and Steve play Galaxy, again a high light of the trip. Some thrift store finds in Sunnyvale, pics of the Atari headquarters (not any longer, but the building is still there). 1265 Borregas Ave. It cost me everything I made in Philly and then a lot, but man was it worth it. More and some pics to come. Cassidy

I wanted to let you all know, I am printing out this thread as we speak, and I will personally be handing it to Nolan when I meet him. Your sentiments model mine perfectly and we all know Atari never died. We all had to grow up, and so did Atari. It just so happens we all found it again. Thanks you all, I will hopefully have some great photos to share. I am taking my childhood 2600 for him to sign on the woodgrain. I will be back on Wednesday! Cassidy

No joke. I am on my way out tomorrow morning. Heres the lowdown...... Got an email from a lady at the Computer Museum in Silicon Valley, CA. She heard about my Computer Space machine from Curt Vendel (who rocks, by the way) and wanted to know if they could use it for a lecture that Nolan was giving this next week. After emailing a few times, we realized it would not be possible in 5 days to get the machine there in time, but I was still invited to come to the reception..... Now I saw many of you last weekend in Philly, imagine the sale to my wife about needing to fly 3000 miles at my expense, hotel, car, et al. and then back in a few days....... Anyway, my co-workers put together a pot for me, and paid for my plane ticket. Yes I teach with the coolest teachers on earth. Bottom line, Nicole and I leave tomorrow morning at 6 am to fulfil a life dream of mine: Meet the father of video games himself: NOLAN BUSHNELL. This rocks. Just wanted to share this with my friends on the group. Figured you are all as crazy as I am and could appreciate this. I am planning on telling him about the group and seeing if he would write in too! Talk to you all when I get back. I should have some photos......... Cassidy

Got to be the cuddly one. The green one doesn't fix Italian very well. (insert image of noodles hanging out of coin slot) Cassidy

I want to try a hack of Kaboom with a dog as the bomber and three doo doo bags as the buckets. Change the bombs to dog droppings. Call it Kapoop. Now you all know you heard it here first. Probably hear about it from PETA or some pet organization. BTW, I am serious about the hack. Does anyone have a zip file of DiStella and DASM they would email me? All the links I found are dead. Cassidy

Great Photos! You all get to see the two ladies in my life (the 26 year old and the 31 year old green one!). Shots are all great! Cassidy

Most of the Activision titles are the first to zone out on 2600s, due to the fact the PCB's are just a little thinner. I have a Boxing game that does the same thing. Do you have an extra Atari you can test it on? Sometimes, I have to jiggle it to get it to work. No jokes. Cassidy

In defense, DPG is an independent source of knowledge. Jerry at some point is in it as a collector, and others as a salesman. I like what he does as well, but I like the fact there is a third party with the Guide. As for the boxes thing, Joe states in the beginning of the guide, that sometimes boxes by themselves are worth far more than the game, and also that games like Defender boxed are not worth any more than they are loose, but a Qberts Qubes is worth a lot more. I do not have my book in front of me, so if anyone wants to quote it, its about three pages from the Adventurevision stuff. As for the $$$ prices, it is frustrating, yes. However, I have seen what happens if you put the wrong price in a guide. When the arcade buyers book was printed about a year ago, Dan spent many months making researched claims, and there were a few with much less. The arcade collecting community was up in arms, and the credibility of the guide was lost. There is not a need for a general price on games like Eli's Ladder. I have seen them change hands for the THOUSANDS, not hundreds, and I have seen boxed games like Quadrun go for more than my truck. It is not fair to collectors with these pieces to tell them its worth 500 bucks, because no one in their right mind would sell a Eli's for that price. Just my .25 guys. BTW, 2 Player Computer Space was a $$$ in the arcade guide... good call. Cassidy

It was great meeting you too, Leonard. I wanted you to autograph a copy of your book for me, but I thought you had left. Oh well, next year, right? Cassidy Great meeting all of you. Wish I had said bye to Maxime too.

