Recent posts

#91
General Discussion / Re: Retiring
Last post by Al_Nafuur - 08 Nov 2024, 02:27 AM
Hi Andrew,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you deeply for the invaluable contributions you made to the PlusCart project. Your expertise and creativity truly elevated the project, and I am grateful to have had the chance to work alongside you. The optimized text display in the menu and the stunning 3D case design you created are testaments to your skill and dedication to the Atari 2600 platform.

I am a regular visitor to your forum and noticed that, while you were still around, you hadn't been posting over the past months. I had a feeling that this day might come, but it's still bittersweet to hear of your decision to step back. While I fully respect and understand your reasons, it's hard to imagine the Atari scene without you. Your passion and generosity in sharing your knowledge have been an inspiration to so many, myself included. You've made an impact on this platform and on everyone who's had the pleasure of learning from or working with you.

Thank you again for everything, Andrew. I wish you all the best in whatever comes next and hope our paths might cross again in the future.

Regards,
Wolfgang
#92
General Discussion / Re: Retiring
Last post by alex_79 - 08 Nov 2024, 02:09 AM
Hi Andrew,

I'm sorry to hear about your decision, but I also understand the reasons.

I've been following the homebrew community for over 15 years, and while I've been mostly a lurker and therefore my personal contribution, if there was any, was marginal, I've enjoyed the passion and dedication of many people who shared knowledge and introduced innovations to keep the old 2600 console alive and fresh. You certainly have been a very important part of it and I'm very grateful for all your contributions, whether they were games, demos, programming tutorials, advices and suggestions to other people or just sharing your views on various subjects in the forums. Thank you!

Quote from: Andrew Davie on 06 Nov 2024, 04:43 AMthis feels like a loss of a longtime friend to me. But it's time, I'm pretty sure.
I can relate. In the last two decades the community changed quite a lot, with retrogaming evolving from a niche hobby into a more mainstream phenomenon, eventually attracting commercial companies who saw a market in it. I know that quite a few people consider that as a change for the better, but I'm not among them. To my eyes, it is a departure from (what for me is) the essence of the homebrew community and what made it "fun". As a result my interest in the scene gradually waned, until, with the AA acquisition by Atari last year I just realized that I didn't belong there anymore.

I believe enjoyment is the only reason you should pursue an hobby: when you're not having fun anymore, it's best to just move on. Maybe someday you'll be inspired to come back to it, or maybe you won't. I'd say you should focus on the positive side and view this as an opportunity to explore something different.

Thanks again for your contributions in all these years and best wishes for whatever your'll decide to do in the future!
#93
General Discussion / Re: Boulder Dash 1 end of life
Last post by Thomas Jentzsch - 06 Nov 2024, 11:39 PM
Quote from: Andrew Davie on 06 Nov 2024, 10:14 PM
Quote from: Thomas Jentzsch on 06 Nov 2024, 09:39 PMIf people are asking why, what shoud/can I tell them?

Tell them to ask me, I suppose - as it was me who called in the cancellation clause.
Thanks, will do.
#94
General Discussion / Re: Boulder Dash 1 end of life
Last post by Andrew Davie - 06 Nov 2024, 10:14 PM
Quote from: Thomas Jentzsch on 06 Nov 2024, 09:39 PMIf people are asking why, what shoud/can I tell them?

Tell them to ask me, I suppose - as it was me who called in the cancellation clause.
#95
General Discussion / Re: Boulder Dash 1 end of life
Last post by Thomas Jentzsch - 06 Nov 2024, 09:39 PM
If people are asking why, what shoud/can I tell them?
#96
General Discussion / Re: Boulder Dash 1 end of life
Last post by Andrew Davie - 06 Nov 2024, 09:10 PM
Quote from: Thomas Jentzsch on 06 Nov 2024, 08:31 PMIf Albert doesn't make this public, IMO we (I) should post on AtariAge soon. Agreed?

Yes.
#97
General Discussion / Re: Boulder Dash 1 end of life
Last post by Thomas Jentzsch - 06 Nov 2024, 08:31 PM
If Albert doesn't make this public, IMO we (I) should post on AtariAge soon. Agreed?
#98
General Discussion / Re: Boulder Dash 1 end of life
Last post by Andrew Davie - 06 Nov 2024, 10:46 AM
Quote from: Thomas Jentzsch on 06 Nov 2024, 05:06 AMHave you ever heard back from Albert regarding this?

Not a word.
#99
General Discussion / Re: Retiring
Last post by JetSetIlly - 06 Nov 2024, 05:27 AM
Hi Andrew,

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling this way. I've only been around for a couple of years but none-the-less your name was one that shone brightly when I began researching the 2600. Rest assured that your contribution to the 2600 scene has been felt by everyone, including me.

On the topic of retirement, I personally think the best way to proceed is to simply change your relationship with the community. No one could criticise you for stepping back but to disappear completely would be too much I think. The 2600 has been a part of your life for so long, stopping it entirely would be, as you've suggested, emotionally traumatic.

For what it's worth, I've recently changed how I've chosen to interact with the community and it's given me a new perspective. Maybe that's all that's required.

I'm confident you've thought about this deeply already but my advice would be to focus on the more important things in life and then if the mood takes you, do something with the 2600 for the pure joy of it. You never know, something wonderful and unexpected may arise that way.

I certainly hope we haven't seen the last of Andrew Davie just yet.

Regards
Stephen
#100
General Discussion / Re: Retiring
Last post by Thomas Jentzsch - 06 Nov 2024, 05:19 AM
Hi Andrew,
that's bad news to me (and the community!). :(

I have similar feelings about the lack of feedback. Especially Stella gets very little of it. And it feels a bit like being abused what Atari is doing with Stella and the 2600+. But it was my free choice to participate in such a project. And as long as it is fun, I will continue. Same with developing games. I somehow found a nice niche for me there.

Do you really get that little feedback for your games? I know that Champ Games has become very dominant, which sucks up a lot of (deserved) attention. But IMO there is always room for other games. And e.g. ZPH shows and promotes them all. Of course, if you leave AtariAge, the feedback will decline. E.g. I avoid any so called "social" media, which has similar consequences. But maybe that's an alternative for you?

BTW: I turned 60 lately too. And a few days later, some serious health problems started out of the blue. So I am quite suddenly feeling old now.