Hi All..........

Here's the scoop from before the first day of Gameboomers creation: Bob thunk up the name and the concept all by his lonesome. As the name of the site denotes, the site was originally created with an eye toward the more mature PC gamer. However, NICE and FRIENDLY was the underlying bulwark of that original concept, and it extends to all ages and all game genres residing at Gameboomers.

Three of us came from another site to start Gameboomers back in '99. Bob (and Karen) collaborated with Eve (technical and administrative) and myself (marketing and administrative) to put together the first Gameboomers board which came online, as Syders mentioned in June of 1999.

Bob and Karen have since moved on to other pastures over the years, and Marita is now the official Gameboomers "muckity muck." Laurels to all the moderators and administrators who joined Gameboomers early on, along the way, and who continue to make this site the best of the best. All this on a completely voluntary basis!

As for myself, I have moved in and out of those distant pastures for the past several months as life inserts other challenges, issues and interests. My first loyalty, however, remains with Gameboomers as my personal "home town." I come back as often as possible.


Witchen

Thank you all so much
I often would hear references made to names; but couldn't connect in my brain who was what.
Witchen,
Thank you for taking time to fly in and answer my question. :kiss:
I think that Bob and Karen and the others mentioned had a wonderful concept and the fact that it has stood the test of time proves that.
I feel proud to belong to the best of any group on the web and appreciate all the responses.
Rusty,
I was actually surprised you weren't here from the beginning and just decided to change IDs on us
to mess with our brains a bit.
Isn't it wonderful that Boomers just continues to grow and the first thought that of a "friendly spot" is still the main concern for those of us that love games.
Ingie

Many thanks to Syd and Witchen for laying out the way GameBoomers got its start (I've been out of town for the last couple of days). I joined back in Dec. of 1999, so I missed about the first six months--then in the spring of 2000, Dee asked me to help her moderate on Mixed Bag. Then a couple of years later I was asked to help with Hints--that was scary!!!

Now I'm helping Marita, Syd and Laura with the administrating, and I've been promoted to a Grande Olde Dame--at least the second and third words of that title are applicable...

Great history lesson! It's great to learn about how the board started. I definitely caught the "Gameboomers" "BabyBoomers" connection. I like the memorabillia link at the top of the page.

Can I add to the questions and ask how Gameboomers got to be known as a reputable name in the gaming community? Was it intended at the start of the site to make and build relationships with game makers and publishers?

i am proud to be a member of gameboomers and greatful to all founders of this site...

RydAstar I've asked Jan to answer that one - she knows more about what Bob had envisioned for this site than anyone other than Bob himself. I can tell you that we were all surprised and honored when a developer would post or when one would even lurk. As a matter of fact, I still feel that way.

I think a lot has to do with the fact we make developers feel welcome. Developers can post about their games and not worry about getting torn apart like on some other sites. I hope we make them feel comfortable. Even if they don't post, they read what we say - believe me

And yes, burpee - it's the very same Linda Shaw

This is a great topic. I just got back into town too.

I came to GB from that "other site" too. I wasn't here too long when Eve had to leave and Bob asked me to moderate Mixed Bag. I was scared to death! I'm very shy and didn't think I could do it. I became an administrator after about a year. That way one of the three of us (Bob, Witchen and I) would always be able to "watch" GB.

Bob's focus was on Boomer Memorabilia and he added the forums because he enjoyed gaming. If you look on the "About Us" page, you will see the awards for memorabilia. We never thought that GB would get this big. It still amazes us. Although life got it the way and I had to step down, GB is my home and always will be.

Owners don't post very much because they don't have the time. There is so much work involved in the bowels of a website. Martia (MaG) does a spectacular job!

BTW......Karen posted in the beginning with the username "Sparky". Then Bob got so busy with GB poor Karen rarely got to use the computer. LOL

Click here to see some "old" GameBoomers pages with the old gang.

This is the original discussion board Pretty small huh?

~Dee

Wow! Thanks Dee! Cool links.
Rusty

This is all so interesting Dee. Do you all ever get together and have a company dinner or picnic? Or is it all done on the computer?
Boggles the mind how it all can be administered.
Marita does a wonderful job.

How 'bout that - my first post on GB is on there Now that was a walk down memory lane. thanks for the link Deedle - man the board was bright back then, wasn't it?

Is that a hoot or what Syd? I can't find your first post though. Those links brought back a lot of memories for me too. Checking the old forums, I see I just never shut up. I can't believe how far we have come.

Doreen....Though we have never met in person, we all have become very close friends. GB is a labor of love for sure.

~Dee

Click on the original board link - click on the adventure forum and scroll down to a thread called "Coming out of the closet to say Hi" Voila - my little piece of GB history

Dee's right Doreen - we have become very close friends over the years. Jan (Witchen) and I have actually met in person. She and her husband came to Ca. on vacation a couple of years ago and they stopped by for a visit. Everyone else I've talked to on the phone. We've been through a lot together.

That was wonderful Dee, thank you so much
Boy, glad the color change was made!
It was interesting to read some of the Topics and note that they are ones that even today come up every now and then.
I did notice Faust on there.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />
The Graemlins were a little strange, funny how much has changed in the computer world in 4-5 years!
What a wonderful thing,please never take that off.
The history and questions and Mods and Owners, is wonderful and fascinating.
I just can't express how much this place has come to mean to me.
Thank you :kiss:
Ingie

OMG Syd! Too funny! I've always loved your sense of humor! I wonder where all those people went. I know Linda is busy with her site and Ray is busy writing, once in a while we see Oz post and I know Pam still reads, but still.....

Do you know that back then DreamCatcher was as small as we were? And they say adventure games are dead. Ha!

~Dee

I catch DonM lurking every once in awhile which I'm glad to see. It tells me he's okay. I really miss him And Zoly pops up every now and again in the Glitches forum.