Email me at [email protected] if you are interested. I am still signing people up, so let me know before I go back to the printers. Cassidy

I knew it would be busy. 3 hours>? geez. Its a burger joint! I fell asleep after dinner, and that was about it for me too. I really wanted to go there with you guys. You all were great to meet, and I know this is the sort of revivalist stuff that keeps us all going. Cant wait for Vegas! I know there will be some of the same faces and even more great people to meet. Talk to you guys soon! Cassidy

Dont sweat it, Os,... I got yours signed and all for ya! Did not think I would let you down? You are my European buddy! Cant get over how much fun this weekend was. Had to take yesterday off to rest. Sorry I faded out on Saturday night, got so tired I fell asleep right after dinner..No Dave and Busters after all! Cassidy

It was great meeting you all too! Yars, Albert, Stan Jr., Erik, Maxime, Cafeman, Dan Boris, and countless others. I had the most fun at that show, and I know Computer Space enjoyed all the attention she got. If you live in Philly, they are airing a show about the PC3 on May 17 at 10:30 on Fox network (whatever channel that is). I have about a 5 minute spot with CS on there. Cool to see it loved. Got so many goodies, and yes, Osmeroid, I got you a signed Bugs. Sweet, eh? You guys rock. Great fun this weekend. Still recovering. Cassidy

Yup, If you were there, and would like a copy, email me with that info, and I will let you know when it is ready. If you were not there, I would still make a copy, but it would vary from the one I released there (box would not show the PC3 logo). Let me know at [email protected] Great show, I really enjoyed meeting you all! Cassidy

Arcades are loaded. Polo games, loaded. Haven't packed a thing. Got plenty of tradin' money and goodies. We can go from there. Stop by and say Hi if you see me at the show. I will have the Computer Space t-shirt on. Man am I excited! Wish you could all go. Maybe see some of you in Vegas this summer? Cassidy

Thats because we all use Pac Man as donor carts to make other games! Cassidy

You know, that seems to be the most widely converted upright game in existence. I have had at least 25 Stern cabinets that have been converted to one thing or another. I do not care much for the 2600 translation, although I think it is fairly accurate. I just did not get hooked on the game. Of course, I like Bump N Jump, what do I know? Cassidy

In the feverish race to complete the Polo carts for tomorrow, last week Nicole and I spent a lot of time removing cart labels. As we neared the end, there was a very stubborn label on an ET cart that neither one of us (or the hair dryer we had been using) could remove. So I decided, gee, its just the label, lets heat it up in the microwave? Well, I think the little guy tried to dial home from the inside of my microwave. Foil label, forgot all about that metallic property. Oops. Flames ensued. I guess the moral of the story is: Although there are lots of ET carts out there, they do not like the microwave. Of course, if memory serves, neither did Gremlins....and I dont mean the game. Cassidy

Hi all, The game was considered for the release of the Ralph Lauren line of Polo cologne back in the late 70's. At the time, Atari and Ralph Lauren were both owned by Warner Communications (historians correct me if I stray) and a cross advertising idea was considered. When I designed the label, I wanted to reflect this, and I know when Osmeroid did the great box art, he wanted to show it too. It is though at its heart an Atari thing, so you only see the reference once on the box, and on the cart labels. Boxed games will be the regular new release price of $40. I was hoping to come in below that, but after the print shop was done maxing out my charge card, that is the best I can do. I know you will be happy with it. Now in the meantime, I have to find a way to lock up Computer Space for the show. It has not been used in public in at least 28 years. Its like carry plutonium around; scared to death about it. Cassidy (BTW, am I the only one that is too excited about the show to sleep at night?)

No matter what you use, the Atari original was a 9V 500ma supply with a 1/8 inch center positive tip. I have somehow acquired a German one recently, looks wierd but has the same output. Most electronics shops sell them cheap. Radio Shack is expensive, so you may want to check on line at www.mcmelectronics.com Good luck, Cassidy

Nicole and I have a room at the Raddison right there next to the convention center. Figure that way its easiest, but not the cheapest... Cassidy